What to Read

Great Books Set on College Campuses

Across Adult and YA, there are so many books set at or during college that have been recently released. From New Haven to North Carolina to Oxford, these books are for those who love the academic scene. Sweep across history and dive into fantasy with these six books where characters attend, live on, and dream of college.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Galaxy “Alex” Stern was raised by her hippie mom in LA’s hinterlands before dropping out of school before bouncing around dead-end jobs. By twenty, she is the sole survivor of a mysterious, unsolved multiple homicide. But when she is given a second chance by attending Yale, she takes it. The catch? She has to monitor the activities of Yale’s secret societies and their occult activities are anything short of sinister and extraordinary.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

After her mother dies in an accident, Bree wants nothing to do with her home and sets out to attend a residential program for bright high school students at UNC-Chapel Hill. But when Bree experiences a magical attack on the first night – and a plan to wipe her memory of everything fails – a magic unlock’s within Bree. She also remembers an important detail of the night of her mother’s death. Now she is determined to infiltrate the Legendborn secret society and find out the truth. But when she finds out there is a magical war brewing, Bree must decide if she should take down the society or join in their fight.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

In England 1879, Annabelle Archer is the destitute daughter of a vicar who has earned a place to study with the first cohort of female students at Oxford University. In return of her scholarship, she must help support the rising women’s suffrage movement. But even as she is determined to sway Sebastian Deverux, the Duke of Montgomery, Annabelle can’t lose her heart in the process. While Sebastian is appalled at finding a suffragist squad in his ducal home, his real threat is his impossible feelings for Annabelle.

Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Maya is torn between worlds: one where her parents expect her to be a good Indian daughter, go to a college in Chicago, and marry an older Musilm boy her mother deems suitable. The other is one of her dreams where Maya goes to film school in New York City and maybe pursues a boy she has known since grade school. But when a horrific crime occurs hundreds of miles away, the community Maya has known since birth becomes unrecognizable as people are consumed with fear, bigotry, and hatred.

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann

Alice was set on her summer being filled with friends, TV shows, and working at her local library to pay rent. But when Alice’s girlfriend breaks up with her because Alice confesses she’s asexual, Alice decides to stop dating. But when Alice meets Takumi, she can’t help but feel butterflies and swoons over him. But when Alice’s summer takes an unexpected turn, Alice must decide if she wants to try to turn this friendship into something more.

Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga by Sam Maggs, Rainbow Rowell, and Gabi Nam

Cath is a total Simon Snow fangirl. While Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from the fandom, it is Cath’s life. Now that they are both in college, Cath isn’t sure if she wants to live her own life – especially if that means leaving Simon Snow behind. In real life, Cath has her twin sister and thousands of fans of her Simon Snow fanfiction. And when they move into their dorm, there are so many new people in her life like her roommate and her charming boyfriend, a stuck up professor, and a handsome writing partner. Will Cath give up the Simon Snow fandom for real life?