Reading lists

9 absorbing novels with an academic setting

These must-read books are sure to get you in the back-to-school mood – even if your student days are far behind you.

Carmella Lowkis

Whether you’re preparing for the return to school, looking back with nostalgia on your student life, or are dedicated to the #DarkAcademia aesthetic, here are nine excellent novels set in and around academia. From a gripping story of revenge on campus to the sweeping tale of a life haunted by trauma sustained at boarding school, these books have something for every reading taste.