Summer is ending and fall is coming, which means that fall quarter/semester will begin soon. If you’re anything like me, you’re likely looking forward to it while also dreading it. I love summer, but I also love the academic atmosphere of university, and there’s no better way to get ready for it than to read a book with academic vibes, so here are some of my favorite recommendations below.
Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson- Truly, Devious is peak dark academia. It follows a girl, Stevie, who is let into an elite boarding school, stating that she wants a chance to solve a decades-old mystery that took place on campus. It is one of my favorite YA mysteries. It not only has an impeccable fall vibe, but it also is incredibly thrilling and atmospheric. If you ever dreamed of going off to a boarding school, this is the perfect book for you. Plus, it’s a full trilogy with two bonus books, so there’s plenty of this world to discover!
Anatomy by Dana Schwartz- Anatomy is another thrilling YA book perfect for the fall season. It follows a girl, Hazel, in the early 1800s. She is determined to become a female surgeon against all odds. Thinking about this character gives me study motivation unlike anything else. She is determined to do anything she can to become a surgeon, whether that means sneaking into lectures, finding suspicious allies, or, you know, digging up bodies.
Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada, and Ko Hyung-Ju- Banned Book Club is the perfect read for back to school. It is a graphic novel, so it is rather quick, but it still tackles some huge issues. This true story follows the historical time of South Korea’s Fifth Republic. During that time, a military regime caused censorship of books, violence, torture, and the murder of protesters. The authors wrote the story based on their own experiences of running an underground banned book club during their college years. It is definitely a hard read at times, especially knowing how real these experiences were only about forty years ago, but it is a fantastic read.
See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Soloman- See You Yesterday follows two college freshmen stuck in a time loop of their first day. It is a hilarious and heartfelt romantic new adult story, perfect for readers going back to university. It takes place on the University of Washington campus, and although they are the rivals of Washington State University (where I go), it was an incredibly fun read since I was familiar with the campus. The romance also had me binging it. It only took me two sittings to read!
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo- Ninth House follows Alex Stern, a girl who has a dark past, as she is offered a full ride to Yale. She has many questions, but perhaps the most important is ‘why her?’ Soon, she is swept into secret societies, supernatural events, and the world of the rich and powerful. It is an adult fantasy-horror book by the author of Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone. If you’re considering reading, please beware of the trigger warnings, as it is a very dark book.
The Giant Days Comics by John Allison and Lisa Treiman- Giant Days is a fourteen-volume comic series following three friends through college. While they do follow a storyline, they are easy to jump into and read when it’s convenient. I took over a year to read them all. They go through many of the “canon events” of university, like first parties, wanting to reinvent yourself, and making it through academia. I found them very comforting to read because they make you realize how college is both intimidating and not scary at all.
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik- A Deadly Education is an adult fantasy trilogy that follows El and Orion, aka the girl with dark power and the boy who can’t stop saving peoples’ lives. And let’s not forget about the school itself, which is trying to kill everyone in it. If you read and enjoyed Fourth Wing, I’d argue that this trilogy is better and incredibly similar, though it was released beforehand. It has a distinct academic vibe, all while being far enough away from the reality of college to give you a healthy amount of escapism.
If there is one thing I have learned from my academic career, it is that burnout is a very real thing. Reading is one way I combat burnout, so whether you want to prepare yourself for the back-to-school season, or you need a book to relax, these are both perfect for academic motivation and escapism. Happy reading!