Просмотр новости
Найдите то, что Вас интересует
Спутники
РН
SpaceX
Роскосмос
NASA
"The Book Lingered In My Mind For Weeks": 17 Books To Read If You're Desperate For That Delicious "Back To School" Feeling
Дата публикации: 24-09-2026 15:25:10
"The book made me forget my own name!"View Entire Post ›
Основное содержимое страницы с новостью.
Growing up, most people I knew loathed the end of summer. As September crept closer and the air got deliciously chillier, they'd mourn the end of our hot suburban summers. But not me. I was the weird kid counting down the days until school started. And honestly, there were two very good reasons for this. One...I'm a huge, bookish dork who genuinely loves learning. And two...I come from a family of educators, so school wasn't just somewhere we went every day. It was basically a core part of our family culture.
So, naturally, I've been chasing that "back-to-school" feeling ever since I was a kid. Yes, I'm that girl. The one taking ice cream-making classes, watching documentaries for pleasure, and collecting random certificates from online courses...just because. And, yes, I'm obviously also obsessed with one of the most accessible forms of education there is: READING!!!
So I thought: Books + back-to-school vibes + the fact that it's literally September right now...that calls for a TBR list! So here are some of my book recs to read this September if you’re looking to sink into that "school days" feeling. These books really span the genre spectrum — from romantic comedies to horror to coming-of-age stories to thrillers. We're covering it all, so there's something for everybody. Here we go...
Pocket Books / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When shy, introspective Charlie starts high school, he struggles to find his place until he befriends two charismatic older students who pull him into a world of music, parties, first love, and everything in between. But as Charlie becomes increasingly caught up in their lives, he must confront the painful memories he's been trying to leave behind and figure out what it really means to belong.
This is such an interesting read. It's an epistolary book (meaning it's written through documents, like letters — or, in this case, journal entries), so you get summaries of Charlie's school days as he recounts making friends, experiencing his first love, and dealing with childhood trauma. At the time, I'd never read anything like it. It felt so unique, personal, and compelling in every way. As an avid journaler myself, I found it fascinating to enter someone else's mind and read their personal reflections on life, love, and working through hardship. I get a gushy fluttering in my chest when I recall reading this for the first time. It's honestly the perfect coming-of-age tale, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
Alfred A. Knopf / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When Richard Papen arrives at an elite New England college, he finds himself drawn to a group of eccentric classics students whose intellectual brilliance and secrets set them apart from everyone else. As their pursuit of beauty, knowledge, and something beyond the ordinary spirals into obsession and murder, Richard must face the terrifying consequences of wanting to belong.
Dark academia, anyone? They call this a modern classic, and within a few pages, you can see why. The writing is exacting and sophisticated, yet still completely compelling. Some may find it slightly pretentious, but honestly, I didn't find the talk of elite education, complex ideas, and the overall stuck-up nature of the characters off-putting. If anything, I found it fascinating, weird, and kind of unsettling. It was the kind of book I could still parse while casually throwing words like "lugubrious" and "obsequious" into my vocabulary. Add a bit of murder and culty vibes at an elite New England university, and you have me HOOKED! I loved every bizarre, meandering thought this book had to offer.
Bloomsbury / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? I know I probably don't have to tell you...but... When Harry Potter discovers on his eleventh birthday that he's a wizard, he's whisked away from his miserable life with the Dursleys and sent to Hogwarts, a magical school hidden from the ordinary world. As Harry settles into life alongside his new friends Ron and Hermione, he begins uncovering a mysterious threat within the castle and realizes that his arrival at Hogwarts may be far more significant than he ever imagined.
Okay, I know this is a tad cliché. But clichés are there for a reason, right? It's overdone because the original was just TOO GOOD not to beat us over the head with it. And yes, yes, yes, I know we have to separate the art from the artist with this one. J. K. Rowling aside, when it comes down to the Harry Potter story itself, you have to admit: It's quintessential fall. The school backdrop, the spooky October feel, and the English hills that Hogwarts rests on? Perfection. Potions class, Quidditch games, and the Yule Ball...it screams school, and it's not open for discussion. If you've read these books, you have a favourite order. So please tell me yours. Mine is, unashamedly: 3, 6, 2, 4, 1, 7, 5. And for those who have The Order of the Phoenix as your number one...that's truly diabolical. I don't know how you sleep at night.
Orion Books / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When Eleanor, the new girl at school, takes the seat beside Park on the school bus, the two outsiders slowly find themselves drawn together despite having almost nothing in common. As their unlikely friendship blossoms into an all-consuming first love, Eleanor and Park must navigate family troubles, school bullies, and the terrifying vulnerability of finding someone who makes you feel like you finally belong.
I devoured this YA book...as a fully grown-ass woman...and loving every second of it. I remember feeling so annoyed by the main characters, but never actually feeling put off by them. Instead, I was rooting for them to sort out their issues, if only so I could see them both be happy. It all felt so relatable and real. And honestly, I'd read the book again merely for the dialogue. Their conversations were snappy, hilarious, serious, and masterfully reflective of their age. Add in flirting on the school bus, conversations by the lockers, and waiting for each other after class, and it's a perfect "back to school" tale. Honestly, the last page alone still makes me want to well up just thinking about it. This is such a beautiful and frustrating book.
Harper Collins / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When fifteen-year-old Vanessa Wye begins a relationship with her charismatic English teacher at an elite boarding school, she becomes convinced that their connection is something rare, complicated, and entirely her own. Years later, when other women come forward with accusations against the same teacher, Vanessa is forced to revisit the relationship she once believed was a love story and confront the possibility that the story she has been telling herself may be very different from what actually happened.
People compare this book to Lolita, and it's pretty evident why. This book is about a relationship between an underage girl and her teacher, and slowly unravelling the truth about the abuse and coercion the student experienced. This book is not just a casual autumn read. It's raw, upsetting, and incredibly sad...yet hopeful. So, if you're looking for a FUN fall read, this isn't it. But if you want to delve deep into the psyche of a woman untangling her painful past and learning how to move forward, this is it. It's incredibly moving, and utterly heart-wrenching.
Penguin Random House / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When Samantha, a lonely MFA student at an elite New England university, finds herself increasingly alienated from her classmates, she wants nothing to do with the clique of wealthy, eerily identical girls known as the Bunnies. But when they unexpectedly invite her into their exclusive circle, Samantha is pulled into a strange world of secret rituals, creative obsession, and increasingly disturbing experiments. Soon, she can no longer tell where friendship, art, and reality begin and end.
I felt like I was in a trance when I read this. It's full of repeated phrases, mirrored characters, and moments that make you question your own reality. To sum it up in the most basic terms... IT WAS TRIPPY! And I loved every weird, confusing, dizzying moment. Plus, I love any story about elite academia and a strange clique willing to do some truly whack stuff. It definitely leans more toward horror/thriller, so if you're looking for a light coming-of-age story, this isn't it. But if you want a book that will make your head spin as you question everything (you know, just a casual Tuesday kind of activity), then get ready to dive headfirst into a mind f*ck!
Faber & Faber / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When Marianne and Connell, two students from the same small Irish town, begin a secret relationship in high school, they discover an intense connection that neither quite knows how to navigate. As they follow separate paths to university and repeatedly find their way back to each other, their complicated bond forces them to reckon with class, insecurity, intimacy, and the question of whether loving someone is enough to keep them together.
I have to admit, I didn't love this book. BUT...I can objectively see why people are drawn to it. The truth is: art is subjective, and everyone is allowed to like what they like. So definitely give it a read and see what you think for yourself. It's sad, frustrating, and confusing — but hey, I guess those emotions represent the college years pretty well. If you want to reminisce about your post-secondary days, along with the confusing romantic and sexual relationships of your early twenties, this is your read!
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield is expelled from his prestigious prep school, he leaves campus early and spends several days wandering New York City, trying to make sense of the world around him. As he encounters old friends, strangers, and the expectations of adulthood, Holden's cynicism and restlessness reveal a deeper struggle with growing up, grief, and finding a place in a world he increasingly sees as "phony."
This book gave me one of the biggest reading whiplashes of my life. At the beginning, I was so annoyed. The repetitive phrases, the aimless adolescent motives, the way a few days somehow seemed to stretch on forever... Then...suddenly, somehow...it became one of the books that stuck with me the longest. Even though I spent most of the novel wondering how on earth it was going to wrap up in a satisfying way, when it finally got there, the story lingered in my mind for weeks after I finished it. And yes, the school portion makes up only about 15% of the book, but its story centres on a high schooler's life and explores coming of age, belonging, and figuring out what kind of adult you want to become. I love this book.
Little, Brown and Company / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When Bella Swan moves to the perpetually rainy town of Forks, Washington, she expects her new high school to be uneventful. Then she meets Edward Cullen, a mysterious and impossibly captivating classmate who seems determined to keep his distance. As Bella uncovers the dangerous secret behind Edward and his family, her fascination with him turns into an all-consuming romance that forces her to choose between the ordinary life she knows and a world far more dangerous than she ever imagined.
I know, I know. This is up there with Harry Potter in terms of being a little on the nose, but who cares!? Vampires, a gloomy town, high school, and Halloween-y vibes? It's basically the perfect book to get you in the back-to-school mindset. I read this book when I was about 13 and absolutely devoured it overnight. THEN my dad found out it was about "the undead" *gasp*, and because I grew up in a religious household, I was banned from reading the rest of the series. But honestly...that just made Edward HOTTER! So you bet my girlfriends and I binge-watch the movies as fully grown adults, reminiscing about our school days while we argue over Team Edward vs. Team Jacob...and take shots of tequila.
HarperCollins / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When thirty-year-old Maggie's marriage suddenly falls apart, she finds herself newly single, newly adrift, and completely unprepared for the realities of starting over. As she navigates dating, friendship, therapy, and the strange freedom of life after marriage, Maggie must figure out who she is without the person she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with, and whether being alone might actually turn out to be really good, actually.
I don't think I've ever laughed out loud so much while reading a book. It felt like every page was zinger after zinger. But somehow, the humour never came at the expense of the story's heart. I thought the author did an excellent job using humour as levity without letting it undercut or distract from the grief. Although the book is largely about a young woman grieving the loss of her marriage, it's also about creating opportunities from a recent education, discovering a new identity, and seeking hope in life. I absolutely loved this book.
The Page Company / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When imaginative, red-haired orphan Anne Shirley is mistakenly sent to Green Gables, she quickly turns the quiet Prince Edward Island farm into the centre of her wonderfully chaotic world. As Anne begins school, makes unlikely friends, gets herself into one mishap after another, and slowly wins the hearts of those around her, she discovers a place to call home, and learns that growing up might be the greatest adventure of all.
I remember reading this for the first time and thinking, "ANNE, DO YOU EVER SHUT UP!?" But then I remembered that sometimes the people (or, in this case, characters) you butt heads with the most are the ones who are very similar to you. Maybe Anne's constant chatterbox routine — rattling off question after question, idea after idea, and introspection after introspection — is a little too much like me. Because when I think of myself at 12...and Anne? It's like, whoa! Am I looking in the mirror? But back to the point (see, I'm meandering as we speak): this book is such a feel-good novel. I love Gilbert, Diana, Matthew, Anne — just everyone in Avonlea. It makes me want to go to PEI, run through a field of grass, and smell the flowers. Add in a little schoolhouse, and you won't be able to stop yourself from squealing with delight as you read this one. It's all so perfect!
Hodder & Stoughton / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew meet on the night of their university graduation, they form an unlikely friendship that neither quite knows how to define. Told through snapshots of their lives on the same day (July 15) each year, they navigate careers, relationships, triumphs, and heartbreaks, all while wondering whether the person they've been searching for has been beside them all along.
If you don't want to read this book, don't fret, dear one. You can watch an entire miniseries adaptation of it on Netflix. OR, you can watch the Anne Hathaway movie. Clearly, this is a book people love to keep adapting — and that's how you know it's memorable. It's such a clever premise: Two friends meet up on the same day every year, giving us a snapshot of where they are in life each time, all while trying to navigate their romantic feelings for each other. It's heartbreaking, exciting, wonderful, and completely unforgettable. And the school element? Well, they meet at school, and Emma eventually becomes a teacher, so I think that's more than enough school-related content to qualify for this list! Right?
Penguin books / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? Set in the 1930s, six impressionable girls at an elite Edinburgh school fall under the spell of their charismatic teacher, Miss Jean Brodie. She begins shaping them according to her own unconventional ideas about art, politics, love, and life. But as Brodie's influence grows, her desire to mould them into her "chosen few" blurs the line between mentorship and manipulation, forcing the girls to decide how much of themselves they are willing to give her.
One of my professors once told me this was his favourite book, so I immediately had to read it to see what all the fuss was about. And the fuss was smack dab in the right place! It was incredible. The writing is quick, clever, and endlessly engaging. Miss Jean Brodie is a character who is equally enticing and repellent. She made me want to bow down to her one minute, only to want to slap her the next. (Metaphorically, of course. Violence is NEVER the answer!) Add in betrayal, death, and the consequences of loyalty, and you've got yourself one hell of a fun ride.
Penguin Books / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When a teenage boy is found murdered on the grounds of an elite girls' boarding school, the case goes cold...until a year later. A student discovers a mysterious card pinned to the school's "Secret Place" board claiming, "I KNOW WHO KILLED HIM." As detectives return to the school and begin questioning the tight-knit group of girls surrounding the victim, buried rivalries, secrets, and shifting loyalties emerge. Ultimately, the truth becomes harder to separate from the stories the girls tell themselves.
All I can say is: what a ride. This was one of those books that had me questioning my own name by the end of it. I'd never read anything quite like it. Plus, the school element isn't just high school or post-secondary. IT IS A BOARDING SCHOOL! Which just adds a whole other layer of shenanigans. There are so many things I could say about this one, but it's truly one of those books where the less you know going in, the better. So, if you want a fun, twisty thriller of a ride, this is your September book!
Ballantine Books / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When scholarship student Louisa arrives at an elite art school in Berlin, she becomes entangled with a group of young artists whose ambitions, rivalries, and desires are as intense as their work. As Louisa's relationship with the rebellious artist Karolina deepens and a powerful patron threatens to reshape their futures, the students find themselves caught between artistic ambition, political conviction, and the intoxicating pull of one another.
I admit, I bought this book for the cover. But I stayed for the writing and characters. I love any book about school cliques, elite and slightly pretentious students, and the youthful endeavour of being an artist. And this book was that! This book had all the coziness of school in September, while also capturing the agony and confusion of youth, creativity, and being an artist. It made me both miss my university days and thank the good gods that they were over.
Celadon Books / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When a student is found murdered at Cambridge University, troubled group therapist Mariana Andros becomes convinced that the members of an exclusive clique known as the Maidens and their charismatic professor, Edward Fosca, are somehow connected to the crime. As Mariana becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth, she finds herself drawn deeper into the secretive world of the students and their professor, where admiration, obsession, and murder seem dangerously intertwined.
If you've read Alex Michaelides' hit novel, The Silent Patient, you know what to expect with this one. Quick, snapshot-like chapters, lots of moving parts, and, obviously, a whole lot of suspense. Although I didn't like this one quite as much as The Silent Patient (but honestly, it's hard to beat it), I remember really enjoying the ride. It was fun. It was thrilling. It was easy. And it was the perfect book to get me in the spirit of school, September, and the season's impending spookiness.
Poisoned Pen Press / Via indigo.ca
What's it about? When Eve, a high school math teacher, becomes suspicious of one of her students and begins looking into his troubled home life, she quickly discovers that there may be far more to the teenager and his family than meets the eye. As secrets surface at the school and Eve's life becomes increasingly entangled with the people around her, she realizes that uncovering the truth may put her in far more danger than she ever expected.
I've said it once, and I'll say it again: I genuinely don't understand the Freida McFadden hype. I'm sorry, because so many people love her! And I am absolutely not here to "yuck" anyone's "yum." In fact, a few of my friends genuinely loved this book. So, although it didn't do it for me, I thought I'd still leave this here for anyone who needs a quick, easy read. Because sometimes you just need a fun, mindless thriller that you can fly through. It's quick, suspenseful, and, honestly, just plain fun. And if the title itself didn't scream "School!" then I don't know what would. But not "warm fuzzy" school. More like blood, betrayal, felony, mystery, and other lovely nonsense...but set at school.
What about you?
Have you read any books that are dripping in academia vibes? I'm obsessed with the "back to school" feeling and always searching for a book that fills that pit in me. So if you have any favourites that you think are worth the hype, definitely let me know. I'm always looking for books to add to my TBR.
Схожие новости
Классификация: Мнения. Схожих патентов: 0. Схожих новостей: 10. Тональность: 0. Информативность: 15.19. Источник: www.buzzfeed.com.