From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places comes “a standout dark academia thriller” (e. lockhart, author of We Were Liars) about the monsters who walk among us—even in the glittering upper echelons of society.
A dead teacher at an elite boarding school. Four students who had every reason to want her gone. Who is the monster?
At an elite New England boarding school, eight students are selected for an exclusive storytelling workshop with the one and only Meredith Graffam—an enigmatic writer, director, and actress. For sixteen days, they will live in the isolated estate of the school’s founder, surrounded by snowy woods and a storm-tossed seas. Only one of the chosen will walk away with a lifechanging opportunity to realize their creative dreams.
Everyone, including Graffam, has a compelling reason to be there—Effy, the orphan, Isaac, the legacy, Ness, the wallflower, Ramon, the outsider, and Arlo, whose unexpected arrival leaves Effy spiraling—but only the most ambitious will last the term. Graffam’s unorthodox methods push the students past the breaking point, revealing their darkest secrets, taking unthinkable risks, and slowly starting to turn on one another. But Graffam never expected they would turn on her . . .
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"a group of students gifted in literary arts are chosen to be part of a program led by a well-established author to hone their craft. her methods are. . . unorthodox, to say the least. the plot itself was predictable but the way niven wrote the atmosphere and how she set the mood was *chef's kiss* very moody and creepy and ominous. it's like if breakfast club was dark academia. this one was published yesterday, 09/02/25! tysm for the e-arc @penguinteenca :hands_heart|type_3:"
— Libraryofamisfit I. (2/5)
A tale that’s perfect for cozy weather
"I now understand the love that is dark academia! Huge fan of All The Bright Places and I think this read was even more my taste. Had bits of thriller, and a great setting for the story. A dual POV that I could go either way on, but the style of writing wins me over the most — almost prose-like. I think this would be a great read for those who liked (or even wanted a little more from) If We Were Villians. Also would be a great read for fans of Mona Awad!"
— Bribookworm (5/5)
Q&A
Published date: Apr 27, 2027
Language: English
No. of Pages: 400
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
ISBN: 9781524713058
Dimensions:
5.5" W x
0.813" L x
8.25" H
“Niven’s signature ingredients: deep sensitivity, romance, poetry, and misunderstood, passionate characters. Now add a gothic mansion, a dangerous cliffside and a charismatic genius, and she’s serving up a standout dark academia thriller.” —E. Lockhart, #1 New York Times bestselling author of We Were Liars
"A poignant story of young love, yearning, and the desire to live. Like the best gothic mysteries, this one is drenched in atmosphere and unease-—a taut, exquisitely executed novel from start to finish." —Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Girl
"Fans of dark academia will enjoy this atmospheric story of art, lies, and redemption that features a lurking, slowly building sense of dread that grows throughout the novel. Leisurely and spine-tingling." —Kirkus Reviews
"This homage to the works of Shirley Jackson and Lois Duncan is a sinister look at unchecked ambition and creativity pushed to the brink of madness." —Booklist
"An upsettingly immersive storytelling workshop in this eerie and suspenseful YA psychological thriller." —Shelf Awareness
JENNIFER NIVEN is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of All the Bright Places, Holding Up the Universe and Breathless. Her books have been translated in over 75 languages and have won literary awards around the world. An Emmy-award winning screenwriter, she co-wrote the script for the All the Bright Places movie— currently streaming on Netflix and starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith. She is also the author of several narrative nonfiction titles and the Velva Jean historical fiction series. Jennifer divides her time between coastal Georgia and Los Angeles with her husband and literary cats.
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