The Shelves

Boarding School & Prep School Books

Books selected for readers looking for boarding school & prep school books.

42 booksApril 2, 2026

Part of 500+ tracked lists·1 crossover shelf·98% reader overlap with Dark Academia Books

1. They Wish They Were US
Jessica Goodman
Fits this list for its focus on prep and school.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
2. They're Watching You
Chelsea Ichaso
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: YA Psychological Thrillers
3. Prep School Confidential
Kara Taylor
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and prep.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
4. The Headmaster's List
Melissa de la Cruz
Fits this list for its focus on prep and school.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
5. Royal Heirs Academy
Lindsey Duga
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
6. Where Sleeping Girls Lie
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Natalie Simpson
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: YA Crime Thrillers
7. The Chandler Legacies
Abdi Nazemian
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
8. The Castle School (for Troubled Girls)
Alyssa Sheinmel
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
9. The Dark Cove Theatre Society
Sierra Marilyn Riley
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: Theater & Musicals for Teens
10. Everyone's Thinking It
Aleema Omotoni
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
11. When We Were Monsters
Jennifer Niven
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: YA Psychological Thrillers
12. The Good Girls
Claire Eliza Bartlett, Lauren Ezzo
Fits this list for its focus on school.
Shelf signal: YA Crime Thrillers
13. Admission
Julie Buxbaum
Fits this list for its focus on school.
Shelf signal: College & Uni YA
14. The Spiral Key
Kelsey Day
Fits this list for its focus on school.
Shelf signal: YA Psychological Thrillers
15. Nobody in Particular
Gail Shalan, Imani Jade Powers
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: Romantic Comedy for Teens
16. Ace of Spades
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Included for strong thriller alignment with this boarding school & prep school list.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
17. The Thrashers
Julie Soto
Included for strong high alignment with this boarding school & prep school list.
Shelf signal: YA Psychological Thrillers
18. The Secrets of Lovelace Academy
Marie Benedict, Courtney Sheinmel
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: Europe for Teens
19. Keep Your Friends Close
Cynthia Murphy
Included for strong dark alignment with this boarding school & prep school list.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
20. Wicked Little Secrets
Kara Taylor, Kara Thomas
Fits this list for its focus on prep and school.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
21. The Tournament
Rebecca Barrow
Fits this list for its focus on boarding.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
22. The Mockingbirds
Daisy Whitney
Fits this list for its focus on boarding and school.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA
23. Promise Boys
Nick Brooks
Included for strong crime alignment with this boarding school & prep school list.
Shelf signal: YA Crime Thrillers
24. Charmed and Dangerous
Lisi Harrison, Cassandra Morris
Fits this list for its focus on school.
Shelf signal: Boarding School YA