All the books listed here are available at the library. Stop in, give us a call, or use the online catalog to place a hold and check one out. All book descriptions are provided by the publisher on the back of the book, on Goodreads, or through the library catalog.
Put a twist on “back to school” with these dark academia titles. Boarding schools, secret societies, magic, murder, and more!
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé: Sade is starting her junior year of high school at a new prestigious boarding school after being homeschooled all her life. Already feeling like a magnet for misfortune, her roommate disappears after Sade’s first night and people think she has something to do with it. This YA contemporary mystery follows Sade’s investigation as she reveals the secrets lurking around every corner. Available on Hoopla (audio), Boundless (audio/e-book), and Libby (e-book).
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo: After a string of bad luck and unfortunate events, Alex is offered a second chance: attending one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride scholarship. Alex is tasked by her mysterious benefactors to monitor activities of Yale’s secret societies and she might uncover secrets more sinister than anyone expected. Available on Hoopla (audio) and Boundless (audio/e-book).
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake: The Alexandrian Society chooses the six most uniquely talented magicians to be considered for initiation each decade. When the candidates are chosen they have one year to qualify for initiation into the secret society of magical academicians. Six will fight to survive, but they’re told only five will make it. Available on Hoopla (audio), Boundless (e-book), and Libby (e-book).
Babel by RF Kuang: Robin Swift has been training for years in preparation of his enrollment in Oxford’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation, Babel, the world’s center for translation and magic. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the Hermes Society, an organization working to stop imperial expansion. Available on Hoopla (audio/ebook) and Boundless (audio/e-book).
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides: Mariana Andros, former student at Cambridge University, is certain that Edward Fosca is a murderer. He’s also untouchable as a handsome, charismatic, Greek Tragedy professor. When a body is found, Mariana becomes obsessed with proving Edward’s guilt, no matter the personal cost. Available on Hoopla (audio), Boundless (audio/e-book), and Libby (audio).
Read one of these books before they become movies!
The Running Man by Richard Bachman (Stephen King): Ben Richards is out of work and out of luck. With no cash or hope, and a sick daughter he can’t afford to take to the doctor, he decides to become a contestant on a show to win more money than he’s ever dreamed of. Or will he die trying? The release date for The Running Man is set for November 7, 2025.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: Follow the story of the mysterious Heathcliff from childhood through his death as he experiences love and loss and seeks to gain revenge. The release date for Wuthering Heights is February 13, 2026. Available on Hoopla (audio/ebook), Boundless (audio/e-book), and Libby (e-book).
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry: Poppy and Alex have been best friends since college, taking vacations together each summer. Two years ago, everything changed. This contemporary romance follows their last effort to make things right. The release date for People We Meet on Vacation is January 9, 2026. Available on Boundless (audio/e-book) and Libby (audio/e-book).
Wicked by Gregory Maguire: Learn the backstory to the Wizard of Oz, as you follow along with the story of Elphaba Thropp, the misunderstood, green-skinned girl who grows up to become the notorious Wicked Witch of the West. The release date for Wicked: For Good is November 21, 2025. Available on Hoopla (audio/ebook), Boundless (audio/e-book), and Libby (audio/e-book).
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden: Millie applies and is offered a job as a live-in housekeeper for a wealthy couple, Nina and Andrew Winchester. For Millie, who has a criminal record, it’s a fantastic job–until it’s not. Things go downhill quickly as Nina begins to exhibit increasingly bizarre and frustrating behavior. The release date for The Housemaid is December 25, 2025. Available on Hoopla (audio).
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell: Hamnet tells the story behind the creation of one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, Hamlet. An eye-opening look into a marriage, and the heartbreaking loss of a child. The story follows the struggles and vindication of Agnes against the backdrop of the Black Plague. The release date for Hamnet is December 12, 2025. Available on Boundless (audio/e-book) and Libby (audio).
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman: In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it’s too late? The release date for The Thursday Murder Club is August 28, 2025. Available on Boundless (audio/e-book) and Libby (audio/e-book).
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Considered the first science fiction novel by many, Frankenstein is a story of Victor Frankenstein, his obsession with the creation of life, and the consequences that come along with it. The release date for Frankenstein is November, 2025. Available on Hoopla (audio/ebook), Boundless (e-book), and Libby (e-book).
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware: Lo Blacklock, a journalist for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant, but as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare, a woman being thrown overboard. The release date for The Woman in Cabin 10 is Fall, 2025. Available on Boundless (audio/e-book) and Libby (audio/e-book).