The Best Books Set in High School
There are so many amazing books set in high school. Some are dark academia and some are literary fiction but all the books included on this list will keep you turning the pages! With summer coming to an end and back-to-school season on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to delve into a book set in the halls of academia.
If you are looking for a charming high school romance, a fantasy story, or some thriller books set in high school, this list has it all! So while you might not be going back to school this fall, you can relive your glory days with any of these novels!
The Best Books Set in High School
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Mystery/ Thriller
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé – Jump to section
Fantasy
Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth – Jump to section
Literary Fiction
The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger – Jump to section
YA Fiction
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas- Jump to section
Romance
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han – Jump to section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Mystery / Thriller High School Books
Plot
Hello Dark Academia. Centered around Devon and Chiamaka, the only black students at an elite private school, this is one wild thriller. After being chosen by prefects on the first day of their senior year, Devon and Chiamaka quickly become the targets of the mysterious Aces – a dangerous gossip girl-type character out to ruin their lives.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
I was on pins and needles as this thriller unraveled, addressing systemic racism in private institutions in the process.
Find this book in: Books Set in High School / Dark Academia Novel / Stalker Books / Psychological Thriller Books
A Study in Charlotte
Author: Brittany Cavallaro
Year: 2016
Genre: YA Mystery
More info: Charlotte Holmes #1
Age Range: 13+
Plot
I enjoyed the first book in the Charlotte Holmes Trilogy. I’ve mentioned before that I am a big Sherlock Holmes fan. This Sherlock Holmes retelling differs from the others because it occurs in modern times.
The central characters are the teenage descendants of Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson. In the story, Jamie Watson has just started at an elite boarding school where he meets Charlotte Holmes. Charlotte is not interested in being Jamie’s friend, but when a student dies under suspicious circumstances, they must work together to clear their names.
Why Kirsten loves it
The adolescent angle leaves room for error in Holmes’ deductive reasoning skills. Watson is also a more fleshed-out character who has deductive reasoning skills of his own. This classic retelling wraps up nicely and the characters solve the mystery leaving enough open ends to allow for a sequel.
Find this book in: Sherlock Holmes Retellings / Books Set in High School / Detective Books / Best Books for 13-year-olds / Dark Academia Books / Classic Retellings
Plot
At a prestigious private school in New England, a group of kids known as “The Players” rule the school. They get top grades, get into the best schools, and rule the social scene. But when one of the girls in the group is murdered, her best friend Jill begins to investigate who the real murderer is and just how dark their privileged world is.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a book that will make you think about what privilege means and the lengths people will take to get what they want. I read it in one sitting because the story drew me in. I couldn’t go to sleep until it was done!
Find this book in: Books About Secret Societies / Best Mystery Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books / Books Set in High School
Plot
What happens when a group of entitled parents are all fighting to get their kids into the most prestigious universities? Backstabbing, jealousy, and doing anything to get their kids ahead. I do not want to ruin the book by giving anything away but the lying and conniving things that the parents in this book do to get their child one step ahead leads to potentially deadly consequences.
Why Jackie loves it
Girls with Bright Futures was #gifted to me and it is a total page-turner! I was shocked by what people were willing to do but not so shocked that every page of this book could not be true! However, this book is more than just a fast-paced race to the finish. It has heart, and emotion and had me rooting for the underdog.
Find this book in: Books Set in High School / Beach Reads 2021
Fantasy Novels Set in High School
Plot
The lines between reality and fiction are perfectly blurred. It is a book about a book and making a movie about that same book. ( follow that? Lol) Flo and Clara were two students at the Brookhants School for girls. When they become obsessed with a book by Mary MacLane, it ultimately leads to their deaths and the school closes soon after.
Now, Merritt Emmons has published a book about Brookhants that is being made into a movie, and the doors of Brookhants are open for filming. The story intertwines the lives of all those who read the book and the mystery and supernatural that follow them.
Why Jackie loves it
I started Plain Bad Heroines and I did not know what to think. I was debating giving up on the book for a little while because I just wasn’t sure where the book was going. Fast forward. I loved it and I am glad I stuck with it. This YA fantasy book has all the makings of cult horror. It is scary, complex and so well-written.
Find this book in: Thriller Horror / Books Like Ninth House / Books Set in High School / Dark Academia Books
Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Year: 2009
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: Fallen #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Luce has been sent to Sword and Cross boarding school, a place for other troubled kids like her. The minute she gets to the school, Daniel catches her eye but he will not give her the time of day. But there is more to Daniel and Luce will discover his secrets no matter what the cost.
This Fae series is addicting. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. If you are looking for romance books about second chances (or third or fourth), you will love this book. If you are into Rhysand, Azriel, Cassian, and the other winged warriors of the Night Court, then you will love this series of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Why Kirsten loves it
I picked up the first book in this YA fantasy series and quickly fell in love with the first book and the story of Daniel and Luce’s love.
Why Jackie loves it
This Fae series is addicting. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you are into Rhysand, Azriel, Cassian, and the other winged warriors of the Night Court, this is the book for you!
Find this book in: Fae Books / Best Fantasy Books for Teens / Urban Fantasy / Books Set in High School
Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Year: 2005
Genre: YA Fantasy
More info: The Twilight Saga #1
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
When Bella Swan goes to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she needs to start a new school. As she begins to settle in and make friends, she is drawn to Edward Cullen, a mysterious teenager with an old soul.
But Edward and his family are keeping secrets – they are more dangerous than they look. Can Bella stay away or will she fall for Edward and risk her life in the process?
Why Kirsten loves it
The way I binged this book series…. it took over my life! When the movie came out, I decided to finally read this series I had heard so much about. I finished each book in about a day and then promptly dragged my husband to see it with me. I haven’t been this obsessed with a series since HP.
Why Jackie loves it
Twilight started a phenomenon and obsession with vampires in the same way that Harry Potter created an obsession with magic. It was addictive to read! This is my opinion but I am sticking with it. This is a must-read young adult fantasy book.
Find this book in: Fantasy Book Series / Books Set in High School / High School Romances / Twilight Books in Order / Urban Fantasy Books / Vampire Books
Literary Fiction Books Set in High School
Plot
This contemporary fiction story revolves around four families as they work to get their children into the new public charter school for gifted children in their wealthy Colorado neighborhood. There are lots of family secrets to unravel and drama galore, but there is a message at the heart of this book.
How much of our wishes and lives are we pushing on our children? Is being the very best what they should be striving for?
Why Kirsten loves it
I found myself contemplating my children and how I’m raising them. Isn’t that the best part of a good book? When the story hits so close to home it leaves you contemplating your life, your children, and your purpose in the world. I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s highly entertaining and, quite frankly, a must-read for the parents.
Find this book in: Books About Mothers / Books Set in High School / Contemporary Fiction Novels / Best Books of 2019
True Biz
Author: Sara Nović
Year: 2022
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: April 2022 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
True Biz is an eye-opening look at the life of deaf high schoolers in boarding school. The ins and outs of deaf society are fascinating and made me realize I knew so little about the deaf community.
Set at River Valley School for the Deaf, the story revolves around 2 students, Austin and Charlie, as well as their headmistress, February who is fighting to keep the school open for the students who desperately need it.
Trigger Warnings
Ableism, Death of a Parent, Medical Trauma
Why Kirsten loves it
I learned about the ASL vs hearing aids debate. I learned about the politics and drama that go into running a deaf school. I learned that there is a black version of ASL and it’s possible to be racist when signing. And of course, I fell for the romantic entanglements and blooming friendships between the students.
Find this book in: Coming-of-Age Books for Teens / Books set in High School
Prep
Author: Curtis Sittenfeld
Year: 2005
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The Massachusetts school seemed to be a Yale wanna-be with rich, preppy kids who have the world at their feet. I avidly followed Lee’s story of trying to find her place in the halls.
Why Kirsten loves it
I recall reading this book set at a high school boarding school back when I was a recent boarding school graduate. My school was nothing like the competitive, snobby school this story is set at, but I loved it just the same.
Find this book in: Books set in High School
I Have Some Questions for You
Author: Rebecca Makkai
Year: 2023
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: Named a Best Book of 2023 by The Washington Post, People, USA Today, NPR, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Real Simple, & The Boston Globe
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a brand new thriller from the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Finalist author of The Great Believers. Bodie Cane is a film professor who wishes she could forget her past at a boarding school where a classmate was murdered. Now, she has been invited to return and lecture and she cannot stop feeling that she may have known more about the murder than she originally thought.
Why Jackie loves it
Makkai is a brilliant writer and storyteller. She weaves an utterly compelling story. This book will have you questioning your own memories and the idea of a collective memory as well. While I liked The Great Believers more than this book, this literary fiction is page-turning and thought-provoking.
Find this book in: Books set in High School
The Faculty Lounge
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Year: 2024
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: National Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This delightful story follows a set of teachers across an academic year – each narrating a different story as the year progresses. It opens with a first-year teacher finding a substitute teacher dead of old age in the faculty lounge.
From meddling PTA moms to personal issues impacting faculty performance, from district overstepping to parents challenging curriculum, this story truly covers all the highs and lows of being a teacher in the world today.
Why Kirsten loves it
Both hilarious and poignant, this story reminds me of Abbott Elementary in the best way. I felt deeply for the teachers and their struggles while laughing along with their missteps and flaws. #Gifted by Dutton
Find this book in: Best Contemporary Fiction 2024 / Books Set in High School
YA Fiction Set in High School
The Hate U Give
Author: Angie Thomas
Year: 2017
Genre: YA fiction
More info: National Book Award Longlist · Printz Honor Book · Coretta Scott King Honor Book
Age Range: 15+
Plot
This fantastic and incredibly relevant young adult novel tackles the Black Lives Matter movement. Starr is straddling a line between two worlds. She attends a prestigious prep school where she is one of 2 black children in her grade but she lives in a poor neighborhood 40 minutes down the road.
She switches her personality so that she can fit in wherever she is, never truly being her whole self. When she witnesses her unarmed childhood best friend get killed by a policeman her entire life changes.
She needs to decide what to tell and to whom because her words can have dire consequences for her family and her community.
Trigger Warnings
racism, gun violence, police brutality
Why Kirsten loves it
Angie Thomas’s storytelling in this one was impressive. She was able to portray so many relevant topics in one book and put the reader in Starr’s shoes.
Why Jackie loves it
It’s a truly wonderful coming-of-age story from thought-provoking books set in high school that all young adults should read.
Find this book in: Thought Provoking Books / Best Audiobooks of all Time / Best Books Set in High School / Books by Female BIPOC Authors / Coming-of-Age Books for Teens
With the Fire on High
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Year: 2019
Genre: YA Fiction
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 13+
Plot
This story is set in Philly (which I love) and features a Black woman of Caribbean descent who is entering her senior year of college. Emoni wants to be a world-class chef but struggles with pursuing her passions in the kitchen while balancing the responsibilities of having a toddler.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
After hearing a lot about this particular coming-of-age story, I quickly snatched it up, and let me tell you, the hype is real. It’s a true coming-of-age story that is as delicious to devour as the many recipes described in the book.
Why Jackie loves it
This book reminds me of Lessons in Chemistry because the two main characters have so much in common. Both are trying to balance career and parenthood and both are chefs!
Find this book in: Books Like Lessons in Chemistry / Coming-of-age Books for Teens / Books set in High School
The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen
Author: Isaac Blum
Year: 2022
Genre: YA Fiction
More info: William C. Morris Award Winner
Age Range: 12+
Plot
Hoodie Rosen and his Orthodox Jewish community have relocated to a new city to set up roots. But they aren’t feeling welcomed in their new home and are facing antisemitic acts both big and small daily.
As he grapples with his place, not just in the new town but within his own community, Hoodie meets and falls for the mayor’s non-Jewish daughter, Anna-Maria. His friendship with her sends shockwaves through his close-knit community and compounded with the antisemitism, it leaves poor Hoodie struggling with what it means to be a Jewish man.
Trigger Warnings
Antisemitism, Gun violence, Hate crime
Why Kirsten loves it
With antisemitism on the rise, this poignant novel is so deeply important. But more than that, Hoodie’s narration had me feeling as if I was inside the head of the 15-year-old boy who, while being an orthodox Jew, is just grappling with the worries and fears of every adolescent boy.
Find this book in: Books by Jewish Writers / Thought-Provoking Books / Coming-of-age Books for Teens / Books set in High School
Anna K
Author: Jenny Lee
Year: 2020
Genre: YA Fiction
More info: Anna K #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This modern-day YA classic retelling of Anna Karenina was SO GOOD. It’s set in NYC at an elite prep school with total Gossip Girl vibes. Manhattan’s teenage elite are partying, shopping, and hosting incredible parties. Anna K is torn between her long-term boyfriend and her attraction to Count Vronsky.
Why Kirsten loves it
While this is a retelling of a story I already know, there were enough twists to make it interesting! It was such a wonderful escapist read and I can’t wait to tackle the sequel!
Find this book in: Books set in High School / High School Romances / Classic Retellings
Romance Books Set in High School
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Year: 2014
Genre: YA Romance
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 12+
Plot
Imagine if all your past crushes found out you liked them all at once. EEK! That’s what happens to the heroine, Lara Jean Covey when the love letters she wrote get mailed! Now, she’s reached an agreement with her former crush, Peter, to fake a relationship to make his ex jealous. But their relationship is fake —- or is it?
Why Kirsten loves it
I love Lara Jean – she is quirky, cute, and reminds me of me in high school – except she gets to date the most popular boy at school. I love this innocent book for middle schoolers looking for their first romance, though as an adult, I enjoyed this one tremendously!
Find this book in: Fake Dating Novels / Coming-of-age Books for Teens / Netflix Book Adaptations / Books About Sisters / Female Bipoc Authors / Books set in High School
I Kissed Shara Wheeler
Author: Casey McQuiston
Year: 2022
Genre: YA Romance
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This LGBTQ YA Romance is a refreshing and sweet romance about Shara Wheeler, her academic rival Chloe, Smith, her quarterback boyfriend, and Rory her neighbor before disappearing and leaving clues for the three to find her. The scavenger hunt is both a literal and figurative search for Chloe, Smith, and Rory to find Shara and themselves in the process.
Trigger Warnings
Homophobia
Why Jackie loves it
This smart book had me listening nonstop. This is a sweet romance pick from books set in high school
Find this book in: Books Set in High School / High School Romances / YA Romance Books
Plot
Becca Hart has not believed in true love since her father left them. When her former BFF teases her for never having a relationship, she pretends that she has a boyfriend and is even more shocked when the captain of the football team pretends that it is him. He has his own reasons for wanting an uncomplicated, fake relationship.
Why Jackie loves it
This is a very sweet YA romance about a fake relationship. I read this for our summer reading challenge.
Find this book in: High School Romances / Books Set in High School / YA Romances
Helpful Tip
- While these books are set in high school, not all of them are appropriate for teens! Pay attention to age recommendations!
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are covered in high school English class?
Lots of different books, especially classics, are taught in High School. You’ll be looking at more complex themes with harder-to-read text in an analytical setting.
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Epilogue
I love the nostalgia trip that a high school novel has on me. It’s such a special time in life that is fun to revisit with a good book. What are your favorite books set in high school? Did you find any you want to read on this list? Let us know below!
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