10 Prep School Page-Turners to Keep You Up All Night
by Dena McMurdie
Prep school holds a certain mystique that makes for fantastic young adult fiction, especially when it’s paired with something unexpected like mystery, espionage, or murder. There’s something hypnotizing about the secrets hiding beneath a manicured exterior.
Whether about spies, mystery, humor, or romance, I’m always captivated by a good prep school book. Here are some of the titles that have kept me reading well past my bedtime.
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S.T.A.G.S.
When Greer receives an invitation to spend the weekend huntin' shootin' fishin' with the popular kids from school, she thinks it's her chance to finally fit in. She never expects to become their prey. This is a tension-filled thriller about secret societies, blood sports, and the desperate need for acceptance.
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People Like Us
Available from:As one of the popular girls at a private boarding school, Kat has a lot to lose when a classmate turns up dead. With an anonymous blogger set on revenge, dark secrets, and a protagonist with a troubled past, this prep school thriller will keep you guessing until the last page.
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Orphan Monster Spy
Available from:A blond-haired, blue-eyed Jewish girl in WWII Germany infiltrates a private school for the children of top Nazi officers. This chilling story will keep you turning the suspense-filled pages from beginning to end.
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A Study in Charlotte
Jamie Watson prefers to stay away from Charlotte Holmes, even if their ancestors were the most famous detective duo in history. But when a student is murdered at the boarding school they both attend, Jamie and Charlotte join forces to solve the crime and get their names off the suspect list. It's a clever mystery novel with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.
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The Merciless
Available from:Read this book with the lights on. It's a mind-bending horror story about mean girls, deception, and exorcism. With a whip-smart, calculating heroine and an intense plot, you won't be able to put it down.
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Etiquette and Espionage
This finishing school is unlike any you've ever read about. In a floating dirigible above the moors of England, these students learn to finish things — including people. Packed with action, humor, and paranormal creatures, this steampunk novel serves up an extra lump of intrigue and adventure.
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Hex Hall
When Sophie loses control of her magic one too many times, her parents send her to Hex Hall, a reform school for magical beings. If you're in the mood for magic, mayhem, and mystery, this "charming" prep school adventure is just the ticket.
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Truly Devious
A cold case, a resurfaced killer, riddled clues, and hidden tunnels make this an irresistible read. Set at an isolated boarding school surrounded by a spooky forest, this story will keep you glued to the page.
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Gallagher Girls Series
The Gallagher Girls series is a reader favorite and a guaranteed page-turner. Complete with brilliant spies, action-packed missions, gadgets, and a secret teen romance, you'll want to read this entire series in one go.
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Tell Me Three Things
Available from:Jessie is trying (and failing) to fit in at her new prep school until she starts receiving anonymous messages from someone who claims to want to help her. Super cute and entertaining, this contemporary romance novel is the perfect book to read when you need a feel-good story.
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What books would you add to this list? Share your recommendations with us in the comments below!