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Back to school: Team Bookends takes you back to the books…

… But the kind of books you actually want to be reading. In a bid to make the return to school/uni/work, we’ve put together a list of titles with a school-college theme. This way you can at least pretend to be doing something studious!

A HEART BENT OUT OF SHAPE – Emylia Hall

9780755390892Soon after Hadley Dunn makes the life-changing decision to study abroad in the Swiss city of Lausanne tragedy strikes. Left reeling and guilt-stricken, she leans on her American Literature professor Joel Wilson. But as the pair try to uncover the truth of what happened that fateful night, their tentative friendship heads into forbidden territory…

‘A thriller, coming-of-age story and love letter to Switzerland, all in one’ Good Housekeeping

Buy it now!

ONLY EVER YOURS – Louise O’Neill

Only Ever Yours packshot

The Handmaid’s Tale meets Mean Girls in this award-winning, critically acclaimed debut. Eves are designed, not made.  The School trains them to be pretty.  The School trains them to be good.  The School trains them to Always be Willing.  All their lives, the eves have been waiting. Now, they are ready for the outside world.

companion . . . concubine . . .   or chastity

Only the best will be chosen.  And only the Men decide.

But it now!

THE SECRET PLACE – Tana French

The Secret Place

Detective Stephen Moran hasn’t seen Holly Mackey since she was a nine-year-old witness to the events of  Faithful Place. Now she’s sixteen and she’s shown up outside his squad room, with a photograph and a story.  The photo shows a boy who was murdered a year ago.  The caption says, ‘I KNOW WHO KILLED HIM’.

Even in her exclusive boarding school, in the graceful golden world that Stephen has always longed for, bad things happen and people have secrets. The previous year, Christopher Harper, from the neighbouring boys’ school, was found murdered on the grounds. And today, in the Secret Place – the school noticeboard where girls can pin up their secrets anonymously – Holly found the card.

Buy it now!

HELLO GOODBYE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN – Jennifer E. Smith

9781472221032

One night. A life-changing decision. And a list…


Of course Clare made a list. She creates lists for everything.  But tonight is Clare and Aidan’s last night before college and this list will decide their future, together or apart.  It takes them on a rollercoaster ride through their past – from the first hello in science class to their first dance in a darkened gymnasium – all the way up to tonight.

Buy it now!

BEFORE I FALL – Lauren Oliver

BIF

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High–from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death–and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

Buy it now!

 

Liked this? Why not…

Be the first to read an extract  from Louise O’Neill’s new novel ASKING FOR IT

Check out our list of sweet short stories for a quick bookish fix

Don’t forget to check back in on Friday for our nostalgic school favourites.