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10 Must-Read Ivy League Novels

10 Must-Read Ivy League Novels

These 10 Ivy League novels offer diverse perspectives on Ivy League institutions, ranging from academic pressure and intellectual pursuits to social dynamics and personal identity. Here are 10 Ivy League novels that either directly involve Ivy League institutions or explore themes associated with them.

10 Must-Read Ivy League Novels

1. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

This novel follows a group of classics students at an elite New England college, resembling the atmosphere and academic rigor often associated with Ivy League institutions. It delves into themes of privilege, intellectual elitism, and moral ambiguity.

2. The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

Set in the early 1980s, this novel revolves around three college seniors at Brown University (an Ivy League institution) and explores their relationships, aspirations, and struggles post-graduation. It offers insights into the dynamics of Ivy League academic and social life.

3. Bright College Years by Andrew Pessin

When a former close friend and rival is murdered, world-weary but still aspiring optimist Jeffrey goes back to the beginning, to those fraught college years at Yale University during the 1980s and to her, to make sense of what happened—only to discover that what needs most making sense of is himself. By turns smart, funny, and heart-wrenching, Bright College Years tracks Jeff and an ensemble cast as they navigate the shortest, gladdest, most complex years of life.

4. The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason

Set at Princeton University, this mystery novel follows two students as they unravel the secrets of a Renaissance text while dealing with the pressures of academia and the expectations of their Ivy League environment.

5. Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan

This novel follows four friends who met at Smith College (a prestigious women’s college often associated with the Ivy League) as they navigate life post-graduation, exploring themes of friendship, feminism, and identity.

6. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

While not solely focused on Ivy League life, this novel partially takes place at Princeton University and offers a glimpse into the early 20th-century collegiate experience, including the social dynamics and aspirations of Ivy League students.

7. Changing Places by David Lodge

Although set in England, this novel humorously explores academic life and the exchange program between the fictional University of Rummidge and the fictional Euphoric State University (modeled after the University of California, Berkeley, and an Ivy League institution, respectively).

8. I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe

Set at the fictional Dupont University (reminiscent of Ivy League institutions), this novel follows Charlotte Simmons, a bright and naive freshman, as she navigates the social and academic challenges of college life, touching upon themes of elitism, sexuality, and identity.

9. Harvard Square by André Aciman

This novel follows an unnamed narrator’s experiences as a graduate student at Harvard University, exploring themes of identity, cultural displacement, and the allure of academic success within the Ivy League.

10. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

While primarily focused on baseball, this novel is set at a fictional liberal arts college in Wisconsin but captures the spirit of Ivy League academic and athletic competitiveness, exploring themes of ambition, friendship, and the pursuit of perfection.

Related: 10 Must-Read Campus Novels and 5 Must-Read Novels Set In Colleges And Universities

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