The Story
'An absolute masterpiece' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ganymede's is no ordinary boarding school. Behind its spiral towers and manicured lawns, boys are forged into the men society demands - strong, obedient, perfect. Graduate, and the world is yours: a home, a career, a wife. But fail... and you're no longer useful to society.
For Dylan Cecil it should be simple: keep his head down, survive graduation, and earn his place. But when his friend, Blake, disappears, Dylan can't silence the questions gnawing at him, even as whispers of danger shadow the school's gilded halls.
As June's trials close in - eight tests that will decide who is worthy of manhood - Dylan is haunted by Blake's absence and drawn to Roman Edwards, a boy as magnetic as he is unknowable.
In a world rebuilt on order and obedience, Dylan must decide: will he become the man the academy wants - or the man he really is?
Praise for The Boyfriend Academy'A brilliant blend of dark academia, mystery, murder and forbidden love' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I adored this book so much. I absolutely devoured it and I am left gasping for more. Chilling and deeply personal' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I was hooked from every chapter.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I don't remember the last time I stayed up until 4am because I couldn't put a book down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Tense, atmospheric, and unforgettable' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Brilliant, politically and emotionally charged ... You won't be able to put it down!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Dark, thought provoking and emotionally resonant' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Everything I love about dark academia - a gripping mystery, compelling characters and an immaculate school setting, all woven behind a sweet and tender love story' Lucy Jane Wood, Sunday Times bestseller of Rewitched
'A page turner that kept me guessing until the end ... I will be thinking about it for a long time' Laurie Gilmore, #1 New York Times bestselling author
'A dystopian Dead Poets Society... an exciting new voice in speculative fiction and I can't wait to read more from him' Anna Fiteni, author of The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
'Ambitious, haunting and politically charged, The Boyfriend Academy presents a sweeping dystopian vision through the intimate lens of a forbidden queer relationship that leaves a lasting impression' Zac Hammett, author of See You at the Finish Line
'Dark Academia at its best... blends forbidden love, dangerous trials and secret societies. In a world where questioning is dangerous, mystery and romance collide... an absolute must read!' Tamara Price, author of The Alchemist's Daughter
'Brooding, tense and seriously atmospheric... Consider me hooked on J S Strange!' Hannah Doyle, author of The Long Haul
'Bold, audacious...and like nothing I've ever read before' Hayley Dunlop, author of It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Author: J. S. Strange
Publisher: One More Chapter
Published: 04/28/2026
Pages: 432
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 7.80h x 5.00w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780008714086
Review Citation(s):
Booklist 03/01/2026
About the Author
Strange, J. S.: -
J. S. Strange lives in Wales surrounded by books, and his three cats. With an interest in the occult, the esoteric, and the paranormal, J. S. Strange often finds himself waiting for Halloween, or thinking how he can make his home more supernatural. Author of The Boyfriend Academy, J. S. Strange is also working on murder mysteries with gay male leads.
Description
'An absolute masterpiece' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ganymede's is no ordinary boarding school. Behind its spiral towers and manicured lawns, boys are forged into the men society demands - strong, obedient, perfect. Graduate, and the world is yours: a home, a career, a wife. But fail... and you're no longer useful to society.
For Dylan Cecil it should be simple: keep his head down, survive graduation, and earn his place. But when his friend, Blake, disappears, Dylan can't silence the questions gnawing at him, even as whispers of danger shadow the school's gilded halls.
As June's trials close in - eight tests that will decide who is worthy of manhood - Dylan is haunted by Blake's absence and drawn to Roman Edwards, a boy as magnetic as he is unknowable.
In a world rebuilt on order and obedience, Dylan must decide: will he become the man the academy wants - or the man he really is?
Praise for The Boyfriend Academy'A brilliant blend of dark academia, mystery, murder and forbidden love' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I adored this book so much. I absolutely devoured it and I am left gasping for more. Chilling and deeply personal' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I was hooked from every chapter.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I don't remember the last time I stayed up until 4am because I couldn't put a book down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Tense, atmospheric, and unforgettable' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Brilliant, politically and emotionally charged ... You won't be able to put it down!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Dark, thought provoking and emotionally resonant' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Everything I love about dark academia - a gripping mystery, compelling characters and an immaculate school setting, all woven behind a sweet and tender love story' Lucy Jane Wood, Sunday Times bestseller of Rewitched
'A page turner that kept me guessing until the end ... I will be thinking about it for a long time' Laurie Gilmore, #1 New York Times bestselling author
'A dystopian Dead Poets Society... an exciting new voice in speculative fiction and I can't wait to read more from him' Anna Fiteni, author of The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire
'Ambitious, haunting and politically charged, The Boyfriend Academy presents a sweeping dystopian vision through the intimate lens of a forbidden queer relationship that leaves a lasting impression' Zac Hammett, author of See You at the Finish Line
'Dark Academia at its best... blends forbidden love, dangerous trials and secret societies. In a world where questioning is dangerous, mystery and romance collide... an absolute must read!' Tamara Price, author of The Alchemist's Daughter
'Brooding, tense and seriously atmospheric... Consider me hooked on J S Strange!' Hannah Doyle, author of The Long Haul
'Bold, audacious...and like nothing I've ever read before' Hayley Dunlop, author of It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Author: J. S. Strange
Publisher: One More Chapter
Published: 04/28/2026
Pages: 432
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 7.80h x 5.00w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780008714086
Review Citation(s):
Booklist 03/01/2026
About the Author
Strange, J. S.: -
J. S. Strange lives in Wales surrounded by books, and his three cats. With an interest in the occult, the esoteric, and the paranormal, J. S. Strange often finds himself waiting for Halloween, or thinking how he can make his home more supernatural. Author of The Boyfriend Academy, J. S. Strange is also working on murder mysteries with gay male leads.
