Spring is a season of becoming, and in this episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley dives into The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham, a story filled with secrets, shifting friendships, and the quiet pressure to belong.

Set in an elite boarding school, The Academy explores what it means to enter new spaces and navigate identity, ambition, and social dynamics while trying to stay true to yourself. Lara reflects on the characters we root for, the ones we side-eye, and the universal experience of figuring out who we are when everything around us is new.

In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, this episode also highlights author Axie Oh and the importance of supporting culturally rich, emotionally grounded storytelling.

Plus, Lara shares a curated Community Library featuring dark academia and  ...