Uni can be a novel experience

Starting university is both a daunting and exciting time in a person’s life. It’s often the first taste of independence, offering the freedom to explore new identities and reinvent oneself. Unsurprisingly, this transformative period has been a popular subject in literature for centuries. The university novel captures this pivotal stage, where protagonists are shaped by their experiences — for better or worse, depending on the story and, of course, the reader’s interpretation.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt
We begin with Tartt’s modern classic, which follows the lives of six classics students at an elite liberal arts college in Vermont. The protagonist, Richard Papen, embraces the idea of reinvention a little too eagerly. Coming from a modest background, he pretends to be from the same privileged class as his wealthy peers after gaining admission through a scholarship.

Once accepted into their insular group, Richard becomes entangled in a world of intellectual obsession and moral ambiguity. As their academic curiosity spirals into something far darker, he soon finds himself involved in events more sinister than he ever imagined — burying more than just secrets.

This novel presents a much darker take on the genre, exploring themes of class division within academic settings and questioning the cost of belonging. It asks how far someone might go to fit in — and whether it’s ever truly worth it.

It’s a quieter, gentler take on the university experience, but an honest one many will recognise

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
A bit more niche, but this novel shaped many of my own early ideas about university life. Fangirl follows Cath, a devoted fan (as the title suggests) of the Simon Snow franchise — a passion once shared with her twin sister, Wren. Now that they’ve started university, Wren wants to carve out her own identity, choosing not to room with Cath and even cutting her hair in a break from their shared past.

Cath, more introverted and anxious about change, struggles with this newfound independence and the emotional distance growing between them. She finds the social side of university life even harder than the academic, throwing herself into her popular Simon Snow fanfiction while battling critiques from her creative writing professor and struggling to find her own creative voice. She also worries about their widowed father, now living alone, hours away.

This is a heartfelt and relatable novel that explores the emotional challenges of starting university — letting go of childhood comforts, navigating social anxiety, and managing the fear of growing apart from family. It’s a quieter, gentler take on the university experience, but an honest one many will recognise.

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
University novels aren’t just a recent trend, nor are they exclusive to American campuses. Published in 1945, Brideshead Revisited follows the life and romantic entanglements of Captain Charles Ryder during his time at Oxford University in the 1920s. Charles befriends Sebastian Flyte, the eccentric younger son of a Marquess, and is soon drawn into his glamorous, chaotic world. He’s introduced to a circle of aristocratic friends and, eventually, to the grand country estate of Brideshead itself.

Over time, Charles becomes further entangled with the Flyte family through frequent visits to Brideshead. The years bring many changes and tragedies, and eventually, Charles leaves the house — he thinks for good — only to return decades later during the upheaval of World War II.

For those who’ve seen Saltburn, this may all feel oddly familiar. While that film undoubtedly draws inspiration from Waugh’s novel, Brideshead offers a more nostalgic and reflective take on class, friendship, and faith — less shocking, but still emotionally rich.

The book captures the disillusionment and uncertainty of early adulthood

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Another older novel, though Fitzgerald is best known for his first book, The Great Gatsby, published in 1920, and heavily inspired by his own time at Princeton. This Side of Paradise follows Amory Blaine, a handsome, self-absorbed young man navigating love, identity, and ambition during and after his university years.

As he immerses himself in campus life, literary ideals, and romantic pursuits, Amory experiences both passion and heartbreak — on and off the battlefield. The book captures the disillusionment and uncertainty of early adulthood, especially in the shadow of World War I.

While less polished than Fitzgerald’s later work, it offers a raw, introspective look at the intellectual and emotional turbulence that often defines student life. It’s a university novel that blends youthful arrogance with existential questioning — a coming-of-age story steeped in romantic idealism and sharp cultural commentary.

Whether you’re a fresher or a returner, these books illustrate the fun, strangeness, and transformation that university life can bring. Give them a read and see if they speak to your own experience — just hopefully not every aspect of The Secret History…