The Backporch Book Club: October Pick — The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand
Our third gathering of The Backporch Book Club was one to remember! This month, we cracked open Elin Hilderbrand’s The Academy — a twisty, high-stakes tale set in the elite halls of Tiffin Academy, where ambition, privilege, and secrets collide. From the moment we met the students, faculty, and mysterious undercurrents of the school, we were completely hooked.
We found ourselves swept into the world of glossy perfection hiding cracks beneath the surface. The themes of identity, secrecy, privilege, and truth sparked deep discussion — and our group loved exploring the characters more than the plot itself. Every personality in this book gave us something to debate, dissect, or swoon (and side-eye) over.
A Night at Tiffin Academy: Décor & Details 🎓🐎
We went full “dark academia” with our table setup — elegant, moody, and perfectly preppy. The green-and-gold color palette captured the refined boarding school feel of The Academy.
Table Décor Highlights:
🐴 Horse Statue: Amazon link — a striking centerpiece inspired by the equestrian touches throughout the story.
🐎 Horse Napkin Rings: Amazon link — an elegant nod to Tiffin’s traditions.
💚 Hunter Green Tablecloth & Napkins: link 1 | link 2 — deep tones that set the mood.
✨ Gold Chargers: Amazon link — the perfect touch of sophistication.
🍽️ Plastic Plates: Amazon link — beautiful and easy cleanup (always a win!).
🥂 Coupe Glasses: VEMACITY Ribbed Espresso Glasses — a Backporch favorite for serving cocktails in style.
🎀 Forest Green Ribbon: Ribbli Ribbon — used on menus and gifts for a tied-together look.
💡 Library Lamps: Walmart link — soft lighting that gave the table a warm, scholarly glow.
🍸 Horse Cocktail Stirrers: Amazon link — adorable finishing touch!
And to really bring Tiffin Academy to life, we dressed the seating area with a hunter green velvet slipcover (link here) — instantly transforming our porch couch into the famous “Sixth Form Couch.”
Cocktails & Menu 🍸🍴
Our meal was a collective effort — a delicious nod to the menu crafted by The Academy’s on-page chef. Each member brought a dish from our beautifully designed Canva menu (see it here), making for a meal that was as impressive as it was cozy.
Our signature cocktails of the evening came straight from Priorities:
✈️ The Aviation: Recipe here — a dreamy lavender hue and a hit with the group.
🍋 The Tom Collins: Recipe here — crisp, light, and refreshingly classic.
Each drink was served in our ribbed coupe glasses and garnished with the gold horse stirrers — sophisticated and whimsical, just the way we like it.
Games, Gifts & The ZipZap Scandal 📱💬
This meeting’s activities were clever, interactive, and laugh-out-loud fun.
ZipZap Game: Everyone texted a “ZipZap” about themselves to the host — the juicier, the better. Throughout the night, random ZipZaps were “posted” in our group chat, and we had to guess who wrote each one. It was the perfect mix of mystery and mischief — very Academy!
Book Selection Game: To choose next month’s book, we played Spin the Bottle — Book Edition! We lined up hardcover books in a circle, spun one in the middle, and let fate decide. It could easily work with Kindle titles or notes on phones too!
Party Favors: Each member left with a mini bottle of champagne tied with a forest green ribbon, in honor of Simone — a toast to resilience and reinvention. 🥂
Final Thoughts & Rating 🌟
We had a fantastic discussion that focused more on the depth of the characters than on the plot itself — a refreshing and meaningful change of pace. While not every twist landed perfectly, the story gave us plenty to analyze and debate.
✨ Our Rating: 4/5 stars.
Dark academia meets Nantucket intrigue — stylish, layered, and just the right amount of drama.
Next Month’s Pick 📚
For November, we’re diving into Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben — a collaboration we’re already buzzing about. A blend of suspense, emotion, and cinematic storytelling? Sign us up!
We can’t wait to gather again, sip something cozy, and see what secrets this next story has in store.
Until next time, Backporch readers — may your champagne stay bubbly, your group chats stay lively, and your books always leave you wanting one more chapter. ❤️
