Briarcliff Prep

De: Brianna Peppins

Narrado por: Imani Parks

Set at a luxe, aspirational boarding school inspired by the author's beloved alma mater Spelman College, this debut is a captivating celebration of the friends we choose, the family we protect, and the love we owe ourselves.

It's fourteen-year-old Avielle "Avi" LeBeau's turn to do what everyone in her family has done: leave home to attend Briarcliff Prep—a Historically Black Boarding School (HBBS). And as scared as she is to say goodbye to her parents and move to Georgia, she knows her fearless big sister Belle will be there to show her the ropes.

Before long, Avi settles into life at Briarcliff. New friends (and foes), challenging classes (at times too challenging), and maybe a cute tutor-turned-something-more (if her brothers don't get in the way).

Meanwhile, Belle does what she always does: she runs the campus's social scene, especially now that she's dating Logan, the pride and joy of Briarcliff's sibling school Preston Academy. But something about Logan doesn't sit well with Avi, no matter how many times Belle reassures her Logan is a good guy. And when Avi stumbles across the truth, her relationship with Belle is put to the test. If Avi reveals what she knows, their sisterhood might never recover. But if she doesn't, she might lose Belle forever.

Debut author Brianna Peppins deftly balances a celebration of sisterhood, self-discovery, and Black joy with an empathetic exploration of teen dating violence in this novel that is, at its heart, a love letter to Black girls.

©2022 Brianna Peppins (P)2022 Disney Hyperion

it plates up like a five-course meal and dares you not to devour it in one sitting. 🍽️🔥

From the very first page, Avi’s journey into Briarcliff Prep feels like stepping through velvet curtains into a world humming with legacy, pressure, and just enough teenage chaos to keep your heart doing cardio. The HBBS setting isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a living, breathing character dripping in culture, tradition, and expectation. You can almost hear the hallways whispering secrets.

Avi herself? Instantly rootable. She’s soft but not weak, observant but not naïve, trying to find her footing while standing in the long shadow of her larger-than-life sister. And Belle? Oh, Belle is a storm in heels. Confident, magnetic, and just a little dangerous in the way she owns every room she walks into.

Then comes Logan… and listen, the tension around him is chef’s kiss suspense. Every interaction feels like a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit, and you’re sitting there like, “Nah… something’s off,” right along with Avi. The slow unraveling of the truth? Deliciously messy.

But the real feast here is the sisterhood. This isn’t some picture-perfect bond wrapped in a bow. It’s layered, complicated, loyal, fragile… the kind of love that can either save you or shatter you depending on the truth you choose to tell. And when that central question hits—protect the relationship or protect the person you love?—it hurts in the best way.

Add in the academic pressure, social politics, a sprinkle of romance, and that constant hum of “who can you really trust,” and you’ve got a story that feels like late-night whispers, side-eyes across the quad, and secrets tucked between textbook pages.