Dark academia meets millennial cliché? Count me in.

These days, not all of the books that get publicity hype appeal to me; that luster faded in the wake of my feverish excitement and subsequent disappointment in a certain Irish author’s third novel (IYK-YK). But when I read the synopsis for Rebecca Makkai’s latest book, I Have Some Questions For You, I had a strong feeling it would deliver.

I Have Some Questions For You takes the literary trend of “dark academia” and looks at it from a fresh, forensic, millennial perspective. Yes, the concept is a bit on the nose - it takes place in 2017, and the main character is a feminist film professor and (naturally) podcast host. But the overall concept was enticing enough to override the predictable protagonist: said podcast host, whose name is Bodie, is returning to the New Hampshire boarding school where her roommate was murdered as she’s convinced the man currently in jail for the crime is innocent.

What follows is a fast-paced and fun, if occasionally sanctimonious, twist on the classic “dark academia” tale (more on those later). The tone was less Tartt and more Sittenfeld (a compliment, to be clear! She’s one of my favorite authors), and it’s the type of book designed to appeal to both avid readers and those dipping their toe alike. The ending felt a bit rushed - ironic, given that the book also felt a bit long - but it was well-written and enjoyable the entire way through. It’s the perfect read to curl up with on a cold fall day.