The Elephant in the Ivy

by Alexander Greengaard

"An entertaining romp that celebrates friendship, performance, and the controlled chaos of university life." — Kirkus Reviews

The Elephant in the Ivy is a whimsical and irreverent spy novel—of sorts—in the beautiful and mysterious New England college underground.

Alison Ashe is a junior at Bauer College. A scholarship kid, a theatre major, strapped for cash and even more strapped for time; she’s easily annoyed and something about her privileged peers really wigs her out. But unlike most of her peers, Alison has an outlet where starting on third base doesn’t do anyone any favors. Ancient and secret, Bauer is home to a spy game of sorts. A game where all that matters is that your wits are sharp and you’re willing to take big risks. And, of course, who you trust.

Praise for The Elephant in the Ivy:

"It's a real book!" -Danyelle Khmara, Arizona Public Media

"A rollicking heist of a book. Alison Ashe will trick you, and you'll thank her for it." -Grace Olsen, WMHC Radio

Written with support from Pima Open Digital Press, an open educational resource initiative at Pima Community College.

Genres: Young Adult

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2025

About the author

Alexander Greengaard, MFA is an Instructor/Lecturer in the IBEST Program at Pima Community College. He works with students who have faced barriers to education and fights to break those barriers through integrated education and training initiatives, partnerships between basic education and college trade certification programs, and developing open educational materials. Alexander is also the founder of Troubadour, an arts education organization that provides theatre programs to economically marginalized families.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. Published October 25, 2025.

3 stars

Alison Ashe is a junior scholarship student at Brown. She and her mother are from town; he mother works a low wage job in retail and Alison is part of the theatre department which is doing “Hamlet” this semester.

Alison is also part of a campus-wide game which combines capture the flag and spy vs. spy and the game makes her life very exciting and also introduces her to new people, like teammate Paige, a former gymnast. She’s also trying to nail down her major; will Alison be able to succeed in the game and make the tough decisions she needs to?

I loved the idea of the game, but to actually play would stress me out beyond belief. I have to believe there are versions of this being played at a number of college campuses. I liked the sections where the students are preparing for the play. From reading some of the material before the book I understand that the text is supposed to be free for…..someone. I wasn’t clear. Some type of student access. Maybe at community colleges? Just wonder how much a CC student will want to read about Ivy League students. The book was fine.

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elephant in the Ivy by Alexander Greengaard Review

The Elephant in the Ivy by Alexander Greengaard is a whimsical, clever YA campus novel that blends elements of spy intrigue, satire, and college life into an unusual and engaging story. The narrative follows Alison Ashe, a scholarship student and theatre major at a prestigious New England university called Bauer College, where she is juggling academic stress, financial strain, and social pressures from classmates who come from privilege. What makes this setting extraordinary is an ancient, secret campus “spy game” run by faculty and students, where teams representing academic departments engage in strategic missions involving stealth, alliances, and theft of prized ivory figurines called Rajas. Alliances shift, trust falters and renews, and Alison’s participation pushes her to sharpen her wit, test loyalties, and examine what it really means to belong and succeed in an elite environment. This story is as much about identity, performance, friendship, and personal grit as it is about undercover missions in lecture halls and libraries.

What I most enjoyed about this book was how it transformed college life into something thrilling and heartfelt at once, where departmental rivalry becomes a metaphor for belonging and ambition. Alison is a wonderfully vivid protagonist, someone who feels deeply human in her insecurities, intelligence and humor, and the game she enters becomes a fun but meaningful arena where she pushes beyond her limits and learns to trust others.

The novel’s tone is often witty and irreverent, celebrating friendship, performance, problem‑solving and the occasional academic chaos without ever losing emotional depth. Some moments may feel a bit chaotic or confusing at first as the rules of the game unfold, but soon enough the pleasure of clever strategies, surprising twists, and authentic character growth carries you forward. The novel is perfect for readers who appreciate lighthearted campus stories with big heart, inventive world‑building, and characters who grow by figuring out who they are alongside who they want to trust.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Because the smart humor, engaging spy‑like campus plot and heartfelt character growth made this a playful and thought‑provoking read.

[Mag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic ending

[Kimberly Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elephant in the Ivy is a fun and engaging novel that mixes campus life, mystery, and humor. It follows Alison, a college student turned spy, as she navigates secrets, ambition, and friendship. Perfect for those who enjoy a quick and easy read with relatable characters and surprising twists.

Thank you to the author, Prima Open Digital Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

[Krista J. Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read, and a wild ride! In The Elephant in the Ivy, Alexander Greenguard uses vivid descriptions to transport you to  an ancient spy game at the mysterious Bauer College. The book is full of quirky characters and focuses on a theatre major named Alison. She tries to balance her Junior-year requirements, caring for her mother, and playing a risky college spy game. But who can you trust in a game of cloak and dagger? The game and its players are full of surprises, and so is Alison. The dialogue of the theatre students and cast members is smart and witty. 

My favorite thing about this book is how often music is mentioned. The main character, Alison, almost always has earbuds in and chooses songs as a soundtrack to her life. Each song she listens to blends into the narrative, and I enjoyed listening to many of them while reading. The twists and surprises are around every corner. Lovers of mysteries and theatre will enjoy this one!

[lovelettersandlore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me in the best way. I went in not knowing what to expect, and ended up completely wrapped up in the quiet mystery and the emotional layers woven into the story. I kept wanting to read “one more chapter” because the unraveling of the story is so soft, slow, and elegant. It’s the kind of book that feels like a secret you’re being trusted with. And by the end? I was honestly sitting there like… okay, that was really good.

[Samantha✨ [reads everythinggggg] · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5⭐️ I received The Elephant in the Ivy by Alexander Greengaard through a Goodreads giveaway, and after reading the introduction, I was excited to start. I love learning about an author’s intent and the reasons behind why a book was written, and that aspect really stood out to me. I also appreciated how the author explained how this book is meant to be used, and I agree with that approach.

This story feels geared toward a YA audience, but it’s also a quick, enjoyable read for adults—especially for those who are just getting into reading. The beginning was a bit confusing, but after the first few chapters, I realized it wasn’t just a spy story; it also had a capture-the-flag–style element, which made it fun and engaging.

Some parts felt slow, and there were moments of confusion, but overall I followed the story and found myself laughing at certain scenes and on edge during others. I thought the character development was well done, and I really enjoyed the ending.

Also, I loved the playlist included—such a fun and clever touch!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ocean 11, meets a student society of James Bond spy craft, and University student stresses mixed together. Starts well, and as needed in this sort of genre a great reveal at the end. Set in Ivy League Brown, but accessible for all. (Which in part is the authors intent.) There’s lots of humour, and inventiveness as the student ‘Spy club’ factions fight it out to be the cream of the crop. Deceit is the name of the game, as is handing in assignments on time, and maybe the whole performance would have Shakespeare turning in his grave. But then again my fair companions, he’s not adverse to comedy. Thank you to Pima Open Digital Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fun book to read! The first chapter was a little hard to grasp what was going on, but as soon as I started reading the second chapter, it made sense and became a delight to read! I really enjoyed the author's use of a playlist of songs to complement the narrative in the book. A very creative short novel indeed!

[Andy Cretcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that reminds you reading can be both smart and super fun. Greengaard’s writing is witty, breezy, and will make you laugh at all the right moments. It’s a playful, charming read that never tries too hard — the literary equivalent of a friend who’s effortlessly cool but still happy to joke around with you. It is fun, quirky, and an easy yes.

[Veronica Macias · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one wasn’t totally my kind of book, but I still found myself drawn in. The writing is really thoughtful, and there’s this quiet, heavy mood that fits the story perfectly. I liked how flawed and human the characters felt especially the main character, who’s just trying to figure herself out while everything around her feels uncertain. Some parts moved a little slow for me, but there were moments that really hit. Overall I give this book a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!

[Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from a goodreads giveaway, but for those interested it is also available online

The Elephant in the Ivy is described as a spy novel of sorts in which students at Brown University compete in a game similar to capture the flag. The main characters are part of the Theater department, who are notorious for coming in last place every year. The Engineers, on the other hand, are the reigning champions, but have a target on their back as a result of it. The protagonist of the novel is Alison Ashe, a scholarship student involved in too many activities (which is helpful for character building, but not for the plot).

I had a lot of questions while reading this book. There wasn't a lot going on but at the same time there was enough to leave me confused. It felt like a lot of elements were just thrown in and lacked the development needed to leave an impact. For example, Alison's mom is a diabetic and a hoarder. There are very few scenes in the novel that explore this "who mothers whom" dynamic and honestly didn't do anything to improve the plot. It kind of highlights how Alison is a scholarship student and resents her classmates who got into Brown because of legacy. But I think the book could have done just as fine without this subplot.

Another thing that bothered me was the dialogue. It felt like the characters were talking at each other rather than holding an actual conversation. Dialogue is a very strong tool that authors use to develop character relationships while also driving the plot along. However, it was very bland in my opinion and didn't help to explore these characters.

Now, take everything I said and throw it out the window. This novel is actually very clever when taken into consideration that this is a companion novel to Open ELA: A Complete Course in Reading and Language Arts. Greengaard explains in the introduction that it is designed with lessons about literature in mind and for adults who are looking to get into reading. With this in mind, it makes everything about the book make sense. According to the introduction you can read the book as is (which is what I did) or read it with the "Interactive Chapters" section (I actually don't know where this is and couldn't find it).

Overall, I think that this book is perfect for beginner readers, but I wouldn't recommend it to advanced readers. I didn't enjoy the plot (except for the little enemies to lovers kind of subplot but that came out of left field) but I respect Greengaard's goal in writing it.

[Ryan and Sara Wendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does being a good friend mean nowadays? How do we become a trustworthy friend to our peers? Elephant in the Ivy by Alexander Greengaard is an honest and truthful novel that seeks to answer these huge life questions revolving around life’s great lessons – friendship and trust

Alison Ashe, the protagonist, is a spunky and quirky scholarship student from Bauer College. She is a junior majoring in theater. Alison is the kind of college kid who wears her sleeve on her heart. She is quite different from her college peers, too. Alison is an out-of-the-box thinker who is not your typical theater major either.

As the reader, I loved Alison’s spunky tell-it-like-it-is personality. Her off-the-cuff honest personality reminded me of myself. Alison’s ability to be real, honest, and truthful won my heart over as a result!

Through Greengaard’s writing, Alison Ashe’s honesty comes alive in her personality. There is also an authenticity shining forth in her! It is made evident in Greengaard’s writing. Alison is truly a truth-teller to her college peers! As an avid fiction reader, Greengaard’s spy-game writing element is what drew me into Alison’s honest personality .

Elephant in the Ivy by Alexander Greengaard is an honest and truth-telling book! It is full of honest moments and joyous adventures, too! I loved every page of this honest young adult novel! It was fun to read, and brought me tons of joy! Alison’s whimsical character was very relatable as the reader, too!

I recommend this delightful young adult novel to young people seeking to become honest, loyal, and trustworthy friends to their peers! Through the lens of Alison Ashe’s character you will learn to become a committed, honest, and trustworthy friend!

[Desiree Delong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theatre kids are some of the most dramatic people you are ever going to meet, and I mean this quite literally! In The Elephant in the Ivy by Alexander Greengaard, the main character, Alison Ashe, is the quintessential theatre kid. She is very dramatic (not a surprise given she is a drama major) and a junior at Bauer College. On the surface, this seems like your average young adult novel, but then Alison ends up in a spy game that runs on campus. Quite an interesting premise, which is what drew me in!

The main character, for one, is a delight. I adore how all over the place she is and find myself relating to her. She is a bit of an odd duck and a huge nerd, which many kids can relate to. This is where the book shines the most. Alison is a well-fleshed-out character who jumps out from the first page. But the secondary characters have their appeal as well!

This book truly did make me laugh aloud. Its humor is its biggest strong point, and since it is for a kid audience, this will be a good selling point. My only issue was that when we first opened the book, we were thrust right into the plot/first scene without much of an explanation. I understood the setting more as I read, but for the first few pages, it was more than a little confusing.

It is not the biggest deal breaker because once I got to the second chapter, I was able to get into the groove of the book. The book is a bit of a quick read, but that plays in its favor. You can read it in one sitting and really take in everything Alison, her college, and fellow students have to offer!

[Manuela Valencia T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Even though the book is set on a college campus, I found it easy to connect with the characters as they dealt with stress, insecurity, and the need to feel like they belong. Alison Ashe, the novel’s central protagonist and a junior at Bauer College, faces financial hardship and frequent self-doubt while navigating a campus filled with wealthier, more confident students. I appreciated her relatable flaws, her vulnerability, and her determination to keep going.
The clandestine campus game is a highlight of this book, it was incredibly cool. Teams drawn from diverse academic departments, pitted against one another employed espionage, strategy, and teamwork. The initial rules seemed somewhat opaque yet with Alison's involvement the story really comes alive, it becomes truly exciting. That game injects tension into the narrative, driving the story forward at a captivating pace. It further empowers Alison, as she uncovers her hidden strengths, urging her out from her comfort zone. Alison's friendship with Paige really highlight's how crucial support can be, especially when times get tough. The author’s portrayal of authentic relationships really resonated with me, exhibiting trust, loyalty and a fair few misunderstandings. This book delved into ambition, identity and pressures, making it feel so much more profound than just a quick read.
The Elephant in the Ivy is an engaging and thoughtful story that blends humor, creativity, and social insight to show how finding your place often means trusting yourself in an uneven world.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever looked at a college campus and wondered what really happens after the libraries close and the lights dim? The Elephant in the Ivy made me think of my own university days, when everything felt urgent and absurd at the same time and even small risks carried theatrical weight. Alexander Greengaard captures that feeling with a story that treats academia like a stage and student life like a carefully choreographed caper.

Alison Ashe is not spying for governments but for something far more precarious. Belonging. As a scholarship student and theatre major at the fictional Bauer College, she moves through privilege and pressure with a sharp eye and sharper wit. The secret campus wide game at the heart of the novel is confusing at first, much like being dropped into a new social hierarchy with no map, but once it clicks, the logic feels delightfully inevitable. Who would not believe that students already juggling exams and productions would also take deception as a competitive sport?

The novel is playful, sometimes chaotic, and occasionally uneven, yet it leans into those qualities as part of its charm. It reads like a whispered secret passed between friends who trust you to keep up. By the end, the clever reveal feels earned. This is less a spy thriller than a love letter to performance, friendship, and the strange intensity of learning who you are while pretending to be someone else.

[Kathi Heiber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me an insight to present day vernacular and campus life / Lively dialogue , and clever observations - Someone else complained about the similes- but I found them well within the bounds of flowing with the narrative. I only know the Elvis Costello song on the playlist - so you know I am from another generation- Someone will have to send me the playlist on 8 Track so I can catch all the musical references….. ( I am kidding- I only need a Cassette tape…….). I hope this is well received as a teaching vehicle=. I found it much better than a lot of contemporary fiction - being published today by mainstream houses- that are so grossly overwritten / and overly dramatic that they produce a gag reflex from the overwritten descriptives. This book was a pleasant diversion to read from some of the main market drivel……

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining book to read. The adventures that Alison has by participating in this secret game had me wanting to continue reading. The imagery in this book is very vivid. The author did a great job linguistically throught the book allowing the reader to visualize the story.

[vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.

[Tianne Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well what a surprise not the story I was thinking but better.

Take a normal college with theatrical students and ivy leagues. Now add Hamlet and an elephant. What a mix but also a great read that was hooking me into it. Great YA book and well makes you think differently about Hamlet.

[George Minarik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison Ashe is a senior at Bauer, who made it the hard way. She grew up in a broken home; very poor, without a father and a mother who is dependent upon her for almost everything. She has earned scholarships and works at a bar part time to somehow financially struggle through. She realized early in life that she needed to be tougher than everyone else both mentally and physically. Alexander Greengaard’s novel is an exploration of her inner-life during her senior year where she completes her courses, stars as Ophelia in the university play and wins an improbable victory in an extraordinary campus game. It is a story of combat, friendship, compassion, music and ultimately personal triumph. You will want to meet Alison.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚The Elephant in the Ivy
✍🏻Alexander Greengaard
Blurb:
"An entertaining romp that celebrates friendship, performance, and the controlled chaos of university life." — Kirkus Reviews

The Elephant in the Ivy is a whimsical and irreverent spy novel—of sorts—in the beautiful and mysterious New England college underground.

Alison Ashe is a junior at Bauer College. A scholarship kid, a theatre major, strapped for cash and even more strapped for time; she’s easily annoyed and something about her privileged peers really wigs her out. But unlike most of her peers, Alison has an outlet where starting on third base doesn’t do anyone any favors. Ancient and secret, Bauer is home to a spy game of sorts. A game where all that matters is that your wits are sharp and you’re willing to take big risks. And, of course, who you trust.

Praise for The Elephant in the Ivy:

"It's a real book!" -Danyelle Khmara, Arizona Public Media

"A rollicking heist of a book. Alison Ashe will trick you, and you'll thank her for it." -Grace Olsen, WMHC Radio

Written with support from Pima Open Digital Press, an open educational resource initiative at Pima Community College.
My Thoughts:
The characters are the heart of the book. each one charming, quirky, and instantly relatable, .Alison is also part of a campus-wide game which combines capture the flag and spy vs. spy and the game makes her life very exciting and also introduces her to new people, like teammate Paige, a former gymnast. She’s also trying to nail down her major; will Alison be able to succeed in the game and make the tough decisions she needs to? It follows Alison, a college student turned spy, as she navigates secrets, ambition, and friendship. Alison Ashe is not spying for governments but for something far more precarious. Belonging. As a scholarship student and theatre major at the fictional Bauer College, she moves through privilege and pressure with a sharp eye and sharper wit. The secret campus wide game at the heart of the novel is confusing at first, much like being dropped into a new social hierarchy with no map, but once it clicks, the logic feels delightfully inevitable. I would recommend The Elephant in the Ivy to readers who want something smart.
Thanks NetGalley, and Author Alexander Greengaard for the advanced copy of "The Elephant in the Ivy" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#AlexanderGreengaard
#TheElephantintheIvy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alison Ashe goes to Bauer College. She’s a junior, and she sometimes thinks of what her life will be like when she graduates. In the meantime, though, she has her hands full attending classes and dealing with the often-insufferable bluebloods around her. Alison isn’t like them. She’s there on a scholarship, and as a theater kid, her priorities are often different from those of her classmates. She’s able to find a welcome distraction, though: a spy game that tests her wits and daring. The more immersed in it she becomes, the more she likes it. However, there may be more at stake than she realizes.

The Elephant in the Ivy, by Alexander Greengaard, is a book for young adults. It has some resemblance to the installments in the Harry Potter series that are focused on Hogwarts and its storied history.

Indeed, history is what this book is all about. The game in which Alison gets involved draws the reader deeper into the atmosphere of Bauer College and fleshes it out nicely, making it a much more attractive place to spend some time. The reader is thrust into the game’s action almost immediately, and it takes a little time to understand what’s going on. Once you’re able to catch up, though, it’s highly enjoyable, as is Alison herself. Her narration, peppered with pop culture references, is definitely reminiscent of a typical college-age theater kid.

The college setting in which Alison moves allows Greengaard to flex his creative muscles. The other kids are mostly annoying, but what really comes across is how the campus hums with activity.

Many of the individuals there are clearly trying to discover themselves and to decide which personality they want to carry forth into adulthood. Seeing these young people on the cusp of their adult lives rings true, even against the backdrop of improbable events that form the nucleus of the spy game in which some of them engage.

This book tries to cram several elements together and mostly succeeds. It’s imaginative and has several unexpected events to keep the reader on their toes.

[Taylor Oser-Lakins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elephant in the Ivy by Alexander Greengaard is set at Bauer College, a picturesque New England campus hiding an ancient, secret spy game beneath its ivy-covered halls. The story follows Alison Ashe, a sharp, overworked junior theatre major and scholarship student, navigating privilege, poverty, rehearsals, and responsibility. Drawn into the clandestine game, Alison must rely on wit, performance skills, and carefully chosen allies. What begins as playful intrigue slowly reveals higher stakes, testing trust, loyalty, and belonging. With humor, mystery, and theatrical flair, the novel blends campus life, secret societies, and coming-of-age tension without revealing its greatest surprises inside. Alexander Greengaard delivers a confident, witty novel with surprising emotional depth. Alison Ashe is the book’s greatest strength: observant, irritated, funny, and deeply human. Her perspective as a scholarship student surrounded by privilege feels authentic without becoming too much. The spy-game framework is fun and intentionally chaotic, trusting readers to keep up rather than overexplaining, which makes the experience immersive.
Theatre and music make the story even better. From rehearsal moments to stage combat details to Alison’s ever-present playlist, these elements reinforce themes of performance, identity, and control. Greengaard’s writing is vivid and quotable, painting Bauer College as both enchanting and unsettling. At times, however, the novel feels slightly disjointed. Certain plot threads, particularly elements of Alison’s family life, could have been more fully integrated to strengthen emotional continuity.
Still, the heart of the book lies in its exploration of friendship, trust, and belonging. Beneath the humor and clever dialogue is a sincere coming-of-age story that celebrates chosen family and intellectual risk-taking. Entertaining, smart, and refreshingly original, this book left me nostalgic and energized. It balances fun, insight, and heart well.

[Cayla Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Elephant in the Ivy by Alexander Greengaard is a sharp, engaging exploration of academic life and the unspoken tensions that shape elite institutions. Greengaard blends wry humor with clear-eyed observation to follow characters who are simultaneously ambitious, vulnerable, and often self-deceptive. The novel’s pace is brisk, its dialogue nimble, and its scenes grounded in everyday absurdities that reveal deeper cultural anxieties.

At its core the book probes status, privilege, and the compromises people make to belong. Greengaard avoids caricature; instead he renders his protagonists with enough nuance that their flaws feel human rather than merely satirical. Readers will recognize faculty meetings, tenure battles, and social rituals rendered with a satirical sting, but also moments of genuine tenderness that complicate any simple reading of campus life as merely farcical.

Stylistically the prose is clean and direct, favoring precise observation over ornate language. That economic style strengthens the book’s comedic beats while allowing quieter emotional moments to land. Structural choices—short chapters and shifting viewpoints—keep the narrative lively and allow the author to sketch a community rather than focusing exclusively on a single protagonist.

If the novel has a limitation it is occasional predictability in plot turns; some resolutions feel earned more by convention than surprise. Still, the strength of the writing, the believable character dynamics, and the timely themes make the book worthwhile. Greengaard’s voice is confident and observant, offering both critique and affection for the milieu he depicts.

Overall, The Elephant in the Ivy is an intelligent, readable novel for anyone interested in contemporary fiction about institutions, identity, and the small, stubborn ways people try to fit in. Recommended for readers who enjoy observational satire with a human center, this book prompts reflection about belonging, ambition, and the hidden costs of conformity without losing its wit or narrative momentum altogether.

[Rocio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers a vibrant, clever reading experience that is playful and thoughtful from start to finish. I believe the Elephant in the Ivy captures the energy of university life with a voice that feels fresh, confident, and engaging. The setting of Bauer College comes alive through rich atmosphere and subtle details, creating a world that feels secretive, intellectual, and full of momentum. Alison Ashe stands out as a sharply drawn protagonist whose perspective feels genuine and grounded. Her observations about money, privilege, ambition, and pressure resonate naturally and give the story emotional texture.
The writing flows smoothly and carries a rhythm that makes the pages turn easily, while the dialogue adds personality and wit. The spy-game element brings an inventive layer that keeps the story unpredictable and fun, blending mystery with social dynamics in a way that feels imaginative and original. What makes this novel especially rewarding is how seamlessly it blends humor, tension, and reflection without ever losing its sense of joy. The friendships, rivalries, and quiet moments of connection feel authentic and meaningful, adding depth to the playful surface of the story. The themes of trust, performance, and belonging are woven in with care, allowing the book to feel smart without being heavy. The irreverent tone keeps everything lively, while the underlying sincerity gives the story heart. The theatre background enriches the narrative and reinforces the idea that identity is something both performed and discovered.
This is a book that feels confident in its voice and generous in its storytelling, offering entertainment alongside thoughtful insight. It leaves a lasting impression through its creativity, warmth, and clever construction, making it a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable read.

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Elephant in the Ivy by Alexander Greengaard is a playful campus spy story that blends secret games, academic life, and personal loss. The book follows Alison Ashe, a theater student at an Ivy League school, who plays a hidden espionage game between departments. What starts as lighthearted intrigue grows into something darker. Stakes rise. Friendships strain. Death becomes real. The story moves through classrooms, quads, dorms, and late-night walks while asking how much performance and pretense shape real life.

I enjoyed the writing style a lot. It felt loose and confident. The voice has humor and warmth. I laughed often. I also felt a pit in my stomach more than once. The dialogue snaps. The inner thoughts feel honest and messy. I liked how the book never tried to sound smart for the sake of it. It trusted the reader. The pacing worked for me. Some scenes flew by. Others lingered in a good way. I felt close to Alison.

I kept thinking about performance and identity when reading this book. Everyone in the story plays a role. Students act like spies. Professors play at authority. Institutions play at fairness. The game mirrors real power structures and privilege. That resonated with me. The book talks about gender and class without lecturing. It just shows you. I felt anger at times. I felt joy too. I liked that the book respected fun and silliness while still taking emotions seriously. That balance is hard, and the author pulled it off.

I would recommend The Elephant in the Ivy to readers who want something smart. It is great for people easing back into reading. It is also good for students and educators who enjoy stories about school life with a twist. If you like humor, secret worlds, and characters who feel real and flawed, this book is worth your time.

[Carlos Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t pick up this book expecting it to stay with me for so long after reading it, but The Elephant in the Ivy ended up doing exactly that. From the first chapters, it became clear that this is not an easy read, and it’s not meant to be. The book pulls you into conversations and realities that many people prefer to avoid. What impacted me the most is how the author brings attention to issues that are clearly present but rarely approached in daily lives conversations. The author explains how silence, normalization, and fear allow serious problems to exist right in front of us without questioning them. When I was reading the book, I thought about how often society chooses comfort over confrontation, and how ignoring certain topics can cause long-term damage and affect people’s minds and behaviors.
Another aspect I appreciated is that the book doesn’t feel aggressive. Instead, it feels like an invitation to reflect on yourself and your thoughts. It invites you to question systems, behaviors, and assumptions without telling you exactly what to think or behave. I liked that approach because it made the reflection more personally. It made me ask myself where I stand, how aware I really am. This book is clear in it’s message, it doesn’t exaggerate when it approaches these topics, instead has an honest point of view which makes it even more valuable and was something that connected with me.
After finishing it, I didn’t feel relief; instead, I felt more aware and conscious about my thoughts and actions. This book stayed with me and made me rethink how certain problems are hidden in plain sight. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an important one. I would recommend it to anyone willing to challenge their perspective on issues that are often ignored.

[Rodrigo J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The invisible game of fitting in

This book surprised me more than I expected, not because it offers a spectacular plot or memorable twists, but because little by little it moves into situations that feel familiar, even when one does not really want to recognize them. At the beginning, it seems like a light, almost playful novel, clearly set in university life, but as the story moves forward, it starts to show discomfort that feels real in a quiet, constant way. The protagonist is not a heroine and she does not appear confident all the time. She feels more like someone who is simply trying to adapt, trying not to fall behind, and that makes her easy to relate to.

While I was reading, I thought a lot about how difficult it can be to move through spaces where not everyone starts from the same place, even if nobody talks about it openly. The book does not accuse anyone and it does not give speeches or lessons. It just lets situations happen, sometimes without clear explanations. The theme of privilege appears without long discussions, almost casually, as something that is just there and quietly shapes comments, opportunities, and even silences. That felt honest to me, because that is often how things work in real life.

There are moments when certain decisions don’t fully make sense, and some characters feel unfinished, making the story feel more human. We don’t always understand why we act the way we do. The humor helps keep the book from becoming too heavy, even though there is an underlying tension that never completely disappears.

In the end, more than a story about university life, it felt like a book about learning how to move through games that are not chosen. It is not perfect and it does not try to be. What stays is an honest feeling. It made me think about how many times people participate just to avoid being left out, even when they are not fully convinced.

[Moná · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “The Elephant in the Ivy,” author Alexander Greengard introduces readers to Alison Ashe, a junior in Bauer College, who balances college life on a scholarship as a theater major while engaging in exciting, spy-like extracurricular activities. As best friends and spy-partners, Paige Hall seems to have made life more exciting for Alison. The dynamic duo of Alison and Paige demonstrates how much they complement each other’s energies and style, where one lacks, the other picks up. Juggling school expectations, theater commitments, and undercover agent missions, one could say life can be a bit overwhelming.

There was a brief moment when an emotional connection to Alison was made, as she vented her woes aloud as if someone were listening. This was a perfect example of relatability because life can become a difficult journey to navigate, yet resilience shows the strength to keep striving. An empathetic emotion would ensue because she must deal with so much, life pulling her in every direction, and she senses overall unfairness between the poor and the rich.

I must admit, I experienced a bit of “lost the plot” moments at the beginning of reading, but quickly realized how amazing this storyline is. My advice is to carve out time with no distractions and focus to grasp what is happening within the story; it is worth the effort. The various plot twists, with some action scenes, will keep you engaged throughout. From the author’s attention to detail, you will be able to build a connection with a character through the well-thought-out character development. A wonderful reading experience with wit, theatrics, spy games, and exceptional friendships. I highly recommend this book to the younger college-aged individuals because it has plenty of relatable elements.