 Unseen Academicals, by Terry Pratchett.
Terry Pratchett was extremely prolific, and thank goodness. His Discworld fantasy novels are always hilarious, with an underlying seriousness because he's really talking about our world. The wizard professors of the Unseen University are informed that one of their large donors requires them to form a team and play "foot-the-ball." If there are any students at this university, they are truly unseen, so the team consists of aging, overfed, self-important professors, plus a couple of staff members. The plot is mostly about Nutt, a well-read young goblin who works for the university as a candle-dribbler. Nutt has a crush on Glenda, who runs the night kitchen, and he also has a Big Secret that will eventually have to come out. Some of my favorite side characters include Lord Vetinari (the scheming and genially sinister Patrician), the librarian (a chimp), and Professor Hix (head of the Dept. of Necromancy - excuse me, "Postmortem Communication"), who insists that University tradition not only allows but demands that he cheat. Pratchett lovingly spoofs the culture of sports: the obsessive rivalries, obscure rules, silly chants, and games that threaten to turn into riots. Nutt's Big Secret is about to change everything - or is it? Popsugar Reading Challenge: About college. 52 Book Club Challenge: Inspired by the top-grossing film the year you were born. Booklist Queen Challenge: Set in a school. This Challenge Killed the Bookworm: Dark Academia.
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