True Friends at Fernside is the second book in Sheena Wilkinson’s Fernside series, set at Fernside House, a girls’ boarding school in Belfast, during the mid-1920s.
As Linnet prepares to return to Fernside for her second half term, she is full of excitement. She and her cousin Robin are looking forward to seeing their friends again after the holidays. With Special Saturday – a family day – coming up, as well as the chance to spend time at Rowanbank helping Dr Flynn and her brother Theo care for the animals, there is plenty to look forward to in the run-up to Christmas.
However, a shadow hangs over Linnet, Robin and their friends when suspended bully Gillian returns to school. Quieter than before and saying very little, Gillian seems different. Robin feels she is holding something back. Has she really learned her lesson, or is she about to return to her old ways?
True Friends at Fernside, along with the first book in the series, First Term at Fernside, is a must-read for anyone – young or old – who enjoys boarding school stories. Sheena Wilkinson draws readers straight into the heart of school life, capturing both the everyday joys and the challenges that come with it.
The real strength of this series lies in its characters. They are relatable, believable and leap off the page – even the ones you might not want to be friends with in real life! With two books already published, here at the TPP Book Club we’re very much hoping that it won’t be long before there is a third book in this series!
True Friends at Fernside is published by O’Brien Press (2025)