The Commons by Rebecca Ihim Sweet

The Commons

Rebecca Ihim · 2026

The Commons World · Book 1

Fitting in at school just went to a whole other level.

What do you do when all your thoughts are being measured to make sure you are a common copy of everyone? What do you do when you are graded on how common you are? Your future depends on your ability to conform.

Enrolled in a 22nd-century elite school where being common is celebrated, eighteen-year-old prodigy―Shantavia Lerogaski―is seen as a threat because she is too intelligent. When her sister goes missing, she must sacrifice everything, including her intelligence, to discover the shocking truth about The Commons and save her sister before it is too late.

Despite being valedictorian, Shantavia was supposed to take a gap year, living a peaceful life free from expectations. Now, her sister has gone missing from the elite college that controls the entire world―The Commons. Now, she must find a way to enroll.

Upon arrival at the highly technologized and guarded school, Shantavia begins orientation: a series of six inhumane, deathly tests in the six study zones of The Commons. If she does not complete these tests, she will be eliminated. But eliminated to where? She doesn’t know; in fact, no student does.

Things get even more complicated when Shantavia’s fate falls into the hands of the most formidable and powerful Patron, Pesh.

She is unsure if he is a friend or foe so she must fight her dangerous attraction to him—and question everyone, including her closest friends, or risk losing everything.

Can anyone be trusted in such a system? Can Shantavia even trust herself? Will she fall for Pesh? Will she fall for someone else even more ruthless? Will he be her ruin? Or will she find a way to expose The Commons and save everyone that’s dear to her?

dystopian epic
Spice Level: 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 Sweet
1

Who Is This Book For?

If you love dystopian with enemies to lovers, dystopian, academy setting, you prefer a clean or sweet romance without explicit scenes, then The Commons by Rebecca Ihim is the book for you. It's the first book in the The Commons World series, so it's the perfect place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Commons spicy?

The Commons by Rebecca Ihim has a spice level of 2/5 (sweet — mild romance, closed door).

What order should I read the The Commons World series?

The Commons is Book 1 in the The Commons World series by Rebecca Ihim. We recommend reading the series in order for the best experience.

What tropes are in The Commons?

The Commons features these tropes: enemies to lovers, dystopian, academy setting, dark academia, forbidden love, secrets, deadly tests, yearning.

What genre is The Commons?

The Commons by Rebecca Ihim is a Dystopian novel.

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