Black Mountain Academy Books in Order

Black Mountain Academy is a shared world high school project where multiple authors write dark romances set at the same elite boarding school. Michelle Heard’s contribution, Not My Hero, brings her taste for heavy themes and emotionally intense relationships into a younger setting.

The story is told through Brie Weinstock, the daughter of a ruthless socialite who never lets her forget how little she matters. At Black Mountain Academy, Brie is an easy target. Gossip clings to her family name, and classmates are quick to punish weakness. She has learned to stay small, endure the cruelty, and dream of a future where she can finally get away.

Colton Lawson walks into this pressure cooker as the new boy who does not care what anyone thinks. Rumors swirl around him from day one. He failed his senior year. His brother died by suicide, and some say it was his fault. Dark, broody, and clearly dangerous, he unsettles the careful social order of the school.

Instead of joining the crowd in picking Brie apart, Colton keeps stepping between her and the worst of the bullying. He fights her battles in hallways and classrooms, then stalks away before she can figure out why he bothered. Their relationship grows in stolen moments, sidelong glances, and conversations where they drop their masks for the first time.

The book does not shy away from sensitive subjects. It features emotional and physical abuse, mental health struggles, and the weight of grief on young shoulders. Because the characters are still in high school, those issues feel especially raw. Adults are often absent, complicit, or overwhelmed, leaving Brie and Colton to rely on each other.

Despite the darkness, the romance itself is deeply tender. Brie learns that she is not as powerless as she has been made to feel. Colton confronts his own guilt and begins to believe he might deserve something good. Together they carve out a small, fiercely protected space inside a toxic environment.

Readers familiar with Michelle Heard’s college and mafia books will recognize her trademarks here: protective heroes with rough edges, heroines who are stronger than they know, and a willingness to face ugly realities without flinching. Not My Hero stands alone within the wider Black Mountain Academy world, making it an easy entry point if you want a self contained, emotionally charged high school romance.