For High school years wait for the sale. I got it as a gift, and I do enjoy it a lot, but it has it's flaws. One thing that I suggest for gameplay-wise is rags to riches. A Sim can buy clothes at the thrift store, and sale it for a higher price.
If you like occults, Werewolves is a good pack. They have a toggle that can keep werewolves in their own world if you want. They also have a system similar to Vampires. The only real flaw is that they can be a bit too cutesy or cat-like.
Horse Ranch would fit with Cottage Living, and is one of my favorite packs. I got it on sale, and started playing it recently, so it is still new to me. I have slowly started to move in horses. The horses have horns to make them unicorns if you want to add a little occult. The horses I have moved in are a mixture of horses my Sims buy in-game, or from the Gallery. The gameplay can be repetitive, but for me the fun comes with Sims interacting with the horses, and riding them.
That’s really handy about the thrift store, I think I’ll get any packs in the sale now since there’s always one at some point! 😂 I agree that werewolves gave me flashbacks to the newest Cats film - it’s the only time I didn’t love something with Taylor Swift in 😂😳 but I’ve heard good thinks about the functioning and am glad they can be cordoned off to a separate world if needed!
