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The Debutantes: A Novel
Jessica Goodman meets The Agathas in this taut, twisty YA thriller set in the glittering world of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where secrets--and bodies--never stay buried.
For the New Orleans elite, the Les Masques Ball is sure to be the social event of the season—if they can avoid another dead Queen. When debutante Margot Landry was found dead the morning after her reign at last year’s ball, it was a tragedy, but not a shocking one. Margot was a wild child with a self-destructive streak, nothing like this year’s Queen, Lily LeBlanc. With a perfectly poised debutante on the throne, everything is going according to plan…until the ball is hijacked by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume. That night, Lily sends a text to three of the Maids on her royal court—her best friend, Vivian; her boyfriend's sister, Piper; and April, her former frenemy—asking them all to meet the next morning. But Lily never shows up.
On the surface, these three debutantes don’t have anything in common except their exclusive private school and their ties to Les Masques. But soon, they realize why Lily brought them something dark is lurking beneath the glamorous surface of the debutante world, and it might be the reason she disappeared. And the further the girls dig, the more they begin to suspect that Margot's death may not have been an accident—and that Lily may be next. When the Jester starts threatening to expose their own secrets, this unlikely trio must team up to uncover the monsters behind the Mardi Gras masks—before they’re left with another dead debutante.
For the New Orleans elite, the Les Masques Ball is sure to be the social event of the season—if they can avoid another dead Queen. When debutante Margot Landry was found dead the morning after her reign at last year’s ball, it was a tragedy, but not a shocking one. Margot was a wild child with a self-destructive streak, nothing like this year’s Queen, Lily LeBlanc. With a perfectly poised debutante on the throne, everything is going according to plan…until the ball is hijacked by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume. That night, Lily sends a text to three of the Maids on her royal court—her best friend, Vivian; her boyfriend's sister, Piper; and April, her former frenemy—asking them all to meet the next morning. But Lily never shows up.
On the surface, these three debutantes don’t have anything in common except their exclusive private school and their ties to Les Masques. But soon, they realize why Lily brought them something dark is lurking beneath the glamorous surface of the debutante world, and it might be the reason she disappeared. And the further the girls dig, the more they begin to suspect that Margot's death may not have been an accident—and that Lily may be next. When the Jester starts threatening to expose their own secrets, this unlikely trio must team up to uncover the monsters behind the Mardi Gras masks—before they’re left with another dead debutante.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2024
103 people are currently reading
23.9k people want to read
About the author
Olivia Worley
6 books277 followersOlivia Worley is an author born and raised in New Orleans. A graduate of Northwestern University, she now lives in NYC, where she spends her time writing thrillers, over-analyzing episodes of The Bachelor, and hoping someone will romanticize her for reading on the subway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 540 reviews
January 15, 2025
What a thrilling ride, with twists hidden inside other twists like matryoshka dolls, action-packed scenes, smart pacing, well-constructed characterization, and spine-tingling yet colorful, eccentric settings in New Orleans! As someone who spends each Halloween in NOLA, I fell in love with this entire concept!
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book so much or give it five stars at first, even though it started with a fast-paced, Carrie-esque ball incident. Initially, I thought the three main characters (or four, if you include Lily, who is the key piece of the entire puzzle) were not very relatable, and some of their dialogues and descriptions felt a little lame. However, after a few chapters, I was completely sold! The big mystery unfolds into other mysteries, revealing the secrets of the townsfolk, critiquing patriarchy and chauvinism, and showcasing the unconventional friendship of the girls as they strive to uncover the mystery of the dead queen and the kidnapping of their friend. This instantly made me flip the pages faster, holding my breath, squirming in my seat, and forming theories about the perpetrator. I managed to guess some of it, but the jaw-dropping twist at the end was brilliantly executed, earning my ovation! It was well-played, fooling me in the smartest way.
Here’s a quick rundown on debutante culture: The term "debutante," a French word meaning "female beginner," is a tradition inherited from the United Kingdom during George Washington’s presidency. Newly independent America held debutante presentations in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., a practice that continued for Washington elites into the 20th century. Originally, the term indicated that the woman was old enough to be married, and part of her coming out was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select circle.
This old tradition still continues in the South, including in New Orleans, Louisiana. A debutante is usually presented at a ball during the Carnival season, reminiscent of Victorian-era courting.
It seems that some minds are stuck in old centuries, and poor young girls are still forced to parade like cattle to make their parents proud (this is a theme questioned in the book through town conspiracy theories).
Here’s a quick recap of the plot:
As Les Masques Ball, the most anticipated social event for the New Orleans elite, finally arrives, avoiding last year’s tragic event where the last queen, Margot Landry, died from an overdose, the prestigious families focus on their children’s representation at the ball, honoring their old traditions.
But on the night of the ball, the new queen, Lily LeBlanc, from one of the wealthiest families in town, is attacked with fake blood by a man in a mysterious jester costume while video images of the last dead queen play in the background.
Lily acts quickly as if nothing happened, but she has a quarrel with her boyfriend Wyatt. She then sends messages to three girls, who are also chosen as maids of the ball: her boyfriend’s sister Piper, her former frenemy April, and her best friend Vivien, to meet and discuss what really happened to Margot. When the three girls gather at the meeting place, Lily is nowhere to be seen, and they receive an alarming email warning them that something has happened to Lily and that they must find a secret clue she left behind to solve the mystery.
The girls, who never connected in school circles, discover that Lily is missing, presumed a runaway, and they must cooperate to find out what happened to her, which may be connected to Margot's suspicious death, which was also not an overdose but a murder! They dig through secret societies of elites who can control the police. How can a shy wallflower like April, a know-it-all, A-grade student like Piper, and Vivien with her terrible secret fight these powerful enemies when their entire lives, secrets, and loved ones are at terrible risk?
Continue to read to find out!
Overall, this is a well-executed, smart, moving mystery with eccentric NOLA settings that perfectly match the entire settlement! I highly recommend reading it, especially for the smart twists that are perfectly mind-blowing!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this addictive YA mystery’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I didn’t expect to enjoy this book so much or give it five stars at first, even though it started with a fast-paced, Carrie-esque ball incident. Initially, I thought the three main characters (or four, if you include Lily, who is the key piece of the entire puzzle) were not very relatable, and some of their dialogues and descriptions felt a little lame. However, after a few chapters, I was completely sold! The big mystery unfolds into other mysteries, revealing the secrets of the townsfolk, critiquing patriarchy and chauvinism, and showcasing the unconventional friendship of the girls as they strive to uncover the mystery of the dead queen and the kidnapping of their friend. This instantly made me flip the pages faster, holding my breath, squirming in my seat, and forming theories about the perpetrator. I managed to guess some of it, but the jaw-dropping twist at the end was brilliantly executed, earning my ovation! It was well-played, fooling me in the smartest way.
Here’s a quick rundown on debutante culture: The term "debutante," a French word meaning "female beginner," is a tradition inherited from the United Kingdom during George Washington’s presidency. Newly independent America held debutante presentations in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., a practice that continued for Washington elites into the 20th century. Originally, the term indicated that the woman was old enough to be married, and part of her coming out was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select circle.
This old tradition still continues in the South, including in New Orleans, Louisiana. A debutante is usually presented at a ball during the Carnival season, reminiscent of Victorian-era courting.
It seems that some minds are stuck in old centuries, and poor young girls are still forced to parade like cattle to make their parents proud (this is a theme questioned in the book through town conspiracy theories).
Here’s a quick recap of the plot:
As Les Masques Ball, the most anticipated social event for the New Orleans elite, finally arrives, avoiding last year’s tragic event where the last queen, Margot Landry, died from an overdose, the prestigious families focus on their children’s representation at the ball, honoring their old traditions.
But on the night of the ball, the new queen, Lily LeBlanc, from one of the wealthiest families in town, is attacked with fake blood by a man in a mysterious jester costume while video images of the last dead queen play in the background.
Lily acts quickly as if nothing happened, but she has a quarrel with her boyfriend Wyatt. She then sends messages to three girls, who are also chosen as maids of the ball: her boyfriend’s sister Piper, her former frenemy April, and her best friend Vivien, to meet and discuss what really happened to Margot. When the three girls gather at the meeting place, Lily is nowhere to be seen, and they receive an alarming email warning them that something has happened to Lily and that they must find a secret clue she left behind to solve the mystery.
The girls, who never connected in school circles, discover that Lily is missing, presumed a runaway, and they must cooperate to find out what happened to her, which may be connected to Margot's suspicious death, which was also not an overdose but a murder! They dig through secret societies of elites who can control the police. How can a shy wallflower like April, a know-it-all, A-grade student like Piper, and Vivien with her terrible secret fight these powerful enemies when their entire lives, secrets, and loved ones are at terrible risk?
Continue to read to find out!
Overall, this is a well-executed, smart, moving mystery with eccentric NOLA settings that perfectly match the entire settlement! I highly recommend reading it, especially for the smart twists that are perfectly mind-blowing!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this addictive YA mystery’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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June 21, 2024
Review To Come
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨
March 5, 2025
In the boisterous Southern city of New Orleans, Les Masques Ball is the highlight of the Mardi Gras season for the elite.
The morning after last year's Ball, the reigning Queen, Margot, was found dead. Margot had a bit of a wild streak, so to some, it wasn't a particularly shocking development. That sounds mean, but you know how people speculate.
Nevertheless, it was a tragedy and going into this year's Ball, the new class of debutantes definitely hold Margot's fate close to their minds and hearts.
Lily is to be this year's Queen though and she's absolutely perfect. There's no way she would get into the type of circumstance that Margot must have found herself in last year. The event should go off without a hitch.
Unfortunately, the Ball gets crashed by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume, threatening those involved.
After the event disperses, Lily sends a message to the three other girls in her royal court, Vivian, Piper and April, asking if they could meet up the next day. But Lily never shows up.
Now the three remaining girls need to try to figure out why Lily wanted to bring them all together and what happened to her. Also, is this connected with Margot's death?
What is going on here?
The Debutantes is a dramatic and tense YA Thriller, with plenty to keep the Reader on their toes.
I loved the New Orleans setting and the immersion into Debutante culture. It was fascinating and steeped in mystery. I loved the vibes from start to finish.
At first, I'll admit, it was a little difficult for me to differentiate among all the characters.
The author worked it out though. It's tough having that many girls involved and keeping them straight. Once I did though, and started to really learn their various personalities and backgrounds, it was so compelling.
There were many entertaining twists, a couple of the jaw-dropping variety, that left me reeling. Additionally, I loved how Worley continued to build up the intensity and intrigue. This was a tough one to put down.
I also felt like the conclusion was very strong. That final chapter was the cherry on the sundae for me. It helped it all become a little more clear. Bravo on that.
This is the first that I have read from Olivia Worley, but from this, I can tell that I will definitely be picking up more of her work. This style of YA Thriller suits my tastes to a tee.
Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this to any YA Thriller fan!
The morning after last year's Ball, the reigning Queen, Margot, was found dead. Margot had a bit of a wild streak, so to some, it wasn't a particularly shocking development. That sounds mean, but you know how people speculate.
Nevertheless, it was a tragedy and going into this year's Ball, the new class of debutantes definitely hold Margot's fate close to their minds and hearts.
Lily is to be this year's Queen though and she's absolutely perfect. There's no way she would get into the type of circumstance that Margot must have found herself in last year. The event should go off without a hitch.
Unfortunately, the Ball gets crashed by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume, threatening those involved.
After the event disperses, Lily sends a message to the three other girls in her royal court, Vivian, Piper and April, asking if they could meet up the next day. But Lily never shows up.
Now the three remaining girls need to try to figure out why Lily wanted to bring them all together and what happened to her. Also, is this connected with Margot's death?
What is going on here?
The Debutantes is a dramatic and tense YA Thriller, with plenty to keep the Reader on their toes.
I loved the New Orleans setting and the immersion into Debutante culture. It was fascinating and steeped in mystery. I loved the vibes from start to finish.
At first, I'll admit, it was a little difficult for me to differentiate among all the characters.
The author worked it out though. It's tough having that many girls involved and keeping them straight. Once I did though, and started to really learn their various personalities and backgrounds, it was so compelling.
There were many entertaining twists, a couple of the jaw-dropping variety, that left me reeling. Additionally, I loved how Worley continued to build up the intensity and intrigue. This was a tough one to put down.
I also felt like the conclusion was very strong. That final chapter was the cherry on the sundae for me. It helped it all become a little more clear. Bravo on that.
This is the first that I have read from Olivia Worley, but from this, I can tell that I will definitely be picking up more of her work. This style of YA Thriller suits my tastes to a tee.
Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this to any YA Thriller fan!
October 30, 2024
I am a huge fan of YA, especially when it’s well-written and delivers a good thriller—and Olivia Worley's new book gave me all of that! From the moment the story opens with the mysterious disappearance of Lily LeBlanc, the new Queen of the Les Masques Ball, the tension never lets up. Worley masterfully combines the glamorous world of New Orleans’ elite with a dark, twisty mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat.
I loved how the story alternated between the perspectives of Vivian, Piper, and April. Each of the girls had her own secrets, and I found them all to be well-developed and relatable. The mix of personal drama, secret societies, and the feminist undertones really made this thriller stand out for me. It felt like a fresh, modern take on the classic mystery genre.
Worley’s writing pulled me right into the glamorous yet sinister world of debutantes, Mardi Gras, and hidden power dynamics. The pacing was perfect, with plenty of twists that kept me guessing, and I appreciated how the book touched on real issues like privilege and patriarchy without slowing down the action.
If you love fast-paced, twisty thrillers with strong female leads, I highly recommend The Debutantes. It’s one of the best YA thrillers I’ve read in a long time!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved how the story alternated between the perspectives of Vivian, Piper, and April. Each of the girls had her own secrets, and I found them all to be well-developed and relatable. The mix of personal drama, secret societies, and the feminist undertones really made this thriller stand out for me. It felt like a fresh, modern take on the classic mystery genre.
Worley’s writing pulled me right into the glamorous yet sinister world of debutantes, Mardi Gras, and hidden power dynamics. The pacing was perfect, with plenty of twists that kept me guessing, and I appreciated how the book touched on real issues like privilege and patriarchy without slowing down the action.
If you love fast-paced, twisty thrillers with strong female leads, I highly recommend The Debutantes. It’s one of the best YA thrillers I’ve read in a long time!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 23, 2024
3.5 stars
This YA read was pretty fun and entertaining overall. There are a large number of characters and moving parts to the book, but once you sort everything out, this is a twisty mystery featuring the upper crust of New Orleans.
Four main characters narrate the book--Lily, who is just crowned queen of the Les Masques ball, Vivian, Lily's best friend, Piper, her boyfriend's sister, and April, someone Lily used to be friends with but now isn't. After the ball, Lily disappears. She sends a text to the three others asking them to meet her the next day, but Lily doesn't show. As the three work together to try to figure out what happened to Lily, they discover some secrets that others definitely don't want to see uncovered.
There are some good twists here--some I saw coming, but others I didn't. The characters are well drawn and detailed, I got a good sense of their motivations and this fast moving story kept me intrigued and turning pages. If you're a fan of Pretty Little Liars or The Agathas, this book will really appeal.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This YA read was pretty fun and entertaining overall. There are a large number of characters and moving parts to the book, but once you sort everything out, this is a twisty mystery featuring the upper crust of New Orleans.
Four main characters narrate the book--Lily, who is just crowned queen of the Les Masques ball, Vivian, Lily's best friend, Piper, her boyfriend's sister, and April, someone Lily used to be friends with but now isn't. After the ball, Lily disappears. She sends a text to the three others asking them to meet her the next day, but Lily doesn't show. As the three work together to try to figure out what happened to Lily, they discover some secrets that others definitely don't want to see uncovered.
There are some good twists here--some I saw coming, but others I didn't. The characters are well drawn and detailed, I got a good sense of their motivations and this fast moving story kept me intrigued and turning pages. If you're a fan of Pretty Little Liars or The Agathas, this book will really appeal.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 9, 2024
Somehow when I saw the blurb and its mention of a setting in New Orleans “where secrets--and bodies--never stay buried” – my mind went to this either involving zombies or a murder mystery involving a casket brought back to the surface via storm surge or something of the like . . .
Turns out this was a pretty straightforward whodunit involving some debutantes – exactly like the actual synopsis would have informed me had I bothered reading it. Oops. I don’t pick up a lot of YA like I used to, but this was perfectly adequate. Great cover, though!
Turns out this was a pretty straightforward whodunit involving some debutantes – exactly like the actual synopsis would have informed me had I bothered reading it. Oops. I don’t pick up a lot of YA like I used to, but this was perfectly adequate. Great cover, though!
July 9, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I really wanted to like this. It gave pretty little liars vibes there for a minute, and I LOVE pretty little liars, which makes it even more of a bummer that I didn't enjoy this. It had the making of a great YA book. A complicated group of friends, murder, mystery, a little bit of romance, parental drama, but I just wasn't satisfied with the way everything was ultimately written. The story ended up being really predictable, and the last quarter felt really rushed to me. I don't think the book needed to be any longer necessarily but I think the first bit could've been condensed more to allow for a more drug out ending. I didn't hate it, it was an easy read and a nice break from some heavier stuff I've been reading lately. I just wish it gave a bit more.
October 12, 2024
This was a great YA mystery set in New Orleans. It was full of action and interesting characters. It had many twists and turns and kept me guessing.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC that will be released October 29, 2024!
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC that will be released October 29, 2024!
October 29, 2024
For New Orleans elite, the Les Masques Ball is the event of the season. However, some of the new maids are still grieving over last year's queen, Margot Landry, who was found dead from an overdose after the ball. When this year's ball is vandalized with pictures of Margot and red paint thrown on the newest queen, Lily LeBlanc, some think it is a cruel prank by a mysterious jester. When Lily goes missing the next morning after sending a text to her friends saying that she wants to talk about what happened to Margot. April, Vivian and Piper are determined to find out what happened to Lily. When the Jester threatens to expose their own secrets, the three girls must decide how far they will go to find their queen.
This was a fast-paced thriller that shows the dark and mysterious side of secret societies and the debutante world. I really enjoyed the different point-of views of the characters as they try to find Lily and what truly happened to Margot the night of the ball. This book had so many twists and turns that I was truly surprised by the ending.
If you are looking for mystery/ thriller that is more on the young adult side. I would highly recommend this book.
The Debutantes comes out October 29th.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review The Debutantes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a fast-paced thriller that shows the dark and mysterious side of secret societies and the debutante world. I really enjoyed the different point-of views of the characters as they try to find Lily and what truly happened to Margot the night of the ball. This book had so many twists and turns that I was truly surprised by the ending.
If you are looking for mystery/ thriller that is more on the young adult side. I would highly recommend this book.
The Debutantes comes out October 29th.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review The Debutantes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 1, 2024
“The debutantes” is set amongst the Elite of New Orleans. A group of characters who attend Beauford school and are preparing for the debutante ball.
Lily is the queen of the ball this year, however after a fight with her boyfriend she ends up going missing. Could this have any correlation to last years queen. Margot’, and her death the year prior?
After receiving suspicious emails from “Lily” her friends aren’t convinced she “ran away” (it’s giving pretty little liars and A vibes).
Everyone’s got secrets to keep and the girls are at a race against the clock to figure out who is communicating with them before everything comes crashing down.
Read if you enjoy:
The Agatha’s
Pretty little liars
New Orleans
Debutantes drama
Secrets lies and mysteries
Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Olivia Worley and NetGalley for the EARC!
Publish date: October 29th 2024
Lily is the queen of the ball this year, however after a fight with her boyfriend she ends up going missing. Could this have any correlation to last years queen. Margot’, and her death the year prior?
After receiving suspicious emails from “Lily” her friends aren’t convinced she “ran away” (it’s giving pretty little liars and A vibes).
Everyone’s got secrets to keep and the girls are at a race against the clock to figure out who is communicating with them before everything comes crashing down.
Read if you enjoy:
The Agatha’s
Pretty little liars
New Orleans
Debutantes drama
Secrets lies and mysteries
Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Olivia Worley and NetGalley for the EARC!
Publish date: October 29th 2024
July 3, 2024
So, at its heart, this is kind of standard YA. It’s the setting that makes this different!
The author clearly knows New Orleans – not just the touristy places, but the society and history. The Krewes are the ultimate in rich people not-so-secret societies and I love what the author does with them.
I liked our girls.
I’ll be honest, it did take me a little bit before their voices became strong enough that I could tell them apart, but once I could, they won my heart.
It’s a fun and fast read!
• ARC via Publisher
The author clearly knows New Orleans – not just the touristy places, but the society and history. The Krewes are the ultimate in rich people not-so-secret societies and I love what the author does with them.
I liked our girls.
I’ll be honest, it did take me a little bit before their voices became strong enough that I could tell them apart, but once I could, they won my heart.
It’s a fun and fast read!
• ARC via Publisher
October 1, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Oct. 29, 2024
Olivia Worley’s new YA novel, “The Debutantes” is the ideal read for fans of “Pretty Little Liars”. I enjoyed Worley’s debut novel, “People to Follow” and was excited to see what she would deliver next. “Debutantes” is a taut thriller about young friendships and the expectations that come with living in the upper crust of society.
The Les Masques Debutante Ball is the place to be for the New Orleans elite but, after last year, when reigning queen Margot Landry was found dead in her car the morning after she was crowned, all anyone wants is for this year to go off as smoothly as possible. Reluctantly, April, Vivian, Piper and Lily are participating in the ball this year in order to please their parents even though it comes as no surprise when Lily is crowned Queen. However, when Lily disappears without a trace after sending cryptic messages to the four young women, all anyone can hope is that Lily is found….alive.
“Debutantes” is narrated by Vivian, April and Piper, on the day of the ball and those proceeding it. The girls themselves are as relatively likable as elite, self-possessed teen princesses can be, although they are so similar it was difficult to tell them apart early on. I enjoyed the mystery of the novel, as the search for missing Lily begins.
To be honest, there weren’t too many twists that surprised me, although the tension was palpable and the story was well-written with good flow. Worley is a resident of New Orleans, and her love for the city is obvious in her pages, which served to provide the reader with an immersive escape to the southern city.
If you can stomach the misogynistic, outdated, sexist and anti-feminist rituals that lay in debutante culture (and, honestly, I struggled), then “The Debutantes” is engaging, enticing and mysterious. Worley is able to connect with her youth audience, and I enjoyed this fast-paced read.
Expected publication date: Oct. 29, 2024
Olivia Worley’s new YA novel, “The Debutantes” is the ideal read for fans of “Pretty Little Liars”. I enjoyed Worley’s debut novel, “People to Follow” and was excited to see what she would deliver next. “Debutantes” is a taut thriller about young friendships and the expectations that come with living in the upper crust of society.
The Les Masques Debutante Ball is the place to be for the New Orleans elite but, after last year, when reigning queen Margot Landry was found dead in her car the morning after she was crowned, all anyone wants is for this year to go off as smoothly as possible. Reluctantly, April, Vivian, Piper and Lily are participating in the ball this year in order to please their parents even though it comes as no surprise when Lily is crowned Queen. However, when Lily disappears without a trace after sending cryptic messages to the four young women, all anyone can hope is that Lily is found….alive.
“Debutantes” is narrated by Vivian, April and Piper, on the day of the ball and those proceeding it. The girls themselves are as relatively likable as elite, self-possessed teen princesses can be, although they are so similar it was difficult to tell them apart early on. I enjoyed the mystery of the novel, as the search for missing Lily begins.
To be honest, there weren’t too many twists that surprised me, although the tension was palpable and the story was well-written with good flow. Worley is a resident of New Orleans, and her love for the city is obvious in her pages, which served to provide the reader with an immersive escape to the southern city.
If you can stomach the misogynistic, outdated, sexist and anti-feminist rituals that lay in debutante culture (and, honestly, I struggled), then “The Debutantes” is engaging, enticing and mysterious. Worley is able to connect with her youth audience, and I enjoyed this fast-paced read.
October 7, 2024
Absolutely twisted and so good! Talk about un-put-downable!
To start, you will be thrown a lot of names and characters. It will just take a chapter or 2 but the girls become very unique in their voice and you'll easily be able to identify who is who. And it's quick - Lily goes missing and the girls must come together to try to figure out what's happened.
This was a fast read, with twists I both did and didn't see coming. The balls, the nights out, all the horrible things - they were shocking in the way that they were a surprised but not unbelievable. This played out like a movie in my head and made it so easy to read, so shocking to keep going. I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
To start, you will be thrown a lot of names and characters. It will just take a chapter or 2 but the girls become very unique in their voice and you'll easily be able to identify who is who. And it's quick - Lily goes missing and the girls must come together to try to figure out what's happened.
This was a fast read, with twists I both did and didn't see coming. The balls, the nights out, all the horrible things - they were shocking in the way that they were a surprised but not unbelievable. This played out like a movie in my head and made it so easy to read, so shocking to keep going. I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
June 20, 2024
ARC for review. To be published October 29, 2024.
Debs in New Orleans! But the book is YA, so temper your expectations.
Last year there was a dead queen of the Les Masques ball. She was a wild one, though, nothing like this year’s perfect girl, Queen Lily LeBlanc.
But then the ball is invaded by a mysterious jester and Lily seeks help from her best friend, Vivian, her boyfriend’s sister Piper and her frenemy, April. They set a meeting but Lily disappears. What happened to her? Will there be another dead debutante?
Well, actually, it doesn’t seem like a lot of people care very much, to be honest, and if you are a grown person you probably won’t either; this is YA for YAs, for sure. I kept getting Piper and Vivian confused, which was pretty bad since there were really only three main characters. Young teens may like it, as a nice bit of fluff.
Debs in New Orleans! But the book is YA, so temper your expectations.
Last year there was a dead queen of the Les Masques ball. She was a wild one, though, nothing like this year’s perfect girl, Queen Lily LeBlanc.
But then the ball is invaded by a mysterious jester and Lily seeks help from her best friend, Vivian, her boyfriend’s sister Piper and her frenemy, April. They set a meeting but Lily disappears. What happened to her? Will there be another dead debutante?
Well, actually, it doesn’t seem like a lot of people care very much, to be honest, and if you are a grown person you probably won’t either; this is YA for YAs, for sure. I kept getting Piper and Vivian confused, which was pretty bad since there were really only three main characters. Young teens may like it, as a nice bit of fluff.
October 18, 2024
One year ago, Margot Landry, the reigning Queen of the Les Masques Ball was found dead the morning after the ball. This year, Lily LeBlanc, is the new Queen and she and everyone else is looking forward to a non eventful ball. That is until a Jester hijacks the ball with a "silly" prank, or was it? The night of the ball, three Maids on Lily's court, receive a text message from Lily to meet her the following morning. Vivian, Piper, and April all show up on time, but Lily is no where to be found. Now, they are receiving cryptic messages from the Jester threatening to expose all of their secrets. Was Margot's death an accident and where is Lily?
Review:
4.5 stars
I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. It gave me Pretty Little Liars vibes and I completely ate that up! Loved every single second. It kept my attention the entire time while I tried to figure out the girl's secrets (was not even close). I loved the different POVs from Vivian, Piper, and April. Especially loved the epilogue and that final twist that I did not see coming at all! I actually didn't predict many of the twists or secrets. I did suspect someone that was involved, but didn't have all the details figured out. I love when a book shocks me! I also really loved the Mardi Gras, old rich family history/traditions/secrets, and cult elements. They were really well done!
The Debutantes publishes on 10/29 and I highly suggest picking it up ESPECIALLY if you loved Pretty Little Liars as much as I did!
Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Worley, and Wednesday Books for this ARC of The Debutantes in exchange for an honest review.
Review:
4.5 stars
I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. It gave me Pretty Little Liars vibes and I completely ate that up! Loved every single second. It kept my attention the entire time while I tried to figure out the girl's secrets (was not even close). I loved the different POVs from Vivian, Piper, and April. Especially loved the epilogue and that final twist that I did not see coming at all! I actually didn't predict many of the twists or secrets. I did suspect someone that was involved, but didn't have all the details figured out. I love when a book shocks me! I also really loved the Mardi Gras, old rich family history/traditions/secrets, and cult elements. They were really well done!
The Debutantes publishes on 10/29 and I highly suggest picking it up ESPECIALLY if you loved Pretty Little Liars as much as I did!
Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Worley, and Wednesday Books for this ARC of The Debutantes in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2024
Love the cover and the writing style.
Lots of disturbing things occurring here. Didn't like any of the characters, but the story kept me reading, lots of twist, some predictable.
Lots of disturbing things occurring here. Didn't like any of the characters, but the story kept me reading, lots of twist, some predictable.
October 13, 2024
The Debutantes gave me such a Pretty Little Liars vibe and I was so here for it!!
What a fantastic set of characters. And the storyline, wow! It kept me guessing right up until the very last reveal. It's twisty and fast paced, just the way I like my thrillers. The look into secret societies and the debutante world was fascinating.
I loved the setting! The descriptions of New Orleans made me want to jump on a plane and go immediately.
If you're new to this author definitely check out People To Follow, another solid read.
My thanks to St. Martins Press/Wednesday Books for this gifted copy.
What a fantastic set of characters. And the storyline, wow! It kept me guessing right up until the very last reveal. It's twisty and fast paced, just the way I like my thrillers. The look into secret societies and the debutante world was fascinating.
I loved the setting! The descriptions of New Orleans made me want to jump on a plane and go immediately.
If you're new to this author definitely check out People To Follow, another solid read.
My thanks to St. Martins Press/Wednesday Books for this gifted copy.
November 25, 2024
3.5-3.7 stars.
This book is set in New Orleans in late December/early January, right at the end of deb season and the beginning of Carnival. It is told from three different perspectives, those of Piper, Vivian, and April, three debutante "Maids" who get tangled up in the mystery of two debutante queens, Margot (who died mysteriously the year before) and their fellow deb Lily, who goes missing the night of their ball.
I'm really struggling with what to rate this book, because there are so many elements that I love and yet also some things that I had a hard time with. For one, I love the setting! I can feel New Orleans in this piece and I enjoyed that a lot, especially as someone who loves the city. I also really like the way that all of the characters, even Margot, express their feelings about New Orleans, whether they love it or loathe it, because that element really helped me to understand the characters. I learned a lot about Mardi Gras culture and Krewes, as well as a lot about Mardi Gras debutante culture, which I had no idea about, so it was interesting (and at times, unsettling, though I'm sure that's the point). I enjoyed this setting as the back drop for the mystery and thought it was the perfect combination of serious, fun, interesting, and spooky. I think this setting choice also allowed the author to discuss important topics such as the toxic elements of debutante culture, toxic masculinity, and feminism (especially how women are exploited or forced to operate within environments like the Krewe of Deus and debutante culture). I also liked the three main characters and enjoyed getting to know them and watching and their friendship grow.
But, I did struggle at times to understand the characters. I felt as though there weren't many details grounding them, especially Vivian, who felt less well-rounded than the other two and less like a true individual. I also thought that the author struggled with side characters. For example, we meet the parents of all three debs early on, but only Piper's come to play a significant role, which is confusing. Or Savannah or Aiden, who are really interesting side characters, but who aren't very well-rounded and aren't mentioned enough, except for when they need to move the plot forward or make one of the main three seem more interesting, which was a bit hard to follow. It also seems that some plot elements didn't quite line up, and I struggled to follow some details. There were just many small contradictory details that did not seem all the way thought out, given the way that the mystery resolved itself. I also felt a little bit unsatisfied with the ending, given that nothing really changes with the toxic culture of the Krewe of Deus after everything that the three FMCs go through in order to expose the corruption and misogyny at the heart of the organization, even though the Pierrot is destroyed.
All of that said, this book fits in so well with other YA mysteries, like Karen McManus or Jessica Goodman, and I did really enjoy it! The mystery is taut and compelling and the setting was so eerie and vivid!
Thanks to NetGalley and to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy!
This book is set in New Orleans in late December/early January, right at the end of deb season and the beginning of Carnival. It is told from three different perspectives, those of Piper, Vivian, and April, three debutante "Maids" who get tangled up in the mystery of two debutante queens, Margot (who died mysteriously the year before) and their fellow deb Lily, who goes missing the night of their ball.
I'm really struggling with what to rate this book, because there are so many elements that I love and yet also some things that I had a hard time with. For one, I love the setting! I can feel New Orleans in this piece and I enjoyed that a lot, especially as someone who loves the city. I also really like the way that all of the characters, even Margot, express their feelings about New Orleans, whether they love it or loathe it, because that element really helped me to understand the characters. I learned a lot about Mardi Gras culture and Krewes, as well as a lot about Mardi Gras debutante culture, which I had no idea about, so it was interesting (and at times, unsettling, though I'm sure that's the point). I enjoyed this setting as the back drop for the mystery and thought it was the perfect combination of serious, fun, interesting, and spooky. I think this setting choice also allowed the author to discuss important topics such as the toxic elements of debutante culture, toxic masculinity, and feminism (especially how women are exploited or forced to operate within environments like the Krewe of Deus and debutante culture). I also liked the three main characters and enjoyed getting to know them and watching and their friendship grow.
But, I did struggle at times to understand the characters. I felt as though there weren't many details grounding them, especially Vivian, who felt less well-rounded than the other two and less like a true individual. I also thought that the author struggled with side characters. For example, we meet the parents of all three debs early on, but only Piper's come to play a significant role, which is confusing. Or Savannah or Aiden, who are really interesting side characters, but who aren't very well-rounded and aren't mentioned enough, except for when they need to move the plot forward or make one of the main three seem more interesting, which was a bit hard to follow. It also seems that some plot elements didn't quite line up, and I struggled to follow some details. There were just many small contradictory details that did not seem all the way thought out, given the way that the mystery resolved itself. I also felt a little bit unsatisfied with the ending, given that nothing really changes with the toxic culture of the Krewe of Deus after everything that the three FMCs go through in order to expose the corruption and misogyny at the heart of the organization, even though the Pierrot is destroyed.
All of that said, this book fits in so well with other YA mysteries, like Karen McManus or Jessica Goodman, and I did really enjoy it! The mystery is taut and compelling and the setting was so eerie and vivid!
Thanks to NetGalley and to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy!
May 7, 2024
This book is a fascinating look at privilege and class as Lily is crowned Queen of Les Masques Ball, a yearly tradition that the entire community attends. But unexpected events occur that send attendees fleeing and the crowd into chaos. And suddenly we also learn about The Den and a "secret gentleman's club" that seems sinister in its "members only" inclusion and "Royal Feasts." Told from several of the girls' perspectives, the novel focusses on the earlier death of Margot and the sudden disappearance of Lily. As Lily's friends rally to figure out if she's just run away or is in danger, we witness the dark underbelly of this gentleman's club and its rituals and exclusivity. It's dark and chilling as we see no one is immune to ridicule, torture, and threats that keep people quiet in the face of exposure!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
June 1, 2024
this was pretty good but a bit predictable like i read the first few chapters and basically predicted some of the most major plot points already. i also kinda skimmed some parts because i just wasn’t that interested, not gonna lie.
however, i always love the debutante concept in books ! & thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book !
however, i always love the debutante concept in books ! & thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book !
October 28, 2024
Give me all the books set in New Orleans. The city itself felt like a character in this book. This was such a fun YA thriller and I really enjoyed uncovering the secrets hiding behind the Debutantes world.
The story revolves around Lily, the latest Les Masques Ball Queen who goes missing immediately after the ball. Coincidentally Margot, the previous year’s Queen died right after hers. Now 3 Maids, Vivian, Piper and April, an unlikely trio of collaborators start their own investigation into what happened to Lily.
This story looks at a darker side of this Southern “tradition”. Beyond pretty girls in pretty dresses. It was full of twist and turns but still managed to explore some deeper themes - the sexism, racism, classism woven into some of these traditions. I also enjoyed the multiple points of view and getting to know Piper, April and Vivian. If you’re looking for a twisty, bingeable YA thriller, I definitely recommend you check out The Debutantes.
Thanks to Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press
& NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The story revolves around Lily, the latest Les Masques Ball Queen who goes missing immediately after the ball. Coincidentally Margot, the previous year’s Queen died right after hers. Now 3 Maids, Vivian, Piper and April, an unlikely trio of collaborators start their own investigation into what happened to Lily.
This story looks at a darker side of this Southern “tradition”. Beyond pretty girls in pretty dresses. It was full of twist and turns but still managed to explore some deeper themes - the sexism, racism, classism woven into some of these traditions. I also enjoyed the multiple points of view and getting to know Piper, April and Vivian. If you’re looking for a twisty, bingeable YA thriller, I definitely recommend you check out The Debutantes.
Thanks to Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press
& NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 2, 2024
I did not think I was going to love this book as much as I did considering I had no clue about any of the debutante stuff which is heavy in this book, of course but I actually ate this up. It was so thrilling and fun and I love a good ya thriller/mystery. This had majorrrrr pretty little liars vibes and I was living for it! Al thought I had to google some stuff about debutante balls it’s not something that’s really necessary, I was just intrigued by that whole aspect and now need to read more stuff like this!! Definitely recommend this book! Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an arc!
October 13, 2024
3.5/5
This is definitely YA- but that’s not a knock. It’s giving Pretty Little Liars but make it Mardi Gras, which was a fun ride. Like PLL, the plot is bonkers and not everything makes sense - but it was still fun. Will definitely be recommending this one to my high school kiddos.
This is definitely YA- but that’s not a knock. It’s giving Pretty Little Liars but make it Mardi Gras, which was a fun ride. Like PLL, the plot is bonkers and not everything makes sense - but it was still fun. Will definitely be recommending this one to my high school kiddos.
November 2, 2024
An easy YA thriller! I enjoyed the New Orleans/Marti Gras setting so much! Adults behaving badly, kids trying to find out what happened to one of their friends. Lots of secrets and debauchery! This made for an entertaining read.
September 5, 2024
Wow - I thought I’d like this but didn’t anticipate enjoying it quite as much as I did. It did take me a bit to get into- but the twists, turns and mystery kept me engaged and needing to know the ending!
With a few characters to follow- I didn’t feel like it was too much and felt each character’s development was done well, too. Some of the time I didn’t really feel like they were believable but the story was fun and I loved the setting of New Orleans so it worked!
A fun read overall- definitely thankful to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this fun arc in exchange for my honest review.
Make sure to read The Debutantes when it publishes on 10/29/24
With a few characters to follow- I didn’t feel like it was too much and felt each character’s development was done well, too. Some of the time I didn’t really feel like they were believable but the story was fun and I loved the setting of New Orleans so it worked!
A fun read overall- definitely thankful to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this fun arc in exchange for my honest review.
Make sure to read The Debutantes when it publishes on 10/29/24
July 11, 2024
The Debutantes is a super fun YA thriller! If you love Holly Jackson & other YA thriller authors you’d love this! The plot had me engaged from the first few pages and the vibes felt like Pretty Little Liars — perfect for autumn.
The New Orleans setting is so intriguing and the debutante culture is described so well (it’s not as crazy in TN but it felt pretty accurate). Thrillers in the south just hit different.
The ending was a tiny bit predictable for me, yet I thought it was well done and there were a lot of twists & turns that kept me excited to read more. The characters weren’t super unique, but I still super invested in the story.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the advanced copy!
The New Orleans setting is so intriguing and the debutante culture is described so well (it’s not as crazy in TN but it felt pretty accurate). Thrillers in the south just hit different.
The ending was a tiny bit predictable for me, yet I thought it was well done and there were a lot of twists & turns that kept me excited to read more. The characters weren’t super unique, but I still super invested in the story.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the advanced copy!
July 29, 2024
I haven’t read a lot of YA recently but this was a good one! I am so glad I got to read the ARC because this is a book I might have to run out and buy when it is released. It was such a quick and easy read but most importantly it was an entertaining one. The setting of this book is fantastic and the characters are all so likable. This book will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you not wanting to put it down (I didn’t)!
If you are a fan of One of Us Is Lying, I think you will really like this book. The vibes are similar and the storytelling is really similar. You are able to get to know the characters and see how the problem they are facing is affecting them individually and as a group. It is definitely a YA book but I think this can appeal to other people not typically in the demographic.
If you are a fan of One of Us Is Lying, I think you will really like this book. The vibes are similar and the storytelling is really similar. You are able to get to know the characters and see how the problem they are facing is affecting them individually and as a group. It is definitely a YA book but I think this can appeal to other people not typically in the demographic.
November 15, 2024
A fun & creepy nola themed read! It’s PLL x Mardi Gras and it was cool to see little bits of New Orleans that I know so much about all through the book 💜💚💛
June 15, 2024
4.25 ⭐️
This book was like Pretty Little Liars for girlies who read Holly Jackson, and I absolutely ate it up!
My only critique is that I wish the romances weren’t so glossed over, but it made sense since there was so much going on plot-wise.
Overall, the twists and turns were so juicy that I did stay up until 2am to finish it because I could not put it down & I am so grateful for NetGalley for providing me with this arc!!
This book was like Pretty Little Liars for girlies who read Holly Jackson, and I absolutely ate it up!
My only critique is that I wish the romances weren’t so glossed over, but it made sense since there was so much going on plot-wise.
Overall, the twists and turns were so juicy that I did stay up until 2am to finish it because I could not put it down & I am so grateful for NetGalley for providing me with this arc!!
June 25, 2024
You really don't know who to trust.
The Debutantes is a slippery who done it. It's a quick enough read, but (as usual for me) I did not enjoy the multiple POVs. The alternating POVs made the story a tad confusing at times and dragged the plot out. The characters collided into each other, not one having a discerning tone or voice. There was a lot of dialogue, and because of that, the writing seemed rather plain. Overall, an average read.
Thank you to Goodreads for offering this title in their giveaways. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
If you like making new book friends, playing games, giveaways, traveling books, and reading reviews, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh, a book club on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/12086...
The Debutantes is a slippery who done it. It's a quick enough read, but (as usual for me) I did not enjoy the multiple POVs. The alternating POVs made the story a tad confusing at times and dragged the plot out. The characters collided into each other, not one having a discerning tone or voice. There was a lot of dialogue, and because of that, the writing seemed rather plain. Overall, an average read.
Thank you to Goodreads for offering this title in their giveaways. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
If you like making new book friends, playing games, giveaways, traveling books, and reading reviews, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh, a book club on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/12086...
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