Partner/Netgalley and William Morrow books
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As a fan of historical fiction I end up reading a lot of books centered around WWII. I therefore tend to get excited when I find ones that take a different angle on that time period. The last Debutante caught my eye as it focused on 1939 England and the months leading up to the declaration of war with Germany.
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What I enjoyed ~
*Getting to know Valeria and experiencing her life as a debutante. I can't imagine living that life but it definitely make for entertaining reading.
*The friendships she developed with a small group of these debutantes. It was lovely to see a set of friends truly help each other out.
*Getting a glimpse into life at 10 Downing Street, and the lives of those who occupied it at such a critical time in the world.
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What wasn't quite a fit~
*The story and its direction didn't surprise me. And at times things felt a little repetitive (you can only hear how difficult Valerie's life was before moving to London).
*I wish there was more fleshing out of the characters - I enjoy some good character development and that was definitely on the lighter side.
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Overall I did enjoy my time spent in the last Debutante Season before WWII and feel it is a solid historical fiction read.

I was excited to read The Last Debutantes, by Georgie Blalock, because I loved Anne Melville's novel Debutante. Both stories are about a group of deb friends from the year before WWII broke out, and I loved reading about how the girls in Debutante saw their lives change, and how they coped with change, and how they turned their social accomplishments into war work. 

In the beginning of The Last Debutantes, Valerie's Aunt Anne plans to bring her out from 10 Downing Street where her uncle, Neville Chamberlain, is the prime minister. Valerie will have to pretend she's spent the last few years perfecting her French abroad, not living in poverty with her alcoholic father in France, but if she does well in her Season, she'll make the right friends and the right match. 

I usually enjoy historical settings, and the clothes, dances, and customs of debutant life in this book did not disappoint. All the rituals around the Season are fascinating, although there's a lot of talk about that nasty business in Europe in between curtsying to the cake or doing the Lambeth Walk. There's a lot of talk about regiments, about taking up volunteer positions, and a bit too much tragic talk about how everything is ending, but I was disappointed to find the novel ends before we actually see the changes.

It doesn't quite work as a society novel, either, because there aren't any real consequences or rewards for performing the rituals. No glorious matches made, no dramatic social failures from gossip and scandal.  The takeaways about class and wealth felt a bit trite, too. Somehow Valerie's coming-of-age discovery that even polished upper-class families can have secrets felt flat and obvious (perhaps because she discovers it so many times).

First, what a cover! Next, who can resist a gripping story about one of the last British debutante seasons in 1939? As war looms, the debs dance, drink, befriend other socialites, and seek husbands. Soon, their cosseted lives will be upturned. But not before we meet Valerie de Vere Cole, the niece of “peace in our time” PM Neville Chamberlain. She is introduced with the other debs to the King and Queen, despite her father’s debt and the impact of her mother’s neglect. Inside, she quakes but outwardly looks the part, acts the part (becoming friends with Ambassador Joe Kennedy’s daughter Eunice), and tries to live the part as war nears. A terrific study of character and era, which definitely hit my sweet spot!

4 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 24 Aug 2021
#TheLastDebutantes #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, William Morrow and Custom House, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC from @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Alright, Bridgerton fans! You're going to LOVE The Last Debutantes! This is also set in London during the social season. This book mixes history and fiction so if you love Daphne you're going to love reading about Valerie! Valerie has a chance to change her life but will she take it?

The Last Debutants by Georgie Blalock covers a time when England was on the verge of war against Hitler as London’s social season begins. This is a well-told historical fiction novel that revolves around the lead protagonist, Valerie, who prepares to enter society as the niece of England’s Prime Minister Lord Neville Chamberlin. However, Valerie had a horrific childhood in France and was hampered by the sins of her deceased father. When you have a connection to the Prime Minister, there becomes a chance to overcome a disreputable past but Valerie has to figure out how to survive in a judgemental society while surrounded by young ladies of perceived good breeding. Lord Chamberlain’s wife tries to rescue Valerie as her sponsor but Valerie doesn't know how to follow the strict rules of behavior and jealous debutantes where mistakes can result in scandal and expulsion from a cloistered society. A chief complaint about me was listening to the young Valerie’s constant whining. She is her own worst enemy with her sharp tongue and desire to attack those who wish to bring her down. It wasn’t long after WWII ended that Queen Elizabeth decided to cancel debutante balls. For the history buff, this is a great example of mixing fiction and history as we read about this time when the war would change traditions like debutant events forever. My one major complaint is that the Prime Minister‘s niece tends to bumble her way through the season making stupid mistake after mistake. Valerie has a chance to change her life...will she make it? You’ll have to read the book. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC but the thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias. #england #ww2 #wartimes @netgalley #britishsociety #debutants #socialseason #TheLastDebutants @georgieblalock @harpercollins

I’m sorry to say I was very disappointed in this book. The plot was really quite predictable and certain plot points are reiterated over and over again. There were too many names and too little action. Much of the dialogue was repetitive and there was very little movement.
I have read other books about this time period, , but I found this one quite dull.

Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.