I felt like this book was full of a lot of "things" happening, but nothing of real substance. I enjoyed the overall premise of the book, but wish this book had taken a more careful and thorough look at the impacts of the war on society. It felt like the impacts were always referenced and danced around, but but not really explored through the story.

In the book The Last Debutantes, Valerie returns to London from France to live with her Aunt and Uncle. Her life in her prime minister uncle’s home is a stark comparison to her time in France, and has trouble fitting into society in what’s known as the Season. Valerie soon finds a few girlfriends, and spends her evenings promenading and dancing with London’s eligible bachelors.

Two men grab her attention. Richard, a doctor; and Elm, a viscount. The reader can sense that Valerie has a natural connection with Richard, but Elm is both charming and alluring. You can expect future readers will either be #teamrichard or #teamelm.

Tension begins to arise when Valerie’s French secrets leak into society, and the threat of war is looming over the country. This series of bad news, and the rejection of Elm’s family leads Valerie and Elm to make an impulsive decision to jump into his car after drinking. They get into a bad car accident which causes their relationship to get hit with a dose of reality. They could never be together. Elm, being a true gentleman, encourages Valerie to visit Richard again.

Even after the car scandal, Valerie is able to secure her friendships with “Their Excellences,” and her extended family. Showing hope in the brink of a war.

I enjoyed this book. It is written well, but I wish the author would have described more of the social changes during the brink of the war. It kept being mentioned that life and social norms would change during the war, but the book didn’t show any of that change. At the very end the readers learn that the UK is entering into the war, and Valerie and her friends join different organizations to help aid in the war. I wish we, as readers, learned more from those experiences.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow and Custom House for this ARC in exchanged for a honest review!

The young women who curtsied before the king and queen in 1939 were the last debutantes before Britain declared war on Germany and the world changed forever. Among this group was Valerie de Vere Cole, daughter of a scoundrel and niece of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, being introduced to society by his wife, her aunt Anne. Her unsavory background is balanced by a certain cachet as the Deb from Downing Street and she finds a place among the bright young things enjoying a hedonistic last summer of freedom.

The novel provides interesting glimpses of behind the scenes politics as England teeters on the brink of war but it is marred by constant hints about an insdescretion in Valerie's past that will ruin her forever if society discovers it. The reader guesses it long before it is revealed and it doesn't have as much effect as another unfortunate decision that literally brings Valerie's season to a crashing end. Despite the flaws this is an enjoyable read and a peek into a bygone era.

This book follows the story of Valerie de Vere Cole, the niece of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, and her merry band of friends as they make their debut in England on the eve of WW II. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the traditions on making a debut, the pageantry, the dresses, the friendships formed.

The story begins with Valerie's presentation to the King and Queen, as she fights off the stigma of her deceased father's debt, her mother's neglect, and her step-mother's social climbing ways. She is snubbed by most of society, until she is befriended by Katherine, who introduces her to a tight-knit group of fun gals and their guys. Valerie is swept into their glittery world, while worrying about the upcoming war. The stigma continues to haunt her, as she faces her past and moves forward in her new lifestyle. Of course, there is romance - actually 2 suitors, and they, each in their own way, make you root for them. This is a very enjoyable story.

Set in London 1939, right before the start of World War II, The Last Debutantes by Georgie Blalock gives us a glimpse into the life of Valerie de Vere Cole, the niece of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. The novel opens with Valerie’s presentation at court, kicking off her debutante season, and follows her as she finds her place in society, both as the Premier’s niece and as the daughter of black sheep Horace de Vere Cole. Unlike prior debutante Seasons, this one is overcast by the threat of war, throwing into question all that the debs and the generations preceding them have taken for granted for so long.

When I started the novel, I found it similar to American Royals, the YA novel by Katharine McGee, which while a fine novel by an author I really like, is not what one expects when cozying into an adult historical fiction novel. I’m saying this only to advise readers who may feel the same way to keep reading. I ended up really enjoying this book. Blalock did a wonderful job blending fact and fiction in a way that was both easily understood and enjoyable to read. She did her research well and gave an accurate portrayal without boring the reader with too many unnecessary facts – a pitfall I have found too common in historical fiction.

My favorite thing about this novel is the main character, Valerie. Despite coming from a questionable background, she strives to not only rise above all the negativity and disdain cast her way by snobbish women with aristocratic airs, but to be worthy of all her aunt and uncle have done for her. During her Season, she grows into a woman of grace and fortitude, while retaining her endearing charm and loving spirit. She is a fun character to root for, and it is easy to grow attached to her and her adorable group of friends, Katherine, Christian, and Dinah. I also enjoyed reading about Valerie’s first foray into the world of romance, as she enjoys the attention of both the kind and gentle Dr. Cranston and the dashing, debonair Lord Elmswood.

Overall, a great read for a long weekend or rainy day.

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.