Belgravia - Winter 1957

It has been announced that 1958 will be the last year that debutantes will be presented at court to Queen Elizabeth.

Lily Nichols is the daughter Josephine and the late Michael Nichols. Her grandmother is the one who holds the family purse strings. When Michael died years ago, Josephine was, and remains, devastated.

Lily has been attending Mrs. Wodely’s School for Girls and enjoys her studies with a dream of attending university. However, her grandmother has told her that she will be a debutante. Thus, she now leaves school and her life becomes a round of dress fittings and meeting other debutantes.

As Lily successfully navigates her presentation to the Queen, her calendar begins to fill with parties and exhausting fun. She begins to make true friends, but also finds a nasty young woman bent on trying to bring her down. The parties introduce her to lots of young men, many of whom are wealthy and some not so. But Lily is keen to not be taken advantage of by some young men and women. But, when a long held family secret emerges, she is shocked and determined to leave her role for a time and get to the bottom of it.

I really enjoyed this story and the way it was so honest about the parties and the characters. It shows how a couple of young women, including Lily, decide to take their futures into their own hands and not rely on family to support them. I applauded that. Don’t miss this book, it’s a classic.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Queen Elizabeth will no longer allow presentations in court. So 1958 is the last year of the debutante. Lilly has been chosen to be one of the last debutantes. Lilly is just wanting to please her mother and her grandmother. She really wants to stay in school, but being the dutiful young lady, she agrees to all the balls, lunches and other activities required to come out for the season.

Lilly meets quite a few new friends. However, her mother is not happy with her selection of friends. The further the season moves along, the more Lilly realizes something is wrong. And when Lilly discovers the secret…her life is changed forever.

I enjoyed so much about this novel. The characters, the setting, and the mystery just melded so well together. This is the perfect mix of a book! I swear…I felt like I was right in the middle of the season myself. And my heart went out to Lilly on more than one occasion.

Julia Kelly has become one of my favorite authors. I adored The Last Garden In England. And this latest book has moved right up there with it!

if you need a book to take you away to England…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

It is starting to be a habit to start the year reading a new book by Julia Kelly. But let me tell you, it is a great way to start the year.

I knew that The Last Dance of the Debutante would be good because of Kelly's great writing and awesome storytelling skills, but I wasn't sure I would enjoy it as much as I did. I absolutely loved last year's book The Last Garden in England so I wondered if this new book could live up to expectations. The 1950s is a time period that I've just started reading so would I have trouble with the time period? Then there was the high society nature of The Season and debutants - would I be rolling my eyes? All these questions were swirling in my mind as I turned to the first page.

All I knew about The Season and being presented at court is what I saw in the Downton Abbey episodes of Rose's coming out. After reading this book, I wonder if Cora could have really presented Rose as only previous debutantes could present new debutantes. And right there is the first reason, I love Kelly's books - she devels into the history of the events and provides the little details that make the events feel real.

I loved Lily right from the start. I think I could see a lot of myself in her - the youngest child, a people pleaser, wanting to be the good daughter. Even though she is only 18, she feels more mature. I know a lot of people will see an 18-year-old protagonist and worry this will be too YA. But I can assure you it does not read as a young adult novel.

There is the glamour of high society life with the endless dinners, drinks, balls, and parties of The Season. There is plenty of girls giggling over boys - the point of The Season is to secure a husband. But there is also some real meat to the plot. 1958 was the last year of being presented at court which in itself signals the changing culture of the time. The English love tradition so to end this long-standing tradition was an acknowledgment of the changing role and perception of women in society.

Do you remember the 2003 movie Mona Lisa Smile starring Julia Roberts? The last third of the book reminded me a little of that movie. In both the movie and this book, the girls are trying to navigate the expanse between the traditional pasts and the future. It is a difficult place to be and takes courage to choose a different path.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it had been written in first person. It was jarring a few times when I would read "she said" and I had to think oh, that's Lily speaking. The story is completely from Lily's POV so I'm not sure why it's in third person. But it is really a small thing and didn't ruin the enjoyment of the characters and their story.

If you want to start your reading year with a solid novel, then get this book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Jan. 4 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/01/the-last-dance-of-debutante-by-julia.html

The year is 1958 and it is announced in London that this will be the last year debutantes will be presented to Queen Elizabeth at court. Julia Kelly's fascinating novel, The Last Dance of the Debutante, features Lily Nichols. Lily is persuaded to leave school and become a debutante by her mother and grandmother. Her father is long deceased and she fears losing her grandmother's financial support if she declines the honor. Lily is soon caught up in the glitz and glamor of high society, but she is most comfortable in the library with her beloved books. Lily dreams of continuing her studies at a university. She does make some dear friends during the season and becomes infatuated with a man. Away from the balls and luncheons, Lily discovers a letter that may reveal the reason for her mother's coldness towards her. Lily longs to confront her mother regardless of the consequences. Kelly deftly molds Lily into a modern young woman with thoughts and dreams of her own. Lily is definitely a character ready to promote change.

I was a huge fan of Julia Kelly’s The Last Garden in England, and so I was very excited to read her latest. I’m happy to say she did not disappoint. Kelly paints a fabulous and vivid picture of mid century British high society from the balls and cocktail parties to the sniping and pettiness. Lily, the heroine is at once likable and relatable as she struggles to navigate a world in which she both belongs and doesn’t belong. Readers will probably figure out the slight mystery in the book pretty quickly, but that doesn’t matter. The real fun is playing witness to a world that’s no longer around.

I really enjoyed this novel. The debutante season wasn’t something I had ever heard or read about. I enjoyed Lily and her friends. There was romance but the real focus of the novel was friendships and choosing who you really want in your life. Overall, really loved what I learned and the message of the novel.

This book is a delightful insight into the lives of debutantes and the way it is during a season. I never knew any of the parties and balls they got up to in their "coming out". I loved this book and fell in love with our main character Lily Nichols!!!!!!! She is a courageous, brave woman of the late 50's who knows what she wants and is just brave enough to accomplish it. I highly recommend this book.

Debutantes, ball gowns, coming out balls, tea parties… By 1958 all of these were beginning to feel dated and passé. It would be the last year that debs were presented to the Queen, and the last “class” of debutantes were a mixed group of socialites, educated young women, and traditional upper middle-class daughters.

“Last Dance” follows a small group of these women as they debut, then begin to make their way in a rapidly changing world. There is a mystery in the plot, but most of it’s energy is around the social development and machinations of the group.

Solid historical fiction, set in an interesting period.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There have been some amazing historical fiction books released this year and this is one of them. I was so captivated, I stayed up way into the early morning hours finishing this book.

I especially loved this book because it had all of the elements I look for in a great historical fiction novel. It had: friendships and frenemies, family secrets and families behaving badly, romance, excellent characters, and a plot that would not allow me to put the book down until I finished it, even if it was 3 o’clock in the morning!

I highly recommend this book to all historical fiction fans.

An eighteen year old bibliophile is suddenly thrown into the debutante world. Lily Nichols dreams of studying literature at university, but her high society grandmother has other plans for her when she learns that 1958 will be the last year the Queen will receive debutantes. Her life is turned upside down as she navigates who her real friends are and what secrets her family has been hiding from her.

I've read all of Julia Kelly's books since The Light Over London, this one has definitely been my favorite. The setting and elaborate descriptions of the dresses has me wishing this book was illustrated. I thought the plot was great, here they are on the edge of the 60's and the traditions of the old ways are starting to go out the door, so in a way this was the last hurrah. I can't imagine going to that many parties and seeing the same people over and over again, the idea seems marvelous, but as the story goes on that part of the book drags on a bit, but I think it was important to lay the ground work for the romance with Ian. I was very happy with the ending, I love how Lily took charge of her on life, unlike Josephine had been able to, and realizes her dreams.

The latest novel from Julia Kelly the author of The Last Garden in England, will bring a thrill to any fashion lover's heart. From the first page, we are whisked away to post-WWII London, where the very last of the debutantes are presented at court. As you follow along with young debutante Lily Nichols you have an invite to all the best cocktail balls and cocktail parties, where she makes friends with two women who couldn't be more different. Leana Hartford comes from old money and her moods are as changeable as the weather and then there's Katherine Norman aka The Millionaire Deb whose father is in the newspaper business and dreams of becoming a reporter.

But nothing everything is about finding the perfect gown or securing an invite to the best coming out parties and balls of the season. Lily discovers a secret that has been hidden from her since birth and she is forced to make a difficult decision that will change her life forever.

The Last Dance of the Debutant was one of those books that you can't put down once you start reading it. From the descriptions of the fashions of the time to the glamour parties, you immediately find yourself attached to the heroine of the novel, wondering what's going to happen next in the world that author Julia Kelly has created. If you enjoy historical fiction set in post-war London (and are intrigued to find out exactly what secret Lily discovers) this novel is definitely one that you should check out!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Last Dance of the Debutante is my second attempt reading a Julia Kelly historical novel, and I found this one to be a much better reading experience overall.
The time period, being set in the late 1950s with World War II in recent memory, is interesting, and I feel like there aren’t nearly as many books that highlight the postwar impact in the decades that followed. And that it specifically followed the last “official” social Season, preceding the decline of the debutante, when I’d read so many books set in prior eras about it was a draw too. I love that Kelly depicted how the war and women’s roles in it shaped the worldview of some of the rising crop of debs, while previous generations of women still clung to it as the Way for their daughters, even though they too have lived through these changes and also had to navigate them.
I enjoyed seeing all of it through Lily’s eyes. Even if it’s more what her mother and grandmother want, I love that, at least early on, she tried to make the best of it and formed connections, including a few true friends. But her reluctance also gives her a sense of cynicism about it, which only grows as things wear on, and she realizes how ignorant of/numb to reality some of the people in society are.
There’s a big secret Lily learns about her past part-way into the book that especially colors this assessment, and my heart truly broke for her when it all came out. And the fact that everyone involved only thought of themselves, whether it be for the sake of self-preservation or financial gain? I was livid on Lily’s behalf, and am glad she got the last word in each encounter.
This book is fabulous, and I love the balance between the glitz and glam of the final, full social Season and the complex emotional turmoil of a reluctant debutante coming into her own. If you love historical fiction, you won’t want to miss this one!

This book was so interesting to me. I had never heard of this time in England when there were going to be no more debutantes. It was so elegantly researched and drew me into the season with the women who will be sharing this season. Mystery is also involved in the book. It has something for everyone in it. Would recommend to all to read!

Set in 1958 London, it is the last year that debutants will be presented at court. Caught between the old world and a dawning new ear of possibilities for women, bookish Lily Nichols has dreams of a university education, but acquiesces to the wishes of her mother and grandmother by entering in the debutant’s world. Armed with a calendar and address book, her job is to make friends; vie for debutante of the year; and most of all land a “suitable” husband. Caught up in the whirlwind season of all-night parties and handsome escorts, Lily soon finds that roiling beneath it all many of those around her are harboring secrets, insecurities and disenchantments; even those closest to her.

With lush descriptions of gowns and parties, The Last Dance of the Debutante portrays the last waning vestiges of a soon to be bygone era and the opening up of the feminist 1960s with its endless possibilities for women. A captivating story with the right amount of history, mystery and just a touch of romance. This novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction, especially of the mid-20th century.

It’s 1958 and life in England is approaching a new era. Over a decade has past since the end of WWII and the role of women is slowly evolving. Music and fashion is changing. But the role of the upper class and the traditions of society is still in place. One important part is the Season. It is an annual period from April to August when British society attends grand balls, dinner parties and cocktail events. The highlight of the pomp and circumstances is being presented to the Queen. In what has been announced as the last year such a presentation will take place, 18-year-old Lily Nichols would prefer to study and read books but is told by her mother and grandmother that she will take part as a debutante and will be formally presented to society so she can meet the right people and ultimately marry well. A young man with wealth and a title is preferred. As the Season starts, she is befriended by Leana, the most popular girl and Katherine, the wealthiest. The competitive nature of the Season causes much drama and the discovery of a family secret threatens Lily’s potential for happiness.

Author Julia Kelly has a great talent for transporting the reader into whatever era she is writing about and creates characters that are very real. In The Last Dance of the Debutante, she has again succeeded. This is a thoroughly entertaining book with vivid descriptions of the lavish homes, the gowns, the jewelry and the struggles of these interesting young women who either want to follow tradition or ache to break out on their own and forge their own paths.

Debutantes, family secrets, gorgeous dresses, glitzy society parties and handsome debutantes. I loved this story!! The author has a way with her writing that draws you in. Interesting, intriguing, and engaging! A must-read!

"The author of the "sweeping, stirring, and heartrending" (Kristin Harmel, author of The Room on Rue Amélie) The Light Over London returns with a masterful, glittering novel that whisks you to midcentury Britain as it follows three of the last debutantes to be presented to Queen Elizabeth II.

When it’s announced that 1958 will be the last year debutantes are to be presented at court, thousands of eager mothers and hopeful daughters flood the palace with letters seeking the year’s most coveted invitation: a chance for their daughters to curtsey to the young Queen Elizabeth and officially come out into society.

In an effort to appease her traditional mother, aspiring university student Lily Nichols agrees to become a debutante and do the Season, a glittering and grueling string of countless balls and cocktail parties. In doing so, she befriends two very different women: the cool and aloof Leana Hartford whose apparent perfection hides a darker side and the ambitious Katherine Norman who dreams of a career once she helps her parents find their place among the elite.

But the glorious effervescence of the Season evaporates once Lily learns a devastating secret that threatens to destroy her entire family. Faced with a dark past, she’s forced to ask herself what really matters: her family legacy or her own happiness.

With her signature "intricate, tender, and convincing" (Publishers Weekly) storytelling, Julia Kelly weaves an unforgettable tale of female friendship amid the twilight days of Britain’s grand coming out balls."

If you're obsessed with debutantes, like I am, and are fascinated by the end of that longstanding tradition, this book is for you as well as me.

Title: The Last Dance of the Debutante
Author: Julia Kelly
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

When it’s announced that 1958 will be the last year debutantes are to be presented at court, thousands of eager mothers and hopeful daughters flood the palace with letters seeking the year’s most coveted invitation: a chance for their daughters to curtsey to the young Queen Elizabeth and officially come out into society.

In an effort to appease her traditional mother, aspiring university student Lily Nichols agrees to become a debutante and do the Season, a glittering and grueling string of countless balls and cocktail parties. In doing so, she befriends two very different women: the cool and aloof Leana Hartford whose apparent perfection hides a darker side and the ambitious Katherine Norman who dreams of a career once she helps her parents find their place among the elite.

But the glorious effervescence of the Season evaporates once Lily learns a devastating secret that threatens to destroy her entire family. Faced with a dark past, she’s forced to ask herself what really matters: her family legacy or her own happiness.

This was such a good read! I loved reading about the debutantes, but all the pageantry sounded awful, frankly. Lily was a wonderful character. I enjoyed seeing how she went from a student to a society girl before realizing who she truly wanted to be. The glamor of being a deb didn’t enthrall her for long, and she learned to stand on her own feet and make her own decisions—and friends—as she learned the truth about her past.

Julia Kelly lives in London. The Last Dance of the Debutante is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.)

When it’s announced that 1958 will be the last year debutantes are to be presented at court, thousands of eager mothers and hopeful daughters flood the palace with letters seeking the year’s most coveted invitation: a chance for their daughters to curtsey to the young Queen Elizabeth and officially come out into society.
In an effort to appease her traditional mother, aspiring university student Lily Nichols agrees to become a debutante and do the Season, a glittering and grueling string of countless balls and cocktail parties. In doing so, she befriends two very different women: the cool and aloof Leana Hartford whose apparent perfection hides a darker side and the ambitious Katherine Norman who dreams of a career once she helps her parents find their place among the elite.
This is a convoluted tale of mistakes and inconvenience.
Julia Kelly has taken you into a world of debutantes and making ones debut. It isn't a love story but ends like one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

This book is another great historical fiction novel by Julia Kelly! I loved learning so much of the history behind the debutantes and their seasons. However, this book is a lot more than learning about the debutantes’ endless parties in beautiful gowns. This novel consists of secrets, lies and betrayals while the main character, Lily, develops true friendships, experiences love, loss, self-discovery, and learns to create her own happiness. Plus this is a fabulous story about making peace with your personal decisions and the decisions of the people around you. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to more books from this author!

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions above are my own.