In The Last Dance of the Debutant, author Julia Kelly transports us to 1958: the last year that debutants were presented to the Queen. With a rustles of taffeta and cotton candy silk pooling around their feet, the debutants are all in "the Season" for various reasons. Some want the title of Debutant of the Year while others are only fulfilling family expectations. We follow Lily, Katherine, and Leana to the endless parties, dances, and luncheons, while the author unfolds secret after nasty secret. Nothing is as it appears.
Loved this book and was riveted until the very end! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

England during the mid 1900’s is brought to life in this historical fiction by Julia Kelly. Not knowing that much about this time period I was intrigued. 1958 was the last year these young debutantes would be presented to the queen. The author’s writing style transported you to the time and place and left you feeling as if you were part of the group. The first part of the book seemed a bit repetitive but in hindsight I feel it was necessary to show the importance of all these coming out parties and balls to the women and their families. The clothes, the invitations etc. played such an important role in their daily lives. These debutantes had lasting decisions to make that shaped their future. Should they marry for love or was their suitor’s family, standing and wealth more important? Did they risk not settling for their assumed lot in life as a wife and mother or should they break from norms and forge a new life and career? After all, the sixties were just around the corner and change was in the air. I enjoyed the way the author presented the friendships and values of the main 3 characters. Of course a nice romance thrown into the story always keeps it interesting. I would recommend this to historical fiction lovers. #TheLastDanceOfTheDebutante #JuliaKelly #NetGalley

You know how you can pick up a book and IMMEDIATELY know you’re going to love it? This is one of those books. I love Julia Kelly’s books! She has a wonderful gift for writing. In this story, Lily is seeking a different life and makes choices that sometimes go against what she is “supposed” to do. I highly recommend it!

“This next year will determine the rest of your life,” said Grandmama.
Thus began the pressure filled game that is the Season in London, 1958. This high society swan song of drinks, balls and dining rooms set for thirty-six was taking what many thought would be the last curtsy of those being presented to Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. The society pages were filled with photos and predictions for the coveted “Deb of the Year.”
Author Julia Kelly “presents” readers with three debutantes in various social positions. Vying for the top spot is Miss Leana Hartford; from ‘old money’, entitled, demanding, always with drink in hand, and flaunting a gown by Norman Hartnell, favored designer of the Queen. Second, from “new money” is Miss Katherine Norman, daughter of the newspaper magnate; kind, encouraging, supportive, aiming to surprise her naysayers by accomplishing something unexpected. The third deb whose Grandmama and mother hope she will find a wealthy husband during the Season is Lily Nicholls; sensible, loves literature and wants to study at university. Lily happens to be seated next to Leana in the waiting area lined with gilt chairs and illuminated by teardrop chandeliers known as the Ball Supper Room in Buckingham Palace.
Julia Kelly’s description of debs waiting to curtsy before the Queen simply oozes with nervous anticipation. The absolute thrill of being invited to be presented at Buckingham Palace makes up for the long nights of parties, building pressure and “stultifying” conversations. Just reading about The Season is dizzying, leaving readers longing for an afternoon nap! The delicious details of a deb’s transformation after zipping up a designer ball gown, luxurious table settings, and fern ensconced ball rooms lends an omniscient perspective. Readers will love to hate Leana for her bossy, beastly behavior, love to love Katherine for understanding her parents’ aspirations, and simply adore Lily for her devotion to the “Imperfects!”
With a whiff of L’Air du Temps perfume, the rustling of taffeta, and the melodic tune, The Way You Look Tonight readers will be whisked into the Ritz and the long-ago world of The Last Dance of the Debutante.

As an unapologetic lover of British fiction and history, this was an absolute delicious treat of a read. Queen Elizabeth deemed that 1958 would be the last year of the Debutantes. An avid reader and lover of literature, Lilly Nichols is thrust into coming out by her grandmama and her mother. Normally shy and distant with friends to appease her mother in perpetual mourning, the Season makes Lilly blossom like a flower! While finding a husband isn't on her radar, she does make new very close friends for the first time in her life. Finding a letter by chance, however, could derail the entire rest of her Season. And her life.

In 1958, England was on the cusp of radical change, especially for women. Soon to be gone were the days of every woman only seeking marriage and motherhood, and incoming were the 1960's where women could work, live on their own, and choose motherhood. It not. The book takes the true facts of the Debutante Season and mixes in a fictional story of Lilly. Ms. Davis does this exceptionally well! Facing classism, secrets that shake the foundation of her entire life, and the pressures a woman faced during the Debutante Season, Lilly is truly a well rounded woman who learns who she is and chooses to stand on her own two feet. A little love story thrown in just makes it that much better.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Fiona Davis, and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A story of friendship and woman empowerment, The Last Dance of the Debutante follows Lily who agrees to be become a debutante on the last year the debutantes will be presented at court. She makes friends along the way but ends up learning some dark secrets about her past that will leave her questioning what would really make her happy.

I loved the glitz and glamor of the Season in this one but also realizing when you pull back the curtain there is just as much drama and ugliness as you’d expect from the elite. I also love that this story truly turned into a story of friendship and finding oneself no matter the cost. Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book focuses on three women during the final debutante season (1958) which featured court presentations in front of the Queen. Leana, Katherine and our main character, Lily, are all quite different from one another, yet they're all struggling with being young women coming of age in a changing world. The descriptions of the many cocktail parties and balls were very well done with so much detail that I felt like I was there. I didn't feel like the characters were fleshed out enough though. For instance, Leana is a bit of a selfish brat, but there was no real explanation of why or examining of how she got to that place. Lily's story was really interesting, but I felt the same things were repeated over and over ad nauseum. She felt beholden to her grandmother, couldn't understand her mother, wasn't sure she wanted to be a debutante. It got annoying after a while. Nothing really happens in the book until about three quarters of the way through and then it all felt a bit rushed and glossed over. That said, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to others. Its flaws were not so great that it didn't make it a worthy read.

Queen Elizabeth II deemed that 1958 would be the last year young ladies would be presented as debutantes at court. With this announcement the applications came flying in.
Lily Nichols had no dream of "coming out" or doing the "Season". She wanted to continue school. Her Grandmama, holding the purse-strings to Lily and her mother's lifestyle had other ideas. Grandmama says a proper young lady must be presented to the Queen, and someone of their station must adhere to this tradition. Lily, not wanting to disappoint her mother or grandmother agrees to quit school and do the season.
Throughout the frenzy of learning to do a perfect curtsey without a wobble, and all the luncheons, drink parties, dances and balls Lily makes friends and discovers that some whom society deems proper and acceptable are far from it. She finds true friendship doesn't come because of having the most noble background or money. Through all this Lily finds a shocking family secret that could destroy her family's tenuous hold on their position in society.
I loved this book for the portrait it paints of the life of a debutante. The descriptions of learning to do a perfect curtsy without falling over, the nerves and tensions of waiting to receive the right invitations to the best parties are fantastic. Julia Kelly brings it all to life and transports the reader back into, to the time of grand houses and flowing ball gowns, elbow length gloves worn for dancing and having chaperones escort you wherever you go. It is a forgotten world and I felt as if I was there with Lily through it all.
The descriptions of the jewelry and gowns were fantastic, I could see and feel the silk and feathers, and hear the rustle of the taffeta as they danced the nights away.
This novel is well researched and was a joy to read. Anyone interested in learning of Britain's upper class and wonder what it meant to be a debutante should read this book. I recommend it highly.
Thank you to the publishers at Gallery Books and Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

This book pleasantly surprised me. I was expecting a book only about girls and parties. Oh, I got that, but I also got a little drama, and a story I didn't expect to see coming. Lilly is a young woman that had no desire to be a debutante, all she wanted was to go to school. Her mother and grandmother are determined that she will not go to school, she will be presented to the Queen and redeem their family name. A name that Lilly's very own sister may have ruined. Lilly will forge friendships and relationships that will change her life and lead her down a path she never expected.

I was hooked from the beginning, Ms. Kelly has told a very captivating story and given us a little history about the last set of debutantes that were presented.

I have enjoyed every novel by Julie a Kelly, but this was my favorite. Lily was a realistic, likable character who evolves beautifully. The debutante season was well researched. I found this novel fascinating and look forward to more by Julia Kelly.

I have mixed feelings on this. Some settings were intriguing but there were lots of unlikeable characters who didn’t compel me to keep pushing on.

From Debutantes to dances and balls this books has it all. This is the second book that I have had the pleasure of reading by Julia Kelly. This is a terrific book and it has taught me a lot about Debutant3 and everything that goes along with it! I highly recommend this book.

A terrific book that takes a look at the last debutantes of London high society to be presented to the Queen, and what 'doing the Season' was like. There's a real examination of the relationships, friendships, and behaviors of late-50's society. Lilly's complicated relationship with her family, and the secrets that being a part of the Season bring to light make this more than just a superficial social novel. Detailed descriptions of place, clothing, and social mores/manners make this an interesting and immersive read.

The Last Dance of the Debutante is a fascinating peek into the life of a debutante in England in 1958. Lily is thrust into that world of society, of glamour, and of jealousy. I liked that Lily was bright, with a longing to be independent and successful away from the life of a debutante.

It was a real treat to have the opportunity to peek behind the veil of England’s aristocracy! I thoroughly enjoyed the history of debutantes being presented to the queen during 1958, the last year debutantes were presented. Julia Kelly is an amazing author who enabled me to feel that I was experiencing the process every step of the way. Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and Julia Kelly for allowing me to preview this delightful novel!

I enjoyed Julia Kelly's The Last Dance of the Debutante way more than I expected. I loved the descriptive passages of the events, the clothing, and the food, but it was the depth of insight into the coming of age during this particular time of society changes that held my interest. Highly recommended.

The Last Dance of the Debutante is a light, fun historical novel that tackles issues of women coming of age at a pivotal time in society.

Set in 1958 England, the story opens as upper-class English class is beginning their debutante season. This is the final year that debutantes will appear in front of the queen at court. In order to please her mother and grandmother, Lily Nichols agrees to drop her university studies and become a debutante. Meeting new people and making friends appeals to Lily but finding a husband is not her priority. As Lily struggles with finding true friends and establishing her personal goals, she learns of a family secret that will change everything.

The descriptions of the elaborate parties, dresses and social interactions transports the reader. The author creates depth to the story by raising the challenges facing women during this period in time. Issues of friendship, family, loyalty and following your dreams create an insightful aspect to this story making it an easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to review this title before its release.

First of all, props to Julia Kelly for transitioning away from the dual timeline World War II women’s historical fiction genre. The Last Dance of the Debutante is told exclusively through the eyes of Lily in the mid nineteen fifties, as part of the last class of debutantes presented to the queen. This isn’t even something Lily really wants, being perfectly happy as a student with a desire to attend university, but it’s forced upon her by her grandmother in exchange for living expenses for Lily and her mother. Lily quickly gets wrapped up in the lifestyle and becomes an important member of the social scene after an early friendship forms with Leana, one of the girls favored to be the Deb of the season. Lily increasingly sees an ugly side of Leana and makes unconventional friends elsewhere that may not have the approval of her family or society but end up serving as a rock she can cling to when her world begins falling apart.

I can’t say that the story did anything to enamor me with the concept of debutantes, which in many regards may be the point. Many of the activities the women undertake are shallow networking events where women try to make the right connections that set them up for a life of comfort. But it is also a reminder that the opportunity to find true friends for life can be found anywhere and can give value to events purely attended to for social standing. This story may not be as dramatic or heartbreaking as WWII fiction, but for someone that is getting burnt out on the same story being regurgitated in a different way over and over again it was nice to read historical fiction on a subject and time that is not often written about.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This book was just amazing. I just lost myself in this story and didn’t want it to end. It was really well written and just drew in you into these characters lives. I look forward to seeing what’s next from this author.

5 stars

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I was expecting an enjoyable historical fiction about a curious moment in time, the last hurrah of an upper-class ritual. Julia Kelly went deeper than that, however. This is a heavily researched but very literary novel about a young woman’s coming of age at a time of great social change, and having to make choices about the future she wants for herself. There are elements of social critique as well as a greater, and beautifully subtle, commentary on the impact between generations when ways of life are quickly changing. It gave me a similar feeling to reading classic novels like The Great Gatsby. This is a book that will perhaps get overlooked, as historical fiction about the upper classes is not in vogue, but which I think deserves critical as well as fan recognition.