Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book.

I waited a while after reading to leave my review to digest this fantastic read. I have not previously read any books br Olivis Eorley. So did not know what an engaging author she is.

This book drew me in and had me totally invested.

The setting was vivid and the characters and story engaging.

Recommend.

Expected publication October 29, 2024

I've come to realize I'm not the intended audience for this one! The premise sounds so interesting- Debutantes, Murder Mystery and New Orleans, but I'm just not interested in the plot or the characters at 20% in. Would probably be perfect for younger audiences who enjoy a Pretty Little Liars-esqe plot. It has a lot of modern day references (Tik Tok, Mean Girls, "almond mom", Apple Watch, Doctor Who, etc.) and unfortunately that is one of my pet peeves in books. Of the three main characters that we switch between, none of them had a distinct voice and they all seemed to blend together.

I really loved the idea of this, gave me immediate throwbacks to PLL days and a bit of nostalgia I love from YA books. Though, the timing of this book wasn’t linear, felt slow/drawn out in parts then rushed in others and ultimately had a somewhat predictable ending. I think the writing in this was well done, great development throughout the book but needed some more consistency with the pacing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a fun thriller but the title is a little misleading. I thought it would delve way more into the southern debutante life but it is way more about mardi gras. It is still a fun thriller though which is why I rated it high

A little slow paced for me and the numerous organizations discussed, both secret and not, were a little confusing for me.

Young-adult novels remind me how impetuous teenagers can be and, in this case, how toxic adults can be. The New Orleans setting drives much of the drama surrounding this murder mystery; the author has depicted a culture where tradition and reputation mean everything. This book would appeal to "Pretty Little Liars" fans.

Set in the world of southern debutantes, where money and who you are related to matters the most, The Debutantes is a fast-paced entertaining thriller. This year's debutante queen, Lily LeBlanc, has disappeared just one day after the Ball. Eerily similar to last year, when the queen Margot Landry was found dead the next morning. But Lily sent messages to three girls from the debutante court before disappearing. The three couldn't be more dissimilar, but they must work together to find Lily and figure out what really happened to Margot.

The story moves between the three girls' points of view as they work together to try and find Lily and uncover the dark secrets in their community. I liked that we got to see each of their perspectives on what was happening now and what had happened in the past. Also, I appreciated that the girls didn't become best friends or immediately agree on how to proceed. The author gave them three very clear and different personalities. There are several unexpected twists as well as some tense moments that elevated the story and kept me turning pages. This was a fun and enjoyable YA thriller which I completely recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this mystery/thriller set in New Orleans. I love anything related to Mardi Gras and the intricate krew system. This book seemed tailor-made for fans of Pretty Little Liars and others of that ilk. The relationships between the girls and their parents are complex; there's mystery and romance and drama. However, there were times when the plot seemed rushed, especially at the end. I didn't hate the book, and it was a really quick read. I just wanted more.

This book follows several debutantes in New Orleans. Lily goes missing and this sends Piper, Vivian, and April on a wild ride to find her and uncover the death of last years last queen, Margot. They sleuth to find answers, wind up in dangerous situations, and of course someone finds a little romance on the side.

This is such a thrilling ride. I really enjoy the murder mystery, YA thrillers. I would put this in with books like Good Girl's Guide to Murder. It was absolutely fantastic to follow, and the twists were surprising.

There is talk of murder, OD'ing, drug and alcohol use, and some other strong subjects. I would still say this is done tastefully in a way that would still be very YA and safe to read for teens.

Thank you so much netgalley and the St Martin's Press for an ARC of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it in a day while on vacation.

I loved the debutante theme, the New Orleans setting, the Gossip Girl feel.

I will definitely read more from Worley in the future.

I give The Debutantes 5/5 stars.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The second I saw this was set in New Orleans I was beyond enthusiastic to dive in. This was full of mystery, twists, and turns. I’m definitely looking forward to reading Olivia’s first book People To Follow after reading this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

This was a YA read with a lot of twists, even to the very end. In the beginning I was getting the characters confused with the changing POVs if I didn’t look at the chapter heading, but once the characters were more developed I was able to figure out who it was based on the POV.

Three debs are trying to find their missing friend and figure out who killed the former queen. There are secret societies, bad parents, and you never know who to trust. I liked how the three debs who had not been friends build relationships with each other out of a respect for their differences.

It’s a little sad that some of the mothers are teaching their daughters either how to hide their feelings or to be covertly strong rather than just standing up to the men in their lives and ending the reign of a male dominated culture.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

A dark twisty mystery that is set in the upper echelons of New Orleans society and delves into the Carnival culture of debutantes and masqued balls, When three debutantes, young women of insane privilege, investigate the mysterious death of last year's tragic death, they realize that nothing is truly accidental and that this year's queen of the ball might be the next target for mayhem! As a native New Orleanian, I loved it. I think it has the potential to be the next viral TikTok book since it's a compulsive read, and I'd highly recommend to your fans of drama-filled mysteries.

It was fun to be engrossed in the history and society of New Orleans. This is a YA book, so if you're going into this thinking there is an adult feel to it, you may not want to read this. I don't mind YA books at all, so this was a great read for me. The Debutantes delves into the lives of New Orleans elite girls and has many twists and turns. If you love the show Pretty Little Liars this is right up your alley.

The author is obviously a talented writer, but I found this book hard to get into. It might just be personal preference, but I didn’t find myself engrossed in the debutante world or connected to the characters.

An absolutely thrilling and powerfully written YA novel with twists and turns and dynamic characters tht will keep you on the edge of your seat. 100% recommend to those who love YA thrillers!

A year after the suspicious death of the debutante queen, the latest queen goes missing and a unlikely group of girls are poised to help find her even when threatening notes mean to stop their efforts.

As a young adult thriller/mystery read, I found this one to be solid. I enjoyed the different POVs, deep knowledge shared about New Orleans, and the overall pacing and plot. I found each girl earnest and relatable. I was 100% bought in and along for the ride to find Lily!

In the end, I found the secret society aspect interesting...It's obvious problematic beginnings and present day iterations hard to stomach. And the final twist regarding Lily to be an interesting choice. Somewhat believable given the culture, but oof another hard to stomach moment.

Thank you to the publisher for my advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

UPDATE

Once I finally got through the first half I really got into this story! They finally started uncovering more and more and it just got so much more intense when they found the secret organization that was literally running their town. I was kind of expecting the detective but I was not expecting his accomplice at ALL! But that ending!! I MEAN I did not see that coming at all and honestly it was pretty messed up but it was an awesome plot twist and I am here for it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to.

This was a fun book! But I am so glad I do not live in New Orleans or any place this debutante crap goes on! I loved the different POVs from the Maids. I thought the story played out well, but it was a little on the juvenile side for me (yes, I know it’s YA, but still.) Overall, I enjoyed it and would read Olivia Worley again.