Debs in New Orleans! But the book is YA, so temper your expectations.

Last year there was a dead queen of the Les Masques ball. She was a wild one, though, nothing like this year’s perfect girl, Queen Lily LeBlanc.

But then the ball is invaded by a mysterious jester and Lily seeks help from her best friend, Vivian, her boyfriend’s sister Piper and her frenemy, April. They set a meeting but Lily disappears. What happened to her? Will there be another dead debutante?

Well, actually, it doesn’t seem like a lot of people care very much, to be honest, and if you are a grown person you probably won’t either; this is YA for YAs, for sure. I kept getting Piper and Vivian confused, which was pretty bad since there were really only three main characters. Young teens may like it, as a nice bit of fluff.

thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC copy of The Debutantes!

The historical information and the peek into New Orleans socialites was riveting! I saw another review mention how this was like a Louisiana version of pretty little liars, and I totally could see that!

The plot was really well written, but had some predictable moments. The drama was not lacking in the slightest with the rich, exuberant characters! I liked getting insight into each debutante as we switched POVs.

We follow along with April, Vivian and Piper to find our lost Queen; Lily. The stakes are at an all time high since last years Queen, Margot was murdered. All of the girls are tied together by the two queens, and must work together to find their friend before it’s too late. Before they know it they’re in deep over their heads…

Quick paced, YA thriller! I’d recommend if you’re looking for a mild palette cleanser between darker stories.

I'm not usually a thriller reader, but I've started picking up a few more and loving them.

This one has a great premise and kept me guessing the whole time!

I would recommend for any thriller or mystery fan. As well as those who love cut throat society and social class critique.

I wasn't a fan of this one. It had such potential. New Orleans is my favorite city in the whole world so I was excited to read a book in which it is the setting. But this one fell flat for me. Maybe I'm just not smart but I didn't really "get" the big controversy. None of it seemed like a big deal to me. I'm not a huge fan of YA so maybe that was the problem. Two stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Debutantes by Olivia Worley is a thrilling dive into the glamorous yet treacherous world of New Orleans high society, where the Les Masques Ball is the pinnacle event—if it doesn’t end in tragedy. This novel seamlessly combines the allure of debutante balls with the suspense of a gripping mystery, making it an irresistible read.

The story opens with the memory of Margot Landry, last year’s ball queen, found dead the morning after her reign—a wild child whose death, though tragic, wasn’t entirely unexpected. Fast forward to the present, and Lily LeBlanc, the perfectly poised new queen, seems to promise a scandal-free season. However, the ball takes a dark turn when it’s disrupted by a figure in a Jester costume, setting off a chain of events that shatters the façade of the elite circle.

Lily's mysterious disappearance the night of the ball triggers the involvement of three other debutantes: her best friend Vivian, her boyfriend's sister Piper, and April, a former frenemy. These three girls, who seemingly have nothing in common except their ties to Les Masques and their exclusive private school, are thrust into an investigation that reveals the dark underbelly of their world.

Worley excels at character development, presenting a trio of protagonists who are complex and relatable. Vivian, Piper, and April must navigate their own secrets and insecurities while unraveling the mystery behind Lily's disappearance and Margot’s death. Their evolving dynamics and reluctant camaraderie add depth to the narrative, making their journey as compelling as the mystery itself.

The plot is intricately woven, with each clue leading to more questions and each revelation raising the stakes. The presence of the Jester, who threatens to expose the girls' secrets, adds a layer of psychological tension that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. As the debutantes dig deeper, they uncover disturbing truths about their community, leading to a climactic conclusion that is both shocking and satisfying.

Worley’s vivid descriptions bring New Orleans and its traditions to life, immersing readers in the opulence and danger of the debutante world. The contrast between the glamorous surface and the lurking darkness is masterfully portrayed, making the setting almost a character in itself.

In conclusion, The Debutantes is a captivating novel that blends social drama with a chilling mystery. Olivia Worley has crafted a story that is as elegant as it is suspenseful, with well-drawn characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. For fans of high-society intrigue and psychological thrillers, this book is a must-read.

This was so good! I breezed through it because I couldn't put it down. It had great NOLA vibes/setting, multiple POV, missing girls, and a murder to solve. All set against the backdrop of debutante season in the south. I did not see the ending coming and liked how the narration shifted between all of the different girls involved in trying to find Lily. It's a perfect thriller to breeze through this summer!

What a good YA read. I loved it! It was so interesting and entertaining. I can’t say enough how much I loved it! This book is a must read!

i loved loved the concept of this book. debutante culture & murder-mystery? yes pls! worley's writing is very atmospheric and i think that they're writing in the right genre. the immersive quality of the work has to be applauded, which is why i'm giving this 2 stars and not 1.

HOWEVER, i do have my gripes with this book.

the fun of a mystery book is to try and figure the mystery out but worley is so heavy-handed with her hints that one has to be blind to ignore them. it made the mystery so predictable and i figured out the perpetators within a few sentences of meeting them, which is either a testament to either my detective skills or how predictable this book is. BUT i will say the plot twists kept me on my toes, it was a twisty journey but i knew the destination.

there are 3 POVs here and i enjoyed only 1 of the three. it's hard to get to know 3 MCs + the 2 characters the mystery centers around so i can see why worley would take a few shortcuts in letting us meet the characters. HOWEVER, some things were told and not shown. certain things are unveiled through being told. we learn who the characters are as a person because they tell us through their narration, same for character relationships.

finally, the metaphors & sayings are... something. they make no sense. i won't quote exactly as it's an ARC and i want to avoid quoting. but the metaphors felt like a reach sometimes and i rolled my eyes at a few.

unfortunately, i would not recommend. however, i think worley is an author to watch. the atmospheric feeling of their writing has to be commended and they're still early in their career. i'll read their next one for sure, this just didn't click with me.

Y’all, a darker YA thriller you won’t find, The Debutantes goes bone deep in the mystical, cutthroat world of girl politics, Southernism, and the gothic vibes of New Orleans. If you like your YA with edge, this is one to read.

Worley did an excellent job in bringing together multiple perspectives, allowing you insight into the inner workings of the characters' minds and the secrets they harbor. The atmospheric setting of New Orleans serves as a character in its own right. While the plot unfolds at a brisk pace, keeping you engaged with its twists and turns, some plot elements were a bit predictable or were even unresolved at the end. Overall, the novel is a gripping YA thriller that delivers on its promises of suspense and atmospheric storytelling.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for sending this 😁

3.5

Quite a classic start where three girls, who look nothing alike, come together to search for the missing woman. Some interesting twists that I didn't see coming, others far too far-fetched.

.5 for the end of the story! I would never have suspected...

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early.

Going into this book I had some suspicions of what the book would be about before reading the synopsis and I enjoyed this book. Some parts of the book were funny, and was not expecting to laugh during this. It wasn't my favorite book but for a YA Thriller, it was not bad at all. I enjoyed the writing style and it took me a day to get through so a straightforward read.

It does have you hooked in the first half and the ending, but the middle of the book does get a bit slower.

Overall I gave this book a 3.5/5 stars and would recommend this book to other people.

Not bad, not bad at all. Ok, actually I was quite impressed with this one and a little surprised with how much I liked it.
I was able to breeze through this one because so much is going on, I had to keep turning the pages.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Viv, Piper and April. But I did find myself like Vivs chapters a bit more.
Overall it wraps up neat and tidy, which is, to me, the most unbelievable part of the whole thing.

Good themes about doing the right thing even when it costs. But the story felt a little disjointed to me and made it hard to get into it.

When I chose to read The Debutantes by Olivia Worley, I did so based purely on the cover. I love the cover to this book so much, even though I can’t exactly tell you why. It just jumped out at me as something I should read. And my intuition was spot-on.

The Debutantes is what Pretty Little Liars would have been if it was set in New Orleans. Dead and missing friends, danger, secrets being exposed, mysterious masked people…. Yep, Pretty LIttle Liars in New Orleans backed by Krewe culture and, to an extent, Debutante culture. Honestly, that’s one of the reasons I loved it so much. I loved Pretty Little Liars.

Reading this book kept me on my toes. I didn’t want to put it down, and honestly, I stayed up until 6AM to finish it! It was so easy to read, so easy to follow that I just didn’t want to stop reading. That’s one of the ways in which it differs from Pretty Little Liars – you won’t need a spreadsheet to keep track of what’s going on. Also, The Debutantes won’t need sixteen books to wrap everything up – it was all wrapped up neatly at the end. Or was it?

The ending was amazing and wrapped the book up well. Does it wrap the full story up? It actually could. But could there be more books? I think there could, if Ms. Worley wants there to be more books. I’m sure there’s a way to add a sequel or two to this plot.

As for the characters, I really enjoyed Vivian and April. I wasn’t as much of a fan of Piper’s, mostly because she drove me crazy with the way she behaves. However, I didn’t like Lily at all. Granted, we don’t see a lot of her, but she just doesn’t seem to be a genuine person in this story. She isn’t sincere in anything she says or does and it just bugs me.

I gave this book five stars because it was an excellent book that made me want to keep reading – even after it was over. I hope to read more from Ms. Worley in the future!

This book was just not for me. A look into the dark underbelly of New Orleans Society (yes, capital S), it chronicles the quiet of several high school debutantes to unravel a dark mystery.

Personably, I found it implausible, despite the generally excellent writing.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

4.25 ⭐️

This book was like Pretty Little Liars for girlies who read Holly Jackson, and I absolutely ate it up!
My only critique is that I wish the romances weren’t so glossed over, but it made sense since there was so much going on plot-wise.
Overall, the twists and turns were so juicy that I did stay up until 2am to finish it because I could not put it down & I am so grateful for NetGalley for providing me with this arc!!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

Such a great fast paced book! I was hooked from page one and finished this in one sitting!!!

Fast-paced storyline, an enjoyable read with the thrills, angst, and love-hate relationships of teenage girls. Set in Louisiana, with the Mardi Gras feel of power and mystery. This book blows it all to hell.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a fun and fast-paced YA Thriller. I was excited to be accepted to read this book because I had read Olivia Worley's 2023 novel. This book gave me major Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars vibes. Some parts of the book were slightly confusing to me, but I think the plot of this book was slightly complicated. It was also hard for me to relate to some of the girl's actions, because it has been almost 10 years since I was a teenager, but this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I would definitely read a third book by Olivia Worley in the future!

Read if you like
Pretty Little Liars
Gossip Girl

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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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