This was a great read! I was hooked from the beginning and just couldn't put it down. The twists and turns kept me on my toes wondering what would happen next. And just when I thought I had it figured out, I didn't!

The overall plot was awesome! I enjoyed the characters and I loved the secret society and all of the drama that went along with it!

If you like fast paced YA thriller books with lots of twists and turns then this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is a fascinating look at privilege and class as Lily is crowned Queen of Les Masques Ball, a yearly tradition that the entire community attends. But unexpected events occur that send attendees fleeing and the crowd into chaos. And suddenly we also learn about The Den and a "secret gentleman's club" that seems sinister in its "members only" inclusion and "Royal Feasts." Told from several of the girls' perspectives, the novel focusses on the earlier death of Margot and the sudden disappearance of Lily. As Lily's friends rally to figure out if she's just run away or is in danger, we witness the dark underbelly of this gentleman's club and its rituals and exclusivity. It's dark and chilling as we see no one is immune to ridicule, torture, and threats that keep people quiet in the face of exposure!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up -- after enjoying "People to Follow" I was excited to receive an advance copy of Olivia Worley's sophomore novel, The Debutantes.

This felt like Gossip Girl at a Mardi Gras debutante ball, and the vibes were great! I felt like I got a good gasp of the characters and motivations of our "maids" -- Vivian, Piper, and April, the unlikely trio trying to solve the disappearance of "The Queen", Lily Leblanc.

If you're looking for entitled rich people who are used to getting away with everything finally having to face consequences for their actions, this won't disappoint. Some interesting twists and overall a fun YA thriller!

This book was cute. I was pretty excited to get the chance to read this since I'm a sucker for a good New Orleans based book. The book is in multiple POVs but it's only like 3 I think. I normally don't like multiple POVs but I didn't mind this since they were pretty different characters

I read and very much enjoyed Olivia Worley's debut novel "People to Follow" and was very excited when I was approved to review her follow up, "The Debutantes." Generally, I don't know much about the debutante culture in the South, but it's still a fascinating trope I am familiar with at the lowest level, so I was intrigued by the plot hook from the beginning.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book, but I did feel like it lost its footing and fell a little flat at times. I didn't really feel connected to any of its characters, and I did see the main whodunnit twist coming (though not the one from the final pages, that one was a surprise). However, I did really enjoy the elements of the secret society and the familial drama. It felt like Pretty Little Liars meets the video game Life Is Strange (especially with the mildly present photography element)

It was definitely twisty and had some surprising elements, so I would recommend it for people who enjoy a fast paced chase full of questions and answers!

Thanks to NetGalley, Olivia Worley, and the publisher for the ARC! The Debutantes debuts (haha) on October 29th, 2024!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an exciting and engaging, if somewhat farfetched read that I tore through in a day or so. I really enjoyed the New Orleans debutante circuit setting and always love a secret society angle.
The ending seemed silly and a bit confused, but overall a fun book.

This was a great story! The characters were like able and the plot was great! I was really interested and would definitely recommend.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE DEBUTANTES by Olivia Worley in exchange for my honest review.***

Having a lifetime interest and envy of Coming Out Balls, I was so excited to receive an ARC of THE DEBUTANTES for an inside look. Set in New Orleans, this mystery is told from the points of view of the queen and her three maids.

THE DEBUTANTES didn’t pull me in as quickly as I had hoped. I never felt a connection to the characters and reading felt more like a slog than a joy. The pace was too slow for me, perhaps because I lacked an emotional connection to any character. The well-thought out plot was the best part of THE DEBUTANTES.