An easy YA thriller! I enjoyed the New Orleans/Marti Gras setting so much! Adults behaving badly, kids trying to find out what happened to one of their friends. Lots of secrets and debauchery! This made for an entertaining read.

This was so much fun!! It really reminded me of the Pretty Little Liars TV show in the first few seasons, and I had a great time reading this. It has a great atmosphere, fun characters, and a mystery that kept me engaged the whole time.

Absolutely loved this book! I finished this in one sitting. It had everything that I enjoy in a book; it’s filled with mystery, murder, and twists. It’s faced paced and the suspense had me at the edge of my seat. It follows 3 debutantes, who are working together to solve last years queen debutante’s murder.

If you like murder mysteries, suspense, New Orleans setting, and Pretty Little Liars then you’ll love this book. ☺️ Thank you NetGalley for an opportunity to read and review the book.

The Debutantes by Olivia Worley is an exciting young adult thriller set during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, focusing on Lily LeBlanc, a debutante preparing for the Les Masques Ball after the shocking death of last year's queen, Margot Landry. When Lily mysteriously disappears after calling her friends—Vivian, Piper, and April—to meet, the girls uncover dark secrets that may connect to Margot's demise.

Worley effectively captures the glamorous yet dangerous world of high society, with relatable characters showcasing different social struggles. However, the pacing feels uneven, with some scenes rushed and others dragging, and the suspense from the Jester character doesn't always hit the mark.

While the themes of friendship and loyalty are interesting, the characters could be developed further. Overall, The Debutantes is an entertaining read with potential; a fun mix of mystery and drama for those looking to explore rich kid world filled with secrets and intrigue.

4.75⭐️ I couldn’t put this one down!

I was fascinated by the culture around debutante balls and this YA thriller gives a perfect sneak peek into that world. I loved the New Orleans setting, I felt like I was right in the French Quarter with the characters.

I really liked that April, Vivian, and Piper were an unlikely team, but they each added so much value with their perspective.

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to figure out what happened to Lily and Margot. While the twists weren’t all jaw droppingly shocking, I think this story was paced really well, super engaging, and will definitely surprise you at times.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Olivia Worley for the eARC!

I dont know what happen with this one. I reallyy really thought I was going to enjoy teenage drama. but I kept losing interested while reading this one.

This was a 3.5 stars for me. The story takes place in New Orleans amongst the city's elite. Overall the story was interesting and I was invested enough to want to know what happened to the missing girl and the girl who died the previous year. But that was it. I didn't necessarily like any of these characters.

Three debutantes, of the Les Masques Ball, work together to find Lily, this year's Queen. Last year's queen died the morning after she was crowned. Not many were surprised as Margot was a wild child.

This year's ball was hijacked by a mysterious figure in a jester costume. That night, Lily sends a text to three of the girls on her court- her best friend Vivian, her boyfriend's sister Piper and her frenemy April asking them all to meet up the following morning. But Lily never shows.

They work together to learn what happened to Margot and where Lily could be before she meets the same end. All while the jester threatens to expose their secrets.

Thanks so much the author and SMP for this ARC to review

Many thanks to @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for allowing me to read and review this book!
Debutantes in New Orleans, during Mardi Gras run into a murder mystery that involves a secret society. Intrigued? So was I and the book caught and held my interest, keeping me guessing until the end!!

As soon as I saw this cover I knew I needed to get this in my hands. Idk what it is about this cover but as soon as I saw it I couldn't stop thinking about it. I just knew there was going to be a hot mess in this story and sure enough, there was. This book was bananas and I don't think I was expecting any of it.

Ok so this was a little weird. It's debutante season and these girls have been prepping all year long. They finally get to the debutante ball and there's a whole Carrie scene that unfolds. And from there, all these secrets start to unfold. And let me tell you, the secrets that unfold are ridiculous. Like I'm talking pick your mouth up from the floor crazy lol I don't want to say more without spoiling it, but just know that you need to read this to figure out why my mouth was hanging open.

As for the characters, I know I say this alot, but man, I hated every adult in this book. They ALL were terrible and exactly none of them were looking out for the kids in this one. And I know that's like the norm in YA thrillers, but these adults were not only not looking out for the kids, but they were also putting themselves and everyone else in danger. Literally no one in this book were good people. Out of the three point of views that we have too, don't trust any of them. And I mean none of them. So basically, everyone had something going on in this book. If you think you know, you don't. It for me too I'll just say that. (Well partly)

I do wish this was less of a slow burn tho. I had thoughts to put this down multiple times, but I stuck with it. When something finally happened, it was like a roller coaster that plunged down again. I think I'm only disappointed because I loved her debut so much. It was just as suspenseful, just not as thrilling. I also think I expected to see more scary bits because this IS New Orleans after all. It just wasn't there. And it was dumb because it had the potential to. It kept saying they were in the place where the cemeteries were above ground and all that, but she did nothing with it.

This was one I knew I would like just based on the cover and the synopsis. It's not my favorite of hers, but it's still super well crafted and the ending will have you guessing completely wrong.

I really enjoyed this book! I was hooked on the Pretty Little Liars series as a teen, and THE DEBUTANTES gave me those same vibes—truly a well-paced, well-crafted YA thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The New Orleans setting was also a definite highlight for me. It felt so vibrant and atmospheric, almost as if it was its own character in the story. However, I wished the actual characters were slightly more developed—while we were inside multiple characters' heads with the alternating POVs, which was a good touch, I still struggled to feel like I really "knew" some of them by the end of the book. Still, I would recommend this one for anyone in search of a quick, suspenseful read! Also, I'm excited to see what Olivia Worley writes next. I liked her writing style a lot! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

A mystery YA book set in New Orleans with a Mardi Gras theme?! Sign me up. The setting of this book was my favorite part about it! A very fun concept.

This book is told from the maidens who are on the debutante ball’s court when she goes missing. There are four in total and the characters are distinct enough I had no trouble keeping up with who was who.

I thought the end was fun, a bit twisty and satisfactory as well. A fun read if you are into YA books!

This book had me at YA thriller set in the New Orleans world of Mardi Gras krewes and elitists secret societies. Add in a whodunit around the mysterious death of a debutante and former ball queen, yes. The Carrie-esque moment. What a dramatic, thrilling, suspenseful and entertaining ride. These teens and their families were hiding so much. Secrets on secrets on secrets and more secrets to cover up all of their indiscretions. I enjoyed all the twists up until the very end. I loved how the author brought this story to life. It was a tense page turner. It felt like a real depiction of parts of New Orleans. Nice bits of social commentary on culture, privilege and tearing down patriarchal and elitist traditions. Although messy I enjoyed this kick ass group of unlikely friends. Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC! I can't wait to read more from this author.

A solid 3.5. I like the atmospheric setting of New Orleans because when an author chooses that it creates another character if done right and in the story, while I would have liked a stronger presence, did open the door for plenty of Southern gothic overtones in the world of rich royalty, Mardi Gras floats, and secret societies.

As with any twisty YA murder/missing mysteries, the convoluted nature of creating intricate webs of connections among people, poor decisions especially by adults who should know better, and more murder than the Black Death ends up being a bit of an eye roll by the end but it's for effect and it worked. I didn't give up on it because sometimes I will knowing that the author will throw in anything for intrigue. It all seemed to work well enough that suspension of disbelief wasn't atrocious.

Everyone has a secret. Everyone has an agenda. Everyone has a reputation to uphold so I liked the human side of this YA thriller. It had enough to offer to make it different than others in the category.

Not all traditions are a happy occasion. In the glamorous world of New Orleans elite, parties are the center of the universe and invites are as exclusive. But when one debutante goes missing, three of her "maids" will stop at nothing to uncover the darker side of these parties and traditions.

***

What an interesting look into the richest people in New Orleans. I believed every single plot point in this novel, and had a great time followings our debs as they uncovered multiple mysteries within their sacred circle of friends and family. Worley manages to once again capture commentary on our society without pulling any punches. Would definitely recommend for any YA audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Books set in Louisiana are done either very well or horribly, and those done well either are written by an author from here or an author who did the research. Worley is from New Orleans and knows the people and culture she wrote about. All three maids being very different young girls gave the narrative sparks of personality that I loved. The multi-pov is a great way to keep this mystery unraveling slowly yet with me in the edge of my seat, anxious for more. I felt reminded of One of Us is Lying because of all the secrets held by characters, and the society Lily, Vivian, Piper, and April belong to teleported me a bit to the original Gossip Girl with the expectations of the wealthy families. There's mystery and suspense with many twists and Mardi Gras vibes, but sorry, no parade due to the timing of the actual story. Great book to read at Halloween, New Years, or during the Mardi Gras season, though.

This story offers a thrilling, twist-filled exploration of deceit and unexpected revelations, set against the rich backdrop of New Orleans. As we delve into the mystery of what really happened to Margot, we’re introduced to a web of fake friends and even family members whose secrets and betrayals are slowly unraveled. The narrative captures the vibrant Southern charm of New Orleans, with cultural touches like grand balls and lively parades. The pacing and suspense build up to a powerful conclusion, making this an engrossing read for fans of suspenseful, character-driven mysteries.

A really fun YA mystery with the perfect setting for twists and thrills. I appreciated the different POVs and the propulsive pacing. There were definitely twists I didn't see coming!

I loved Olivia Worley’s debut young adult novel, so I was excited to reach The Debutantes. The City of New Orleans came to life in my imagination, dark yet vibrant at the same time. The multiple-perspective narration was utilized excellently to progress the plot. And the twists kept turning until the very last page. I would recommend this book especially for fans of Karen M. McManus and Holly Jackson.

The Debutantes was a clearly written book about girls that grow up in the New Orleans Debutante society and balls. Learning the expectations of the girls and the fictional story they go through was cleverly crafted throughout the novel.

I'm a sucker for the French Creole lore and culture of New Orleans. I couldn't put this one down once I started. The twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end and then questioning everything! Loved every minute of this one.