Day’s YA: THE DEBUTANTES

THE DEBUTANTES by Olivia Worley
9781250881465 (TP) | 9781250881441 (HC)
10/29/2024
Wednesday Books
Ages 13-18

E-galley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley

The debutantes of New Orleans exist in a glittery world of ball gowns and lavish parties, but it’s not quite as polished as it seems from the outside. After last year’s queen was found dead, everyone just wants this year’s ball to go as smoothly as possible, which should be easy, considering the new queen is the perfectly poised Lily LeBlanc. But when the ball is sabotaged by someone in a jester costume, the carefully constructed facade begins to crack. Then three of the debutantes get a text from Lily asking them to meet her the next morning. When they get there, Lily is nowhere to be found. The only thing the three debs have in common is their connection to Lily, but they soon realize why Lily brought them together. The glitz and glamor is hiding some dark and dirty secrets, and as the debs work to find Lily, they uncover more than they ever expected. The deeper they dig into the dangerous underbelly of their world, the more they question everything they’ve been told. And when the jester starts threatening to reveal the girls’ own secrets, they must work together to expose their tormentor, before they’re left with no secrets to keep, or worse, another dead debutante.  

Olivia Worley is very quickly becoming a queen herself—a queen of YA thrillers! After her debut, PEOPLE TO FOLLOW, this sophomore novel keeps the tension high and the twists sharp. And she very clearly knows New Orleans like the back of her hand. I felt like I was running through the streets right along with the debs, ball gown on and heels in hand. This fast-paced and compelling thriller is a fascinating look at the darker side of elite societies and debutante culture, while also examining important topics like class, power, patriarchy, and female friendship. It’s definitely got the irresistible vibes of classic teen shows like Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and Veronica Mars. I’d also recommend this to readers of THEY WISH THEY WERE US by Jessica Goodman, THE CHEERLEADERS by Kara Thomas, and THE AGATHAS by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson.

Happy Reading!
<3 Emily

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