The Debutantes was a thrilling and suspenseful YA read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The murder mystery was intriguing, and I liked how the story kept me guessing. The story was fast paced, and the author’s writing style was engaging.

I loved the setting—the story takes place in New Orleans during the city’s debutante ball. I liked the main characters. Each of the girls had a distinct and strong personality, which made them compelling and interesting characters.

There was some typical teen drama in the story that I found a bit annoying, but it’s to be expected in a YA book. Overall, I think fans of young adult mysteries and thrillers will really enjoy this one.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC copy of this book via NetGalley for review.

The Debutantes by Olivia Worley is an absolutely captivating YA thriller that combines the glitz and glam of New Orleans' high society with a chilling, mysterious atmosphere. The debutante world is already filled with drama, but when the perfect debutante, Lily LeBlanc, goes missing after the Les Masques Ball, it quickly becomes clear that something darker is lurking beneath the surface.

If you love thrilling mysteries, unexpected twists, and high-society drama with a dark edge, The Debutantes is an absolute must-read!

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

Wow, this mystery was a wild slice of life enveloped in the world of the New Orleans wealthy that left me unsettled and a bit more understanding of those who manipulate society. Told from the perspectives of debutantes searching for their friend who disappeared after an annual ritual event gone awry, the exploration of the grooming and exploitation of the youth of the elite was both terrifying and fascinating.. As the debs start peeling back the layers of their community, they find they don’t know who to trust, leading themselves (and us readers) into more doubt and confusion with every step they take. Plot progression was a little uneven at times, and it was hard to remember who was narrating chapters because the voices were too similar; nonetheless, I was hooked by the story and devoured this book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this thriller.

What a great ya thriller mystery. Perfect for fall. Full of secret society’s taking place around Mardi Gras. Enjoyed this one quite a bit. Loved the friendship that formed between the three unlikely friends. It was definitely written for a young adult audience but it does touches on racism and womens role in the world. The mystery written in here is really well done full of twists and turns.

This YA thriller was centered around Mardi Gras and high class social societies. I haven't read a lot of books in this setting, so I did enjoy that change of pace. After the Les Masques Ball, Margot is found dead one year, followed by Lily. Three friends / acquaintances must work together to find Lily and why they are brought together before Lily's danger increases.

I really enjoyed this - one of my biggest pet peeves is when people base books in New Orleans and don't acknowledge that New Orleans in and of itself is a character - you can tell that the author really wanted to pay honor to New Orleans - I thought the story was interesting and that it kept my attention throughout the book

Oooooo..the scheming and terrible lives of debutantes in New Orleans comes to light. This book is filled with mystery, scheming, secrets…and murder?

For the New Orleans elite, the Les Masques Ball is sure to be the season’s social event—if they can avoid another dead Queen. With a perfectly poised debutante on the throne, everything is going according to plan…until a mysterious figure in a Jester costume hijacks the ball. That night, Lily sends a text to three of the Maids on her royal court—her best friend, Vivian; her boyfriend's sister, Piper; and April, her former frenemy—asking them all to meet the next morning. But Lily never shows up. These debutantes soon realize why Lily brought them together: something dark is lurking beneath the glamorous surface of the debutante world, which might be why she disappeared. They realize that their town is not what it seems and that there is no true progress here.

I was hooked from the start, and really loved the mystery, overall vibes, and the different POVs. So good, and recommend to both history and mystery buffs (esp if you like the two together :)

Favorite quotes:
- “Life isn’t safe, so it’s on us. We have to protect ourselves”
- “That’s the think I’ve learned about iron gates: they lock the danger in just as often as they keep it out”
- “Real enough that you don’t know you’ve been fooled until it’s too late”
- “Now I’ve dug so deep that I don’t think my hands will ever be clean again”
- “Maids, let’s fucking assemble”
- “This city is our kingdom, and here they were, offering me a life raft”
- “Sometimes it’s good to remember the truth. The real story under the fiction”

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

I know next to nothing about the debutante tradition, and only have a cursory knowledge of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, so this was really a new world for me. It's a world that I'm not sure I like, and even has me seriously thinking twice about my desire to visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

When I started reading this, I was expecting much more horror than I received. It really felt more like a cozy mystery in the end than a typical YA thriller. Not that it was particularly cozy, but it didn't have me on the edge of my seat like I expect from YA geared thrillers.

It took me a few chapters in each characters' head to really get a grasp on which debutante was which and how they were connected. They do have very different personalities, but those didn't shine through early on in this story. And it is told in multiple POVs, rotating through the Maids for the most part, so just when I'd feel like I was getting a handle on one of them, I was getting dumped in someone else's head.

The ending was predictable-adjacent. I'd mostly figured out where things were heading, but not completely. Overall I give The Debutantes 3.8945 out of 5 stars.

Olivia Worley's The Debutantes is technically classified as YA, but I found it every bit as intriguing and compelling as suspense novels meant for "more mature readers". Yes, the main characters are high school students, but the themes speak to all age levels. I loved the references to Carrie in the opening chapters, and this book is delightfully twisty. Everyone is hiding something, sometimes behind a literal mask. For anyone who has ever been to New Orleans, some of the familiar descriptions will add to the experience. The Debutantes would be a great book club/buddy read.

Holy POVs, Batman.
I thought that this was okay--it will definitely be popular among a younger crowd who are looking for something to scratch the itch that Pretty Little Liars scratched for my mid-20s self. The pacing of the story was a bit slow, probably because there were a thousand (four) POVs. I also found myself a bit confused initially trying to keep the POVs straight while being introduced to the plot and conflict, which I failed at, and kept having to remind myself of who was who. Eventually, I got it down but at that point I had progressed past the point of really caring about them. The plot was interesting, if a bit slow to start, and the drama was giving.

Overall, I wished that this had had fewer POVs, and maybe had just followed April as she navigates the story because was the most interesting character, honestly. However, a younger teen looking for a YA thriller reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars will absolutely eat this up!

This book was just okay. Not a bad read but not something that I would say is a must read. It had its interesting parts but it didn’t really stand out. I would still encourage to check it out if interested. 3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was a fun YA thriller. Thr characters were okay. I wasn't a huge fan of the MC in particular, but I understood her, so that worked. The ending was satisfactory. Good pacing and plot. Nothing special, but it's serviceable and good for a quick read on a Saturday.

This was a fun YA read. The book was set in the backdrop of elite society in New Orleans. The author did a good job with imagery and world building it felt like you were immersed and part of the world.

In The Debutantes, Olivia Worley takes readers on a thrilling ride through the dark undercurrents of New Orleans high society, where secrets, lies, and threats lurk behind the glamour of Mardi Gras. This tantalizing YA mystery channels the intrigue of The Agathas and Pretty Little Liars into the lives of four debutantes, each with hidden motives and buried secrets.
The story kicks off with the disappearance of debutante queen Lily LeBlanc, who vanishes after the prestigious Les Masques Ball, the same event where her predecessor, Margot, met a tragic end. Lily’s mysterious text to her three court members—best friend Vivian, her boyfriend’s sister Piper, and former friend April—draws these three unlikely allies together. As they search for Lily, they begin to unravel a web of sinister secrets that threatens them all. When a menacing figure in a Jester costume starts to taunt them, the girls realize that Margot’s death might not have been an accident—and that Lily could be the next victim.
Worley’s skillful, multi-narrative approach brings depth and suspense to each character, immersing readers in their complex relationships and hidden fears. The dynamic between Vivian, Piper, and April—each battling their own insecurities and ambitions—feels authentic and drives the tension forward as they reluctantly team up. Though there are many characters and shifting storylines, Worley’s writing keeps the reader engaged, and the gradual reveals are timed just right to maintain suspense.
With twists around every corner, The Debutantes deftly explores the shadowy side of high society and the lengths people will go to protect their reputations. Fans of twisty mysteries will find themselves hooked by this fast-paced, tension-filled thriller, perfect for readers who love secrets, scandal, and Southern charm.

When I first picked up The Debutantes, I knew I was in for a thrilling ride through the world of New Orleans’ elite, but I didn't realize just how deeply the book would draw me in. Olivia Worley has crafted a compelling young adult mystery that combines Southern charm with a dark, suspenseful undertone. Set against the backdrop of the Les Masques Ball—a high-society debutante event rife with secrets and hidden agendas—this story had me turning pages late into the night.

The premise of The Debutantes is tantalizing: a mysterious figure in a Jester costume crashes the ball, throwing a shadow over the event and prompting debutante Lily LeBlanc to summon her best friend Vivian, her boyfriend's sister Piper, and her former frenemy April. But when Lily disappears, these three unlikely allies find themselves entangled in a web of secrets that link her vanishing to the untimely death of last year’s debutante queen, Margot Landry. Worley does an excellent job setting up an eerie, almost gothic atmosphere that feels uniquely New Orleans, blending the glamour and grit of Mardi Gras with a creeping sense of dread.

The multi-POV narration really worked for me. Each of the three girls—Vivian, Piper, and April—brings a distinct voice and perspective to the story. I appreciated the way Worley balanced their personalities: Vivian is the fiercely loyal best friend, Piper is analytical and dedicated to tradition, and April is observant yet socially distant. These differences not only create a dynamic cast of characters but also help drive the suspense forward as we learn each girl’s secrets and see how they connect to the larger mystery. Fans of books like One of Us Is Lying or shows like Gossip Girl will find familiar themes of secrecy, high-stakes drama, and class tension.

One thing that surprised me was how deep the social commentary ran. Worley doesn't shy away from critiquing the misogynistic, elitist traditions tied to the debutante culture, showing how these girls are pressured to maintain perfection while sacrificing their authenticity and, in some cases, their safety. As the story unfolds, you see how each character grapples with her own identity within a society that values appearance and status above all else. I felt this added depth to the story, making it more than just a typical whodunit.

I’ll admit, it took me a little while to fully connect with the characters. Initially, I found myself double-checking whose perspective I was reading because the voices felt somewhat similar. But once the story found its rhythm, I was completely hooked. Worley’s pacing is tight, with twists that kept me guessing until the end. There were moments where I genuinely couldn’t put the book down, needing to know what new revelation would come to light. The climax and epilogue both left me with a sense of satisfaction while hinting at the characters’ growth, especially in how they confront the culture they’ve been steeped in.

The only aspect that left me wanting more was April’s storyline, which felt slightly unresolved by the end. I was initially drawn to her for her keen observational skills and complex backstory, so it was a bit disappointing when her arc didn’t quite deliver the payoff I’d hoped for. Piper’s journey, however, exceeded my expectations, adding layers to her character that made her one of the highlights of the book.

The Debutantes is a must-read for fans of YA thrillers who enjoy a mix of suspense, social critique, and richly detailed settings. While it would be an excellent book to pick up during Mardi Gras or Halloween, its twists and dark intrigue make it perfect for any time of year. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, character-driven mystery with a vivid New Orleans vibe, Olivia Worley’s The Debutantes should be at the top of your list.

This was a fun story about a bunch of debutante youths and a secret society in New Orleans. Last year’s Queen was found dead in her car and now this year’s queen is missing the day after the ball. Lily’s friends go looking for her & as the mystery unfolds we find out who’s really behind the disappearance. I found it a little confusing going between the girls and keeping the who’s who straight. I liked how loyal the girls are to each other even though they’re not really sure if they even like each other. The climax of the story was exciting and the revelation of what was really happening for Lily was crazy.
The epilogue was interesting & enjoyable. This YA novel had great costumes & characters. I enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of this book.

This was a suspenseful YA book set in the glamorous world of New Orleans' elite. The story centers on four debutantes, Vivian, Piper, April, and Lily, who find themselves caught up in a mystery when their friend Lily disappears during the annual Les Masques Ball. As the investigation unfolds, secrets and lies are uncovered

The book is full mystery and a cast of well develop characters, each with their own unique voice and motivations. The setting of New Orleans is vividly described, adding to the overall atmosphere of the story. It’s a fast-paced and suspenseful read that will keep you hooked until the very end.

3.75/5 stars

Thank you Wednesday Books for the advanced reading copy!

This was a great YA Thriller and had a lot more depth than I expected. While some parts were predictable, there were also some really great twists, and I was guessing until the very end. I loved the friendship aspects and always love a group of strong women leading the way! A few of the characters were pretty insufferable but all had their place in the story and kept things interesting. My main complaint about this one was there were just a lot of moving parts, and it got a little bit difficult to keep track of what was going on at times. Overall, though, this was a super fun, New Orleans-set thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review! I wasn't expecting the way this storyline to play out the way it did, but I'm not mad about it. I'm a sucker for a YA romance mystery, and this is no exception! It wasn't a 5-star for me because it was still relatively predictable, and the pacing was weird at points, but overall I enjoyed it!

This YA mystery tells the story of three classmates who are determined to get to the bottom of the disappearance of their classmate, Lily. Lily's debutante ball was ruined by a prankster, bringing attention to another classmate who died the year prior. This was a quick read, reminiscent of the puzzles in The Inheritance Games and the private school world of Gossip Girl. At times it was quite unrealistic, but that's what makes this a good escapist novel.