In my creative writing classes for high school students, we talk about social commentary quite a bit and we talk about how authors can use thrillers and horror stories to make their points. The Debutantes by Olivia Worley fits that criteria through it's peak into a world of extreme privilege. What makes the story even more compelling is its New Orleans setting. Olivia Worley has created a cast of badass, smart characters and a story full of twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Worley, and St. Martin's Press for the eBook. This is an exhilarating suspense thriller filled with cat-and-mouse tension. Just when you think you've grasped the twist, another revelation emerges that will leave you reeling!

A dark look into New Orleans Mardi Gras and Debutante culture!

We have three main characters here that all revolve around Lily, the debutante queen. Vivian, her best friend; Piper, her boyfriend's sister; and April, someone she used to be sorta friends with. The day after the debutante ball, Lily goes missing and these three take it upon themselves to investigate.

This was dark, twisty, and a very fun time. I saw a few twists coming but there were some I definitely didn't! It took me a minute to get all the characters sorted but once I did, it was easy to follow and get sucked in.

This is one of those books that I felt a very certain kind of anxious that I only get when young women are put into dangerous situations with unpredictable men. I was on the edge of my seat during some chapters, desperately hoping our trio might have some luck on their side and make it out okay.

Overall, this book did not disappoint! If you are a fan of Pretty Little Liars, I definitely think you would enjoy this! A solid 4 stars!

Thank you to @netgalley for this ARC!

I am a major fan of YA thrillers & this did not disappoint. After the disappearance of the new Les Masques Ball, three debutantes are on their own investigation to find out what happened to her. Obviously, this book is full of twists, turns, secrets, and all things New Orleans. I really liked that you get three different perspectives, though it did take me a few chapters to distinguish between them. And the plot twist in the "Five Months Later" section... well done. If you enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, I think you’ll enjoy this just as much as I did!

Thank you NetGalley, Olivia Worley, St. Martin's Press, & Wednesday Books for an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

The Debutantes follows three young women in New Orleans as they try to figure out who ruined their debutante ball and what really happened to their friend. The adults in their lives seem to be passing it all off as a prank and a spoiled runaway. But the three girls know there is something more, and they are going to figure it out. But at what costs?

I read Olivia’s debut novel and loved it. So I was excited to pick up her second book!
The cover is beautiful and fits the blurb soooo well! It is a really great pull to get people into the book.

I enjoyed this book!
It did take me until 30% to feel a real pull into the story. It also took me a bit to get connected with the characters. There were times where I had to check whose chapter I was on because they are all pretty similar in writing style.
Once I was in the story though, I was devouring it. I wanted to know about the secrets and lies, and who was really behind it all!

I LOVED the epilogue. It really put a perfect bow on the perfect queen.

Who should read this book?
If you enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, you should read this book.
If you enjoy New Orleans settings, you should read this book.
If you enjoy YA mysteries (whodunits), you should read this book.
If you enjoy debutante balls and high society, you should read this book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press and author Olivia Worley for the arc!

Ok ya’ll … this fast paced YA thriller wasn’t just twisty … it was TWISTED! And New Orleans was just the perfect atmospheric setting for this dark & creepy bucket full of suspense! It took me a minute to settle into the cast of characters … but being written in multiple pov’s helped and once I had them all straight in my head, I binged this baby to the shocking last page!

And just sayin’ … this story was made for the big screen … you can absolutely picture it in your mind as you are reading! I had the best time with it!

“𝖶𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖽 𝗂𝗍 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝖺 𝖻𝗈𝖽𝗒 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗂𝗍𝗒.”

I’ve always been drawn to New Orleans and its history, so I was super excited to dive into it from the Debutantes perspective, which is loosely based off of Worley’s experience. The story itself was delivered from the perspective of three Maids and their Queen, Lily Leblanc, who goes missing shortly after the Les Masques Ball. April, Vivian and Piper can’t help but feel like something bad has happened to Lily, while most people assume she’s just another entitled rich girl acting up for attention. Against all advice, the girls start looking into the clues and quickly attract the attention of the Jester, who warns them to stop digging or there will be consequences. What is the debutante world and its elites hiding and is it possible that Lily’s disappearance is connected to the death of the previous Queen, Margot Landry?

I truly enjoyed diving into the story which is a YA mystery surrounding the New Orleans debutantes scene. The darker perspective of the traditions, the cult-like tendencies and the rich behaving badly really created an extra layer of interest for me. There definitely was 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐬 but with a New Orleans festive flair. Honestly, this novel would be so fantastic as a movie/tv show!

✵𝖬𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖲𝗍. 𝖬𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗇’𝗌 𝖯𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌／𝖶𝖾𝖽𝗇𝖾𝗌𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝖡𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐.✵

Happy publication day to Olivia Worley and The Debutantes!

”Something is really wrong here. And something has to be done.”

Gossip Girl goes New Orleans in this delightfully-fun YA thriller! Don't let the YA genre fool you - this one's got plenty of twists, packed into a well-crafted setting that will keep readers of all ages entertained. Think old money, debutante balls, Mardi Gras, masquerades, and a sprinkling of Cajun lore to spice things up.

”Stop digging, or I’ll show everyone just what you’ve been hiding behind those pretty masks of yours.”

After last year’s debutante Queen was found dead, and this year’s Queen has gone missing, the Maids on the royal court begin to wonder if there might be a connection between Margot’s suspicious death and Lily’s disappearance. And they’ll stop at nothing to figure out who is involved before someone else gets hurt.

”We’re three girls someplace we’re not supposed to be, getting our hands dirty with the secrets of powerful men…”

This was a really fun read. I loved the New Orleans setting and the opulence of the private clubs and masked balls. I was infuriated by the misogyny of the men in this book, and wanted to watch their downfall! The story was well paced, and there were plenty of unexpected twists. The story is told from three different points of view, which was admittedly a bit confusing because they all felt very similar, but fans of Karen M. McManus and Holly Jackson will still love this one.

A huge thank you to Olivia Worley, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really loved The Debutantes by Olivia Worley! It’s a great YA thriller set in New Orleans.

The story starts with a girl going missing, and it’s full of secrets, mystery, and friendship drama. I liked how the book switches between different characters' points of view, and it kept me guessing the whole time.

If you enjoy books with lots of twists and turns, and you love New Orleans, I highly recommend this one!

Last year’s debutante queen is dead. This year’s queen? Missing.  In The Debutants, three determined debutante maids dive into the mystery of the missing queen, only to unravel dark secrets that lurk just beneath the surface.

The Debutants by Olivia Worley
Available October 29, 2024

Growing up in a town steeped in debutante culture, I’ve been to my share of balls—so the idea of a murder mystery set against this world was irresistible. Worley’s story is told from three unique perspectives, each giving the reader room to breathe as they navigate every twist and shocking turn. Worley's writing is perfect for YA: clear, fast-paced, and engaging. Each POV character brings something different to the table, giving every reader someone to relate to.

The New Orleans high-society setting is just as immersive as it is unsettling. With Worley’s vivid storytelling, the city’s dark glamour feels like its own character, breathing life (and chills!) into each scene.

Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

In a world where Gossip Girl meets New Orleans Halloween, a debutante queen ends up dead, with the next queen missing. Told from multiple POV amongst debutantes that seem to have nothing in common, the reader quickly finds out that not everything is as it seems in this NOLA world of wealth and opportunity.


Rating: 4/5

Tropes:
Whodunnit
Haves vs Have Nots
Wealthy Society
Multiple POV

Triggers:
Mürder
Kidnapping
Manipulation

My Thoughts:
This was a fast paced ride that makes me want to visit the eccentric city of New Orleans at Halloween! Learning about everyone’s secrets was like watching a train wreck you can’t look away from and the ending was great! Can’t wait to read another book by this author.

What’s that saying about well-behaved women?

This book was twisty and a little dark, and I liked it! I love a story that keeps me guessing, and this book did that to the very end.

I will say that at the beginning, it was a bit difficult to distinguish between April, Piper, and Vivian’s voices, but as the story progressed, we got to see a lot more of their personalities, and it got a lot easier to tell them apart. I also would not have minded some more Lily chapters, as our queen of the debutantes was, to me, the most interesting of them all.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book!

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Olivia Worley for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!

Such a fantastic book! As someone from Louisiana who has lived in New Orleans and lived through Mardi Gras and the cult of Krewes, this was fantastic!! Such a great, twisty book!

One dead queen and another one is missing. What is going on in New Orleans? I love books that ooze culture. In this story you get an inside view of how the wealthy live immersing themselves into a rich and vibrant culture full of traditions. Three young ladies begin investigating the disappearance of Lily, their friend. They find themselves drawn into a world of secret rituals and a brotherhood that protects the patriarchal foundation that has been laid over the years. They begin to question how their fathers, brothers, and community members could be part of something so antiquated. The deeper they dig they more danger they find themselves in. The conclusion is action filled and thrilling. Anyone who likes a good mystery will love this book. To find one that also includes a touch of history is amazing in its uniqueness.

A night that should have been perfection turns sour when Lily goes missing the night of the Debutant Ball. Sadly, this has happened before yet the last queen that went missing after the ball ended up dead. Luckily Lilly has three friends who are determined to find her before she to ends dead as well. Through many twists and turns, the three friends learn maybe the history behind the debutants is not as pristine and honorable as it is portrayed. Can they uncover all the secrets and find Lily before time runs out.
Teens are going love this story, it is fast paced and told from three perspectives. Vivian, Piper, and April are all strong characters whose unique personalities jump off the page and play into the story very well. I can’t wait to recommend the is book to readers soon.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

So so much fun. I'm always a sucker for books set in upper-crust southern societies that people only wish to know more about. Growing up in a southern state and knowing of the prestigious country clubs with strict traditions, I've always been oddly fascinated by Deb balls. This one did an excellent job of conveying the deeper issues of southern traditions, and the inherent misogyny at the forefront.

The three characters were super fun to read about and all had their inner strengths with each other, making the dynamic work so effectively. The final twist was especially fun to read about. It is a perfect read for those who want an all-female cast of detectives who find under the expectations a male-dominated world places on them.

The Debutantes is a solid YA thriller set in New Orleans, featuring rich, vivid descriptions of the debutante scene, Mardi Gras, secret underground clubs, and the vibrant NOLA nightlife.

The novel follows three young debutantes—April, Vivian, and Piper—as they investigate the disappearance of fellow debutante Lily LeBlanc, who vanishes the night after the Les Masques ball. The girls quickly become entangled in a dangerous game of secret societies rooted in sexism and soon realize they can't trust anyone—not even their families.

The book reminded me a bit of Pretty Little Liars, which isn't a bad thing in itself. It's more of a personal preference, as this type of mystery isn’t usually my favorite these days. However, the unique NOLA setting drew me in, and I was curious to see how I’d enjoy it. As for the plot, it leans toward predictability, with a limited number of prominent characters and an ending that wraps up a bit too neatly for my taste.

Overall, I'd recommend it to fans of entertaining YA mysteries, though perhaps not for those seeking something darker or more twisted.

THE DEBUTANTES is Olivia Worley's sophomore young adult mystery novel. The atmosphere and pacing make this an entertaining read, full of New Orleans ambience and high stakes hijinks. Each of the three main characters are well-drawn too with distinct voices and personalities that go deeper than the stereotypes they appear to be. The narrative maintains a steady trickle of suspense. I only wish, plot-wise, that the teen sleuths had figured out more of the mystery for themselves before the final confrontation, which would've cut down on the evil villain monologuing in the final chapters.

I had high hopes for this book but I was disappointed. I was bored for most of the book. The only things that kept me interested was the romance from the “Enemies to lovers” and the mystery aspect. I finished this book confused more than anything. A lot was left unexplained. It makes me wonder if there will be a sequel. I feel like it repeats itself a lot. It felt very lower YA, which personally is not for me.

I’m not sure if I would recommend this book but people can try it so they can form their own opinion.


Thank you to the author, St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

One year ago, Margot Landry, the reigning Queen of the Les Masques Ball was found dead the morning after the ball. This year, Lily LeBlanc, is the new Queen and she and everyone else is looking forward to a non eventful ball. That is, until a Jester hijacks the ball with a "silly" prank." The night of the ball, three Maids on Lily's court, receive a text message from Lily to meet her the following morning. Vivian, Piper, and April all show up on time, but Lily is nowhere to be found. Now, they are receiving cryptic messages from the Jester threatening to expose all of their secrets. Was Margot's death an accident and where is Lily? (Very Pretty Little Liars vibes. :)

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this e-arc.*