I was worried this book would be to YA, although it is YA I enjoyed the story. Overall the book has good twists and turns. The ending was unexpected. I also enjoyed the New Orleans setting of the book. It's a good mystery thriller with a Southern charm.

You can’t put lipstick on a pig.

In the bayou of weird that is New Orleans, the debutante balls with their Queen and Maids are some of the most culty and backwards traditions you may hear about. Taking place during Carnival (leading up to Mardi Gras), debutante balls present young women dressed in all white to society so that their Queen can accompany the King of their Krewe (and yes, it’s spelled that way for a decidedly racist reason) on their parade float. It’s misogynistic, classist, and rather gross, all things considered.

If there’s one thing I enjoy reading about in any book, it’s culty stuff. The Debutantes is a great mix of fast-paced whodunit mystery and suspense thriller with three different POVs told in first-person. There’s anxious April, a photographer who is great at observation but not so good with people; headstrong Vivian, who was the Queen’s best friend but didn’t see this coming; and intelligent Piper, top of their class and the biggest believer in the debutante traditions out of all of them. They’re all hiding something, but all of them are also invested in discovering the answers to three questions: Where did Lily LeBlanc disappear to? What really happened to Margot Landry? Are the two events connected?

My usual issue with books in this genre is either pacing or romantic subplots that feel extraneous, given the storyline. Thankfully, Olivia Worley doesn’t fall into either trap. The book starts off like any normal book would, but it takes off before you’re even 10% of the way in and doesn’t truly slow down in any substantial way until the end. While there is a hint of romance in one character’s subplot it’s nominal and mentioned only in passing, which I’m thankful for. A lot of YA books I’ve read this year haven’t passed the Bechdel Test (despite the amount of female authors or the amount of female characters), but this book passes it in spades as the characters talk about their families, friendships, futures, fears, and feelings. They see issues and look for solutions together. They see problems and try to solve them. They also fight, like teenage girls are wont to. They are stressed out, exhausted, and having to deal with more than any other teenage girl usually would because the adults in their lives aren’t doing their jobs.

Overall, it was a fun YA thriller read, though I kind of wish it had come out closer to Mardi Gras. I also wasn’t quite sold on the ending. April’s storyline kind of fell flat for me towards the end when it started out so promising, while Piper’s turned out to be more profound than I thought at first. It had its flaws but I’d still recommend it.

I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: YA Fiction/YA Mystery/YA Thriller

The Debutantes had me hooked from the first page! As a huge fan of Pretty Little Liars, I was instantly drawn to the secrets, lies, and hidden agendas swirling around New Orleans’ elite. The mix of glamour and danger at the Les Masques Ball makes for a thrilling backdrop, and I felt like I was right there at Mardi Gras, caught up in the sparkle and suspense.

I loved how real and flawed the characters felt—Vivian, Piper, and April each brought something unique to the story, and their unlikely friendship was just as intriguing as the mystery itself. The twists kept coming, and every time I thought I had things figured out, the story threw in another surprise. By the end, I was so invested that I didn’t want to put it down.

If you’re into suspenseful thrillers with strong friendships, dark secrets, and that edge-of-your-seat feeling, The Debutantes won’t disappoint.

Lily is ready to be the Queen of the Les Masques Ball when a person in a Jester costume makes everything go sideways. When her royal court gets a mysterious text the next day and she isn’t where the text directs, it is reminiscent of last year’s queen … who was dead the next day. The Maids have nothing in common, but they want to know where Lily is and why debutantes are at risk. Is Lily alive? What secrets are hidden within the elite of New Orleans?

The Debutantes is a stand-alone mystery that will grab readers at the start and keep them turning pages throughout. Worley did a wonderful job of showing readers that secret societies are not only something from previous centuries and rich white men still feel entitled to run their world as they see fit. The Debutantes will leave readers wondering what secrets are hidden around them too.

Everything starts to go wrong at The Debutante Ball. While a historically problematic tradition, the town really rallies behind hosting events for up-and-coming teens.

I found having multiple POVs was confusing at times with three narrators. While I appreciated getting to see each side to the story and unravelling the puzzle, it felt like a little much. I'd often forget who's perspective I was reading until I started seeing the other two girls' names popping up. It was a mystery inside of a mystery!

The story itself was engaging. I found it difficult to put down once I finally started to get into the groove of reading. I am a huge fan of Young Adult mysteries where the adults cannot be trusted to solve the crime. It felt like a book made for me and I'm so excited to recommend it.

This was such a fast-paced, clever YA thriller with screw the patriarchy undertones. Set in New Orleans, three students form an unlikely trio when the queen of the debutante ball goes missing, almost a year to the date that the last queen died under mysterious circumstances.

The mystery starts to unfold piece by piece, layer by layer and it's one of those stories where you can't trust anyone! It takes apart the archaic tradition of debutante balls and secret societies and spins it on its head and I was here for it.

I really liked how though each of the girls were different they quickly came together to work with- and support- each other, and how they each rebelled against their circumstances in their own ways. Even though it's for a YA audience, this did not feel too young at all and I think this will appeal to audiences of many ages.

As for the end? It was CHILLING. Very different than what I expected and I loved all the twists and turns to get there! Overall just a really great spooky season read. 4.5 stars from me.

The Debutantes
Olivia Worley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

New Orleans, Mardi Gras, southern bells, secret Society, debutantes, private school, murder, and a missing person… Yes please! This YA thriller was full of twist, lies and betrayal.

This book has all the pretty little liars vibes and I loved it. This one had multiple point of views (that were easy to decipher). Crazy messed up family dynamics and some unlikely friendships make for one and put down wild ride.

🃏 One year ago, Margot Landry, the reigning Queen of the Les Masques Ball, was found dead the morning after the big event. Fast forward to this year, and Lily LeBlanc is the new Queen, hoping for a smooth, uneventful ball. But, things take a wild turn when a Jester crashes the ball with a “silly” prank—or was it something more sinister? 🤔

The night after the ball, three of Lily’s Maids—Vivian, Piper, and April—get a message from Lily asking them to meet her the next morning. They all arrive, but... no Lily. 😧 Soon after, the Jester sends them cryptic messages, threatening to reveal their deepest secrets. So now the real questions arise: Was Margot’s death truly an accident? And where on earth is Lily? 🕵️‍♀️

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did, but wow—it gave me Pretty Little Liars vibes, and I completely ate that up! 🍽️ Every single second kept me hooked. I was on the edge of my seat trying to piece together the girls’ secrets (spoiler: I was way off 😅). The multiple POVs from Vivian, Piper, and April were a fantastic touch, giving the story more depth and drama.

✨ The epilogue and the final twist? Mind-blowing! 🤯 I didn’t see it coming at all, and I love when a book can genuinely surprise me. Although I had my suspicions about someone, I definitely didn’t have all the details pinned down.

On top of all that, the Mardi Gras vibes, rich family history, traditions, and cult elements? So well done and such a unique blend! 🎭💫
If you’re into mystery, family secrets, and jaw-dropping twists, this book is a must-read! 👑

This was such an exciting book! I loved the fast-paced writing it genuinely worked so well for the story and it never felt like it was dragging on. I also liked how different each of the girls were and how we got POVs from all of them.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of The Debutants.

To me, this read like a southern belle/Mardi Gras version of Good Girls Guide to Murder. It’s a little less polished, and the character development is just a little bit lacking, but overall this is a fun read. The New Orleans setting is totally unique and adds a very fun flair to the novel. Otherwise, we have some teenage girls from different backgrounds who come together to solve the murder and the disappearance of their friends… because why involve the police ever, right?! I enjoyed this read, even if it wasn’t perfect. It’s entertaining, doesn’t read too young at all, and the ending is very satisfying!

THE DEBUTANTES is a really perfect spooky season YA thriller. It’s got Pretty Little Liars vibes while set in the upper class of New Orleans. There’s twists, turns, and rich girl problems that are sinister and dark.

I think had I been a teenager, this would be a novel I’d inhale. Told through separate POVs, the story follows three girls who explore the disappearance of Debutante Queen, Lily, who also happens to be tied to the dead of the Queen from the previous year. Each character has their own distinct personality and I couldn’t guess where the story was going, which is the best part about these kids of stories.

I will say that I am reviewing this through the perspective of its intended audience: teenagers. As an adult, I found that some of the storylines and characters, while enjoyable, to be immature. Some of the choices the characters make just youthful ignorance and lack of plausibility, which makes sense. It’s written for teens But as an adult, it did dampen my own personal enjoyment of the book.

Overall, I think if you’re looking for a YA thriller that has multiple POVs, Pretty Little Liars vibes, and upper class problems, this is a great book for you.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

In the boisterous Southern city of New Orleans, Les Masques Ball is the highlight of the Mardi Gras season for the elite.

The morning after last year's Ball, the reigning Queen, Margot, was found dead. Margot had a bit of a wild streak, so to some, it wasn't a particularly shocking development. That sounds mean, but you know how people speculate. Nevertheless, it was a tragedy and going into this year's Ball, the new class of debutantes definitely hold Margot's fate close to their minds and hearts.

Lily is to be this year's Queen though and she's absolutely perfect. There's no way she would get into the type of circumstance that Margot must have found herself in last year. The event should go off without a hitch. Unfortunately, the Ball gets crashed by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume, threatening those involved.

After the event disperses, Lily sends a message to the three other girls in her royal court, Vivian, Piper and April, asking if they could meet up the next day. But Lily never shows up. Now the three remaining girls need to try to figure out why Lily wanted to bring them all together and what happened to her. Also, is this connected with Margot's death? What is going on here?

The Debutantes is a dramatic and tense YA Thriller, with plenty to keep the Reader on their toes.I loved the New Orleans setting and the immersion into Debutante culture. It was fascinating and steeped in mystery. I loved the vibes from start to finish.

At first, I'll admit, it was a little difficult for me to differentiate among all the characters. The author worked it out though. It's tough having that many girls involved and keeping them straight. Once I did though, and started to really learn their various personalities and backgrounds, it was so compelling.

There were many entertaining twists, a couple of the jaw-dropping variety, that left me reeling. Additionally, I loved how Worley continued to build up the intensity and intrigue. This was a tough one to put down. I also felt like the conclusion was very strong. That final chapter was the cherry on the sundae for me. It helped it all become a little more clear. Bravo on that.

This is the first that I have read from Olivia Worley, but from this, I can tell that I will definitely be picking up more of her work. This style of YA Thriller suits my tastes to a tee. Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this to any YA Thriller fans.

4 stars / This review will be posted on BookwormishMe.com & goodreads.com today.


A lot of girls dream of being debutantes. Very few have that chance. In New Orleans, the Krewes are private clubs. These private social clubs are very active in Mardi Gras and Carnival events, and they sponsor debutante balls. Some girls are born to be debs, and some dread the idea.

Lily is the queen of the debutante ball for her parent’s krewe. Last year’s queen tragically died shortly after the ball. Lily is a good girl though. Nothing like that expected of her. But events at the ball lead to Lily’s disappearance. Three of her ‘maids’ are going to try to figure out what happened to Lily, and possibly how Margot, last year’s queen, died as well.

Along the way they’re going to encounter some pretty seedy elements in the krewe. Things they never could have imagined were actually going on. Secret societies, dark elements in their own parent’s lives. Things as a teenage girl you just would rather not know.

While these teens think they’re invincible, there are some who want to keep secrets buried. And these three debs are making that next to impossible, putting their own lives in danger.

Great novel. So much darkness, which hopefully doesn’t infiltrate all the Krewes of New Orleans. A lot of history too. Really enjoyed this trip into the high society of that culture.

An elite debutante ball, what could go wrong? The girls in this book come from the elite society in New Orleans. When one of the girls goes missing the other three try to solve the mystery. Is she alive or dead?
This is a fast paced thriller told from three viewpoints. Lily's best friend, her boyfriend's sister, and the girl who was friend with the debutante killed the year before. This is a twisted story of a secret society that will do anything to protect its members. This is a fast read and you will not be able to put it down. This is a YA book but can be enjoyed by everyone.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #OliviaWorley, and #WednesdayBooks for a copy of this book.
#TheDebutantes

I enjoyed the heck out of People To Follow so I was really excited to read The Debutantes. Oh my goodness, I had such a great time with this one! It had some great Pretty Little Liars/Riverdale vibes, but set in the New Orleans debutant scene. I loved the three POVs we get and my gosh, every time I thought I had the endgame figured out, another twist was thrown at me, even in the last few pages! There was a lot more to this story than just the mystery of a missing girl. The themes of unchecked power, greed and elitism were shown so well and while it might seem far fetched at times, I think most of us know that people like this definitely exist in our world today. I highly recommend this one for fans of YA thrillers!
CW: kidnapping, violence, grooming, drug use, underage drinking, death, murder

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Olivia Worley has written another thrilling young adult mystery, this time centering around New Orleans, debutante balls, and secret societies with questionable pasts.

The Debutantes is told from the points of view of April, Vivian, and Piper, who are brought together by a mysterious text sent by Lily, the current debutante queen, who has suddenly gone missing. Adding even more to the mystery is that Lily wanted to talk about Margot, last year’s queen, who ended up dead.

Not only are the three girls trying to figure out what happened to their queens, they are being tormented by the Jester, who sends texts and exposes secrets like Pretty Little Liars’ A.

Worley, born and raised in Louisiana, writes with passion about her home state, but also exposes some of the ugly history of debutante balls and the groups that held them. I found it all very interesting, but also appalling. The mystery was intriguing with enough twists to keep me entertained and guessing what was to come and I loved the girls and their new found friendship. Definitely a fun read for older young adults.

This book was exactly what I wanted from it. While parts of it were a bit predictable it was a good, quick young adult thriller. I also have a fascination with the debutant scene so this setting was a huge plus for me.

If you're looking for a true YA mystery/thriller then look no further. I enjoyed this book but feel like I would have enjoyed it more as a teenager for sure

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

This was described as a thriller but I didn't really think so. The synopsis gave me the impression that more people would die (not just the people who were doing harm but other victims of theirs) and when all the girls came out of this alive I guess I was... disappointed. I did really enjoy the girls POV's though. April was my favorite but both Piper and Vivian were really good characters too. The cult (i don't want to call it a boys club because it's worse than that) they found out about was unsettling. It wasn't made clear though if the Perriott group was disbanded or not or if they were still continuing after the events of the novel. It kind of seemed like they were because in the last chapter, they made no mention of whether or not the cult dispersed. The character I really didn't like throughout this whole novel was Lily. I frankly found her rather annoying and I didn't really care when she disappeared. She genuinely felt and acted like a bad person.

The Debutantes starts in a New Orleans debutante ball, introducing us to our main characters and setting up the mystery to follow. In the period between the ball and Epiphany (the start of the Mardi Gras season), a group of debs work to find their missing friend and solve a murder, coming face to face with a sinister secret society.

The Debutantes is tough to rate. As a whole, it's a fun, twisty-turny YA mystery and I enjoyed reading it. But it's difficult to sort out the multiple POVs, the action gets a bit repetitive, and motives are gently hinted at but are unclear until close to the end. It is YA, so some heavy themes are suggested but not explicit.