Young-adult novels remind me how impetuous teenagers can be and, in this case, how toxic adults can be. The New Orleans setting drives much of the drama surrounding this murder mystery; the author has depicted a culture where tradition and reputation mean everything. This book would appeal to "Pretty Little Liars" fans.

Set in the world of southern debutantes, where money and who you are related to matters the most, The Debutantes is a fast-paced entertaining thriller. This year's debutante queen, Lily LeBlanc, has disappeared just one day after the Ball. Eerily similar to last year, when the queen Margot Landry was found dead the next morning. But Lily sent messages to three girls from the debutante court before disappearing. The three couldn't be more dissimilar, but they must work together to find Lily and figure out what really happened to Margot.

The story moves between the three girls' points of view as they work together to try and find Lily and uncover the dark secrets in their community. I liked that we got to see each of their perspectives on what was happening now and what had happened in the past. Also, I appreciated that the girls didn't become best friends or immediately agree on how to proceed. The author gave them three very clear and different personalities. There are several unexpected twists as well as some tense moments that elevated the story and kept me turning pages. This was a fun and enjoyable YA thriller which I completely recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this mystery/thriller set in New Orleans. I love anything related to Mardi Gras and the intricate krew system. This book seemed tailor-made for fans of Pretty Little Liars and others of that ilk. The relationships between the girls and their parents are complex; there's mystery and romance and drama. However, there were times when the plot seemed rushed, especially at the end. I didn't hate the book, and it was a really quick read. I just wanted more.

This book follows several debutantes in New Orleans. Lily goes missing and this sends Piper, Vivian, and April on a wild ride to find her and uncover the death of last years last queen, Margot. They sleuth to find answers, wind up in dangerous situations, and of course someone finds a little romance on the side.

This is such a thrilling ride. I really enjoy the murder mystery, YA thrillers. I would put this in with books like Good Girl's Guide to Murder. It was absolutely fantastic to follow, and the twists were surprising.

There is talk of murder, OD'ing, drug and alcohol use, and some other strong subjects. I would still say this is done tastefully in a way that would still be very YA and safe to read for teens.

Thank you so much netgalley and the St Martin's Press for an ARC of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it in a day while on vacation.

I loved the debutante theme, the New Orleans setting, the Gossip Girl feel.

I will definitely read more from Worley in the future.

I give The Debutantes 5/5 stars.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The second I saw this was set in New Orleans I was beyond enthusiastic to dive in. This was full of mystery, twists, and turns. I’m definitely looking forward to reading Olivia’s first book People To Follow after reading this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

This was a YA read with a lot of twists, even to the very end. In the beginning I was getting the characters confused with the changing POVs if I didn’t look at the chapter heading, but once the characters were more developed I was able to figure out who it was based on the POV.

Three debs are trying to find their missing friend and figure out who killed the former queen. There are secret societies, bad parents, and you never know who to trust. I liked how the three debs who had not been friends build relationships with each other out of a respect for their differences.

It’s a little sad that some of the mothers are teaching their daughters either how to hide their feelings or to be covertly strong rather than just standing up to the men in their lives and ending the reign of a male dominated culture.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

A dark twisty mystery that is set in the upper echelons of New Orleans society and delves into the Carnival culture of debutantes and masqued balls, When three debutantes, young women of insane privilege, investigate the mysterious death of last year's tragic death, they realize that nothing is truly accidental and that this year's queen of the ball might be the next target for mayhem! As a native New Orleanian, I loved it. I think it has the potential to be the next viral TikTok book since it's a compulsive read, and I'd highly recommend to your fans of drama-filled mysteries.

It was fun to be engrossed in the history and society of New Orleans. This is a YA book, so if you're going into this thinking there is an adult feel to it, you may not want to read this. I don't mind YA books at all, so this was a great read for me. The Debutantes delves into the lives of New Orleans elite girls and has many twists and turns. If you love the show Pretty Little Liars this is right up your alley.

The author is obviously a talented writer, but I found this book hard to get into. It might just be personal preference, but I didn’t find myself engrossed in the debutante world or connected to the characters.

An absolutely thrilling and powerfully written YA novel with twists and turns and dynamic characters tht will keep you on the edge of your seat. 100% recommend to those who love YA thrillers!

A year after the suspicious death of the debutante queen, the latest queen goes missing and a unlikely group of girls are poised to help find her even when threatening notes mean to stop their efforts.

As a young adult thriller/mystery read, I found this one to be solid. I enjoyed the different POVs, deep knowledge shared about New Orleans, and the overall pacing and plot. I found each girl earnest and relatable. I was 100% bought in and along for the ride to find Lily!

In the end, I found the secret society aspect interesting...It's obvious problematic beginnings and present day iterations hard to stomach. And the final twist regarding Lily to be an interesting choice. Somewhat believable given the culture, but oof another hard to stomach moment.

Thank you to the publisher for my advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

UPDATE

Once I finally got through the first half I really got into this story! They finally started uncovering more and more and it just got so much more intense when they found the secret organization that was literally running their town. I was kind of expecting the detective but I was not expecting his accomplice at ALL! But that ending!! I MEAN I did not see that coming at all and honestly it was pretty messed up but it was an awesome plot twist and I am here for it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to.

This was a fun book! But I am so glad I do not live in New Orleans or any place this debutante crap goes on! I loved the different POVs from the Maids. I thought the story played out well, but it was a little on the juvenile side for me (yes, I know it’s YA, but still.) Overall, I enjoyed it and would read Olivia Worley again.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of The Debutantes by Olivia Worley. Fans of Pretty Little Liars will find much to love in this book! It's a twisty, gripping mystery set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The story follows three debutantes—Piper, Vivian, and April—who are not friends but find themselves intricately connected by a series of dark secrets involving a missing queen, a dead queen, and their own hidden pasts.

Initially, I rated this book a solid 3.5 stars. The plot was engaging, and the setting of New Orleans during Mardi Gras added a layer of excitement and authenticity. However, it was the ending that truly elevated the book for me, bumping my rating up to a 4. The conclusion was both surprising and satisfying, tying up loose ends in a way that felt both unexpected and earned.

One area where the book could have improved is in character development. While the plot was compelling, I felt that the characters could have been more deeply explored. A bit more background and depth would have made their motivations and actions more relatable and impactful. I believe that expanding on the characters' histories and relationships would have added an extra layer of emotional resonance to the story. I did however love the social and political commentary throughout the book.

Overall, The Debutantes is a worthwhile read, especially for those who enjoy a good mystery with plenty of twists and turns. Olivia Worley has crafted a tale that keeps you guessing until the very end, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

The Debutantes by Olivia Worley is an excellent read for lovers of young adult mystery thrillers. The pacing was wonderfully done and character development was well-balanced. I had a really good time reading this story but would advise that readers be aware that it includes intense elements some of which veer into the horror genre.

The Debutantes is a horror/mystery book set in New Orleans. It is centered around three debutantes who are looking into the disappearance of their friend and, by default, into the murder of another friend the past year. I was a little "meh" about this book for most of it. I did enjoy the storyline (the girls looking into Lily's disappearance and Margot's murder). But once it turned down the path of a powerful, secret, woman-hating society that controls everything, I started to turn down the "meh" path. The ending was a very typical ending for this genre. But there was a neat twist that did take me by surprise.

I was immediately hooked by comps for this book, comparing it to Jessica Goodman meets The Agathas. It greatly exceeded my already high expectations! I especially loved the setting of this book in New Orleans. Mardi Gras was such a unique angle and provided such a vibrant background for all the twists and turns this book had in store. I felt truly immersed in this story and feverishly read to uncover the truth along with the trio of characters.

The story was fairly decent. As someone who doesn't read thriller/mystery often I even felt it to be a tad bit too predictable. I read it and enjoyed it none-the-less.