If this book was posted on Reddit's "AITA," I have zero doubt that the consensus would be that "everyone sucks here (ESH)." Because there are seriously no redeemable characters in this book. The basic story is fairly interesting, even if some of the plot twists were fairly obvious, but I was ultimately left feeling a little bit hollow and a little bit icky, as few people - whether kids or parents - faced consequences for some truly despicable actions/choices. Nor did anyone seem to learn much from the experiences they had within this book. And perhaps that is Morley's point - that too much money leads to too much power and too few repercussions. But that feels like an overly dark and cynical takeaway for a book aimed at a YA audience (and I am a pretty cynical person myself) and is a message that might not be fully understood by the book's intended audience. It was hard to care about the four main debutantes' s0-called problems in the face of the girls' entitlement and inability to get out of their own ways. I did enjoy the book's setting of New Orleans, which is one of my favorite cities, and the various factoids and observations about the city and its history that are sprinkled throughout the book.

3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

This was a good story kept me engaged and interested in the whole time. I was so surprised at the end for who was behind it!
One of the debutantes goes missing and she sends a cryptic message to her friends. They are trying to figure out what happened to lily and if this connects with a previous debutante that died.
3.5-4 stars

The Debutantes is a perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and a touch of high-society drama that I couldn’t put down! If you’re a fan of YA mysteries with twists and turns that keep you guessing, this book hits all the right notes! The world of New Orleans debutantes, Mardi Gras masks, and a chilling disappearance is just the kind of setting that pulls you in and makes you want to know what’s lurking beneath the surface!

The story kicks off with the disappearance of Lily LeBlanc, the debutante queen of the season, who mysteriously vanishes after a wild night at the Les Masques Ball. Three girls—Vivian, Piper, and April—are all connected to Lily and are brought together to uncover what really happened. The mystery of Lily’s disappearance quickly becomes entwined with the unresolved death of a previous debutante, Margot Landry, whose death was initially deemed an accident but might not be as simple as it seemed. There’s a dark, twisted side to the world these girls live in, and as they dig deeper, secrets, lies, and even threats from a sinister Jester figure add to the suspense.

What I loved most about this book was how it kept me on my toes! There were moments where I thought I had it all figured out, only to be blindsided by a new twist. It wasn’t too gruesome, but the tension was still high, and the stakes felt real! The characters—especially Vivian, Piper, and April—are complex and developed, and I really enjoyed seeing how their relationships evolve as they uncover the truth...

While the story is grounded in the world of debutantes and fancy balls, it’s clear that Olivia Worley uses that glamorous backdrop to explore darker themes and unravel a mystery that’s both thrilling and surprisingly emotional. The way the book delves into the secrets these girls are hiding, and the dangers that come with trying to protect those secrets, adds a great depth to the plot!

The ending was satisfying without being too predictable, and it wrapped things up nicely while leaving me with just enough to think about. If you enjoy YA mysteries with strong characters, a gripping plot, and a little bit of intrigue, The Debutantes is definitely worth the read. It checked all the boxes for me: engaging, surprising, and just the right amount of suspense. Highly recommend!

This was definitely a struggle for me to get through. I know a lot of YA books are trying to get the same attention and love as AGGGTM, but this is far from that. I did a bit on audio too and did NOT like the narrators at all.

This was an enjoyable mystery book! I enjoyed the mystery in this book and characters, there we also a couple of interesting twists. One of the part where I struggled with this book was the amount of character especially since we follow POVs for four different characters. Definitely recommend giving this one a try!

The Debutantes by Olivia Worley is a captivating blend of mystery, suspense, and drama set against the opulent backdrop of New Orleans high society. The novel opens with the glamorous yet ominous Les Masques Ball, an event that promises to be the highlight of the social season but is clouded by the memory of Margot Landry’s tragic death the year before. The story quickly takes an unexpected turn when debutante Lily LeBlanc, this year's "Queen," vanishes after sending a cryptic message to three of her court members.

Worley skillfully weaves a web of intrigue and secrets, centering on three seemingly unrelated girls—Vivian, Piper, and April—who are thrust together by a dark mystery. As they investigate Lily’s disappearance and uncover the hidden truths of the debutante world, they must face the chilling possibility that Margot’s death wasn’t an accident. The tension mounts as the girls realize they may be next in line to face the dangers lurking behind the masquerade masks.

The story is rich with atmospheric detail, particularly in its portrayal of New Orleans, which adds a layer of allure to the suspense. The plot moves at a quick pace, keeping readers on edge as the twists and turns unfold. The relationships between the debutantes are complex, with friendship, rivalry, and betrayal at the heart of the narrative. The Debutantes is a compelling and darkly engaging read, perfect for fans of thrillers that delve into the secrets of the privileged elite.

This YA read was fun and entertaining, but did not pull me into the story like I thought it would from the description and title. There are some good storylines and twists that can be enjoyed.

The Debutantes was such a fun and fantastic ride. i enjoyed every second of it, including the twist.

Many thanks to the publisher for the copy, all opinions are my own.

I genuinely really enjoyed this one - it is a quirky, fun, whodunnit style mystery that never falls victim to having high school aged characters as the protagonists making it feel in any way juvenile. I loved the pacing and the characters and the reveals in the end were just entirely fun. Definitely a great add for your new year reading piles.

This was a wonderfully twisty thriller, and the cast of characters combined with the New Orleans setting made it easy to devour in a sitting!

Books like these really make you wonder if things like this really exist… secret societies, old men-young women, secret meetings where masks are worn. Kidnappings and murders. Coverups. This was such thrill ride of a book. The only thing I did not like about it is everybody spoke in the first person and sometimes it was hard to determine who was who, or who “I” was. Other than that, a very interesting and different book to wind down 2024 for me.

This book has a gripping plot with twists and turns. and is set against the backdrop of New Orleans Mardi Gras. I enjoyed the way the story delved into dark secrets and cult elements. Some of the multiple pov were a bit similar, making it hard to distinguish between characters. Still a compelling read.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I appreciate the authors research into New Orleans rich history and culture, as someone from New Orleans. But sometimes too much is too much. I think this is a solid read and thrilling for its target audience. Unfortunately i might be a tad bit too old for this ya nov.

I love a YA thriller, and the Mardi Gras setting adds a great element. The Debutantes by Olivia Worley is a great read for fans of Karen M. McManus and the like.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I thought this was a fun entertaining read. I liked the New Orleans setting and thought this setting was interesting and compelling. The characters didn't really stand out to me and I found it kind of hard to keep track of each different POV. Overall it was enjoyable.

I started to physically read this book and it moved too slow. I got it on audio from my library. There are a lot of characters and it is slow paced. I did enjoy the twist at the end and the setting of New Orleans.

I didn’t get to finish the entire novel, however I did enjoy what I read of it!
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

Last year, a debutante overdosed in her car in what was written off as a tragic accident. This year when the next debutante mysteriously vanishes, her friends begin asking questions. As the girls work to unravel the mystery of Lily's whereabouts, they begin to uncover bits of information that shed light on her predecessor's tragic demise. As the pieces fall together they realize the circles they run in may be more dangerous than they seem.

I absolutely adored the setting of this book. I'm from New Orleans, and really bought into the vibe and dynamic of the krewe, club, debutantes, parade, all of it! I thought the mystery was exciting, twisty, and puzzling without being convoluted. I also thought this did a great job with the topics it explored while still staying true to its YA reader recommendation (meaning not getting too explicit).

Unfortunately, I think the mystery took just a bit too long to unravel. There were times that I didn't fully buy into the choices that the characters made and so the book lagged here and there for me. I also really wanted more resolution, but enjoyed the ending we got. This is just a frequent issue I have with thrillers and mysteries.

I would recommend this book for readers 16+ looking to get into mysteries and thrillers who are enthusiastic about Louisiana culture.

A YA thriller, with four (yes, count them, for) POVs, this drew me in and kept me guessing. I loved the New Orleans setting most of all.

This book was so much fun! I loved the small cast of characters, I loved that the author touched on thie history and sexism behind the concept of debutantes, and I loved that I really didn't know how the story was going to end.

The book alternates POV's between the three main debutantes, girls who have next to nothing in common, at least on the surface. But as the mystery deepends, we learn more about their secrets until the end when everything comes to light.

Such a fun book. Huge thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!