The Belles taps straight into the heart of what makes dark academia so irresistible—an elite all-girls boarding school, a shadowy secret society, and an eerie thread of the supernatural running through it all. Lacey N. Dunham doesn't just check the boxes; she adds a ghostly twist that gives the story a haunting, almost gothic edge. It’s spookier than your average dark academia fare, and honestly? I was all in for that.

The narrative unfolds across two timelines, which worked brilliantly to build suspense and slowly tease out the truth behind the mystery at Bellerton. I loved seeing how the past bled into the present, and how long-buried secrets refused to stay hidden. It felt like listening to a ghost story late at night—eerie, atmospheric, and impossible to look away from.

While the vibes were immaculate—think 1950s decorum meets occult secrets—I did find the character development a bit lacking. With six “Belles” in the mix, the group dynamics sometimes felt thin, and even Deena, our central figure, didn’t quite have the depth I craved. That said, she was still a standout for me: tough, calculating, and unafraid to push back. Her quiet strength and thirst for justice made her easy to root for.

Predictable at times? Maybe. But The Belles isn’t just about twists—it’s about mood, mystery, and the slow, satisfying unraveling of secrets.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!!

Honestly speaking, I personally thought I was over dark academia novels. At least the last 4 DA books I've read were not for me. And then I came across this book on NetGalley and I read the synopsis and thought "why not give DA a final chance?"
And I'm sooo glad I did, because I LOVED this book!

And, again, honestly speaking? Except the fact that this story is mostly focused in the 1950s, there isn't anything really different about this novel in comparison to so many other DA novels out there. You know...the whole usual combo: a group of girls that form an exclusive club + a dark history involving the campus + girls breaking the strict college rules just because they think they can + the main character has a secret that no one can know about + it all ends up in murder. Same thing over and over again.

HOWEVER, maybe is due to the fact that The Belles is mostly set in the 1950s that this book is a bit different from so many others of that genre. This book brings a different vibe, a different atmosphere. How girls talk and behave, the teachers, the college staff bring something more charming and cozy and, weirdly, nostalgic. What's more, I thought the conclusion was fairly bold. Many authors would have picked another 'victim'.
Also, Dunham's writing it STUNNING. Stunning and deep and tense and mature.
Seriously, one of the reasons why I stopped reading dark academia books is because I was done with the young adult writing style. The characters were too juvenile and the writing was too basic and made the characters seemed even younger. Not this one, nope. The Belles reads more adult, refined, mature. Even though the characters are under 20 years old, I never, in any moment felt annoyed or rolled my eyes thinking "this is too YA...". And this is a debut novel! I'll definitely keep my eye on what Lacey N. Dunham does in the future.

I'm really glad I gave this book a chance, and I highly recommend anyone who enjoys dark academia, even if you're kind of done with that genre too, to give this book a chance. I'm sure it won't please everyone, but I do say it's worth a try.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thoroughly loved The Belles. This was one of those books where I felt like I couldn’t devour it fast enough. Dunham explores important themes of status, racism, classism, sexuality, and misogyny all while taking you on a hauntingly thrilling ride. I definitely recommend adding to your TBR. The Belles will be sure to ignite any book club discussion.

This book- this book was everything! The dark academia atmosphere was seeping through me every time I flipped the page and Deena’s story, although similar to other academia books, was portrayed so well all throughout the book. The Belles of Bellerton were absolute menaces, the perfect girls who would make you shudder in fear at who they were. The story was dark and all-consuming, from the creeping first pages to the tidal wave at the ending. I adored this whole book and I’m still shuddering as I feel Bellerton College creep up my spine and attempt to turn me into one of their Belles! I recommend this book to a T!

The Belles by Lacey N. Dunham is a stylish dark academia mystery about how far one is willing to go to fit in.

In 1950s Virginia, Bellerton is an exclusive all girls academy nestled in an Appalachian forest where wealthy society girls are groomed to become the perfect women. Deena Williams enrolls in the academy under mysterious circumstances and quickly becomes friends with a group of girls whose cruel social climbing and cultish behaviour becomes both the envy and obsession of Deena with deadly consequences.

The Belles was an atmospheric read that created an eerie cloistered feeling as I was reading it. The prose was sharp as glass, examining toxic friendships and feminine rage. The artifice of prim and proper girls hiding a deeply disturbing pact was told with wit and dark glamour. The spectral elements were alluring suggesting a supernatural aspect to the school that unraveled the character's minds like the velvet ribbons of their covenant. The story was rich with coming of age themes, social status, and education system critiques. In many ways, the story feels timely as education systems are being subjected to more scrutiny. The author did a great job at creating a twisty provocative plot awakened by spellbinding writing that evoked horror and fascination at the same time. I liked how this was a more traditional dark academia novel as it feels the genre has been overtaken with fantasy elements lately.

The Belle's reminded me a little bit of The Beguiled and Picnic at Hanging Tree Rock with a bit of Bunny by Mona Awad. If you are a fan of Southern Gothic's and mystery thrillers set in prestigious schools, I recommend The Belle's by Lacey N. Dunham.

I LOVED this haunting, sharp book. It was delicious and addictive and I was completely sucked in from page one all the way through the last word. The prose is absolutely stunning and several images really took my breath away. I also loved the way the book framed women's bodies and minds, and what a deep examination of sisterhood it offered. I loved it!

I struggled with reading this book because the concept was something that I felt I was looking forward to. However, for me, the characters and plot just fell flat. It was not easy for me to push through with reading. I also felt like descriptions were lacking and were very one-dimensional. I wanted more from this book. If you enjoy an easy read with ab unsettling atmosphere, you may enjoy this. I am sorry that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to, but I am grateful for the advanced copy.

I wanted to like this book, but I ended up feeling no connection to the plot or characters. I got 35% through and had to stop because I was forcing myself to finish. While the writing of the author is quite good and descriptive, I was not drawn to the story. I was not rooting for the characters or even understanding the point of the plot. Unfortunately had to DNF

Bellerton is a school that leaves little to be desired. Women who study there go on to become lovely members of society; proper and soft-spoken, just intelligent enough to hold conversation without upsetting potential husbands. It goes without saying that in the 1950s, this is <i>the</i> school that every respectable young woman wishes to be invited to. But this school was built on secrets, and as the number of missing attendees increases so does the potential for said secrets to be revealed.

This book is insane in the best way possible. It is slightly obvious what happens, because it's basically spelled out for you about 20% of the way through, but the how and why is what truly keeps you reading. I love stories about proper women who are secretly wild, but the Belles blow that out of the water. I am absolutely obsessed with this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC. Projected publishing date: September 9th, 2025

I kept pushing myself but I couldn't get into this book. I never really wanted to pick up the book and keep reading. I DNFed it at 23%

ARC Review

Thank you to Atria Books for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Belles by Lacey N. Dunham is a dark, vicious novel of young women at a lovely, isolated college. Bellerton, and by extension, the select group of students called the Belles, is disciplined, beautiful, and harboring dark secrets.

Dunham is committed to creating a stunningly dark academic setting complete with manicured quads, storied academic buildings and a sinister woods just beyond the edge of what’s permitted. One of the most enjoyable things about this novel are the details that bring the campus to life; from cashmere sweater sets to the stubbed out cigarettes on windowsills.

The story, overall, takes a decidedly Stepford Wives meets Fight Club arc. While not quite as campy as the Stepford Wives, it uses the rigid rules and trappings of mid-century modern femininity to contrast the unbridled cruelty and violence the women are willing to engage in.

The cruelty serves as an overall allegory for class consciousness and what one must engage in to truly be part of the in-group. The girls must not only follow the strictly prescribed rules, they must punish transgressors in order to set themselves apart. Cruelty, punitive consequences, and a lack of empathy are the price of acceptance and success. The ironic thing is that the things that Ada May, the Queen bee character, are striving for are generally inconsequential and have been deemed important rather than having true imbued value. Flashbacks show that rather than being a lifelong set of values, the college is pushed to the back of their minds.

I did appreciate that despite the hyperfeminine setting and cast of characters that the central conflicts didn’t revolve around romantic relationships. While they are certainly mentioned, they are far from the center of the narrative.

Where I didn’t think the book fully reached its mark was that certain characters had very little dimensionality or even value beyond a few lines. I think a little pruning could have gone on and a few characters ultimately might have benefitted from merging.

I thoroughly enjoyed this as a good read for a fan of a good lightly spooky selection set on a college campus. 4/5

Dark academia with a Southern Gothic twist? Yes, please. I loved the mystery, the character development, and the depth of issues covered. I couldn't put it down, and I know that my students are going to be sucked in, too.

Thank you for letting me read this new-to-me author! The Belles by Lacey Dunham is a beautifully layered debut that grabbed me from page one. Early release or not, this novel is polished, powerful, and poignant—Dunham has a gift for crafting characters that feel achingly real. With prose that's both lyrical and sharp, she explores the complexities of identity, belonging, and the quiet strength it takes to reclaim your own story. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend adding this one to your spring reading list!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Dark Academia, Girl Group, Evil, Secrets, Supernatural are a few keywords that I would use to describe The Belles.

The characters were all deeply complex and made for a very interesting story. The timeline is split between 50 years and makes the story a thrilling fast paced read. This is for the people that crave a story about a codependent, obsessive, hive-minded cast of characters. These girls are evil, secretive, and awful but they are just the type of character I look for in dark academia.

#NetGalley #MyHonestReview

Deena Williams is a girl with a secret, one she would fight tooth and nail to protect at all costs in order to climb the social ladder at an elite school for girls called Bellerton. From the first day when she fumbles at handing the porter a tip, Ada May befriends her and she becomes part of an exclusive but toxic circle of girls called The Belles.

The author in her acknowledgments called them her very bad girls and that's exactly right. I would have thought Deena's secret would have been obvious from the start and they would have been more suspicious of her, given Bellerton's strict social order. But I digress. If you're looking for a character-driven story of the power of female friendship against the darkness, this is not it. This is the antithesis of women supporting women. These were indeed very bad girls who were abusive toward each other in escalating ways, cementing their bond with something far darker than sisterly affection.

But that's also true to form for dark academia. I liked Deena the best and although I wish I'd known her better, I loved how her revenge played out. In the end she wasn't the unlikable, desperate ingenue. They're all unlikable, toxic, shallow characters, but I couldn't put this one down. I had to know what would happen next. The writing was atmospheric, evocative and painted a picture of dread and Southern Gothic. I couldn't really find anyone to root for but that's also typical dark academia.

I liked how it really painted a picture of life for women in the 1950s and how hard it was if you were born to the wrong family. The college definitely gave off that 1950s class-conscious vibe with the way it molded young ladies into perfect Southern wives by any means necessary. It was deliciously evil with a veneer of shallow beauty. It's hard to find a good dark academia anymore and this satisfied my craving for the genre. It's all cozy or light academia these days.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Belles is a haunting, atmospheric entry into the dark academia canon, blending Southern Gothic flair with chilling supernatural elements and sharp social commentary. Set in the cloistered world of Bellerton College in the 1950s, this novel pulls readers into a web of secrets, rituals, and ambition—all wrapped in velvet ribbons and legacy pressure.

Told across multiple timelines, Dunham masterfully unravels a slow-burn mystery through the eyes of Deena, a deeply compelling outsider desperate to belong. Her journey into the elite and enigmatic sisterhood of the Belles is laced with tension, psychological twists, and the quiet horror of what tradition demands. Think The Secret History meets Yellowjackets, with a Southern Gothic twist and a ghostly whisper echoing through the dorm halls.

The writing is lush and immersive, especially in its descriptions of the campus and the eerie rituals that bind the girls together. Though some readers may find the supernatural element jarring or wish for more nuance in certain characters (particularly Ada May and the original Belles), the novel’s strength lies in its atmosphere and exploration of privilege, identity, and the insidious power of legacy.

Fans of sinister boarding school stories, toxic female friendships, and slow-burning suspense will find plenty to savor. Dunham doesn’t shy away from the darkness in these girls—or the institutions that shape them. The Belles is equal parts elegant and unsettling, a gothic mystery that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you Galley for the ARC 🫶🏻

3.75

Think The Secret History meets Bunny but in the 1950s and with some haunting. This was a delicious and immersive academia experience! The writing was intimate, the descriptions of the campus and ground were excellent. It really felt like I was there, drunk on girlhood and that fresh exhilarating feeling of being allowed to be a part of something.

I do wish that we got a little bit more out of Ada May, something to make her less 2 dimensional, less just a girl hell bent on tradition for tradition’s sake. For the last quarter of the book it felt like we were right at the edge of greatness but it was missing that final little something. But with everything else this book did right, it is well worth the read!

Firstly, thanks goes to NetGalley & Atria Books for the E-ARC. 4 ⭐️

The Belles is a Dark Academia/Southern Gothic novel set in two separate timelines. This book is a very hypnotic read, incorporating light supernatural elements, which you don’t always see in the genre. The structure of the novel allows you to unpack the events of the novel and keeps you reading.

Deena, the protagonist, is a compelling character with convincing motivations. If the novel were longer, I would have been interested to hear more of her backstory with Grandmother. That said, I think the author did a great job of giving each of the Belles a distinct identity that set Deena in stark contrast as an outsider.

I got big Yellowjackets vibes from this. Obviously it’s a different story, but the structure of the show is similar to this book, in service of the same sort of hook: who will make it to the end? Who is the big bad? The pages are peppered with little details.

I didn’t love how it ended, and I also didn’t want it to. So, those are my two gripes, but they’re purely subjective.

I will be eager to buy a copy for my shelves and keep an eye out for whatever this author does next. I really enjoyed her writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an ARC of The Bells.

So was dark and delicious!

Mean girls, but make is dark academia.

I enjoyed this so much.

I dnfed at 17%. The atmosphere is spooky enough but this reads like a YA mystery book, and there’s so many characters introduced at once to remember. There’s really no build up to anything, all of it just happens at once and I feel like it’s rushing through to try to build suspense but doing the opposite.