Good but not great. The dynamic between the girls was stressful and well executed, but i would have liked it more if it had ended with the <spoiler>scene where they attack the professor for hurting one of their own, it would have had significantly more emotional impact. </spoiler>. Deena’s behavior at the end frankly had no contextual reference and seemed entirely surprising, even with the others girls previous revolutionary behavior. Still 3.5 stars for the vibes.

THE BELLES is a compelling read perfect for fans of young adult gothic fiction. The dark academia vibe is perfectly conveyed, and the author does a great job of immersing the reader into each scene. While the novel starts off a bit slow, the intrigue builds into quite the page turner. The historical setting is rendered beautifully and I enjoyed how we also got a peak into "the future" to show (to some extent) how things turned out later on.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

This is the first Gothic thriller I have read. I have to admit the cover drew me in. I enjoyed the story's premise, but the multiple characters had me scrambling to keep up. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of that genre.
There is a dark mystery surrounding Bellerton College, but it doesn't stop everyone from vying to be accepted. Deena, the main character, is precisely one of them. She is obsessed with social stratification and the undeserving elites that make up The Belles. You want the six girls to be friends and take care of each other, but this story is far from that.
The ending was satisfying, and I was pleased to see that Deena was able to hand out some revenge.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster / Atria and Lacey N. Dunham for the gifted advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley. All opinions of the book are my own and given voluntarily.

The major strength of this book is the unfolding narrative across time and perspectives. It wonderfully built intrigue, suspense, and led to an overall incredibly crafted story.
The world building of this college, and its traditions and cultural mark (though small to the wider world, but large to those within its walls) was carefully crafted. I adored the atmosphere, and found it to be a good balance with the dark, mysterious nature of the story.
Fans of the television show Yellowjackets would absolutely adore this story, as it holds similar themes relating to femininity and power. This is a book I could see being studied in college English classes, and I am very excited to have read it ahead of its release.
Thank you to the publisher for this eARC!

2.75 Rounded up

This book is listed as Dark Academia and I can see aspects in it. Its dark with a southern gothic feel and takes place at Bellerton College infamous as much for its rules as it is for it’s disturbing past. We have dual time lines and I thought it was done well and definitely added to the over story and reading experience. Though I found the premise interesting the character development fell a bit flat for me. It was not bad just not wow. Over the story it’s self was interesting and I did enjoy the read.

The Belles are an elite group of six young freshmen girls at Bellerton College who have been selected by the president's wife, Mrs. Tibbert, as prime examples of how Bellerton women should behave. Deena is determined to fit in with her peers and is hiding some secrets from her past. Some of the antics seem more like boarding school mischief rather than college-age, but the novel takes place in the '50s. It's a quick read with spooky elements. I think it would be a great pick for a book club selection. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

3.5🌟 rounded up!! wow!! this was my first time reading dark academia and this book did not disappoint. it was so twisty and dark and the characters were awful but it was impossible to put down!! the author built such uniquely horrible, tragic, beautiful characters that demonstrated so well the more extreme sides of toxic friendships and dynamics between girls. i also LOVED the dual timeline, it added so much suspense and creepiness to the story. the writing style and the aesthetics really brought the story to life. however, i bumped the rating down a star and a half because the ending felt a little inconclusive to me. we spent the whole story wondering about deena and her past but the transition to ada may felt a little weird to me? i do understand why the author brought the story that way though. also props to the cover it is absolutely STUNNING!! 🎀 amazing debut!!

thanks to netgalley and atria for the arc! all opinions are my own!!!

The Belles is sharp and eerie, but ultimately left me with more questions than answers. It reads like a dystopian Mean Girls with a surreal twist, and I appreciated the bold tone and strange energy.

However, the structure felt disjointed. The narrative jumps into the future without much payoff, and I found myself struggling to connect with the plot or characters. Deena, the narrator, spends much of the book seeking approval in ways that felt repetitive and emotionally flat.

While the atmosphere was effective and a few scenes genuinely creeped me out, I finished the book feeling like something was missing. Still, a unique read that might land better for readers who love ambiguity and dark academia flair.

Thanks Atria and Net Galley for the read!

If you’re looking for a novel that gives the perfect Dark Academia ambiance you’re needing, then turn to this book.

*The Belles* is a dark, atmospheric debut that immerses readers in the sinister undercurrents of an elite 1950s college. Deena Williams, an outsider desperate to belong, is drawn into a secretive sisterhood known as the Belles, where the allure of privilege is laced with dangerous, hidden truths. As she unravels the chilling history of Bellerton College, Deena must confront her own past, ultimately facing a life-altering decision in this gripping exploration of girlhood, power, and the price of fitting in.

I feel like I'm reading different books than everyone else lately... This is another one that everyone else seems to really enjoy and I just could not find my way into for anything.

I was intrigued by the concept, and I do love a good Gothic tale. I found the setting intriguing, and was looking forward to digging in for some eerie dark academia set amidst the prim and proper world of a 1950s women's college. Unfortunately, I struggled with this one almost from the very beginning. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters, particularly Deena, and what was meant to be dark and foreboding felt more bizarre and controlling.

I didn't get a creepy vibe so much as an overbearing one, and it just wasn't enough to hold my attention. This one wasn't a good fit for me.

The Belles is a gripping novel right from chapter 1. The writing is so consistent and the atmosphere drips off the page. You can tell the author chooses every metaphor with intention.

For fans of Dark Academia, this novel explores the nature of girlhood, the deep desire to fit in, and the darkness that comes when we fear we may not. I couldn't put this down and have been thinking about the moody settings for days after finishing.

Calling all weird girls! This one is for you!

This book is like The Secret History but at an all girls boarding school. We follow a group of girls called "The Belles" and uncover some of their secrets. I love a dark academia/Secret History type plot so this caught my attention. The author did a fantastic job setting the scene for us and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Belles and watching them spiral into something sinister.

I did feel like the book was missing something. The book is set in the 1950s when the Belles were at Bellerton. I would've enjoyed reading more about the aftermath of Bellerton and the Belles. We get glimpses of them in 2002, but I would've loved more of that. I found the beginning of the book a bit slow. I kept wishing more would happen, but I think the second half of the book made it up for me.

Overall really enjoyed the book. I recommend if you like dark academia. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

ARC in exchange for an honest review from Net Galley and Atria books.

I give this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The Belles is a story about an all girls college where there have been many unfortunate accidents and girls gone missing. The book is centered around a group of six freshman girls, one of which is harboring a major secret.

These six girls are intriguing but also a little horrible. They find power in their numbers and regularly behave badly without consequence.

The story was interesting but i feel like there were a few gaps in the story. It needed to be tied up a little better in the end.

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!