I really tried to stick with this one, I got more that 60% of the way but it felt like a chore and I eventually DNFed.

Book is not gripping or interesting… feels like a repeat of typical plot lines in dark academia novels (DNF)

The Lord of the Flies meets Mean Girls, all set in the mountains of rural Virginia. The sense of doom and dread dripped off the pages from the very first page. The intensity of female friendship and pack mentality was brilliantly written. You knew something bad was going to happen but the how and when was slowly unveiled. The evil that leached from the buildings and grounds of Bellerton infected the girls in horrible ways, creating outbursts of anger and violence very unlike the ladylike quantities expected of a Bellerton girl.
My only gripe would be the lack of dialogue, especially with the Deena POV. For me too much prose lacks the punch of dialogue and I found myself racing over some of it. We knew the Belles felt invincible and giddy with power so did we need to be reminded constantly? I didn’t feel that the repetition built any new tension or enlightened the reader to something new.
A very solid, gothic debut. Can’t wait to see what Lacey Dunham does next.
Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the ARC.

The world building and general vibes were right up my alley, but unfortunately I really struggled to get into this book. Plot could have been tighter and it seemed very YQ.

3.5 stars ⭐️

Dark academia with a Southern Gothic twist is 100000% my type of book! The overall creepy vibes, campus with a past, emphasis on family ties, and cult behavior were done so well. I was so invested in Deena's past and was so excited to see how certain things played out. A super easy read that is mysterious and includes plenty of ghosts - but isn't too scary and won't keep you up at night. The overall mystery/events of this book aren't terribly unpredictable, but it's still a fun read regardless. It's more "cruel" and "culty" rather than "scary" or "haunting".

There were a few moments in the story that I found myself a bit bored. I liked the dual timelines, but the "present day" timeline didn't particularly add anything new to the story. Some of the characters were a bit flat and honestly I didn't care for many of them (which might have been the point). The prose was lovely, but it seems like that was the focus point in some areas, rather than moving the plot along. Still, I think this book is a good debut and I would read more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Publishing, Atria Books, and the author Lacey N. Dunham for the print ARC & eARC copies of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for reaching out and please continue to do so in the future! The Belles releases September 9, 2025.

Belles never tell…

It’s 1951 at the secluded Bellerton College, and Deena Williams is an outsider doing her best to blend in with her wealthy and perfectly groomed peers. Infamous for its strict rules as much as its prestige, attending Bellerton could give Deena the comfortable life she’s always dreamed of.

She quickly forms an alliance with the five other freshmen on her floor, and soon they are singled out by the president’s wife as the most promising girls of their class, who anoints them: The Belles. They walk the college’s halls in menacing unison, matching velvet ribbons in their hair. But no sisterhood comes without secrets, and the Belles are no exception. Playing cruel pranks on their dormitory housemother and embarking on boundary-shattering night games, the Belles test the limits of the campus rules.

But as Deena begins to piece together the sinister history of Bellerton, her own past threatens to come to light, forcing her to make a dangerous choice. A chilling and seductive coming-of-age story, The Belles is an excavation of the dark side of girlhood, the intricacies of privilege, and the unbridled desire to belong at any cost.

This book reminded me of The Secret History mixed with Bunny by Mona Awad. I loved the dark academia vibe and exploration of relationships between women, albeit complex ones. I kept waiting for some of the characters to be more flushed out, but I felt like they were all a little hazy and under developed. Many of their qualities or stories were only hinted at, and I wish we could’ve found more depth especially in Deena. Overall I thought the setting and history of Bellerton was interesting but the characters fell a little flat. 3.5 stars for this one!

DARK ACADEMIA SAVE MEEEE!!! This book was so good and supernatural, which I loved. It takes place on an eerie campus with deep family roots and cult-like tendencies. It gave The Secret History vibes, and I loved all the characters so much. A dual timeline also takes place, which wasn't my fav in this book, but didn't necessarily take me away from it either. Very interesting book that focuses a lot on obsessions and dark desires. Would recommend!

I loved this. I'm a sucker for a dark academia book and this one delivers. Eerie campus, deep family history, and culty behavior. There are supernatural elements as well, which I don't normally like, but really enjoyed in this book. It was reminiscent of The Secret History (I don't say that lightly) and Bunny. I loved all the characters and found them all to have depth and be flawed. I loved the older vibe that the book brought due to it being set in the 50s. While the two timelines were fine, I actually could have done without the 'present day' timeline and would have preferred to just focus on the 50s timeline. I highly recommend this book to fans of themes around obsession, hive-mind, and dark desires.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC.

A dark and compelling debut, The Belles takes you into the halls of a woman's college in the 1950s in all its splendor... and cruelty. Makes a great autumn read.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Belles by Lacey N. Dunham is a glittering, provocative fantasy that reimagines beauty, power, and identity in a lush, imaginative world. Dunham’s world-building is sumptuous, and her characters are vibrant and defiantly alive. A bold, enchanting debut.

Thanks for the review copy. I love dark academia. I know people will love this one. I also love a good thriller.

Fierce and provocative, this novel interrogates beauty, control, and power with sharp prose. The worldbuilding was immersive, and while some themes were heavy-handed, they remained compelling. A dark and glittering dystopia that lingers.

Dark Academia set in 1951 is different from modern takes but it’s also very similar in that the characters just want to fit in. These young ladies are only looking to become wives to successful husbands and shine in high society. The ways that they’re doing it will be familiar to people anywhere (and in any time). The plot doesn’t shy from the casual cruelty and the prejudices of the era. Deena doesn’t fit. She is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy man and pretending to be one of these high-society girls. She is so desperate to use this opportunity to change her life, that she’s willing to do anything. At first, it works. She joins “the Belles,” the creme of the crop. It helps that all her besties are hiding something. A few of the chapters are set in 2002, when the now septuagenarian Belles are trying to forget they ever went to the Bellerton College. Something happened, but we don’t know what. The academy has been plagued by unexplained disappearances and there may even be ghosts. The writing is atmospheric without being slow and the plot keeps moving along towards the tragedy that we almost know will happen. The psychology is also very accomplished. I went to an all-girls school in the 80s and many situations were painfully familiar. I liked most of the Belles. They do unforgivable things but they’re also a product of their time and circumstances, so I didn’t hate them. Only one of the Belles is irredeemable. This is an impressive debut, very suspenseful and well written. Excellent!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Atria Books.

This book had one of the best opening I have ever read. It was so ominous and I was immediately hooked! I loved the setting of Bellerton College so much, seeming so idyllic on the surface but hiding dark secrets. I thought the author used the historical time period very well, showcasing the societal pressures on the girls through the college handbook, which was then enforced by other women. Those pressures drove the plot as the girls tried to break from society while maintaining the appearance of being perfect ladies. However, as much as I liked the setting, I struggled with the characters. I found Deena more than a bit naive, which felt a bit unrealistic given her supposed upbringing. I also did not find her the most compelling point of view, and I wish it had been split up between all the Belles more evenly. As for the plot, while it opened very strong, I found it predictable and a bit disappointing in the end. I wish the horror elements had been a bit stronger as well. But overall this was an enjoyable read and a strong debut novel that I recommend.

3.5 stars

This was a fun and easy read. Dark academia, a women’s college in the south, and 1950's oppressiveness and deception made this book a good page turner for me.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars (rounded up)

Following Deena as she attends a school called Bellerton in the 1950s, this story creates a narrative about reconciling disparate versions of yourself and desperately trying to fit in. Set in the South, the school is supposed to mold girls into the 'perfect' ladies upon graduating, going on to be the perfect housewives for prominent men. That said, the school and its rules are ripe with strict expectations, and the girls are expected to be 'Bellerton's best.' Deena immediately latches onto the 'popular' girls, who are singled out as a promising group by the wife of the school's president. The girls' charms, especially those of the group's 'mean-girl' leader, are more so only surface level. The girls break rules, test limits, and, more than anything, hide secrets. Deena is constantly bogged by the stress of trying to stay attached to the group and mold herself into a new person with a promising future, but she has to keep her past a secret at all costs.

This was a book I would say was a 'solid,' enjoyable read for me; I enjoyed it. The premise was very intriguing, and it starts off strong. The tension is built in the beginning as we immediately get a sense of what each character is like - from Deena's secrecy and nerves to Ada May's condescension cloaked in honey-like sweetness. It is clear from the beginning that Deena will do whatever it takes to fit in and become someone entirely new, even if it means adopting Bellerton's questionable values and the Belles' cruelty. I really enjoyed the little hints/details dropped in throughout Deena's chapters about her past. I also liked the shifting viewpoints and timelines - it made the story more interesting as we got into the perspectives of other characters and saw tension build up as time jumped forward and made it clear that something had gone very, very wrong in the in-between time. The stories about Bellerton's history and the perspectives from the other characters were my favorite parts! The details in those sections were gripping!

I found myself wishing that the stakes were higher to keep up the same level of intrigue that the beginning sets up. Also, some plot events themselves got a bit repetitive (such as the schemes the girls got up to), making the pacing seem slow. It never truly felt that there would be any repercussion for what was happening/what the group was doing by breaking the seemingly-unbreakable Bellerton rules/expectations. The plot did pick up towards the end, though!

I also was hoping for more character development. Details about Deena's history and the history of other characters were super interesting! It felt like they were quickly dropped off after being mentioned, though, but I wanted more! That carried into the 'reveal'/twist, making it less shocking than it could have been. It also seemed like Deena's motivations and perspectives never altered at all. Not that a character has to change for a story to be good, but it didn't work for me in this book when considering that the stakes weren't very high and the plot seemed repetitive.

It was a good story that I would still recommend, but I just wish there was more of everything! More stakes, more danger, more character development, more history! it was still a "solid" read.

*Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: Sep 9 2025

Deena is attending the prestigious Bellerton college, she tries to fit in and join a group of girls called the Belles. set in 1951, good story

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC ebook in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Deena is a new student at Bellerton college, trying her best to fit in despite a secret that sets her apart from the other girls. It's 1951 and the rules are incredibly strict at this college-to the extent that the president's wife might hunt you down and make you recite the proper lipstick colors, etc. Without going into spoilers, the book has a dark plot.

I enjoyed the story, the pacing, and some of the characters, especially Fred. I wish there had been a little more time spent on some of the character development with her and a few of the other characters (Nell was a puzzle to me...some of her actions didn't click and they might've if more time had been spent with her). Additionally, the paranormal aspect felt a little tacked on. I deeply appreciated that the author didn't drag out the reveal of Deena's secret for the reader-those sort of suspense moments ruin a book for me when they go on for too long.

The highlight of this book was the writing. I felt that it the language and style really immersed you in this dark campus and created a sense of unease. The story alternating between POVs and time periods did a great job at revealing little bits of the mystery at the right time and keeping things interesting.

However I often felt like the story was being told at me instead of me truly experiencing it. I also felt like I had no one to root for with none of the characters being likeable.

I feel that the story is really writing driven vs. plot driven for the first ~80%. For those who really enjoy the dark academia setting this could be fine, but I felt like I needed more action and adventure. Readers who enjoy little clues and forming theories would enjoy this book more than readers who need more action.