I have to admit I'm not super familiar with Dark Academia as a genre, but I definitely enjoyed this creepy, Southern Gothic-ish story of a fictional women's college (Bellerton) built on a legacy of lies and abuse, and the various Southern belles that pass through its halls. Told in multiple POV, the story is centered around a young woman who doesn't have the wealth or family legacy of other "Bellerton Belles" and the evil truths she discovers during her stay at the college. Lacey Dunham did an amazing job creating atmosphere, right down to details about what shade of lipstick the girls had to wear and the stifling rules they had to follow in their quest to be "proper" Southern ladies. 4.5 stars!

I loved this book! It as the perfect dark academia book I’ve been looking for. The characters were intriguing, the story captured my attention, and overall it was so, so good. I loved the slow flash forward chapters that featured each character so I could start narrowing down which one died. Even though which character died was a little predictable, I still wasn’t convinced it was her until the end. I finished it super quickly and I thought the pacing worked really well.

Mysterious and atmospheric, this novel is for those of us who love it when dark academia crosses over into fantasy or magic realism, when our world blends with the arcane. The Belle’s story is one of secrets and deception, and what it means - what it takes - to belong. This book will pull you in and haunt you while leaving you fully satisfied.

Really fun campus novel similar to Bunny. It has a somewhat light very unique tone, and that’s one of the things I liked about it. These women are told to behave one way by the school and society, but in the woods they let out their true selves. Then people start disappearing….its great!! I loved it!

THIS BOOK HAD ME IN A CHOKEHOLD FROM THE FIRST PAGE!!! The cover drew me in but the story made me stay!! If you want a suspenseful plot with tons of secrets to uncover that is set at a haunted private school, this is the book for you.

This is told in two timelines (1951 and 2002) where we follow “The Belles”, a group of private school girls, through their freshman year at Bellerton college and 50 years later.
At Bellerton, it is rumored that girls who don’t behave go missing….and I’ll leave it at that. This is a story you just have to experience for yourself.

My favorite part of this reading experience was all the POVs. We get almost 10 different characters who have at least one chapter told through their POV.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was everything I didn’t know I was craving, and then some. I picked it up on a whim (okay, partly because the cover was absolutely stunning), but within a few pages, I was fully hooked and clearing my schedule.

What made this story stand out for me wasn’t just the eerie, atmospheric setting or the twisted threads of mystery, it was how alive it all felt. The tension, the secrets, the cold elegance of the school halls… it was like stepping into a dream that slowly turned into a nightmare, and I loved every second of it.

The dual timeline was chef’s kiss. Watching the past unravel while the future slowly revealed the aftermath made the entire reading experience feel layered and addictive. I kept flipping pages thinking, just one more chapter, and then suddenly it was 2 a.m.

Deena completely stole the show for me. She’s the kind of character who’s underestimated until she isn’t, and by then it’s too late. I adored her grit, her fury, her refusal to be anyone’s pawn. Watching her navigate the murky waters of power, betrayal, and revenge was so satisfying.

If you’re into stories with a gothic edge, slow-building dread, and women who refuse to go down quietly, this one’s for you. Haunting, clever, and impossible to put down. The Belles just earned a permanent spot on my shelf.

"The Belles" by Lacey N. Dunham is set in a moody Appalachian women's college where deaths are habitual and ghosts are part of the student body. The entire story revolves around social hierarchy and the power that women can have when they band together and make their own rules. It reminded me a lot of "Bunny" by Mona Awad and the movie "Heathers". I found it to always be on the edge of keeping me entertained or bored, but ultimately, I wanted to know how it ends.

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!