Dark, twisty, and totally absorbing—this is dark academia done right. I flew through this in a day. The atmosphere is so eerie and immersive, with themes like class, legacy, and toxic female friendships layered into every chapter. Deena’s unreliable narration kept me guessing, and the slow reveal of other perspectives only made things feel more unsettling in the best way. If you’re into cult vibes, gothic undertones, and messy characters you can’t trust but can’t stop reading about—add this to your list ASAP.

The Belles was a breath of fresh air since I've been reading so much fantasy lately I knew reading some dark academia would do me some good. And I honestly enjoyed what I read in this book. It had your typical dark academia feels but at the same time which unfortunately made some of the story predictable but other parts of the story weren't as easy to predict like the ending.
I loved the history behind the Belles and Bellerton College and never found myself bored of the world building. I also loved the characters and their small development throughout the story and found myself finding Ada the most interesting.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Belles is a dark academia novel about secrets and mystery. I loved that it took place in the 1950s. There is a full cast of characters and Deena the main character is hopeful to fit in with "the Belles" the exclusive group. I enjoyed the Belles and all of their antics. This book was well written and the characters had depth to them. This book is perfect for fall and back to school.

I was lucky enough to win an ARC of THE BELLES by Lacey N. Dunham in a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and try to stay safe, sane and happy out there.

All of the Belles have a secret, but it’s a betrayal to keep such important parts of their identities from each other. How far will the Belles go to prove that not all of the girls belong?

This was a great read - it was thrilling and spooky. Even though there were some points that were a tad predictable. I thought it was fun and couldn’t stop myself from reading more. I will definitely be looking out for more from this author in the future.

I always get sucked into dark academia books and this one did not disappoint! A fast paced story that would be a perfect read in the fall.

This story has all the things I enjoy about a book taking place on a college campus. The dark characters, the dorm life, the mystery - Dunham has crafted a great read with The Belles. I was captivated and needed to know what happened to the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed the haunting energy that permeated the book. I picked this one since it sounded like a gothic gossip girl and it didn't disappoint. I really liked that it played between the supernatural and just the awful behavior of the women. The slow reveal of the secrets and cut away to the modern timeline kept me engaged. I did get a little frustrated with the girls personalities by the end and wish we had more depth from some of the side characters like Sheba and Fred.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this until about 15 percent and just couldn’t get into it despite dark academia being a favorite genre of mine

The Belles is a dark and mesmerizing tale of tradition, obsession, and class set against the backdrop of an elite Southern women's college. When Deena, an outsider, arrives at the prestigious Bellerton, she'll do whatever it takes to convince her classmates she belongs despite her murky past. Loyalties are tested, lines are drawn, and the group of "it" girls known as the Belles will go to great lengths to preserve the sanctity of their beloved institution.

Deena's story explores an outsider's perspective on trying to blend in with the upper class and how far people will go to transform themselves to gain access to exclusive spaces. Setting this story in a place like the South that has a deep history of class division made this book all the more chilling and unsettling given the code of conduct within Bellerton reinforces the idea that some people simply will never belong. The further Deena becomes entangled in the menacing web of the leader of the Belles, Ada May, it becomes clear how difficult of a feat it will be to hide her true identity. The tougher it becomes for Deena to maintain her facade the more the story pulled me in as Lacey N. Dunham's writing carefully revealed just enough at the right moments to keep me invested in the ways the past and present happenings at Bellerton intertwine.

The way the writing seamlessly takes us between the Belles of the present and the past adds a depth to the story I really enjoyed. It truly hammers home the hostile nature of legacy when the dark truths of Bellerton's founding come to light through Deena's connection with another mysterious student, Mary. I only wish we could have spent a bit more time in the past getting to know about Mary's experience with the original Belles because it made the narrative all the more compelling to see how it related to Deena's journey. There's a lot to unpack here about societal expectations and roles women feel they must perform in the book to earn their place.

I couldn't tell from chapter to chapter what Deena's fate would be, perched precariously on the edge of the group of girls who could make or break her standing at the school. This book studies the implications of legacy and the unsavory methods used to uphold it through means such as rituals and gatekeeping. Dunham illustrates the ugly side of institutions like Bellerton by plucking out important moments in the day to day, escalating the seemingly innocent bonding experiences the Belles take part in to something darker and more consequential. Restraint and order are important within this world where women are required to hide the undesirable parts of themselves in order to be accepted. The Belles never shies away from the uncofmortable truths of how terrifying young women raised within broken institutions can be, especially when they're raised with cruelty.

I thought this book had some compelling elements but ultimately didn’t quite meet my expectations. I felt the atmosphere was beautifully crafted—the secluded Bellerton College and its 1951 setting created a rich and immersive backdrop for the story. I appreciated the eerie tone and the way the author conveyed the tension and privilege that shaped the Belles’ world.
That said, I felt like the plot was lacking and didn’t have the depth I was hoping for. While the story explored themes like privilege, sisterhood, and secrets, I found myself wishing for more complexity in the narrative. Some parts felt predictable, and the pacing didn’t always keep me engaged. I thought the idea of the Belles walking the halls in matching ribbons and playing cruel pranks added an intriguing edge to the story, but the plot didn’t fully capitalize on the potential for suspense or darker twists. I wanted more development in Deena’s character and her relationships with the other girls, as well as a stronger payoff for the sinister history of Bellerton.

Overall, I thought the book was enjoyable in terms of its atmospheric setting, but it fell short when it came to the plot. It might appeal to readers who love richly detailed worlds and character-driven stories, but it didn’t quite deliver the gripping narrative I was hoping for.

This is a perfect mysterious, twisty dark academia read with one of my favorite things: an unreliable narrator. This book also had some social commentary that I thought was super relevant even though the story is set in the 50s. Highly recommend this one!

3.5/5

This was such a cool environment for this story, I mean, one of my all-time favorite movies is Mona Lisa Smile!

I also love the cover, I think it looks so cool!

This would be the perfect fall read with the school and the spooky, ghostly vibes.

This was entertaining, unique and gives the reader different POVs so we call fully understand the vibes of this school, its culture and its people. We have a narrator that may not be so reliable and an outdates system and a secret society sort of situation (which is always fun).

I would recommend this for those who want more of any of the above in their life.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

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

Ohhh, this was deliciously dark! Mean Girls meets Bunny with a splash of something all its own. The writing was absolutely beautiful and I really enjoyed the fully dimensional cast of characters. A fall release date feels perfect for this book and it definitely deserves a spot on your spooky season TBR!

4.5 stars

I was asked to read and review “The Belles,” which focuses on Deena who hopes to fit in with her peers at an exclusive women’s college. Accordingly, she joins an alliance—hence, the title “the Belles,” a exclusive group that is willing to remain at the topic of college society.

While the story is told mostly through Deena’s perspective, there are multiple POVs and a dual timeline that assist the reader in understanding the secrets Deena and the other Belles are hiding.

This is a complex novel with a clearly unreliable narrator. I enjoy the idea of a protagonist risking everything to fit in; this is a plot point that never gets old. Growing up, I loved novels that focused on secret societies so I imagine this novel will have a strong fan base.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for a chance to read and review this spooky story.

A dark academia-tinged story, set in an exclusive school called Bellerton, where girls get an education that will mold them into perfect young women. A restrictive place that rests on tradition and secrecy. What will happen when one student is different enough, will she be seen as a true threat?
This book juggles multiple timelines, which I thought was actually done pretty well. It was nice to see some things from multiple POVs, and see how the various 'Belles' viewed the same events (the forward time jumps were the most interesting).
What didn't work for me was our main central character, Deena. I didn't think she was very fleshed out, and she never felt like the rebel outsider she was supposed to be. She seemed to go along with the flow all the time (and in her interactions with the servants, she was pretty unlikeable), and every time she pushes against the Belles' rules, she would always fall back into line. The ending with her and the main 'Belle' antagonist felt really anticlimactic, and didn't feel as a satisfying conclusion.

im rounding this up from a 4.5/4.75

im really blown away by this one. i knew that i would love it just based off of the synopsis. The Belles takes place at the prestigious bellerton college in the early 50s. deena williams is an outsider who is determined to fit in, and to hide her true identity. deena becomes entangled with five of her fellow freshmen, and the six of them are dubbed “the belles.” together, the sisterhood begins to push the boundaries of the strict rules and traditions at bellerton through pranks and games. it becomes clear to deena that the girls are messing with forces that they cannot reckon with as she is haunted by bellerton’s sinister past.

shifts in perspective and timeline lend us clues to the mystery that is unravelling. and through these perspectives the novel delves into girlhood, the danger of privilege and the complexities that come with trying to belong.

the main perspective is deena’s, a character who we root for but slowly begin to realize is an unreliable narrator. as she uncovers the dark history of bellerton, readers begin to uncover deena’s history as well.

dunham perfectly captured the atmosphere of dark academia, from the gothic boarding school setting, the unchecked privilege of the supporting characters, and the darkly secretive sisterhood. the shift from the innocent girlhood to the cultish dynamic is beyond intriguing. and on top of all of this, there are supernatural elements that lend a creepy and unsettling vibe to the narrative. we begin to wonder, along with deena, what is real and what isnt?

this was a fast-paced novel that kept me on the edge of my seat as i wanted to get to the bottom of the various mysteries that were unfolding. anyone who loves dark academia, an unreliable narrator, or a critique on privilege and classist institutions will absolutely want to pick this one up!

thank you to the publishers for an ARC of this book, provided by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review :)

This was just an okay read for me. This book was no comparison to “The Secret History” but was entertaining with unique characters.

It’s 1951. . .
….At an elite all-women’s college, isolated deep within the Virginia mountains, sits Bellerton College . . .
. . . “where girls who misbehave disappear”.

“The Bells” are six freshman girls sharing dormitory residence in the South Hall.
They have been singled out by the president’s wife as the most promising girls of their class….an honor that Mrs. Tibbert was only conferring to the six freshman girls.
“The Bells” should set a good example…. (follow these guidelines):
“It is advantageous to be
friendly, nice, and well liked always.
Gum chewing, and complaining are unladylike habits,
so don’t indulge your temptations
Finally, you would do your best to steer clear of asocial
attitudes and perverse thoughts”.
—Bellerton Student Handbook, 1951-1952

NOTE: “The Bells” press those acceptable boundaries. They ‘do’ indulge in temptations. They break plenty of rules, have secrets, are disloyal to one another, and they are certainly not always nice.
The cruelty towards an innocent housemother disgusted me!

I admit I didn’t find an ounce of humor in the sisterhood-‘mean-hood’- joking schemes ….(not sure I was to suppose to anyway)….nor was the suspense thriller itself a huge intrigue …..
but with that being said….
….the novel’s highlights ‘for me’ was the window into the early 1950’s that Lacey N. Dunham created.
With women often having been underrepresented both as students and faculty at institutions of higher education during the 1950’s …..Dunham gave us a (rolling our eyes - but with fun) perspective of the ideals expected from women who did go to college ….they should be ladylike…a little sexy and flirty ….because after all culture was heavily shaped on women becoming housewives who cared for their home, children, and husband.

The language, themes around the importance of beauty, and purity for our ladylike girls — an era I lived through too - (I remember wearing Kelly Green shorts), is funny to read today in 2025 ……
I wish our biggest problems today were concerns with fashion glossy lips, smooth unblemished skin, pear earrings, ponytails with ribbons the color of cotton candy, knotted scarves under the chin, wool stockings, linked pinkies, being in possession of others, toxic female relationships, secrets, missing bars of soap, other lost items, stealing homework consequences, and proper Bellerton’s ideal manners.

“Remember, you must constantly strive for perfection in your words, actions, and manner of dress. There are girls who look up to you, and others who will take their cues from your behavior. Men will expect to be dazzled by your warmth and politeness. There are eyes always upon you”.
—Bellerton Student Hsndbook, 1951/1952


Each of the girls ….. “The Bells”…..had distinctive personalities and dispositions …. with ‘coming-of-age’ changes throughout….but as a general characterization….meet the main players:
….Deena Williams - the outsider, doing her best to fit in. She was orphaned; raised by her grandmother. The only girl who didn’t come from ‘wealth’. Deena could be considered the main protagonist.
….Adam May Delacourt - leader of the pack - all the girls respect and look up to her.
….Fred Scott - a ‘confident’ outsider I’m gonna finish this now
….Sheba Wyatt - loud & showy
….Nell Lawton-Peter’s - nervous and overly earnest.
….Prissy Nicholson - definitely spoiled

So we take a gothic mystery suspense thriller ride with ‘The Belles’ at the prestigious Bellerton College ‘for girls’.
It’s a fast fun college campus experience of the devious naughty society girls (at times a little corny and trite), …..but that’s what I signed up for when choosing to read Lacey’s debut novel.
We get some spooky supernatural segments too.
My favorite part: The ENDING! I laughed and cheered it. Naughty me? It was symbolically perfect…..
….There just might be a significant positive change for something better to come. 🤔

Ha….but in America today? 🫤

Congrats to Lacey N. Dunham on her debut novel.

Came for the cover and stayed for the vibes. If I wasn’t reading this as an ARC I’d have definitely preferred to read this in early fall. The story was good but kind of a slow burn and could’ve used more ghosts.