A fast paced dark academia read perfect for autumn! The author managed to create such an engaging story with immense depth in just 300 pages. The story tackles dark topics like classism, familial legacy, the toxicity of female friendships, and the lengths one will go to for a reputable education. None of the characters are likable, each one has distinct flaws. Yet one finds themselves sucked into their corrupt, cultish lives. There’s an unsettling undertone throughout the entire novel. The main protagonists unreliable narration only lends to the mystery of the story. As readers we know we can’t trust her, yet still find ourselves rooting for her. For awhile we only read from Deena’s perspective. Readers grow reliant and sympathy for Deena. But then we are slowly introduced to more perspectives that only add to the feeling that something about the school isn’t quite right, along with most of the people in it. I loved the gothic undertone of the story. The flakiness of the characters only made me want to read more. They switched their loyalties so many times, which is something that can happen often in toxic female friendships. They were quick to love bomb one another but even quicker to attack. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it for those who love dark academia with cultish behavior, slight gothic elements and the exploration of toxic female friendships.

Dark academia is hands down one of my favorite genres, but unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of options out there. If you search for recommendations, you’ll likely see the same ten books over and over. So when I came across The Belles—not only with its intriguing premise but also its gorgeous cover (seriously, I’m a sucker for a beautiful, pink-hued cover)—I knew I had to read it.

If this is Lacey N. Dunham’s debut, she’s off to an incredible start. She absolutely nailed the elements that make dark academia so compelling: a prestigious all-women’s boarding school, a devious secret society, and just the right touch of supernatural intrigue. In fact, the supernatural elements in The Belles leaned a little spookier than what I’ve seen in most dark academia novels, but honestly? I loved that. It added a haunting layer that kept me hooked.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the dual timeline, allowing us to witness not only the characters’ lives at Bellerton but also the fallout of the mysterious event hinted at in the beginning—50 years later. This structure made the story even more compelling as the secrets unraveled piece by piece.

As for the characters, they were all deeply complex, but Deena was hands down my favorite. You’ve got to love an underdog—especially one with a bite. No matter what life threw at her, she always found a way to get her revenge, and I couldn’t help but root for her every step of the way.

The Belles releases in early September, making it the perfect book to kick off spooky season. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I can’t wait to see this beauty hit shelves (hopefully with pink sprayed edges or a ribbon—hey, a girl can dream!). Either way, I’ll be ready, ribbon in hand.

4.25/5⭐️

“A young woman with a secretive past will risk everything— including her life-to fit in. 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. — 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 The Belles. — But no sisterhood comes without secrets, and the Belles are no exception.”

This was a fast paced novel that I finished in under 48 hours 🙈 The story follows mostly Deena, who tells the story from her point of view - getting to the college and fitting in with her very wealthy peers. This means doing whatever she needs to do to be part of the group called Belles. If you enjoy dark academia novels and dark friendships this book is for you.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Belles is truly Mean Girls meet The Secret History - the atmosphere was moody, the girls were catty and manipulative (but could also be endearing at times), and while it's not a twisty thriller, the mystery surrounding the missing girls was sinister enough that the payoff felt satisfying.

The story opens in 1951 with Deena, an incoming freshman to Bellerton, an all-girl academy with a dark history that's been buried since the end of the Civil War. Deena herself has secrets of her own that she wants to keep hidden, which becomes increasingly more difficult as she becomes intertwined with the five other freshman girls who are dubbed "The Belles" by the strict and scrupulous Mrs. Tibbert, the wife of Bellerton's President.

The girls form a fast friendship, bound together by the praise of Mrs. Tibbert and the reverence of the student body. They quickly learn that they can break a few rules and get away with things that other students can't, and start testing the limits of their newfound power. But if any one of them should step out line, they are harshly punished by the rest of the group.

There are a lot of interesting themes woven throughout the novel, including indoctrination, moral and ethical obligations, and imbalances of power particularly pertaining to faculty/student relationships and relationships between men and women during a time when women were only allowed to have a higher education because it would make them better wives to their husbands.

Ultimately, I absolutely adored this book and can't wait to see what Lacey Dunham writes next. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced e-book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read The Belles by Lacey N. Dunham. A dark, gothic novel of academia that its all the right notes. Excellen!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of The Belles in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’m so honored for The Belles to be my first-ever ARC!

The Belles is a dark academia novel with a southern gothic twist set in 1951. It follows Deena, an outsider doing her best to blend in with her wealthy peers at the secluded Bellerton College. Hoping to secure the comfortable life she always dreamed of, Deena joins an alliance with the five other freshmen on her floor. They call themselves The Belles and adorn themselves with matching velvet ribbons. Deena is willing to do whatever it takes to fit in, no matter the cost.

I LOVE books with complex characters, and each of the Belles fits this category. These girls are scary in the way they are willing to do whatever it takes to uphold the Bellerton way. I feel for Deena and her desire to belong, yet she senses she’ll never truly fit in. I found I couldn’t help, but root for Deena even when she lost her sense of self.

I enjoyed the build-up and slow reveal of The Belles’s secrets, but I did feel I wanted a little more closure with some of the plot lines. However, it was still a satisfying conclusion and an enjoyable read. I really liked the fact the story jumped between the past and present day.

I also enjoyed how this novel created such a haunted atmosphere. The campus felt so eerie, and I loved how symbolic it was with the history haunting the present. I felt I was also losing my sense of reality as I wondered what was real versus what was potentially paranormal.

I would recommend this book to fans of Plain Bad Heroines, Bunny, and anyone who loves dark academia novels with toxic, messy friendships and a dark sisterhood.

This was a wonderful debut, and I look forward to reading more from the author. I give this novel a 4/5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Welcome to Bellerton College, 1951 - a selective women's college with very conservative values. The Belles is a chilling, slow-burn campus novel that blends prep school glamour with gothic dread and a hint of supernatural.

Deena Williams, a scholarship student, is trying her best to fade into Bellerton’s elite culture. Fortunately, she is quickly absorbed into her hallmates, Deena becomes part of a tightly wound clique dubbed The Belles. Together, they walk the campus like they own it.

But behind the velvet ribbons and wealthy veneer lies cruelty, control, and a long legacy steeped in secrets. The head Belle rules with an iron fist and soon the girls are spending more and more time at night pushing the limits of their gilded cage. Before long, the girls’ rituals escalate into manipulation and destruction and Deena begins to uncover Bellerton’s darker history.

Lacey Dunham’s writing is immersive and sharp, capturing the dizzying hunger of adolescence: to be seen, to belong, to matter. The power dynamics between the girls are electric and unsettling, and the setting itself—ivy-covered walls, rigid dorm mothers, and midnight games is both claustrophobic and exhilarating. There’s a creeping dread that builds with each chapter, and when it breaks, it does so with the kind of quiet devastation that lingers.

The Belles is not just about mean girls. It’s about girlhood as performance, about power dressed up as privilege, and about how the desire to belong can turn feral.

Dark, dazzling, and deeply disturbing—in the best possible way. #thebelles #laceyndunham #atriabooks

This slyly sinister dark academia book follows the lives of six 'belles', freshman at the fictional Bellerton College located deep in Virginia during the 1951-52 term (with periodic flashes forward and back). Focused mainly on Deena, an outsider unfamiliar with the college's traditions, and Ada May, a third generation female heir to attend the school. Joined by Sheba, Fred (short for Winnifred), Prissy and Nell, this group is a fast clique that deals with the school's cultural traditions head on.

I greatly enjoyed the book's lovely, melodic wording, author Dunham has a prosaic grasp on literary prose. It did begin to drag a bit at the 65% mark but that did not diminish my interest. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

In Lacey N. Dunham’s debut novel, “The Belles,” readers embark on a twisted journey that spans decades. This dark academic tale is set at Bellerton College, an all-girls institution during the 1950s. The wealthy elite frequent this prestigious school, known for its strict rules, high status, and the occasional missing girl.

The story follows a small group of first-year students who form a clique called the Belles, sharing a dorm and a close-knit lifestyle. Our main protagonist, Deena, harbors a secret that could expose her as an imposter if discovered. The Belles operate like a cult, adhering to their own set of mores, customs and activities within an already rigid social hierarchy. It is only a matter of time before someone fails to meet expectations.

Fans of Rebecca Makkai’s “I Have Some Questions for You,” ML Rio’s “We Were Villains,” Chuck Palahniuk’s “Fight Club,” and Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History” may find this read compelling. It is suspenseful and keeps you guessing about how events will unfold. The novel explores themes of toxic femininity and the dynamics of wealth and class. Although the book is beautiful on the outside, much like the students themselves, the story inside is filled with dark secrets. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the advance copy.