The Debutantes Book Review
The Debutantes by Olivia Worley book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS
Date: 6-12-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 6.4/10
Book Cover Rating: 9.5/10
(My personal opinion)
Title: The Debutantes
Author: Olivia Worley
Pages: 352
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Mystery
Subplots: Thriller
Romance Level: 1/3
Publisher: Wednesday Books
First Published: 2024
Number of Editions: 7
Goodreads Rating: 3.64/5
# of Goodreads Ratings: 1,744
Amazon Rating: 4.0/5
# of Amazon Ratings: 136
Movie/TV Show?? : No
Book Type: Standard
POV Type: Multi, First Person
Pacing: Fast
Generally: New Orleans mystery, debutante maids, missing person
Blurb:
For the New Orleans elite, the Les Masques Ball is sure to be the social event of the season—if they can avoid another dead Queen. When debutante Margot Landry was found dead the morning after her reign at last year’s ball, it was a tragedy, but not a shocking one. Margot was a wild child with a self-destructive streak, nothing like this year’s Queen, Lily LeBlanc. With a perfectly poised debutante on the throne, everything is going according to plan…until the ball is hijacked by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume. That night, Lily sends a text to three of the Maids on her royal court—her best friend, Vivian; her boyfriend's sister, Piper; and April, her former frenemy—asking them all to meet the next morning. But Lily never shows up.
On the surface, these three debutantes don’t have anything in common except their exclusive private school and their ties to Les Masques. But soon, they realize why Lily brought them together: something dark is lurking beneath the glamorous surface of the debutante world, and it might be the reason she disappeared. And the further the girls dig, the more they begin to suspect that Margot's death may not have been an accident—and that Lily may be next. When the Jester starts threatening to expose their own secrets, this unlikely trio must team up to uncover the monsters behind the Mardi Gras masks—before they’re left with another dead debutante.
My Review
Main Characters:
Piper Johnson- Piper is a smart, high school girl. She is very passionate about her grades, and getting into college. She is a debutante maid. She has a brother named Wyatt Johnson.
April Whitman- April is a quiet, shy high school girl. She loves photography, and likes to take her camera with her everywhere. She is a maid in the debutantes.
Vivian Atkins- Vivian is another high school debutante maid. She is a soccer star, and Lily’s best friend.
Lily LeBlanc- Lily is the queen of the debutantes this year. Her best friend is Vivian, and she is also on the soccer team. She is dating Wyatt Johnson.
Margot Landry- Margo was last year’s debutante queen. Shortly after, she died from a drug overdose.
You know….not to be rude…..but I didn’t really care about these characters. Many of them felt flat, and I got a couple of them mixed up with each other near the start. They also didn’t seem to have particularity meaningful pasts or motives for their actions.
Character Rating: 4.0/10
Setting:
This book takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
I really enjoyed hearing about New Orleans throughout this book. It wasn’t a city I was particularly familiar with, and it was fun to hear how it differed from other cities in the USA. Honestly, there wasn’t much to be said for the atmosphere though. It really worked well for this book that the setting took place in an interesting location, otherwise this setting wouldn’t have much in its favor.
Setting Rating: 6.6/10
Plot:
Wow! This plot certainly took a couple turns. It was interesting to read, engaging, and not what I was exactly expecting. I enjoyed this plot, but the pacing of it was just a little uneven. I loved the mystery aspects of this plot, and thought it was very well executed. It was a fairly easy plot to read, not very confusing or tangled.
Plot Rating: 8.8/10
Writing:
This was my first Olivia Worley book, and I think she did a great job writing this young adult story. It was clearly written to be easier to read and understand. Meanwhile, she’s still writing a strong plot with twists and connections. There were a few fairly significant parts of this book that I think had more writing potential, (specifically the character backstories/motives), but overall I was happy with Olivia Worley’s writing.
Writing Rating: 8.7/10
Ending:
Ugggg…. This was not the satisfying ending I was looking for. I guessed one of the main reveals early, and could have used more closure as to what ended up happening to the criminals. I feel like the people who really made mistakes weren’t showed having many consequences, and the people who were doing everything they could to help weren’t justly rewarded. Generally, I would have loved a bit more clarity and fairness (which, I know, it’s super idealized to say that life will always end up fairly, but I’m reading this to be satisfied, and I would certainly have been more satisfied with a fair but idealized ending, opposed to this).
Ending Rating: 3.9/10
The Overall:
Overall, this was a successful young adult, mystery book. I really enjoyed hearing about New Orleans, and the plot was certainly engaging! But, there were three POVs that got confusing, and felt bland. The characters were also lacking strong background stories and motives. The ending was definitely disappointing, and felt unfinished. I enjoyed some aspects of this book, but honestly, there were many more I didn’t enjoy either.
Overall Book Rating: 6.4/10
I would maybe recommend this book
Support independent bookstores by buying on Bookshop: The Debutantes
Or buy on Amazon: The Debutantes
ChatGPT’s Opinion: The Debutantes by Olivia Worley is a fast-paced YA thriller set in the elite world of New Orleans debutante culture, blending mystery with social commentary. The story follows three girls investigating the disappearance of their friend during a glamorous ball, revealing secrets about privilege, power, and tradition along the way. Worley's atmospheric writing and strong character development make for an engaging read, though some pacing issues and underdeveloped side characters slightly detract from the overall experience. Still, it's a compelling and thought-provoking novel that marks a strong debut for Worley
About the Author:
Olivia Worley is an author born and raised in New Orleans. A graduate of Northwestern University, she now lives in New York City, where she spends her time writing thrillers, over-analyzing episodes of The Bachelor, and hoping someone will romanticize her for reading on the subway. She is the author of the young adult novels PEOPLE TO FOLLOW and THE DEBUTANTES. Her adult debut, SO HAPPY TOGETHER, will be published by Minotaur Books in 2025.
-
People to Follow
So Happy Together
Final Cut
View Olivia Worley’s books on her website: Oliviaworley.com
Or on Amazon: Olivia Worley’s Books
-
-
ChatGPT.com (ONLY for specified “ChatGPT’s opinion” portion of reviews and small information gathering)
What did you think of this book??
Reach out below anytime! Whether to share your opinion of this book, comment on mine, ask for similar suggestions, or ask for more clarity/spoilers for this book. I’d love to answer any questions, share more opinions, or hear your thoughts!! Thanks so much!!
More Reviews!!
