from debs to detectives

It’s been a year since the previous year’s debutantes came out at New Orleans’s Les Masques Ball. It was decided to go ahead with this year’s ball, even though last year’s Queen met an untimely death the night after she was crowned at the ball. Margot Landry had taken an overdose of drugs, and while it was very sad, she had been known as a wild child. This year’s Queen will be Lily LeBlanc, and some of her Maids are concerned about what could happen.

April is a photographer and socially awkward, not thrilled about the whole debutante culture, but she’s agreed to be a Maid to make her father happy. Vivian is a popular girl and a fierce soccer player, and Piper is the twin sister to Lily’s boyfriend Wyatt. They are hoping to get through the Ball with no incidents, but when the Jesters come out to dance before the Queen and the Maids, everything changes. A video of Margot is played over the Queen and her court, ending with Lily being slashed, bright red staining her white dress.

The red turned out to be paint, and Lily was not harmed, but everyone couldn’t help but wonder if the stunt was about Margot’s death. The Ball breaks up and everyone leaves, but Lily texts April, Vivian, and Piper the next morning to meet up. The Maids all show up, but their Queen never comes. The three teenagers decide it’s time they try to find out what happened to Lily, and they wonder if the previous Queen, Margot, really overdosed the year before or if she was killed.

Their investigation takes them through the history of the balls, even to the warehouse where the Mardi Gras floats are stored. They find out about a secret society where powerful men in the city meet up to celebrate their success and enjoy the company of younger women. And when the girls find out that not only had Margot been to a feast at the secret society, but Lily had been there also, asking about Margot. Piper, Vivian, and April know that Margot’s death and Lily’s disappearance are tied to that secret society, but going up against such powerful men will not be easy. And with each of the Maids having potentially life-altering secrets of her own, will they find a way to bring the powerful men to justice, or will they just destroy their own futures?

The Debutantes is a fascinating young adult thriller steeped in the history and traditions of New Orleans. It’s about the fight against classism, sexism, and all the judgments society is quick to saddle young women with. As these women try to save their friend from the evil that surrounds them, they are also fighting to protect their families and carve out pathways to their futures.

I found The Debutantes maddening. I felt for these young women, and I enjoyed going on this journey them, even when they were making bad decisions for themselves. But I struggled with the misogyny they faced. I grew up with some of that, and it still enrages me, so there were scenes in this book that were so frustrating and difficult to read. But it’s still a valuable story, and the way the women stand up for themselves and for each other is heart-warming and redemptive. I do recommend this book, but know that if you care at all about women, you will be very angry at some of these scenes and have trouble getting through them.

Egalleys for The Debutantes were provided by Wednesday Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.