What can I say? Something about rebellious debutantes and London society is fascinating to read about, and this read from Julia Kelly was no different. With intriguing characters, a beautiful setting and a plot twist that had me on the edge of my seat, this was an unexpected but delightful read.

From beginning to end, I was hooked as a reader. Reading about Lily Nicholls’ debut during the last official debutante season was a thrilling experience. Lily is such an interesting protagonist — she likes books and has university-bound ambitions, and we also see her making unexpected friends throughout the book.

One thing I enjoyed was the plot surrounding Lily’s family. Right off the bat, you get the hint that something is amiss when the debutante season starts. The passing of Lily’s father leaves a gaping hole and flared tension between her, her Grandmama and her mother, Josephine. 

The mystery of the book kept me hooked until the very end, while I thought I was only going to be here for the romance. Though the romance was very well written and fun to read about, I was more enraptured by the friendships that were formed throughout the book.

Lily dubs her friend group “The Imperfects,” which definitely encapsulates the theme of this story. Lily doesn’t want to be a debutante, and Katherine, one of my favorite characters, wants to become a reporter. I really appreciated how these stories were handled, and how the importance of family to both of these women was showcased. 

Leana Hartford is a very unlikeable character, and I was so glad to see Katherine Norman guide Lily through her friendship struggles, befriending her in the process. Katherine encouraged Lily’s love interests, which made me root for her even more. 

While the romance took a back seat to the mystery (especially the plot twist at the end), it was still enjoyable to read. The romantic connections felt real, especially for the era of court and balls. I loved reading about Lily’s journey with love, considering finding a suitable partner is the entire point of being a debutante in this society. 

This book takes the theme of London high society and turns it on its head, showing the difference between when Grandmama was a deb and how the times are now that Lily is a deb.

That plot twist had me shaking when I read it. I had to go back and read it again to make sure I was reading it right. Kelly, you wrote a masterpiece of a plot twist. The way the characters interacted with each other shifted once the twist came out, and I was floored. 

Kelly wrote such an amazing book. From the romance to the mystery, every character had something about them that made me interested — maybe not sympathetic, but interested. Lily Nicholls and Katherine Norman are one of my favorite protagonist-best friend duos in a long time, and I wish we could see more of them in the future. 

Rating: 5/5