When it’s announced that 1958 will be the last year debutantes are to be presented at court, thousands of eager mothers and hopeful daughters flood the palace with letters seeking the year’s most coveted invitation: a chance for their daughters to curtsey to the young Queen Elizabeth and officially come out into society.
In an effort to appease her traditional mother, aspiring university student Lily Nichols agrees to become a debutante and do the Season, a glittering and grueling string of countless balls and cocktail parties. In doing so, she befriends two very different women: the cool and aloof Leana Hartford whose apparent perfection hides a darker side and the ambitious Katherine Norman who dreams of a career once she helps her parents find their place among the elite.
But the glorious effervescence of the Season evaporates once Lily learns a devastating secret that threatens to destroy her entire family. Faced with a dark past, she’s forced to ask herself what really matters: her family legacy or her own happiness.
Lily Nichols’ world is turned upside down when she receives The Invitation; the invitation to be presented at court. She wanted to finish her last year of school and longed to attend university. Instead, her Grandmother and Mother are talking about dress fittings, photography appointments and sending her to a finishing school in Paris.
Julia Kelly creates a captivating story for Lily and her friends known as The Imperfects as they navigate the Season. Ms Kelly’s voice shines as she transports the reader to the 1958 London. Loved her detailed, colorful descriptions of the cocktail dresses, Worth ball gowns, shades of lipstick and hairstyles. I could hear the music and laughter and feel the excitement as the Imperfects dressed for Philippa’s ball. The gowns and the matching hats, gloves and lip color reminded me of photographs of my parents. My Mom always looked so pretty when they went out—she took time with selecting her dress, heels, hair and makeup.
Ms. Kelly’s decision to set Lily’s story during t late 1950’s added the perfect amount of drama to The Last Dance of the Debutante. Underwriting a debutante’s season was an expensive undertaking and the aristocrats were forced to compete with nouveau riche. It was important to have your cocktail party at an exclusive club, wear a Worth original; not an off the rack gown—appearances were very important. The completion between the debs was often intense and friendships were lost over one too many cocktails. Loved how Lily, Katherine and The Imperfects realized that they were not like the other debs and they banded together to endure the gossip and endless social events.
Along with the glitz, glamour and champagne, this story has a lot of heart. Lily came into her own during the course of this novel. Although Lily’s dream was to attend university, she acquiesced to her Grandmother and Mother’s wishes and left school for the season. Being a debutante was a real eye opener for Lily—she made friends, gained confidence and becomes independent from her family. She learns truths about her friends, family and herself. Loved that Lily realized that she had choices—she didn’t need to lead the life her family wanted for her—she could make her own decisions.
The Last Dance of the Debutante has all the story elements that I adore! It’s an engaging read filled with captivating characters, romance and conflict. After you finish this novel, raise a glass of champagne to celebrate Lily and the perfectly Imperfects!
Reviewed by Susan Gorman
ARC provided by Gallery Books
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