Last Dance of the Debutante
Book Feature - Last Dance of the Debutante by Julia Kelly
HBL Note: I first interviewed Julia Kelly along with a feature of her novel The Light Over London. I am delighted to feature her latest book, THE LAST DANCE OF THE DEBUTANTE, which follows three women as they are presented before Queen Elizabeth II in the golden days of Britain’s coming out balls. Highlighting themes of female friendship and peppered with the glitz and glamour you would hope from a book featuring royalty, I’m sure you’ll find Julia Kelly’s storytelling as intriguing as I do. Scroll down to read more.
Book Feature - Last Dance of the Debutante by Julia Kelly
From the publisher:
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.
With her signature “intricate, tender, and convincing” (Publishers Weekly) storytelling, Julia Kelly weaves an unforgettable tale of female friendship amid the twilight days of Britain’s grand coming out balls.
