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The Belles
In this richly atmospheric, dark academia debut novel, a young woman with a secretive past will risk everything—including her life—to fit in.
Belles never tell…
It’s 1951 at the secluded Bellerton College, and Deena Williams is an outsider doing her best to blend in with her wealthy and perfectly groomed peers. Infamous for its strict rules as much as its prestige, attending Bellerton could give Deena the comfortable life she’s always dreamed of.
She quickly forms an alliance with the five other freshmen on her floor, and soon they are singled out by the president’s wife as the most promising girls of their class, who anoints The Belles. They walk the college’s halls in menacing unison, matching velvet ribbons in their hair. But no sisterhood comes without secrets, and the Belles are no exception. Playing cruel pranks on their dormitory housemother and embarking on boundary-shattering night games, the Belles test the limits of the campus rules.
But as Deena begins to piece together the sinister history of Bellerton, her own past threatens to come to light, forcing her to make a dangerous choice. A chilling and seductive coming-of-age story, The Belles is an excavation of the dark side of girlhood, the intricacies of privilege, and the unbridled desire to belong at any cost.
Belles never tell…
It’s 1951 at the secluded Bellerton College, and Deena Williams is an outsider doing her best to blend in with her wealthy and perfectly groomed peers. Infamous for its strict rules as much as its prestige, attending Bellerton could give Deena the comfortable life she’s always dreamed of.
She quickly forms an alliance with the five other freshmen on her floor, and soon they are singled out by the president’s wife as the most promising girls of their class, who anoints The Belles. They walk the college’s halls in menacing unison, matching velvet ribbons in their hair. But no sisterhood comes without secrets, and the Belles are no exception. Playing cruel pranks on their dormitory housemother and embarking on boundary-shattering night games, the Belles test the limits of the campus rules.
But as Deena begins to piece together the sinister history of Bellerton, her own past threatens to come to light, forcing her to make a dangerous choice. A chilling and seductive coming-of-age story, The Belles is an excavation of the dark side of girlhood, the intricacies of privilege, and the unbridled desire to belong at any cost.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2025
123 people are currently reading
15342 people want to read
About the author
Lacey N. Dunham
2 books78 followersLacey N. Dunham’s novel The Belles is coming from Simon & Schuster / Atria in September 2025.
She has received support from the Elizabeth George Foundation, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and Catapult. A former independent bookseller and public school teacher, she was born and raised on a small family farm, where she told her stuffed animals stories and sometimes locked herself in the corncrib.
She now lives in Washington, DC with too many books and only two cats.
Sign up for her twice monthly newsletter here.
She has received support from the Elizabeth George Foundation, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and Catapult. A former independent bookseller and public school teacher, she was born and raised on a small family farm, where she told her stuffed animals stories and sometimes locked herself in the corncrib.
She now lives in Washington, DC with too many books and only two cats.
Sign up for her twice monthly newsletter here.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
September 8, 2025
When it comes to dark academia, Dunham’s The Belles is simply ribboned with intrigue, tied tightly enough to keep you turning pages, but loose enough to let the secrets slip through. 🎀
Set in 1951 at the secluded and rule obsessed Bellerton College, the novel introduces us to Deena Williams, a young woman desperate to fit in among her wealthy peers. She may be new to the halls of Bellerton, but readers will quickly learn, belles never tell, but they certainly dare.
The heart of the story lies in Deena’s induction into an anointed group of freshmen, the Belles, chosen by the president’s wife for their promise and polish. The sisterhood dons matching velvet ribbons, walks in calculated unison, and wields their power with equal parts menace and allure. Think secret society meets schoolyard cruelty, with pranks that teeter on the edge of malice and night games that test both courage and morality. Dunham balances the shimmer of privilege with the shadow it casts, drawing readers into a world where the price of belonging might be everything.
What elevates The Belles isn’t just its chilling portrayal of campus rituals, but its slow unspooling of Bellerton’s sinister past and how it entwines with Deena’s own buried truths. The prose is richly atmospheric, the pacing taut, and the tension thick enough to cut with a ribbon. And yes, there’s just the right touch of supernatural unease, leaving readers to question whether the college’s ghosts are literal or metaphorical.
This debut will appeal to readers who swoon for:
🎀Prestige cloaked in menace (hello, all women’s boarding school tradition).
🖤Devious secret societies with matching aesthetics.
🎀Lush worldbuilding and character-driven storytelling.
🖤A dark coming of age tale that doesn’t shy away from the costs of conformity.
🎀And let’s not forget, the cover is as compelling as the story itself, drawing you in before a single page is turned.
In the end, The Belles is more than a story about ribbons, rules, and rebellion. It’s about the dangerous seduction of belonging, and how the masks we wear can sometimes strangle tighter than any college dress code. Dunham has crafted a haunting debut that proves some secrets refuse to stay tied up neatly in a bow. 🎀
Expected publication September 9, 2025 🖤
Set in 1951 at the secluded and rule obsessed Bellerton College, the novel introduces us to Deena Williams, a young woman desperate to fit in among her wealthy peers. She may be new to the halls of Bellerton, but readers will quickly learn, belles never tell, but they certainly dare.
The heart of the story lies in Deena’s induction into an anointed group of freshmen, the Belles, chosen by the president’s wife for their promise and polish. The sisterhood dons matching velvet ribbons, walks in calculated unison, and wields their power with equal parts menace and allure. Think secret society meets schoolyard cruelty, with pranks that teeter on the edge of malice and night games that test both courage and morality. Dunham balances the shimmer of privilege with the shadow it casts, drawing readers into a world where the price of belonging might be everything.
What elevates The Belles isn’t just its chilling portrayal of campus rituals, but its slow unspooling of Bellerton’s sinister past and how it entwines with Deena’s own buried truths. The prose is richly atmospheric, the pacing taut, and the tension thick enough to cut with a ribbon. And yes, there’s just the right touch of supernatural unease, leaving readers to question whether the college’s ghosts are literal or metaphorical.
This debut will appeal to readers who swoon for:
🎀Prestige cloaked in menace (hello, all women’s boarding school tradition).
🖤Devious secret societies with matching aesthetics.
🎀Lush worldbuilding and character-driven storytelling.
🖤A dark coming of age tale that doesn’t shy away from the costs of conformity.
🎀And let’s not forget, the cover is as compelling as the story itself, drawing you in before a single page is turned.
In the end, The Belles is more than a story about ribbons, rules, and rebellion. It’s about the dangerous seduction of belonging, and how the masks we wear can sometimes strangle tighter than any college dress code. Dunham has crafted a haunting debut that proves some secrets refuse to stay tied up neatly in a bow. 🎀
Expected publication September 9, 2025 🖤
May 6, 2025
ARC for review. To be published September 9, 2025.
2.5 stars
In 1951 Deena Williams (were people named “Deena” in 1951? Maybe so, but this seemed like an odd choice to me. I definitely could be wrong about this though.) manages to make her way to storied Bellerton College in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. Despite the fact that she’s quite poor and comes from nothing she works hard to blend in with her wealthy dorm mates Ada May, Sheba, Fred, Nell and Prissy. Despite the fact that in real life they would have ostracized her for only having one pair of shoes (there’s a stereotype that rich girls are awful for a reason, people) for some reason, in this book, they are all great friends and everyone overlooks the fact that Deena’s only possession is a broken glass jar. Seriously.
The group is even lauded by the school president’s wife and she starts calling them the Belles. Naturally, since they are teenage girls, this gives them the collective big head and they start flaunting the campus rules, having heroin-filled orgies in their dorm with the boys from William and Mary and Washington and Lee.
Kidding. William and Mary is hours away. OK, fine. It’s 1951. They sneak out of the dorm at night. They don’t even leave campus, they just leave their dorm. Rebels is what they are.
It becomes clear there’s a sinister history at Bellerton and Deena begins to piece it together, as do some of the college’s alumnae today (a whole section which seems out of place and a bit unnecessary.)
What happens is neither very shocking or surprising and it’s handled a bit clumsily. I also could have done without the supernatural element which feels a bit tacked on…the author could have used clues or something to get the same result. So, it was an OK thriller with a few clear flaws. Rounding it up to three stars is what is happening, but it seems a bit of a gift, 2.5 stars is exactly right.
2.5 stars
In 1951 Deena Williams (were people named “Deena” in 1951? Maybe so, but this seemed like an odd choice to me. I definitely could be wrong about this though.) manages to make her way to storied Bellerton College in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. Despite the fact that she’s quite poor and comes from nothing she works hard to blend in with her wealthy dorm mates Ada May, Sheba, Fred, Nell and Prissy. Despite the fact that in real life they would have ostracized her for only having one pair of shoes (there’s a stereotype that rich girls are awful for a reason, people) for some reason, in this book, they are all great friends and everyone overlooks the fact that Deena’s only possession is a broken glass jar. Seriously.
The group is even lauded by the school president’s wife and she starts calling them the Belles. Naturally, since they are teenage girls, this gives them the collective big head and they start flaunting the campus rules, having heroin-filled orgies in their dorm with the boys from William and Mary and Washington and Lee.
Kidding. William and Mary is hours away. OK, fine. It’s 1951. They sneak out of the dorm at night. They don’t even leave campus, they just leave their dorm. Rebels is what they are.
It becomes clear there’s a sinister history at Bellerton and Deena begins to piece it together, as do some of the college’s alumnae today (a whole section which seems out of place and a bit unnecessary.)
What happens is neither very shocking or surprising and it’s handled a bit clumsily. I also could have done without the supernatural element which feels a bit tacked on…the author could have used clues or something to get the same result. So, it was an OK thriller with a few clear flaws. Rounding it up to three stars is what is happening, but it seems a bit of a gift, 2.5 stars is exactly right.
October 14, 2025
This audiobook was good. The narrator did a great job. The story took place at a private Bellerton college. The story followed Deena. Deena has a secretive past, where she was born into wealth but was not chosen to live a wealthy life like her half sister was. Deena lived with her grandma and followed her grandma's teachings to get through life. With her grandma's help, she got her place at this prestigious Bellerton school and has her own room in the school dorms. Soon readers will realized that Deena's dorm-mates came from super wealth. Deena's room were bare while the other girls has a lot more. Deena's grandma was a housekeeper. One advice her grandmother told Deena was to stick with the popular girls and she did as she was advised.
Hanging with the popular girls comes with rules. Deena had to watch herself and keep her secrets safe. When she defy the leader of the popular girls, she suffered huge consequences. The school is also haunted. Deena was able to communicate with the ghost girl. The story was told with different views but majority were with Deena who would like to have a better future by attending this school. The story was told in mostly the past but some chapters were of the present as the past bad deeds caught up to them. The popular girls stood out when they were named the school's Belles. They played different games that involved hurting each other like pulling hair and left each other bruised. Good suspense.
This story talks about how the school protects those who belong, one of their own and take care of those who don't belong. They truly did that. Even when the school staff saw what happened, she deemed as the right thing to do and kept that secret for the girls who killed!
If being popular is this, lucky I was never part of the popular girls.
Thank you Atria Books and Simon Audio for the opportunity to read, listen, and review.
Hanging with the popular girls comes with rules. Deena had to watch herself and keep her secrets safe. When she defy the leader of the popular girls, she suffered huge consequences. The school is also haunted. Deena was able to communicate with the ghost girl. The story was told with different views but majority were with Deena who would like to have a better future by attending this school. The story was told in mostly the past but some chapters were of the present as the past bad deeds caught up to them. The popular girls stood out when they were named the school's Belles. They played different games that involved hurting each other like pulling hair and left each other bruised. Good suspense.
This story talks about how the school protects those who belong, one of their own and take care of those who don't belong. They truly did that. Even when the school staff saw what happened, she deemed as the right thing to do and kept that secret for the girls who killed!
If being popular is this, lucky I was never part of the popular girls.
Thank you Atria Books and Simon Audio for the opportunity to read, listen, and review.
August 31, 2025
⭐⭐⭐.5
I asked for this arc from NetGalley because I actually like Dark Academia as long as it's not magical. Forgive me for saying so, but the magic school thing has become a bit humdrum. But give me six girls who need and despise each other, all operating under an unhinged set of rules-- that's my kind of chaos.
Or should be, when I get along with the style. Here, I struggled to find my place in the setting. I wasn't sure entirely if timelines were alternating or not, until the very end. Ditto with perspectives. This, unfortunately, is *not* my kind of chaos.
I did love the ending, not because it was well foreshadowed and certainly not because I predicted it, but because it was artful. During the climax, Dunham leverages setting elements like the forest, the school barn, the animals, all to dramatic effect. It becomes clear how morally grey all the secondary characters are, and who among the leads, is morally black.
This was a fun read, beautiful, and swift-moving. Minor quibbles didn't prevent my enjoyment. I recommend this book to fans of Belladonna or Say a Little Prayer
I asked for this arc from NetGalley because I actually like Dark Academia as long as it's not magical. Forgive me for saying so, but the magic school thing has become a bit humdrum. But give me six girls who need and despise each other, all operating under an unhinged set of rules-- that's my kind of chaos.
Or should be, when I get along with the style. Here, I struggled to find my place in the setting. I wasn't sure entirely if timelines were alternating or not, until the very end. Ditto with perspectives. This, unfortunately, is *not* my kind of chaos.
I did love the ending, not because it was well foreshadowed and certainly not because I predicted it, but because it was artful. During the climax, Dunham leverages setting elements like the forest, the school barn, the animals, all to dramatic effect. It becomes clear how morally grey all the secondary characters are, and who among the leads, is morally black.
This was a fun read, beautiful, and swift-moving. Minor quibbles didn't prevent my enjoyment. I recommend this book to fans of Belladonna or Say a Little Prayer
December 7, 2025
I hope deena haunts her ass forever
September 15, 2025
I wrote this book, so obviously I'm going to rate it 5 stars.
April 12, 2025
The Belles is everything I could ask for. Dark academia is my favourite genre, but unfortunately there are very few books that truly fit the theme and not just the aesthetic.
This is for the people that crave a story about a codependent, obsessive, hive-minded cast of characters. These girls are awful but they are just the type of character I look for in dark academia.
The story is told in two timelines, separated by 50 years and it made the book go so fast because I just needed to know what happened next. It's the type of book you can easily read in one sitting, not because it is short(even though I would like for it to be longer) but because you won't be able to stop reading.
In the genre I can easily say The Belles is one of the best, I highly recommend you check it out when it's released.
Thank you Atria and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
This is for the people that crave a story about a codependent, obsessive, hive-minded cast of characters. These girls are awful but they are just the type of character I look for in dark academia.
The story is told in two timelines, separated by 50 years and it made the book go so fast because I just needed to know what happened next. It's the type of book you can easily read in one sitting, not because it is short(even though I would like for it to be longer) but because you won't be able to stop reading.
In the genre I can easily say The Belles is one of the best, I highly recommend you check it out when it's released.
Thank you Atria and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
April 1, 2025
Dark academia is hands down one of my favorite genres, but unfortunately, there aren’t a ton of options out there. If you search for recommendations, you’ll likely see the same ten books over and over. So when I came across The Belles—not only with its intriguing premise but also its gorgeous cover (seriously, I’m a sucker for a beautiful, pink-hued cover)—I knew I had to read it.
If this is Lacey N. Dunham’s debut, she’s off to an incredible start. She absolutely nailed the elements that make dark academia so compelling: a prestigious all-women’s boarding school, a devious secret society, and just the right touch of supernatural intrigue. In fact, the supernatural elements in The Belles leaned a little spookier than what I’ve seen in most dark academia novels, but honestly? I loved that. It added a haunting layer that kept me hooked.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the dual timeline, allowing us to witness not only the characters’ lives at Bellerton but also the fallout of the mysterious event hinted at in the beginning—50 years later. This structure made the story even more compelling as the secrets unraveled piece by piece.
As for the characters, they were all deeply complex, but Deena was hands down my favorite. You’ve got to love an underdog—especially one with a bite. No matter what life threw at her, she always found a way to get her revenge, and I couldn’t help but root for her every step of the way.
The Belles releases in early September, making it the perfect book to kick off spooky season. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I can’t wait to see this beauty hit shelves (hopefully with pink sprayed edges or a ribbon—hey, a girl can dream!). Either way, I’ll be ready, ribbon in hand.
If this is Lacey N. Dunham’s debut, she’s off to an incredible start. She absolutely nailed the elements that make dark academia so compelling: a prestigious all-women’s boarding school, a devious secret society, and just the right touch of supernatural intrigue. In fact, the supernatural elements in The Belles leaned a little spookier than what I’ve seen in most dark academia novels, but honestly? I loved that. It added a haunting layer that kept me hooked.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the dual timeline, allowing us to witness not only the characters’ lives at Bellerton but also the fallout of the mysterious event hinted at in the beginning—50 years later. This structure made the story even more compelling as the secrets unraveled piece by piece.
As for the characters, they were all deeply complex, but Deena was hands down my favorite. You’ve got to love an underdog—especially one with a bite. No matter what life threw at her, she always found a way to get her revenge, and I couldn’t help but root for her every step of the way.
The Belles releases in early September, making it the perfect book to kick off spooky season. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I can’t wait to see this beauty hit shelves (hopefully with pink sprayed edges or a ribbon—hey, a girl can dream!). Either way, I’ll be ready, ribbon in hand.
September 7, 2025
As far as classification goes, this leans more into thriller territory as opposed to dark academia. Does the story take place at a spooky school? Yes. But there's virtually no educational conversation or intellectual depth.
PROS: Atmospheric setting and mystery. Easy to read. Okay pacing.
CONS: Predictable. The dual timelines were more confusing than effective, and they never came together in a satisfying way.
Would recommend to: Readers looking for a quick thriller with some mild horror elements. If you’re searching for genuine dark academia, this isn't it.
Thanks to Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this eARC!
PROS: Atmospheric setting and mystery. Easy to read. Okay pacing.
CONS: Predictable. The dual timelines were more confusing than effective, and they never came together in a satisfying way.
Would recommend to: Readers looking for a quick thriller with some mild horror elements. If you’re searching for genuine dark academia, this isn't it.
Thanks to Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this eARC!
September 1, 2025
I really tried my best to get into this one but it was just so unbelievably boring. I was really intrigued by the dark academia and “culty” school vibes but even the vibes could not save this one. I really just didn’t care about the characters and it really was just obnoxious girls doing obnoxious things while being rich. I just can’t see myself wanting to read this past 60% it would be a waste of my time. I’m sure there’s an audience out there that would enjoy this book but unfortunately that’s not me.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. “The Belles” will be published September 9, 2025.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. “The Belles” will be published September 9, 2025.
June 29, 2025
I loved this. I'm a sucker for a dark academia book and this one delivers. Eerie campus, deep family history, and culty behavior. There are supernatural elements as well, which I don't normally like, but really enjoyed in this book. It was reminiscent of The Secret History (I don't say that lightly) and Bunny. I loved all the characters and found them all to have depth and be flawed. I loved the older vibe that the book brought due to it being set in the 50s. While the two timelines were fine, I actually could have done without the 'present day' timeline and would have preferred to just focus on the 50s timeline. I highly recommend this book to fans of themes around obsession, hive-mind, and dark desires.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 6, 2025
This book unfortunately wasn’t for me. I found it slow and I wasn’t able to engage with the characters or the story. Just didn’t gain or keep my interest.
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
September 4, 2025
The Belles is an absolute perfect example of dark academia done perfectly! I honestly can't believe that this is a debut novel because it was just that good, and the author did an amazing job bringing this dark tale to life.
This book was deliciously dark and full of the most unlikable cast of characters, girls that are far too privileged and definitely evil. The book takes place at Bellerton College, a college just for women. Deena Williams is an outsider and desperately just wants to fit in with all the beautiful, wealthy girls that she's at the school with. She finds herself accepted with an elite group of girls, The Belles, and works hard to keep their favor. But, Bellerton isn't the charming, perfect school that it appears to be, and its history is deeply disturbing and very dark.
The book is told two alternating timelines, the 1950s and the present, 50 years later. I really enjoyed the dual timelines, but it was definitely more drawn to the story told in the 1950s. The book also has a touch of the paranormal, and I felt that it definitely added to the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think that any reader who enjoys dark academia will love this one!
Expected Publication Date: September 9th, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was deliciously dark and full of the most unlikable cast of characters, girls that are far too privileged and definitely evil. The book takes place at Bellerton College, a college just for women. Deena Williams is an outsider and desperately just wants to fit in with all the beautiful, wealthy girls that she's at the school with. She finds herself accepted with an elite group of girls, The Belles, and works hard to keep their favor. But, Bellerton isn't the charming, perfect school that it appears to be, and its history is deeply disturbing and very dark.
The book is told two alternating timelines, the 1950s and the present, 50 years later. I really enjoyed the dual timelines, but it was definitely more drawn to the story told in the 1950s. The book also has a touch of the paranormal, and I felt that it definitely added to the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think that any reader who enjoys dark academia will love this one!
Expected Publication Date: September 9th, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 15, 2025
4⭐️
At first, the story didn’t immediately catch my interest as I wasn’t giving it the attention it needed. But once I gave the story the attention it deserved, it captivated me and led me down a wild ride of a story.
The Belles is a dark academia, supernatural, and gothic tale about beautiful rich young women at an all-women’s college set in the South. The main character Deena is an outsider who manages to make her way into this glitzy world where young women are educated but are molded to be dutiful wives to their future husbands. Deena knows she is the outlier amongst her new housemates in the South Hall, where they are given the name The Belles by the school president’s wife, as she is hiding a secret about who she really is. They are led by Ada May Delacourt, a Bellerton legacy, who expects others to obey her every word. Deena becomes obsessed with living this life at Bellerton as a Belle and obtaining Ada May’s approval, but she knows her secret that could unravel everything she and her grandmother have worked for. So Deena has to be careful about what she shares of her life with the others. But while Deena is trying to keep her secret safe from Ada May and the others, she’s finding out about the secrets of Bellerton and what would be at stake if her secret is revealed. Women who are considered unworthy of the Bellerton name, are viciously thrown out or worse, and many young girls have gone missing or died on school grounds.
With every new chapter, I was kept on my toes wondering what was going to happen next. The story’s timeline stays mainly in 1951-1952 but it does periodically jump 50 years into the future where you can see what happened to some of the girls of South Hall. Deena is both likable and unlikable, as she can be just as unkind and cruel as the other girls in her circle, but you can understand her circumstances for why she’s so eager to fit in. However, no one in this story is a great person, even Deena. Upon the final chapter, I was kind of hoping that all the girls would get their karma but the main one that deserved it got it in the end. And I guess since some of the girls felt guilty after the incident occurred and told on themselves, they were spared in the end. Reading this story was truly a delight, and as a fan of The Secret History, this book was right up my alley.
Thank you Atria Books and Net Galley for this ARC of The Belles, I enjoyed every minute of reading this beautiful debut novel from Lacey N Dunham. I look forward to her future work.
At first, the story didn’t immediately catch my interest as I wasn’t giving it the attention it needed. But once I gave the story the attention it deserved, it captivated me and led me down a wild ride of a story.
The Belles is a dark academia, supernatural, and gothic tale about beautiful rich young women at an all-women’s college set in the South. The main character Deena is an outsider who manages to make her way into this glitzy world where young women are educated but are molded to be dutiful wives to their future husbands. Deena knows she is the outlier amongst her new housemates in the South Hall, where they are given the name The Belles by the school president’s wife, as she is hiding a secret about who she really is. They are led by Ada May Delacourt, a Bellerton legacy, who expects others to obey her every word. Deena becomes obsessed with living this life at Bellerton as a Belle and obtaining Ada May’s approval, but she knows her secret that could unravel everything she and her grandmother have worked for. So Deena has to be careful about what she shares of her life with the others. But while Deena is trying to keep her secret safe from Ada May and the others, she’s finding out about the secrets of Bellerton and what would be at stake if her secret is revealed. Women who are considered unworthy of the Bellerton name, are viciously thrown out or worse, and many young girls have gone missing or died on school grounds.
With every new chapter, I was kept on my toes wondering what was going to happen next. The story’s timeline stays mainly in 1951-1952 but it does periodically jump 50 years into the future where you can see what happened to some of the girls of South Hall. Deena is both likable and unlikable, as she can be just as unkind and cruel as the other girls in her circle, but you can understand her circumstances for why she’s so eager to fit in. However, no one in this story is a great person, even Deena. Upon the final chapter, I was kind of hoping that all the girls would get their karma but the main one that deserved it got it in the end. And I guess since some of the girls felt guilty after the incident occurred and told on themselves, they were spared in the end. Reading this story was truly a delight, and as a fan of The Secret History, this book was right up my alley.
Thank you Atria Books and Net Galley for this ARC of The Belles, I enjoyed every minute of reading this beautiful debut novel from Lacey N Dunham. I look forward to her future work.
April 30, 2025
Honestly speaking, I personally thought I was over dark academia novels. At least the last 4 DA books I've read were not for me. And then I came across this book on NetGalley and I read the synopsis and thought "why not give DA a final chance?"
And I'm sooo glad I did, because I LOVED this book!
And, again, honestly speaking? Except for the fact that this story is mostly focused on the 1950s, there isn't anything really different about this novel in comparison to so many other DA novels out there. You know...the whole usual combo: a group of girls that form an exclusive club + a dark history involving the campus + girls breaking the strict college rules just because they think they can + the main character has a secret that no one can know about + it all ends up in murder. Same thing over and over again.
HOWEVER, maybe is due to the fact that The Belles is mostly set in the 1950s that this book is a bit different from so many others of that genre. This book brings a different vibe, a different atmosphere. How girls talk and behave, the teachers, the college staff bring something more charming and cozy and, weirdly, nostalgic. What's more, I thought the conclusion was fairly bold. Many authors would have picked another 'victim'.
Also, Dunham's writing is STUNNING. Stunning and deep and tense and mature.
Seriously, one of the reasons why I stopped reading dark academia books is because I was done with the young adult writing style. The characters were too juvenile and the writing was too basic and made the characters seemed even younger. Not this one, nope. The Belles reads more adult, refined, mature. Even though the characters are under 20 years old, I never, in any moment felt annoyed or rolled my eyes thinking "this is too YA...". And this is a debut novel! I'll definitely keep my eye on what Lacey N. Dunham does in the future.
I'm really glad I gave this book a chance, and I highly recommend anyone who enjoys dark academia, even if you're kind of done with that genre too, to give this book a chance. I'm sure it won't please everyone, but I do say it's worth a try.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
And I'm sooo glad I did, because I LOVED this book!
And, again, honestly speaking? Except for the fact that this story is mostly focused on the 1950s, there isn't anything really different about this novel in comparison to so many other DA novels out there. You know...the whole usual combo: a group of girls that form an exclusive club + a dark history involving the campus + girls breaking the strict college rules just because they think they can + the main character has a secret that no one can know about + it all ends up in murder. Same thing over and over again.
HOWEVER, maybe is due to the fact that The Belles is mostly set in the 1950s that this book is a bit different from so many others of that genre. This book brings a different vibe, a different atmosphere. How girls talk and behave, the teachers, the college staff bring something more charming and cozy and, weirdly, nostalgic. What's more, I thought the conclusion was fairly bold. Many authors would have picked another 'victim'.
Also, Dunham's writing is STUNNING. Stunning and deep and tense and mature.
Seriously, one of the reasons why I stopped reading dark academia books is because I was done with the young adult writing style. The characters were too juvenile and the writing was too basic and made the characters seemed even younger. Not this one, nope. The Belles reads more adult, refined, mature. Even though the characters are under 20 years old, I never, in any moment felt annoyed or rolled my eyes thinking "this is too YA...". And this is a debut novel! I'll definitely keep my eye on what Lacey N. Dunham does in the future.
I'm really glad I gave this book a chance, and I highly recommend anyone who enjoys dark academia, even if you're kind of done with that genre too, to give this book a chance. I'm sure it won't please everyone, but I do say it's worth a try.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 26, 2025
finally! lacey dunham is doing her due diligence to the dark academia subgenre and using my old, haunted as hell, historic college as the setting
April 13, 2025
Oooh you know I'm always on board for a girlishly evil thriller ... set in a boarding school?! Absolutely. I enjoyed this novel that alternates timelines and point of views to set up the final reveal at the end. I did think it was a little predictable, but I was here more for the vibes. What I do wish was for some more intricate characterizations... the Belles are a group of six girls, which can be a lot to juggle, but even Deena--the main girl we follow through the whole novel--felt flat and underdeveloped. The novel felt like a ghost story being told to me, rather than a deep dive into the characters' minds.
Spooky setting, some mystical ghost action, 1950s propriety.
thanks to netgalley for an arc:)
Spooky setting, some mystical ghost action, 1950s propriety.
thanks to netgalley for an arc:)
December 10, 2025
When Deena arrives at Bellerton, an all-girls boarding school, she’s bringing a lot of secrets with her. She immediately meets Ada May, who is charismatic and charming, and all of the girls seem drawn to her. The small group of girls in the South Hall quickly become bonded, and Deena is trying her hardest to stay ahead of her secrets, and to fit in with the girls who all have more wealth and experience in this “elite” world than she does.
Bellerton has a lot of old traditions and expectations, which have the girls wound very tight, trying to ensure they live up to the standards. There is a lot going on in the girls’ world — ghost stories, ghost sightings, belongings going missing, sexism, peer pressure, girls going missing…
I really liked the dark academia vibes, and the haunted school setting. I would’ve liked to see the hauntings be even more fleshed out.
I also really enjoyed the tension between the girls. They’re such a tight knit group, but there’s also the fear of being pushed out, and the need to make sure that they are perfect Belles who always have one another’s backs. And when that doesn’t happen… there are consequences. With there being six girls in the group, I felt like I wanted to know more about them, including Deena and Ada May.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the e-arc!
3.5 🌟 rounded up
Bellerton has a lot of old traditions and expectations, which have the girls wound very tight, trying to ensure they live up to the standards. There is a lot going on in the girls’ world — ghost stories, ghost sightings, belongings going missing, sexism, peer pressure, girls going missing…
I really liked the dark academia vibes, and the haunted school setting. I would’ve liked to see the hauntings be even more fleshed out.
I also really enjoyed the tension between the girls. They’re such a tight knit group, but there’s also the fear of being pushed out, and the need to make sure that they are perfect Belles who always have one another’s backs. And when that doesn’t happen… there are consequences. With there being six girls in the group, I felt like I wanted to know more about them, including Deena and Ada May.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the e-arc!
3.5 🌟 rounded up
September 7, 2025
Mean, rich girls at an all girls college in the 50’s. They are called the Belles and are expected to be the best of the best of the new freshman. One girl doesn’t belong and will do anything to fit in. When the girls starts to gain more power anything is possible.
50 years later something is unearthed at the college that could change their lives.
I had a good sense to the twist but was trying to place the why. I wouldn’t have figured the ending to be that way but it was still good closure.
Super quick read being around 300 pages. You get an old school with a mysterious history and ghosts. Just my kind of book.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc set to publish Sep 9th.
50 years later something is unearthed at the college that could change their lives.
I had a good sense to the twist but was trying to place the why. I wouldn’t have figured the ending to be that way but it was still good closure.
Super quick read being around 300 pages. You get an old school with a mysterious history and ghosts. Just my kind of book.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc set to publish Sep 9th.
October 31, 2025
4.5 stars rounding up! I love stories that aren't told in purely chronological order, and the way Dunham weaves the story together is perfectly paced. I would love more backstory about what happened prior to the main story. Also, I'm starting the FreBa (Fred/Sheba) fandom effective immediately. I'm now a Fred/Sheba truther.
April 19, 2025
Deena Williams is a girl with a secret, one she would fight tooth and nail to protect at all costs in order to climb the social ladder at an elite school for girls called Bellerton. From the first day when she fumbles at handing the porter a tip, Ada May befriends her and she becomes part of an exclusive but toxic circle of girls called The Belles.
The author in her acknowledgments called them her very bad girls and that's exactly right. I would have thought Deena's secret would have been obvious from the start and they would have been more suspicious of her, given Bellerton's strict social order. But I digress. If you're looking for a character-driven story of the power of female friendship against the darkness, this is not it. This is the antithesis of women supporting women. These were indeed very bad girls who were abusive toward each other in escalating ways, cementing their bond with something far darker than sisterly affection.
But that's also true to form for dark academia. I liked Deena the best and although I wish I'd known her better, I loved how her revenge played out. In the end she wasn't the unlikable, desperate ingenue. They're all unlikable, toxic, shallow characters, but I couldn't put this one down. I had to know what would happen next. The writing was atmospheric, evocative and painted a picture of dread and Southern Gothic. I couldn't really find anyone to root for but that's also typical dark academia.
I liked how it really painted a picture of life for women in the 1950s and how hard it was if you were born to the wrong family. The college definitely gave off that 1950s class-conscious vibe with the way it molded young ladies into perfect Southern wives by any means necessary. It was deliciously evil with a veneer of shallow beauty. It's hard to find a good dark academia anymore and this satisfied my craving for the genre. It's all cozy or light academia these days.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author in her acknowledgments called them her very bad girls and that's exactly right. I would have thought Deena's secret would have been obvious from the start and they would have been more suspicious of her, given Bellerton's strict social order. But I digress. If you're looking for a character-driven story of the power of female friendship against the darkness, this is not it. This is the antithesis of women supporting women. These were indeed very bad girls who were abusive toward each other in escalating ways, cementing their bond with something far darker than sisterly affection.
But that's also true to form for dark academia. I liked Deena the best and although I wish I'd known her better, I loved how her revenge played out. In the end she wasn't the unlikable, desperate ingenue. They're all unlikable, toxic, shallow characters, but I couldn't put this one down. I had to know what would happen next. The writing was atmospheric, evocative and painted a picture of dread and Southern Gothic. I couldn't really find anyone to root for but that's also typical dark academia.
I liked how it really painted a picture of life for women in the 1950s and how hard it was if you were born to the wrong family. The college definitely gave off that 1950s class-conscious vibe with the way it molded young ladies into perfect Southern wives by any means necessary. It was deliciously evil with a veneer of shallow beauty. It's hard to find a good dark academia anymore and this satisfied my craving for the genre. It's all cozy or light academia these days.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 2, 2025
4.5/4.75
im really blown away by this one. i knew that i would love it just based off of the synopsis. The Belles takes place at the prestigious bellerton college in the early 50s. deena williams is an outsider who is determined to fit in, and to hide her true identity. deena becomes entangled with five of her fellow freshmen, and the six of them are dubbed “the belles.” together, the sisterhood begins to push the boundaries of the strict rules and traditions at bellerton through pranks and games. it becomes clear to deena that the girls are messing with forces that they cannot reckon with as she is haunted by bellerton’s sinister past.
shifts in perspective and timeline lend us clues to the mystery that is unravelling. and through these perspectives the novel delves into girlhood, the danger of privilege and the complexities that come with trying to belong.
the main perspective is deena’s, a character who we root for but slowly begin to realize is an unreliable narrator. as she uncovers the dark history of bellerton, readers begin to uncover deena’s history as well.
dunham perfectly captured the atmosphere of dark academia, from the gothic boarding school setting, the unchecked privilege of the supporting characters, and the darkly secretive sisterhood. the shift from the innocent girlhood to the cultish dynamic is beyond intriguing. and on top of all of this, there are supernatural elements that lend a creepy and unsettling vibe to the narrative. we begin to wonder, along with deena, what is real and what isnt?
this was a fast-paced novel that kept me on the edge of my seat as i wanted to get to the bottom of the various mysteries that were unfolding. anyone who loves dark academia, an unreliable narrator, or a critique on privilege and classist institutions will absolutely want to pick this one up!
thank you to the publishers for an ARC of this book, provided by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review :)
im really blown away by this one. i knew that i would love it just based off of the synopsis. The Belles takes place at the prestigious bellerton college in the early 50s. deena williams is an outsider who is determined to fit in, and to hide her true identity. deena becomes entangled with five of her fellow freshmen, and the six of them are dubbed “the belles.” together, the sisterhood begins to push the boundaries of the strict rules and traditions at bellerton through pranks and games. it becomes clear to deena that the girls are messing with forces that they cannot reckon with as she is haunted by bellerton’s sinister past.
shifts in perspective and timeline lend us clues to the mystery that is unravelling. and through these perspectives the novel delves into girlhood, the danger of privilege and the complexities that come with trying to belong.
the main perspective is deena’s, a character who we root for but slowly begin to realize is an unreliable narrator. as she uncovers the dark history of bellerton, readers begin to uncover deena’s history as well.
dunham perfectly captured the atmosphere of dark academia, from the gothic boarding school setting, the unchecked privilege of the supporting characters, and the darkly secretive sisterhood. the shift from the innocent girlhood to the cultish dynamic is beyond intriguing. and on top of all of this, there are supernatural elements that lend a creepy and unsettling vibe to the narrative. we begin to wonder, along with deena, what is real and what isnt?
this was a fast-paced novel that kept me on the edge of my seat as i wanted to get to the bottom of the various mysteries that were unfolding. anyone who loves dark academia, an unreliable narrator, or a critique on privilege and classist institutions will absolutely want to pick this one up!
thank you to the publishers for an ARC of this book, provided by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review :)
March 29, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of The Belles in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’m so honored for The Belles to be my first-ever ARC!
The Belles is a dark academia novel with a southern gothic twist set in 1951. It follows Deena, an outsider doing her best to blend in with her wealthy peers at the secluded Bellerton College. Hoping to secure the comfortable life she always dreamed of, Deena joins an alliance with the five other freshmen on her floor. They call themselves The Belles and adorn themselves with matching velvet ribbons. Deena is willing to do whatever it takes to fit in, no matter the cost.
I LOVE books with complex characters, and each of the Belles fits this category. These girls are scary in the way they are willing to do whatever it takes to uphold the Bellerton way. I feel for Deena and her desire to belong, yet she senses she’ll never truly fit in. I found I couldn’t help, but root for Deena even when she lost her sense of self.
I enjoyed the build-up and slow reveal of The Belles’s secrets, but I did feel I wanted a little more closure with some of the plot lines. However, it was still a satisfying conclusion and an enjoyable read. I really liked the fact the story jumped between the past and present day.
I also enjoyed how this novel created such a haunted atmosphere. The campus felt so eerie, and I loved how symbolic it was with the history haunting the present. I felt I was also losing my sense of reality as I wondered what was real versus what was potentially paranormal.
I would recommend this book to fans of Plain Bad Heroines, Bunny, and anyone who loves dark academia novels with toxic, messy friendships and a dark sisterhood.
This was a wonderful debut, and I look forward to reading more from the author. I give this novel a 4/5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Belles is a dark academia novel with a southern gothic twist set in 1951. It follows Deena, an outsider doing her best to blend in with her wealthy peers at the secluded Bellerton College. Hoping to secure the comfortable life she always dreamed of, Deena joins an alliance with the five other freshmen on her floor. They call themselves The Belles and adorn themselves with matching velvet ribbons. Deena is willing to do whatever it takes to fit in, no matter the cost.
I LOVE books with complex characters, and each of the Belles fits this category. These girls are scary in the way they are willing to do whatever it takes to uphold the Bellerton way. I feel for Deena and her desire to belong, yet she senses she’ll never truly fit in. I found I couldn’t help, but root for Deena even when she lost her sense of self.
I enjoyed the build-up and slow reveal of The Belles’s secrets, but I did feel I wanted a little more closure with some of the plot lines. However, it was still a satisfying conclusion and an enjoyable read. I really liked the fact the story jumped between the past and present day.
I also enjoyed how this novel created such a haunted atmosphere. The campus felt so eerie, and I loved how symbolic it was with the history haunting the present. I felt I was also losing my sense of reality as I wondered what was real versus what was potentially paranormal.
I would recommend this book to fans of Plain Bad Heroines, Bunny, and anyone who loves dark academia novels with toxic, messy friendships and a dark sisterhood.
This was a wonderful debut, and I look forward to reading more from the author. I give this novel a 4/5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 1, 2025
A fast paced dark academia read perfect for autumn! The author managed to create such an engaging story with immense depth in just 300 pages. The story tackles dark topics like classism, familial legacy, the toxicity of female friendships, and the lengths one will go to for a reputable education. None of the characters are likable, each one has distinct flaws. Yet one finds themselves sucked into their corrupt, cultish lives. There’s an unsettling undertone throughout the entire novel. The main protagonists unreliable narration only lends to the mystery of the story. As readers we know we can’t trust her, yet still find ourselves rooting for her. For awhile we only read from Deena’s perspective. Readers grow reliant and sympathy for Deena. But then we are slowly introduced to more perspectives that only add to the feeling that something about the school isn’t quite right, along with most of the people in it. I loved the gothic undertone of the story. The flakiness of the characters only made me want to read more. They switched their loyalties so many times, which is something that can happen often in toxic female friendships. They were quick to love bomb one another but even quicker to attack. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it for those who love dark academia with cultish behavior, slight gothic elements and the exploration of toxic female friendships.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*
September 7, 2025
The Belles is a haunting, slow burning exploration of girlhood, power, and the quiet terror of becoming the version of yourself that others expect.
Set in a 1950’s women’s college steeped in tradition, this book follows Deena, a girl who arrived with secrets and a desperate need to fit in. She finds herself drawn into an elite circle of girls, the Belles, who live by their own rules. What begins as female friendship and belonging slowly twists into something darker, more ritualistic, and dangerous.
Lacey N. Dunham masterfully builds a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere dripping with dread. There’s something rotting under the surface of this pristine campus, and Dunham peels it back layer by layer. The setting is focal, repressive, and just eerie enough to keep you on edge.
📖 What I loved:
* Sharp commentary on conformity, race, and class.
* The seductive danger of wanting to belong.
* That creeping sense that something bad is coming and not being able to look away.
* Slow-build psychological tension with strong female friendships turned feral.
It’s a subtle horror. It’s dark academia with bite. And it doesn’t give easy answers. Perfect for fans of literary suspense with a feminist edge.
Belles never Tell.
Thank you to Lacy N. Dunham, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Set in a 1950’s women’s college steeped in tradition, this book follows Deena, a girl who arrived with secrets and a desperate need to fit in. She finds herself drawn into an elite circle of girls, the Belles, who live by their own rules. What begins as female friendship and belonging slowly twists into something darker, more ritualistic, and dangerous.
Lacey N. Dunham masterfully builds a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere dripping with dread. There’s something rotting under the surface of this pristine campus, and Dunham peels it back layer by layer. The setting is focal, repressive, and just eerie enough to keep you on edge.
📖 What I loved:
* Sharp commentary on conformity, race, and class.
* The seductive danger of wanting to belong.
* That creeping sense that something bad is coming and not being able to look away.
* Slow-build psychological tension with strong female friendships turned feral.
It’s a subtle horror. It’s dark academia with bite. And it doesn’t give easy answers. Perfect for fans of literary suspense with a feminist edge.
Belles never Tell.
Thank you to Lacy N. Dunham, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up!! wow!! this was my first time reading dark academia and this book did not disappoint. it was so twisty and dark and the characters were awful but it was impossible to put down!! the author built such uniquely horrible, tragic, beautiful characters that demonstrated so well the more extreme sides of toxic friendships and dynamics between girls. i also LOVED the dual timeline, it added so much suspense and creepiness to the story. the writing style and the aesthetics really brought the story to life. however, i bumped the rating down a star and a half because the ending felt a little inconclusive to me. we spent the whole story wondering about deena and her past but the transition to ada may felt a little weird to me? i do understand why the author brought the story that way though. also props to the cover it is absolutely STUNNING!! 🎀 amazing debut!!
thanks to netgalley and atria for the arc! all opinions are my own!!!
thanks to netgalley and atria for the arc! all opinions are my own!!!
May 23, 2025
4.5
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
“Tradition was a force that could not be stopped.”
“… she had learned her lacking make others uncomfortable, even angry.”
The Belles is everything good a dark academia book should be: a compelling look at class, race, and power. Where other books may focus on an aesthetic, The Belles to its core fits the brief.
I found the pacing rough, picking up and slowing down randomly until the end.
These girls are horrible and compelling and I loved reading about them. The rising hysteria and cult like following that festered until one act of “disobedience” upsets the pack beyond fixing.
The flashbacks to Bellertons founding were probably my favorite part of the story!
Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
“Tradition was a force that could not be stopped.”
“… she had learned her lacking make others uncomfortable, even angry.”
The Belles is everything good a dark academia book should be: a compelling look at class, race, and power. Where other books may focus on an aesthetic, The Belles to its core fits the brief.
I found the pacing rough, picking up and slowing down randomly until the end.
These girls are horrible and compelling and I loved reading about them. The rising hysteria and cult like following that festered until one act of “disobedience” upsets the pack beyond fixing.
The flashbacks to Bellertons founding were probably my favorite part of the story!
September 1, 2025
Honestly, nothing says fall like dark academia 🍁🖤. I’m desperately clinging to the final traces of summer but books like these make the transition a whole lot easier.
I’ve never read anything quite like this. It went beyond rich people behaving badly. These women were diabolical, which is exactly what I loved about it.
I really struggled with the first half of the book. The setting was superb. Bellerton College was atmospheric, creepy and deeply unsettling. However, the plot was slow-moving, and the banter between characters made the story feel YA.
The second half though? AMAZING. There was maximum shock value, and the twists were insanely good. It was like a train wreck that I couldn’t look away from!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!
I’ve never read anything quite like this. It went beyond rich people behaving badly. These women were diabolical, which is exactly what I loved about it.
I really struggled with the first half of the book. The setting was superb. Bellerton College was atmospheric, creepy and deeply unsettling. However, the plot was slow-moving, and the banter between characters made the story feel YA.
The second half though? AMAZING. There was maximum shock value, and the twists were insanely good. It was like a train wreck that I couldn’t look away from!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!
May 10, 2025
Thank you Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this book. This story hooked me from the start and I read it in one day! Very interesting characters and storyline.
5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 4, 2025
Just in time to add this book to your Halloween reading pile!
Bellerton College, founded in the 1850s, is a Gothic monstrosity in the mountains of Virginia where girls are kept safe from the realities of life by a twelve-foot iron gate, a handbook of rules, and Mrs. Tibbert: the college’s president who may be related to Rebecca’s Mrs. Danvers. It is 1951, and a new batch of privileged freshmen are entering its hallowed halls of learning where they will be instructed in the sciences, math, and English while also being tutored in how to be a refined, obedient wife. There is no room for failure or mediocrity. The school prides itself on its one-hundred percent graduation rate, which—you will find out when you read the book—is aided by...
One of the students is seventeen-year-old Deena Williams. She is not like her peers. For her, Bellerton is her only chance for a better life. She just might do this if she follows her grandmother’s advice: blend in; befriend the popular girls; pretend to be one of them; and do whatever it takes to get ahead. Luckily, Mrs. Tibbert has chosen Deena—along with five other girls—to be The Belles: the creme-de-la-creme mean girls. The type of girls who break all the but never get into trouble. Deena has no idea what she has gotten herself into. Maybe a ghost or two can help her.
I really enjoyed this book. It is spooky, engaging, and very well-written. Looking for a Gothic horror story with a dash of Dark Academia? This may be your next read.
I would like to thank Goodreads and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Bellerton College, founded in the 1850s, is a Gothic monstrosity in the mountains of Virginia where girls are kept safe from the realities of life by a twelve-foot iron gate, a handbook of rules, and Mrs. Tibbert: the college’s president who may be related to Rebecca’s Mrs. Danvers. It is 1951, and a new batch of privileged freshmen are entering its hallowed halls of learning where they will be instructed in the sciences, math, and English while also being tutored in how to be a refined, obedient wife. There is no room for failure or mediocrity. The school prides itself on its one-hundred percent graduation rate, which—you will find out when you read the book—is aided by...
One of the students is seventeen-year-old Deena Williams. She is not like her peers. For her, Bellerton is her only chance for a better life. She just might do this if she follows her grandmother’s advice: blend in; befriend the popular girls; pretend to be one of them; and do whatever it takes to get ahead. Luckily, Mrs. Tibbert has chosen Deena—along with five other girls—to be The Belles: the creme-de-la-creme mean girls. The type of girls who break all the but never get into trouble. Deena has no idea what she has gotten herself into. Maybe a ghost or two can help her.
I really enjoyed this book. It is spooky, engaging, and very well-written. Looking for a Gothic horror story with a dash of Dark Academia? This may be your next read.
I would like to thank Goodreads and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
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