Belle Haven Finishing School: A Novel

by Adele Myers

From the author of The Tobacco Wives comes an intergenerational tale about a Southern finishing school set in 1951 and 1987, inspired by the true story of a decades-old cover-up that binds two women together, thirty years apart.

“An eye-opening tale that will pull on your heartstrings. Loosely inspired by a real-life cover-up, the fictional story of Birdie and Charlotte examines ambition and ethics while also exploring the restorative power of loyalty, family, and friendship.” —Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake and Good Dirt

In 1951, Belle Haven Finishing School offers orphan girls the promise of a brighter future. For Birdie and her cousin Rue, it’s a chance to become proper ladies, to dream beyond their small world, and change the trajectory of their lives. But as Birdie navigates the school’s unusual rules and glamorous, yet unsettling, atmosphere, she begins to question the true intentions behind its polished facade—and what it might mean for her and Rue.

In 1987, Charlotte Davenport, a burgeoning New York Times reporter who is hungry to cover stories beyond the ladies’ lifestyle pages, discovers a curious connection between the finishing school and an academic study that was never published. Charlotte is convinced a cover-up took place to protect the prominent university professor behind the unethical experiment. As Charlotte pieces together the past, she finds herself drawn into a mystery that touches her own life in unexpected ways.

Dramatic, deeply human, emotionally satisfying, and written with vivid historical details, Belle Haven Finishing School is a heartfelt tale of ambition, the power of female connection, and the courage to seek the truth.

Genres: Historical Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 19, 2027

About the author

Adele Myers is the author of THE TOBACCO WIVES, an Indie Next and Barnes & Noble Discover Pick. She grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. She has a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is an adjunct professor.

Reviews

[Ethel]

In 1951 we come upon Birdie and her cousin Rue. Both are orphans and living at the Belle Haven state run girl's home. They are two of the 75 girls living there. Of those 75, 24 girls are picked as "special" children and were chosen to go to an exclusive finishing school. For Birdie and her cousin Rue, they will have a chance for a brighter future. Run by Professor Barnes and Miss Carlisle, it is a facade..., a psychological experiment. that uses the term "finishing school" as a means of a cover up for what they are really doing.

In 1987 we find Charlotte Davenport, a young New York Times reporter who covers the lady's page. Desperate to become an investigate reporter, she finds a connection between the finishing school and an unpublished study. This is the opportunity she has been waiting for, a chance to be promoted and leave the lady's column behind.

Thia novel was well researched, well written and an emotional read. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynn page · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I could talk about Belle Haven Finishing School for hours since there is so much to unpack.

One of the most important takeaways from this book was the viewpoint it provided on misogyny in the workplace. Watching women strive to establish themselves professionally reminded me of how frustrating it must have been to work in environments where men consistently misjudged them, took credit for their work, fought over bylines, and found ways to undercut them, even when they recognised a woman had a fantastic idea. Even when they respected the job, they didn't make things simple. There was this persistent belief that women had to work twice as hard to be regarded seriously.

I especially enjoyed being inside Birdie's mind. I like learning how she thinks and, most importantly, how much she feels about Rue. Their relationship means a lot to me. I honestly wish I could have gotten inside Rue's mind because, given everything she went thru, I assume her inner world was quite dark and confusing. There is so much beneath the surface of their connection that has stuck with me.

Charlotte was another one of my favourite characters. She's a clever and well-educated woman, and it was fascinating to see her navigate the New York workforce. Seeing her experience of being ignored and underestimated professionally gave another element to the book's analysis of what women had to go thru just to develop careers and be considered seriously.

I especially loved the historical context of speech-language pathology, as well as the archival materials. It was intriguing to see that history woven into the plot, as well as to consider how the evolution of these professions, particularly the contributions of women, is sometimes forgotten.

The book also made me think about women's etiquette and all the unsaid norms women were supposed to observe. There was so much pressure to appear polished, polite, composed, and "proper," even when the environment around them was actively working against them. Women were supposed to know how to behave, speak, present themselves, and when to shrink. I liked how the novel portrayed those expectations as another sort of control, rather than simply good manners.

I honestly have so much more to say about this book. I enjoyed being in these women's life, the historical backdrop, and how much the novel made me reflect about women's labour, ambition, and how they were and continue to be undermined. This is one of those novels that I finished and instantly wanted to discuss with someone. I loved it so much.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the opportunity to read this book.

[Lauren S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

belle haven finishing school is a dual timeline novel in which the female main character, charlotte, is working as a reporter for the new york times in the late 1980s.
she loves her profession and she even receives praise for her latest pitch…and then it is assigned to her male colleague…
desperate to prove herself, she meets with her mentor during a trip back home. he mentions he may have a lede for her to work on in one of his old notebooks. charlotte begins her research into the belle haven finishing school and the young girls who were wards of the state and (unknowingly) subjected to a research study while living there. readers will get to know birdie, rue, and their friends from both the orphanage and the finishing school. we’ll meet the adults who were around them during these pivotal years and find out who protected them and who did not. charlotte will uncover many secrets during her investigation and some will lead to truths she could have never imagined.
i loved this book! it hooked me right from the start and i really enjoyed charlotte’s grit and birdie’s kind, protective heart. i would be over the moon if adele myers would publish a novella (or full novel) from rue’s point of view!! it would be fascinating to see this story from the other side.

thank you to william morrow for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.

[jumpyshark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I absolutely loved this book. Belle Haven Finishing School is a gripping tale of young girls and their involuntary participation in an unethical psychological experiment. It moves between two timelines, following Birdie, a young orphan girl in 1951, and Charlotte, a determined investigative reporter who uncovers her story in 1987. Adele Myers has crafted an incredibly well-researched, thought provoking, and heartfelt story loosely based on a real cover-up of an experiment in the 1930s.

This was an emotional and eye-opening read, and I grew to love Birdie and her friends. The characters in this novel will stick with me for a very long time. It pains me to think of these young girls suffering, and it highlights the true history of this type of academic experimentation being conducted on vulnerable and marginalized groups.

Belle Haven Finishing School celebrates friendship, girlhood, and family in a beautiful way. I’m left feeling deeply moved by this story, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Strong contender for my favorite book of the year. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy.

[Bubba Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love exquisitely researched historical fiction, Adele Myers is your go-to author.

Her sophomore novel, Belle Haven Finishing School, moves between two timelines - 1951 and 1987 - and introduces us to two unforgettable protagonists - Birdie and Charlotte - who will live in my heart forever.

I devoured this book in a single sitting because when Adele puts words together, they don’t just tell a story - they completely suck you in. And this one? It has some spectacular surprises that I have never experienced before. 🤯

The twist is absolutely mind-blowing. I can’t tell you anything without risking the experience, so I’m going to leave you with just this…

Belle Haven Finishing School.

Is it really, though??? 👀

Adele, you magnificent storyteller. You did it. You really, REALLY did it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Bubba Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love exquisitely researched historical fiction, Adele Myers is your go-to author.

Her sophomore novel, Belle Haven Finishing School, moves between two timelines - 1951 and 1987 - and introduces us to two unforgettable protagonists - Birdie and Charlotte - who will live in my heart forever.

I devoured this book in a single sitting because when Adele puts words together, they don’t just tell a story - they completely suck you in. And this one? It has some spectacular surprises that I have never experienced before. 🤯

The twist is absolutely mind-blowing. I can’t tell you anything without risking the experience, so I’m going to leave you with just this…

Belle Haven Finishing School.

Is it really, though??? 👀

Adele, you magnificent storyteller. You did it. You really, REALLY did it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belle Haven Finishing School by Adele Myers is a well researched and entertaining read. This was not a story in history I was remotely aware of, and I loved the dual timeline to connect everything together. I did try to guess who the connection was going to be and was pleasantly surprised to not get it right! There were a few moments where I found the writing to skew more toward telling, rather than showing, but overall this was an extremely enjoyable book and I'd recommend to anyone who likes historical fiction, family secrets, and women's fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.