What do you think?
Debutantes #2
Deadly Little Scandals
"Think of the White Gloves like the Junior League-by way of Skull and Bones?"
Reluctant debutante Sawyer Taft joined Southern high society for one reason and one reason alone: to identify and locate her biological father. But the answers Sawyer found during her debutante year only left her with more questions and one potentially life-ruining secret. When her cousin Lily ropes her into pledging a mysterious, elite, and all-female secret society called the White Gloves, Sawyer soon discovers that someone in the group's ranks may have the answers she's looking for. Things are looking up... until Sawyer and the White Gloves make a disturbing discover near the family's summer home--and uncover a twisted secret, decades in the making.
No one is quite who they seem to be.
Reluctant debutante Sawyer Taft joined Southern high society for one reason and one reason alone: to identify and locate her biological father. But the answers Sawyer found during her debutante year only left her with more questions and one potentially life-ruining secret. When her cousin Lily ropes her into pledging a mysterious, elite, and all-female secret society called the White Gloves, Sawyer soon discovers that someone in the group's ranks may have the answers she's looking for. Things are looking up... until Sawyer and the White Gloves make a disturbing discover near the family's summer home--and uncover a twisted secret, decades in the making.
No one is quite who they seem to be.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2019
About the author
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
55 books62k followersJennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen.
Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,490 reviews
January 25, 2019
This book was fucking insane and I’m so confused. Y’all know that gif, the one where a dudes got red yarn all over a board, trying to solve a conspiracy? That’s this book. That’s me trying to understand this book.
October 17, 2019
If I thought the first book in this series was wild, I didn't know anything. What a wild ride this truly was.
That said, things do veer towards the unreal and unbelievable but honestly it was still a really fun time. And also as long you read book one, and I don't know why you'd skip it, you'll be prepared for the kind of unreal and unbelievable things. But definitely not how far things will go or the surprises that are in store.
The hijinks are a little less light hearted and yet the way things resolved, and didn't, felt.. right. Not too devastating and yet packing the right kind of punch for you to feel the rollercoaster without being too numb from all the wow moments.
Barnes keeps you guessing all the way through, and even leaves reveals almost to the very last chapter, and I think that adds to the fun. The predictable pacing of a typical kind of mystery doesn't really apply here. Like I said, w i l d.
"At this point, I could literally become a porn star, and I still wouldn't be the real scandal in this family."
I would definitely recommend this for fans of Pretty Little Liars and, even if that's not your thing at all, but you still like tightly packed twisty stories with strong characters, you'll dig this, too. Hah, dig. Sorry. Read the book and you'll understand.
I have no idea if this is the final book in the series or if there's more to come — because things did kind of follow a natural conclusion and close the book on all the scandals — but if so.. I will totally read on.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
That said, things do veer towards the unreal and unbelievable but honestly it was still a really fun time. And also as long you read book one, and I don't know why you'd skip it, you'll be prepared for the kind of unreal and unbelievable things. But definitely not how far things will go or the surprises that are in store.
The hijinks are a little less light hearted and yet the way things resolved, and didn't, felt.. right. Not too devastating and yet packing the right kind of punch for you to feel the rollercoaster without being too numb from all the wow moments.
Barnes keeps you guessing all the way through, and even leaves reveals almost to the very last chapter, and I think that adds to the fun. The predictable pacing of a typical kind of mystery doesn't really apply here. Like I said, w i l d.
"At this point, I could literally become a porn star, and I still wouldn't be the real scandal in this family."
I would definitely recommend this for fans of Pretty Little Liars and, even if that's not your thing at all, but you still like tightly packed twisty stories with strong characters, you'll dig this, too. Hah, dig. Sorry. Read the book and you'll understand.
I have no idea if this is the final book in the series or if there's more to come — because things did kind of follow a natural conclusion and close the book on all the scandals — but if so.. I will totally read on.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
December 4, 2019
I've read Little White Lies (the previous book) and enjoyed it.
But this sequel left me totally addled.
Who's your Daddy?
Who's your Mama??
Who's your Sister???
Wait, were you just making out with your cousin?????
And your Grandma KNOWS?
2.5 stars rounded up (because... 'tis the season)
But this sequel left me totally addled.
Who's your Daddy?
Who's your Mama??
Who's your Sister???
Wait, were you just making out with your cousin?????
And your Grandma KNOWS?
2.5 stars rounded up (because... 'tis the season)
August 22, 2024
Spectacular give me 14 of em right now
September 16, 2025
Cóż to była za wyborna rozrywka. To połączenie salonów pełnych gracji i manier, z turecką telenowelą
May 25, 2024
HOLD UP ONE MINUTE.
HOLD UP ONE STINKING MINUTE.
*confused, slightly hysterical screaming*
Oh my good golly gosh, that was actually INSANE.
The plot twists were twisting so bad that I do believe I have whiplash. 🥴😀
For those of you who have read the Inheritance Games and thought that the Hawthorne family tree was something, honey, you haven't seen NOTHING 😭
*more (slightly less so) hysterical screaming*
HOLD UP ONE STINKING MINUTE.
*confused, slightly hysterical screaming*
Oh my good golly gosh, that was actually INSANE.
The plot twists were twisting so bad that I do believe I have whiplash. 🥴😀
For those of you who have read the Inheritance Games and thought that the Hawthorne family tree was something, honey, you haven't seen NOTHING 😭
*more (slightly less so) hysterical screaming*
Read
April 21, 2024rich southern dysfunctional family stealing everybody else's babies
November 25, 2019
2.5 Stars.
Secret identical sisters who switch places! Illegitimate children! Black market babies! Several dozen other murky parentage plot lines!
National Enquirer headlines, or plot points from this book?
***
I’ll say this for Deadly Little Scandals: It certainly keeps you compulsively turning those pages. Unfortunately, it’s also a convoluted, difficult to follow mess, and fraught with all sorts of absurd soap opera elements that are too ridiculous to be believed and irritating to slog through.
I enjoyed the first book in this series and didn’t mind the parentage questions about Sawyer that occurred because it was just one part of the plot and also fundamentally important to Sawyer’s identity.
But in this book, it seems that almost everyone is a baby switched at birth, or an adult pretending to be someone else, or an illegitimate/bought on the black market/bastard baby. I know we’re supposed to view this group of people as full of dirty secrets, but am I really supposed to believe there are THIS many parentage scandals in one community?!
What was once an interesting part of Sawyer’s story became doltish and obnoxious as it became EVERYONE’S story in book two.
If over-the-top soap opera stuff is your thing, you might enjoy this. The characters are still likable and it’s certainly a compelling read. Unfortunately even for those who do like this kind of thing, it’s also so convoluted in the end that I’m still trying to figure out who is related to whom.
This series started off well, but is already completely off the rails in book two. I generally like Jennifer Lynn Barnes a great deal, and was surprised she chose to go so lowbrow with this, and at least would have thought the plot would have been tighter and better organized.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Secret identical sisters who switch places! Illegitimate children! Black market babies! Several dozen other murky parentage plot lines!
National Enquirer headlines, or plot points from this book?
***
I’ll say this for Deadly Little Scandals: It certainly keeps you compulsively turning those pages. Unfortunately, it’s also a convoluted, difficult to follow mess, and fraught with all sorts of absurd soap opera elements that are too ridiculous to be believed and irritating to slog through.
I enjoyed the first book in this series and didn’t mind the parentage questions about Sawyer that occurred because it was just one part of the plot and also fundamentally important to Sawyer’s identity.
But in this book, it seems that almost everyone is a baby switched at birth, or an adult pretending to be someone else, or an illegitimate/bought on the black market/bastard baby. I know we’re supposed to view this group of people as full of dirty secrets, but am I really supposed to believe there are THIS many parentage scandals in one community?!
What was once an interesting part of Sawyer’s story became doltish and obnoxious as it became EVERYONE’S story in book two.
If over-the-top soap opera stuff is your thing, you might enjoy this. The characters are still likable and it’s certainly a compelling read. Unfortunately even for those who do like this kind of thing, it’s also so convoluted in the end that I’m still trying to figure out who is related to whom.
This series started off well, but is already completely off the rails in book two. I generally like Jennifer Lynn Barnes a great deal, and was surprised she chose to go so lowbrow with this, and at least would have thought the plot would have been tighter and better organized.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2025
This book left me completely and totally flabbergasted. I didn’t really know what to expect with this sequel (I try not to read the synapses for books, since it often spoils the book) and it was amazing! There were more plot twists than I ever thought possible, that left me staring at the book with my mouth open. The characters grew so much between the first book and this one and I loved them even more. I really enjoyed the lake setting in this book as well as the high society that was introduced. I never saw the ending coming and I think that makes this truly a great mystery/thriller. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future!
February 11, 2024
5/5 🌟
3/5 ❤️🩹
1/5 🥰
1/5 🌶️
4/5 🔎
2/5 😰A
3/5 🎭C
1/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Infidelity
Illegal Adoption
Death of a daughter
Attempted Murder
Car Accident
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
No one is quite who they seem to be in the twisty, soapy, gasp-inducing world of the Debutantes by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, #1 bestselling author of The Inheritance Games.
Think of the White Gloves like the Junior League— by way of Skull and Bones.
Reluctant debutante Sawyer Taft joined Southern high society for one reason and one reason alone: to identify and locate her biological father. But the answers Sawyer found during her debutante year only left her with more questions and one potentially life-ruining secret.
When her cousin Lily ropes her into pledging a mysterious, elite, and all-female secret society called the White Gloves, Sawyer soon discovers that someone in the group's ranks may have the answers she's looking for. Things are looking up . . . until Sawyer and the White Gloves make a disturbing discovery near the family's summer home—and uncover a twisted secret, decades in the making.
** Check out Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s bestselling The Naturals and Inheritance Games series!!
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
That was a very good ending and a surprisingly good sequel. We got the answers we needed. But, the cover ups for long ago crimes. Good gravy! The lengths rich people will go to, to keep their skeletons in the closet. I enjoyed the duet immensely. It’s not Hawthorn Brother’s good but still very good.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
3/5 ❤️🩹
1/5 🥰
1/5 🌶️
4/5 🔎
2/5 😰A
3/5 🎭C
1/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Infidelity
Illegal Adoption
Death of a daughter
Attempted Murder
Car Accident
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
No one is quite who they seem to be in the twisty, soapy, gasp-inducing world of the Debutantes by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, #1 bestselling author of The Inheritance Games.
Think of the White Gloves like the Junior League— by way of Skull and Bones.
Reluctant debutante Sawyer Taft joined Southern high society for one reason and one reason alone: to identify and locate her biological father. But the answers Sawyer found during her debutante year only left her with more questions and one potentially life-ruining secret.
When her cousin Lily ropes her into pledging a mysterious, elite, and all-female secret society called the White Gloves, Sawyer soon discovers that someone in the group's ranks may have the answers she's looking for. Things are looking up . . . until Sawyer and the White Gloves make a disturbing discovery near the family's summer home—and uncover a twisted secret, decades in the making.
** Check out Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s bestselling The Naturals and Inheritance Games series!!
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
That was a very good ending and a surprisingly good sequel. We got the answers we needed. But, the cover ups for long ago crimes. Good gravy! The lengths rich people will go to, to keep their skeletons in the closet. I enjoyed the duet immensely. It’s not Hawthorn Brother’s good but still very good.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
July 22, 2019
I adore pretty much all of Jennifer Lynn Barnes stories and when Deadly Little Secrets came out last year I was completely in love with it and couldn't wait to get my hands on Deadly Little Scandals.
It completely lived up to all of my expectations. With twists and turns galore and so many things that I simply just did not see coming, it kept me on my toes and completely, once again, immersed in the world of debutantes, the filthy rich, scandals, secrets, and where almost anything goes with those that know people in high places and have the money to back it up, this truly was an entertaining read that kept me engaged and eagerly turning the pages.
I will miss this world of lies, deceit and but most of all, families taking care of their own just as much as I will the characters, both good and bad, that have grown on me over the course of these books.
Such a fun wild escape that almost everyone can get lost in and one that will stick with you long after the scandals are over.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
It completely lived up to all of my expectations. With twists and turns galore and so many things that I simply just did not see coming, it kept me on my toes and completely, once again, immersed in the world of debutantes, the filthy rich, scandals, secrets, and where almost anything goes with those that know people in high places and have the money to back it up, this truly was an entertaining read that kept me engaged and eagerly turning the pages.
I will miss this world of lies, deceit and but most of all, families taking care of their own just as much as I will the characters, both good and bad, that have grown on me over the course of these books.
Such a fun wild escape that almost everyone can get lost in and one that will stick with you long after the scandals are over.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
March 23, 2024
okay this was so disappointing.
I loved book 1 in this series! I wish I didn’t bother with book 2, it felt like dribble. A mess. It lost all the incredible elements from book 1 and was just kind of boring. And the story wasn’t engaging. And the characters were a bit lame. I can’t believe how drastically different the two books were.
Even the plot twist was just a bit of an eye roll this time around? It had so much potential. Thank u, next!
I loved book 1 in this series! I wish I didn’t bother with book 2, it felt like dribble. A mess. It lost all the incredible elements from book 1 and was just kind of boring. And the story wasn’t engaging. And the characters were a bit lame. I can’t believe how drastically different the two books were.
Even the plot twist was just a bit of an eye roll this time around? It had so much potential. Thank u, next!
April 24, 2021
Mind Blown.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes (alongside Holly Jackson perhaps) is the Queen of YA mystery, and she is beyond underrated.
This book was so incredibly entertaining. I mean, the family drama, the secrets, the craziness, it was SO JUICY and the perfect amount of over the top. Karen McManus was trying to achieve this in The Cousins and honestly kinda failed miserably in comparison because the twists and turns in this novel were amazing.
I just loved all the characters, and I just loved how much this book emphasized on sisterhood and badass ladies.
This series was such a ride, and if you're a fan of YA mystery, it is a must read!!!
Jennifer Lynn Barnes (alongside Holly Jackson perhaps) is the Queen of YA mystery, and she is beyond underrated.
This book was so incredibly entertaining. I mean, the family drama, the secrets, the craziness, it was SO JUICY and the perfect amount of over the top. Karen McManus was trying to achieve this in The Cousins and honestly kinda failed miserably in comparison because the twists and turns in this novel were amazing.
I just loved all the characters, and I just loved how much this book emphasized on sisterhood and badass ladies.
This series was such a ride, and if you're a fan of YA mystery, it is a must read!!!
January 7, 2020
This entire book was just me flipping a page and shouting WHAT?!?!!?! and then flipping another page and shouting WHAT?!?!?!?! Absolutely buckwild.
September 17, 2026
•First read 8/12/26 - 9/16/26•
•~*~AudioBook~*~•
The first thing I have to say is that I adore these books. The other thing I need to say is how horribly underrated they are. Personally I feel like they deserve more hype, maybe even more hype then T.i.g.
The reason that these books are less popular is probably because:
1. Less people have read them and know about them because her other books are more.
2. These books focus a lot on the idea of family. The idea that family comes first and that family will always be there. Not so much on the romance aspect. Of course there is romance, but thats not the main focus of the book.
I would say that these books are like if the naturals and the inheritance games had a baby. You have the mystery and detective aspect from the naturals. And the family bond and family relationships from the inheritance games. And of course you have JLB perfectly calculated plot twists.
I LOVE LOVE LOVED these books, and it genuinely hurts my heart that they are not as popular as her other books when they are just as good. I 100% recommend reading these books.
•~*~AudioBook~*~•
The first thing I have to say is that I adore these books. The other thing I need to say is how horribly underrated they are. Personally I feel like they deserve more hype, maybe even more hype then T.i.g.
The reason that these books are less popular is probably because:
1. Less people have read them and know about them because her other books are more.
2. These books focus a lot on the idea of family. The idea that family comes first and that family will always be there. Not so much on the romance aspect. Of course there is romance, but thats not the main focus of the book.
I would say that these books are like if the naturals and the inheritance games had a baby. You have the mystery and detective aspect from the naturals. And the family bond and family relationships from the inheritance games. And of course you have JLB perfectly calculated plot twists.
I LOVE LOVE LOVED these books, and it genuinely hurts my heart that they are not as popular as her other books when they are just as good. I 100% recommend reading these books.
March 7, 2021
3.5 Stars
CW:
Well the crazy twisted 'drama in dresses' continued in this fun sequel!
It got a lot more hectic in the lives of our debutantes as they continue their attempts to untangle the web of lies woven by the previous generations in their families. It had the same flashback format which I was less engaged with this time around. What I really enjoyed was the dynamics between the present day debutantes, which as I have mentioned in my review for book one, comes down to the excellent characters that Jennifer creates. They each had unique personalities that came together beautifully to create that right balance between friendship, feuding and family. An enjoyable mystery.
CW:
Well the crazy twisted 'drama in dresses' continued in this fun sequel!
It got a lot more hectic in the lives of our debutantes as they continue their attempts to untangle the web of lies woven by the previous generations in their families. It had the same flashback format which I was less engaged with this time around. What I really enjoyed was the dynamics between the present day debutantes, which as I have mentioned in my review for book one, comes down to the excellent characters that Jennifer creates. They each had unique personalities that came together beautifully to create that right balance between friendship, feuding and family. An enjoyable mystery.
September 6, 2025
if I wanted to track relationships in this book like they do in the movies with printed photos and red string, I'd ran out of yarn midway this book and it's only 300 pages
May 18, 2020
I am still in shock, as a lot of this book was plot twist after plot twist after plot twist.
I loved the previous book, Little White Lies. It was funny, well written, and had me thinking about it constantly. Plus, it had enough twists for me to be shocked at each, but also still understand them all. This, however, was different.
The book started off great, then just went downhill from there. A three star read, which is sad. I was expecting a lot better.
I loved the previous book, Little White Lies. It was funny, well written, and had me thinking about it constantly. Plus, it had enough twists for me to be shocked at each, but also still understand them all. This, however, was different.
The book started off great, then just went downhill from there. A three star read, which is sad. I was expecting a lot better.
March 23, 2024
Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes amazing YA books. Her writing style is smooth, easy to read, and has become one of my favourite. Despite this, Deadly Little Scandals just didn't work for me.
There's a lot of reasons why, and I think some of it has to do with the duology and the time I spent inbetween. I forgot most of what happened. These books have a lot going on and are full of drama and gossip. I also found I didn't connect with this book as well as the first one. This book felt a bit too long and drawn out, when some of this could have been tied up in one book. But, that's just how I personally felt about it. I know many readers absolutely loved it.
The mystery of who Sawyer's family is felt too drawn out for me. Also, trying to find the missing other pregnancy pact woman in there too, and the White Gloves, and the drama between everyone - it's a soap opera that you really have to pay attention to and be committed to. The hectic read is a great one, but I was too far removed by the time I got to it. It's a shame I didn't have the sequel in my hands right away (I tried people, believe me).
There's so many scandals to unwind... So many. And then everything changes over and over and over... You need to start a list and scratch it out many times if you are going to figure out what really happens.
Regardless, I'll be picking up more books by Jennifer Lynn when I get the chance. I still love her and not every book will be a win. That's just how it is.
There's a lot of reasons why, and I think some of it has to do with the duology and the time I spent inbetween. I forgot most of what happened. These books have a lot going on and are full of drama and gossip. I also found I didn't connect with this book as well as the first one. This book felt a bit too long and drawn out, when some of this could have been tied up in one book. But, that's just how I personally felt about it. I know many readers absolutely loved it.
The mystery of who Sawyer's family is felt too drawn out for me. Also, trying to find the missing other pregnancy pact woman in there too, and the White Gloves, and the drama between everyone - it's a soap opera that you really have to pay attention to and be committed to. The hectic read is a great one, but I was too far removed by the time I got to it. It's a shame I didn't have the sequel in my hands right away (I tried people, believe me).
There's so many scandals to unwind... So many. And then everything changes over and over and over... You need to start a list and scratch it out many times if you are going to figure out what really happens.
Regardless, I'll be picking up more books by Jennifer Lynn when I get the chance. I still love her and not every book will be a win. That's just how it is.
November 3, 2019
I had really enjoyed the previous book in this series and there was no way I was going to skip this one.
I love Sawyer and her girls. They’re snarky and loyal and sarcastic and I’m living for it. There seemed to be more characters this time around, but I could be making that up. I loved John David and would happily read a million more scene with him and William Faulkner.
Plot wise, it was a bit confusing. There are several time lines and the e-arc formatting was horrible. The build up was deliciously slow and was so effective on making me second guess every single person on the page.
Overall, it’s the characters that brought me to the story and the plot that kept me reading. I sincerely hope there is more to this series.
**Huge thanks to Freeform for providing the arc free of charge**
I love Sawyer and her girls. They’re snarky and loyal and sarcastic and I’m living for it. There seemed to be more characters this time around, but I could be making that up. I loved John David and would happily read a million more scene with him and William Faulkner.
Plot wise, it was a bit confusing. There are several time lines and the e-arc formatting was horrible. The build up was deliciously slow and was so effective on making me second guess every single person on the page.
Overall, it’s the characters that brought me to the story and the plot that kept me reading. I sincerely hope there is more to this series.
**Huge thanks to Freeform for providing the arc free of charge**
July 17, 2025
”But there came a point when secrets just didn't seem worth keeping anymore.“
this was so much wilder than the first book!
i can never really fully connect with jlb’s characters, but her plots are always fun to read about. i didn’t like the romance in this, but the family/friend dynamics were so wholesome.
this was so much wilder than the first book!
i can never really fully connect with jlb’s characters, but her plots are always fun to read about. i didn’t like the romance in this, but the family/friend dynamics were so wholesome.
September 22, 2019
3.5 stars
Things I Liked
This series has so much campy dramatic goodness. It’s addicting to read about this over-the-top world and the rigid social rules that they’re determined to break.
There is such a strong focus on family that I always love. We see the deep complexities that occur when you keep secrets and that ultimately, you’re family is who you choose to love and stand beside.
Mysteries galore! This story is compiled of so many layered and interwoven mysteries, secrets, and lies that I couldn’t put it down. Everything is so connected and well-built.
Things I Didn’t Like
While I really loved the flashbacks used in the story, it was a little hard to get everyone straight and remember their present day counter parts.
The pacing near the end of the story was a little jumpy and hectic. I think it worked with the tone of the story at that time, but it could be distracting at times.
Overall, Deadly Little Scandals was an incredibly enjoyable followup to Little White Lies. And while I think book 1 is a more solid story overall, the rich drama and wonderful characters makes this a book you won’t want to miss.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review/
“Think of the White Gloves like the Junior League - by way of Skull and Bones.”Deadly Little Scandals returns us to the world of Southern High Society as Sawyer and her family navigate the Summer Lake Season with new secrets, revelations, and as always - scandals.
Things I Liked
This series has so much campy dramatic goodness. It’s addicting to read about this over-the-top world and the rigid social rules that they’re determined to break.
There is such a strong focus on family that I always love. We see the deep complexities that occur when you keep secrets and that ultimately, you’re family is who you choose to love and stand beside.
Mysteries galore! This story is compiled of so many layered and interwoven mysteries, secrets, and lies that I couldn’t put it down. Everything is so connected and well-built.
Things I Didn’t Like
While I really loved the flashbacks used in the story, it was a little hard to get everyone straight and remember their present day counter parts.
The pacing near the end of the story was a little jumpy and hectic. I think it worked with the tone of the story at that time, but it could be distracting at times.
Overall, Deadly Little Scandals was an incredibly enjoyable followup to Little White Lies. And while I think book 1 is a more solid story overall, the rich drama and wonderful characters makes this a book you won’t want to miss.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review/
August 12, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
What. The. Heck. What is it with Jennifer Lynn Barnes and writing absolutely diabolical family drama. The ending had me so confused but so intrigued and astounded. After Little White Lies being a pretty chill book I was NOT expecting that. Would 100% recommend to anyone who wants a dramatic read with lots of twists and turns
What. The. Heck. What is it with Jennifer Lynn Barnes and writing absolutely diabolical family drama. The ending had me so confused but so intrigued and astounded. After Little White Lies being a pretty chill book I was NOT expecting that. Would 100% recommend to anyone who wants a dramatic read with lots of twists and turns
November 17, 2019
Deadly Little Scandals is the sequel to Little White Lies, and, if possible it is even better than its predecessor. More intrigue, more plots, bodies to uncover, secrets to tell, and twist after twist that you never see coming, because, seriously who else but Jennifer Lynn Barnes could conceive of such an idea and actually make it work. Deadly Little Scandals will thrill fans of the first book and keep readers on the edge of their seat.
When Sawyer accepted her grandmother’s terms last summer, she did so to discover who her father is. Now, after a lengthy process of uncovering long-buried secrets and a little blackmail, she knows but would rather maybe not know. Keeping her secrets from her cousin Lily is hard, harder still to know if it is worth digging further to find answers to the questions she has. When an all girl secret society recruit Sawyer, Lily, Sadie-Grace and Campbell to compete for a position, Sawyer discovers that one of the girls may be key to helping her discover the secrets surrounding what happened the year her mother fell pregnant.
Deadly Little Scandals is a sequel and you must read the books in chronological order to make any sense of the story. Even having read the first book, it is a little hard to keep all the characters straight and by the end of the book I needed a map to fully make sense of it all. That’s just testament to Barnes’ skill as a writer to make such a complex plot work.
Gripping is an understatement. I didn’t want to put the book down. Each chapter leaves you wanting more and the little flash forward sections only leave you with enough information to know something big is coming.
I loved the characters. Loved Sawyer’s down-to-earth, up-front manner, yet she craves relationships and family, even when she says she doesn’t the entanglements. Her almost relationship with Nick is very sweet, though it takes a backseat the to family drama and secrets. Sadie-Grace, Campbell and Lily make the perfect sidekicks/half-sisters/cousins/best friends/it’s complicated, as Sawyer starts to unearth some secrets that have stayed buried for over two decades.
Ballgowns, skinny dipping, baby showers, affairs, summer lakeside parties and blackmail, Deadly Little Scandals will have you intrigued from beginning to end.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
When Sawyer accepted her grandmother’s terms last summer, she did so to discover who her father is. Now, after a lengthy process of uncovering long-buried secrets and a little blackmail, she knows but would rather maybe not know. Keeping her secrets from her cousin Lily is hard, harder still to know if it is worth digging further to find answers to the questions she has. When an all girl secret society recruit Sawyer, Lily, Sadie-Grace and Campbell to compete for a position, Sawyer discovers that one of the girls may be key to helping her discover the secrets surrounding what happened the year her mother fell pregnant.
Deadly Little Scandals is a sequel and you must read the books in chronological order to make any sense of the story. Even having read the first book, it is a little hard to keep all the characters straight and by the end of the book I needed a map to fully make sense of it all. That’s just testament to Barnes’ skill as a writer to make such a complex plot work.
Gripping is an understatement. I didn’t want to put the book down. Each chapter leaves you wanting more and the little flash forward sections only leave you with enough information to know something big is coming.
I loved the characters. Loved Sawyer’s down-to-earth, up-front manner, yet she craves relationships and family, even when she says she doesn’t the entanglements. Her almost relationship with Nick is very sweet, though it takes a backseat the to family drama and secrets. Sadie-Grace, Campbell and Lily make the perfect sidekicks/half-sisters/cousins/best friends/it’s complicated, as Sawyer starts to unearth some secrets that have stayed buried for over two decades.
Ballgowns, skinny dipping, baby showers, affairs, summer lakeside parties and blackmail, Deadly Little Scandals will have you intrigued from beginning to end.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
February 9, 2020
very soap opera-y
granted, it did keep me up until 5 am, but still, it pales so, so much compared to The Lovely and The Lost or any of her other books.
here i am, sleep deprived and half-mad, and i still don’t understand who’s whose child and who’s sleeping with who. love that for me 😩🤙
granted, it did keep me up until 5 am, but still, it pales so, so much compared to The Lovely and The Lost or any of her other books.
here i am, sleep deprived and half-mad, and i still don’t understand who’s whose child and who’s sleeping with who. love that for me 😩🤙
August 30, 2024
I swear this woman will always write plot twists that leave my jaw on the FLOOR
June 5, 2021
ACTUAL: 4.5 stars
2024: A wild ride, a plot twist at every turn (in true Jennifer Lynn Barnes fashion). Lots of betrayal, family secrets, and more.
2021: I loved it (though a bit less than the first), and definitely recommend for fans of YA books with family secrets, not much romance, and plot twists!
2024: A wild ride, a plot twist at every turn (in true Jennifer Lynn Barnes fashion). Lots of betrayal, family secrets, and more.
2021: I loved it (though a bit less than the first), and definitely recommend for fans of YA books with family secrets, not much romance, and plot twists!
January 26, 2020
3.5/5, rounding up
This was a wild ride, not what I was expecting. It left me wanting a bit more closure at the end.
This was a wild ride, not what I was expecting. It left me wanting a bit more closure at the end.
September 12, 2025
THE. PLOT. TWISTS. *screams into pillow*
December 29, 2022
4.5 It’s 12:30. I’m tired. There is a very solid chance I could change my review in the morning but for now here we are. That was TOO MUCH. The amount of emotions I’ve felt in the last hour and a half were something else indeed (my friend Ava has a very long chain of all caps texts to testify). For most of this book, I was utterly addicted. The drama. THE DRAMA. Never has there been so much in a book. It was a new plot twist every turn, but honestly? I didn’t mind. I was having the time of my life. Until the last 50ish pages. Don’t get me wrong—it wasn’t terrible. It just became, as previously stated, too much. I still had a great time, but I think eventually, it became a bit too chaotic. And messy. There is room for mess and sadness in a book, I don’t mind that, but I do think you have to be sparing with your tragic and messy reveals. The first book had the thrilling ride but also the very satisfying ending, and part of me wished this one had the same. That being said—I absolutely adore these characters, and still qualify Jennifer Lynn Barnes as one of my favorite authors. I can’t discount the utter joy and excitement I felt for most of the book and am still so happy I read it.
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