The Last Dance of the Debutante: A stunning and compelling saga of secrets and forbidden love

In 1958, aspiring university student Lily Nicholls agrees to debut and do the Season, a glittering and gruelling string of endless balls and cocktail parties. She befriends two women: Leana Hartford, who hides a darker side, and Katherine Norman, who dreams of a career. But when Lily learns a devastating secret that threatens to destroy her entire family, she must choose between her family legacy and her own uncertain happiness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Canelo

Amidst the glamour of high society, a tawdry secret will change Lilys life forever. 1958. The last year debutantes will be presented at court to the young Queen Elizabeth and officially come out into society. To appease her traditional mother, aspiring university student Lily Nicholls agrees to debut and do the Season—a glittering and gruelling string of endless balls and cocktail parties. There she befriends two women: aloof Leana Hartford, whose apparent perfection hides a darker side, and ambitious Katherine Norman, who dreams of a career after helping her parents find their place among the elite. But the sparkle of the Season dims when Lily learns a devastating secret that threatens to destroy her entire family. Faced with a murky past, what will she choose for her future: her family legacy, or her own, uncertain happiness? A fast-paced and compelling historical novel for fans of Kate Morton and The Crown. Praise for The Last Dance of the Debutante: Between the crinkling of crinolines and the popping of champagne corks, Last Dance of the Debutante leads us on a glorious dance through the traditional glamour and suffocating expectations of a bygone era. Genevieve Graham, bestselling author of Letters across the Sea, Julia Kelly elegantly brings to life the last official presentation of debutantes at court with her exquisitely researched and beautifully written detail. This story was so decadent, I wanted to don silk and crinoline and read it with a glass of champagne. Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London, Refreshing, intriguing, oozing with elegance, and with three female leads who will keep you thoroughly engrossed, a charming gem of a novel that will delight fans of The Crown. Hazel Gaynor, New York.

Dimension: 198 x 129 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800327658