The Last Dance of the Debutante

In Kelly’s (The Whispers of War) historical novel, 1958 London society is abuzz with the new season of debutantes. This will be the last year debutantes are presented at court, and everyone’s desperate for this last chance to be presented to England’s young new queen, Elizabeth II—everyone except Lily Nichols, who has no desire to make contacts or forge friendships among the season’s elite and titled families. But Lily’s widowed mother and overbearing grandmother make it clear that she must attend the season’s events, followed by her coming out to be presented to Queen Elizabeth. Lily’s grandmother makes it impossible to say no by holding the threat of financial insecurity above the family’s head. Lily makes a sincere attempt to endure the season and to satisfy her grandmother, even as she begins to realize that the meaning of “family” changes with the seasons. Marisa Calin narrates this audiobook with clarity, perfect inflection, and subtle, clear distinctions between characters.