Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Freeform
Source: Publisher
Genre:Young Adult / Mysteries
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 in this twisty, soapy, gasp-inducing sequel to Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ unputdownable Little White Lies.
Deadly Little Scandals is the final installment in author Jennifer Lynn Barnes Debutantes duology. Sawyer Taft moved into her Grandmother's home after she was offered a pretty amazing deal. In return, Sawyer was introduced to the world of the Debutantes and all the scandals that have been uncovered. This time around, the author does something a bit different. She actually goes back in time 25 years to the year of her own mother's Debutante year. If you have read the first installment, you know that Sawyer knew absolutely nothing about who her father was.
All she knew is that she's the result of her mother's teenage pregnancy pact with two other women one who lost her baby. Having discovered who her father really is through a series of hits and misses, Sawyer didn't expect to find friendship with girls who have their own scandals, & dangerous secrets (Sadie-Grace Walker, Lily Taft, and Campbell Ames). As I said, this story goes back 20 years to fill in the blanks, as it were, to what really happened and leads to even more curious mysteries. As the story opens, there are hints that something bad has happened to Sawyer and Sadie, but we have to wait until the last chapters to figure exactly what.
In the meantime, the girls are invited to join an exclusive group called the White Gloves. The White Gloves are thought to be Suburban legends until you actually receive an invite and are encouraged to participate in a series of challenges to see if you are deemed worthy. All is going well, mostly, until a skull is found during one of the challenges. A skull that dates back 20 years! Now we're cooking with gas! Who is the mysterious girl? And, why should we actually care? Oh, you should, you really, really should since it's a huge plot twist that you won't see coming!
Sawyer isn't finished with her Nancy Drew detective work however. She's still on the hunt for Ana Gutierrez, the other girl with her mother in the pact who disappeared. Sawyer knows that if she can find out who Ana's baby is, she won't be the solo member of the teen pregnancy pact. She will actually have someone else to understand how she feels. Sawyer's search uncovers even more dark and dangerous secrets which leads to her and Sadie ending up in mortal jeopardy, and even more understanding at how many things can go wrong if you dig too deep.
I liked that this book kept moving forward and not stopping to pause for romantic interludes, although Sawyer & Nick have to resolve some pretty twisted issues thanks to Sawyer. Between the Lady of the Lake, the White Gloves, the affairs, the truth about what happened to Ana who hasn't been seen in 25 years, and the shocking surprise twist, there wasn't ever a truly dull moment. The flashback to 25 years ago was kind of boring for the most part. Until the final one which leads to a stunning revelation in the present.
everything about the book appeals to me and your review confirms it
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental