The Belles

Keeping secrets carries consequences in Dunham’s moody 1951-set debut. Now that her grandmother is dead, only Deena Williams knows what skullduggery it took to secure her attendance at Bellerton, a prestigious all-female college in Virginia. Deena—a working-class orphan hiding her origins—fears she’ll have trouble fitting in among her privileged peers. Then she lands a room in South Hall dormitory alongside fellow freshman Ada May Delacourt, an influential descendant of Bellerton’s founder. Deena, Ada May, and the four other freshman in South Hall swiftly form an exclusive clique dubbed the Belles. As they begin flouting the school’s strict rules, the thrill of forbidden pranks and sneak-outs strengthens the group’s bond. Soon, though, cracks begin to show in Deena’s fake backstory—but rather than coming clean, she doubles down, determined to remain a Belle no matter the cost. Though a lengthy setup slows the book’s momentum, sporadic chapters spotlighting a macabre discovery on campus in 2002 hint at impending fireworks. Several characters are broadly sketched, which undercuts the tale’s verisimilitude, but Deena’s desperation and mounting anxiety are palpable enough to keep readers invested in her fate. Fans of dark academia will find much to savor. Agent: Jamie Carr, Book Group. (Sept.)