The Last Dance of the Debutante by Julia Kelly

It's 1957 and Lily Nicholls has agreed to become a debutante and be presented to Queen Elizabeth. Lily does this to please both her mother and grandmother. Lily herself would rather take exams and go to Cambridge or Oxford. Lily soon becomes disillusioned with the jealously and the old-worldliness of being a debutante, the year-long series of parties and other events also becomes tiresome. Lily, though, meets two suitors, along with a group of other debutantes that she bonds with. The Last Dance of the Debutante recounts Lily's journey of self-discovery and coming into her own.