BY INVITATION ONLY, by Alexandra Brown Chang, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Sept. 2, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
A teen hoping to land a scholarship and a nepo baby looking to prove herself collide at the world’s most high-profile debutante ball in By Invitation Only, by Alexandra Brown Chang.
Every year, a hand-selected group of young women travel to Paris to make their debuts into high society at La Danse des Débutantes, the most exclusive debutante ball in the world. Being wealthy, royal, or famous gets you into the pool of potential debutantes, but only La Danse decides who is truly worthy of attending.
Chapin Buckingham, the daughter of two Hollywood legends, is one of the lucky few chosen to attend. Chapin’s not usually a society girl, but she has her reasons for wanting to be crowned Debutante of the Year. Her chances seem good…until a fellow debutante creates a PR nightmare that has the eat-the-rich cohort calling for La Danse’s cancellation.
Enter Piper Woo Collins. As the daughter of an EMT and winner of the International Science Fair Prize with a profile in Teen Vogue, Piper is the perfect, down-to-earth person who could restore La Danse’s reputation. But Piper isn’t interested in becoming a debutante—until they offer her a college scholarship…if she wins Debutante of the Year.
In competition for the crown, Piper and Chapin have every reason to clash. But at La Danse, everyone wants something. Piper and Chapin might just need each other to go from pawns in a game to ruling the board… —Synopsis provided by Margaret K. McElderry Books
I was not expecting to like By Invitation Only as much as I did. But I did, reading the entire novel in one sitting. I was drawn to author Alexandra Brown Chang’s descriptions of Paris, food and fashion.
And while I know that By Invitation Only is fictional, there are real, high-profile debutant balls — like Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris, which is known for its haute couture, fashion-forward focus and charity work — that By Invitation Only certainly emulates.
The story unfolds from Chapin and Piper’s alternating first-person narratives. Each girl comes with their own set of baggage, literally and figuratively. They both know they’re being used and want to get the most out of it.
Chang’s exploration of both characters is strong, as are supporting characters who add romance, humor and heart to the novel.
Honestly, though, you’re going to want to read By Invitation Only because it’s fun. It’s fun to imagine yourself like Piper, swept off to Paris for the experience of a lifetime. It’s fun to see yourself in the upper echelon of society. It’s fun realizing nothing is ever perfect for anyone.
By Invitation Only is a fast-moving novel that unfolds cinematically and offers up a competition unlike any you’ve ever entered.
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