This book is set in Paris for the debutante ball, La Danse des Débutantes. This ball is only interested high society and elite status individuals; and as the title alludes, the guest list is by invitation only. The only new face to this year’s ball is Piper Woo Collins, a middle-class science whiz who is trying to hold tight to her Columbia acceptance. Piper is put in direct competition with Hollywood legacy Chapin Buckingham – who was born and raised to want for nothing. Only right now, Chapin desperately wants to win “Deb. of the Year” but fears naive Piper may win over the title just by being herself.

This book is full of scheming, back-stabbing, and superficial relationships, but I didn’t find much substance in the writing. There are a number of teens who may enjoy reading it, for the drama, scandal and pop-culture references. I did enjoy the depiction of the relationships between the characters and their parents – these were more complex than the other relationships depicted in the book.