Jesus. This book. Jesus.

I read it, literally, in one sitting. It is now 1:45 a.m. and I don’t feel even a little bit tired or regretful for staying up to finish it. Because, goddamn. I have never felt more and understood better about something I can’t fathom in my life. Tiffany Jackson is ridiculously smart and writes with such conviction and intelligence that I am left with a deep sense of the injustice of this world and a desire never to allow my daughter, especially, and my son to experience the types of horrors of which she writes. But, then I feel stupid because, of course, we’re white. So I get a pass. How fucked up is that? Jesus. 💜📚

Tiffany D. Jackson NEVER disappoints. Grown was a haunting story, about the exploitation of black girls by men. It was earth shattering, heartbreaking, and inspiring. Also, Jackson found a way to weave in her signature plot twists. Always leaving the reader scratching their heads at the end. She truly is a queen of unreliable narrators!

This book makes you want to hide your daughters. The content in this book is heartbreaking, necessary, and scary. We were all kids once, and we all did things we hid from our parents, which makes it even more terrifying because even though we try to prepare our kids for things like this, we can't prevent everything from happening. You may even want to say, "not my child! My child will never..." - wrong. You do not know what your child will do because they are their own person and they have desires, wants, and needs as well. You can raise them to be the best person in the world, but if they get lured down a path that seems like their wildest dreams are about to come true, there is no telling what they will do to get there. Kids lie, kids pretend, kids manipulate, kids play their parents against one another, kids are deceitful, kids bully, kids are mean, kids love, and kids are real people! As good of a job you think you've done raising them, at the end of the day, people are going to do what they want to get ahead, and that includes your children.

This book discusses how even a two-parent family, kids in private school, kids in a "Jack & Jill" type organization for affluent families, who live in the suburbs can even have something like this happen to one of their children. Fame and fortune + dreams coming true is pretty hard for anyone to turn away from, and no amount of home training (in this author's opinion) will deter a teenager away from accomplishing their goals, especially if someone famous is paying them attention and offering to financially ease their parents burdens.

*One word of caution though, if you want to be surprised by this book, do not read the "Dear Reader" letter. If you read that letter, your thoughts may be clouded and prejudge the book before you even get a chance to develop your own opinions about what you read.

However, the author does a tremendous job at showcasing how a teenager, who has a gift of singing get caught up being preyed upon by a grown man, who is a famous celebrity. We see how Enchanted, tries to figure how she can have it all, help her parents financially, and not let her parents find out or her friends. We also see how this "secret relationship" traps Enchanted in this precarious situation where she is unable to reach out for help until it's too late. This book made me fear for my daughters. I remember what it was like to have older guys like you, be into you, try to date you, and me try to hide it from my parents. There is nothing that can prepare the parents for this from happening. You can raise your child in church, be strict, be understanding/flexible, be best friends with your kids, it doesn't matter... Grown men are not supposed to prey on children. They know better. However, since they know better, they try to treat these teenagers like this "secret love affair" and make it all special and pretty and just for them, that the child's judgment is incapable of seeing how disgusting these men are being. I feel like the best thing you can do is talk to your children about grown men like this, and impress upon them that men are not supposed to like children. That you are worth it to wait for. That even though what these men say sounds like gold, everything that glitters ain't gold.

There is some obvious triggers in this book:
- Rape
- Molestation
- Abuse
- Drugs/Alcohol
- Manipulation
- Murder
- Exploitation

Topics discussed in this book:
- Race
- Mental illness
- Statutory rape
- Age of consent
- Power/abuse
- Fear
- Rape Culture
- Misogynoir
- Vulnerability of young Black girls

Although some teens want to make grown decisions, present themselves as grown women, they are still minors. They are still children. These grown ass men KNOW BETTER. Also, believe Black women! When women come forward with these allegations, the authorities need to believe Black women. Also, friends, parents, acquaintances, etc. all need to be able to believe Black women. When women don't feel like they will be believed, or get attacked because they came out with allegations, their lives shouldn't feel threatened. This distrust allows these men to wield abuse and power over them even longer because no one is helping or believing them until someone gets massively abused or killed.

I couldn't really decide on what to rate this book. A 4 is not sufficient and a 5 is too much. This book is a 4.5. I really would have liked a backstory on Jessica and Richie. I wish we could flush out more of Korey Fields' backstory. I wish I knew more about Enchanted's grandmother, her best friend Gab, and Derrick.

I highly recommend this book to all parents, but especially those who have daughters. This book is more geared towards a high school student or 1st or 2nd year college student, but the messaging in this book is highly important for them to learn: Stay away/Run away from grown ass men, period.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Tiffany Jackson for providing me with this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. Full review can found in link in bio.

I was hooked from the very first page. I think young and older readers alike will enjoy the writing and benefit from the lessons on sexual abuse, misogyny and race relations embedded within the book.

It's hard to say I "love" a book that is so brutally honest and raw. Lots of triggers in this one and the author puts those right up front so you know what you're getting into. Even knowing that and knowing it's inspired by the R. Kelly cases, this was hard to read. Jackson is a master at writing teen girls and Enchanted's POV is so real and true and harsh. This book is heartbreaking but so important and necessary.

I was able to review Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson for free from Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book that I've read by Tiffany D. Jackson, it was difficult to read but was able to read it.
Tiffany Jackson gives a voice to young black women and validates their struggles and strengths. It was heartbreaking how no one listened to her, but it was great that she found the confidence to stand up to Korey and all of his enablers. This was a difficult subject matter that she was able to expertly navigate in a way that is realistic and appropriate for a YA audience.

This is the kind of book where I got actively furious when I had to put it down. SUCH a page turner. I feel like all of Tiffany Jackson's books have that hugely compelling page turner quality and yet also at least one extra plot twist where if you did put the book down and stop to think about it for a second you'd be like, wait, what, that doesn't make sense? But you don't actually need to think about it because you just have to keep reading baby!!!!!!

Anyway, the "ripped from the headlines" R. Kelly-ish vibe here is obviously upsetting, and there's some really interesting explicit textual criticism here where the main character, Enchanted, loves Disney movies and Twilight and justifies a lot of Korey's bad behavior by thinking it's romantic like Edward Cullen or that it's okay that she's only 17 because Ariel the Little Mermaid was only 16 when she got married. It's interesting commentary but also having Enchanted explicitly think lines like that makes her sound extremely young. Which I guess is the point, she is!

This is a great one for fans of thrillers/mysteries.

The events that take place in this story are an absolute nightmare. And I mean truly, truly horrific. As a parent I think I felt the pain of them even more acutely than I might have otherwise.

But the story itself is masterfully woven and told. I don’t want to give too much away but it will have you on the edge of your seat, dying to know how it ends while simultaneously screaming at the main character to get out, get away, to save herself.

The book opens with a horrific murder scene—blood everywhere—and our leading lady, Enchanted Jones, waking up and having no idea what happened. We then go back to the beginning and watch the whole horror story unfold.

In the author’s note Jackson states that this book is not a true story, but loosely based on pieces of her own life and inspired in-part by a court case. She does specifically call out that it’s not about R. Kelly, but rather, it is about the abuse of power and how grown men never seem to be held accountable for their actions, but young girls are always discounted, not believed, or victim-shamed in these situations. It’s also about corporations covering up horrific crimes if it means the cash keeps rolling in.

Anyway, back to the book. I couldn’t put it down. The characters were wonderfully developed, the emotions real and complex, and the story was fast-paced and gripping.

Jackson is adept at capturing young adult insecurities and dreams. Just as she did in her earlier novel, Allegedly, here a teen has gotten in over her head. Caught up in a whirlwind of celebrity life, Enchanted Jones is pursuing her dream of making it as a singer. She is easily ensnared in the glitter and romance of her new rock star boyfriend’s life. But as with realistic portrayals of glamorous lives, there is an underbelly that Enchanted is becoming enmeshed in.

This is a story of a teenager who is easily seduced with the promise of a music career and the love of an older man. Her naivete is typical for girls her age. The music world beckons, so she becomes enchanted with the idea of getting a record deal and being promoted by a superstar. There are many instances where the reader will question Enchanted’s reliability as she presents facts. That adds to the mystery of the novel. Plus, Jackson starts the book off with a bloody scene and a dead body and as the story unfolds, one will put together the pieces of the mysterious crime. Periodically, the initial bloody scene is brought back to the narrative and a few small details are revealed. This jumping from the current time back to the past is an effective way to build tension for a crime that has already taken place.

The action is intense and the situation Enchanted has gotten involved in is reminiscent of recent celebrity cases like R. Kelly, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. Jackson makes the point that for years women have been ignored when they reported sexual abuse – especially young Black girls. This is a timely book and also a cautionary tale for young innocents who can be easily lured with promises almost too good to be true. It also highlights some of the obstacles facing girls and women who step forward as part of the Me Too movement. A riveting, powerful book for the times.

Tiffany D. Jackson did it again! This book is the definition of a puching-in-the-gut. I felt many emotions with this one; from sadness to happiness.
Grown is huge, Grown is beyond a book; it is the importance of telling your truth, no matter what!

So you guys know that Im obsessed with @writeinbk ‘s books ever since I read Mondays not coming. And once I saw all my fellow bookstagram friends that got the free ARC gift box with for this read I could not wait until September 15th. But then I saw someone say that it was on netgalley and I immediately went up there and requested it. It took around 3 days to get approval and I thought they would say no but I got it and I devoured this book in 3 days. And once again Tiffany has not disappointed. For any young girl that ever “willingly” entered into a relationship with an older man because at the time thought it was cool or in my case had a “dope ride”. This story captures just how easy it is for a predator to get into the head of their victim and stay there. In headlines that are eerily familiar when it comes to how women of color are treated in media, its compelling and the twists and turns you love about a Tiffany Jackson novel will have you not wanting to put it down. I will definitely be purchasing it when it is released.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for this incredible book!

Enchanted Jones just a regular teenage girl. She's a doting sister and daughter, a promising swimmer, and an aspiring singer. When she meets R&B superstar Korey Fields he offers her the chance for her dream to become a reality, opening doors she’d thought impossible and taking her on amazing little adventures. Then Korey is murdered, and Enchanted is the #1 suspect.

This book opens fast and heavy and stays that way until the very end. This isn’t a light read by any means, but I was still so captivated that I finished reading it in hours. My heart bleeds for Enchanted. I felt her desperation. I raged for her. I felt her dread in the pit of my stomach. I’ve known girls like her, I’ve been her. What little black didn’t grow up being told they were to cover up, that she was being too fast or too grown? All while being expected to play the role of a parent to her siblings or cousins? For the boys she meets? “Girls mature faster.” right? And “Boys will be boys!” right? Different levels for sure, but this is how it starts.

This is a very fast-paced book, it jumps back and forth between the present and Korey’s murder and the past and how his and Enchanted's relationship progressed. Jackson does a pretty good job of showing how insidious abusive relationships occur. The subtleties in her and Korey’s early interactions can easily be overlooked if you didn’t know what to look for. I’m eager to reread for the sole purpose of highlighting every red flag.

The single issue I have with this book is [the plot twist of Gab and how the author makes it seem like Enchanted’s mental illness made her delusional. It was unnecessary and after everything she’d been through, felt like an extra helping of gaslighting.

I do worry that the content and trigger warnings of the books will turn off the younger scope of it's target audience, which would be a shame since it's such a great book.

"The most disrespected person in America is the black woman.
The most unprotected person in America is the black woman.
The most neglected person in America is the black woman."
--Malcolm X and quoted by Jackson

This is a tough book, one that will prove difficult for much of the YA audience. But, nonetheless, it has an important message carried by engaging characters and a suspenseful plot.

Enchanted Jones wants nothing more than to be famous enough. She is talented vocalist, so when her best friend, Gab, tells her about a singing competition nearby, she jumps at the chance to audition. There she meets everyone's favorite R&B idol, Korey Fields, who presents her the opportunity of a lifetime. Lured by his fame, his attention, and his promises, Enchanted quickly finds herself in a risky situation. But this story is made even more complicated by the fact that Korey Fields was found murdered, and Enchanted was the only one at the crime scene. Throughout the story, the reader wonders how Korey was killed, if Enchanted had any involvement in his murder, and how we got there in the first place.

As with her other books, Jackson knows how to keep a reader engaged in a story. What better way to hook someone in than putting your main character at the scene of the crime and pulling them through the entire book to figure out what happened. Sure, there were moments in between that were engaging and interesting and suspenseful, but let's be honest. I was here to figure out what went down in that room.

But most importantly, this story brings an accessible and honest portrayal of a very real problem in the world: the denigration and distrust of women who have been sexually abused, especially black (and women of color more generally). These are issues the younger generation is being forced to grapple with, and many are not given reliable tools and resources to become better educated about them. And what resources are available may not always address an intersectional lens. I'm glad that this book, which has such an alluring narrative for teens will be a resource where they can begin to learn more about rape culture and its impact on the most disparaged group in this country.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Katherine Tegen Books for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

The protagonist, Enchanted Jones, is an aspiring singer who is victimized by the powerful and predatory megastar, Korey Fields. After Korey discovers Enchanted at a local city-wide audition, he promises to make her his protege; and, an elated Enchanted feels as if her fantasy of becoming an R&B performer are finally coming to fruition. However, now that Korey is dead, her hopes have turned to horror.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson is an irresistible and imperative read for many of today's youth. This fast-paced, Suspense-Thriller explores a gamut of pressing issues that range from addiction, biases against teenage girls of color, and toxic masculinity. This title takes on the task of delving into the intersectionality of gender and race in the era of the #MeToo Movement. Ms. Jackson also made sure to include a plethora of resources for youth who have suffered and/or are surviving sexual abuse.

Tiffany Jackson’s Grown is without question the best YA novel I have read this year—one of the best books I have read this year. Jackson’s writing is arresting, gorgeous prose that hooked me immediately. I read this book in one sitting, equally eager to continue the story but desperately trying to make the experience last longer than it did. This story is not just another #MeToo novel by any means. Each of these characters is fully formed, three-dimensional, and at turns likable and problematic, as the best characters are. Jackson requires the reader to question their ideas of agency, power, love, and fame, and entertains while doing so. Five generous stars.

content warning: substance abuse, grooming, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, kidnapping

I have other books by Tiffany D. Jackson but I have not read them yet. When I saw this on NetGalley, I thought I would like read this one. Now, I will be going back to read the others that I own by her. This was a great book. It is hard to say it is great because the subject matter is raw and hard to read. But the writing is so well done that I felt all the emotions as I read.

This is the story of Enchanted Jones who really just wants to make it big as a singer. When she goes to a tryout she catches the attention of world famous singer, Korey Fields. They are immediately connected and she goes on tour with him but he is not the person she thought he was. This was inspired by the R Kelly case. It was hard to read and as a parent, I felt so helpless and dumbfounded by how Chanty’s parents lost all power in the situation.

WOW.

I've come to expect great things from Tiffany Jackson, but this novel was beyond what I was prepared for. It was painfully good. Jackson takes an important, ripped-from-the-headlines issue and turns it into a propulsive suspense novel that twists this way and that until the reader isn't sure what to believe. But what's most impressive is the way Jackson handles this novel so tactfully. I'll admit, I wasn't sure how such an important issue could be gracefully turned into a suspense novel--but Jackson did it, and she did it right.

An incredible novel for readers who can handle a heavy suspense.

A compelling, heartbreaking story that was hard to put down. Younger readers may not be comfortable with the topics and language. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins.

Loosely inspired by the R. Kelly case, Grown examines the relationship between 17-year-old Enchanted Jones and 28 year-old world-renowned singer Korey Fields. The book deals with a lot of heavy topics: grooming, sexual assault, physical abuse, gaslighting/emotional manipulation, PTSD.

We see the downward spiral that Enchanted goes down very early on. Enamored by his charm, justifying to herself that age is nothing but a number and believing wholeheartedly that there’s nothing wrong with her and Korey being together. As she falls deeper in the relationship, she starts doing things against her character and ultimately, losing the essence of herself due to the amount of control that Korey has on her. The impact that this situation has on her family and friends broke my heart, especially her parents.

To know that this is a recurring thing that happens not only in the industry but just in regular, everyday life continues to anger me. Jackson really highlights on the power that abusers have over their victims. In doing so, we feel the fear the victims are experiencing not only to come forward with their truths but also in trying to escape. We see just how much the gaslighting and emotional manipulation affects their mental state, making them believe that as a victim, they’re the only ones to be blamed for the situations they found themselves in rather than pinpointing it on the abuser.

This book was unputdownable. The first book in awhile that I constantly found myself thinking about throughout the day even when I wasn’t reading it. Tiffany Jackson never disappoints. A must read if you’re able to handle the content.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grown is timely, raw and above all necessary. Enchanted is a strong female protagonist that finds her voice throughout the book.
The subject matter is not easy. It’s heartbreaking, tough and so necessary to tackle.
Tiffany Jackson does a beautiful job portraying the struggles young Black women are faced with. This is a YA book but, honestly, I would recommend it to everyone. Everyone should read this book.