When I read that this book was ripped from the headline story that has plagued the Black community for decades, I was unsure what Jackson would do. I'm pleasantly surprised and I'm thankful this book exists.

Enchanted Jones is a beautifully written character who is believable and also wise beyond her years. As her story of abuse and devastation unfolds at the hands of abusive mastermind and R&B superstar Korey Fields, Tiffany D Jackson answers the questions we as a society have to grapple with when we read about famous men serially abusing girls: How does this happen? Where are her protectors? How many people does it take to hide this secret in plain sight? and finally: how are we all implicated?

Jackson weaves her signature murder-mystery magic through this real-life tale and elevates the story into one that indicts an entire society that is complicit in trading Black women and girls. I listened to the audiobook and greatly enjoyed the narrator; the whole story is devastating, haunting, beautiful, and extremely important.

Thanks #NetGalley for the eAudio ARC. Whew, prepare yourself for this. Even knowing what it was about, as an adult reader I felt physically queasy, especially in the first third as you see all the grooming taking place and you know where's it leading and that it can only get worse. Jackson has said that she loosely based this on the R Kelly story (every trigger warning here) but it's truly about misogynoir and how we as a society don't believe, trust, and protect Black girls. As is expected in her books, the twists keep coming right up to the very end. I liked that she told some of the story through outside perspectives, like a group chat and police interviews. The audio was well read and compelling to the last sentence.  I will be stocking up on copies because this one is going to fly.

My mind is shook.
There was so much I could relate to in the author's note.
The abuse of power that men take and use against young women, hell children, is disgusting - but it's real, and it's happening in the time we are sitting in right now. Enchanted was the same type of girl as anyone that you see in your classrooms. How easy it was for her to be coerced and swept away all in the name of "love" that she felt. She left her family so easily, but only to be awakened by the brutal reality of what a man of power, a man of fame, a man - was physically capable of doing, and not just to her. To several. The abuse he inflicted on her family to keep her away.
This was an uncomfortable story to read, but it was so, so good. My uncomfortableness comes from a place where I've had snippets of this scenario, I know friends who have, but also the reality of how many women out there ARE and have zero way out, zero support, currently.
What a phenomenal book. Tiffany has done it again.

I want to thank Tiffany D. Jackson, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of Grown in exchange for an honest review.  This was one of my most anticipated releases for the 2020 year, and it did not disappoint. This book will haunt me for years to come, but in the best possible way. 

This book shares the story of Enchanted, an aspiring singer who comes into the life of a popular singer: Korey Fields. When given the opportunity to chase her dream with a boy who shows interest in her, she quickly takes the bait. The problem? Korey Fields is not a boy. He is nearly 11 years older that 17 year old Enchanted. What transpires next is a cautionary tale of who to trust and when to ask for help.

Tiffany D. Jackson continues to pen masterpiece after masterpiece. She never fails to evoke true emotion and discuss the truly difficult topics that can happen to anyone in this world. Jackson crafts the most elegant of narratives while leaving out none of the gritty details. This book is not for the faint of heart, but it is incredibly significant.

When recommending this book, I will absolutely be recommending that readers accompany it with the audiobook. Joniece Abbott-Pratt, the narrator, brings so much depth to the character of Enchanted. She brings the anxiety, the desperation, the confusion and the wish fullness that Enchanted holds to life. I will absolutely be looking for more audiobooks narrated by her in the future. 

Overall, I thought this was an emotional and riveting read that is extremely important for readers of all ages, backgrounds, and genders to read and reflect upon. I will be recommending this to everyone!

This book tackles some very tough topics, but important topics!  As I was reading, I kept going back and forth trying to figure out what happened......it definitely kept me intrigued throughout the story.

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.

The narration for this title, delivered by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, is absolutely flawless. 

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.

Grown is another ripped from the headlines book by Tiffany D. Jackson. Inspired by the R. Kelly cases, we follow Enchanted Jones as she is groomed and then abused by an older famous singer, Korey Fields. 
I appreciate what the author is doing. We need more stories about black girls. We need more authentic depictions of the black experience told by black authors. 
One issue I have with this story is it lacks focus. The author introduces too many minor storylines and tries to make too many points. Also, I wouldn't say I liked the conclusion to the story. The first half was better, but once it got into psychological thriller territory, it lost something. The goal of humanizing victims that are often dehumanized was lost to shock value and cheap thrills. 
I listened to the audiobook, and I enjoyed the reading. I wish I liked the book more. I gave it three stars because it is a great conversation starter and draws more attention to black victims of abuse.

The perfect book. the perfect narrator. my god. Audio-book is usually a difficult format for me (my particularly neuro-divergence makes it tricky) but this one HELD my attention effortlessly. I'm so, so amazed. This book was heartbreaking and timely and absolutely brilliantly done.

I loved the book.  I think that this hits some really deep subjects and feelings, but at this time is not able to fit in the curriculum with the themes.  I will be thinking really hard about the possibility of next year's curriculum.  I think that this is relevant and necessary for students to have to understand how to address feelings inside of them.

Great story.  Relevant.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ALC of this book!

This book broke me apart. It also gave me nightmares! There are a number of content warnings you should be aware of before you read this book, but if you are able to then you definitely should because it is so important and also amazing. I'll put warnings at the end of the review.

Enchanted is such a dynamic character. I absolutely love unreliable narrators because they always keep me on my toes, and Chantie does not disappoint. All of the characters in this book are very unique and have their own voices, and are very diverse.

This story is absolutely heart breaking, but the topic is so important to talk about! I really loved the way the author explored this difficult topic through Enchanted's story and the way that this story can bring awareness to it. It was beautifully done.

I really loved the writing in this book. It was utterly captivating and drew me in within the first few minutes of my read. I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a phenomenal job, so I definitely recommend that!

Definitely pick up this book when in comes out in September!

CW: rape, sexual assault, drugging, withdrawal, assault, abusive relationships (physically, mentally, sexually), date rape drug, police disbelief, murder, unjust legal practices, child abuse, kidnapping, addiction to opioids, mental health

thank you Netgalley for the audiobook ALC! the audio narration is perfect & enhanced the story. content warning: emotional, physical, & sexual abuse. pedophilia & violence. brief synopsis: Enchanted is a competitive swimmer & good student who dreams of being a singer. her dreams come true but quickly spiral into a nightmare of severe abuse & violence. I felt so disturbed by part 2 in particular that it tanked my mood. GROWN sits at the intersection of genres, but it reminded me most of Elizabeth Smart’s memoir. I took comfort in the book’s description’s heads up that the monster would die. GROWN by Tiffany D. Jackson is engaging, thought-provoking, & well-written. Enchanted is an interesting, likable, & sympathetic protagonist. I recommend GROWN — a masterpiece that’ll be perfect for many readers — but proceed w/ caution.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson is a book about aspiring singer Enchanted Jones who meets a famous (and older) singer, Korey Fields.  While Enchanted doesn't pass her audition on a popular singing show, she does catch the eye of Korey Fields who takes an interest in her career and singing.  Enchanted soon finds herself on tour with Korey while working on an EP and falling for Korey as well.  What follows is a brutal description of an abusive relationship that ends in Korey's murder and the readers trying to figure out if Enchanted was really the killer.  This book starts out with the content warnings which is a smart idea as it tackles many difficult issues including abuse (physical and emotional), sexual assault, kidnapping, drugging, and many tough discussions about how rape/sexual assault victims are treated.  

This book is different from others in that it doesn't shy away from showing what it might be like as the victim of abuse that Enchanted suffers.  As an outsider reading what's going on, we can see all of the red flags relating to her and Korey's relationship and how he is employing emotional manipulation in order to better control Enchanted.  It shows the reader how easy it is to make excuses and overlook certain things with someone you love and just how dangerous it can be to get involved with someone like Korey.  This story is loosely inspired by the case of R. Kelly and his crimes against many young women but the author explains in the author's note that this is not a story about R. Kelly.  This is a story about how black girls and women are not believed and how they are treated within the criminal justice system.  It is heartbreaking to read how Enchanted attempts to get police involved and how she and her family are treated.  It is also heartbreaking to read how both her and her family's lives change due to this situation.  With all of this heavy content it was sometimes difficult to read but I hope it will spark conversations and change to occur around how victims of abuse/assault are treated, but especially black victims.  

I really enjoyed the narrator for this book, she brought just the right amount of emotion to the story without making the heavy topics even heavier to listen to.  I have not listened to this narrator previously, but I really liked  Joneice Abbot-Pratt and her narrations and will definitely seek out more books she has done.  I will recommend this audiobook to mature teens or adults who are interested in this powerful and emotional story.  This was honestly one of the most powerful books I have read this year and the messages and topics discussed will stick with me for a long time.

This book is a powerful slap of reality.  If you read no other books this year, read this one.  It is the story of a child’s abuse and overcoming of the abuse.

Enchanted, 17, wants to be a professional singer.  She convinces her mother to take her to a contest.  There she meets “the” Korey Fields (28.). He is a professional singer and wants to help her on her way.  Throughout the book, Korey is grooming Enchanted to become his lover.  It all comes to a head when she has the courage to ask for help.
The fight does not end there.  Enchanted has an uphill battle.  No one, police included, want to believe this young black woman.

Opinion
This book is so well written.  There were multiple points in the book that my stomach dropped over something Korey did.  Enchanted responses are what anyone would expect of a abuse victim.  It falls me that the other characters close to Korey allowed it to happen.  This book is so moving that you will find yourself in tears.
I do not recommend this book to younger teens.  While there is sex in the book, it is alluded to with little detail given.  The violence is also suggested with little graphic detail.  Because of how well the book is written, you still feel like you are there.
I listened to the audiobook.  The narrator, Joniece Abbot-Pratt, did an excellent job of portraying the emotions of Enchanted.  There were male voices as well, which were excellent.  Ms. Abbot-Pratt has been added to my list of favorite narrators.
I’d like to thank Net Galley andHarper Audio for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook.

Wow! What a powerful piece of literature that explores the vulnerability of young black women, especially in a male dominated society.  
Narrator did a fantastic job! 
Highly recommended for all to read, but touches on many sensitive topics. 

*I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me a copy of the digital audio copy of Grown. All thoughts are my own.
I love this book. That is all,
In all seriousness, this book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020 for me, and I am so grateful to gain an early release of this book. This book is deep, and it explores murder, mystery, sexual assault, fame fortune, and what it takes to risk it all in order to achieve your dreams. 
As a middle school educator, I find this book a bit too old for the readers, but I would keep it in my class library for advanced readers.
I would recommend people to give this book a chance and to read other works by Tiffany D. Jackson.

Oh this book. I highly recommend reading this. 
It does cover some pretty graphic content that can be triggering to some. It does have a content warning in the beginning.

Loved the narrator. Her voice suited this novel well.

Tiffany Jackson's novel, Grown, is gripping and maddening. The reader witnesses a young girl, Enchanted, pursue her dreams of becoming a singer, while having to make a sacrifice bigger than herself. As a reader, I wish I could have prompted Enchanted to stand up to her abuser, but perhaps this shows the most accurate depiction of what being in an abusive relationship feels like-trapped yet safe, confusing yet crystal clear. Not only does this story provide comfort for others who might have found themselves in a situation similar to Enchanted, but it speaks more broadly on the injustices black women face in America.

Tiffany D. Jackson is the queen of plot twists. I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book, and I loved listening to it. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the main character to life and letting us into her story. 

This story itself was INTENSE. The synopsis tells you what the book is about, but it turned out to be so much more. Grown is absolutely worth reading -  it covers many heavy and important topics. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this!

4.5 stars 

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Audio and Katherine Tegan Books for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Not an easy book to read (or listen to) but it comes with a very important message.  17 year old Enchanted Jones is groomed and manipulated by powerful musician Korey Fields who is 28 and promises her love and fame.  

It is awful how known sexual predators are protected in order to keep the money flowing.  And too often women are not listened to and their stories doubted.  

I liked Enchanted and just wanted to swoop in and save her.  I understand she was brainwashed and terrified but there were multiple decisions she made later in the book I couldn’t grasp.  

Excellent narration by Joniece Abbott-Pratt.

3.75. It got a little slow about 2/3 through. As a mom of an 18-year-old daughter this book set off some serious alarm bells in my head, but the author portrayed the 17-year-old main character’s rationalizations so well, I could see clearly how things got to the point they did in the book. Too mature for Battle of the Books, but kids who like Hopkins or A Child Called It will want to read this one..