Leila Mottley easily falls under my list of "Grocery List Authors" - that is, authors whose grocery lists I'd jump at the chance to read. Her debut novel "Nightcrawling" was one of the most riveting and thought-provoking novels I've read in the prior few years, so I was delighted to hear that she was coming out with her second work.

"The Girls Who Grew Big" centers on a group of female teenagers who grow up in Padua Beach - a small, overlooked town in the Florida Panhandle who've been forced to grow up in ways that no one can truly understand. The unofficial leader of the group is Simone, a 20 year-old mother to twins Luck and Leo who has helped the other girls in her group with their pregnancies and children, and whose red pickup truck serves as a shelter and safety net for them all. Emory is still in high school, but wishes to pursue her education even with the birth of her son Kai, even if it means bringing him along with her to classes. And Adela is the newest entry into the group, a competitive swimmer who who moves to Padua with the grandmother after the discovery of her pregnancy, her parents determined to hide the truth from their community.

What follows is a series of events that bring the girls closer together (and also breaks them apart), forces them to confront their true desires and dreams, and highlights the ever-evolving and complex situations and decisions these teenager mothers have to face. From decisions they have to take into their own hands because no other options are available to them, to the both forced yet resilient bonds they create between themselves, to the fierce and unwavering love that they have for their children (despite being children themselves) - this is a deeply emotional and beautifully crafted novel that weaves each of the three characters' perspectives and backstories together. Mottley's prose is both diverse and dynamic, juxtaposing seemingly simple passages and phrases together with captivating insights and emotions, and I loved how she rotated perspectives and voices amongst the protagonists of her novel.

Perhaps most overwhelming of all is the fact that Mottley is only 23 years-old... I'm still trying to wrap my head around how someone of that age can create a work of this depth and complexity. Regardless, "The Girls Who Grew Big" is well worth the read when it is published in June 2025!

This book was surprisingly insightful and profound - not because I doubted the writer's ability but because I didn't expect to be so affected by the elements of motherhood, I'm currently 7 weeks postpartum and I read this book around 5 - and it was an honest relatable book given the characters are absolutely nothing like me. Really good read.

Why are we so much harder and unforgiving when it comes to our girls and so easily forgive our boys for the same mistakes? This book is so many things: a story of survival, of love and redemption, but really it’s about community and who and what make up our community. This book explores choices women and girls make with their bodies, the way we give ourselves up, and how these choices shape their lives and their children’s lives. Do our choices define us?
When you lose your way and what it takes to find your way back. This book is bold and daring but hold true for the girls this book is written about, our young teenage mothers. This book may not resonate for all who read it, but the ones that get it will absolutely love this book.

The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley is an unusual novel in that it portrays teenage pregnancy and motherhood in a gritty, visceral way. Parts are difficult to imagine, especially for someone who has had normal pregnancies and deliveries, in hospitals, with supportive partners and families. I felt for these young women, although I could not relate to their circumstances or the decisions they made. Thank you to the author publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley is a raw, emotional, and beautifully written story about teen motherhood, friendship, and resilience. At the center is Adela, a sixteen-year-old girl sent away by her parents after getting pregnant. In Florida, she meets a group of other young moms who become her unexpected support system—each with their struggles, strengths, and stories.

The Girls—especially Emory and Simone—are tough, determined, and full of heart. They face judgment and hardship but also find moments of joy, sisterhood, and fierce love. Mottley does a great job showing that motherhood doesn’t cancel girlhood; it just complicates it. The writing is lyrical and vivid, and the characters feel alive.

The only reason this isn’t five stars is that a few storylines felt rushed or unresolved. I wanted more time with certain characters and a deeper dive into some of their choices.

Still, this book is powerful and moving. It shines a light on often overlooked girls and tells their stories with care, honesty, and compassion. An intense read with a lot to say.

What a spectacular novel! Mottley’s writing is beautiful, and she conveys the complex emotions of the Girls perfectly. I found myself thinking about the characters when I was away from the book! I cheered for the Girls as my heart broke for them. This is a powerful novel about motherhood and the power of young women supporting one another when no one else will. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

4 pregnant teen stars

The Girls have come together because their parents and others have turned them out. They are pregnant teenagers or have recently given birth in the small Florida town of Padua Beach.

Adela is in town living with her grandmother while pregnant, and she wants to return to her old life of competitive swimming in Indiana.

Emory has a new baby and is determined to finish high school even though the teachers don’t want her to bring a baby to school every day.

Simone is the leader of the Girls, and she has four-year-old twins. She’s not happy to find herself pregnant again.

As the Girls navigate friendship and motherhood, most others in town look down on them and expect them to fail. Many families also do not accept their situations. They each have complex relationships with their baby’s father. Some want to keep their babies, and others don’t. My heart broke for these girls, and I rooted for them to find a path to happiness.

Well-written by a young author, this one made me care for these moms and understand more about their obstacles.

The Girls Who Grew Big is a powerful and beautifully written story that delves into resilience, friendship, and the strength it takes to survive in a world that often feels stacked against you. Leila Mottley’s prose is both lyrical and raw, drawing you into the lives of young women who are navigating complicated realities while trying to hold on to their sense of self. The characters are vividly drawn and feel incredibly real, which makes their struggles hit even harder.

What I appreciated most was how Mottley doesn’t shy away from depicting the hardships these girls face, but she also highlights their courage and the fierce bonds they form to get through it all. The story feels both heartbreaking and hopeful, making you root for them despite the challenges. It’s a story that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished, reminding you of the power of community and the importance of never giving up. Highly recommend for readers who appreciate gritty, character-driven stories.

The Girls Who Grew Big is Leila Mottley's sophomore effort, after her debut garnered widespread acclaim (especially given her young age). I think this novel is a large step forward in terms of storytelling, as she captures the disparate trajectories of three young women at various points of early motherhood. The writing is raw and emotional, and captures both the immaturity of "the girls" but also their fierce determination to be something for their children and stay true to themselves. Did I like their choices? Often, no. Often I find these women/girls to be incredibly stupid. But Mottley manages to make me feel for the stakes they're dealing with and appreciate why they're making the difficult choices they do. These are searing stories, and the fierce prose conveys them beautifully.

I loved this book! ❤️ It quickly took hold of my heart & did not let go, even after I finished. 🥹 (5/5)

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What you’ll get in this character driven gem:

↔️ Multiple Perspectives: Three very young mothers trying to do what they think best in not so perfect situations
❤️ A cast of female characters to love and root for
✍️ A writing style with fantastic natural voice! Her prose hooked me.
🥹 Memorable emotional depth conveyed through the conversational tone as well as a plethora of amazing similes and metaphors. I was noting constantly!

It was SO hard to choose just one quote! In the end, I thought this one encompassed the theme of book very well.

“…. and I did not want to cover up how she came into this world with lies, cover up my fear of doing this all on my own with a man who was never going to show her care that was as soft as her fresh skin, cover up my young with decades of attempting to make up for an act that was not unholy, but wholly human.”

😍Oh my, the author’s writing style! I have not read any other works by Leila Mottley, but I have added everything she wrote to my Want To Read on Goodreads. 🙌

This book is a raw, powerful exploration of motherhood that is both emotional and poetic. It captures the essence of young mothers navigating their complex realities, often while still grappling with their own childhood. The author beautifully portrays the strength and resilience of these girls, painting them as vibrant, beautiful women who shine with raw emotion.

The descriptive writing draws you in, allowing you to feel a deep connection with the characters. You find yourself rooting for them, investing your heart in their journeys. The prose flows like poetry, creating a beautiful harmony that resonates throughout the pages.

The story revolves around teen mothers in a small, impoverished town, tugging at the heartstrings and opening their eyes to their struggles and triumphs.

Not only does it entertain, but it also educates, shedding light on the complexities of young motherhood and the power of friendship. Overall, this book is a poignant celebration of love and support, demonstrating that the bond of motherhood knows no age limit. It left me feeling uplifted and reflective, truly a remarkable read eyes to their struggles and triumphs.

Leila Mottley, a gifted writer, illuminates overlooked stories and people in her novel, The Girls Who Grew Big. The novel follows a group of young women in different stages of motherhood and life. It’s a heartwarming tale of finding family and love despite being cast out and alienated.

I really liked the idea of this book. I just dont know if it was for me personally. The author did a really good job of describing pregnancy and womens relationships with other women but it just didnt capture me like i thought it would.

The Girls Who Grew Big is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel that follows three inspiring teenage girls as they face the complexities of early motherhood. The narrative is rich with themes of resilience, friendship, and the power of sisterhood, and it beautifully illustrates how these girls form their own found family in the face of challenging circumstances.

I loved this novels take on the exploration of difficult family dynamics. There was no shying away from depicting the tension and complexity of family relationships. From strained connections with parents to the pressures that come with unexpected responsibility, we are shown the emotional weight carried by these young women.

The writing itself flowed very well and had some of the most beautiful and hard-hitting quotes that will stick with my forever. This author is amazing at creating vivid, touching moments, especially when depicting the bond between the girls. Their interactions are layered with both warmth and pain, making their friendship feel authentic. However, while the writing is compelling, there were moments where the use of slang and regional dialects made certain parts of the novel harder to follow. While this contributed to the authenticity of the characters' voices, it occasionally disrupted the flow of the narrative for me.

Overall, The Girls Who Grew Big is a beautifully written, emotional novel. It’s a story about the power of friendship, the struggles of young motherhood, and the importance of family, in whatever form it takes. Mottley’s writing is filled with moments of tenderness, but it also doesn’t shy away from the gritty, painful realities that shape these girls’ lives.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc through NetGalley! All opinions are my own honest opinions.

I have never read a book quite like this one, and I can honestly say I really enjoyed it. This book follows several young ladies in Florida who either have children already, or they are expecting a baby. The book shows the struggles that young mothers go through, especially without the support of their families. It's heartbreaking to think about scared young ladies on the streets trying to care of a little human.

Simone was the first, and in a sense, is their "leader" due to this fact. She is the one they look to for help with their babies. She is the one they look to for shelter at times, as well as comfort. She is like their stand in mother, but it's only because she has been forced out of her own home to live with her twins out of pickup truck. Once Adela gets to Florida she joins the family known as the "Girls" too, because what else can the pregnant new girl do?! Through those 9 months Adela is with them she grows into her own, and all the Girls end up making some true life decisions together, and apart.

I probably wouldn’t be friends with “the girls” if I met them, but maybe that’s why their perspective is necessary. These voices and lives that are told in fiction felt so real. It wouldn’t surprise anyone to know these are experiences of plenty of real teen mothers across the country.
Even though they’re judged by everyone around them, including their families in many cases, these young women are all good moms. They do things all good moms do like putting their kids first.
They understand it takes a village and when many of them have lost theirs, they make one. The love, loyalty, and hope in these pages is admirable.

The writing here is great. It’s told from 3 different perspectives and each on has her own distinct voice. They’re emotional and raw.
This would be a great book club pick!

Thanks to NetGalley for the early ARC

This book was absolutely breathtaking. The writing, the care, the characters—everything is handled with such reverence, yet it remains raw and deeply emotional. It’s a story of babies having babies, motherhood, the motherless, friendship, love, and coming of age—all woven together beautifully.

Surely, any woman will see herself, a friend, or a sister reflected in these pages. That’s the brilliance of this book—it tells a story that so many of us have seen, experienced, or witnessed up close. Mottley captures the truth of it all with stunning honesty.

In The Girls Who Grew Big we are given a world of insight into teenage motherhood. Girls with dreams who have no choice but to grow into women who figure it out when life keeps throwing obstacles in their way.

Although decades after my own journey of teenage motherhood, this novel could have been that of myself and my own tribe. We knew how we got “into our situation” however we’re still thrown into a mess of confusion that it happened to us. Those of us who were supposed to know better. Those of us who were supposed to be something other than fodder for gossip and cut eyes. Those of us who other girls should have been able to look up to, instead of down upon.

The Girls Who Grew Big is about found family, in spite of the circumstances that brought the Girls together. A village when their own blood turned their backs, in fear of assisting. The Girls learn all the lessons along the way, whose friendships whether the very tides of the beach they often seek refuge upon.

Adela is the outsider who held onto the belief that if she only stayed clear of the Girls her belly would remain small and hidden so that she could return to her own school the following year to graduate and go onto the Olympics. Only Adela did not prepare herself to meet Chris.

Emory is the brains. She works hard to maintain her top grades so that she can go on to graduating at the top of her class and move away with her own baby in toe. She ignores Kai’s dad, in spite of his persistence of him loving her and wanting their family to take care of.

When we meet Simone, she is pregnant with her third child and wondering how she allowed this to happen again as she gazes upon her 4 year old twins. She doesn’t much like their daddy anymore, finally seeing him for the obstacle that he has become, instead of the one who pulls them up in this life they created.

Each of the girls has decisions to make and they do not always go about those decisions in the best of ways, but instead in the only ways that they know how.

This novel made me want to sit down with each of them. To listen to their stories and hold their hands. To let them know that they had what it took to create the lives they wanted for not only their children but also for themselves.

Raw, emotional, timely…we see not the typical “teen pregnancy falling to the statistics” but young women who grow into themselves even as they have babies strapped to their chests or holding their tiny hands at this sides.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC for review.

Astounding, gorgeous, searing, staggering. I absolutely am blown away by this author. Timely, important. Read it!

In true Leila Mottley fashion, she hit the ball out of the park with her sophomore novel The Girls Who Grew Big. A heavy story about a group of adolescent girls and young women in the Florida panhandle. What it means to bear burdens and babies in the deep south. Poverty. Misogyny. Religious trauma. All of the heaviest stuff and Mottley succeeds in writing about it in the most stunning and beautiful prose.

Pick this one up if you loved Nightcrawling. If you need a good cry. But also pick it up if you've never read Nightcrawling or if you don't need a good cry but want a really good story.

Five million stars. Always. Can't wait to tell everyone about this.