4.5 Stars

This one took me a bit to get into, especially navigating three different perspectives and storylines. Ultimately though, I was totally sucked in. As with Mottley's past work, she manages to create vivid, complex, flawed, fascinating, beautiful characters that I naturally rooted for. Her language sometimes made me feel a little stuck, for lack of a better way of describing it. Her use of first-person voice didn't always work when her writing style was a) so similar between the characters and b) so flowery. But I still loved the book and her ability to create such a believable community and cast of characters. There's a lot of heavy content throughout, but it feels like such an important read.

4.5
I really had to think about this one. This is a story about three young mothers who are figuring out life on their own because their pregnancy has shunned them from their families. These young mothers find the strength to survive and the power needed to thrive even when they are told they will never become anything from the “mistake” that they made.

The way Leila Mottley writes is just so descriptive and magnificent. I caught myself highlighting so many parts of the book. The content in this book triggered me but also healed me at the same time. Leila writes about teen pregnancy, racism, the south, and family trauma and does it so well. I was angry, sad, and happy for these characters in the book. These are flawed characters who you can’t help but root for.




Thank you to the publishers for the opportunity of reading this book as an E-arc <3

THE GIRLS WHO GREW BIG by Leila Mottley ~to be published June 24, 2025

Big, as in pregnant, with child.

But also,

Big, as in abundant, encompassing, grown.

Because these pregnant teenagers in the Florida panhandle don’t just grow physically as they prepare to give birth; they grow in so many other intangible ways, as they navigate their parents, boyfriends, friendships, school, and living situations. As they simultaneously explore girlhood and motherhood.

It feels fitting to post this following my review of Toni Morrison’s THE BLUEST EYE. Mottley has spoken about how Morrison has influenced her growth, both as a writer and person, and her influence is obvious on the page. Mottley’s portrayal of womanhood here feels fresh and necessary. She is a talent to watch.

I have’t read Nightcrawling, Mottley’s 2022 splashy debut that was longlisted for the booker prize (as the youngest author ever to do so), but I certainly will now.

Thank you to @aaknopf for the review copy! This is out June 24th!

This book is about a sisterhood of teenage mothers in the Florida panhandle. While the story's premise was compelling, things about the setting and the characters were off. Mottley remains an author to watch for her gritty depiction of teens who haven't been given the support that they deserve in life.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't a huge fan of the author's debut, but this follow up novel gave so much. It was a complex story of the often ostracized teen/ya mothers. I loved hearing the different perspectives of the girls. I also enjoyed the camaraderie of the girls. Through their disagreements & emotions, they supported each other. This was a really great read!

Gotta be honest- I wanted to give all of these young women-Simone, Emory, Adela, and the others-the hug their mothers did not. Motley takes you into the lives of teen mothers living below the margins in a Florida beach town in an emotional and thoughtful way that never exploits but rather makes you root for them. Simone, the oldest, is raising her twins in the bed of a pickup truck. Emory is defying the principal at her high school and bringing her son to class. Adela, a competitive swimmer has been sent by her parents to live with her grandmother Noni (the only sympathetic adult). Her arrival upsets the carefully balanced relationships of the Girls. They clash but they also come through for one another when there's a crisis. These are tough young determined young women who each have the chance to tell their story. I liked that the voices were distinct and that they defy expectations. It's both heartbreaking and heartwarming. And it's about the family we make. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This is just terrific.

The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley – ★★★★★

This book completely gutted me—in the best way. Set in the forgotten town of Padua Beach, Florida, The Girls Who Grew Big follows three teenage mothers—Adela, Emory, and Simone—as they face the harsh realities of motherhood, survival, and growing up too soon. It’s raw, emotional, and beautifully written.

Each girl has her own voice and story: Adela, sent away by her parents, is trying to find a place in the world; Simone, already a mom of twins, is pregnant again; and Emory is determined to keep chasing her education despite everything. Their stories are painful, yes, but also full of hope, resilience, and fierce sisterhood.

Leila Mottley’s writing is just stunning—poetic, unflinching, and full of heart. She captures the complexity of these girls’ lives without sugarcoating anything, and she makes you care deeply about each of them, even when their choices are frustrating. You want to lecture them, sure—but more than that, you want to hug them.

This is a story about judgment, stereotypes, survival, and finding strength when it feels like the world has left you behind. It’s hard-hitting but filled with empathy, and I was rooting for every single one of them. I can’t wait to read more from Mottley—she’s a powerful voice we all need to keep watching.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Girls Who Grew Big written by Leila Mottley is the true embodiment of girlhood. I read this book earlier in the year and I'm just now getting my thoughts together four months later because this book was so heart breaking, every time I thought of this story or try to form my thoughts, I would just stare at the ceiling and sob. The Girls Who Grew Big is more than just a heart breaking story, it's about motherhood, girlhood, womanhood, and human hood, betrayal, and lies. This book was so raw, gut wrenching, powerful, inspiring, heart breaking, pure, and real. This book teaches you and offers you a perspective what it's like to be a young woman and a very young mother. This book and author shattered my heart, but certain parts and characters made my annoyance rise to a new level I have never experienced before. I know I'm just twenty-three years old, but this book made me yearn for my future of motherhood whenever that may be. The Girls Who Grew Big is an astonishing new novel full of hope, heart, and life about the joys and entanglements of a fierce group of young teenage mothers. I absolutely love and adore the womanhood movement, I love watching young girls and young women lift each other up, and support one another during difficult times. I can't recommend this book enough, if you are looking for a book that will make you sob and tug on your heart strings, then look no further than The Girls Who Grew Big and mark your calendars for June 24th, 2025 because you won't want to miss out on Leila Mottely's beautiful story telling.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND KNOPF, PANTHEON, VINTAGE, AND ANCHOR FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

"If you don't believe in miracles, how are you supposed to believe your ma loves you from a far off place you don't know nothin' about?"

"Don't we all deserve to have a second chance at choosing the thing that will choose us back?"

"Sometimes happiness feels like a snake in the grass".

Simone Turner first became a young mother at just sixteen years old with her "boyfriend" Tooth who was twenty-two years old at the time. At thirty-six weeks, Simone gave birth to twins, her daughter Luck and her son Lion. Tooth was absolutely disgusting, I hated him so much, when Simone gave birth to his own children, he looked at Simone's placenta like with was something dirty and contagious. I'm sorry, but there's a special place in hell for people like him. How could you look at the mother of your children's placenta like that? I just wanted to reach into my kindle and give Simone the biggest hug after that situation, like girl, I'm sorry to say this but you're better off without him. After getting pregnant at just sixteen years old, Simone was expelled from the only family she had ever known, she was kicked to the curb like a piece of trash, her own family wanted absolutely nothing to do with her, so they then kicked her out of the house. I know getting pregnant at such a young age can come as a shock to most parents, and I know there's consequences and repercussions, but I don't think a young teenage mother should be kicked out of her house with no direction of where her life will take her. At twenty almost twenty-one years old, Simone is now a mother to four year old twins, Luck and Lion, Simone is pregnant with her third child and wants to have an abortion because she feels like she can't give her new baby the life it deserves. And of course, she's still with her "boyfriend" Tooth who is now twenty-seven years old.

Adela Woods just became a young mother for the very first time at just sixteen years old. Adela gave birth to her baby girl on the beach because she has a special connection to the ocean. Adela is a competitive swimmer and wants to be in the Olympics, but her pregnancy put all of her dreams on hold. Adela lives in a shack with her grandma- Noni that welcomed her with open arms because her mom and dad decided to move Adela out of Indiana when they found out she was pregnant. I'm so happy Adela had her grandma through her pregnancy journey because Noni was so sweet, gentle, and patient with Adela. At sixteen years old, Adela is a new mama and about to begin her junior year of high school. I can't even imagine leaving my parents behind in my home state and moving to a new state to live with my grandma because of a positive pregnancy test. Adela is whittled to the smallest imperfections. The only thing I hated about Adela was that she was a manipulative liar, she would use people, but Adela never thought about the repercussions nor the consequences for lying and hurting those closest to her. In my honest opinion, I feel like the truth goes a long way, just be honest from the very beginning, yes, you might lose people, but it's better than gaining your closest friends and then y'all form a bond and then you lie to them for the longest of times and in the end they will leave, I feel like that's more hurtful than losing people in the beginning because being a manipulative liar comes with consequences.

Emory Reid became a young mother at just seventeen years old and gave birth to her baby boy, Kai. Despite getting pregnant at such a young age, Emory doesn't drop out of high school because she has dreams of earning her credits and attending Stanford University. Emory revealed she got pregnant with Kai on purpose without thinking about the consequences and repercussions her careless actions would cost her. Emory's Grammy and Pawpaw wanted nothing to do with her while she was pregnant, so her Pawpaw kicked Emory out of his house, but secretly her Grammy wanted to help her during these difficult times. Emory returns to school with her newborn baby, but teachers and students are complaining because Kai is causing too many distractions. I'm sorry but a new born baby does cry and does need to be fed at certain times throughout the day, so mind your own business and let this poor girl feed her baby, damn. I know grandparents and parents don't want to see their children suffer, and I know getting pregnant at such a young age because of careless actions comes with consequences, but I feel like there's no reason to kick your child out of the house when all they need is your love and advice. I wanted to knock some common sense into Emory, but it was so hard not to root for her as she took on motherhood alone.

The Girls live out of the back of Simone's red pickup truck in Padua Beach, Florida, which is the forgotten Panhandle of Florida that was better off remaining forgotten because it's just a poor beach town. The town and people of Padua Beach think The Girls have lost their way, but really they are just finding their own ways, they are looking for love, making and breaking friendships, and navigating the miracle of motherhood and the paradox of girlhood. The Girls is just a group of outcast young moms who raise their growing group of babies in the back of Simone's red pickup truck. People in Padua Beach snicker at the way The Girls live, the way they talk, and the way they eat. Despite only being just twenty years old, Simone is like a mother figure to the rest of The Girls because they are all much younger than Simone is, but the only thing I had an issue with is the way Simone lost her temper with them, she would often let her anger get the best of her. The Girls felt like sisters to one another because of their connections to getting pregnant at such young ages. Despite them feeling like sisters, The Girls had a deeper connection to another girl in the group. The secrets between these young mothers had me holding my breath so many times. I know this group of young mothers have a lot of learning and growing up to do, but it's hard not to root for them and cheer them on as they navigate motherhood. It truly was beautiful watching their friendships blossom despite some of the secrets they kept from one another, but that's guaranteed to happen when you are a very young mom with no direction in your life. Yes, there will be consequences and repercussions along the way, but it's always best to be honest from the very beginning.

This is a novel that has so much heart.

It centers around three young women who have different backgrounds but a unifying circumstance-- they have all been pregnant as teenagers in a small and overlooked town in Florida (Padua Beach).

Simone, twenty, has twins from her teenage pregnancy and is now pregnant again. Emory, sixteen, has recently given birth; the father of her baby is Simone's brother, and she is determined to finish high school and go to college. Adela, a recent transplant to Padua, has been sent here by her parents to have her baby and then put it up for adoption, all under the guise of taking a year abroad.

Simone, through grit and sheer will power, has not only survived as an essentially single mother with no family support, she has raised her twins and created a welcoming place for other girls who find themselves in similar situations. What has formed is a sisterhood called The Girls. She offers support that she wishes she had, even though she's basically still a girl herself.

As the year progresses (signified by Adela's trimesters in the book), the three main characters' lives become intricately intertwined in more ways than one. This book is a testament to the resilience of girls and the joy of girlhood while critiquing the systems that fail young women.

This compelling novel follows a group of pregnant teenage women in the Florida Panhandle. As they navigate pregnancy, friendship, being cast out by their families, raising babies and romance, they forge a bond with each other through motherhood. Adela is 16 and sent away by her parents for being pregnant, Emory brings her baby to high school with her, Simone has twins with her much older boyfriend and finds out she's pregnant again. The Girls Who Grew Big is a letter to strong women, motherhood, friendship and girlhood. It's dark and deeply moving as each girl faces unimaginable decisions in their teen years.

Leila Mottley writes so well, but also in a dark and emotional way.

Leila 😭
I love books that make me think, and reflect on life in general. I try so hard to be an optimist, but every once in a while a book comes along and just wrecks me. This was one of those books. I need a shelf specifically for "books that made me sob". This book made me reflect back on my high school experiences/ teen years, but also the bond I have with my own parents, and just how blessed I am to have them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. The Girls Who Grew Big is about a group of young teenage mothers. The main mother and make shift leader of the group is Simone, a mother to twins. The mothers congregate around her red pickup truck every day and look to her for advice. Emory is a mother who struggles with the expectation of being the perfection mother and marrying the father of her child or following her dream of going to college. Adela is sent to Florida by her parents to make it through her pregnancy and then return home. While in Florida, she toys with the idea of possibly not going home. I enjoyed the story and the characters. The book is heavily dependent on the characters and I really enjoyed Simone. I do think there were too many side characters as I was confused at some points.

Loved this book! Book of the year- characters drew you in. It was one of the top books of the year. So nice to see unrepresentated characters in this story- and watch their lives evolve

Lelia Motley's The Girls Who Grew Big is a stunning, evocative novel that captures the profound journeys of Adela, Emory, and Simone—three unforgettable characters whose lives intertwine in powerful and unexpected ways. From the very first page, Motley's lyrical prose draws readers into a world brimming with raw emotion, vulnerability, and resilience.

The central characters, Adela, Emory, and Simone, are beautifully crafted, each bringing unique perspectives that reflect the complexities of growing up and navigating identity. Their bonds with "The Girls" form the emotional backbone of the narrative, showcasing themes of friendship, empowerment, and transformation.

Jay and Tooth (also known as Chris) add depth to the story, serving as pivotal figures who challenge and support the protagonists in equal measure. The dynamics between these characters are authentic, layered, and resonate with the universal struggles of self-discovery and acceptance.

Motley's storytelling shines through her vivid descriptions and compelling dialogue. She masterfully balances moments of heartbreak with hope, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and inspirational. The novel’s pacing is impeccable, keeping readers engaged while allowing space to savor the richness of each character’s development.

In The Girls Who Grew Big, Lelia Motley delivers a literary triumph—a heartfelt, transformative tale that will linger in readers' minds long after they turn the final page. This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates beautifully written, character-driven stories that celebrate the strength and complexity of young women.

*The Girls Who Grew Big* is a story of stretching and expanding, of becoming big in a world that expects certain people to remain small. It’s a gorgeous dissection of the passions and pitfalls that face people living on the margins and a heartfelt revelation of the innate capacity we all hold for love and expansion. Structured to follow pregnancy’s three trimester format, the narrative follows three girls—Simone, Emory, and Adela—as they find balance, boldness, and liberation in their identities. The story seems to explore a certain trinity of femininity: girl, woman, mother. Each main character is forced to make space for these facets of themselves and ultimately, learn to balance the three elements of female identity in order to have peace.

Of the three main characters, Simone was hands-down my favorite. As the oldest girl and most experienced mother of the group, with adorably precocious 4-year-old twins, Simone is a force to be reckoned with. She tells her story in a confessional and introspective fashion, and very much embodies the personality of “the mother.” From the very first scene, readers see her completely vulnerable and utterly unsupported in her motherhood, immediately having to make up for the failings of her baby daddy, her education, and the medical system. Yet, she is never once portrayed as a victim. Instead, Simone is empowered by her vulnerability to do exactly what a mother does: to build a family. She creates the Girls, a space of judgment-free, empowered mothering in community.

Emory is the most hopeful of the Girls, full of big dreams and lots of heart. But she also feels the most trapped by her new role as a mom. She thinks in big, sweeping metaphors, especially observing herself through the lens of wildlife and nature. She is “the woman,” and specifically struggles with the dichotomy that women face between their own dreams and desires and the expectation that women should sacrifice that for the needs and beliefs of others.

Adela, definitely the most immature of the bunch, embodies “the girl.” As she is newly pregnant at the beginning of the story, Adela constantly straddles the line between the naivety and certainty of girlhood and the nuanced strength and growth of becoming a mother. As she makes a variety of poor decisions, I found her chapters the most difficult to read. Yet, her expedited journey into adulthood is deeply relevant and raw. There were moments when I couldn’t decide if I wanted to shake her or hug her, but my own inner girlhood couldn’t help but relate to her.

Over the span of nine months, readers watch these three Girls transform and evolve into themselves. In doing so, readers are invited to examine our own expectations and understanding of people in different circumstances from our own, especially those of young or unmarried mothers, women of color, and people living in poverty. Additionally, this narrative forces us to recognize that the human experience is far more universal than one might expect. No matter the circumstances, we all deserve to take up space in this world. We all deserve to grow big.

I genuinely believe that it’s impossible to read this book and not come away a more empathetic and open-minded person. Therefore, this earns a full 5-star rating from me. I truly think everybody should read this book, no matter how distant, and perhaps especially because of how different, these girls’ lives may feel from your own. Insightful, raw, and brave, this is an entertaining and thought-provoking story that expects readers to examine the spaces in life that make them feel small, as well as the places where they might be diminishing people on the margins. *The Girls Who Grew Big* is an invitation to metamorphosis. At times visceral in its pain, but always countered by hope born of unconditional love, this is a journey that results in deep transformation and empowerment. With stunningly written prose and characters that feel like family, it’s clear that Leila Mottley is a writer to watch! This was my first of her books, but it definitely won’t be my last.

A heartfelt thank you to Knopf books via NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Leila Mottley's first novel, Nightcrawling, and was blown away that she wrote it so young, so I was very excited to receive an early copy of this one. I really loved it -- despite it making me anxious at times as I worried for the outcomes of the characters.

This book is split between three narrators, all in different stages of motherhood. Simone, whose twins are growing up, Adela who is newly pregnant and moving to live with her grandmother as she navigates what choices she'll make, and Emory, who has a newborn and is trying to juggle school and taking care of her baby.

I found myself caring deeply for each of these girls and worrying for them and their children. I loved how the narrative switched between all three of them and we got a complete picture of who they were and the life decisions they were making. They are still so young themselves, to be dealing with such big, life changing decisions -- and as a mom of young children there were many parts I could relate to.

I loved seeing the growth of all three of them and really liked the ending. Overall such a good read -- I love Leila Mottley's writing and will definitely read everything she writes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This book was so much more than I was expecting in the best way.

Literary fiction and character driven stories aren’t for everyone, but I love the way it allows the reader to really get to know the characters, and wow, were these some incredible characters. They were messy, flawed, strong, and relatable, and seeing them learn how to be in the world as young mothers was powerful.
The three main characters are so young for what they’re going through, and yet they’ve built a community, lifeline, and family of other young women that, though tumultuous at times, is pretty solid. The slower pace made me sit with these characters fully, and I liked having the time to think about their situations and actions on a deeper level. I loved getting to know Adela, Emory, and Simone, and seeing them find themselves over the course of the book was frustrating, empowering, and bittersweet.

This book celebrated girlhood in all of its complicated glory, and I enjoyed every second of it.

Strong, unsentimental writing that brings you into the characters lives. Appreciate Mottley's voice. This is a strong sophomore novel.

I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

There are some books that just land at the right moment in your life, and this book was exactly that for me. I’d seen a lot of early buzz about it on Bookstagram, and was definitely curious, but I wasn’t prepared for how much this book would move and inspire me.

The story is told through the eyes of three young women, Simone, Adela, and Emory, all young girls navigating teen motherhood in a small Florida town. The narrative shifts between them smoothly and without confusion, something that can be tricky in multi-POV novels but is handled flawlessly here. In this case, each voice is distinct, fully formed, and full of purpose.

Adela, banished to Florida by her conservative family after becoming pregnant, arrives in Padua Beach a little unsure of what happens next. She meets Emory, who’s juggling school and raising a newborn, and Simone, already a mother of twins and facing another pregnancy. The three of them become “the Girls”, a collective of young moms who, for better or worse, are there for each other. They may not have all the answers, but they'll have each other's backs in the end. Together, they form a patchwork family full of defiance, tenderness, and sharp edges, learning how to survive when others in their lives have turned against them.

What really stood out to me (and what I loved the most)was that none of these girls are painted as victims. Life hasn’t been easy for any of them, but they’re not stuck. They’re brave. They move with intention. They mess up, they push each other’s buttons, and they show up again and again—for their kids, for their friends, for themselves. Sure, there are a few missteps and a surprise betrayal or two, but they always correct course. The resilience here is inspiring. There’s no pity party. Just young women pushing forward with all the complexity and contradiction one would expect from young people trying to learn how to be adults.

Mottley’s prose is beautiful, poetic, and at times raw, but always grounded. There’s such care in the way she writes these characters. She doesn’t romanticize teen motherhood, but she doesn’t reduce it either. She lets these girls breathe and feel. They're alive and complex. She lets them be tough, scared, loving, angry, hopeful. And because of that, the story has emotional weight without ever becoming preachy or cliché.

I listened to the audiobook while also reading, and each character is narrated by a different voice actor. The narration is superb and I felt like each actor perfectly captured their respective character beautifully. If you're an audiobook lover, definitely check this one out.

If you’re looking for a story about determined young women who are finding their own way and rewriting what strength looks like, this is the one. The characters are unforgettable, and the story hits all the right emotional notes. This is the perfect summer read and one that will leave you thinking about it for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a copy of THE GIRLS WHO GREW BIG to read and review!

When Adela finds herself pregnant and shipped off to a small Florida town to give birth, she thinks her life is over. And in some ways it is. But meeting Emory, another teenage mom, will change her life forever.

Leila Mottley has beautiful prose. It’s no wonder her debut won so many awards. Unfortunately, this story felt disjointed and had too many moving pieces for me to get fully invested. I will, however, continue to keep an eye on this author and will give her next novel a try!