The Girls Who Grew Big is a moving and heartfelt novel set in Padua Beach, Florida, following the lives of a group of Girls who became mothers in their teens. Told from the perspectives of three of the Girls, the story offers a nuanced look at teenage motherhood:

Simone – At 20, she's the unofficial leader of the group, having had twins at 15.

Emory – Determined to finish high school, she brings her newborn to class each day. The baby's father is Simone's brother.

Adela – Sent away by her parents to live with her grandparents, she’s pressured to give up her baby for adoption so she can return to her life as a competitive swimmer.

The novel explores the stereotypes and societal judgments teenage mothers often face, while also highlighting their shared desires: to love, protect, and raise their children the best they can.
What stood out most to me was the strong bond between the girls—the way they supported one another, formed their own kind of family, and grew together through their challenges. Their personal growth was deeply satisfying to witness, and their resilience stayed with me long after I finished the book.

This is an astounding work by an author still in her early 20s, her second novel. We follow three young women, one with five-year-old twins who she's been raising in the back of a truck, one with a young baby she dreamed of having, and one very newly pregnant, all living in a forgotten part of the Florida panhandle where only students on spring break visit. Forming a rough community, the girls educate each other, share scant resources, learn to flourish and encourage each other - and fight and clash.

Another one with some grim scenes of birth and loss, set out around the three trimesters of Adela's pregnancy as she befriends Emory, whose grandparents won't accept her Black boyfriend and meets Simone, who's disentangling herself from the partner who will only be a dad when it suits him. Will Simone carve out space for herself or just exhaust herself giving support to others? Will Emory finish school when baby has to come to, and even consider trying for college? Will Adela return to her stellar swimming career and the mean girl friends back home? Glimmers of a better future hang in front of them; but mainly we see deep into the lives of pregnant teenagers with love and understanding.

Blog review coming 10 July 2025: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/two-netgalley-reads-about-young-women-sonita-alizada-sonita-and-leila-mottley-the-girls-who-grew-big/

Not the sort of book I would normally read a story of teenage mum's and the soap opera life they lead. A challenging story to tell culled from many conversations. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

“But me, the Girls, us together, we knew more than that. We knew risk and failure and worry. We knew release and reckonings and all kinds of regret. But we also knew what it was to expand beyond what you believed of yourself.”

When competitive swimmer Adela falls pregnant at 16, her parents banish her to her grandmother’s home in Florida to wait out her pregnancy. As she arrives in Padua Beach, a forgotten town on the Panhandle, she hears horror stories about ‘the Girls’, a group of fierce teenage mothers discarded and judged by their families and town at large. Adela is determined to avoid their fate and begins counting down the days until she can place her baby for adoption and return to her life in Indiana. But Adela is drawn to one of the Girls, Ebony, at school and accepts an invite to join them for one of their beach ‘parties’. Simone, their formidable leader, is immediately wary of Adela but gives her a chance when she realises that she too is an outcast. Everyone else in the world may think they’re lost, but the Girls know they’re all exactly where they’re meant to be, and becoming who they are meant to be.

Told through the narratives of Adela, Ebony and Simone, The Girls Who Grew Big is a truly stunning book that gives voices to those who are often silenced. It covers so many important topics including racism, class divides in America, access to abortion and the importance of community. For a book with such difficult topics, it is also one that is full of beauty, hope and resilience in spite of it all. The fact that I was on my sofa crying at multiple parts is a true testament to Leila Mottley’s incredible writing as despite the fact I am not a mother and am not sure I ever want to be, I found myself so deeply connected to the Girls’ stories and rooting for each and every single one of them.

Big thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this one.

Following the points of view of Adela, Emory and Simone, this is a well told story of the plight of these three young women. The story immediately shows the pain of childbirth, and is graphic in its depiction and its difficulties. It allows the reader to be swept straight into the story, and into the love the Girls have for their children

The three voices are distinctive in their language and structure; they work and contrast each other well. The characters are bonded by their situations, and can clash and act against each other, but seeing all their viewpoints allows the reader to understand and sympathise with them. I did feel that even reading her thoughts, Adela was the least known to me. I struggled to understand some of her actions, and her justifications for them. She is privileged, but also has a need to be liked, which comes against the struggles of the other Girls

The author uses this book to explore the limitations and restrictions of the American health, prenatal and neo-natal systems, abortion views, education system and the exorbitant health care costs. The three Girls experience this at different times, yet the outcome is often the same. It seems unthinkable that Simone and her children live in a truck, and yet this book explores why

The ending is hopeful, without being unrealistic that their lives will suddenly become easy. But after the hardships faced in the novel, it was good to leave these Girls on a lighter note

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC

A highly emotional read. Loved the characters and their stories and how they supported each other. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy.

This is a great novel which blends a compelling plot, vivid characterisation and thought-provoking social commentary.

The insights Mottley draws of teenage pregnancy and motherhood are intelligent, empathetic and moving, examining themes such as choice, agency, love and rejection. Their journeys through maturity reflect their vulnerability and their strength in a perfectly crafted way.

Mottley is a confident and assured writer belying her young age with a developed skill that is impressive. I did feel that this was a tad overwritten at times, but looks with excitement to see what Mottley can achieve in her writing career. A thoroughly enjoyable, timely novel.

This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

This American novelist’s latest book is a raw yet tender exploration of motherhood, particularly how it affects a group of teen mums in small-town coastal Florida. Facing rejection from family members the girls have bonded into their own support group to tackle the challenges facing them in terms of their choices, their relationships and learning how to parent as they go along. The novel focuses on the narratives of three of this group.
Simone, is the founding member, a mother of twins born in the back of a truck because her family wanted nothing to do with her. She has had to learn the hard way, has an on-off relationship with the twins’ father. Older than the other girls, aged 20 with her now five year old offspring she provides the support and shelter for others who have been rejected and strives not to make the same mistakes again. Her brother, Jayden, is still at home with the parents who threw her out but he has impregnated Emory, a white girl, brought up by her grandparents. She engineered her pregnancy without realising how much it would compromise her plans for the future. She is struggling to stay in education with grandparents who feel she should cope without their support and who have banned her black boyfriend from their home. The third narrator is Adela, a talented swimmer, who has been sent back to Padua Beach to her paternal grandmother for the duration of her pregnancy where it is hoped she will seek adoption and resume training.
All three of these interspersing narratives work very well resulting in a rich, textured novel. I did wonder, initially, if the author’s unflinching view of childbirth and the issues involved might be too much for me but I found myself really getting drawn into Adela’s story at first and from there onto the experience of her friends. The novel follows the timespan of her pregnancy suggesting she is the central character but all others are strongly created and it is hard not to become fully involved in their experiences.
In a twisty plot the dynamics between these young women also prove engrossing. They provide strong support yet it is all carried out with a fragile balance that can turn, the sense of the female protection for their offspring (some initially wanted, some not) is so powerfully conveyed. Their body changes, the heat of an oppressive Florida where a hurricane or an alligator may not be too far away and a real sense of the background and environment of these characters in this resort adds to the quality of the story-telling. I think I will remember these characters, the setting and their lives for some time. Highly recommended.

The Girls Who Grew Big is published by Penguin in the UK on 10th July 2025. The Kindle version is available now. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

This was brilliant. It’s about womanhood, sisterhood, and motherhood, and how messy, hard, and beautiful all of that can be.

We follow Simone, Adela and Emory, three young mothers trying to figure things out in a world that’s already written them off. Their families have pushed them away for the choices they’ve made, so they build their own version of one.

The story is told through each of their perspectives, and I loved how distinct and fully formed each voice felt. The dynamic between the girls was one of my favourite parts - they challenge each other, care for each other, and carry one another when they need to.

The writing is bold and full of feeling, and I loved how Mottley captured the strength in female friendship, even when it’s complicated!!

The Girls Who Grew Big is a raw and beautiful novel about girlhood, motherhood and community. Narrated by Simone, Emory and Adela, Leila Mottley tells the story of The Girls, a small, tight-knit community of young mothers trying to survive, and raise both themselves and their babies in a town in Florida. Shunned by wider society, judged by strangers and rejected by their own families, the group is impacted when outsider Adela joins the group, leading to personal developments and revelations.

I found that it took a while to get into this book, whilst I got used to the characters and setting. Like Adela, I felt like I was having to adapt to the world of The Girls, which seemed brutal and unstable at times. Once I got into it, I loved how considered the characters were and how the bonds grew. I loved the writing, there is a depth and reflectiveness to it, which works weirdly well with the messiness and uncertainty of a the environment. I enjoyed the way the author used the narrative style to look back to explore each of the three main characters.

The book covers themes around young motherhood and the LGBT community; discussing topics such as sexuality, reproductive rights and education for young mothers. I would recommend for readers who like complex characters and are interested in the book’s themes.

When Adela Woods tells her parents she’s pregnant, they immediately send her a thousand miles away to stay with her grandmother in Padua Beach. The intention is that she will leave her baby in 'the forgotten Panhandle of Florida'. and resume her suburban life nine months later as though nothing happened. But Adela’s plans are soon washed away by the tide.

Well, I have mixed feelings about this book. I like the writing style, but I found it a bit slow in places. Plus, there are a lot of characters. But the characters are three-dimensional and mostly likeable. This isn't my usual read, but it was different and enjoyable.

Set in the sweltering Florida Panhandle, this is a bold, tender novel about three teenage girls navigating pregnancy, motherhood, and survival in a world that’s all too ready to write them off. Leila Mottley captures their voices with striking emotional clarity: Adela, a former swimmer sent away by her parents; Emory, determined to finish school with her baby in tow; and Simone, the eldest and now in her 20s, who is holding them all together from the back of her red pickup.

Mottley writes with a poetic force that balances the hardship of teen pregnancy with moments of raw tenderness. The novel doesn’t sugarcoat their hardships - poverty, judgment, scattered support - but it’s also about how these young mothers forge a makeshift village, creating safety and space for each other.

The setting - the forgotten Florida Panhandle - feels like a character itself, its heat, dunes, and coastline mirroring the characters’ internal transformations.

It’s a powerful story of girlhood, resilience, and the fierce love that grows between young mothers. Unflinching and compelling, this is a novel that makes space for the girls who are so often silenced and lets them grow big on their own terms.

I can’t review this book without taking some time to talk about the fantastic author. Leila Mottley is a literary superstar. At just 16, she was named Oakland’s Youth Poet Laureate. Her debut novel Nightcrawling - published when she was 20 years-old - became a New York Times bestseller, the youngest-ever Booker Prize nominee, and an Oprah’s Book Club selection. Her second novel The Girls Who Grew Big continues to showcase her poetic voice and fierce empathy, placing her squarely among today’s most vital authors.

The Girls Who Grew Big is out on 10th July, or available immediately on e-book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Fig Tree for gifting me a copy of this book. All opinions are unedited and entirely my own.

This book was so beautiful, tender and touching. A beautiful story of girlhood and motherhood all wrapped up in some of my favorite writing I've read all year. The exploration of inter generational trauma was exceptional in this novel, and really gave it a lot of heart. The setting was extremely sensory and visceral.
I'm not a mother but I feel like this book gave me a true glimpse into motherhood. Would 100% recommend.

These girls are teen moms in a town that wants them to disappear. But they’re not going anywhere. They’re messy, fierce, loud, and full of heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Girls Who Grew big by Leila Mottley

After reading and enjoying Nightcrawling I was excited when my request to read this was approved by @Netgalley.

The story centres around a group of young mothers rejected because they became pregnant at such a young age and brought shame to their families.

Adela Woods's parents banished her to Padua Beach, a small town in Florida, to live with her grandmother, Noni, when they discovered she was pregnant. The first friend she makes is Emory, who has recently given birth to baby Kai. She is determined to graduate, go to college, and make a great life for herself and her son.

Simone is a mother to four-year-old twins who feels utterly alone. She along with the other girls lives out of her red truck and is just trying to survive and look after their kids with the little resources they have.

What I loved about this story is how motivated, driven and ambitious these girls were. Their families have turned their backs on them withdrawing any kind of love and support and yet the strength, the determination and desire for self-improvement is remarkable and quite inspiring.

Mottley’s writing takes a bit of getting used to in that it is raw but also poetic. For me the beauty in how she describes the friendship amongst the group and also the complexities of motherhood at such a young age was exceptionally compelling. It makes their experiences and struggles so real.

They were still young and trying to navigate a complicated reality. My heart ached for them and I wanted to hug them all and tell them what a terrific job they were doing. These characters were so delightful and lovable and I loved how they developed and grew throughout the story.

Mottley was only nineteen when she produced her debut Nightcrawling and after reading this it is obvious she is a very talented writer. I’m excited to see what she produces next. Thank you to @NetGalley @penguinfigtree and @aaknopf for an ARC of this book. Published July 3rd 2025

When Adela falls pregnant as a teenager, her parents ferry her to Florida to stay with her grandparents. The Girls Who Grew Big is a raw and unflinching portrait of three teenage mothers, their naïveté, building a community or ‘village’, motherhood, friendship and teendom. Slow to start, you’ll quickly warm to Adela as she navigates her pregnancy and forms a close bond with fellow young mothers.

Mottley writes each character so precisely that they practically lift from the page; you’re in the room with them. While the subject matter is difficult, Mottley treats each girl’s story with care and a genuine, heartfelt hope that runs throughout. Our protagonists, Adela, Simone and Emory are at different stages of motherhood and this creates a well-rounded picture of their young motherhood and how a friendship connected in this way works. There’s certainly a negative image painted in modern society about teenage mothers, but also about ‘older mothers’ – this novel humanises women again and puts them first, something that felt refreshing and needed in these times.

What a brilliant book, both full of hope but also full of heartbreak for these brilliant women.

Not the type of book I would normally read but I am so glad I did.

A group of girls that all have one thing in common. They got pregnant as a teenager.

Simone has twins and is raising them basically all on her own after being kicked out of her house.
Emory just got her little baby and tries to raise him while going to school and trying to keep her life together.
Adela has recently moved to Florida where she meets the girls. She’s forced by her parents to deliver the baby and give it away to another family.

Their lives aren’t going as any of them expected. Choices are being made for them. Choices they don’t have control over and don’t always agree with.
How do you deal with it all as a young woman?
You have to keep going.
At least they have each other.
They’re more than just friends. They’re family.

Their story is so raw and so heartbreaking at times but also heartwarming and beautiful at other times.
It’s not just a story about pregnancy. It’s about friendship, family, love, motherhood, being a woman, grief and most of all, finding your own place in the world.

At times it was a bit slow but I still kept wanting to pick it up and continue it. The one thing that bothered me a little bit was the writing in accents. Something I’m not a big fan of, but I’ll say, it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would in the beginning.
It’s not a story that did anything special for me necessarily, hence the 3 star rating, but I also have nothing bad to say about it. Just an overall good and entertaining book.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the arc

Mottley paints a triumphant portrait of a group of young women who support each other and take control of their own narratives despite society looking down on them.

The main characters are 3 girls at different stages of young motherhood. All 3 muddle their way through not only motherhood but also the ups and downs of being a teenager. The characters are well rounded and it's hard not to empathise with the girls, despite their actions sometimes being frustrating to witness. The narrative has its ups and downs, the pivotal moment in which the tension peaks was incredibly fraught and it took me a while to be able to relax.

Definitely a book to read when you need to restore your trust in the strength of women.

The Girls Who Grew Big is a book I will remember for a long time. It starts off so raw and slightly shockingly, which had me instantly hooked. The story follows three teenage mothers and their personal lives. Each character is distinct, strong and real. Being teenagers sometimes I find authors portray them as being too young and naive. But this book seemed to be age appropriate and balanced. There is character development and growing up that occurs but it felt very natural. I loved the exploration of Southern American Culture, marginalised groups, societal expectations and abortion.
The differing experiences complemented each other, there is messy life happening and awful treatment at the hands of others. Despite these things ‘the girls’ have each other. The story is heartfelt, hopeful and brimming with friendship. I found it a very engaging read and will be following this authors next works.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.