DNF 25% in.

This book was not for me unfortunately. I feel that this is written for an extremely specific audience - artists. The subject wasn’t something I found interesting so it was really hard for me to want to invest my time in this.

I also feel like pregnancy journeys/fertility need to be written very delicately - and there was a conversation between the main character and her husband that super turned me off and made me dislike Layla - and since this book is a single POV and focuses on her experience as a choreography fellow I didn’t enjoy being in her perspective.

Lauren Morrow is both a writer and a dancer, and Little Movements details what happens when choreographer Layla is awarded the chance of a lifetime—to be fully supported while creating a new dance. However, life for her quickly gets difficult, with marriage problems, sponsor troubles and continuing cast changes. It’s a remarkable story.

Even more remarkable, within the story we get to hear Layla philosophizing about what it means to create. What responsibility does she as a choreographer have to her audience, dancers, supporters or to herself? These questions are even more interesting because Layla is Black, and all the dancers chosen for her to work with are also Black, a situation they find most unusual and quite freeing. When the (all-White) sponsors find out the dance is going to be about “life” they react negatively. It turns out they were looking for a “Black” piece.

How all of this came about and how it is worked out is important, but what shines is how the dance grows from Layla’s beginning idea to a passionate team effort. This requires a lot of hard work and great learning by each individual, making the resulting performance one that will be truly remembered by all.

The art of the story was so brilliant I loved how everything came together wow great read I will recommend that all add this book

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A choreographer gets a fellowship only to have it nulled by a scandal. In the midst of dealing with thr professional fallout, her personal life dissolves into its own scandal.

Perseverance.

This is a fascinating novel about the world of dance and how cut-throat it can be! Layla is a young choreographer who is pregnant but initially afraid to tell husband Eli as she's not sure about their relationship. She continues to battle with the idea and is also worried about Briar House's future as it's rumored to have been sold. It's a really touching story about relationships and dance where some will do anything they can to get ahead!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

If you love character-driven stories about art, race, and selfhood, this is one to add to your list.

This novel took me by surprise. I am glad I went into it blind because once I finished the book and read the synopsis, I felt like it gave away too much of the plot. I really enjoyed the writing style and tone. It had this unexpected offbeat, deadpan humor that I found very appealing and relatable. The overall story is contemporary and serious but I liked the lighter, comic relief moments as well, it gave the book some balance and intrigue. The protagonist, Layla Smart is a choreographer who is struggling in her career and marriage. I have to say I had a love/hate relationship with her husband, Eli. He was so obnoxious, immature, arrogant, and completely disrespectful to Layla. Some of his dialogue had me howling because he says some crazy shit to her. I feel like Layla’s journey comes full circle near the end. I really liked her as a character. I also like novels that talk about dance. I used to take ballet classes when I was younger, and any novels related to the love of dance I really gravitate towards. I also thought the themes of racism and classism were perfectly handled. This book is beautifully written. I will read anything this author writes in the future.

~ I received an ARC Copy of Little Movements from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

I have to say, I inhaled this book in a day. Lauren Morrow's story walks us through a 9 month residency that the main character Layla, completes as a choreographer in residence. Layla's childhood was focused in dance and her journey to choreograph is mixed with personal challenges and the pressure and desire to create art. I really enjoyed the storytelling and the development of the characters, and this book made me want to dance and create again.

*Little Movements* by Lauren Morrow is a compelling debut novel that delves into the complexities of balancing personal ambition with marital commitments. The story follows Layla Smart, a thirty-something Black dancer who leaves Brooklyn for a choreographer-in-residence position in rural Vermont, immersing herself in a predominantly white community. As she navigates her career and personal life, Layla faces challenges that test her resilience and identity. Morrow's narrative offers a poignant exploration of race, class, and the pursuit of dreams, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in stories of self-discovery and artistic passion.

I was hooked by this authors’s writing while reading the first few pages. Although by the end it was between. 3,5 and 4 star rating for me. I loved the themes and there was an engaging set of characters but I didn’t love all aspects of the plot. Severe off the plot felt too simple; just what I expected. There were however definitely some good surprises along the way. I will definitely look for this authors next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair honest review

This was a really remarkable debut, with incredibly confident writing that flew off the page as if on stage. Layla's journey is so singular, but also feels very relatable to anyone facing a crossroads in their lives, or who has to deal with a society that demands they be the face of an issue that should not be their burden.

That being said, the authenticity of the dance/choreography/performance storyline was SO crisp that I felt like the relationship/miscarriage dynamics rang a little false. I would never ever tell another person that their experience with divorce or fertility struggles wasn't valid, but I think in contrast to how honest all the dance elements were, the relationship component was harder for me to engage with.

Overall it's a really well done story, that tackles a lot of issues, mostly to great success. I think the author has a lot of promise and I look forward to reading more from her!

Wow. The emotions I felt reading this beautifully crafted story. I got so angry on the main character’s behalf that my entire body pulsated with rage. This is a beautiful novel about the cutthroat nature of ballet, being humiliated and thrown away by a spouse, and racism. This author is one to watch. I don’t think any book has ever gotten me this worked up.

This book reads like a memoir vs a work of fiction. Told by a black choreographer as she goes through life changes creating a piece of work for a group of small dancers. Lots about the creative process, about racism, her marriage and pregnancy and in some ways a coming of age story. Her voice is believable and heart felt and easy to relate to. I think it would work for a larger audience as well as a more specific one, ie dancers and creative people

Most of my students are "of color" so I think they will relate to her struggles as a Black woman in an inter ractial relationship, some of them are dancers, writers or artists so the creative process is of interest to them. I think they will enjoy it and maybe learn from some of the other themes in the book that are outside their life experiences.. the style is easy to read, so they will like that as well

This novel follows Layla Smart, a determined thirty-something choreographer chasing a long-deferred dream in rural Vermont. Leaving behind her life in Brooklyn for a nine-month residency at the prestigious Briar House, Layla is tasked with creating a transformative dance piece for a group of Black dancers in a predominantly white, insulated community. It’s an ambitious setup that blends art, identity, and personal reinvention—but the novel doesn’t consistently deliver on the full promise of its premise.

The book shines when it focuses on the artistic process. The rehearsal scenes, creative tension, and glimpses into the world of choreography are vivid and engaging. Layla’s professional challenges—navigating microaggressions, tokenism, and institutional politics—are handled with a fair degree of nuance and honesty. The supporting cast is eclectic and entertaining, if sometimes underdeveloped, and the small-town setting effectively contrasts Layla’s urban life.

The story juggles many threads—marital strain, career pressure, pregnancy, race, legacy, and institutional critique—and not all threads feel fully realized. At times, the pacing lags under the weight of competing subplots, and the emotional arcs, particularly around Layla’s relationship with her husband and her pregnancy, could use more depth and cohesion.

Still, the novel offers timely reflections on ambition, artistic integrity, and what it means to take up space as a Black woman in predominantly white institutions. It’s a solid read that’s thoughtful and relevant, even if its storytelling occasionally falters.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Little Movements surprised me! Not in a twisty, dramatic way, but in how deeply it made me think about creativity, identity, and the cost of chasing personal growth. It follows Layla, a choreographer who steps out of her Brooklyn life to spend time at an artist residency in rural Vermont. She’s there to create a dance piece, but of course, what ends up shifting isn’t just the choreography.

What I loved:
A unique lens on ambition: I haven’t read many novels that center on dance as an art form, and the way Morrow captures the physicality of movement and the emotional labor of creation felt fresh and grounding. Layla’s passion is palpable—it pulls the story forward with quiet determination.

Emotionally layered protagonist: Layla is messy, thoughtful, and at times frustrating—in other words, human. Real. I appreciated that she wasn’t “likable” in the traditional sense. She wrestles with the implications of her choices, especially as she steps away from her marriage and confronts what it means to build a life on her own terms.

Themes of race and space handled with grace: Layla, a Black woman, finds herself in a mostly white rural community. There’s tension, discomfort, and subtle power dynamics at play. Morrow never lectures—she lets the situations speak for themselves, and that restraint made the story more impactful.

Atmosphere and pacing match the content: The quiet, introspective tone mirrors Layla’s internal state. It’s a slow burn, but it’s supposed to be. You feel the stillness of the residency, the isolation, the uncertainty—and in that, something real emerges.

What didn’t work as well for me:

Some characters felt underused: While I found Layla’s internal journey compelling, the people around her sometimes felt more like instruments than full beings. I wanted more emotional depth or backstory, especially from the dancers she works with.

A few predictable moments: There are emotional beats—strained relationship, artistic doubt, a few residency “revelations”—that felt a bit familiar. I wished the story had taken a few more risks in those moments.

Occasional pacing drag: While I appreciated the novel’s meditative rhythm, there were a few sections where Layla’s ruminations felt repetitive. It’s the kind of book you need to read slowly, but even so, a bit of trimming could have tightened the experience.

Final Thoughts:
If you’re someone who loves stories about art, internal change, and the murky beauty of becoming, Little Movements might speak to you. It’s not loud, but it leaves a quiet echo. I enjoyed my time :)

A quietly powerful debut that pirouettes between artistry and identity, Little Movements is a richly layered novel about what it means to create, to belong, and to evolve.

Layla Smart is the kind of protagonist who lingers—flawed, driven, and deeply human. Her journey from Brooklyn to the insulated halls of a prestigious Vermont arts residency is both a literal and emotional migration: from compromise to ambition, from comfort to discomfort, from “dreaming medium” to chasing what she truly wants. Lauren Morrow writes with elegance and insight, capturing the tension of being a Black woman in overwhelmingly white spaces without reducing Layla’s story to trauma alone. Instead, it’s full of nuance: awkward conversations, beautiful rehearsals, small triumphs, and quiet betrayals.

What really sings here is the way Morrow examines the intersection of race, art, and womanhood. The stakes feel real—professionally, personally, and relationally. Layla’s marriage struggles, her complicated pregnancy, the microaggressions and coded comparisons from colleagues—it's all handled with a deft, observant touch. The pacing can occasionally lag, especially in the middle, but the emotional payoff is well worth it.

Part character study, part artistic coming-of-age, Little Movements will resonate with fans of Raven Leilani’s Luster, Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere, and anyone who’s ever questioned the cost of chasing a dream.

Little Movements is a captivating debut about Layla Smart, a dancer who must navigate the challenges of being a Black artist in a predominantly white Vermont town while grappling with her marriage, ambition, and unexpected pregnancy. As she works to create a career-defining dance at Briar House, Layla confronts the complexities of art, race, and personal fulfillment. This poignant novel explores the delicate balance between creative passion and personal sacrifice.

Little Movements is a graceful, deeply felt debut that captures the breathtaking beauty and brutal cost of chasing your dreams. Layla’s journey is raw, complex, and achingly real, exploring the tension between art, ambition, marriage, and identity with striking honesty. The writing is vivid and alive, full of tenderness and sharp insight. Every page pulses with emotion, and Layla’s struggle to carve out space for her voice, her art, and her full self made this story feel both intimate and urgently necessary. This is a novel that dances right into your heart and stays there. I absolutely loved reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC copy of this book.

I really enjoyed the pacing of this book and the writing. The author did such a great job describing scenes and the flow to each chapter kept me reading. I don't normally read books with dancing as a big topic, but I enjoyed how the author wrote the dancing scenes and it was fun learning more about the behind the scenes in the dancing career.