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.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed.  I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.



****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Layla, a Black choreographer, has just accepted a prestigious residency in rural Vermont. But upon arrival, she quickly notices unsettling patterns: her (white) boss only compares her work to that of other Black choreographers, and the dancers selected for her piece are exclusively Black as well. As Layla tries to focus on her craft, she’s also grappling with unresolved questions about her marriage. But pressure builds, and when it finally boils over, Layla is left to confront the wreckage—both personal and professional.

This beautifully written debut explores how race quietly but powerfully shapes interactions, even (and especially) in spaces that claim to be inclusive. Little Movements is a quiet storm—thought-provoking, intimate, and honest in its examination of what lies beneath the surface.

3.5 stars, rounded up for its grace and nuance.

Little Movements follows Layla Smart, a Black choreographer who simply wants to create beauty in the world without the crushing weight of controversy that follows her. While following her passion, she discovers the art institute that hired her is only following the money. Soon, the story comes out in full force, and Layla has to reconsider the goal of her art.

Layla’s journey of navigating personal struggles and societal pressures resonates deeply. When can we pause from the fight to simply appreciate the world's beauty as it exists?