“Later, there will be accusations and recriminations, waves of guilt, and surges of shame. Later, someone will say--You know what really happened, right?” “How Girls Are Made” by Mindy McGinnis

Fallon is shocked to learn her younger sister has very little knowledge of sexual education and becomes determined to support her in the learning process. Starting as a small group of girls, Fallon’s new, secret, off-campus group focused on sex ed goes viral on social media, putting more eyes on the group than Fallon could have expected. First starting as a way to educate people like her little sister, Fallon’s project becomes a viral social media account both bringing praises and threats to Fallon.

Mindy has written another gut-punch of a book, which comes as no surprise to me. Mindy especially excels at powerful contemporary novels with dynamic and complex characters. Ever since I cried over tomato soup while reading “The Female of the Species” (this is now a core memory of my reading experience) I have been such a fan of Mindy McGinnis. Her books are incredibly powerful and poignant and “How Girls Are Made” is no different.

“How Girls Are Made” will be published 11/18/25. Thank you to Mindy, NetGalley, and Harpercollins for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Mindy McGinnis' s books, and this one did not disappoint. The three narratives, all with really dark themes, did seem like a lot for one book, but the voices were all very distinct. And, of course, it did not fail to bring the expected gut punch by the end. I think this will be very popular with teen (and adult) girls, and they will doubtless recognize some of their own experiences of becoming girls in its pages.

What I liked:

As a teacher of teenagers, I feel like this would really appeal to my students. Would I recommend it to them? Yes, but not all of them. If I was a teenager, I would have eaten this book right up. It has secrets, scandal, and sex ed. I liked that McGinnis put a lot of needed information for teenagers about the world (sex ed, social media, bullying, domestic violence), without dummying it down for them. They will appreciate that also.

It also tore at my heart strings as a teacher of teenagers. I actually think this book would make teenagers think twice about their actions. That's a good thing. I could picture my students as the main characters, and McGinnis did a nice job of portraying different types of kids that could be sitting right in my classroom.

What I would change:

The beginning definitely pulled me in. The last 40 pages or so were a jaw dropper. I felt the middle of the book lagged, however. It was very long, and sometimes it repeated information, but in different ways. Even though I enjoyed the ending, I felt that it was abrupt. It was like I walked up to a tree, admired it, shook it, and then all of the apples hit me on the head.

I'm glad that I read the book. Even though it is a YA book, I still think adults would enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Mindy McGinnis for my free copy. This is my honest opinion.

Ugh this BOOK. It's been about a week since I finished it, and I STILL can't get it out of my head! "How Girls Are Made" follows the story of three highschoolers as they create a club and social media page to help promote safe sex and health conversation around the topic. Each chapter alternates POVs between Fallon (academic perfectionist and rule-following extraordinaire), Shelby (well-known boxer who went recently viral after abuse from her ex-boyfriend), and Jobie (relatable teenager who craves approval and will do anything to be beautiful...and go viral on social media).

With the start of their underground sex-education club, it had a lot of feminist Moxie-style vibes and was trending in a positive way. Each chapter rotated between a highly relatable struggle each teen went through and each one seemed to be making positive development and progress. But then the ending....holy COW. Without giving too much away, things got REALLY dark REALLY quick and felt very abrupt. I understand that these are real things that happen to people in real life, but some of the details felt excessive and out of place compared to the tone of the rest of the novel. That being said, I do appreciate how authentic and raw McGinnis went with these topics as they're real issues and dangers our kids are facing today.

Thanks so much for this ARC - this is a powerful read I'd recommend to anyone, especially those with kids or who work closely with them!

Mindy McGinnis has written a masterful examination of teenage life and social pressure today. More importantly, she has that unique ability to capture the attention of a middle-to-upper grades audience and meet them where they are, pulling no punches and respecting their intelligence. In truth, our young protagonists could be any girls from any school in America, but centering the narrative on these characters, with the use of shifting perspectives, makes the book feel almost like a non-fiction novel. In truth, there is a lot of great factual information here which drives the narrative, and as one might imagine, McGinnis is frank in her use of language not in an attempt to be crass, but at true authenticity. The scenarios our protagonists find themselves in are strikingly real, and the ending is as gut wrenching as if being observed in real life. Indeed, though this story is told through the lens of sexuality, social media conformism and the like, its main point is to warn of the dangers of social isolation, information suppression, bias and misunderstanding. A first-rate tour de force that could even be used in higher education classes addressing the topics, but most appropriate for its target age group. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Children's for the complimentary advance copy upon which this review is based.

Never one to shy away from tough topics, McGinnis takes us into this one head first. A big standout was how real and authentic the characters and their situations felt. I loved the sisterly bond, as well as the developing (and established) friendships.
At times it's not an easy read, but it is a much needed one. This story showcases how easy, and how quickly, it is for situations to become out of your control. Especially when social media is involved.
How Girls Are Made is a powerful and unsettling story about the real struggles and dangers teenage girls are faced with.

Mindy. What the Jesus Christ was that??

One of the most harrowing things about this book was just how real the girls and situations felt. McGinnis must have done some really extensive research because this was so reflective of the teenagers I deal with in real life. It's also a great portrayal of how fast things can spiral out of control, even when you take precautions and try your best to do the right things. I'd like to say I'm looking forward to recommending it but I'll have to be cautious about who I recommend it to. I will say it was very well paced, kept me on my toes, made me feel very deeply for the characters but was a VERY rough read, especially those last 50 pages or so. Please read any content warnings before proceeding, just in case.

*How Girls Are Made* is a gut-wrenching, unflinching, & ultimately honest story about trauma, survival, & the tangled path to healing. This isn’t your typical coming-of-age novel — it’s messy, raw, & more real than most stories dare to be.

**What I Loved:**
One of the standout aspects of this book is its authentic representation of **peer-to-peer sex education**. It’s refreshing & powerful to see young girls taking the initiative to educate & empower each other in a world that so often fails them. This narrative choice adds weight & credibility to the characters’ growth & pain, & it’s a much-needed spotlight on the importance of accessible, honest conversations about bodies & boundaries.

The **overarching theme — “it’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to stay that way”** — hits hard. There’s something deeply affirming about the idea that healing isn’t just desirable, it’s essential. The novel doesn’t offer tidy resolutions, but instead reminds us that we have some agency in our own recovery. If we begin to tend to our wounds when they’re still fresh, we might avoid decades of pain down the line.

**The Ending (No Spoilers):**
Let’s talk about the ending. I loved it & hated it — because *what the fuck*. It goes *left* fast, & that abrupt shift leaves you stunned. Because exactly how did we get here? But that’s also what makes it real. Life doesn’t wrap itself up neatly, & this book doesn't either. It holds a mirror to the reality that doing the right thing doesn’t guarantee protection, closure, or a happy ending.

**What Hurt (In a Good but Frustrating Way):**
It was devastating to see the girls — especially Mal — **burned at the stake for doing good in the hood**. They tried to create something beautiful, something safe, & still ended up paying the price for challenging the system. Mal, in particular, didn’t deserve to be the scapegoat. Her sexuality became the focal point of backlash, when her heart was in the right place from the beginning. It’s unjust, but unfortunately not unfamiliar — & the author doesn’t shy away from that truth.

**Final Thoughts:**
This isn’t a feel-good book. It’s a necessary one. It refuses to romanticize pain or oversimplify healing. Instead, it invites you to sit in the discomfort, to wrestle with the fallout, & to remember that survival isn’t the end goal — thriving is.

Not everyone will walk away from *How Girls Are Made* feeling good. But you will walk away feeling *something*. & sometimes, that’s exactly what a good book should do.

*I received an advance review copy for free & I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

#ThankGodForARCs

Such a great book! Thank you for letting me read in advance. I loved the characters so much. Can't wait to look into the other books this author has to offer.

Mindy McGinnis has done it again.

As someone who works with teens, whenever I read her books, I’m in awe how well she captures real teens and their behavior, holding nothing back. I was onto the Jobie situation almost immediately, but it still played out in a surprising way. HGAM was uncomfortable to read at times, but it was a powerful, realistic story about the dangers girls face every day in contemporary society.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Mindy McGinnis is the queen of real YA. What I mean by this is that she writes about things that teenagers are actually struggling with. I am a high school English teacher. My students love her books. Hey stories resonate with them because they are shockingly, gruesomely, real.

This novel takes a look at dating violence, narcissism, overwork, social media pressure, self-doubt, being an outcast, and any other real world issue teenagers deal with today.

Not a single other author I have read has created such perfect works displaying the true horror of life as an American teenager in our time period.

A tragic story but a story that can help young girls and boys. It focuses on the dangers of social media, abuse, suicidal thoughts and so much more. I couldn’t put it down.

This book unfortunately didn’t grab my attention. I didn’t like the main characters. This was a DNF for me.

First, this is a great, and extremely timely book. It deals with the fallout that can occur when our girls (and I have one), don't understand sex or healthy relationships, and base their worth on all the wrong things, such as social media followers. Each girl in the book is dealing with danger in one form or another, with one of the major through lines being how that young woman is perceived on social media. That said, while it is excellent, McGinnis's books have teeth, and this one certainly does. It does not feel exploitative, but trigger warnings will certainly be needed for elements such as self-harm, suicide attempt, rape, and emotional and physical abuse. I appreciate that McGinnis was straightforward about these threats, but I also believe in protecting your brain. If this book is going to hurt you, don't read it.

This book was so interesting and enticing. Once I started I couldn’t stop and I loved every second of it. This book really made me reflect on the lives of my teenagers coming through the library and the way the teens lived where entwined was thrilling.

"Moxie" meets "A List" meets murder. Not my favorite Mindy McGinnis because of how explicit it was, but I could see some high school students enjoying this book.

How Girls Are Made by Mindy McGinnis belongs in every high school library and should be prioritized by educators, librarians, and anyone curating books for teens and young adults—especially young women. This powerful novel follows three high school seniors who come together to create a secret space for educating girls in their community about sex education, wellness, and the often-overwhelming influence of social media.

As a woman, I cannot recommend this book enough. As a mother, it opened my eyes to important topics that are often avoided or glossed over—particularly the emotional and psychological impact that online predators and social media trolls can have on today’s youth.

Mindy McGinnis delivers an unflinching, timely story that sparks necessary conversations. How Girls Are Made isn’t just a novel—it’s a much-needed resource for teens, parents, and educators alike.

Ok so full disclosure I wasn’t loving this book for about 60% of it. It felt really far fetched even beyond the typical YA structure of unlikely scenarios. The chapters were awfully long and many times the same things were repeated over and over albeit in slightly different way.

However, the last 40 or so pages completely drew me in and I was flipping the pages so fast to read what happens. I wish the whole book had the same energy and pacing because it would have been an easy 3 star read. That being said was the book as a while worth it for those final pages? Absolutely.

While 2/3rds of the book didn’t engage me as much, I am not the target audience which could have contributed. I do think the information is important. Having the fictional story deliver needed information to young readers is important especially in currently society in the USA. The book tackles not
only sex education but also the dark side of social media and teenage emotional turmoil.

So in the end I absolutely recommend reading this particularly if you are an older teen/ young adult. It comes out November 18 2025 so get it on your TBR or preorder it now!

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Harper Collins through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Three teenage girls are in the throes of adolescence, and learning about sex is at the top of their lists to help figure out their lives. Fallon, Shelby and Jobie are all well formed characters but the action in How Girls Are Made failed to capture my interest. The plot failed to live up to the exciting log line in this book for me.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mindy McGinnis’s “How Girls Are Made” is a bold, sobering YA book that dives headfirst into the tangled realities of girlhood in the digital age. With an exploration of emotional depth, topical urgency, and her signature gritty style, McGinnis crafts a story about three girls—Fallon, Shelby, and Jobie—whose lives collide in a secret, student-led sex education class that gradually becomes a powder keg of trauma, discovery, and danger.

The story opens with a funeral but we don’t know whose. This looming question creates a tense undercurrent that drives the story forward. As the chapters unfold, each of the three girls emerges with a distinct and compelling voice:

Fallon, the overachieving fixer, starts the underground sex-ed class after realizing just how uninformed her peers and even her sister are about basic sexual health. Her desire to do good makes her relatable, but her journey also reflects the risks of idealism in an unforgiving online world.

Shelby, the fighter, is grappling with PTSD and trauma from an abusive relationship. Her arc is heartbreaking as she tries to mold herself to fit the expectations of a new boyfriend whose behavior mirrors past dangers.

Jobie, the "failure," struggles with self-worth and seeks validation through social media. Her descent into online exploitation is gut-wrenching and all too believable in today’s influencer-obsessed culture.

Each girl is navigating real, raw issues like domestic violence, online predators, consent, and toxic masculinity while also trying to figure out who they are. Their voices feel authentic, sometimes painfully so, and their struggles mirror those faced by countless teenagers today. The dialogue, while peppered with sexual jokes, sounds exactly like what real teens might say.

However, “How Girls Are Made” is not without flaws. At times, the book leans more toward a dramatized health class than a novel, occasionally sacrificing narrative flow for teachable moments. Still, the emotional payoff is there. The tension builds steadily, and the final chapters are devastating. The eventual reveal of which girl dies is both shocking and tragically plausible. McGinnis doesn't shy away from showing how systemic failures whether at home, at school, or online can corrode young lives. Yet she also allows space for healing, friendship, and solidarity.

Ultimately, “How Girls Are Made” is a powerful exploration of the pressures modern girls face and the impossible choices they are sometimes forced to make. It’s not always subtle, but it’s always sincere, and, in the end, it will leave you thinking, talking, and feeling deeply.

Content warnings: sexual assault, suicide, domestic violence, emotional abuse, online exploitation.