It's kind of funny to me that right before I started reading this, I had an obsession with oranges. Maybe it was foreshadowing?


The Grove is set in 1960 and follows Penelope Bean (Pip), a fifteen-year girl who lives and works on an orange grove with her parents and older sister. Pip and her sister, Sissy, are in charge of running a roadside stand giving out souvenirs and fresh orange juice. Every winter, the two girls wait impatiently for the carnival to come to town. This year in particular it brings new surprises that cause a drastic change in Pip and Sissy's lives. The effects of the carnival haunt them for months to come and we watch as Pip's relationships change and grow, some for better and some for worse.


This is such a beautiful novel inside and out. The writing was so comforting, and it was so easy to sink into the story. There were a few serious topics discussed, such as racism, which was done very well. Phillips did a wonderful job showcasing how racism is something that is learned, not something you are born with.


Pip's way of seeing the world is something I'll keep with me for a long time. It was incredible getting to see her grow and how the dynamics between her and the other characters grew as well. I especially how Pip's relationship with herself grew as well and how she was able to grow more confident, no longer seeking the approval of others.


I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with this book, and I definitely recommend picking it when it comes out! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.

This was an amazing. Ya historical fiction book. Is was very deep and emotional and it made me feel so many emotions.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for accepting my request for an ACR of this book!
No matter how hard she tries to escape the groves, something always pulls her back.
1.5/5
When I first started reading the book I was very excited for the 1960s setting and for the sisters story. Surprisingly, the book was very fast paced which was nice, but with that the writing style was very new YA. Which I personally didn’t enjoy that much. I just went through the book but it wasn’t until I had less than 100 pages left where I felt things finally really picked up. Granted there were some scenes I enjoyed, and the complexities of the relationships, but it was the writing style I really couldn’t get past.

I binge-read this novel over 24 hours—the absolute definition of unputdownable. This is one of the most beautifully written, emotionally unsettling YA books I've ever read. A hope-filled yet honest gut punch of a novel that doesn't shy away from the idea of consequences, yet openly embraces the concept of brighter beginnings if we're brave enough to walk into them.