An entire story about what it means to be a young mother surrounded by other young moms. I was enthralled. Mottley's storytelling is unique and authentic. The characters she crafted easily took me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

'The Girls Who Grew Big' hooked me right away and reminded me a lot of the film 'The Florida Project' directed by Sean Baker and written by Chris Bergoch and Baker. This is a powerful story about teen mothers finding strength in bonds forged with one another despite society’s harsh judgments. The novel follows Adela Woods, a sixteen-year-old forced to leave home when she becomes pregnant, landing in Padua Beach, Florida. There, she finds a sisterhood of young moms who are raising their children while still growing up themselves.

Simone, a mother of twins, is the group’s natural leader, though she starts the novel feeling stuck in that role. She carries the weight of her friends’ struggles, but as the story unfolds, she learns to set boundaries and redefine what motherhood means for her. Watching Simone navigate love, betrayal, and heartbreak while making choices for herself rather than just for others was one of the most powerful parts of the novel.

Mottley writes these girls with so much depth, capturing both their youthful innocence and the maturity forced upon them by motherhood. They are not reduced to stereotypes; they are fully realized people with dreams, regrets, and hopes for the future. Their friendships provide them with the love and support they don’t always get from their families, especially in Adela’s case, where her parents pressure her to give up her baby.

The novel beautifully explores the tension between personal agency and societal expectations. The girls are often dismissed or criticized, yet they make difficult choices with courage and determination. The way they rally around each other highlights the importance of chosen family and unwavering support. Simone’s journey stuck with me the most. She begins as the one holding everything together but ultimately realizes that she has to put herself first to be the mother she wants to be. Her decision to center her own needs is not selfish—it’s necessary, and Mottley treats this with tenderness and respect.

'The Girls Who Grew Big' is a novel about survival, persistence, and the power of community. Mottley doesn’t romanticize the struggles of young motherhood, but she honors the strength of these girls and their right to choose their own paths. This book left me deeply moved, and I know I’ll be thinking about Simone and the others for a long time.

"The difference between a mother who's forgiveable and a mother who's not is whether she gives enough of a sh*t to try to redeem hereslf in the first place. Apologize and do different."

This book, which follows Simone, Emory and Adela, will have you checking your privilege. Think for a moment about those things you judge others for.
When do you start a family?
Have you ever gotten pregnant without trying?
Do you attend church?
Do you have good grammar?
Did you regularly attend school as a kid?
How many children do you have?
Do you vote democrat or republican?
Do you have a high school diploma?
Do you have car insurance?

The answer to those questions is very strongly correlated to these two things.
1. The parents you were born to.
2. The time and place where you were born.

Neither of which you had any say in.

This book follows young girls who are pregnant and have children; how the world sees them, how determined they are, and how they make the best decisions they possibly can based on their circumstances. It takes place in Padua Beach, Florida, complete with periodic alligator attacks. This is not Miami, Naples, Orlando, or Fort Lauderdale. This is sad Hulk Florida. Panhandle low income. The girls are wonderful mothers and create a community to teach each other how to mother, how to get through life. This book is pretty inspiring. It will make you grateful for all you have.

Thanks to NetGalley and AA Knopf for the ARC. Book to be published June 24, 2025.

This is a rhapsodic piece of work, in love with its characters and themes and message. And its babies. It’s a kind of fantasy of sisterhood, among the rejected young women who are pregnant and poor. The idea is a good one, but the group itself remains vague in the novel, more of an idea than a presence. In front ofvit, however, stand the three central figures of whom Simone is the biggest and best, another fantasy of motherhood and survival, but an irresistible one. Emory and Adela are the secondary pair, not as compelling but necessary to the plot mechanism. The ebbs and flows of their choices drive the plot, and bring about the neat but satisfactory resolution.
It’s a big, immersive piece of work. At times it rhapsodized too long and repetitively. But there’ are a spirit and passion alive in the book, and a freshness in the voice, all of which deserve to succeed.