This novel is a beautifully written, deeply empathetic exploration of teenage pregnancy, friendship, and resilience. When sixteen-year-old Adela is sent away to Padua Beach, Florida, she finds herself among a group of young mothers who defy societal expectations with fierce independence and unwavering support for one another. The Girls, each navigating their own struggles and triumphs, form a makeshift family, challenging the notion that motherhood and girlhood are mutually exclusive.

The author’s prose is both lyrical and unflinchingly honest, capturing the weight of responsibility, the ache of lost innocence, and the unexpected joys that come with raising children while still growing up themselves. The friendships between the Girls are the heart of the story, offering moments of tenderness, humor, and raw emotion.

This novel refuses to judge its characters, instead celebrating their strength and complexity. It is a must-read for anyone who loves stories about unconventional families, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

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

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Leila Mottley is only 23 years old.

When I was 23, I was barely finishing college and had no idea what direction I wanted to take with my Film degree. Meanwhile, at this pace, Mottley will be an award-winning, multi-faceted writer well before she turns 30. She was the youngest nominee for the prestigious Booker Prize for Nighcrawling, which was selected for Oprah’s Book Club in 2022. Protect her at all costs.

Her latest novel, The Girls Who Grew Big, explores teen pregnancy in the Florida Panhandle. The story unfolds from three perspectives:

Simone: who has four-year-old twins named Luck and Lion.
Emory: who brings her baby to school who has dreams of going to college
Adela: a former swimming prodigy, is pregnant and living with her grandmother after being shunned from her parents' home.

What makes this book so powerful is that each girl has a distinct story to tell. Every moment of their lives is crucial. They constantly worry about where their next meal will come from, how they will house their children on any given night, and where they will sleep. Much of their time is spent in the back of Simone’s truck, which almost feels like a character itself.

Although the overarching themes of teen pregnancy and survival are heavy, the characters are strong, resilient, and determined to be good mothers. I was on edge during a hurricane, uncertain of how they would make it through. The scene presents a thrilling take on abortion, woven into a game of truth or dare.

At their core, they are still children trying to navigate the world. Some have been abused, others have parents who never loved them, but Mottley’s writing never leaves us feeling hopeless. Her lyrical and optimistic storytelling shines through.

I loved Nightcrawling, despite its harrowing story about the Oakland Police Department’s cover-up involving young girls forced into prostitution. Mottley, an Oakland native, wrote that novel with deep knowledge of the Bay Area (woo hoo!). This time, she takes us to a part of the country I know little about, offering a fresh perspective on basic human necessities.

The writing in The Girls Who Grew Big is unique, urgent, and important. There is so much innocence in being a teen mother. Their survival depends on the guidance of others—whether it’s Planned Parenthood or teachers—but instead, they lean on each other, and the results are both heartbreaking and beautiful.
Please don’t miss this important book when it’s released on June 24! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Lovely book. I especially appreciated that the revolving narratives always went in the same order, it made it quite a lot easier to follow. Each narrator had her own distinct voice and perspective and I connected with them very much.

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.