theemillennialreader 's review for:

The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley

4.0

adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I finally finished this one, and I’m not sure why it took me so long. I usually enjoy multiple POVs, so that immediately drew me in. At times, though, I found myself a little bored—the narrative would slip into these poetic detours that felt like they stalled the story. But maybe that was the point—to slow us down and really sit with the lives of three pregnant young women who built their own community after being pushed aside by their hometown.

We follow Adela on her journey of self-discovery—learning what she wants, facing the truth about herself and others, and deciding what to do about her unborn child. Simone, a bold and fiery character, is determined to give her twins a better life while wrestling with the painful absence of her mother’s love. Then there’s Emory, who is lost and hurting, torn between family trauma and the fear of carving out a different path for herself.

What I appreciated most is how this book recognizes that teen mothers are not simply “teens who made a mistake.” They are mothers—real people first—navigating challenges like any parent. Teen pregnancy will always be seen as taboo by some, but as my grandma used to say, “you ain’t the first and you won’t be the last.” Parenting is never easy, but once that child arrives, these girls—like so many of us—find ways to grow, to change, and to give their children what they never had.