The Girls Who Grew Big

“Blistering, wise, empathetic. . . . Mottley writes with unabashed reverence for these young mothers, never sanitizing or romanticizing their lives but instead valuing them on the page in all the ways they are not valued in their lives. . . . Mottley has brought the physicality and pain and beauty of birth and new motherhood into the light. That she has done so by way of teenage girls who have too often been shamed and shunned and told to hide themselves away makes her novel all the more vital to behold.” —Nina LaCour, New York Times Book Review

“A brilliant novel.” —Clare Mulroy, USA Today

“This striking novel tracks the friendships among a group of teen moms as they struggle and strive in a small, gossipy beach town in Florida’s sticky-hot panhandle.” —The New Yorker

“Mottley’s tough, vital lyricism drives a fiercely compassionate novel about survival, hope, and love. . . . Her ample talent is on display again.” —Stephanie Cross, Daily Mail (U.K.)

“Mottley is a dazzling writer and this novel opens up the world of young mothers in all its makeshift, sticky, struggling glory. The Girls Who Grew Big is sensuous, gripping, and utterly believable.” —Emma Donoghue, author of Room

“Raw, wild, and achingly beautiful, The Girls Who Grew Big is one of the most spiritually accurate and electric portrayals of motherhood I’ve ever read. Leila Mottley is the real deal.” —Rufi Thorpe, author of Margo’s Got Money Troubles

“The Girls Who Grew Big is a novel about teen pregnancy that brilliantly upends every reductive trope and platitude on the subject. With impeccable and breathtaking prose, Mottley takes us into the treacherous terrain where girlhood and womanhood collide, and where families and friendships fracture, and the lines between them blur. Simone, Adela, Emory and The Girls live out loud and are flawed, tender, and absolutely unforgettable. Mottley continues to show us the power and beauty of her pen!”—Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

“Written in big, beautiful prose that expands throughout the novel and leaves the reader full and satisfied. . . . Leila Mottley’s grasp of human nature is unmatched.” —Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie

“This broken world is lucky to have Leila Mottley writing in it. Like Jesmyn Ward, Kiese Laymon and Toni Cade Bambara before her, Mottley digs deep into the parts of America that many tell us to forget. In gorgeous prose, she brings to life the beauty and brutality of the Florida panhandle, and turns narratives about motherhood, girlhood and the South on their heads. Mottley is the real deal—a vital voice in the American literary tapestry, giving us a full, empathetic understanding of the parts of life the rest of culture tells us to ignore.” —Kaitlyn Greenidge, author of Libertie

“Compelling and uplifting. . . . Mottley is an elegant and expressive writer, giving each of her unforgettable characters a fullness and relatability that will appeal to many readers. . . . Give to fans of Brit Bennett’s The Mothers and Kirstin Valdez Quade’s The Five Wounds. . . . Stirring.” —Allison Escoto, Booklist (starred)

“Propulsive. . . . Poignant without being saccharine, thanks to the sharply drawn characters and their all-too-human behavior. This distinctive coming-of-age story is worth seeking out.” —Publishers Weekly

“A sensual set of character studies, shaped by compassion and defiance.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A poignant and deeply engaging exploration of teenage motherhood. . . . Through evocative storytelling and a vivid sense of place, this book paints an unforgettable portrait of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of forging one’s path against the odds. . . . Authentic and emotionally compelling.” —Jessica Calaway, Library Journal (starred)

“The Girls Who Grew Big took me back to a time in my body I thought I had long forgotten. . . . Should be a cult classic.” —Terry McMillan, ELLE

“Exquisite. . . . Brilliant. . . . Both hopeful and determinedly honest, The Girls Who Grew Big reflects on how and why we love.” —Sydney Harkin, BookPage (starred)

“A stunning and layered story that evades clichés and empathetically portrays the struggles and joys of motherhood, growing up and female friendship.” —Abigail Charak, Deep South Magazine

“A bold, empathetic, and unforgettable novel. . . . Mottley captures with extraordinary sensitivity the paradox at the heart of her characters’ lives: the struggle to nurture others while still learning who they are. [The girls’] moments of laughter, desire, betrayal, and loyalty shimmer with life.” —Kaitlin Jefferys, Voice Magazine

“Outstanding. . . . Each young woman [is] awesomely unique and interesting. . . . With Mottley’s remarkable linguistic ability, pitch-perfect dialogue and impressive characterizations, the Girls refuse to be forgotten. . . . With wit and electric zeal, the book is powered on everything stereotyped about such girls and pushes those labels off a building without a parachute. The Girls Who Grew Big will take a vaulted place on your bookshelf for the rest of your days. Even on a second read, you will find it hard to put down.” —Jana Siciliano, BookReporter

“Refreshing. . . . Poignant. . . . Reinvent[s] how motherhood is portrayed in literature. . . . How lucky we are to have Mottley’s clear-sighted writing.” —Ellen Peirson-Hagger, i news (U.K.)