‘The Girls Who Grew Big’ by Leila Mottley is quite possibly one of the most impactful novels I have read within this last year. It focuses on a group of young women, all in different stages of motherhood and life as a whole. It is not only compelling but a beautiful homage to women everywhere.
Lost and alone, a group of women found each other and created a community, headed by Simone. Drawing only from personal experiences, they pull each other through life and showcase the gritty determination of love. I believe it is very easy, not only for authors but also the general public, to reduce a woman to motherhood as soon as they have a child. Mottley didn’t. Instead, she made a point of fleshing them out, making them real, and exposing the deepest parts of them. With their distinctive voices and interchanging POVs, the readers get an excellent insight into The Girls and their levels of self awareness. They become a friend to the reader, a companion. You can so easily place yourself into any of their lives. This is a skill crucial for a book of this nature as it humanises teen/young mothers in a way I haven’t seen before.
My favourite character, by far, was Simone. To me, she encapsulated the power of a woman. A compassionate and nurturing nature guarded by strength and a willingness to do anything for those she loved. She wasn’t a stereotype nor was she a half-hearted ‘girlboss’. She was entirely herself, shielded from all but the reader.
The writing was so raw, emotional and full of a rich sense of self. No description was too ‘on the nose’. Instead, it was imaginative and playful while also carrying the seriousness of the situations The Girls found themselves in. Nothing was trivialised or romanticised, it was a harsh, honest, and confronting read but one that was a real eye opener. Especially for those brought up to judge teen mothers or those who are poor.
While the plot initially seemed directionless, it was full of colour and twists. There was a slow burning of tension and a believability to the scenes that was just so compelling. It immediately draws you in. There was an excellent balance between tense, dramatic scenes and calm ones. With consistent underlying emotional weight, it is a heavy book to read but not one that would bore easily.
The only criticism I can note would be some unexpected darker scenes. They seemed to come without warning and it was quite a shock. There were some instances, mainly in Emory’s life, where things were mentioned but not really followed-up on. If I had to ask anything more of this book, it would be to dig deeper into the psychological repercussions of those experiences.
Overall, ‘The Girls Who Grew Big’ is destined for success. Leila Mottley’s writing is profoundly beautiful and I would give anything to read this book for the first time again. If you are looking for a book that will showcase the raw reality of womanhood, this is for you. Just be warned, there are a few harsher scenes that may cause distress so proceed with mild caution!
5/5