Grown Women: A Novel

I can’t say enough good things about this book. I think every mother and every daughter should read it. The pacing was good. The description of scenes and events were great. The way the story unfolded was purposeful. I could see this being a mini series. Amazing characters, not too over the top… it felt very real. I couldn’t read more than a few pages without stopping to think about a line in depth. It’s perfect for a book club pick. You could talk about it for hours.

I can understand why the generational trauma is relatable. The details of some events did seem surface level for me. Trying to follow the characters whom names all started with a C makes you think harder than you should need to when they are in conversation! I also thought this book would never end.

Grown Women is a highly regarded and award winning novel. It has won the “A New Yorker Best Book of the Year” and was the NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Debut Literary Work. Many readers have embraced it as one of their top books. ‌ It's a multigenerational story of a family of women and it has some key takeaways, reflective moments and relatable characters. It’s about relationships, connections, disconnect, negative patterns passed down from generations, and ending the cycle of trauma to better for the future. ‌ The writing was solid and it’s a great conversation starter and reflective story to be aware of these significant relationships, but the story just didn’t land for me. I didn’t feel emotionally connected to it and found it repetitive, and very monotone. The repetition was probably due to these women living shared experiences.  ‌ The flow was not easy to follow along with the audio. A chapter would start with one character, then shift to another's, and the fact that their names all started with "C" left me wondering which "C" I was reading about at the time. If you’re planning to give this book a try, I recommend reading the actual book.  ‌ The story did cause me to examine my own relationships with my mother and daughter. First, in therapy I completed an exercise, "Evaluating Your Relationship with Your Mother" while growing up, and it was so insightful that I had my daughter/mother complete it as well. It was interesting to see our outlooks on our mothers, similarities and differences. Next, I asked my daughter if there’s anything she wants me to take ownership of from the past or apologize for and she said no, you always apologize. So, maybe I’ve learned and grown so that I can be better? ‌ Check it out if you are a fan of multigenerational stories about strong women.

"Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone you love is stay the hell away from them." This is a literary gem. It's an excellent debut. Chef's kiss. The characters are well developed and relatable even while they make horrendous decisions with their lives and relationships. Overall, the pace of each intersection, each conflict, and each timeline was delivered incredibly. Camille's fortitude was deliberate and magical indeed. Corinna's jealousy of Camille for the love she never received was justifiable. Her anger from being neglected and the sheer pain of having Charlotte as a mother was palpable. The shame Charlotte could not contain almost robbed her of every opportunity for happiness one could ever expect to encounter in life. These women were fighting very real battles at the hands of their own mothers. The plot twist that revealed Corinna's fathers identity. Charlotte's mother's identity and even learning about Pearl was such an important addition to the storyline. This book has touched places in my own heart that will never be untouched again. Most notably is Camille acknowledging her "three mothers" was a nod to the proverb: IT TAKES A VILLAGE. To truly break the cycle of generational trauma, it took a support system. Camille's somewhat dysfunctional support system committed to making sure her life was "better than good enough" and they succeeded in that undertaking. I wouldn't change a single thing about how this book ended. This is a Highly recommended read.

You will be crying for sure! A beautiful book on generational trauma from the perspective of mothers and daughters