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A review by lylesgirl2020
The Grove by Brooks Whitney Phillips
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this early. I feel incredibly lucky to have been invited into this world before the rest of the world gets to fall in love with it too. Release date is June 17, 2025.
The Grove takes us back to 1960, where we meet 15-year-old Penelope "Pip" Bean—sharp, observant, and full of quiet curiosity. She lives on her family's orange grove, working alongside her parents and older sister, Sissy. The girls spend their days handing out fresh-squeezed orange juice and souvenirs to passersby from their roadside stand. But the real thrill? The annual winter carnival. It’s the event they look forward to all year. Only this time, the carnival brings more than excitement—it brings change. And not the easy kind. What unfolds sets off a series of events that mark Pip and Sissy in ways they’ll never forget.
This story is stunning. Truly. The writing feels like slipping into a sun-drenched memory—warm, rich, and full of feeling. Even when the narrative shifts into heavier territory, like racism and inherited prejudice, it handles it with grace and honesty. Phillips doesn’t shy away from hard truths, but she delivers them with the kind of care that stays with you. She makes it clear: hatred is learned, not born—and that message comes through loud and clear.
Pip’s voice? Unforgettable. There’s something so special about seeing the world through her eyes—raw, curious, and still learning. Watching her grow, stumble, and slowly learn how to stand taller in her own skin was beautiful. Her journey isn’t just about the people around her—it’s about learning how to be loyal to herself. I especially loved watching her let go of the need to be "enough" for others, and instead realize she already is.
This book was such a gift. From beginning to end, it wrapped me up and pulled me in. I’ll be thinking about these characters, and especially Pip, for a long time.
This was my first book by Brooks Whitney Phillips and my third historical fiction of 2025—and listen, Historical fiction girlie unlocked.
The Grove takes us back to 1960, where we meet 15-year-old Penelope "Pip" Bean—sharp, observant, and full of quiet curiosity. She lives on her family's orange grove, working alongside her parents and older sister, Sissy. The girls spend their days handing out fresh-squeezed orange juice and souvenirs to passersby from their roadside stand. But the real thrill? The annual winter carnival. It’s the event they look forward to all year. Only this time, the carnival brings more than excitement—it brings change. And not the easy kind. What unfolds sets off a series of events that mark Pip and Sissy in ways they’ll never forget.
This story is stunning. Truly. The writing feels like slipping into a sun-drenched memory—warm, rich, and full of feeling. Even when the narrative shifts into heavier territory, like racism and inherited prejudice, it handles it with grace and honesty. Phillips doesn’t shy away from hard truths, but she delivers them with the kind of care that stays with you. She makes it clear: hatred is learned, not born—and that message comes through loud and clear.
Pip’s voice? Unforgettable. There’s something so special about seeing the world through her eyes—raw, curious, and still learning. Watching her grow, stumble, and slowly learn how to stand taller in her own skin was beautiful. Her journey isn’t just about the people around her—it’s about learning how to be loyal to herself. I especially loved watching her let go of the need to be "enough" for others, and instead realize she already is.
This book was such a gift. From beginning to end, it wrapped me up and pulled me in. I’ll be thinking about these characters, and especially Pip, for a long time.
This was my first book by Brooks Whitney Phillips and my third historical fiction of 2025—and listen, Historical fiction girlie unlocked.