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The Grove
In this tender coming-of-age novel set in the socioeconomic tinderbox of the 1960s, two sisters in a struggling and damaged family only have each other to rely on . . . until an ugly secret tears them apart and threatens the cause of justice in their small town.
Fifteen-year-old Pip and seventeen-year-old Sissy aren't just sisters, they're best friends. Every year, they wait eagerly for the traveling carnival to put its stakes down in their tiny Florida town. It's the only time when the girls can abandon their endless chores on the family's orange grove and give in to pure joy. And the only time Pip and Sissy can forget their many troubles . . . living on the brink of poverty, Mama's despair, and Daddy's perpetual anger.
With the arrival of the carnival, the girls’ slow, small lives suddenly feels bigger and brighter. But this year, something is different. Once the carnival leaves, with the charming young sword-swallower with it, Sissy grows increasingly distant from Pip and is soon no more than a stranger in their house. Pip grows closer to her friend Silas as a result, but when Sissy's shocking secret is revealed, the three unwittingly find themselves in a desperate situation that will change them all forever. In the land of the sweetest fruits, Pip must find her way through the soured hopes and bitter regrets of her family to finally break free of the grove.
Set against the class and economic tensions of early 1960s America, this stark yet hopeful novel tells a compelling story about the inescapable bonds of sisterhood and the lies we tell ourselves to survive.
Fifteen-year-old Pip and seventeen-year-old Sissy aren't just sisters, they're best friends. Every year, they wait eagerly for the traveling carnival to put its stakes down in their tiny Florida town. It's the only time when the girls can abandon their endless chores on the family's orange grove and give in to pure joy. And the only time Pip and Sissy can forget their many troubles . . . living on the brink of poverty, Mama's despair, and Daddy's perpetual anger.
With the arrival of the carnival, the girls’ slow, small lives suddenly feels bigger and brighter. But this year, something is different. Once the carnival leaves, with the charming young sword-swallower with it, Sissy grows increasingly distant from Pip and is soon no more than a stranger in their house. Pip grows closer to her friend Silas as a result, but when Sissy's shocking secret is revealed, the three unwittingly find themselves in a desperate situation that will change them all forever. In the land of the sweetest fruits, Pip must find her way through the soured hopes and bitter regrets of her family to finally break free of the grove.
Set against the class and economic tensions of early 1960s America, this stark yet hopeful novel tells a compelling story about the inescapable bonds of sisterhood and the lies we tell ourselves to survive.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published June 17, 2025
11 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Brooks Whitney Phillips
2 books5 followersBrooks Whitney Phillips was born and raised in downtown Chicago. She attended Franklin College Switzerland where her studies focused on European art and literature before transferring to the University of Denver. Upon graduation she spent three years working in public relations & advertising until deciding to pursue a career as a freelance writer. She was a long-time contributor to the Chicago Tribune for whom she wrote a weekly-syndicated column and feature stories focusing on music and the arts. She has published six children’s books for the popular American Girls collection as well as been a columnist and feature writer for their magazine, American Girl. She has also published two books with Scholastic and served as Assistant Entertainment Editor for CompuServe’s online publishing division. Brooks has lived in Key West for twelve years and is busy raising a young family, contributing stories to Coastal Living magazine, and finishing a novel—this one for adults!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 30, 2025
This was excellent on audio and I'm so happy I chose that format. It was narrated by Kira Fix and she was fantastic the way she brought the story to life through Pips POV. I was able to listen at 2x speed and still completely comprehend what was going on. This is such a well written and poignant story Taking place in the 1960’s when life was hard for the working class. Penelope (Pip) Bean is 15 yrs old and her sister, Sissy, is 17. They live on the brink of poverty and work hard on their parents' orange farm. This is a tender coming of age story about these two sisters who are best friends and go through hardships that could tear them apart, but their bond proves to be too strong. The author did a great job of writing a YA POV. How teens can feel trapped in their life. It felt so relatable. I loved the setting and the small town. The descriptions of the grove, and the nature felt so realistic. Such a great YA debut!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2025
This was so good🥹 I was not expecting much tbh, it just sounded kinda interesting so I got it from the library. But I loved it so much! First of all, Im from Florida and literally live right near where this book is set, so that was so cool!! The characters are so good, the way they’re described and how deeply you get to know each one was so amazing! The plot was perfect and I was so hooked until the end! I do wish we had gotten a chapter or two from Sissy’s POV, but I think Pip did an amazing job narrating! And I loved Silas!
June 15, 2025
With Love, you need the sour to savor the sweet. 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, who, like her mama, dreams of things beyond the Grove and the struggling hardships they face every day. This story was endearing and heartbreaking all at once. It spoke volumes about those awkward teen ages when you’re not a kid anymore and nowhere near being an adult but feel like the world is asking you to know what you want out of life. The story is set in the backdrop of struggling farm families, small-town life, and life in the 60s for the working class, and the distinct line drawn between colored and white folk.
While all of these things played a role in the plot, the actual journey was the evolution of the bond between sisters and how challenging emotions can unravel and restore relationships.
We spend the whole story through Pip's eyes as she watches her older sister, Sissy, transform before her eyes. As they knew them, their lives were upended by a series of bad decisions they both made.
There was nothing grandiose about this book; there was no high-stakes plot to save the world, no world-ending catastrophe, and no life-stopping moments (at least on a grand scale, I’m sure the Bean family felt their lives stopping for a moment more than once over this year that we follow them). But it did speak volumes on generational traumas, economic and social classes, the bonds of sisterhood, the pain of leaving girlhood behind, and the ebbs and flows of everyday life.
Books like these remind me that we’re not alone in our suffering, and that’s a comfort every time. I also love how the story, though ending on a promising note, leaves the door open, asking whether Pip comes back to the Groves to Silas or follows another path.
While all of these things played a role in the plot, the actual journey was the evolution of the bond between sisters and how challenging emotions can unravel and restore relationships.
We spend the whole story through Pip's eyes as she watches her older sister, Sissy, transform before her eyes. As they knew them, their lives were upended by a series of bad decisions they both made.
There was nothing grandiose about this book; there was no high-stakes plot to save the world, no world-ending catastrophe, and no life-stopping moments (at least on a grand scale, I’m sure the Bean family felt their lives stopping for a moment more than once over this year that we follow them). But it did speak volumes on generational traumas, economic and social classes, the bonds of sisterhood, the pain of leaving girlhood behind, and the ebbs and flows of everyday life.
Books like these remind me that we’re not alone in our suffering, and that’s a comfort every time. I also love how the story, though ending on a promising note, leaves the door open, asking whether Pip comes back to the Groves to Silas or follows another path.
July 7, 2025
A haunting coming-of-age.
December 2, 2025
Finished this book in 2 days. Could not put it down!
My goodness the hardships these kids faced was heartbreaking and quite frankly, unpredictable. So many twists and turns.
Too bad I couldn’t wait the two blooms with them in the end 🥹
My goodness the hardships these kids faced was heartbreaking and quite frankly, unpredictable. So many twists and turns.
Too bad I couldn’t wait the two blooms with them in the end 🥹
July 12, 2025
Wow. I got SO MAD at this book for how sad parts of it are, but it’s a beautifully written story with a hopeful ending.
March 8, 2025
It's kind of funny to me that right before I started reading this, I had an obsession with oranges. Maybe it was foreshadowing?
The Grove is set in 1960 and follows Penelope Bean (Pip), a fifteen-year girl who lives and works on an orange grove with her parents and older sister. Pip and her sister, Sissy, are in charge of running a roadside stand giving out souvenirs and fresh orange juice. Every winter, the two girls wait impatiently for the carnival to come to town. This year in particular it brings new surprises that cause a drastic change in Pip and Sissy's lives. The effects of the carnival haunt them for months to come and we watch as Pip's relationships change and grow, some for better and some for worse.
This is such a beautiful novel inside and out. The writing was so comforting, and it was so easy to sink into the story. There were a few serious topics discussed, such as racism, which was done very well. Phillips did a wonderful job showcasing how racism is something that is learned, not something you are born with.
Pip's way of seeing the world is something I'll keep with me for a long time. It was incredible getting to see her grow and how the dynamics between her and the other characters grew as well. I especially how Pip's relationship with herself grew as well and how she was able to grow more confident, no longer seeking the approval of others.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with this book, and I definitely recommend picking it when it comes out! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.
The Grove is set in 1960 and follows Penelope Bean (Pip), a fifteen-year girl who lives and works on an orange grove with her parents and older sister. Pip and her sister, Sissy, are in charge of running a roadside stand giving out souvenirs and fresh orange juice. Every winter, the two girls wait impatiently for the carnival to come to town. This year in particular it brings new surprises that cause a drastic change in Pip and Sissy's lives. The effects of the carnival haunt them for months to come and we watch as Pip's relationships change and grow, some for better and some for worse.
This is such a beautiful novel inside and out. The writing was so comforting, and it was so easy to sink into the story. There were a few serious topics discussed, such as racism, which was done very well. Phillips did a wonderful job showcasing how racism is something that is learned, not something you are born with.
Pip's way of seeing the world is something I'll keep with me for a long time. It was incredible getting to see her grow and how the dynamics between her and the other characters grew as well. I especially how Pip's relationship with herself grew as well and how she was able to grow more confident, no longer seeking the approval of others.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with this book, and I definitely recommend picking it when it comes out! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.
January 20, 2025
I binge-read this novel over 24 hours—the absolute definition of unputdownable. This is one of the most beautifully written, emotionally unsettling YA books I've ever read. A hope-filled yet honest gut punch of a novel that doesn't shy away from the idea of consequences, yet openly embraces the concept of brighter beginnings if we're brave enough to walk into them.
October 14, 2025
The Grove is a story of many things, but most of all, it is a story of finding a path back to wholeness after dashed hopes and betrayal. Set in the hardscrabble patriarchal world of Juicy Acres in Northern Florida, the Bean family fights a losing battle to keep their orange grove alive and prosperous. Although Pip is a powerless 13-year-old girl in the patriarchal South of the early 1960s, she refuses to let that define or limit her. Determined to unite her deteriorating family, she tries to understand her absent, morose mother, demanding father, who sees his children as free labor, and the relentless, suffocating Florida stench of decay. Although the parents are remorselessly harsh, yet the writing is so good, we somehow sense there is more to them (particularly the father) and occasionally some sweetness escapes and that underlying promise sustains us through much of the novel. They are motivated more by desperation than brutality and that one saving grace allows for hope.
The tale opens with Pip and Sissy selling orange juice at a stand on the road into town when a carnival passes by and Raffy, a devilishly handsome carnie entices Sissy, the older, more glamorous sister. Of course, she says yes. Why wouldn’t she? Though we sense it will come to a tragic end, yet we willingly allow Whitney-Phillips to take us on the ride, expertly driving us farther into Pip’s inner life. We root for her and experience her longing to escape her mother’s fate. But Pip sees the world as a more intricate, interesting place than her sister, and though she is not old enough to imagine a different life, she is absolutely certain it exists and so she explores the world in her journals. Pip is the irrepressible breath of fresh air in the grim and stagnant future Sissy imagines. But Sissy is a pragmatist blessed or cursed with physical beauty and uses it to escape, though we know it is fated to backfire, and when it does, she strikes out on Pip, the person who loves her most in the world. By the time Pip understands why this is happening (no spoiler alert here) she confides in a new friend. Desperate for company, she seeks out Silas, the orphan boy who works for the family in exchange for staying in the barn and he opens her eyes to the beauty that has always surrounded them in Florida. I was happy to see this as I live in this beautiful state, and I know Silas is absolutely correct. Yes, we have ‘Floridaman,’ but Silas shows us the other side; the butterfly wings, the rock formations of the natural world and the warm welcoming waters.
As their friendship deepens, Pip and Silas dream of a different life. The deftness of the author shows their friendship leading to something deeper, and we are with them all the way. Thus, when the tide inevitably comes in, it brings an inevitable showdown between the doomed patriarchy and a new vision independent of class and race. These issues are strewn throughout the novel, but are never in your face. The Grove is a delicate coming of age tale, destined to become a classic in the genre. A sweet, fresh read of family loyalty, young love and respect for the natural world. A must read.
The tale opens with Pip and Sissy selling orange juice at a stand on the road into town when a carnival passes by and Raffy, a devilishly handsome carnie entices Sissy, the older, more glamorous sister. Of course, she says yes. Why wouldn’t she? Though we sense it will come to a tragic end, yet we willingly allow Whitney-Phillips to take us on the ride, expertly driving us farther into Pip’s inner life. We root for her and experience her longing to escape her mother’s fate. But Pip sees the world as a more intricate, interesting place than her sister, and though she is not old enough to imagine a different life, she is absolutely certain it exists and so she explores the world in her journals. Pip is the irrepressible breath of fresh air in the grim and stagnant future Sissy imagines. But Sissy is a pragmatist blessed or cursed with physical beauty and uses it to escape, though we know it is fated to backfire, and when it does, she strikes out on Pip, the person who loves her most in the world. By the time Pip understands why this is happening (no spoiler alert here) she confides in a new friend. Desperate for company, she seeks out Silas, the orphan boy who works for the family in exchange for staying in the barn and he opens her eyes to the beauty that has always surrounded them in Florida. I was happy to see this as I live in this beautiful state, and I know Silas is absolutely correct. Yes, we have ‘Floridaman,’ but Silas shows us the other side; the butterfly wings, the rock formations of the natural world and the warm welcoming waters.
As their friendship deepens, Pip and Silas dream of a different life. The deftness of the author shows their friendship leading to something deeper, and we are with them all the way. Thus, when the tide inevitably comes in, it brings an inevitable showdown between the doomed patriarchy and a new vision independent of class and race. These issues are strewn throughout the novel, but are never in your face. The Grove is a delicate coming of age tale, destined to become a classic in the genre. A sweet, fresh read of family loyalty, young love and respect for the natural world. A must read.
August 11, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Set against the fragrant orange groves of rural Florida in 1960, “The Grove” is a poignant coming-of-age novel about sisterhood, self-discovery, and the slow, sometimes painful process of growing up. Through the eyes of 15-year-old Penelope “Pip” Bean who is sharp-witted, quietly curious, and unflinchingly honest, we witness a single transformative year in a life hemmed in by poverty, family dysfunction, and the rigid social divides of the era.
Pip works the family grove alongside her weary parents and her older sister Sissy, who dreams of a life beyond their small town. The sisters run a roadside stand selling orange juice and trinkets, their shared boredom punctuated each winter by the arrival of the traveling carnival. But this year’s carnival brings more than sweet escape; it delivers a chain of events that will alter their bond forever. Sissy becomes entranced by a young sword swallower, pulling away from Pip and slipping into secrecy. As their relationship frays, Pip finds herself drawn to Silas, a boy who works in the grove and whose presence offers both comfort and complication.
Phillips’ writing is lush and immersive, painting the Florida landscape in vivid detail with the scent of orange blossoms, the heavy southern air, the glint of sun off a carnival ride. Beneath the beauty lies a clear-eyed examination of the era’s realities: the class and racial divides, the claustrophobia of adolescence, and the generational traumas that quietly shape families. Like Scout in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Pip confronts moral questions about classism and racism, learning that some lessons must be untangled for yourself, even if it means challenging those you love.
While the plot unfolds without explosive twists or world-shattering stakes, the emotional tension runs deep. Phillips excels at showing how the seemingly small moments—a biting remark, a hesitant kindness, a decision made in haste—can change the course of a relationship. The sisterly bond at the heart of the novel is both tender and heartbreaking, capturing the bittersweet truth that growing up sometimes means growing apart.
The ending offers a note of hope while leaving space for uncertainty; will Pip return to the grove, to Silas, or choose a different path entirely? That openness is part of the novel’s strength, honoring the complexity of real life.
Beautifully written and emotionally resonant, “The Grove” is a quiet but powerful novel that lingers long after the last page. It’s perfect for those who love immersive historical fiction, richly drawn characters, and stories that find beauty in life’s bittersweet moments.
Set against the fragrant orange groves of rural Florida in 1960, “The Grove” is a poignant coming-of-age novel about sisterhood, self-discovery, and the slow, sometimes painful process of growing up. Through the eyes of 15-year-old Penelope “Pip” Bean who is sharp-witted, quietly curious, and unflinchingly honest, we witness a single transformative year in a life hemmed in by poverty, family dysfunction, and the rigid social divides of the era.
Pip works the family grove alongside her weary parents and her older sister Sissy, who dreams of a life beyond their small town. The sisters run a roadside stand selling orange juice and trinkets, their shared boredom punctuated each winter by the arrival of the traveling carnival. But this year’s carnival brings more than sweet escape; it delivers a chain of events that will alter their bond forever. Sissy becomes entranced by a young sword swallower, pulling away from Pip and slipping into secrecy. As their relationship frays, Pip finds herself drawn to Silas, a boy who works in the grove and whose presence offers both comfort and complication.
Phillips’ writing is lush and immersive, painting the Florida landscape in vivid detail with the scent of orange blossoms, the heavy southern air, the glint of sun off a carnival ride. Beneath the beauty lies a clear-eyed examination of the era’s realities: the class and racial divides, the claustrophobia of adolescence, and the generational traumas that quietly shape families. Like Scout in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Pip confronts moral questions about classism and racism, learning that some lessons must be untangled for yourself, even if it means challenging those you love.
While the plot unfolds without explosive twists or world-shattering stakes, the emotional tension runs deep. Phillips excels at showing how the seemingly small moments—a biting remark, a hesitant kindness, a decision made in haste—can change the course of a relationship. The sisterly bond at the heart of the novel is both tender and heartbreaking, capturing the bittersweet truth that growing up sometimes means growing apart.
The ending offers a note of hope while leaving space for uncertainty; will Pip return to the grove, to Silas, or choose a different path entirely? That openness is part of the novel’s strength, honoring the complexity of real life.
Beautifully written and emotionally resonant, “The Grove” is a quiet but powerful novel that lingers long after the last page. It’s perfect for those who love immersive historical fiction, richly drawn characters, and stories that find beauty in life’s bittersweet moments.
June 9, 2025
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2025
I read this book quickly. It pulled me in and kept me turning pages.
Pip is such a great narrator--smart and curious and open hearted. Like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, Pip confronts ethical dilemmas about classism and racism and questions the adults in authority, trusting her heart even when it puts her at risk.
The author does a great job showing the claustrophobia of adolescence (something that still feels vivid to me, decades later), the feeling of being trapped by your parents' bad choices and unreasonable expectations. The allure of the bigger outside world and the dangers of it, which are greater the more you've been shut off from them.
I love the setting, too. It evokes a specific, idiosyncratic, place that is emblematically American and yet feels so universal.
The writing is as lush and immersive as the setting. The descriptions of nature--wildflowers, butterflies, trees, fish, etc--are some of the most beautiful. Here's an example:
The wishbone tree is a tall, skinny pine in a long-neglected corner of the grove where no citrus grows. It was struck by lightning ages ago. Split it right down the middle. I think it looks like a wishbone sticking straight out of the sand.
We bring our bamboo poles with the red-and-white plastic bobbers and a bucket of worms we dug out of the ground. Silas pedals while I balance on the handlebars, shouting directions--left down the bumpy road, through the small sunny meadow of crickets and bee-infested chinaberry, then a right onto a long, hilly stretch. We reach the thicket and continue on foot.
"This is where it starts to get a bit hairy. It's swampy, so lots of skeeters," I say. . .
He reaches into his overalls pocket, pulls out a leafy bunch of wild mint, and hands it to me.
Pip is such a great narrator--smart and curious and open hearted. Like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, Pip confronts ethical dilemmas about classism and racism and questions the adults in authority, trusting her heart even when it puts her at risk.
The author does a great job showing the claustrophobia of adolescence (something that still feels vivid to me, decades later), the feeling of being trapped by your parents' bad choices and unreasonable expectations. The allure of the bigger outside world and the dangers of it, which are greater the more you've been shut off from them.
I love the setting, too. It evokes a specific, idiosyncratic, place that is emblematically American and yet feels so universal.
The writing is as lush and immersive as the setting. The descriptions of nature--wildflowers, butterflies, trees, fish, etc--are some of the most beautiful. Here's an example:
The wishbone tree is a tall, skinny pine in a long-neglected corner of the grove where no citrus grows. It was struck by lightning ages ago. Split it right down the middle. I think it looks like a wishbone sticking straight out of the sand.
We bring our bamboo poles with the red-and-white plastic bobbers and a bucket of worms we dug out of the ground. Silas pedals while I balance on the handlebars, shouting directions--left down the bumpy road, through the small sunny meadow of crickets and bee-infested chinaberry, then a right onto a long, hilly stretch. We reach the thicket and continue on foot.
"This is where it starts to get a bit hairy. It's swampy, so lots of skeeters," I say. . .
He reaches into his overalls pocket, pulls out a leafy bunch of wild mint, and hands it to me.
June 22, 2025
This is a fantastic YA debut for Brooks Whitney Phillips!
The Grove is a tender coming-of-age story set in the 1960's, when socioeconomic status ruled the way people acted. This book follows two teenage sisters, Pip and Sissy, who live in a struggling and damaged family. The girls are not just sisters, they are best friends...until one day, they aren't...
Pip and Sissy wait every year for the traveling carnival to arrive in their tiny Florida town. It's the only way they can escape from their daily life; a mother who is constantly unhappy, a father who is perpetually angry, doing endless chores on their family orange grove, and living on the brink of poverty. But things are different when the carnival arrives this year.
A young sword swallower captures the attention of Sissy, causing Sissy to pull away from Pip, and feel like a stranger. With Sissy's change in attitude, Pip grows closer to her friend Silas, who works for their father in the orange grove. Soon things intensify as Sissy hides a growing secret; she feels like a completely different person to Pip. Pip looks to Silas to escape the hurtful words of her sister and worsening family situation, but Silas is not looked well upon by her family and those in town. Pip must find her way through her struggles to happiness.
The Grove is a wonderful and tender story. It opens the readers eyes to the class and economic tensions of the early 1960s in America. It is a story of sisterhood, family bonds, what we do to make each other happy, and the lies we tell ourselves in order to survive. It's a story of young love, self-discovery, and the lengths we go to for those we love.
I highly recommend this book!
The Grove is a tender coming-of-age story set in the 1960's, when socioeconomic status ruled the way people acted. This book follows two teenage sisters, Pip and Sissy, who live in a struggling and damaged family. The girls are not just sisters, they are best friends...until one day, they aren't...
Pip and Sissy wait every year for the traveling carnival to arrive in their tiny Florida town. It's the only way they can escape from their daily life; a mother who is constantly unhappy, a father who is perpetually angry, doing endless chores on their family orange grove, and living on the brink of poverty. But things are different when the carnival arrives this year.
A young sword swallower captures the attention of Sissy, causing Sissy to pull away from Pip, and feel like a stranger. With Sissy's change in attitude, Pip grows closer to her friend Silas, who works for their father in the orange grove. Soon things intensify as Sissy hides a growing secret; she feels like a completely different person to Pip. Pip looks to Silas to escape the hurtful words of her sister and worsening family situation, but Silas is not looked well upon by her family and those in town. Pip must find her way through her struggles to happiness.
The Grove is a wonderful and tender story. It opens the readers eyes to the class and economic tensions of the early 1960s in America. It is a story of sisterhood, family bonds, what we do to make each other happy, and the lies we tell ourselves in order to survive. It's a story of young love, self-discovery, and the lengths we go to for those we love.
I highly recommend this book!
June 12, 2025
I haven’t read a book in under 24 hours in a couple years ya’ll. This one really entrapped me from the get go.
I’ve been devouring fantasy after fantasy novel lately and I could feel myself getting a little burnt out so I set down what I was reading and dove right into this and it was the perfect little break.
This story was endearing and heartbreaking all at once. It spoke volumes on those awkward teen ages when you’re not really a kid anymore and no where near being an adult. As well as shown a light on struggling farm families, small town life, and life in the 60s for the working class.
While all of these things played a role in the plot, the true journey was the evolution of the bond between sisters, and the ways that tough emotions can unravel and restring relationships.
We spend the whole story in the eyes of Pip as she watches her older sister, Sissy, transform before her eyes and their lives as they knew them be upended by a series of bad decisions they both make.
The was nothing grandiose about this book, there was no high stakes plot to save the world, no world ending catastrophe, no life stopping moments (at least on a grand scale, I’m sure the Bean family felt their lives stopping for a moment more than once over the course of this year that we follow them). But it did speak volumes on generational traumas, economic and social classes, the bonds of sisterhood, the pain of leaving girlhood behind, and the ebbs and flows of everyday life.
Books like these remind me that we’re not alone in our suffering. And that’s a comfort every time.
I’ve been devouring fantasy after fantasy novel lately and I could feel myself getting a little burnt out so I set down what I was reading and dove right into this and it was the perfect little break.
This story was endearing and heartbreaking all at once. It spoke volumes on those awkward teen ages when you’re not really a kid anymore and no where near being an adult. As well as shown a light on struggling farm families, small town life, and life in the 60s for the working class.
While all of these things played a role in the plot, the true journey was the evolution of the bond between sisters, and the ways that tough emotions can unravel and restring relationships.
We spend the whole story in the eyes of Pip as she watches her older sister, Sissy, transform before her eyes and their lives as they knew them be upended by a series of bad decisions they both make.
The was nothing grandiose about this book, there was no high stakes plot to save the world, no world ending catastrophe, no life stopping moments (at least on a grand scale, I’m sure the Bean family felt their lives stopping for a moment more than once over the course of this year that we follow them). But it did speak volumes on generational traumas, economic and social classes, the bonds of sisterhood, the pain of leaving girlhood behind, and the ebbs and flows of everyday life.
Books like these remind me that we’re not alone in our suffering. And that’s a comfort every time.
July 17, 2025
The Grove is a moving, beautifully written coming-of-age story that completely swept me away. Brook Whitney Phillips brings 1960s rural Florida to life with such vivid detail that I could almost smell the orange blossoms and feel the sticky southern heat.
At the heart of this novel is the powerful, complicated bond between two sisters: Pip and Sissy. I absolutely loved Pip’s voice — her emotional honesty, her quiet strength, and her desperate hope for her family to hold together. Sissy, too, is heartbreakingly real. Her slow unraveling after the carnival leaves town is painful to witness, but Phillips handles her arc with tenderness and truth.
The book doesn’t shy away from hard topics — poverty, family dysfunction, and traumatic secrets — but it never loses its sense of hope. The writing is lyrical but accessible, and the pacing is spot-on. I kept flipping pages late into the night, fully immersed in the lives of these characters.
One of the things I appreciated most was the nuanced portrayal of family — how love and damage can coexist, and how survival sometimes means facing the ugly truths we’ve buried. This story explores sisterhood, identity, and what it means to find your voice when everything around you is falling apart.
If you enjoy emotional, character-driven historical fiction with heart and grit, The Grove is a must-read. It’s one of those rare books that lingers in your mind long after the final page.
Highly recommend!
At the heart of this novel is the powerful, complicated bond between two sisters: Pip and Sissy. I absolutely loved Pip’s voice — her emotional honesty, her quiet strength, and her desperate hope for her family to hold together. Sissy, too, is heartbreakingly real. Her slow unraveling after the carnival leaves town is painful to witness, but Phillips handles her arc with tenderness and truth.
The book doesn’t shy away from hard topics — poverty, family dysfunction, and traumatic secrets — but it never loses its sense of hope. The writing is lyrical but accessible, and the pacing is spot-on. I kept flipping pages late into the night, fully immersed in the lives of these characters.
One of the things I appreciated most was the nuanced portrayal of family — how love and damage can coexist, and how survival sometimes means facing the ugly truths we’ve buried. This story explores sisterhood, identity, and what it means to find your voice when everything around you is falling apart.
If you enjoy emotional, character-driven historical fiction with heart and grit, The Grove is a must-read. It’s one of those rare books that lingers in your mind long after the final page.
Highly recommend!
June 23, 2025
The Grove is one of those novels that quietly lodges itself in your heart and stays there long after the final page. As someone who typically gravitates toward fantasy, I found myself deeply moved by this coming-of-age story set in the raw heat and tension of 1960s Florida. This isn’t escapist fiction—it’s emotionally grounded, beautifully written, and profoundly human.
Pip and Sissy are unforgettable. Their bond is the soul of this book—tender, playful, and tragically tested. I was completely drawn into their world: the sun-scorched orange grove, the aching poverty, and the brief flashes of joy during carnival season. Phillips captures the innocence and weight of adolescence with a quiet power, and the emotional beats hit hard without ever feeling overwrought.
The writing is lyrical yet grounded, painting scenes thick with atmosphere and emotion. It’s not a light read—there’s trauma, heartbreak, and a shattering family secret at its core—but there’s also hope, resilience, and the complicated beauty of love in all its forms.
If you love stories like Where the Crawdads Sing, The Secret Life of Bees, or This Tender Land, The Grove belongs on your list. It’s a powerful, haunting novel about the lies we live with, the truths that break us, and the family we fight to protect—even when it costs us everything.
Pip and Sissy are unforgettable. Their bond is the soul of this book—tender, playful, and tragically tested. I was completely drawn into their world: the sun-scorched orange grove, the aching poverty, and the brief flashes of joy during carnival season. Phillips captures the innocence and weight of adolescence with a quiet power, and the emotional beats hit hard without ever feeling overwrought.
The writing is lyrical yet grounded, painting scenes thick with atmosphere and emotion. It’s not a light read—there’s trauma, heartbreak, and a shattering family secret at its core—but there’s also hope, resilience, and the complicated beauty of love in all its forms.
If you love stories like Where the Crawdads Sing, The Secret Life of Bees, or This Tender Land, The Grove belongs on your list. It’s a powerful, haunting novel about the lies we live with, the truths that break us, and the family we fight to protect—even when it costs us everything.
July 25, 2025
Oh my gosh, I tore through this book—
I devoured every page, it hooked me from the start and never let go.
Pip is a remarkable narrator: intelligent, curious, and deeply empathetic. I saw another reviewer compare her to Scout from "To Kill a Mockingbird," in that she faces complex moral questions about class and race, challenging the authority of the adults around her and following her conscience, even when it puts her in danger. Though the story is set in 1961, the injustices Pip confronts feel strikingly relevant today. I would also go farther to point out the Southern Gothic vibes and strong moral issues of sexuality and gender.
The author captures the suffocating intensity of adolescence with vivid precision—the sense of being trapped by your parents' poor choices and impossible expectations, the yearning for the wider world, and the peril that comes with inexperience and isolation. The collision of Pip and her sister Sissy's 1960's reality juxtaposed to her parents pre WWII reality was fascinating.
I also loved the setting. It’s richly specific and unmistakably American, yet it speaks to something universal.
This is worth a first read, and a reread in the future.
I devoured every page, it hooked me from the start and never let go.
Pip is a remarkable narrator: intelligent, curious, and deeply empathetic. I saw another reviewer compare her to Scout from "To Kill a Mockingbird," in that she faces complex moral questions about class and race, challenging the authority of the adults around her and following her conscience, even when it puts her in danger. Though the story is set in 1961, the injustices Pip confronts feel strikingly relevant today. I would also go farther to point out the Southern Gothic vibes and strong moral issues of sexuality and gender.
The author captures the suffocating intensity of adolescence with vivid precision—the sense of being trapped by your parents' poor choices and impossible expectations, the yearning for the wider world, and the peril that comes with inexperience and isolation. The collision of Pip and her sister Sissy's 1960's reality juxtaposed to her parents pre WWII reality was fascinating.
I also loved the setting. It’s richly specific and unmistakably American, yet it speaks to something universal.
This is worth a first read, and a reread in the future.
December 2, 2025
I warmed to the young heroine of "The Grove" as soon as she appeared on the page. Pip Bean, first a shy pre-teen, then an increasingly bold and fearless young woman with a clear moral sense and a fine appreciation of what really matters, is a worthy successor to both the boy Jody, in Marjory Kinnan Rawlings' Florida classic "The Yearling" and to the equally complex and feisty Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird." All three of these young people, growing up in the South - although Florida could almost be said to be "south of the South" come up against accepted and often oppressive local values and emerge triumphant.
Pip, who begins life in the shadow of her older sister, falls in love with a local boy, Silas, and their tender and hopeful love story in among the flora and fauna of central Florida changes her life, and his. The author does not stint on drama, alarm and narrow escapes, the story keeps on moving and accelerates to its end, when I for one was relieved by its outcome. Pip's evolution, from scared kid to passionate young woman, is finely drawn, and Silas is one of those lovely, generous characters rarely found in contemporary fiction. Not just for young adults! I was thoroughly drawn in.
Pip, who begins life in the shadow of her older sister, falls in love with a local boy, Silas, and their tender and hopeful love story in among the flora and fauna of central Florida changes her life, and his. The author does not stint on drama, alarm and narrow escapes, the story keeps on moving and accelerates to its end, when I for one was relieved by its outcome. Pip's evolution, from scared kid to passionate young woman, is finely drawn, and Silas is one of those lovely, generous characters rarely found in contemporary fiction. Not just for young adults! I was thoroughly drawn in.
September 22, 2025
My TBR list is primarily comprised of new releases and recommendations but I lucked out after selecting The Grove from the YA section at the local library. It was a quick read but certainly not an easy one. The author did a phenomenal job with imagery and leaving the reader feeling like they were living the story.
The book is set in the 60's and tells the story of a downtrodden family trying to make a life on an orange grove. The main character, Pip, tells her story along with that of her older sister and parents, and while there are many trials and tribulations, there always seems to be a sliver of hope to grasp onto. I liked that while this was classified as 'YA,' there were adult elements but without every detail spelled out, allowing the reader to use their imagination and fill in any blanks. NOTE: check trigger warnings.
To the author...please write a part two...I need to know what happens next...!!!
The book is set in the 60's and tells the story of a downtrodden family trying to make a life on an orange grove. The main character, Pip, tells her story along with that of her older sister and parents, and while there are many trials and tribulations, there always seems to be a sliver of hope to grasp onto. I liked that while this was classified as 'YA,' there were adult elements but without every detail spelled out, allowing the reader to use their imagination and fill in any blanks. NOTE: check trigger warnings.
To the author...please write a part two...I need to know what happens next...!!!
October 21, 2025
I decided to check this out on a whim. I did not expect this book to grip me in the way that it did. Following Pip and Sissy through some dark times and some wonderful times made this book so engaging for me. Their home life was difficult, their relationship was difficult, but Pip always seemed to come through for her sister even when Sissy was hiding something that could change their lives forever. This book offers a great view of how growing up brings its own set of challenges and how family trauma adds to it.
The characters were wonderful in this. They felt so real, and their situations were relatable. Watching each of their struggles and how they dealt with it was fantastic. If you enjoy gripping coming of age stories this one needs to be on your list.
The characters were wonderful in this. They felt so real, and their situations were relatable. Watching each of their struggles and how they dealt with it was fantastic. If you enjoy gripping coming of age stories this one needs to be on your list.
August 16, 2025
You don't have to be a tween or teen to resonate with Phillips's THE GROVE. This compelling coming-of-age novel will have you hooked the minute you meet the main character, Pip, who has the heart and spunk of Scout Finch (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD). The seductive, underground world of a traveling carnival makes an ideal backdrop to the dark mysteries of the parallel coming-of-age storylines involving Pip and her older sister, Sissy, who help tend their family's orange grove in 1960s rural Florida. Phillips delivers complex themes of familial loyalty and socioeconomic injustices with a deft hand. Transcending time and place, THE GROVE is poised to become a new classic.
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June 27, 2025I really liked this book. Pip and Sissy are inseparable sisters, best friends forever, until the carnival comes to town. Sissy falls for Raffy, a handsome carnival worker who sweeps her off her feet. She plans to run away with him, but when he doesn't show, she comes home and gets angrier and angrier. She's no longer Pip's best friend, so she turns to Silas, their family's farm hand. Things get dicey, and you could pretty much see it all coming, but everyone grows up in the space of less than a year and Pip learns to rely on herself and becomes her own person.
July 28, 2025
I absolutely loved this YA novel. A coming of age tale of two sisters who grew up in the groves in central Florida must learn how to cope with life in the south in the 1960’s when life was hard and not fair or equal. The girls must learn manage their parents whom are worse for the ware. I was captivated by this story about two sisters. The writing was thoughtful and poignant. I would to know what happens to them next. 5 stars ! ⭐️
September 29, 2025
This was a nice surprise. A coming of age story set in the 1960s in Florida. The setting was unique and different. This book tackled many themes. The writing was beautiful, and the characters were well thought out and layered. There are lots of emotional moments in here, and I feel if we lingered on some of them a little longer they would have had a stronger effect. I liked how the ending was open ended, but hopeful. Glad I picked it up!
November 3, 2025
I stepped back in time reading this book. I could feel the humid air and vintage vibe of Old Florida. In several ways it felt nostalgic. I quickly flashed back to the deeply loving, yet competitive years of my sisterly dynamics and the awkward remembrances of first loves and lust.
For me, if I miss the characters and want to know what happens next in their lives, then I know it was a great story.
For me, if I miss the characters and want to know what happens next in their lives, then I know it was a great story.
December 3, 2025
Someone in one of my reading groups mentioned that this might be a good book to pair with To Kill a Mockingbird, and I think I would agree with that. Overall, it has similar vibes to that book, especially in a lot of the issues that it deals with. It's a quieter kind of story, focusing on Pip and her sister and what's happening in their family. It's not one I necessarily see a lot of teens gravitating towards, but it's an important read nonetheless.
August 28, 2025
3.75, rounded down. This had so much potential! I loved the premise, the drama, and the parental dynamics. The major flaws were the annoying character names & how dense Pip was. The reader figured everything out before her & waited for her to catch up. I wish I could help edit this book & rerelease it, because there is so much to like!
October 5, 2025
2.7-- It was a really emotional read and well written. It would have been a 3 star rating, but the low score is because of the writing around an event that happens at the end of the book that I won't spoil. Other than that, it was well done, and the cover is stunning, not that it should matter .. haha but it is gorgeous!
June 27, 2025
A gut punch of a novel. The dread in this builds up like a slow-growing moss, disguised by the ambience of idyllic scenery of rural Florida. This story has so much to say and relays its many layered messages so beautifully.
July 17, 2025
Very sweet and adorable. The ending is definitely ones of those everything-works-out-in-the-end but very cute. Decently unrealistic of a 15 year old, they maybe should have reordered the ages a bit for the daughters but also it was rural Florida in the 1950s so maybe it’s on me.
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