What do you think?
Rate this book
How Girls Are Made
Sex Education meets Euphoria in this dark contemporary novel that tackles perfectionism, emotional abuse, and the dark side of social media.
Fallon is a fixer. From planning prom to organizing her college applications, she’s got it all figured out… except for when her younger sister comes to her with very basic questions about sex. Shocked that she knows so little—and her fellow classmates even less—Fallon decides some practical education is in order. And Fallon isn’t above practicing a little civil disobedience by creating a secret, underground, off-campus group.
Shelby is a fighter. Having her nose broken is nothing new in her semi professional career… but this time it’s her boyfriend that threw the punch. Now her phone is blowing up with texts from a new guy, who tells her she’s perfect, she’s special, she’s everything he’s ever wanted… except for a few small details. Shelby’s happy to adjust for him, because isn’t that what a healthy relationship is about?
Jobie is a failure. She doesn’t have enough followers and her posts never go viral, no matter how hard she crushes challenges and applies exactly the right filter. But a friendly DM from a good girl just like her points her in the direction of a whole new audience of admirers. Guys who just want to talk. Guys who give her the attention she’s always wanted.
The lives of all three girls intersect in Fallon’s secret class, rumors of which have parents up in arms. Fallon needs to keep herself anonymous, Shelby needs to keep her new boyfriend happy, and Jobie needs to keep her followers… who keep asking for more. Each girl finds herself trapped in an inescapable situation—that will leave one of them dead.
Fallon is a fixer. From planning prom to organizing her college applications, she’s got it all figured out… except for when her younger sister comes to her with very basic questions about sex. Shocked that she knows so little—and her fellow classmates even less—Fallon decides some practical education is in order. And Fallon isn’t above practicing a little civil disobedience by creating a secret, underground, off-campus group.
Shelby is a fighter. Having her nose broken is nothing new in her semi professional career… but this time it’s her boyfriend that threw the punch. Now her phone is blowing up with texts from a new guy, who tells her she’s perfect, she’s special, she’s everything he’s ever wanted… except for a few small details. Shelby’s happy to adjust for him, because isn’t that what a healthy relationship is about?
Jobie is a failure. She doesn’t have enough followers and her posts never go viral, no matter how hard she crushes challenges and applies exactly the right filter. But a friendly DM from a good girl just like her points her in the direction of a whole new audience of admirers. Guys who just want to talk. Guys who give her the attention she’s always wanted.
The lives of all three girls intersect in Fallon’s secret class, rumors of which have parents up in arms. Fallon needs to keep herself anonymous, Shelby needs to keep her new boyfriend happy, and Jobie needs to keep her followers… who keep asking for more. Each girl finds herself trapped in an inescapable situation—that will leave one of them dead.
Hardcover
First published November 18, 2025
59 people are currently reading
7177 people want to read
About the author
Mindy McGinnis
29 books4,301 followersMindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy.
While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
November 20, 2025
As a longtime fan of this author, I usually don’t even need to read the synopsis before requesting her books—I trust her storytelling that much. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite work for me, and I’m honestly a little bummed to say that it’s my least favorite of her works so far.
The premise sounded incredibly timely and important—exploring sex education, toxic relationships, and the impact of social media on young women. I was expecting something sharp, emotional, and gripping. But the execution felt more like a dramatized health class than a fully fleshed-out novel. The chapters were long and sometimes repetitive, the pacing was slow, and I struggled to connect with any of the main characters. Their personalities didn’t feel fully formed, and instead of complex, they often came across as stereotypes.
I also had a hard time buying into some of the plot points. The idea of a teen starting an anonymous sex-ed group in person—and then online—without fully thinking through the dangers didn’t feel believable in today’s digital world, where most teens would simply turn to social media or search engines first. And while the book tried to cover a wide range of important topics, from consent to online predators, it started to feel like it was trying to do too much at once, sometimes at the expense of emotional depth or character development.
To me, it read like a toned-down version of Sex Education—but with less humor, charm, or narrative focus. It leaned more clinical and message-driven, which made it hard to stay engaged with the story. I do appreciate what the author was trying to do, and there were moments of insight that reminded me why I love her writing. But overall, it felt like a novel that might have been more effective as a nonfiction companion guide or educational resource rather than a character-driven YA story.
All that said, I’m still looking forward to what she writes next—one less-than-stellar experience won’t change that. I’m rounding this up to 3 stars because I do think it’ll resonate with younger readers and spark important conversations, even if it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for sharing a digital review copy of my favorite thriller author’s latest work with me. I truly appreciate the opportunity, though I wish I had enjoyed it a bit more.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
The premise sounded incredibly timely and important—exploring sex education, toxic relationships, and the impact of social media on young women. I was expecting something sharp, emotional, and gripping. But the execution felt more like a dramatized health class than a fully fleshed-out novel. The chapters were long and sometimes repetitive, the pacing was slow, and I struggled to connect with any of the main characters. Their personalities didn’t feel fully formed, and instead of complex, they often came across as stereotypes.
I also had a hard time buying into some of the plot points. The idea of a teen starting an anonymous sex-ed group in person—and then online—without fully thinking through the dangers didn’t feel believable in today’s digital world, where most teens would simply turn to social media or search engines first. And while the book tried to cover a wide range of important topics, from consent to online predators, it started to feel like it was trying to do too much at once, sometimes at the expense of emotional depth or character development.
To me, it read like a toned-down version of Sex Education—but with less humor, charm, or narrative focus. It leaned more clinical and message-driven, which made it hard to stay engaged with the story. I do appreciate what the author was trying to do, and there were moments of insight that reminded me why I love her writing. But overall, it felt like a novel that might have been more effective as a nonfiction companion guide or educational resource rather than a character-driven YA story.
All that said, I’m still looking forward to what she writes next—one less-than-stellar experience won’t change that. I’m rounding this up to 3 stars because I do think it’ll resonate with younger readers and spark important conversations, even if it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for sharing a digital review copy of my favorite thriller author’s latest work with me. I truly appreciate the opportunity, though I wish I had enjoyed it a bit more.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
July 26, 2025
Do you remember taking sex ed in school? When I was growing up, they would pull the girls into a separate trailer to talk about a girl's body. When I started as a middle school teacher, I taught sex ed for four years. This was the reason that I chose this book. How Girls Are Made by Mandy McGinnis definitely pinpoints what life is like for teenager's today.
What I Liked About How Girls Are Made:
As a teacher of teenagers, I feel like this would really appeal to my students. Would I recommend it to them? Yes, but not all of them. If I was a teenager, I would have eaten this book right up. It has secrets, scandals, and sex ed. I liked that McGinnis put a lot of needed information for teenagers about the world (sex ed, social media, bullying, domestic violence), without dummying it down for them. They will appreciate that also.
It also tore at my heart strings as a teacher of teenagers. I actually think this book would make teenagers think twice about their actions. That's a good thing. I could picture my students as the main characters, and McGinnis did a nice job of portraying different types of kids that could be sitting right in my classroom.
What I Would Change:
The beginning definitely pulled me in. The last 40 pages or so were a jaw dropper. I felt the middle of the book lagged, however. It was very long, and sometimes it repeated information, but in different ways. Even though I enjoyed the ending, I felt that it was abrupt. It was like I walked up to a tree, admired it, shook it, and then all of the apples hit me on the head.
I'm glad that I read the book. Even though it is a YA book, I still think adults would enjoy it.
Where To Buy The Book and More:
Purchase How Girls Are Made here: https://amzn.to/4f8usDj
Read more of my book reviews: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
Missed my Top Books of 2024? Find them here: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-th...
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Mindy McGinnis for my free copy. This is my honest opinion.
Now, I’d love to hear from you: Did you have sex ed in school? Do you feel it was effective? Do you feel social media is a positive or negative in a teenager's life?
What I Liked About How Girls Are Made:
As a teacher of teenagers, I feel like this would really appeal to my students. Would I recommend it to them? Yes, but not all of them. If I was a teenager, I would have eaten this book right up. It has secrets, scandals, and sex ed. I liked that McGinnis put a lot of needed information for teenagers about the world (sex ed, social media, bullying, domestic violence), without dummying it down for them. They will appreciate that also.
It also tore at my heart strings as a teacher of teenagers. I actually think this book would make teenagers think twice about their actions. That's a good thing. I could picture my students as the main characters, and McGinnis did a nice job of portraying different types of kids that could be sitting right in my classroom.
What I Would Change:
The beginning definitely pulled me in. The last 40 pages or so were a jaw dropper. I felt the middle of the book lagged, however. It was very long, and sometimes it repeated information, but in different ways. Even though I enjoyed the ending, I felt that it was abrupt. It was like I walked up to a tree, admired it, shook it, and then all of the apples hit me on the head.
I'm glad that I read the book. Even though it is a YA book, I still think adults would enjoy it.
Where To Buy The Book and More:
Purchase How Girls Are Made here: https://amzn.to/4f8usDj
Read more of my book reviews: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
Missed my Top Books of 2024? Find them here: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-th...
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Mindy McGinnis for my free copy. This is my honest opinion.
Now, I’d love to hear from you: Did you have sex ed in school? Do you feel it was effective? Do you feel social media is a positive or negative in a teenager's life?
May 5, 2025
4.75⭐️
my face for the entirety of the last 50 pages: 😲
Holy COW! This book was awful! So terribly awful, in an amazing way that makes any sense!
Like what was happening was awful, but I LOVED it!
That ending?!??! 😭
The whole premise of this book is that these 3 girls are doing dangerous things...and one of them ends up dead in the end.
VERY good!
Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the ARC!! Pick this up when it comes out! (check trigger warnings first, though)
my face for the entirety of the last 50 pages: 😲
Holy COW! This book was awful! So terribly awful, in an amazing way that makes any sense!
Like what was happening was awful, but I LOVED it!
That ending?!??! 😭
The whole premise of this book is that these 3 girls are doing dangerous things...and one of them ends up dead in the end.
VERY good!
Thank you, NetGalley.com, for the ARC!! Pick this up when it comes out! (check trigger warnings first, though)
December 16, 2025
(5⭐️) ׂׂ*ೃ༄ SPOILERS AHEAD IN CHARACTER ANALYSIS
songs:
Shelby- Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo ༉‧₊˚.
↳ " It took you two weeks to go off and date her, guess you didn't cheat but your still a traitor"
Jobie- Pretty isn't Pretty by Olivia Rodrigo ༉‧₊˚.
↳ " I could change up my body and change up my face, could try every lipstick in very shade"
Fallon-Comfort Crowd by Conan Gray ༉‧₊˚.
↳ " by the time they're there I've already hid the body"
──── ୨୧ ────
" 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭" .ೃ࿐ -Jobie
𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
I'm gone. I'm done. All I can remember from finishing this book yesterday is ugly crying in my car- I feel sick, and like I have Dory's memory. I see myself in all three main characters which made reading this ten times harder and this book absolutely crushed me to say the least and it's so hard to talk about without spoilers but genuinely my mental place right now because of this book isn't the best but it's well deserving of 5 stars
" 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥. 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵. 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘣𝘺." * ˚ ✦ -Shelby
𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Shelby: This poor girl was always told she was too much or too manly and every boy either wanted to fight her of get their hands on her in someway just to say they could and she got hit by her boyfriend. So when she gets a new one she gives her whole self to this son of a gun douchebag who sucks, my heart broke for Shelby like I love this girl and I see myself in her (as someone who does basketball, XC, and track)
Fallon: My poor perfectionist. I love her so much and I understand how she wanted to help others and how that spiraled bad for her and it breaks my heart, I also really wanted to know who @Ko/Kreame/Krispies was like that interested me a lot.
songs:
Shelby- Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo ༉‧₊˚.
↳ " It took you two weeks to go off and date her, guess you didn't cheat but your still a traitor"
Jobie- Pretty isn't Pretty by Olivia Rodrigo ༉‧₊˚.
↳ " I could change up my body and change up my face, could try every lipstick in very shade"
Fallon-Comfort Crowd by Conan Gray ༉‧₊˚.
↳ " by the time they're there I've already hid the body"
──── ୨୧ ────
" 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭" .ೃ࿐ -Jobie
𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
I'm gone. I'm done. All I can remember from finishing this book yesterday is ugly crying in my car- I feel sick, and like I have Dory's memory. I see myself in all three main characters which made reading this ten times harder and this book absolutely crushed me to say the least and it's so hard to talk about without spoilers but genuinely my mental place right now because of this book isn't the best but it's well deserving of 5 stars
" 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥. 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵. 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘣𝘺." * ˚ ✦ -Shelby
𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Shelby: This poor girl was always told she was too much or too manly and every boy either wanted to fight her of get their hands on her in someway just to say they could and she got hit by her boyfriend. So when she gets a new one she gives her whole self to this son of a gun douchebag who sucks, my heart broke for Shelby like I love this girl and I see myself in her (as someone who does basketball, XC, and track)
Fallon: My poor perfectionist. I love her so much and I understand how she wanted to help others and how that spiraled bad for her and it breaks my heart, I also really wanted to know who @Ko/Kreame/Krispies was like that interested me a lot.
January 19, 2026
I always love Mindy's teenage feminine rage books. I always question whether I'm enjoying the book and by the end I am wholly sold. This book followed the same path where I was wondering where this was leading because the beginning felt so banal but then things started showing their ugly heads and SHIT GOT REAL. I like how these books make me see red. And I strangely love how I always question if I'm enjoying the authors books knowing full well I will be feeling a lot of things by the end.
November 23, 2025
I loved How Girls are Made. The novel made me emotional in a teary kind of way and that is incredibly difficult.
5 stars
5 stars
November 26, 2025
This book was unbelievably intense! It made me deeply uncomfortable while imparting an essential message. Be prepared.
November 16, 2025
McGinnis is one of strongest YA writers out there. She tackles heavy topics without the use of kid gloves. She deeply respects what her readers are capable of handling, and she exposes them to the risks of many facets of life. This one dives deep into social media use, body image, stalking, domestic violence, and more. The character development is very strong, and I love the way McGinnis executed the plot. Another win by McGinnis that should not be missed.
November 10, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio Children's for early copy for review*
4.5 rated up
Triggers warnings for SA, physical abuse, narcissistic abuser and attempted suicide attempt.
I think that all three narrators did a fantastic job with this. Their delivery with these hard scenes were phenomenal. However, this ended up being a tough listen for me because of personal reasons. There was a part at the end that I felt so emotionally numb to what was happening. The topics in this book are things that should be discussed. Teenagers should not have to meet secretly in order to learn about sex. Also they should have a safe place to go to sinthey don't turn to strangers on the internet and end up in dangerous situation.
While I can't say I enjoyed everything about this book it definitely emotionally impacted me and I feel like I will remember it.
4.5 rated up
Triggers warnings for SA, physical abuse, narcissistic abuser and attempted suicide attempt.
I think that all three narrators did a fantastic job with this. Their delivery with these hard scenes were phenomenal. However, this ended up being a tough listen for me because of personal reasons. There was a part at the end that I felt so emotionally numb to what was happening. The topics in this book are things that should be discussed. Teenagers should not have to meet secretly in order to learn about sex. Also they should have a safe place to go to sinthey don't turn to strangers on the internet and end up in dangerous situation.
While I can't say I enjoyed everything about this book it definitely emotionally impacted me and I feel like I will remember it.
December 3, 2025
I love this author and every other book I've read by her. However, this one just felt convoluted and too much going on all at once. The ending felt extremely rushed and just plain odd, honestly. I wish I could rave about it, but not this time.
I am thankful for the chance to read the ARC and maybe a few changes can be made before it goes to publication.
I am thankful for the chance to read the ARC and maybe a few changes can be made before it goes to publication.
November 26, 2025
3.5 STARS
Perfectionist and overachiever Fallon realizes the need for more realistic sex ed when she realizes how inaccurate her eighth grade sister’s knowledge of reproductive healthy and safety is. Fallon’s unlikely best friend Jobie wants only to be a social media success. Jobie sees herself as a failure who can be fixed with plastic surgery. Then she can find the boy of her dreams. Semi-professional boxer Shelby is angry. Her now ex boyfriend just broke her nose and she’s never going to let herself be abused again.
Fallon convinces Jobie and Shelby to form an underground sex education class under the guise of a self defense class. At eighteen, she fears the consequences of talking to minors about sex in their conservative small town. Then things get dangerous.
HOW GIRLS ARE MADE hit the ground running with three very different protagonists. Mindy McGinnis certainly has her pulse on the vulnerability of teen girls. If she had stayed with the misinformation teens believe and the different struggles of each protagonist, I would have rated higher. McGinnis lost me in the last 25% with car chases, stalkers, catfishing and gang rape. The thriller component of HOW GIRLS ARE MADE muted the message of the need for accurate sex education for both boys and girls, which needn’t be shamed. How the restrictions from a conservative community can be harmful, cause unwanted disease and pregnancy etc.
Perfectionist and overachiever Fallon realizes the need for more realistic sex ed when she realizes how inaccurate her eighth grade sister’s knowledge of reproductive healthy and safety is. Fallon’s unlikely best friend Jobie wants only to be a social media success. Jobie sees herself as a failure who can be fixed with plastic surgery. Then she can find the boy of her dreams. Semi-professional boxer Shelby is angry. Her now ex boyfriend just broke her nose and she’s never going to let herself be abused again.
Fallon convinces Jobie and Shelby to form an underground sex education class under the guise of a self defense class. At eighteen, she fears the consequences of talking to minors about sex in their conservative small town. Then things get dangerous.
HOW GIRLS ARE MADE hit the ground running with three very different protagonists. Mindy McGinnis certainly has her pulse on the vulnerability of teen girls. If she had stayed with the misinformation teens believe and the different struggles of each protagonist, I would have rated higher. McGinnis lost me in the last 25% with car chases, stalkers, catfishing and gang rape. The thriller component of HOW GIRLS ARE MADE muted the message of the need for accurate sex education for both boys and girls, which needn’t be shamed. How the restrictions from a conservative community can be harmful, cause unwanted disease and pregnancy etc.
December 17, 2025
Wow. This was an emotional ride.
I'm not a reviewer that gives you the synopsis in the review, so if you want that, stop reading.
As always Mindy McGinnis gives us a hard hitting, emotional, timely and charged topic. And again hits it out of the park.
Read Mindy McGinnis, read them all. You will not be sorry.
(and no, Mindy did not pay me to say that. She is a terrific writer and person)!
I'm not a reviewer that gives you the synopsis in the review, so if you want that, stop reading.
As always Mindy McGinnis gives us a hard hitting, emotional, timely and charged topic. And again hits it out of the park.
Read Mindy McGinnis, read them all. You will not be sorry.
(and no, Mindy did not pay me to say that. She is a terrific writer and person)!
December 16, 2025
WOW!!!!!!!!!
December 14, 2025
"You are tits out in the McDonald’s parking lot, so that’s clear."
The last fifty pages of this was absolutely wild. Talk about heartbreak and devastation.
RTC
The last fifty pages of this was absolutely wild. Talk about heartbreak and devastation.
RTC
January 12, 2026
I love Mindy McGinnis' books. She has been a longtime favorite author.
"How Girls Are Made" is such a departure from her work. I did not like this at all and could not stick it out.
"How Girls Are Made" is such a departure from her work. I did not like this at all and could not stick it out.
May 17, 2025
S€x Education meets Europhia in the newest YA book by @mindymcginnisauthor
🚺
Fallon loves to plan and be organized, but when her younger sister comes to her for basic anatomy and sexED questions, she’s shocked that knows so little. Her high school classmates aren’t that much further ahead of her sister so Fallon decides to start a secret sexED off-campus club devoted to sexeducation, mental health and self-defense. Shelby loves to fight in the ring, but when her boyfriend punches her in the nose and it gets shared on social media, Shelby over corrects by immediately dating the new guy on campus she’s chatting with in her DMs. Jobie is obsessed with her lack of social media presence, despite doing everything she can to go viral so when she gets a new follower who offers to help grow her audience, she leaps at the opportunity. All three girls intersect in Fallon’s sexED course, but each find themselves in seemingly impossible situations and one ends up dead.
🚺
Mindy is out here doing the work, y’all. I agree that our sexED in public schools is abysmal, as well as a lack in training for girls and young women in regards to assault and self-worth. Social media has only compounded these issues. All the laws surrounding females in this country are getting worse and worse. It’s important that we educate ourselves and our youth. They are finding out about sexED through social media and the internet, not being able to differentiate between fact, fiction, right, wrong, healthy and unhealthy. Thank you Mindy for writing this novel. Check those content warnings before you read and add it to your high school library when it releases November 18!
CW: suicide attempt, drugs, bullying, catfishing, r@pe, sexual assault, physical assault, emotional abuse, body shaming, mental health issues, cyberbullying, child p0rnography, sexual content (discussed), teen pregnancy, homophobia, blackmail
🚺
Fallon loves to plan and be organized, but when her younger sister comes to her for basic anatomy and sexED questions, she’s shocked that knows so little. Her high school classmates aren’t that much further ahead of her sister so Fallon decides to start a secret sexED off-campus club devoted to sexeducation, mental health and self-defense. Shelby loves to fight in the ring, but when her boyfriend punches her in the nose and it gets shared on social media, Shelby over corrects by immediately dating the new guy on campus she’s chatting with in her DMs. Jobie is obsessed with her lack of social media presence, despite doing everything she can to go viral so when she gets a new follower who offers to help grow her audience, she leaps at the opportunity. All three girls intersect in Fallon’s sexED course, but each find themselves in seemingly impossible situations and one ends up dead.
🚺
Mindy is out here doing the work, y’all. I agree that our sexED in public schools is abysmal, as well as a lack in training for girls and young women in regards to assault and self-worth. Social media has only compounded these issues. All the laws surrounding females in this country are getting worse and worse. It’s important that we educate ourselves and our youth. They are finding out about sexED through social media and the internet, not being able to differentiate between fact, fiction, right, wrong, healthy and unhealthy. Thank you Mindy for writing this novel. Check those content warnings before you read and add it to your high school library when it releases November 18!
CW: suicide attempt, drugs, bullying, catfishing, r@pe, sexual assault, physical assault, emotional abuse, body shaming, mental health issues, cyberbullying, child p0rnography, sexual content (discussed), teen pregnancy, homophobia, blackmail
October 14, 2025
I love Mindy McGinnis's books so much. This one in particular felt to me like an episode of Degrassi, which is to say it was incredibly angsty and a little over-the-top with its messaging with the intention to make a point. But it was SO GOOD. Each storyline was addicting in its own way and I couldn't look away from the train wreck that I knew was coming for all of the characters. The ending of this book was like a punch to the gut, and there are a ton of trigger warnings I would give to potential readers (attempted suicide, rape and sexual assault, domestic violence and emotional abuse), but if you enjoyed Degrassi growing up and think you'd enjoy a book about the dark side of social media, then I do really recommend this book. This is my second 5-star book by this author, and I can't wait to keep reading more of her backlist and every book she puts out in the future to find more.
December 1, 2025
Overall Rating : B+
"I just think that more girls need to be prepared for the reality of a penis."
Three girls form a secret sex-ed group to help teenangers undestand their own bodies and general trivia. But each has their own problems in that area, growing day by day. And one of them will be killed for it.
A great story that shows the dark reality of what teenagers go through no matter how "safe" they and their parents think they are. Loved Fallon, Shelby, and Jobies chapters and really captured the diversity of their characteristics. Absolutely gutted me how/who died because I just wasn't expecting it to be her that way. But the sad fact is it probably happens way more often than you would like to believe and I like how Mindy McGinnis never shies away from that fact.
Plot started very strong and crested through the middle. But I will say the ending felt rushed with a lot of questions unanswered or just skimmed through. So not a completely five star read, but pretty dang close.
"I just think that more girls need to be prepared for the reality of a penis."
Three girls form a secret sex-ed group to help teenangers undestand their own bodies and general trivia. But each has their own problems in that area, growing day by day. And one of them will be killed for it.
A great story that shows the dark reality of what teenagers go through no matter how "safe" they and their parents think they are. Loved Fallon, Shelby, and Jobies chapters and really captured the diversity of their characteristics. Absolutely gutted me how/who died because I just wasn't expecting it to be her that way. But the sad fact is it probably happens way more often than you would like to believe and I like how Mindy McGinnis never shies away from that fact.
Plot started very strong and crested through the middle. But I will say the ending felt rushed with a lot of questions unanswered or just skimmed through. So not a completely five star read, but pretty dang close.
May 26, 2025
Current rating: 3 stars
Not my favourite Mindy McGinnis book, but it was a quick read. The main unknown was already spoiled for me when I saw the table of contents, so when *those* scenes occurred, I wasn't surprised (still horrifying, though). The three POVs weren't bad, but I felt like some of the actions and dialogue were quite unrealistic.
The informative feel of this book also made it harder for me to feel connected with the story and its characters, but the message was good.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Not my favourite Mindy McGinnis book, but it was a quick read. The main unknown was already spoiled for me when I saw the table of contents, so when *those* scenes occurred, I wasn't surprised (still horrifying, though). The three POVs weren't bad, but I felt like some of the actions and dialogue were quite unrealistic.
The informative feel of this book also made it harder for me to feel connected with the story and its characters, but the message was good.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2025
Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up.
*Thank you to Harper Collins Publishing and Netgalley for this advanced copy ebook in return for my honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity to provide feedback. The thoughts and opinions in this review are solely mine.
Synopsis: Fallon is a fixer. When her middle school sister asks her questions about sex that the school sex education program brushes under the rug, Fallon decides to take things into her own hands. She decides to create a secret sex education group both online and in person with the help of her two friends. Jobie is Fallon’s best friend and she is looking for validation through her social media accounts. No matter how she tries, she just can’t seem to get the right amount of followers. Shelby is a fighter. She is used to winning so when she loses her first fight and then her boyfriend breaks her nose, she starts to question how much of a winner she is. Each of these girls have different struggles that take them down deep, dark rabbit holes until one of them ends up dead.
After finishing this book and starting my review, I read the other reviews out there. I wanted to know which side of the line my thoughts rested on. Because with every Mindy book, you have a side. Mindy is an instant read for me but her books are never emotionally easy reads.
I feel like you have to be in the mind set for this one and to understand that Mindy doesn't write light and fluffy. She writes dark and heavy. She writes truth and let's be honest, the truth can be dark. As a mom, knowing what is out there, what our teenage daughters could be facing is important and relevant. Burying your head in the sand never solved anything. Knowledge is power and that's what this book is even if it isn’t for everyone.
The story is told from 3 viewpoints: Fallon, Jobie, and Shelby. I love this approach because you get each girl’s unique perspective. These characters are so real and so relatable. Shelby is by far my favorite in this book. I love her wit, sarcasm and quick come backs. The banter between her and Baxter is charming…in the beginning. But it doesn’t take long to hate Baxter. I typically admire people who have things that I don't have but want, like the ability to be quick witted and the ability to say whatever comes to mind. I'm more like Fallon...the overthinker, the perfectionist. I get her. The character I cannot relate to is Jobie. I have never had the desire to be the center of attention. I don't want to be noticed. I don't do solo selfies. So getting a deep, internal look at this type of personality was eye opening to say the least. The characters are all so different but still share some of the same qualities...they are all vulnerable.
The story starts with a death but you don't know whose death and I am pretty certain that for most of this book Mindy didn't know whose death she started this book with. For me, that is what makes this book intriguing. We get to unravel the mystery with the author. I will say that I am confused by the why she chose to kill this character in the manner that she did. It didn’t fit the rest of the narrative for me…unless I’m missing something. Regardless…I absolutely loved the book but I have questions. And because I have questions, I don’t feel like I can give this 5 stars until I have answers. I will still recommend the book but I would really love some answers.
*Thank you to Harper Collins Publishing and Netgalley for this advanced copy ebook in return for my honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity to provide feedback. The thoughts and opinions in this review are solely mine.
Synopsis: Fallon is a fixer. When her middle school sister asks her questions about sex that the school sex education program brushes under the rug, Fallon decides to take things into her own hands. She decides to create a secret sex education group both online and in person with the help of her two friends. Jobie is Fallon’s best friend and she is looking for validation through her social media accounts. No matter how she tries, she just can’t seem to get the right amount of followers. Shelby is a fighter. She is used to winning so when she loses her first fight and then her boyfriend breaks her nose, she starts to question how much of a winner she is. Each of these girls have different struggles that take them down deep, dark rabbit holes until one of them ends up dead.
After finishing this book and starting my review, I read the other reviews out there. I wanted to know which side of the line my thoughts rested on. Because with every Mindy book, you have a side. Mindy is an instant read for me but her books are never emotionally easy reads.
I feel like you have to be in the mind set for this one and to understand that Mindy doesn't write light and fluffy. She writes dark and heavy. She writes truth and let's be honest, the truth can be dark. As a mom, knowing what is out there, what our teenage daughters could be facing is important and relevant. Burying your head in the sand never solved anything. Knowledge is power and that's what this book is even if it isn’t for everyone.
The story is told from 3 viewpoints: Fallon, Jobie, and Shelby. I love this approach because you get each girl’s unique perspective. These characters are so real and so relatable. Shelby is by far my favorite in this book. I love her wit, sarcasm and quick come backs. The banter between her and Baxter is charming…in the beginning. But it doesn’t take long to hate Baxter. I typically admire people who have things that I don't have but want, like the ability to be quick witted and the ability to say whatever comes to mind. I'm more like Fallon...the overthinker, the perfectionist. I get her. The character I cannot relate to is Jobie. I have never had the desire to be the center of attention. I don't want to be noticed. I don't do solo selfies. So getting a deep, internal look at this type of personality was eye opening to say the least. The characters are all so different but still share some of the same qualities...they are all vulnerable.
The story starts with a death but you don't know whose death and I am pretty certain that for most of this book Mindy didn't know whose death she started this book with. For me, that is what makes this book intriguing. We get to unravel the mystery with the author. I will say that I am confused by the why she chose to kill this character in the manner that she did. It didn’t fit the rest of the narrative for me…unless I’m missing something. Regardless…I absolutely loved the book but I have questions. And because I have questions, I don’t feel like I can give this 5 stars until I have answers. I will still recommend the book but I would really love some answers.
December 26, 2025
This is quite a dark, cautionary YA. It deals with a lot of heavy topics including online sexual predators and abusive partnerships while also trying to offer an example of young women trying to empower each other.
December 5, 2025
i need time to digest. wtf
December 14, 2025
a little heavy-handed at times but my god can this woman write a book.
December 23, 2025
Mindy does it again!
This one will have you guessing from the first line.
That's all you are going to get as far as a review, because you NEED to read Mindy's books. ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!
This one will have you guessing from the first line.
That's all you are going to get as far as a review, because you NEED to read Mindy's books. ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!
August 20, 2025
My goodness, this book is one that I have need to sit and digest. See, here's the thing.....I'm a mother of soon to be two daughters. And every single topic in How Girls Are Made (body image, abusive relationships, social media, catfishing, etc.....) all of it is out there in the world. It's real. It's dark. It's scary.
This is going to be a difficult title to recommend in my community. I live in a more conservative one. And when a big chunk of the book is about a sex education club and hiding about it from parents because a common theme is "you don't need to know about that......" I do wonder how readers where I live will react. There's language. There's LOTS of trigger warnings necessary: from rape to suicide to abuse.
However, it is also a necessary book in that it should make everyone think twice about what they are putting out in social media. Who they hang out with. Everything can come with a price.
This is going to be a difficult title to recommend in my community. I live in a more conservative one. And when a big chunk of the book is about a sex education club and hiding about it from parents because a common theme is "you don't need to know about that......" I do wonder how readers where I live will react. There's language. There's LOTS of trigger warnings necessary: from rape to suicide to abuse.
However, it is also a necessary book in that it should make everyone think twice about what they are putting out in social media. Who they hang out with. Everything can come with a price.
October 20, 2025
~~Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!~~
2.5/5 stars rounded up because it's definitely leaning away from 2.
My feelings on this book are quite . . . mixed.
I've come to love McGinnis for her wild, out there plots with sharp writing and commentary. I didn't now what exactly to expect with this one, because it seemed to be grounding itself more in modern reality than her previous works, but I still anticipated some sort of McGinnis twist somewhere in the mix. And there was. Now, having read it, I'm just left feeling sort of numb.
One thing I do appreciate was the frank discussions around sex and sexuality. I've peered at other reviews saying it was unrealistic for a teen to make that sort of club when kids nowadays have access to the internet, to which I must disagree with. Younger Gen Z and Alpha being exposed to easy internet access since before they could walk does not make them any smarter. We are literally seeing in real time how these kids are regressing from previous generations (i.e., identifying more conservatively, bringing back bigoted language and slurs, just over all acting/mimicking the right-leaning figures they see/follow on TikTok or wherever); would it really be a big stretch to say that sort of uncritical thinking could extend to topics around sex? Hell, one of the biggest points in the book is about how kids are adopting sexual behaviors but not realizing the full consequences of them because the internet has normalized those things to them and their peers. I just feel like McGinnis is giving far more insight into these things for YA readers than most authors could, and that is important. I only wish she didn't overfill the basket by convoluting the story with all the messaging she was attempting to get across.
There is a lot going on between Fallon, Jodie, and Shelby, so much so there was barely much time to breath between each girl's POV. They're all tackling major topics with harsh bites that could make any sensitive reader woozy. I'm usually not, by all means, but even I started to get beat down from the pressure this book had. It's why this took me longer than usual to read, because I dreaded taking it all on again whenever I picked up the book to read. I didn't have anything else much to enjoy, for the characters felt more like messages to warn the readers than people that I could relate to. This especially was apparent, for the two visibly gay characters were only identified as such with nothing much to them outside of that.
And the ending — it was so rushed. So many questions are still left that go unanswered, and only one arc from the girls feels somewhat complete.
I dunno, I've had some misses from McGinnis, but enough I've also had big hits from her I absolutely adore. But this one was such a curveball for me; I dunno how else to pinpoint my feelings without going on a another long tangent. But as far as recommendations go . . . I'd rather point you to McGinnis' other works before going into to this one.
2.5/5 stars rounded up because it's definitely leaning away from 2.
My feelings on this book are quite . . . mixed.
I've come to love McGinnis for her wild, out there plots with sharp writing and commentary. I didn't now what exactly to expect with this one, because it seemed to be grounding itself more in modern reality than her previous works, but I still anticipated some sort of McGinnis twist somewhere in the mix. And there was. Now, having read it, I'm just left feeling sort of numb.
One thing I do appreciate was the frank discussions around sex and sexuality. I've peered at other reviews saying it was unrealistic for a teen to make that sort of club when kids nowadays have access to the internet, to which I must disagree with. Younger Gen Z and Alpha being exposed to easy internet access since before they could walk does not make them any smarter. We are literally seeing in real time how these kids are regressing from previous generations (i.e., identifying more conservatively, bringing back bigoted language and slurs, just over all acting/mimicking the right-leaning figures they see/follow on TikTok or wherever); would it really be a big stretch to say that sort of uncritical thinking could extend to topics around sex? Hell, one of the biggest points in the book is about how kids are adopting sexual behaviors but not realizing the full consequences of them because the internet has normalized those things to them and their peers. I just feel like McGinnis is giving far more insight into these things for YA readers than most authors could, and that is important. I only wish she didn't overfill the basket by convoluting the story with all the messaging she was attempting to get across.
There is a lot going on between Fallon, Jodie, and Shelby, so much so there was barely much time to breath between each girl's POV. They're all tackling major topics with harsh bites that could make any sensitive reader woozy. I'm usually not, by all means, but even I started to get beat down from the pressure this book had. It's why this took me longer than usual to read, because I dreaded taking it all on again whenever I picked up the book to read. I didn't have anything else much to enjoy, for the characters felt more like messages to warn the readers than people that I could relate to. This especially was apparent, for the two visibly gay characters were only identified as such with nothing much to them outside of that.
And the ending — it was so rushed. So many questions are still left that go unanswered, and only one arc from the girls feels somewhat complete.
I dunno, I've had some misses from McGinnis, but enough I've also had big hits from her I absolutely adore. But this one was such a curveball for me; I dunno how else to pinpoint my feelings without going on a another long tangent. But as far as recommendations go . . . I'd rather point you to McGinnis' other works before going into to this one.
December 9, 2025
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.
Hey Mindy, what the fluff.
Mindy is an instant read for me. She's a fabulous YA writer AND an Ohio author, so it makes it so easy to support her. I don't even read the synopsis' of a book before instantly adding it to my tbr- and this book was no different.
Told in alternating perspectives, Jobie, Fallon, and Shelby tell their stories over a period of time after Fallon's sister tells her the shockingly little she knows about Sex Ed, and the girls take it upon themselves to meet that need in their community- secretly of course.
Reading this book was like watching a car crash in slow motion, Jobie and Shelby's stories especially. You see them speeding headfirst into their own downfall and you keep screaming at the book to stop, just slow down, listen to an adult!!! But they don't. Because they're teenagers and they clearly know more than you.
God what an awful hard book to read, that had me racing through every single page.
I loved Mal's character, and she felt odd to be included as a founding member of SHAFT without her own perspective in the book- reading about a gay character in rural conversative Ohio would've been a fantastic addition to this story, especially with what we see she gets involved in just from our other character's perspectives. But having the 3 perspectives that were dealing with SO much in their own lives felt like there was a lot crammed into this book. It just felt like every chapter I could barely take a breather before the next girl was running their life into the ground somehow.
I need something.... less McGinnis-y after this lol
Hey Mindy, what the fluff.
Mindy is an instant read for me. She's a fabulous YA writer AND an Ohio author, so it makes it so easy to support her. I don't even read the synopsis' of a book before instantly adding it to my tbr- and this book was no different.
Told in alternating perspectives, Jobie, Fallon, and Shelby tell their stories over a period of time after Fallon's sister tells her the shockingly little she knows about Sex Ed, and the girls take it upon themselves to meet that need in their community- secretly of course.
Reading this book was like watching a car crash in slow motion, Jobie and Shelby's stories especially. You see them speeding headfirst into their own downfall and you keep screaming at the book to stop, just slow down, listen to an adult!!! But they don't. Because they're teenagers and they clearly know more than you.
God what an awful hard book to read, that had me racing through every single page.
I loved Mal's character, and she felt odd to be included as a founding member of SHAFT without her own perspective in the book- reading about a gay character in rural conversative Ohio would've been a fantastic addition to this story, especially with what we see she gets involved in just from our other character's perspectives. But having the 3 perspectives that were dealing with SO much in their own lives felt like there was a lot crammed into this book. It just felt like every chapter I could barely take a breather before the next girl was running their life into the ground somehow.
I need something.... less McGinnis-y after this lol
November 2, 2025
This book is raw, and it’s real. I suspect many readers will be uncomfortable reading this book, but it needs to be read. I believe it portrays teenagers, the worries that consume them, and the dangers of social media in a very authentic light - and it’s scary. But avoiding the hard and awkward conversations won’t help anyone - I hope this book will make those conversations happen.
December 30, 2025
Because of Mindy McGinnis, I had to start a whole new very-specific shelf in my reading organization akin to the idea of “wow this was so fantastic but I absolutely should not read it again and should be very careful about recommending it.” What do you even call that?
How Girls Are Made features shifting perspectives of three different high school girls who are quite different in their own rights but have something very important in common. Fallon is a perfect child, the one every parent wants, who is absolutely perfect in every way (and it’s not even annoying, except maybe to her best friend.) She has a sister in middle school and learns through her that kids are having many curiosities about sex and are engaging in questionable behavior from a young age with no sex education whatsoever. She realizes even her own sex education isn’t what it could have been. Jobie is a good girl, best friend to Fallon, and desperate to stand out. She’s obsessed with social media and gaining more followers, equating it to being more loved. I’m pretty sure she would stop at Nothing. Shelby is a fighter - a pretty famous one. She has the fame and popularity that Jobie desires, but recently her boyfriend cheated on her and then punched her in front of half the school, breaking her nose and busting her lip. She’s no stranger to getting hit, but being harmed by someone you love and trust is something different entirely. She’s totally fine, though.
The three girls form a group outside of school and invite friends to join. Essentially, a sex education extra-curricular. It’s a fantastic idea that quickly leads to lots of unwanted attention. Each girl has their own issues they’re facing and, as is reality for teenagers, it’s all threat level midnight. LOTS of intense things happen in this book, as is pretty common from Mindy McGinnis in my experience. It’s always tasteful and well-done, but can be extremely uncomfortable and maybe off-putting to some readers. As someone that believes the hard conversations are important and sometimes the reflection of some aspects of human nature should make us uncomfortable, I quite like her writing style. She is so familiar with the realities of the world we live in and has a way of speaking to modernity (beauty sickness, gaslighting, Instagram, Reddit, revenge p*rn, etc.) and even dark humor in such a way that makes these tough topics more accessible, gives our young people words for their plights, and even encourages them to speak about the things they face. Works like this can be so important.
The trigger warnings that should come with this book lead to some spoilers as well, but know that if topics that include emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are a no-go for you, this one could be a difficult read.
How Girls Are Made features shifting perspectives of three different high school girls who are quite different in their own rights but have something very important in common. Fallon is a perfect child, the one every parent wants, who is absolutely perfect in every way (and it’s not even annoying, except maybe to her best friend.) She has a sister in middle school and learns through her that kids are having many curiosities about sex and are engaging in questionable behavior from a young age with no sex education whatsoever. She realizes even her own sex education isn’t what it could have been. Jobie is a good girl, best friend to Fallon, and desperate to stand out. She’s obsessed with social media and gaining more followers, equating it to being more loved. I’m pretty sure she would stop at Nothing. Shelby is a fighter - a pretty famous one. She has the fame and popularity that Jobie desires, but recently her boyfriend cheated on her and then punched her in front of half the school, breaking her nose and busting her lip. She’s no stranger to getting hit, but being harmed by someone you love and trust is something different entirely. She’s totally fine, though.
The three girls form a group outside of school and invite friends to join. Essentially, a sex education extra-curricular. It’s a fantastic idea that quickly leads to lots of unwanted attention. Each girl has their own issues they’re facing and, as is reality for teenagers, it’s all threat level midnight. LOTS of intense things happen in this book, as is pretty common from Mindy McGinnis in my experience. It’s always tasteful and well-done, but can be extremely uncomfortable and maybe off-putting to some readers. As someone that believes the hard conversations are important and sometimes the reflection of some aspects of human nature should make us uncomfortable, I quite like her writing style. She is so familiar with the realities of the world we live in and has a way of speaking to modernity (beauty sickness, gaslighting, Instagram, Reddit, revenge p*rn, etc.) and even dark humor in such a way that makes these tough topics more accessible, gives our young people words for their plights, and even encourages them to speak about the things they face. Works like this can be so important.
The trigger warnings that should come with this book lead to some spoilers as well, but know that if topics that include emotional, physical, or sexual abuse are a no-go for you, this one could be a difficult read.
December 5, 2025
Not a Mindy book gets read where I don't end up weeping at some point. Idk how she does this to me but I both love it and hate it at the same time.
No one does feminine rage like Mindy. As someone who lives with an 18 year old, I really think Mindy gets teens. A lot of times when you read YA written by women in my age bracket it feels like it could take place at any time from when we were teens to about a decade after. But with this, the teens felt like today's teens. Dealing with the AI issues and social media dramas and navigating their way through today's political issues that they can't vote on but often affect them more than anyone else.
If you are 12-16 or have a 12-16 year old I highly recommend reading this with your parent/child as a good jumping off point for discussing topics involving social media safety, sexual wellness, body positivity, toxic relationships and just overall body and mental health awareness.
If you live in a small town (especially in Ohio) this really feels like it could have taken place right at home. The idea that todays teens have to deal with these kinds of issues and the fact that no one is talking to them about it makes me so sad and angry at the same time. And like, as adults we may read some of the things in the book (I.E. teens thinking that a specific soda is basically so toxic its a spermicide) that the teens believe and be like "Who would ever believe that!?!" but that 18 year old who I mentioned lives in my house was a straight A student, and this is 100% the kind of things her and her friends used to talk about.
Kids don't ask Jeeves anymore, they just believe what they hear from their friends and on tiktok. They believe what they hear in abstinence only sex ed classes. And as their parents, aunties, and older siblings, it's our job to talk things through with them and as I said, I think this book is a great jumping off point for that.
Again, as always, another fantastic book from Mindy that I'll be thinking about for weeks.
No one does feminine rage like Mindy. As someone who lives with an 18 year old, I really think Mindy gets teens. A lot of times when you read YA written by women in my age bracket it feels like it could take place at any time from when we were teens to about a decade after. But with this, the teens felt like today's teens. Dealing with the AI issues and social media dramas and navigating their way through today's political issues that they can't vote on but often affect them more than anyone else.
If you are 12-16 or have a 12-16 year old I highly recommend reading this with your parent/child as a good jumping off point for discussing topics involving social media safety, sexual wellness, body positivity, toxic relationships and just overall body and mental health awareness.
If you live in a small town (especially in Ohio) this really feels like it could have taken place right at home. The idea that todays teens have to deal with these kinds of issues and the fact that no one is talking to them about it makes me so sad and angry at the same time. And like, as adults we may read some of the things in the book (I.E. teens thinking that a specific soda is basically so toxic its a spermicide) that the teens believe and be like "Who would ever believe that!?!" but that 18 year old who I mentioned lives in my house was a straight A student, and this is 100% the kind of things her and her friends used to talk about.
Kids don't ask Jeeves anymore, they just believe what they hear from their friends and on tiktok. They believe what they hear in abstinence only sex ed classes. And as their parents, aunties, and older siblings, it's our job to talk things through with them and as I said, I think this book is a great jumping off point for that.
Again, as always, another fantastic book from Mindy that I'll be thinking about for weeks.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews