Enormous Wings

by Laurie Frankel

From the beloved New York Times bestselling author Laurie Frankel, an exuberant and timely new novel

At seventy-seven, Pepper Mills is too old to be a stranger in a strange land. She didn’t choose the Vista View Retirement Community of Austin, Texas—that would be her three grown children—but when she grudgingly moves in, she not only makes new friends, she falls in love. Then the exhaustion, vomiting, and confusion start. Her children and grandchildren worry it’s cancer, dementia, a stroke. But a raft of tests later, the news is even more she’s pregnant.

Once word gets out, everyone wants a piece of the press and the paparazzi, activists and medical researchers, all descending on Vista View as Pepper tries to determine her next move. Soon Pepper has some hard decisions to make—and some she’s not allowed to make.

Enormous Wings is an urgent novel about female agency and bodily autonomy, morality and mortality. It’s about what happens when you don’t get to choose. It’s about motherhood and family, sex and love and friendship, and how those bedrocks—even so late in the day—can still change, and then change everything.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Adult Fiction, Book Club, Literature

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 5, 2026

About the author

Laurie Frankel is the bestselling author of five novels: FAMILY FAMILY, coming 1/23/24, as well as ONE TWO THREE, THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS, GOODBYE FOR NOW, and THE ATLAS OF LOVE. She lives with her family on a very steep hill in Seattle, but she's an east coaster at heart. She is also a baseball fan, a soup maker, a theater lover, a yoga practicer, a comma expert, and a huge reader (just like you).

Reviews

[Anderson McKean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The immensely talented Laurie Frankel has truly outdone herself with ENORMOUS WINGS! I cannot think of a better title for this deep, extraordinary novel - it is big and bold, thoughtful and wise. It is a powerful story of found family, female agency, growing old and staying young. Frankel’s cast of fierce, unforgettable characters and poignant observations on life and love broke my heart wide open, but kept me smiling to the last page.

[Laura Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on May 5th, 2025.

I wanted to like this book — Laurie Frankel is a fun and sharp writer and I loved Family, Family. She excels at writing families who are faced with every permutation of reproductive drama — unwanted pregnancies, adoptions, abortions, you name it — and who deal with them in an abundance of creative ways. This book’s discombobulating surprise? Pepper Mills — a 77-year old woman recently shunted to an old age home by her well-meaning but (in her opinion) overly controlling children — finds herself … pregnant! A bizarre situation by any standard but in this case, she also happens to live in Texas — home of some of the most “innovative” no-abortions-allowed legislation. (To be fair, we do get an explanation later in the book that does make this pregnancy more plausible than it first appears).

I loved the humor which is wry, supported by a fair amount of carefully launched sarcasm, and reminiscent of the Jewish family I always wished I lived in. I also loved the discussions, the ethical (and bizarre) questions, and every single one of the primary characters including a great set of “oldies” at the Home, and the myriad children and grandchildren who all add their personal (and multi-generational) slant to the events. I really loved the many one liners that had me laughing out loud — this woman can write! And how can you not love Pepper? Her thoughts, irritations, and love for each individual she connected with are coupled with her absolute insistence on good grammar! I’m not actually very good with grammar myself, but I really appreciate those who are.

My only complaint — and it was big enough to warrant my dropping the rating a point — is that the book was too long and spent much of that excess length on a long pro-choice / anti-Texan rant lecture. I am, and always have been, pro-choice, and I think the recent anti-abortion laws in Texas are wrong in so many ways — but I still resent the incredibly heavy handed depiction of people in Texas (including doctors) who are two dimensionally mean and manipulative with their only goal appearing to be keeping women under control. It’s a long-standing technique in the world of fiction to make the bad guys really, obviously, Bad. It makes it easier to hate them and side with the author’s idea of the “good” people. But in our era of extreme polarization and encouraged hate, I’m pretty sick of it. I’m sure I’m overreacting here, but it really spoiled the book for me. Too much pounding of the message, even though the message was well-established from the first pages and anyone who was reading this probably already in agreement.

So — fun to read if you can ignore the stereotyped baddies and skim a bit at the end…

[Mo]

What a triumph of a novel--wry, intelligent, and wholly original.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. My suggestion: go into this one blind. Don’t read the blurb or too many reviews. I didn’t know anything about it except the author (Laurie Frankel!) and I just love how the plot unfolded for me without knowing where it was going.

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique plot where a 77 year old woman becomes pregnant and also in a retirement home. She becomes a local celebrity and has to deal with some really tough situations and decisions. I loved how relevant this is to our current times with women’s rights. With themes of morality, motherhood, golden years, and the love of family this novel really caught my heart and I was deeply invested. This book stuck with me after I finished reading and I will be thinking about it for weeks to come. Bravo! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[wopphicreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurie Frankel’s Enormous Wings is a sharp, heartfelt exploration of choice, autonomy, and resilience in a post–Roe v. Wade America. Frankel’s signature wit and emotional depth shine through as she introduces Pepper Mills, a smart, tenacious woman who keeps getting stripped of her choices—her home, her car, her independence, and eventually, her bodily autonomy when she becomes pregnant while living in a retirement community.
Frankel excels at weaving humor, community, and serious subject matter into a narrative that feels both timely and universal. Fans of Women’s Fiction will love the rich character relationships, the insightful commentary, and the compassion threaded through every page.
Enormous Wings is a powerful reminder of the obstacles many face when reproductive care is restricted—and of the courage it takes to reclaim one’s agency.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Anna R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of the book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book. In every one of her books I’ve read, Laurie Frankel takes on controversial topics, especially issues related to reproduction, but with both a hilarious and edgy voice. Enormous Wings takes on the topic of abortion with a fantastic cast of characters to guide us through this heart-stirring and entertaining novel. I didn’t want to put it down and am continuing to contemplate it after I finished.

[Karrthick]

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[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly magnificent book about our agency, not just how much power we have over our own bodies when pregnant, but as people. It starts when 77 year old Pepper gets into a car accident, her daughter takes her driver's license, and she moves her into the same assisted living facility that her ex-husband is in. But doesn't that make sense? That Pepper's kids would want her to be in the same place as their father? Still, this is where the theme begins that Pepper loses her ability to make decisions about her life. She didn't expect to fall in love, and NO ONE expected her to become pregnant.

What a crazy premise? I thought this would be more speculative, and although the premise is a little "out there" it is told in a realistic way. There is a fictional plot reason why she is an outlier of pregnancy. But even with such a fantasy-driven premise, this book ends up really making the reader think. If you like well written found-family books that make you think, this is the perfect book for you.

I have loved all of Laurie Frankel's novels, and this one absolutely met my SKY HIGH expectations. One of my pet peeves on GoodReads is when an early reader says "well I liked this book but I didn't like it as much as the author's previous work which is my favorite" - Early readers can fall into that trap of having high expectations that result in lesser than fair ratings. In this case I can confidently tell you that I absolutely LOVED this story, LOVED the characters, I laughed so hard at Pepper, her English teacher observations, and her general acceptance of her life.

I could not tell what was going to happen next, and it was also sad to see so many people exploiting the pregnant septugenarian for their own political gains, you just wanted to scream, she is a HUMAN BEING not your mascot! Wow. I was fiercely protective of her.

Laurie Frankel is just a genius, "Family Family" was very pro-adoption without being anti-choice, and this was so, so needed in women's literary fiction. This book takes an equally divisive topic and makes it really about the story. If you are sensitive about reading books about narrators that may not make the same decisions you would, this book could trigger you. But either way, I think it would be an excellent book club book to encourage lively discussions.

One of my top books of 2026!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the ARC. Book to be published May 4, 2026.

[Janet Fiorentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurie Frankel’s novels are always such a delight and “Enormous Wings” is no exception. Frankel always comes up with the most distinctive plots to immerse her delightful characters.

Pepper Mills is 77 and not ready to live in a retirement center, but her children have different ideas. But if you’re thinking this is another novel about growing older, you do not know Laurie Frankel. Instead, Pepper finds herself pregnant in very conservative Texas where getting an abortion is not so easy thanks to the 2022 Dobbs decision.

The pro-life aspect was a bit obvious in this current political climate, but didn’t take the reader outside of this enjoyable story. While there were parts of this story that dragged on, I appreciated spending time in this world. Frankel’s writing is lively and humorous and I admire her from not shying from these difficult topics.

Thank you to Net Galley, Laurie Frankel and the publisher for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Drea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Laurie Frankel. Her writing is relatable and I feel like I'm speaking to a friend while reading her books. It pains me to say that this one was a miss for me. I couldn't get past the plot even though I appreciated the messages about society and health care. It's a bummer because for the first bit, I couldn't put it down. I loved the residents of the retirement home - the characters jumped off the page and made me smile. I love that "Moth" was the name for "Timothy". I know I will be in the minority with this "meh" review. I'm glad I read it and I'm sure others will love it. For me - not so much. The writing is what made this a three star read for me and one I can recommend. Go read Laurie Frankel whenever you can even if you roll your eyes at the premise. Heartfelt thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

[Jessica Brandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going to start off by saying I rounded up to 4 ⭐️ after thinking about this for a week. I have enjoyed Laurie Frankel’s books and I love that she uses hot button topics for her story content. I loved the idea here in this book of Pepper Mills, age 77, being pushed into a nursing home by her children and then, once there, finding love but also becoming pregnant!!! The concept is crazy and the fact that she lives in Texas of course makes it even more bonkers. I felt the book leaned really hard on women’s rights and abortion but in this case, I think it took away from Pepper, her relationship with the pregnancy, her children, the nursing home, etc. The book went a bit over the top and I almost feel it went too far. I know what was trying to be done but felt a bit distracted by it and for that I’m giving it 3.5 ⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an advanced copy.

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Laurie Frankel's books! She has such a masterful way of encapsulating complex social and emotional issues, distilling them to their essence, and making her readers think - and all while presenting the story in an engaging, fun, and entertaining way that works beautifully! The world is an increasingly dark and divisive place, and the ability to cover topics within the darkness with heart and emotion and humor and hope is a singular gift these days.

The writing is, as always, spot on perfect in tone and pacing. The characters are endearing and frustrating and hilariously human, full of quirks and shortcomings andso much heart! It won't be a book for everyone simply because of its main topic - abortion is more divisive now than ever before, and that's saying something - but it should be because it highlights so many of the elements of the issue in a novel way.

It was an absolute delight to read - I laughed and cried and yelled and read passages out loud just to hear the simple-yet-profound statements resonate in the room. I will be recommending it to everyone!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about bodily autonomy and a woman’s right to choose. I didn’t mind the unbelievable premise. In fact, it worked here! What I was left wanting was more about the main character’s fight to make decisions about her own body. There were glimpses, but I wanted more. Instead of fighting the systems and the doctors who took away her autonomy, the main character quickly accepted her fate. And while I love a cute babbling baby as much as the next person, portraying her this way seemed to send the message of, “Look at this perfect baby who brings so much joy to everyone. She wouldn’t be here if her mom had been permitted to abort as she wished”. Ultimately, I’m left feeling conflicted about the author’s message and intentions.

[Wendy Remez · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars-What I love about Laurie Frankel is that she tackles topics that no one would dare touch, and then you get so invested in the story that time flies by and you aren’t even aware.

Pepper is actually 2 of her life, a senior apartment complex with assisted living steps away. Her kids decided it was time after a minor fender bender with a priest. She quickly finds a friend group and begins a romance with Moth. That’s where the family comes together, because Pepper is pregnant.

I loved all of the characters, Maisie, Dot, Moth, but I especially loved her granddaughter Lola, who uses Taylor Swift as a model for problem solving. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entertaining, timely,and witty—its premise completely absurd yet utterly engaging. The characters were wonderfully developed, and I truly hope there will be a sequel in the future.


Thank you to NetGalley fur providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Tam📖 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the ARC!

A 77 year old woman hits a priest with a car and loses her license. Her kids make her move into an independent living home and she becomes pregnant in the big state of Texas… where abortion is illegal.

Sounds like my worst nightmare. Not me googling can a 77 year old get pregnant…. Ahhhh! Give me ENORMOUS wings and I would fly away so far.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frankel is an amazing writer -- original, creative, thinking outside the box (a 77 year old woman pregnant?!), full of sarcastic quips, includes current events, and ends her book with a look towards the future.

[Cynthia Judkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read a pre-released version. Original story with some abortion rights subplots that I enjoyed.

[Tina Panik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Library Journal; full review appears there. .

[Sarah]

A 77 yr old woman getting pregnant? Say no more.

[Em theglitterybookworm_]

it’s not a want, it’s a need.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

lyrical and interesting book about a 77-year-old woman who gets pregnant. a strong focus on abortion rights throughout. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.