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Enormous Wings
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.
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.
9 pages, Audiobook
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
Laurie Frankel
23 books4,193 followersLaurie Frankel is the bestselling author of six (!) novels (she can't believe it either): ENORMOUS WINGS, coming 5/5/26, as well as FAMILY FAMILY, 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).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,619 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ 77 YEARS OLD & PREGNANT, what's the first thing that comes to your mind?
The oldest I've seen a woman pregnant in my career was a 66 years old woman who naturally delivered twin boys, while the youngest was a case of rape at 13 years old. Two different females, two different stories... one that stemmed from deep love, desire and want of being a mother and multiple failed IVFs over 20 year span while the other an unfathomable case of unforseen molestation by an older boy at school. Do pregnancies happen at 77? Yes they do. Are they common? No they are not. Pregnancies in septuagenarians are extremely rare and only possible via IVF. They are an anomaly which is also accompanied by high medical risk. Such pregnancies require intensive monitoring through out the entire gestation as there are significant health risks for both the mother and the fetus. Aside from all the medical issues that can arise, being over 50 and pregnant comes with a preset ton of ethical issues, one of them being reproductive autonomy which is highly explored in Enormous Wings. Let's get into it!
Quick summary: Pepper Mills is our 77 year old who moves into a retirement community of Austin, Texas where she not only makes new friends but also finds love. That love comes with a surprise of her lifetime-she is pregnant! Yes, pregnant at 77 years old, you heard that right! The word gets out and now she's the talk of the town. The paparazzi, the activists, the researchers, the journalists, the whole world now wants to know when, why, how. They all want a piece of her & Pepper has no room to breathe. She's forced to confront difficult choices about bodily autonomy, motherhood and life in post Roe v Wade world. The kick? She's living in state of Texas where abortion is illegal at all stages of pregnancy, with very narrow exceptions. As the world debates her bodily choices, this novel asks big uncomfortable questions about reproductive rights, aging, 'geriatric' sexual activity, choices. Read this if you want to find out how it all ends--it's good, it's really freaking good.
Enormous Wings is a can of worms. I don't know how to appropriately format this review but my mind was (and still is) buzzing with so many thoughts after I finished it. Laurie Frankel took an ordinary family and created a very unconventional situation, mixed it with snarky commentary and sense of humor and gave it wings. Perhaps not 100% belivable but 100% will ruffle your feathers. It's an eye opener about current state of affairs, not just political but also about the unspoken things such as intercourse in your later stages of life. Sexuality in 70-90's is frequently overlooked, never addressed and often shrouded in societal taboos and misconceptions. Its an "ew, gross" topic for most people and I completely understand that one doesn't think about their grandma or grandpa getting it on, however--sexuality is still part of a healthy, fulfilling life and should be addressed and normalized instead of looked down on.
Pregnancy and abortion are always at each other's throats. Its such a broad topic that is always at the center of legal, ethical and social controversy. Who am I to say what one decides is wrong or right? Pepper Mills is a grown woman and she decided for herself her own outcome. Regardless of our laws, religions and political divisions, autonomy is the basic human right and should not be conditional.
This book would be perfect for book clubs and tackles several topics in such a moving, emotional way. It might be absurd but it highlights parts of our lives that are sometimes overlooked or overly displayed. It's rich with personality, funk and humor where appropriate. It's not judgmental or one-sided. It's imaginative and heartfelt and it's great for all ages.
Narator: Becky Ann Baker
Narration time: Roughly 9 hours 50 min.
Speed: 1.25x
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Laurie Frankel for an early ALC.
Publication date: May 5, 2026
The oldest I've seen a woman pregnant in my career was a 66 years old woman who naturally delivered twin boys, while the youngest was a case of rape at 13 years old. Two different females, two different stories... one that stemmed from deep love, desire and want of being a mother and multiple failed IVFs over 20 year span while the other an unfathomable case of unforseen molestation by an older boy at school. Do pregnancies happen at 77? Yes they do. Are they common? No they are not. Pregnancies in septuagenarians are extremely rare and only possible via IVF. They are an anomaly which is also accompanied by high medical risk. Such pregnancies require intensive monitoring through out the entire gestation as there are significant health risks for both the mother and the fetus. Aside from all the medical issues that can arise, being over 50 and pregnant comes with a preset ton of ethical issues, one of them being reproductive autonomy which is highly explored in Enormous Wings. Let's get into it!
Quick summary: Pepper Mills is our 77 year old who moves into a retirement community of Austin, Texas where she not only makes new friends but also finds love. That love comes with a surprise of her lifetime-she is pregnant! Yes, pregnant at 77 years old, you heard that right! The word gets out and now she's the talk of the town. The paparazzi, the activists, the researchers, the journalists, the whole world now wants to know when, why, how. They all want a piece of her & Pepper has no room to breathe. She's forced to confront difficult choices about bodily autonomy, motherhood and life in post Roe v Wade world. The kick? She's living in state of Texas where abortion is illegal at all stages of pregnancy, with very narrow exceptions. As the world debates her bodily choices, this novel asks big uncomfortable questions about reproductive rights, aging, 'geriatric' sexual activity, choices. Read this if you want to find out how it all ends--it's good, it's really freaking good.
Enormous Wings is a can of worms. I don't know how to appropriately format this review but my mind was (and still is) buzzing with so many thoughts after I finished it. Laurie Frankel took an ordinary family and created a very unconventional situation, mixed it with snarky commentary and sense of humor and gave it wings. Perhaps not 100% belivable but 100% will ruffle your feathers. It's an eye opener about current state of affairs, not just political but also about the unspoken things such as intercourse in your later stages of life. Sexuality in 70-90's is frequently overlooked, never addressed and often shrouded in societal taboos and misconceptions. Its an "ew, gross" topic for most people and I completely understand that one doesn't think about their grandma or grandpa getting it on, however--sexuality is still part of a healthy, fulfilling life and should be addressed and normalized instead of looked down on.
Pregnancy and abortion are always at each other's throats. Its such a broad topic that is always at the center of legal, ethical and social controversy. Who am I to say what one decides is wrong or right? Pepper Mills is a grown woman and she decided for herself her own outcome. Regardless of our laws, religions and political divisions, autonomy is the basic human right and should not be conditional.
This book would be perfect for book clubs and tackles several topics in such a moving, emotional way. It might be absurd but it highlights parts of our lives that are sometimes overlooked or overly displayed. It's rich with personality, funk and humor where appropriate. It's not judgmental or one-sided. It's imaginative and heartfelt and it's great for all ages.
Narator: Becky Ann Baker
Narration time: Roughly 9 hours 50 min.
Speed: 1.25x
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Laurie Frankel for an early ALC.
Publication date: May 5, 2026
May 8, 2026
“I find that book clubs are like garlic sauces: I like them, but they do not agree with me.”
This is Pepper talking, our narrator and protagonist. She is 77-years-old with a sharp sense of humor, a realistic view of the world, and a firmly established way of life. Until…
Pepper has an unfortunate fender bender, which leads her family to orchestrate the inevitable next chapter for her — moving her into the Vista View Retirement Community, a continuing care facility in Austin, Texas.
What initially feels like the unfortunate ending of life as she knows it slowly turns into something entirely different: wondrous, unexpected new beginnings. Though Pepper certainly doesn’t see it that way at first.
There is a lot for Pepper to reckon with. Giving up her 100-year-old house and the independence of her comfortable solitude feels like a loss she isn’t sure she can overcome.
Even if she is technically in the independent-living section, is this really how she imagined the final stretch of her life?
And then, life happens.
Moth, her charming next-door neighbor originally from England, steadily works his way into her orbit. Suddenly, Pepper’s solitude doesn’t feel quite so solitary anymore.
Including one intimate moment with Moth.
Leading to…Pepper feeling a bit off.
And this is where I went delightfully, hilariously nuts.
I kid you not, just days before discovering this book, I had the strangest dream. There I was, at my current stage of life (very post-menopause), trying to decide whether I would breastfeed or bottle-feed newborn twins I had somehow just given birth to. Never mind that I underwent an emergency hysterectomy at 36. Never mind that I am happily retired, married, and have grandchildren in their teens and twenties. When I woke up, I was completely flummoxed.
So, when this book arrived from my local library and I began reading, I suddenly found myself wondering how I could somehow relate to Pepper’s impossible dilemma.
Because surely, at 77, that couldn’t actually happen…could it?
As Pepper settles into new friendships, a different rhythm of life, and unexpected intimacy with Moth, she assumes these strange physical feelings must simply be age catching up with her. So, she goes in for tests.
Perhaps the results belong to someone else? That seems rational enough.
Except the tests keep returning with the same answer.
So now what?
In this delightfully unconventional septuagenarian rom-com — if we can even call it that — older people standing near what they assumed was the end of life suddenly find themselves facing an entirely different possibility. Thrust into an uncomfortable spotlight, they must wrestle with difficult decisions, public scrutiny, and the question of whether life can still surprise them with new purpose.
This story is humorous, heartfelt, sweet, and wonderfully human. But it is also willing to engage with larger, deeply personal issues — especially in a post-Roe world where women’s reproductive rights have dramatically shifted.
“Yes, to fighting when fighting is necessary. Yes, to helping those who need help and those you can help. Yes, to being brave. Yes, to telling your own…story. Yes, to …an unlikely, much-heralded, astonishing ineffable, miraculous life.”
Yes, to Bob. (No spoilers from me.)
Mostly, though, this is a lovely, page-turning adventure for those of us who sometimes wonder whether we are too old for reinvention, joy, intimacy, or unexpected change — and a reminder that life may still have surprises waiting for us yet.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
This is Pepper talking, our narrator and protagonist. She is 77-years-old with a sharp sense of humor, a realistic view of the world, and a firmly established way of life. Until…
Pepper has an unfortunate fender bender, which leads her family to orchestrate the inevitable next chapter for her — moving her into the Vista View Retirement Community, a continuing care facility in Austin, Texas.
What initially feels like the unfortunate ending of life as she knows it slowly turns into something entirely different: wondrous, unexpected new beginnings. Though Pepper certainly doesn’t see it that way at first.
There is a lot for Pepper to reckon with. Giving up her 100-year-old house and the independence of her comfortable solitude feels like a loss she isn’t sure she can overcome.
Even if she is technically in the independent-living section, is this really how she imagined the final stretch of her life?
And then, life happens.
Moth, her charming next-door neighbor originally from England, steadily works his way into her orbit. Suddenly, Pepper’s solitude doesn’t feel quite so solitary anymore.
Including one intimate moment with Moth.
Leading to…Pepper feeling a bit off.
And this is where I went delightfully, hilariously nuts.
I kid you not, just days before discovering this book, I had the strangest dream. There I was, at my current stage of life (very post-menopause), trying to decide whether I would breastfeed or bottle-feed newborn twins I had somehow just given birth to. Never mind that I underwent an emergency hysterectomy at 36. Never mind that I am happily retired, married, and have grandchildren in their teens and twenties. When I woke up, I was completely flummoxed.
So, when this book arrived from my local library and I began reading, I suddenly found myself wondering how I could somehow relate to Pepper’s impossible dilemma.
Because surely, at 77, that couldn’t actually happen…could it?
As Pepper settles into new friendships, a different rhythm of life, and unexpected intimacy with Moth, she assumes these strange physical feelings must simply be age catching up with her. So, she goes in for tests.
Perhaps the results belong to someone else? That seems rational enough.
Except the tests keep returning with the same answer.
So now what?
In this delightfully unconventional septuagenarian rom-com — if we can even call it that — older people standing near what they assumed was the end of life suddenly find themselves facing an entirely different possibility. Thrust into an uncomfortable spotlight, they must wrestle with difficult decisions, public scrutiny, and the question of whether life can still surprise them with new purpose.
This story is humorous, heartfelt, sweet, and wonderfully human. But it is also willing to engage with larger, deeply personal issues — especially in a post-Roe world where women’s reproductive rights have dramatically shifted.
“Yes, to fighting when fighting is necessary. Yes, to helping those who need help and those you can help. Yes, to being brave. Yes, to telling your own…story. Yes, to …an unlikely, much-heralded, astonishing ineffable, miraculous life.”
Yes, to Bob. (No spoilers from me.)
Mostly, though, this is a lovely, page-turning adventure for those of us who sometimes wonder whether we are too old for reinvention, joy, intimacy, or unexpected change — and a reminder that life may still have surprises waiting for us yet.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars
May 26, 2026
New York Times bestselling author Laurie Frankel is known for writing intimate family dramas and threading them with urgent social questions.
Her new novel is no exception, blending wry humor, a tender late‑in-life romance, and a poignant critique of how restrictive laws strip agency from the most vulnerable — particularly those without the resources to navigate legal loopholes.
Enormous Wings begins with a minor fender bender and ends with a beloved grandmother fighting for the right to her own body in a world that's decided she’s too old to matter.
After a car accident costs her her license, 77‑year‑old Pepper Mills is forced into a retirement home in Austin, Texas, where she finds unexpected romance with her new neighbor.
Ah, welcome to Vista View Retirement Community, where “there’s no statute of limitations on sex.”
But when Pepper discovers she is pregnant, a medical miracle quickly becomes a legal nightmare.
Enormous Wings is a sharp, warm, and deeply moving blend of social commentary and domestic drama, asking what it means to choose your own life when the world insists on choosing for you.
Frankel’s wry, intelligent prose seamlessly shifts from laugh‑out‑loud observations about retirement home life to politically sharp critiques of state legislation without ever losing its warmth.
Readers who love fiercely smart, sardonic female narrators like Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge or Fredrik Backman's Britt-Marie will enjoy Pepper and her Vista View friends.
Likewise, book clubs looking for a novel that sparks passionate discussion about autonomy and family will have ample food for thought within these 300+ pages.
In fact, I'll leave you with a couple of questions to ponder...
• Is a “miracle” still a miracle when it endangers the person experiencing it?
• Does love mean protecting someone from danger or standing beside them as they face it?
Hmmm. 🤔
May 9, 2026
I picked this up expecting something quirky, strange and slightly magical: a 77-year-old woman discovering she’s pregnant. That premise feels like it could go in so many interesting directions: absurdist comedy, magical realism, reflections on aging and womanhood, even something dark and surreal.
Instead, the novel felt less like a story and more like an extended essay on abortion rights.
On finishing it I immediately went to the description of the book and realized I didn’t read it all the way to the end. If I had I would have read that it was an extended essay on abortion rights. So my bad.
I don’t object to fiction having political or social themes. Some of my favorite books do. But the best ones trust the reader enough to let those themes emerge naturally through character, atmosphere and plot. Here, the message was the whole point that the story became predictable very early on.
It feels like someone somewhere said “I bet you they would make a 77 year old carry a baby to term even if it was very dangerous to her health”. And then the book was written.
Then the writing was like one of those Netflix movies where every emotion, motivation and theme has to be narrated out loud because the writers assume the audience is half-paying attention while scrolling on their phones.
Nothing is allowed to breathe. Characters constantly explain themselves, the themes are announced instead of uncovered, and every emotion is labeled. The result is that there’s very little room for interpretation or surprise.
I wanted a novel. What I got was a very clear point of view wrapped in a novel-shaped package banging me over the head with explanations of laws and procedures in different states and exactly what people do about them.
This reminded me of Mad Honey. Totally unnecessary and completely condescending to think we need that much hand holding.
Instead, the novel felt less like a story and more like an extended essay on abortion rights.
On finishing it I immediately went to the description of the book and realized I didn’t read it all the way to the end. If I had I would have read that it was an extended essay on abortion rights. So my bad.
I don’t object to fiction having political or social themes. Some of my favorite books do. But the best ones trust the reader enough to let those themes emerge naturally through character, atmosphere and plot. Here, the message was the whole point that the story became predictable very early on.
It feels like someone somewhere said “I bet you they would make a 77 year old carry a baby to term even if it was very dangerous to her health”. And then the book was written.
Then the writing was like one of those Netflix movies where every emotion, motivation and theme has to be narrated out loud because the writers assume the audience is half-paying attention while scrolling on their phones.
Nothing is allowed to breathe. Characters constantly explain themselves, the themes are announced instead of uncovered, and every emotion is labeled. The result is that there’s very little room for interpretation or surprise.
I wanted a novel. What I got was a very clear point of view wrapped in a novel-shaped package banging me over the head with explanations of laws and procedures in different states and exactly what people do about them.
This reminded me of Mad Honey. Totally unnecessary and completely condescending to think we need that much hand holding.
July 4, 2026
Laurie Frankel is a clever and creative storyteller who tackles socially relevant topics wrapped in a family fiction story.
In Enormous Wings, Frankel uses quiet humor to help the reader understand, based on someone's opinion, what it feels like for a seventy-seven-year-old woman to no longer have the right to choose—whether it's to live alone, to drive a car, or something else she's done on her own for years.
No longer having a choice became a reality for our FMC Pepper Mills, a woman of said age who was relocated to Vista View Retirement Community in Austin, Texas. She didn't want to move from her home, but her three adult children insisted, so she did.
Shortly after moving in, Pepper meets a fellow resident and really, really enjoys spending time with him (wink, wink). Love is in the air, and, shockingly, she's pregnant.
When the news gets out, the press and the crazies come from all directions, everyone has an opinion, and chaos ensues. Pepper has concerns and decisions to make—BUT in Texas, there are personal decisions she's not allowed to make...
Enormous Wings was a delight to read. Finkel's signature humor is like a warm hug to hard topics we deal with in the real world. Yes, it gets a little silly in parts, with stereotypical characters and over-the-top situations, but the core dilemma is real, and the author's heart is in the right place.
For an immersive reading experience, I read a digital copy while listening to the ALC, narrated by Becky Ann Baker, who does a fine job voicing the many characters in and out of the retirement home. The audiobook is my preferred format for this story.
Any mixed feelings about the pieces and parts of this story? Absolutely none. It wasn't political. It wasn't preachy. It was pure Frankel!
4⭐
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Laurie Frankel for the gifted ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
In Enormous Wings, Frankel uses quiet humor to help the reader understand, based on someone's opinion, what it feels like for a seventy-seven-year-old woman to no longer have the right to choose—whether it's to live alone, to drive a car, or something else she's done on her own for years.
No longer having a choice became a reality for our FMC Pepper Mills, a woman of said age who was relocated to Vista View Retirement Community in Austin, Texas. She didn't want to move from her home, but her three adult children insisted, so she did.
Shortly after moving in, Pepper meets a fellow resident and really, really enjoys spending time with him (wink, wink). Love is in the air, and, shockingly, she's pregnant.
When the news gets out, the press and the crazies come from all directions, everyone has an opinion, and chaos ensues. Pepper has concerns and decisions to make—BUT in Texas, there are personal decisions she's not allowed to make...
Enormous Wings was a delight to read. Finkel's signature humor is like a warm hug to hard topics we deal with in the real world. Yes, it gets a little silly in parts, with stereotypical characters and over-the-top situations, but the core dilemma is real, and the author's heart is in the right place.
For an immersive reading experience, I read a digital copy while listening to the ALC, narrated by Becky Ann Baker, who does a fine job voicing the many characters in and out of the retirement home. The audiobook is my preferred format for this story.
Any mixed feelings about the pieces and parts of this story? Absolutely none. It wasn't political. It wasn't preachy. It was pure Frankel!
4⭐
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Laurie Frankel for the gifted ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Because I’ll happily read anything Laurie Frankel writes, I didn’t even bother to read the blurb about Enormous Wings. Which I recommend doing. Much better to get the sucker punch to the gut when you realize the premise.
After a fender bender, 77 year old Pepper Mills’ children decide the safest place for her is in a retirement community. Luckily, she quickly makes friends and even becomes close to one of the few men.
I adored Pepper, maybe because I could so totally relate. A retired English teacher, she’s a total grammar nerd. And she’s not afraid to spell things out using a variety of four letter words. My heart also went out to Father Frank, who embodies a whole different type of minister than is typically found in literature or life.
This book is filled with humor that totally captivated me. The sort that has your chuckling and nodding your head in agreement at the same time. But Frankel is also known for taking on the big issues. In this case, personal freedom and bodily autonomy. In addition to the “big topic”, the book also delves into the aging parent-adult child relationship, the role of a grandparent, and friendships and romance at an advanced age. All of which are handled realistically and thoughtfully.
I guess this book would be classified as magic realism, a genre I often struggle with. And yes, the premise is bonkers but the way Frankel develops the story makes it seem totally believable.
My thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Company for an advance copy of this book.
After a fender bender, 77 year old Pepper Mills’ children decide the safest place for her is in a retirement community. Luckily, she quickly makes friends and even becomes close to one of the few men.
I adored Pepper, maybe because I could so totally relate. A retired English teacher, she’s a total grammar nerd. And she’s not afraid to spell things out using a variety of four letter words. My heart also went out to Father Frank, who embodies a whole different type of minister than is typically found in literature or life.
This book is filled with humor that totally captivated me. The sort that has your chuckling and nodding your head in agreement at the same time. But Frankel is also known for taking on the big issues. In this case, personal freedom and bodily autonomy. In addition to the “big topic”, the book also delves into the aging parent-adult child relationship, the role of a grandparent, and friendships and romance at an advanced age. All of which are handled realistically and thoughtfully.
I guess this book would be classified as magic realism, a genre I often struggle with. And yes, the premise is bonkers but the way Frankel develops the story makes it seem totally believable.
My thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Company for an advance copy of this book.
May 21, 2026
I appreciate author Laurie Frankel for her bravery in tackling current ethical dilemmas and the social issues facing families, particularly the ever-evolving question of what it means to be a family in modern America. For me, she is a chuckle-worthy author who explores serious subjects with wit and humor, never sounding judgmental while thoughtfully presenting differing sides of difficult issues. More than once, I’ve gone into one of her novels holding a firm opinion, only to come away with a more compassionate and flexible perspective afterward.
In her latest work, "Enormous Wings", Frankel explores themes of diminished autonomy in later life alongside the complexities surrounding reproductive decisions. How can one book possibly include both topics? Well, with a little fantasy element, Frankel absolutely makes it work.
The protagonist, 77-year-old Pepper Mills (yes, she married into the Mills name), finds her driver’s license rudely cut up by a Presbyterian priest after a minor fender-bender. Her oldest daughter promptly uses the incident as justification to banish her to a senior care facility. Frankel’s wit appears immediately. I thoroughly enjoyed being inside Pepper’s head as she narrates the story. At one point, Pepper wonders whether it’s simply cruel to hand out fortune cookies to seniors. After all, what exactly are they supposed to be planning for?
Pepper eventually accepts that not only is the food terrible, but her ex-husband Roger -- whom she endured through a miserable marriage -- is also a resident. Fortunately, her outlook improves when she befriends several residents, especially the dashing Moth, a former British teacher. Pepper was once a literature teacher herself, and the two quickly become kindred spirits. They may be septuagenarians, but Frankel makes it very clear: they are not dead yet.
After a romantic tryst, Pepper finds herself unexpectedly “in a motherly way.” Frankel introduces a farcical but clever twist involving experimental chemotherapy drugs from the 1980s, allowing the novel to venture into unexpected territory. While humorous and absurd at times, Frankel also raises thoughtful questions about the long-term effects of experimental drugs -- consequences the public rarely hears much about.
From there, Frankel dives headfirst into the controversy surrounding abortion, bodily autonomy, and the competing arguments over women’s rights versus fetal rights. It becomes more political than I anticipated, though Frankel does present a wide range of viewpoints. That said, her own pro-choice leanings are fairly evident, particularly since some of the pro-life characters do not fare especially well in the narrative. She does it for comedic effect, but she didn’t need to include those overt digs to make her point.
This is the fourth Laurie Frankel book I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and while it may be my least favorite of the four, it still easily earns 4 stars for the wit alone. I love a novel that makes me laugh out loud, and Pepper was a delightful narrator to have living in my head for a few days.
I chose the audiobook, narrated by actress Becky Ann Baker, whose character voices and spirited interpretation elevated the story beautifully.
In her latest work, "Enormous Wings", Frankel explores themes of diminished autonomy in later life alongside the complexities surrounding reproductive decisions. How can one book possibly include both topics? Well, with a little fantasy element, Frankel absolutely makes it work.
The protagonist, 77-year-old Pepper Mills (yes, she married into the Mills name), finds her driver’s license rudely cut up by a Presbyterian priest after a minor fender-bender. Her oldest daughter promptly uses the incident as justification to banish her to a senior care facility. Frankel’s wit appears immediately. I thoroughly enjoyed being inside Pepper’s head as she narrates the story. At one point, Pepper wonders whether it’s simply cruel to hand out fortune cookies to seniors. After all, what exactly are they supposed to be planning for?
Pepper eventually accepts that not only is the food terrible, but her ex-husband Roger -- whom she endured through a miserable marriage -- is also a resident. Fortunately, her outlook improves when she befriends several residents, especially the dashing Moth, a former British teacher. Pepper was once a literature teacher herself, and the two quickly become kindred spirits. They may be septuagenarians, but Frankel makes it very clear: they are not dead yet.
After a romantic tryst, Pepper finds herself unexpectedly “in a motherly way.” Frankel introduces a farcical but clever twist involving experimental chemotherapy drugs from the 1980s, allowing the novel to venture into unexpected territory. While humorous and absurd at times, Frankel also raises thoughtful questions about the long-term effects of experimental drugs -- consequences the public rarely hears much about.
From there, Frankel dives headfirst into the controversy surrounding abortion, bodily autonomy, and the competing arguments over women’s rights versus fetal rights. It becomes more political than I anticipated, though Frankel does present a wide range of viewpoints. That said, her own pro-choice leanings are fairly evident, particularly since some of the pro-life characters do not fare especially well in the narrative. She does it for comedic effect, but she didn’t need to include those overt digs to make her point.
This is the fourth Laurie Frankel book I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and while it may be my least favorite of the four, it still easily earns 4 stars for the wit alone. I love a novel that makes me laugh out loud, and Pepper was a delightful narrator to have living in my head for a few days.
I chose the audiobook, narrated by actress Becky Ann Baker, whose character voices and spirited interpretation elevated the story beautifully.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2025
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…
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…
May 6, 2026
Frankel has an amazing way with taking a controversial subject and turning it all around and looking at the humanity of it from unexpected angles. Pro-life/Pro-choice/Abortion are tricky subjects and while I don't always agree with the author's stance, I do absolutely celebrate her skill in not taking the easy route with those subjects. The expected storyline becomes the unexpected under her creative storytelling. I definitely recommend this messy, heartwarming, at times infuriating and unfair, novel.
Seventy-seven year old Pepper Mills (don't joke about her name, she has heard them all) gets into a car accident and her adult children decide she should not be driving anymore and should move into assisted living. Pepper isn't thrilled but when she moves in she makes friends and even finds male companionship. Then Pepper discovers that she is pregnant. This starts a chain reaction of humorous, heartbreaking, frustrating, and very outlandish situations that Pepper and her family must learn how to navigate.
This book is a very intelligent look at bodily autonomy, agency, and the utterly baffling nuances of law and ethics. It accomplishes those things with wit and snark, enough to take the edge off of the subject. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the amazing Becky Ann Baker, which was a fantastic way to experience this story.
This book may rub some readers the wrong way. It will challenge your thoughts about what it means to be pro-life and pro-choice. Does your pro-life position mean that you support all life? Does your pro-choice position mean you support all choices? In the end I was left with a lot to think about and I think this would make an excellent book club discussion book if your book club is open to this type of discussion.
The one thing that kept this from being 5-stars for me is that I feel like the author sometimes veers into caricatures of people for characters rather than making them multi-faceted and realistic. But only sometimes, and this is still an amazing read. I look forward to reading what she comes up with next.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Seventy-seven year old Pepper Mills (don't joke about her name, she has heard them all) gets into a car accident and her adult children decide she should not be driving anymore and should move into assisted living. Pepper isn't thrilled but when she moves in she makes friends and even finds male companionship. Then Pepper discovers that she is pregnant. This starts a chain reaction of humorous, heartbreaking, frustrating, and very outlandish situations that Pepper and her family must learn how to navigate.
This book is a very intelligent look at bodily autonomy, agency, and the utterly baffling nuances of law and ethics. It accomplishes those things with wit and snark, enough to take the edge off of the subject. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the amazing Becky Ann Baker, which was a fantastic way to experience this story.
This book may rub some readers the wrong way. It will challenge your thoughts about what it means to be pro-life and pro-choice. Does your pro-life position mean that you support all life? Does your pro-choice position mean you support all choices? In the end I was left with a lot to think about and I think this would make an excellent book club discussion book if your book club is open to this type of discussion.
The one thing that kept this from being 5-stars for me is that I feel like the author sometimes veers into caricatures of people for characters rather than making them multi-faceted and realistic. But only sometimes, and this is still an amazing read. I look forward to reading what she comes up with next.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 31, 2026
Oh, Pepper what a pickle you’re in!! Pregnant at 77!! Oh Pepper, Pepper, Pepper, such a pickle!!
Sorry am I saying pickle too much? Pickle. Opps. Constant talk of pickles to a pregnant woman, how predictable, how cliché, how gauche. Apologies, I’m nervous. I’m rambling. It just isn’t everyday you hear about a septuagenarian with child. Congrats are in order. Or condolences. Or both.
Oh dear, yes, this is a bit awkward to be honest. And I’m not the only one struggling with how to deal with this miraculous conception. Poor Pepper, everyone around her is as flummoxed as me, doctors, family, friends, the father. Not to mention activists, the press and paparazzi hounding and howling just outside the doors to Vista View Retirement Home. As if it wasn’t hard enough already for an elderly woman to gestate, sheesh!! Rude much!!
Everyone seems to have an opinion on what’s going on in Pepper’s body. How invasive. Ever heard of boundaries people! You’d think a woman would have earned some privacy and respect by her season of life, but apparently not.
Pepper Mills’s (yes, that’s really her name) mysterious pregnancy was brought on by side effects from a cancer drug trial that impacted her fertility; a lifesaving and apparently life-giving measure. But what saved her years before may just be the death of her now. ‘Enormous Wings’ tackles tender, touchy subjects, like aging, reproductive rights and women’s rights, with humor, heart, and grace. First time reading this author, but certainly not my last! : )
Sorry am I saying pickle too much? Pickle. Opps. Constant talk of pickles to a pregnant woman, how predictable, how cliché, how gauche. Apologies, I’m nervous. I’m rambling. It just isn’t everyday you hear about a septuagenarian with child. Congrats are in order. Or condolences. Or both.
Oh dear, yes, this is a bit awkward to be honest. And I’m not the only one struggling with how to deal with this miraculous conception. Poor Pepper, everyone around her is as flummoxed as me, doctors, family, friends, the father. Not to mention activists, the press and paparazzi hounding and howling just outside the doors to Vista View Retirement Home. As if it wasn’t hard enough already for an elderly woman to gestate, sheesh!! Rude much!!
Everyone seems to have an opinion on what’s going on in Pepper’s body. How invasive. Ever heard of boundaries people! You’d think a woman would have earned some privacy and respect by her season of life, but apparently not.
Pepper Mills’s (yes, that’s really her name) mysterious pregnancy was brought on by side effects from a cancer drug trial that impacted her fertility; a lifesaving and apparently life-giving measure. But what saved her years before may just be the death of her now. ‘Enormous Wings’ tackles tender, touchy subjects, like aging, reproductive rights and women’s rights, with humor, heart, and grace. First time reading this author, but certainly not my last! : )
July 24, 2026
10 stars!!! But 5 stars is the highest rating!
I tend to stay away from books that are getting a lot of hype, but I was wrong. I should have run as fast as possible to read Enormous Wings. I listened to it on audiobook and it is narrated superbly by Becky Ann Baker. I belly laughed out loud several times.
Pepper Mills (daughter of Basil and Rosemary) is 77 years old, and her children have convinced her to move into an independent living facility. It turns out that her ex-husband also lives at the same facility. Pepper's perspective on so many things is spot on. Her delivery of her thoughts is hilarious.
At the Senior Prom night (in September) at the independent living facility, she meets a man named Moth, which is short for Timothy. The two become friends and lovers and then voila, Pepper becomes pregnant.
After I finished the book, I researched births by women over 50. In India, Rajo Devi gave birth at age 70 to her first child in 2008. Rajo is currently the oldest woman on record to give birth. A woman in New Jersey gave birth to her first child at age 53 and then gave birth to twins at age 60.
AARP indicated that between 2000 and 2013, there was an increase of over 165% of births by mothers between 50 and 54. In 2000, there were 255 births and in 2013, there were 677 births.
The book follows the media onslaught that happens with Pepper's pregnancy. Pepper lives in Texas and is navigating the various new laws regarding reproductive rights.
The first Laurie Frankel book I read, This Is How It Always Is was also phenomenal and I rated it five stars as well. I am now going to put all of her books on my TBR and dive into reading them!
I tend to stay away from books that are getting a lot of hype, but I was wrong. I should have run as fast as possible to read Enormous Wings. I listened to it on audiobook and it is narrated superbly by Becky Ann Baker. I belly laughed out loud several times.
Pepper Mills (daughter of Basil and Rosemary) is 77 years old, and her children have convinced her to move into an independent living facility. It turns out that her ex-husband also lives at the same facility. Pepper's perspective on so many things is spot on. Her delivery of her thoughts is hilarious.
At the Senior Prom night (in September) at the independent living facility, she meets a man named Moth, which is short for Timothy. The two become friends and lovers and then voila, Pepper becomes pregnant.
After I finished the book, I researched births by women over 50. In India, Rajo Devi gave birth at age 70 to her first child in 2008. Rajo is currently the oldest woman on record to give birth. A woman in New Jersey gave birth to her first child at age 53 and then gave birth to twins at age 60.
AARP indicated that between 2000 and 2013, there was an increase of over 165% of births by mothers between 50 and 54. In 2000, there were 255 births and in 2013, there were 677 births.
The book follows the media onslaught that happens with Pepper's pregnancy. Pepper lives in Texas and is navigating the various new laws regarding reproductive rights.
The first Laurie Frankel book I read, This Is How It Always Is was also phenomenal and I rated it five stars as well. I am now going to put all of her books on my TBR and dive into reading them!
July 17, 2026
A 77 year old woman in a senior living facility becomes pregnant! What a unique premise for this storyline! The author tackles the topics of seniors attempting to retain their autonomy, as well as the matter of the pro-life vs pro-choice argument. The narrative covers these difficult subjects with sensitivity and humor. This story wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.
February 22, 2026
ADVANCE REVIEW COPY – RELEASE DATE: MAY 5, 2026
The unfortunately-named Pepper Mills, seventy-seven years old, has just been admitted to the sprawling Vista View nursing home in suburban Austin, Texas. There she meets Moth (a strange derivative of “Timothy”) a dashing Brit just next door. A car wash here, a sweet little dance there, and before you know it, they’re in love. One thing leads to another, which means they’re more “active” (ahem) then ever before. But then, the unthinkable occurs: Pepper, a mother three times over, a grandmother four times over…is pregnant. Cue the world losing its freaking mind.
Here’s your warning: if you have intractable views about abortion, you should stop reading. No one needs another comment war.
But if you’re truly open-minded, or at least accepting of life’s possibilities, you’ll find this story inspiring, hopeful, funny, and vastly intelligent. Never before has the topic of new life been explored with such exceptionally thought-out feelings and thoughts. It’s not angry, or preachy, and there’s no agenda that I could find. No, Frankel has just laid out what happens to the septuagenarian in a certain situation in a certain place with certain people around. Joining her on the journey was a pleasure.
Maybe it’s because Pepper is my kind of protagonist. She’s a retired English teacher who can’t help correcting people’s grammar (see my profile pic). The story’s told from her first-person perspective, and Frankel absolutely nailed her voice. She’s dry, witty, and extremely erudite. I thought I was snarky, but I just handed my crown to her. She peppered (yes, I used that word) her language with hilarious jokes or observations or puns, and more than once I laughed out loud.
And yet, you can see the depth of her love. Her kids pretty much forced her into that home, and her powers of snark won’t let her let them forget it. But her monologues are…uh, sprinkled?...with admirations and descriptions of their attributes. Her relationship with Lola, her troubled granddaughter, got me right in the heart: the love was unconditional.
Thus, it’s my opinion that the plot was developed by Pepper’s own development. The turning point is, of course, her pregnancy. And no one’s surprised by the maelstrom that follows: fame, infamy, zealots from both ends of the issue, agents and producers and pharmaceutical reps clamoring for something (which leads to profit). There are even arrests and violence (but not much). But how it’s digested, and how we see it, is exactly how I’d expect Pepper would experience it. She’s a cool character but stands up for her family and friends when it comes down to it.
Pepper also delivers a wonderful paragraph or two of her philosophy just as she’s dealing with the craziness. I’d imagine her having a gift for self-expression, and I wasn’t disappointed.
And here’s the thing: the thoughts she has are all related to the wonder of life, the power of love, the right everyone has to their own lives. She does it without judgment or politics or religion or self-righteousness, just the way I like it. I highlighted a few areas that I’d like to keep for myself. Those quotes, probably things Frankel believes (and expresses beautifully through her MC) are worth the price of the novel.
Superbly contemplative, deeply human, and subtly hilarious, Frankel’s new novel is a triumph for anyone who just wants to live, truly live.
Thank you to Henry Holt Publishers and NetGalley for a complimentary advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Enormous Wings will be released May 5, 2026.
The unfortunately-named Pepper Mills, seventy-seven years old, has just been admitted to the sprawling Vista View nursing home in suburban Austin, Texas. There she meets Moth (a strange derivative of “Timothy”) a dashing Brit just next door. A car wash here, a sweet little dance there, and before you know it, they’re in love. One thing leads to another, which means they’re more “active” (ahem) then ever before. But then, the unthinkable occurs: Pepper, a mother three times over, a grandmother four times over…is pregnant. Cue the world losing its freaking mind.
Here’s your warning: if you have intractable views about abortion, you should stop reading. No one needs another comment war.
But if you’re truly open-minded, or at least accepting of life’s possibilities, you’ll find this story inspiring, hopeful, funny, and vastly intelligent. Never before has the topic of new life been explored with such exceptionally thought-out feelings and thoughts. It’s not angry, or preachy, and there’s no agenda that I could find. No, Frankel has just laid out what happens to the septuagenarian in a certain situation in a certain place with certain people around. Joining her on the journey was a pleasure.
Maybe it’s because Pepper is my kind of protagonist. She’s a retired English teacher who can’t help correcting people’s grammar (see my profile pic). The story’s told from her first-person perspective, and Frankel absolutely nailed her voice. She’s dry, witty, and extremely erudite. I thought I was snarky, but I just handed my crown to her. She peppered (yes, I used that word) her language with hilarious jokes or observations or puns, and more than once I laughed out loud.
And yet, you can see the depth of her love. Her kids pretty much forced her into that home, and her powers of snark won’t let her let them forget it. But her monologues are…uh, sprinkled?...with admirations and descriptions of their attributes. Her relationship with Lola, her troubled granddaughter, got me right in the heart: the love was unconditional.
Thus, it’s my opinion that the plot was developed by Pepper’s own development. The turning point is, of course, her pregnancy. And no one’s surprised by the maelstrom that follows: fame, infamy, zealots from both ends of the issue, agents and producers and pharmaceutical reps clamoring for something (which leads to profit). There are even arrests and violence (but not much). But how it’s digested, and how we see it, is exactly how I’d expect Pepper would experience it. She’s a cool character but stands up for her family and friends when it comes down to it.
Pepper also delivers a wonderful paragraph or two of her philosophy just as she’s dealing with the craziness. I’d imagine her having a gift for self-expression, and I wasn’t disappointed.
And here’s the thing: the thoughts she has are all related to the wonder of life, the power of love, the right everyone has to their own lives. She does it without judgment or politics or religion or self-righteousness, just the way I like it. I highlighted a few areas that I’d like to keep for myself. Those quotes, probably things Frankel believes (and expresses beautifully through her MC) are worth the price of the novel.
Superbly contemplative, deeply human, and subtly hilarious, Frankel’s new novel is a triumph for anyone who just wants to live, truly live.
Thank you to Henry Holt Publishers and NetGalley for a complimentary advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Enormous Wings will be released May 5, 2026.
May 12, 2026
For me, this book wins the award for 2026's Biggest Waste of a Potentially Fantastic Plot.
As I read the synopsis ("An 80-year-old woman becomes pregnant") I was intrigued! This book had the potential to be absurdist, comedic, sci-fi, magical/mysterious realism, light horror, or even a thought experiment on modern religion, akin to "Agnes of God."
But no.
This book is one of those books derided as "chick-lit," and which must always Contain a Teaching Moment. In this case, it's abortion rights, and the utter destruction of them post-Dobbs. And to be clear, that's a damn good topic in this moment. But instead of an intelligent, thought-provoking story, this book is the literary equivalent of when parents "sneak" puréed vegetables into their kids' junk food, in an attempt to give them some nutrition. It's as if the author thought to herself, how can I dumb down the state of American abortion healthcare (or lack thereof) into a quirky, fun novel, for an audience that doesn't pay attention to politics?
The result is clichéd, boring, and a slog to read.
And again, all this despite this being a potentially FANTASTIC plot, it's been executed as a big pile o' chick-lit tropes:
1. White female protagonist with a quirky name (Pepper Mills, for god's sake)? Check!
2. Children surrounding protagonist with cardboard-cutout personalities (the workaholic! The slacker! The twins who say quirky things!)? Check!
3. Stereotypical Bad People (a Texas sheriff! an old white guy OBGYN!)? Check!
4. The underlying message that Babies are Perfection, and Love Is All That Matters? Check!
5. Tragic subplots that inject drama (cancer! teen pregnancy!)? Check!
This book is aimed at middle-aged white ladies, who will sip wine while discussing this book with their suburban book clubs, but cannot name 3 members of the US Supreme Court.
As I read the synopsis ("An 80-year-old woman becomes pregnant") I was intrigued! This book had the potential to be absurdist, comedic, sci-fi, magical/mysterious realism, light horror, or even a thought experiment on modern religion, akin to "Agnes of God."
But no.
This book is one of those books derided as "chick-lit," and which must always Contain a Teaching Moment. In this case, it's abortion rights, and the utter destruction of them post-Dobbs. And to be clear, that's a damn good topic in this moment. But instead of an intelligent, thought-provoking story, this book is the literary equivalent of when parents "sneak" puréed vegetables into their kids' junk food, in an attempt to give them some nutrition. It's as if the author thought to herself, how can I dumb down the state of American abortion healthcare (or lack thereof) into a quirky, fun novel, for an audience that doesn't pay attention to politics?
The result is clichéd, boring, and a slog to read.
And again, all this despite this being a potentially FANTASTIC plot, it's been executed as a big pile o' chick-lit tropes:
1. White female protagonist with a quirky name (Pepper Mills, for god's sake)? Check!
2. Children surrounding protagonist with cardboard-cutout personalities (the workaholic! The slacker! The twins who say quirky things!)? Check!
3. Stereotypical Bad People (a Texas sheriff! an old white guy OBGYN!)? Check!
4. The underlying message that Babies are Perfection, and Love Is All That Matters? Check!
5. Tragic subplots that inject drama (cancer! teen pregnancy!)? Check!
This book is aimed at middle-aged white ladies, who will sip wine while discussing this book with their suburban book clubs, but cannot name 3 members of the US Supreme Court.
June 23, 2026
A contemporary fiction that read so propulsivey, I flipped the pages faster than a thriller.
I went into the book blind, just knowing it was about and narrated by a 77-year-old woman. I’d recommend you doing the same (and skip the next paragraph).
Pepper Mills has recently moved into a retirement home in Texas, only to impossibly, unexpectedly become pregnant. This causes a cascade of events.
Pepper and her family are pulled into a media frenzy. Their choices analysed, their values pushed on them.
What stood out to me was how well the author wrote characters. Each one had a distinct personality and you could truly guess their inner thoughts even with the story being narrated by one person: the mother, the grandmother.
Choice and fault are so close together when you're young. But when you get older- not old, just older- they diverge.
This is an engaging read about bodily autonomy, aging, life and, most importantly, family love.
I will definitely be reading more by the author.
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I went into the book blind, just knowing it was about and narrated by a 77-year-old woman. I’d recommend you doing the same (and skip the next paragraph).
Pepper Mills has recently moved into a retirement home in Texas, only to impossibly, unexpectedly become pregnant. This causes a cascade of events.
Pepper and her family are pulled into a media frenzy. Their choices analysed, their values pushed on them.
What stood out to me was how well the author wrote characters. Each one had a distinct personality and you could truly guess their inner thoughts even with the story being narrated by one person: the mother, the grandmother.
Choice and fault are so close together when you're young. But when you get older- not old, just older- they diverge.
This is an engaging read about bodily autonomy, aging, life and, most importantly, family love.
I will definitely be reading more by the author.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
July 9, 2026
Rally ‘round! 💙
Life takes a village, and possibly some Enormous Wings!
I recommend this novel by Laurie Frankel
🌺 Read what you love! 🌺
Life takes a village, and possibly some Enormous Wings!
I recommend this novel by Laurie Frankel
🌺 Read what you love! 🌺
September 7, 2026
3.7 (rounded up)
Oh brother. You need to suspend disbelief big-time if you want to enjoy this book about a woman in her 70s who experiences something bizarre. Once I discovered what was going on (which happens nice and early), I thought, this is silly, silly, silly!—mixed with a feeling of being ripped off. I realized I wanted a realistic book, not something sort of sci-fi-ish that was trying its best to sell the idea as real. I’m the same age as the main character, and it was weird trying to imagine experiencing such an extraordinary thing. If it happened to me, I’d think horror show. But the woman in the book seemed to more or less roll with the punches.)
Okay, I’m not going to tell you what huge event happens (really, the basis of the book), in the off-chance you’ve managed to avoid the spoiler blurb. I went in blind and it was pow, right in the kisser. I always love running into a huge surprise when reading, just love it. Despite my little hissy fit about it being ludicrous, I got drawn in immediately. We all are so adaptable, lol!
Pepper Mills (daughter of Basil and Rosemary, I kid you not) is 76 when she has a fender bender and ends up in a retirement facility. That’s all I’ll say about the plot, other than it’s a doozy. There’s an attempt at an explanation for the event, but it’s pretty lame.
There is humor, smarts, and compassion in this book. The dialogue is snazzy and the characters are compelling and likable. There are bits of wisdom, and the writing is very good. Lots of humor sprinkled throughout.
But I do have a Complaint Board, of course. Two biggies:
-The book is message-y. I like my fiction free of messages, thank you very much. That said, the cause is such a good one, such an important one for women, I found myself getting caught up in it. There is a lot of drama around the cause, and that made the story riveting in parts.
-I completely hated the ending. Pepper’s new job seemed unrealistic, and agreeing to it was a really poor choice, given possible nasty outcomes. Yet the decision is never questioned or criticized; we’re just supposed to buy it. I didn’t, and I loudly whined. I wish I could complain with specifics so you could see what I mean, but I can’t talk about without spoilers. My lips are zipped.
I chose this book based on the fact that I enjoyed an earlier book by Frankel called One Two Three. She writes books with unusual themes, which attracts me. Her writing is superb and it pulls me in. I’ll check out her next novel but will stay away if it seems like it’s a message book.
Wish I had some influence in the film industry, lol. This story would be a great rom-com movie. Meryl Streep would be perfect as Pepper. There’s a love interest, and I’m thinking Robert DeNiro. I haven’t gotten the call asking me for my opinion yet. Their loss, lol!
In all, a good read, even though the premise is ridiculous. I was actually embarrassed to be reading it at first, because friends’ reactions were what I expected: “Dumb. That couldn’t happen!” Later, as I saw how well written the book was, and I got more into the characters (who are well-drawn), I started defending it. Still mad at the ending, however.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Oh brother. You need to suspend disbelief big-time if you want to enjoy this book about a woman in her 70s who experiences something bizarre. Once I discovered what was going on (which happens nice and early), I thought, this is silly, silly, silly!—mixed with a feeling of being ripped off. I realized I wanted a realistic book, not something sort of sci-fi-ish that was trying its best to sell the idea as real. I’m the same age as the main character, and it was weird trying to imagine experiencing such an extraordinary thing. If it happened to me, I’d think horror show. But the woman in the book seemed to more or less roll with the punches.)
Okay, I’m not going to tell you what huge event happens (really, the basis of the book), in the off-chance you’ve managed to avoid the spoiler blurb. I went in blind and it was pow, right in the kisser. I always love running into a huge surprise when reading, just love it. Despite my little hissy fit about it being ludicrous, I got drawn in immediately. We all are so adaptable, lol!
Pepper Mills (daughter of Basil and Rosemary, I kid you not) is 76 when she has a fender bender and ends up in a retirement facility. That’s all I’ll say about the plot, other than it’s a doozy. There’s an attempt at an explanation for the event, but it’s pretty lame.
There is humor, smarts, and compassion in this book. The dialogue is snazzy and the characters are compelling and likable. There are bits of wisdom, and the writing is very good. Lots of humor sprinkled throughout.
But I do have a Complaint Board, of course. Two biggies:
-The book is message-y. I like my fiction free of messages, thank you very much. That said, the cause is such a good one, such an important one for women, I found myself getting caught up in it. There is a lot of drama around the cause, and that made the story riveting in parts.
-I completely hated the ending. Pepper’s new job seemed unrealistic, and agreeing to it was a really poor choice, given possible nasty outcomes. Yet the decision is never questioned or criticized; we’re just supposed to buy it. I didn’t, and I loudly whined. I wish I could complain with specifics so you could see what I mean, but I can’t talk about without spoilers. My lips are zipped.
I chose this book based on the fact that I enjoyed an earlier book by Frankel called One Two Three. She writes books with unusual themes, which attracts me. Her writing is superb and it pulls me in. I’ll check out her next novel but will stay away if it seems like it’s a message book.
Wish I had some influence in the film industry, lol. This story would be a great rom-com movie. Meryl Streep would be perfect as Pepper. There’s a love interest, and I’m thinking Robert DeNiro. I haven’t gotten the call asking me for my opinion yet. Their loss, lol!
In all, a good read, even though the premise is ridiculous. I was actually embarrassed to be reading it at first, because friends’ reactions were what I expected: “Dumb. That couldn’t happen!” Later, as I saw how well written the book was, and I got more into the characters (who are well-drawn), I started defending it. Still mad at the ending, however.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.
January 27, 2026
I know Laurie Frankel is a great author because she makes me really like a kind of book I typically don’t really like.
I’m fairly allergic to anything even a bit sentimental, and her books are pretty, well… sweet, I guess! And ultimately full of faith in humans! — or at least, in many humans! And, they are often Issues Books in that they explore a topical area that can be largely summed up by one grand, capital-lettered noun, such as Adoption or the Environment — sort of like a contemporary adult litfic version of one of those Very Special Episodes they used to have on shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, if you’re old enough to remember. (This IS a book concerning aging, after all.) Frankel’s books are often about extended families dealing with said Capitalized Subject Matter in essentially realistic, if rather extreme ways. All of this could easily become maudlin and slushy — yet Frankel’s novels never get mawkish like that.
The thing about Frankel is, she’s really freaking funny. The dialogue in her novels, especially between friends and family members, is fully akin to Gilmore Girls, or a Nora Ephron screenplay. Likewise, her characters are delightful, and this book provides an opportunity to fully flaunt her special talent for creating both older and younger characters in particular. (Some people think her kids and teens are “too smart”; respectfully, I work with young people, and I think she gets them just right.) And Frankel really puts the “character” back in character: as mentioned, she has a knack for keeping things tethered and real while pushing limits in offering idiosyncratic characters who advertise the essential wonder of our uniqueness as humans. You’d need the highest-caliber cast of best character actors to portray the people in this novel. (I especially enjoyed being immersed in the believable perspective of protagonist Pepper, and was constantly trying to cast her Hollywood analogue in my head, but could never quite come up with the right fit. But, probably Meryl.)
Finally, the advantage of writing a novel about Birth and Aging is that it ends up being a pretty expansive consideration of Life and Death and all the Choices, Woes, and Joys in between, and it thus cannot be boiled down to one “afterschool special”-style big buzzword topic. Frankel successfully ferries us on a journey through this vast terrain with thoughtfulness, reflection, and her characteristic lightness and humor. Few authors can pull off something this Serious and Deep yet Quirky, Surprising, and Entertaining.
I recommend this strong next entry in the canon of an original, imaginative, and witty writer. Enormous Wings (a relevant allusion to the short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez) is slated for publication on May 5, 2026. My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC!
I’m fairly allergic to anything even a bit sentimental, and her books are pretty, well… sweet, I guess! And ultimately full of faith in humans! — or at least, in many humans! And, they are often Issues Books in that they explore a topical area that can be largely summed up by one grand, capital-lettered noun, such as Adoption or the Environment — sort of like a contemporary adult litfic version of one of those Very Special Episodes they used to have on shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, if you’re old enough to remember. (This IS a book concerning aging, after all.) Frankel’s books are often about extended families dealing with said Capitalized Subject Matter in essentially realistic, if rather extreme ways. All of this could easily become maudlin and slushy — yet Frankel’s novels never get mawkish like that.
The thing about Frankel is, she’s really freaking funny. The dialogue in her novels, especially between friends and family members, is fully akin to Gilmore Girls, or a Nora Ephron screenplay. Likewise, her characters are delightful, and this book provides an opportunity to fully flaunt her special talent for creating both older and younger characters in particular. (Some people think her kids and teens are “too smart”; respectfully, I work with young people, and I think she gets them just right.) And Frankel really puts the “character” back in character: as mentioned, she has a knack for keeping things tethered and real while pushing limits in offering idiosyncratic characters who advertise the essential wonder of our uniqueness as humans. You’d need the highest-caliber cast of best character actors to portray the people in this novel. (I especially enjoyed being immersed in the believable perspective of protagonist Pepper, and was constantly trying to cast her Hollywood analogue in my head, but could never quite come up with the right fit. But, probably Meryl.)
Finally, the advantage of writing a novel about Birth and Aging is that it ends up being a pretty expansive consideration of Life and Death and all the Choices, Woes, and Joys in between, and it thus cannot be boiled down to one “afterschool special”-style big buzzword topic. Frankel successfully ferries us on a journey through this vast terrain with thoughtfulness, reflection, and her characteristic lightness and humor. Few authors can pull off something this Serious and Deep yet Quirky, Surprising, and Entertaining.
I recommend this strong next entry in the canon of an original, imaginative, and witty writer. Enormous Wings (a relevant allusion to the short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez) is slated for publication on May 5, 2026. My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC!
August 15, 2025
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.
May 14, 2026
What to expect when you're unexpectedly expecting at seventy-seven.
I'll admit it: I was almost put off by the premise of Enormous Wings. A seventy-seven-year-old woman discovering she's pregnant does sound, on paper, like the sort of idea that could go spectacularly wrong. Happily though, Laurie Frankel knows exactly what she's doing.
Yes, the novel offers a medical explanation for Pepper Mills's late-in-life pregnancy, but the pregnancy itself is not really the point. This is not some wink-wink oddity built around shock value. It is, instead, a sharp, humane, and unexpectedly moving story about bodily autonomy, aging, dignity, and what happens when the world decides it knows better than you do.
Pepper is the beating heart of the novel: witty, dry, stubborn, and gloriously unwilling to be managed. Recently relocated to a retirement community by her well-meaning adult children, she is already navigating the slow erosion of independence that can come with age. Her pregnancy simply turns that private struggle into a public spectacle. Suddenly everyone has an opinion, naturally, and very few of those opinions belong to the person actually living inside the body in question. Imagine that.
I also loved Pepper's circle of friends and the family she has built around herself. The novel understands that kinship is not always biological, and that companionship, loyalty, and chosen family can become even more vital later in life.
What Frankel does so well is balance warmth and humor with genuine fury. Enormous Wings is funny, often delightfully so, but it is also deeply engaged with larger and often infuriating realities - especially in a post-a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._...Roe world where reproductive rights, medical authority, and personal agency remain battlegrounds. The questions Pepper faces may be heightened by unlikely circumstance, but the loss of control over one's own life is painfully familiar.
The audiobook, narrated by Becky Ann Baker, is a real treat. She captures Pepper's wit, warmth, and zest for life beautifully, giving her a voice that feels utterly authentic. Her performance adds even more charm and emotional texture to the story.
Overall, Enormous Wings is original, often funny, sometimes infuriating, incredibly timely, and far more grounded than its premise might suggest. A novel with heart, bite, and brains, it manages to be both entertaining and quietly radical.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Enormous Wings" was published on May 5, 2026, and is available now.
I'll admit it: I was almost put off by the premise of Enormous Wings. A seventy-seven-year-old woman discovering she's pregnant does sound, on paper, like the sort of idea that could go spectacularly wrong. Happily though, Laurie Frankel knows exactly what she's doing.
Yes, the novel offers a medical explanation for Pepper Mills's late-in-life pregnancy, but the pregnancy itself is not really the point. This is not some wink-wink oddity built around shock value. It is, instead, a sharp, humane, and unexpectedly moving story about bodily autonomy, aging, dignity, and what happens when the world decides it knows better than you do.
Pepper is the beating heart of the novel: witty, dry, stubborn, and gloriously unwilling to be managed. Recently relocated to a retirement community by her well-meaning adult children, she is already navigating the slow erosion of independence that can come with age. Her pregnancy simply turns that private struggle into a public spectacle. Suddenly everyone has an opinion, naturally, and very few of those opinions belong to the person actually living inside the body in question. Imagine that.
I also loved Pepper's circle of friends and the family she has built around herself. The novel understands that kinship is not always biological, and that companionship, loyalty, and chosen family can become even more vital later in life.
What Frankel does so well is balance warmth and humor with genuine fury. Enormous Wings is funny, often delightfully so, but it is also deeply engaged with larger and often infuriating realities - especially in a post-a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._...Roe world where reproductive rights, medical authority, and personal agency remain battlegrounds. The questions Pepper faces may be heightened by unlikely circumstance, but the loss of control over one's own life is painfully familiar.
The audiobook, narrated by Becky Ann Baker, is a real treat. She captures Pepper's wit, warmth, and zest for life beautifully, giving her a voice that feels utterly authentic. Her performance adds even more charm and emotional texture to the story.
Overall, Enormous Wings is original, often funny, sometimes infuriating, incredibly timely, and far more grounded than its premise might suggest. A novel with heart, bite, and brains, it manages to be both entertaining and quietly radical.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Enormous Wings" was published on May 5, 2026, and is available now.
April 12, 2026
This is a painful book to review. Laurie Frankel is one of my favorite authors and her books This is How it Always Is and One Two Three are two of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. Enormous Wings certainly has its charms (a wonderfully witty main character in Pepper Mills) but it basically reads as “this is how Laurie Frankel feels about abortion.” I frankly DGAF how Laurie Frankel feels about abortion but I’m certain for all those that do she could have published a substack or written an op-Ed to inform them, a full length book was certainly not necessary. I also know that Laurie Frankel knows how to write an extremely heartrending, illuminating and beautiful book about a very polarizing social issue because she already did it with This Is How it Always Is. It just makes this book and its snarling cardboard villains even more disappointing. I think a more astute editor might have sent some notes but I guess once you get to a certain level in publishing that doesn’t happen anymore.
I listened to this book on audio and if anything was going to redeem this book it certainly would have been the wry and wonderful narration by Becky Ann Baker (the mom from Freaks and Geeks!) Alas, it didn’t really get there for me but it did make the listening experience a lot more pleasant.
Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt and Co. and Macmillan Audio for advanced electronic and listener’s copies of this book.
I listened to this book on audio and if anything was going to redeem this book it certainly would have been the wry and wonderful narration by Becky Ann Baker (the mom from Freaks and Geeks!) Alas, it didn’t really get there for me but it did make the listening experience a lot more pleasant.
Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt and Co. and Macmillan Audio for advanced electronic and listener’s copies of this book.
April 24, 2026
Ewww, why are we throwing icky stressful politics in my escapist literature??!?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This may be one of the most surprising books I'll read all year, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Abortion or dangerous/unwanted pregnancies are very contentious topics to talk about, and I imagine that authors have to take so much time and care to do so effectively and delicately. Enormous Wings may be the book of our generation to approach this topic as I can't imagine there being a more clever and heartfelt book. Choosing a 77 year old, post menopausal, Jewish, and Texan woman who got pregnant because of a side effect from an experimental breast cancer treatment drug to spearhead women's rights? And nail every single point? Utterly genius.
I thought Enormous Wings was so poignant with the exploration of contradictions surrounding pregnancy, women's health, and abortion. We see Pepper become dehumanized, as both pro-life and pro-choice advocacy groups invade her privacy and space, attempting to exploit Pepper to further their own campaigns. We see the medical system fail to protect Pepper, as doctor's give her inappropriate advice to further their own agendas and beliefs. We see how Texan laws never prioritize Pepper's health and safety, as she navigates her options. We also see as Pepper contemplates her decision with grace, humor, empathy, and "enormous wings". I am a diehard Pepper Mills fan; she is my new hero in every way.
This book was also SO funny! I love Laurie Frankel's writing. I think humor is an underrated approach to difficult topics. The comedic timing is EXCELLENT!
Overall, an incredible read that I will be recommending to everyone I know. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the eARC.
Check out more reviews on my Substack
Abortion or dangerous/unwanted pregnancies are very contentious topics to talk about, and I imagine that authors have to take so much time and care to do so effectively and delicately. Enormous Wings may be the book of our generation to approach this topic as I can't imagine there being a more clever and heartfelt book. Choosing a 77 year old, post menopausal, Jewish, and Texan woman who got pregnant because of a side effect from an experimental breast cancer treatment drug to spearhead women's rights? And nail every single point? Utterly genius.
I thought Enormous Wings was so poignant with the exploration of contradictions surrounding pregnancy, women's health, and abortion. We see Pepper become dehumanized, as both pro-life and pro-choice advocacy groups invade her privacy and space, attempting to exploit Pepper to further their own campaigns. We see the medical system fail to protect Pepper, as doctor's give her inappropriate advice to further their own agendas and beliefs. We see how Texan laws never prioritize Pepper's health and safety, as she navigates her options. We also see as Pepper contemplates her decision with grace, humor, empathy, and "enormous wings". I am a diehard Pepper Mills fan; she is my new hero in every way.
This book was also SO funny! I love Laurie Frankel's writing. I think humor is an underrated approach to difficult topics. The comedic timing is EXCELLENT!
Overall, an incredible read that I will be recommending to everyone I know. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the eARC.
Check out more reviews on my Substack
May 28, 2026
Ive been looking forward to this one, because I’ve loved all of Laurie Frankel’s books. I’ve found them all to have a lot of heart and humor, while addressing different societal issues.
Pepper Mills is seventy-seven, and recently moved into a retirement community… not by choice, but after a small fender bender, her kids were insistent that it was time to make some changes. She has stopped driving, and she’s sold her large beautiful home. It’s smaller, she’s had to get rid of a lot of possessions, and she’s not impressed with the meals in the dining room. On top of that, her ex-husband lives in the same community.
She starts to make some feisty friends, and surprisingly to her, she falls in love with the English gentleman who lives across the hall. His name is Timothy, but he goes by Moth 😂.
She starts feeling tired and decides old age is catching up with her. She’s been feeling nauseous but it must be from the terrible food. Her family and Moth insists she see a doctor and have some tests run. As you’d imagine, everyone is in shock to discover she is pregnant! Once it sinks in, it seems obvious that an abortion is the best thing to do… but she lives in Texas. Texas has a complete abortion ban, unless there is a life threatening medical emergency. She is overwhelmed to discover she has no rights to make a decision about her body and health.
So yes, we’re faced with an important and controversial topic. But the author provides so much humor between these characters, as well as the irony of a woman in a retirement community facing having a baby. We touch on family, motherhood, friendship, romantic love, and agism. This is likely my favorite book by this author.💖
Pepper Mills is seventy-seven, and recently moved into a retirement community… not by choice, but after a small fender bender, her kids were insistent that it was time to make some changes. She has stopped driving, and she’s sold her large beautiful home. It’s smaller, she’s had to get rid of a lot of possessions, and she’s not impressed with the meals in the dining room. On top of that, her ex-husband lives in the same community.
She starts to make some feisty friends, and surprisingly to her, she falls in love with the English gentleman who lives across the hall. His name is Timothy, but he goes by Moth 😂.
She starts feeling tired and decides old age is catching up with her. She’s been feeling nauseous but it must be from the terrible food. Her family and Moth insists she see a doctor and have some tests run. As you’d imagine, everyone is in shock to discover she is pregnant! Once it sinks in, it seems obvious that an abortion is the best thing to do… but she lives in Texas. Texas has a complete abortion ban, unless there is a life threatening medical emergency. She is overwhelmed to discover she has no rights to make a decision about her body and health.
So yes, we’re faced with an important and controversial topic. But the author provides so much humor between these characters, as well as the irony of a woman in a retirement community facing having a baby. We touch on family, motherhood, friendship, romantic love, and agism. This is likely my favorite book by this author.💖
July 20, 2026
This is my first novel by Laurie Frankel. I know, I know, but what can I say, I'm a thriller girl! I get credit for stepping out of my comfort zone, though, right? :)
This was a lovely story about 77 year old Pepper Mills. Yes, you can't make that name any better! Pepper is divorced and happily living her best independent life when one day she has an unexpected fender bender. Oops! Her adult children do what children do when their parents are aging, they took away her driver's license and set in motion her new way of living. That's right, she sold her historic home and moved into a retirement community. She is less than thrilled with this new life she has.
But what starts as an adventure she didn't ask for, nor one that she wanted, ends up turning into a septagenarian romance? I mean, life isn't over until it's over and this story is a reminder that no matter your age, you must keep living your best life and do what makes you happy! But, I digress. Back to our story.
Meet Moth. Pepper's neighbor from England who takes a liking to Pepper immediately. So much so, they find themselves, dare I say, kissing and well, you know what theat leads to! And she is happy with this new person in her life, when she thought that chapter of her book had been closed for good. So what could go wrong?
One day, Pepper isn't feeling so well and explains to her daughter that she feels off. She promises to see a doctor.
Can you tell where this is going?
This isn't a spoiler really, but Pepper finds that she is in a position that women her age couldn't possibly be in. How did this happen?
From there, is a story of what ifs, what could be or should be and how something so dramatically not normal turns into something so unbelivably wonderful.
I loved the witty humor, the romance with unlikely characters, and the relationship between Pepper and her granddaughter. The pacing was spot on and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. If you are looking for a light palet cleanser, this should work perfectly for you!
I listened to this one on Audible.
9 hours 40 minutes at 1x speed. I listened at 1.5x speed and fininshed in two days!
And now, this thriller girl is looking for my next non-thriller by Laurie Frankel!
4 solid stars!
Happy reading!!
This was a lovely story about 77 year old Pepper Mills. Yes, you can't make that name any better! Pepper is divorced and happily living her best independent life when one day she has an unexpected fender bender. Oops! Her adult children do what children do when their parents are aging, they took away her driver's license and set in motion her new way of living. That's right, she sold her historic home and moved into a retirement community. She is less than thrilled with this new life she has.
But what starts as an adventure she didn't ask for, nor one that she wanted, ends up turning into a septagenarian romance? I mean, life isn't over until it's over and this story is a reminder that no matter your age, you must keep living your best life and do what makes you happy! But, I digress. Back to our story.
Meet Moth. Pepper's neighbor from England who takes a liking to Pepper immediately. So much so, they find themselves, dare I say, kissing and well, you know what theat leads to! And she is happy with this new person in her life, when she thought that chapter of her book had been closed for good. So what could go wrong?
One day, Pepper isn't feeling so well and explains to her daughter that she feels off. She promises to see a doctor.
Can you tell where this is going?
This isn't a spoiler really, but Pepper finds that she is in a position that women her age couldn't possibly be in. How did this happen?
From there, is a story of what ifs, what could be or should be and how something so dramatically not normal turns into something so unbelivably wonderful.
I loved the witty humor, the romance with unlikely characters, and the relationship between Pepper and her granddaughter. The pacing was spot on and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. If you are looking for a light palet cleanser, this should work perfectly for you!
I listened to this one on Audible.
9 hours 40 minutes at 1x speed. I listened at 1.5x speed and fininshed in two days!
And now, this thriller girl is looking for my next non-thriller by Laurie Frankel!
4 solid stars!
Happy reading!!
March 5, 2026
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect for this to hammer at my heart the way that it did. WHEW.
May 5, 2026
*Emorous Wings* by Laurie Frankel is a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel that lives up to her reputation for blending the unexpected with deep emotional insight. The story of 77-year-old Pepper Mills discovering she is pregnant is both surprising and tender, raising complex moral dilemmas handled with sensitivity and grace. Frankel once again delivers a moving exploration of choice, identity, and what it means to embrace life at any age.
June 11, 2026
."Old people are fine. Nothing but old people, however, is an unsettling consolidation.".
This line could easily describe my reading choices this year as this novel is the 4th or 5th with a septuagenarian narrator. And, maybe I’m just a little bit unsettled because I always thought of myself as more of a coming-of-age reader than an end-of-life reader. But, this is actually one of the ways Frankel’s novel works so well - it’s both and everything in between.
."It is meaningless and irrelevant and impossible to pinpoint or pin down where life starts or where life starts to end, life and death both being ouroborously indifferent to rhetoric or bombast or what any of us want to believe. ... Life means something different at its edges, all along the borders really.".
So the “everything in between” is very much about our rights to choose our own lives, our own freedom, our own healthcare, what we risk and what we choose. Basically, it’s about how we choose to live and die. These are deep questions and volatile issues that Frankel handles with humor and sensitivity and within a well told story filled with extremely engaging characters. (All of these things are hallmarks of the three novels of hers that I’ve read.)
And, like her other books, I am cruising through and loving every second until suddenly it gets very heavy handed with the author's message and I start to feel untrusted by the author at best and manipulated at worst.
Still, I really liked this book and I really love septuagenarian Pepper Mills.She’s a wise woman who knows, "That ‘might die’ is just another way of saying ‘still alive’."
May 30, 2026
I have had the privilege of reading several books by author, Laurie Frankel, and have enjoyed each one for different reasons. Family, Family still remains my favorite. Enormous Wings touched me in a way that no other of Laurie Frankel’s books had, though. Perhaps it was because I am of a similar age to the main character, Pepper Mills, in this book. Although my circumstances are not anything like that of Pepper, I was able to relate with her character and the challenges she was faced with. Enormous Wings took place at the Vista View Retirement Community located in Austin, Texas. Living there was not Pepper’s choice but that of her three children after Pepper was involved in fender bender accident with a local priest. As one grows older, one’s children seem to know what is best for their parents and are not shy in expressing it or acting upon their instincts. That was how Pepper found herself living at the retirement home even if it was not her choice. Enormous Wings explored the themes of relationships both male and female, friendships, death, pregnancy, abortion and family dynamics. I found the theme of abortion so pertinent to the times we are living through today. There were parts that were funny, touching and even sad. I really came to admire and respect Pepper and how she emerged throughout the book. The audiobook was well narrated by Becky Ann Baker. I recommend this book if you enjoy women’s fiction.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 18, 2025
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.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
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