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Enormous Wings
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50 copies available
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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
Expected publication May 5, 2026
35529 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Frankel
25 books3,899 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 124 reviews
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.
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.
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…
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!
March 5, 2026
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect for this to hammer at my heart the way that it did. WHEW.
February 28, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Laurie Frankel has a gift for telling stories about ordinary families being thrust into unconventional situations and facing the issues with grace. In her upcoming novel, Enormous Wings, we meet a Septigenarian who finds herself pregnant.
Enormous Wings takes a deep dive into ageism, mortality, family, and the unexpected places where love can be found. The story also covers reproductive rights. Enormous Wings takes is inside the life of a woman in an impossible situation who is living in the United States where bodily autonomy is no longer a human right but instead is dictated by the government.
With Laurie Frankel’s signature writing style, Enormous Wings is written with a ton of heart and wit. I adored all the characters but the main character Pepper was so beautifully written and her story will stay with me long after finishing. I also loved how the title of the book came from Gabriel García Márquez's short story, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.
This is my fourth read by Laurie Frankel and Enormous Wings solidified my love for her. Along with Enormous Wings, I also highly recommend checking out her prior works, This is How it Always is, Family Family, and One Two Three.
After finishing the book, I listened to the audiobook (yes I loved it that much) which is narrated by Becky Ann Baker who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend the audiobook!
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel will be available on May 5. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook and Henry Holt Books for the gifted copy!
Enormous Wings takes a deep dive into ageism, mortality, family, and the unexpected places where love can be found. The story also covers reproductive rights. Enormous Wings takes is inside the life of a woman in an impossible situation who is living in the United States where bodily autonomy is no longer a human right but instead is dictated by the government.
With Laurie Frankel’s signature writing style, Enormous Wings is written with a ton of heart and wit. I adored all the characters but the main character Pepper was so beautifully written and her story will stay with me long after finishing. I also loved how the title of the book came from Gabriel García Márquez's short story, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.
This is my fourth read by Laurie Frankel and Enormous Wings solidified my love for her. Along with Enormous Wings, I also highly recommend checking out her prior works, This is How it Always is, Family Family, and One Two Three.
After finishing the book, I listened to the audiobook (yes I loved it that much) which is narrated by Becky Ann Baker who did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend the audiobook!
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel will be available on May 5. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook and Henry Holt Books for the gifted copy!
Read
October 7, 2025What a triumph of a novel--wry, intelligent, and wholly original.
October 24, 2025
A unique plot where a 77 year old woman becomes pregnant and also in a retirement home. She becomes a local celebrity and has to deal with some really tough situations and decisions. I loved how relevant this is to our current times with women’s rights. With themes of morality, motherhood, golden years, and the love of family this novel really caught my heart and I was deeply invested. This book stuck with me after I finished reading and I will be thinking about it for weeks to come. Bravo! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher, Henry Holt and Company, and the author, Laurie Frankel, for the privilege to read this advanced copy through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
It seemed to me that this book started out as a funny, laugh-out-loud book about life in an elderly independent living facility. It didn't take long and the story takes a quick turn to what felt like SciFi! A 77-year-old woman becomes pregnant! Itbis believed that this phenomena occurs due to drugs used in a clinical drug trial while she was battling breast cancer. The story progresses from "pregnant elderly mother and jailed elderly and new-mother elderly mother." The Book also provides "justification for choosing an abortion." I found the book entertaining until the abortion scenes. Enough said.
It seemed to me that this book started out as a funny, laugh-out-loud book about life in an elderly independent living facility. It didn't take long and the story takes a quick turn to what felt like SciFi! A 77-year-old woman becomes pregnant! Itbis believed that this phenomena occurs due to drugs used in a clinical drug trial while she was battling breast cancer. The story progresses from "pregnant elderly mother and jailed elderly and new-mother elderly mother." The Book also provides "justification for choosing an abortion." I found the book entertaining until the abortion scenes. Enough said.
February 19, 2026
77 year old woman gets pregnant-in Texas. The story kept me turning the pages I was interested in how it would play out. She does a great job explaining it, has some good characters but it was too heavy handed with the messaging and the ending was really unsatisfying. Probs 3.5.
January 4, 2026
Enormous Wings is fabulous. I anticipate this being a big book in 2026, which is not something I say (ever? Often?). It’s hilarious, unique, and a frighteningly accurate satire of reproductive health access in the United States.
Pepper Mills is 77. She’s moved into an independent living facility after having her license taken away. Aside from being a subpar driver, Pepper is with it. She’s got three adult children and four grandchildren that all love and adore her. They’re in Texas, but Pepper is a Jew from Brooklyn and it’s easy to see those roots in her character.
To Pepper’s surprise, she meets a man in her new community, Moth (short for Timothy). And to everyone’s shock, Pepper, at 77, is pregnant!
What ensues? A sad, but true, portrayal of pregnancy in Texas. Pepper is courted by the pro choice and the pro life crowd. Enormous Wings touches on every aspect of the issue with humor and accuracy. It makes reading the unbearable bearable.
Every character is a delight. Frankel’s wit is infused throughout and it makes it so easy to fall in love with them all. I couldn’t put this book down.
This will be a favorite for me in 2026, which is a big statement on January 2. Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite bits:
nor was it a job that was limited to school hours. Teaching isn’t that kind of work. So maybe it’s something you stop doing. But it isn’t something you stop being.
Because that’s the argument for independent-living facilities, isn’t it? If we just wanted to live independently, we could do that on our own. (Irony.) We moved to Vista View for our kids, to make life better and easier for them, which wasn’t very surprising since it was the reason we’d done more or less everything since the moment they were born.
But the older you get, the less clear the path at every point. Even your symptoms gray. Does it hurt more after eating or only after eating in the Vista View dining room or only because it’s the end of the day? Is the pain caused by whatever you’ve tested positive for or by something for which they haven’t thought to run a test or by something for which no test exists? Do your pains require treatment or acceptance? Do answers help or just lead to more questions? As you age, you need doctors more and more, and they’re able to tell you less and less.
Then: Wanna hear a joke about Flatbush?
Me: Always!
Lola: What do Brooklyn and people in tight yoga pants have in common?
On protesters at abortion clinics:
“Bullies,” I corrected. “Protesters are noble fighters battling injustices. These people are perpetrating one. They know nothing about you and therefore aren’t entitled to an opinion about you.”
I wanted to tell Lola that in my experience, my vast experience, when you find yourself at an end, you are probably also knee-deep in beginnings. I wanted to tell her that being knee-deep in beginnings is a good indication that the mires you’ve been wading through are mostly still damp and mud-clogged. And though I knew she wouldn’t understand it for years yet, I wanted to tell her that most of life is muddy middle, normal on the way to ordinary, that the mistake people make is to want it any other way, as if prosaic is boring and a failure of character rather than the dream.
Pepper Mills is 77. She’s moved into an independent living facility after having her license taken away. Aside from being a subpar driver, Pepper is with it. She’s got three adult children and four grandchildren that all love and adore her. They’re in Texas, but Pepper is a Jew from Brooklyn and it’s easy to see those roots in her character.
To Pepper’s surprise, she meets a man in her new community, Moth (short for Timothy). And to everyone’s shock, Pepper, at 77, is pregnant!
What ensues? A sad, but true, portrayal of pregnancy in Texas. Pepper is courted by the pro choice and the pro life crowd. Enormous Wings touches on every aspect of the issue with humor and accuracy. It makes reading the unbearable bearable.
Every character is a delight. Frankel’s wit is infused throughout and it makes it so easy to fall in love with them all. I couldn’t put this book down.
This will be a favorite for me in 2026, which is a big statement on January 2. Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite bits:
nor was it a job that was limited to school hours. Teaching isn’t that kind of work. So maybe it’s something you stop doing. But it isn’t something you stop being.
Because that’s the argument for independent-living facilities, isn’t it? If we just wanted to live independently, we could do that on our own. (Irony.) We moved to Vista View for our kids, to make life better and easier for them, which wasn’t very surprising since it was the reason we’d done more or less everything since the moment they were born.
But the older you get, the less clear the path at every point. Even your symptoms gray. Does it hurt more after eating or only after eating in the Vista View dining room or only because it’s the end of the day? Is the pain caused by whatever you’ve tested positive for or by something for which they haven’t thought to run a test or by something for which no test exists? Do your pains require treatment or acceptance? Do answers help or just lead to more questions? As you age, you need doctors more and more, and they’re able to tell you less and less.
Then: Wanna hear a joke about Flatbush?
Me: Always!
Lola: What do Brooklyn and people in tight yoga pants have in common?
On protesters at abortion clinics:
“Bullies,” I corrected. “Protesters are noble fighters battling injustices. These people are perpetrating one. They know nothing about you and therefore aren’t entitled to an opinion about you.”
I wanted to tell Lola that in my experience, my vast experience, when you find yourself at an end, you are probably also knee-deep in beginnings. I wanted to tell her that being knee-deep in beginnings is a good indication that the mires you’ve been wading through are mostly still damp and mud-clogged. And though I knew she wouldn’t understand it for years yet, I wanted to tell her that most of life is muddy middle, normal on the way to ordinary, that the mistake people make is to want it any other way, as if prosaic is boring and a failure of character rather than the dream.
Read
January 5, 2026I know I really liked this book but need to marinate a little longer on my rating. Laurie is a wonderful writer and I am so happy I was able to get an ARC of this one from the publisher.☺️
December 11, 2025
I received an ARC of the book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book. In every one of her books I’ve read, Laurie Frankel takes on controversial topics, especially issues related to reproduction, but with both a hilarious and edgy voice. Enormous Wings takes on the topic of abortion with a fantastic cast of characters to guide us through this heart-stirring and entertaining novel. I didn’t want to put it down and am continuing to contemplate it after I finished.
February 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: Frankel has written several books and I have read two of them previously. She writes about important and timely topics (gender identity, adoption and families) and this book is timely in so many ways.
Pepper is a new resident at a senior home. She's not happy about it but she starts to make friends and settle. And then, at 77 years old, she's pregnant. In Texas. The lack of autonomy and choice is almost a character in this book as Pepper, her "boyfriend", and her family work to make sense of the pregnancy, the law, and the fall out. Social media and reporters hound Pepper and she is a literal prisoner in the retirement home due to the "miracle pregnancy". She is also the target of pro-life and pro-choice groups and their propaganda and advertisements.
The realization that "the health of mother" really means NOTHING in 2026 Texas is both shocking and not at the same time. It's also extremely upsetting. And it makes me angry.
Pepper and her daughters, granddaughters, her doctor, and friends are all strong women who are ready to fight. But can you fight when no one who makes laws will listen?
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt Co. for an advance digital copy. These opinions are my own.
Pepper is a new resident at a senior home. She's not happy about it but she starts to make friends and settle. And then, at 77 years old, she's pregnant. In Texas. The lack of autonomy and choice is almost a character in this book as Pepper, her "boyfriend", and her family work to make sense of the pregnancy, the law, and the fall out. Social media and reporters hound Pepper and she is a literal prisoner in the retirement home due to the "miracle pregnancy". She is also the target of pro-life and pro-choice groups and their propaganda and advertisements.
The realization that "the health of mother" really means NOTHING in 2026 Texas is both shocking and not at the same time. It's also extremely upsetting. And it makes me angry.
Pepper and her daughters, granddaughters, her doctor, and friends are all strong women who are ready to fight. But can you fight when no one who makes laws will listen?
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt Co. for an advance digital copy. These opinions are my own.
March 7, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Main character Pepper Mills is 77, and her children have recently intervened and took away her driver’s license and put her in a retirement community in Texas (the same one where he ex lives). With less ownership over her life, Pepper tries to make the best of the situation and meets Timothy (nickname: Moth) and some gal pals until an *interesting* problem arises.
I thought this novel addressed several themes well, including losing agency in older age, along with not having agency when you’re under 18. There is a bit of ridiculousness in this novel, and, while there was a rational explanation, it still stretched the limits of plausibility. In many ways, this novel reminded me of Annie Hartnett’s writing, and I think fans of hers will like this one as well. There is a road trip with some hijinks for some added interest.
I struggled a bit with this novel. I felt there were some “extra” elements that made me roll my eyes one too many times. But I completely see that this is a “me” problem. As far as plot and characters, those were there and done well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes May 5, 2026.
Main character Pepper Mills is 77, and her children have recently intervened and took away her driver’s license and put her in a retirement community in Texas (the same one where he ex lives). With less ownership over her life, Pepper tries to make the best of the situation and meets Timothy (nickname: Moth) and some gal pals until an *interesting* problem arises.
I thought this novel addressed several themes well, including losing agency in older age, along with not having agency when you’re under 18. There is a bit of ridiculousness in this novel, and, while there was a rational explanation, it still stretched the limits of plausibility. In many ways, this novel reminded me of Annie Hartnett’s writing, and I think fans of hers will like this one as well. There is a road trip with some hijinks for some added interest.
I struggled a bit with this novel. I felt there were some “extra” elements that made me roll my eyes one too many times. But I completely see that this is a “me” problem. As far as plot and characters, those were there and done well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes May 5, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected digital ARC of 'Enormous Wings' by Laurie Frankel - expected US release date of 05/05/2026
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy Frankel's books so much that I requested this ARC without reading the summary. I had no idea what I was in for and ohhh man, it was a wild ride. Frankel excels at women's fiction and family dramas with emotionally charged themes. This book was no different. What's great about her writing is that she's also hilarious. She plops in these one liners all throughout that are laugh out loud worthy and reflect wit in her characters. This lightens the tone and balances out against the heaviness of such controversial subjects. I don't know how she came up with this storyline but I really really really enjoyed the book, the characters, the message, the ending. All of it.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy Frankel's books so much that I requested this ARC without reading the summary. I had no idea what I was in for and ohhh man, it was a wild ride. Frankel excels at women's fiction and family dramas with emotionally charged themes. This book was no different. What's great about her writing is that she's also hilarious. She plops in these one liners all throughout that are laugh out loud worthy and reflect wit in her characters. This lightens the tone and balances out against the heaviness of such controversial subjects. I don't know how she came up with this storyline but I really really really enjoyed the book, the characters, the message, the ending. All of it.
December 8, 2025
Laurie Frankel’s Enormous Wings is a sharp, heartfelt exploration of choice, autonomy, and resilience in a post–Roe v. Wade America. Frankel’s signature wit and emotional depth shine through as she introduces Pepper Mills, a smart, tenacious woman who keeps getting stripped of her choices—her home, her car, her independence, and eventually, her bodily autonomy when she becomes pregnant while living in a retirement community.
Frankel excels at weaving humor, community, and serious subject matter into a narrative that feels both timely and universal. Fans of Women’s Fiction will love the rich character relationships, the insightful commentary, and the compassion threaded through every page.
Enormous Wings is a powerful reminder of the obstacles many face when reproductive care is restricted—and of the courage it takes to reclaim one’s agency.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Frankel excels at weaving humor, community, and serious subject matter into a narrative that feels both timely and universal. Fans of Women’s Fiction will love the rich character relationships, the insightful commentary, and the compassion threaded through every page.
Enormous Wings is a powerful reminder of the obstacles many face when reproductive care is restricted—and of the courage it takes to reclaim one’s agency.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 12, 2026
As a huge fan of Laurie Frankel, I was again enamored of this new book, Enormous Wings. The story line is quite fantastical but the underlying message of family and love and acceptance is there, as typical of Frankel's other novels. The social and political undertones are also appreciated by this reviewer. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.
Read
December 22, 2025Jghjigffhjjhh
November 19, 2025
I love Laurie Frankel. Her writing is relatable and I feel like I'm speaking to a friend while reading her books. It pains me to say that this one was a miss for me. I couldn't get past the plot even though I appreciated the messages about society and health care. It's a bummer because for the first bit, I couldn't put it down. I loved the residents of the retirement home - the characters jumped off the page and made me smile. I love that "Moth" was the name for "Timothy". I know I will be in the minority with this "meh" review. I'm glad I read it and I'm sure others will love it. For me - not so much. The writing is what made this a three star read for me and one I can recommend. Go read Laurie Frankel whenever you can even if you roll your eyes at the premise. Heartfelt thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!
December 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the ARC!
A 77 year old woman hits a priest with a car and loses her license. Her kids make her move into an independent living home and she becomes pregnant in the big state of Texas… where abortion is illegal.
Sounds like my worst nightmare. Not me googling can a 77 year old get pregnant…. Ahhhh! Give me ENORMOUS wings and I would fly away so far.
A 77 year old woman hits a priest with a car and loses her license. Her kids make her move into an independent living home and she becomes pregnant in the big state of Texas… where abortion is illegal.
Sounds like my worst nightmare. Not me googling can a 77 year old get pregnant…. Ahhhh! Give me ENORMOUS wings and I would fly away so far.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As soon as I saw the name Laurie Frankel, I immediately requested the book. She is one of those authors I trust so much that I rarely even read the synopsis first. If she writes it, I read it. Simple as that. So when my approval came through, I jumped right in completely blind.
And wow… I truly did not see this coming.
The story follows Pepper Mills, a seventy-seven-year-old woman whose children decide she should move into the Vista View Retirement Community in Austin, Texas after her driver’s license is taken away. Pepper is not exactly thrilled about this arrangement, but she slowly begins building a life there, meeting new people and even reconnecting with an old relationship that takes an unexpected turn.
Then something happens that made me literally laugh out loud.
Pepper discovers she’s pregnant.
Yes. Pregnant. At seventy-seven.
I swear when that moment arrived I had to stop reading for a second because I was laughing so hard. Out of all the possible directions the story could take, this was the last thing I expected. That’s the magic of going into a book completely blind.
From that point on, Pepper’s life becomes absolute chaos. Between the medical shock, the public curiosity, political debates, media frenzy, and endless opinions from strangers who suddenly feel entitled to comment on her body and her choices, the quiet retirement community quickly turns into the center of a storm. And as if that’s not enough, Pepper’s three adult children are constantly complicating everything.
What makes this book so entertaining is the tone. Frankel writes with that wonderfully sarcastic, whimsical voice that makes even the most absurd situations feel oddly believable. Pepper herself is a fantastic character. She’s sharp, stubborn, funny, and completely unwilling to quietly disappear into old age just because society thinks she should. Watching her navigate this surreal situation while dealing with family drama, public attention, and her own confusion is both hilarious and surprisingly touching.
I also loved the colorful cast of characters surrounding her. The friendships Pepper builds at Vista View create a warm found-family atmosphere that adds heart to the story. These characters feel lively and unique, and their presence gives the novel a comforting sense of community even while the outside world turns the situation into a spectacle.
That said, I did have a few small issues.
The romance between Pepper and Moth didn’t always feel as emotionally convincing to me as I hoped. At times their relationship moved a little too quickly and in slightly uneven directions, which made it harder for me to fully invest in their connection. The middle section of the novel also slowed down a bit and felt slightly stretched.
Another thing I personally wished for was more focus on the physical and psychological reality of a pregnancy at this age. The concept itself is so fascinating and unusual that I found myself wanting to explore the comedy and tragedy of that situation more deeply. Instead, the story sometimes leaned more heavily into political commentary and media spectacle. While I often shared the author’s perspective, I still felt that a slightly more balanced or subtle approach might have allowed the characters and situations to speak for themselves more naturally.
Still, I have to applaud the sheer originality of the premise. A seventy-seven-year-old woman dealing with an unexpected pregnancy inside a retirement community while the whole world debates what she should do with her body is easily one of the most creative and daring plot ideas I’ve encountered this year. Even when the story didn’t completely land for me, I admired the ambition behind it.
In the end, this wasn’t my absolute favorite book by Laurie Frankel, but I still enjoyed the smart humor, memorable characters, and wonderfully bold concept. For its originality, lively tone, and engaging cast, I’m giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co. for sharing one of the most thought-provoking and anticipated literary fictions of the year with me in exchange for my honest feedback.
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And wow… I truly did not see this coming.
The story follows Pepper Mills, a seventy-seven-year-old woman whose children decide she should move into the Vista View Retirement Community in Austin, Texas after her driver’s license is taken away. Pepper is not exactly thrilled about this arrangement, but she slowly begins building a life there, meeting new people and even reconnecting with an old relationship that takes an unexpected turn.
Then something happens that made me literally laugh out loud.
Pepper discovers she’s pregnant.
Yes. Pregnant. At seventy-seven.
I swear when that moment arrived I had to stop reading for a second because I was laughing so hard. Out of all the possible directions the story could take, this was the last thing I expected. That’s the magic of going into a book completely blind.
From that point on, Pepper’s life becomes absolute chaos. Between the medical shock, the public curiosity, political debates, media frenzy, and endless opinions from strangers who suddenly feel entitled to comment on her body and her choices, the quiet retirement community quickly turns into the center of a storm. And as if that’s not enough, Pepper’s three adult children are constantly complicating everything.
What makes this book so entertaining is the tone. Frankel writes with that wonderfully sarcastic, whimsical voice that makes even the most absurd situations feel oddly believable. Pepper herself is a fantastic character. She’s sharp, stubborn, funny, and completely unwilling to quietly disappear into old age just because society thinks she should. Watching her navigate this surreal situation while dealing with family drama, public attention, and her own confusion is both hilarious and surprisingly touching.
I also loved the colorful cast of characters surrounding her. The friendships Pepper builds at Vista View create a warm found-family atmosphere that adds heart to the story. These characters feel lively and unique, and their presence gives the novel a comforting sense of community even while the outside world turns the situation into a spectacle.
That said, I did have a few small issues.
The romance between Pepper and Moth didn’t always feel as emotionally convincing to me as I hoped. At times their relationship moved a little too quickly and in slightly uneven directions, which made it harder for me to fully invest in their connection. The middle section of the novel also slowed down a bit and felt slightly stretched.
Another thing I personally wished for was more focus on the physical and psychological reality of a pregnancy at this age. The concept itself is so fascinating and unusual that I found myself wanting to explore the comedy and tragedy of that situation more deeply. Instead, the story sometimes leaned more heavily into political commentary and media spectacle. While I often shared the author’s perspective, I still felt that a slightly more balanced or subtle approach might have allowed the characters and situations to speak for themselves more naturally.
Still, I have to applaud the sheer originality of the premise. A seventy-seven-year-old woman dealing with an unexpected pregnancy inside a retirement community while the whole world debates what she should do with her body is easily one of the most creative and daring plot ideas I’ve encountered this year. Even when the story didn’t completely land for me, I admired the ambition behind it.
In the end, this wasn’t my absolute favorite book by Laurie Frankel, but I still enjoyed the smart humor, memorable characters, and wonderfully bold concept. For its originality, lively tone, and engaging cast, I’m giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co. for sharing one of the most thought-provoking and anticipated literary fictions of the year with me in exchange for my honest feedback.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
#Goodreads Giveaway ARC
Thank you to the author and Henry Holt and Company for an advance review copy. The book is due to be released in May 2026.
When I heard I won a copy of this ARC in the Goodreads Giveaway, I felt a little sheepish. Told myself "This could be really good or really bad." Depends on the author's skill. I'm happy to report I found it really good: funny, sad, heartfelt, thought-provoking, and life-affirming no matter what age the reader may be, and I enjoyed the author's writing style.
I am in my early seventies, but as my grandmother used to say, "Inside I still feel sixteen but some durn fool put up mirrors in my house!" I loved Pepper and her friends and extended family of all ages. Those characters will stay with me for a while.
I found it interesting the reaction of a friend and my sister when I gave a short synopsis of the book's blurb, including a pregnant 77-yr-old protagonist. Both in their seventies and both mothers and grandmothers. Dismissal and near-revulsion: "THAT CAN'T HAPPEN!" Way to shut down a conversation! They almost sounded threatened. Now me, I never had kids, I'm decades past a total hysterectomy, and I spent a portion of my life working in the women's health field. Guess I'm more receptive to this kind of speculative fiction.
Okay, maybe there's been one or two women in their seventies who gave birth as a result of IVF, but medical science always likes to push boundaries. And an earlier medical treatment is posited as a potential cause of Pepper's late-stage fertility. Sure, there's such a thing as a "geriatric pregnancy," (and technically, I know several women who had one--in their forties), but in my fiction-writing classes, the story development process often begins with the phrase "WHAT IF....?"
So, what if a woman in her seventies accedes to her adult children's wishes and gives up her driver's license and moves into an "active adult" community, congregate living including congregate meals in the facility dining room, and instead of descending into complaints...about aches and pains and bad institutional food and about her fellow residents losing their faculties, growing bitter and waiting to die, she finds LOVE. And then, wait for it...she finds herself pregnant.
There is a lot of humor in this book, in places it ventures into "madcap" territory, but there is a lot of heart and a seriousness to it as well. Pepper Mills (yes, she'll be the first to make fun of her name) finds herself in situations where she needs to choose when to go along to get along and when it's imperative for her to advocate for herself.
I know books need to be brought to a conclusion, the loose ends of the plot tied together. I found the conclusion of this book to be a tad too pat and perhaps a bit saccharine. But by no means does it ruin the tone of the book overall. Pepper was fortunate to find herself in a loving extended family and a community filled with loving grandmothers. But then again, we had to begin with a bit of suspension of disbelief over a pregnant septuagenarian. Why not a "village" coming together to support her?
I'd recommend this book. It's the first I've read by Laurie Frankel, and I will seek out another book of hers in the near future. I know "Family Family" has been on my to-read list for some time. I'm moving it up.
Thank you to the author and Henry Holt and Company for an advance review copy. The book is due to be released in May 2026.
When I heard I won a copy of this ARC in the Goodreads Giveaway, I felt a little sheepish. Told myself "This could be really good or really bad." Depends on the author's skill. I'm happy to report I found it really good: funny, sad, heartfelt, thought-provoking, and life-affirming no matter what age the reader may be, and I enjoyed the author's writing style.
I am in my early seventies, but as my grandmother used to say, "Inside I still feel sixteen but some durn fool put up mirrors in my house!" I loved Pepper and her friends and extended family of all ages. Those characters will stay with me for a while.
I found it interesting the reaction of a friend and my sister when I gave a short synopsis of the book's blurb, including a pregnant 77-yr-old protagonist. Both in their seventies and both mothers and grandmothers. Dismissal and near-revulsion: "THAT CAN'T HAPPEN!" Way to shut down a conversation! They almost sounded threatened. Now me, I never had kids, I'm decades past a total hysterectomy, and I spent a portion of my life working in the women's health field. Guess I'm more receptive to this kind of speculative fiction.
Okay, maybe there's been one or two women in their seventies who gave birth as a result of IVF, but medical science always likes to push boundaries. And an earlier medical treatment is posited as a potential cause of Pepper's late-stage fertility. Sure, there's such a thing as a "geriatric pregnancy," (and technically, I know several women who had one--in their forties), but in my fiction-writing classes, the story development process often begins with the phrase "WHAT IF....?"
So, what if a woman in her seventies accedes to her adult children's wishes and gives up her driver's license and moves into an "active adult" community, congregate living including congregate meals in the facility dining room, and instead of descending into complaints...about aches and pains and bad institutional food and about her fellow residents losing their faculties, growing bitter and waiting to die, she finds LOVE. And then, wait for it...she finds herself pregnant.
There is a lot of humor in this book, in places it ventures into "madcap" territory, but there is a lot of heart and a seriousness to it as well. Pepper Mills (yes, she'll be the first to make fun of her name) finds herself in situations where she needs to choose when to go along to get along and when it's imperative for her to advocate for herself.
I know books need to be brought to a conclusion, the loose ends of the plot tied together. I found the conclusion of this book to be a tad too pat and perhaps a bit saccharine. But by no means does it ruin the tone of the book overall. Pepper was fortunate to find herself in a loving extended family and a community filled with loving grandmothers. But then again, we had to begin with a bit of suspension of disbelief over a pregnant septuagenarian. Why not a "village" coming together to support her?
I'd recommend this book. It's the first I've read by Laurie Frankel, and I will seek out another book of hers in the near future. I know "Family Family" has been on my to-read list for some time. I'm moving it up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
Here's what I like about Laurie Frankel's work; it's always compelling, engaging, and different. There are so many authors who are writing variations of the same story over and over again. Frankel isn't one of these, and this most recent effort highlights a new level of social commentary, magical realism, and mythological elements coming together to create one heck of a creative narrative. It evolves from bizarre to magical to moving, and I'm already having aa 'the more I think about it, the more I can't stop thinking about it' experience here.
Pepper Mills (I know! She does, too!) is in her late 70s and she's moving into the same retirement community where her ex-husband lives. This may sound like hell on earth to some of us, but these two have an amicable relationship. They also share three children and several grandchildren, and while the spark is out, the respect is mostly there. But the ex isn't the issue. It's a new guy, Moth, who attracts Pepper's attention. She can't really believe it when the two of them hit it off romantically and then physically. One benefit of intimate relationships at this age is not having to consider pregnancy prevention. Unless you're these two. Pepper ends up pregnant. At 77. This is where that Garcia Marquez connection is going to begin (and it's such a smart one).
Pepper cannot believe her situation, and her adult children, ex, and pretty much the whole rest of the world are also in shock...and voyeuristic fascination. The way this unfolds, and the way Frankel ties in Pepper's situation to a modern conversation about women's healthcare, is outstanding and so SO smart. Pepper is a great character, but it's this evolution in the plot that really did it for me, and I bet that'll be the case for likeminded folks, and that this will also be the part that sends other folks over the edge (to which I say buh-bye).
This shouldn't just be buzzy because Frankel is outstanding and a known commodity. It's really deserving of the praise on its own two, well, wings. And wow that fairy/ferry connection... What a banger. I can't wait to see what this author has for us next.
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Co., and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Here's what I like about Laurie Frankel's work; it's always compelling, engaging, and different. There are so many authors who are writing variations of the same story over and over again. Frankel isn't one of these, and this most recent effort highlights a new level of social commentary, magical realism, and mythological elements coming together to create one heck of a creative narrative. It evolves from bizarre to magical to moving, and I'm already having aa 'the more I think about it, the more I can't stop thinking about it' experience here.
Pepper Mills (I know! She does, too!) is in her late 70s and she's moving into the same retirement community where her ex-husband lives. This may sound like hell on earth to some of us, but these two have an amicable relationship. They also share three children and several grandchildren, and while the spark is out, the respect is mostly there. But the ex isn't the issue. It's a new guy, Moth, who attracts Pepper's attention. She can't really believe it when the two of them hit it off romantically and then physically. One benefit of intimate relationships at this age is not having to consider pregnancy prevention. Unless you're these two. Pepper ends up pregnant. At 77. This is where that Garcia Marquez connection is going to begin (and it's such a smart one).
Pepper cannot believe her situation, and her adult children, ex, and pretty much the whole rest of the world are also in shock...and voyeuristic fascination. The way this unfolds, and the way Frankel ties in Pepper's situation to a modern conversation about women's healthcare, is outstanding and so SO smart. Pepper is a great character, but it's this evolution in the plot that really did it for me, and I bet that'll be the case for likeminded folks, and that this will also be the part that sends other folks over the edge (to which I say buh-bye).
This shouldn't just be buzzy because Frankel is outstanding and a known commodity. It's really deserving of the praise on its own two, well, wings. And wow that fairy/ferry connection... What a banger. I can't wait to see what this author has for us next.
*Special thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Co., and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy
Thanks to LibraryThing and the author for this ARC.
When I saw the plot for this book I was this should be a different and interesting book. A new concept of a plot and not just because it's told from a 74 year old woman either. To me 74 is sort of young and not old as she was portrayed. I know I say that occasionally but it's true.
Pepper Mills (more on her name later), is quite the character. She's a retired English school teacher. It all started when her daughter (she has 2 girls, married and have two kids of their own, and has a son) put her in a retirement home (the independent "branch" of course) after cutting up her driver's license. Guess who's living two floors below her? Her ex-husband Roger of 25 years. This should be fun. Not sure how much interaction she'll have or wants.
The first person she meets is "Moth," Short for Timothy. She should talk right? She meets him in the parking lot, washing a priests truck (another hilarious story in the beginning of the book). Their conversation was pretty cute. She asked about "Moth" and then she introduced herself -- Pepper Mills, and his comeback was Sergeant Pepper. OMG. LOL, a reference I could relate to just like she did. Plus she comes from a family of "spicy" names. Her father's name was BASIL, her mother's ROSEMARY. Her maiden name was Adler, but when she married Roger, she became PEPPER MILLS. The ribbing she got and still gets from that name is pretty funny. She wished she changed back to her maiden name when she divorced Roger or never took it in the first place when they got married but women didn't use their maiden names back then.
I couldn't wait to finish this book and not for the reason you may think. I refrained from reading it the end because I was curious to know if Pepper had the baby.
As for the almost the ending of the book, not surprised but more surprised by the name of her daughter (spoiler alert), Bob, which her grandchildren named. I still don't understand it even after reading it a few times. Maybe someone will respond to this review and explain it to me or maybe I'll see it in a review.
I've read two of her others so far and what I like about her writing is that she writes about different subjects and they aren't cookie cutter.
When I saw the plot for this book I was this should be a different and interesting book. A new concept of a plot and not just because it's told from a 74 year old woman either. To me 74 is sort of young and not old as she was portrayed. I know I say that occasionally but it's true.
Pepper Mills (more on her name later), is quite the character. She's a retired English school teacher. It all started when her daughter (she has 2 girls, married and have two kids of their own, and has a son) put her in a retirement home (the independent "branch" of course) after cutting up her driver's license. Guess who's living two floors below her? Her ex-husband Roger of 25 years. This should be fun. Not sure how much interaction she'll have or wants.
The first person she meets is "Moth," Short for Timothy. She should talk right? She meets him in the parking lot, washing a priests truck (another hilarious story in the beginning of the book). Their conversation was pretty cute. She asked about "Moth" and then she introduced herself -- Pepper Mills, and his comeback was Sergeant Pepper. OMG. LOL, a reference I could relate to just like she did. Plus she comes from a family of "spicy" names. Her father's name was BASIL, her mother's ROSEMARY. Her maiden name was Adler, but when she married Roger, she became PEPPER MILLS. The ribbing she got and still gets from that name is pretty funny. She wished she changed back to her maiden name when she divorced Roger or never took it in the first place when they got married but women didn't use their maiden names back then.
I couldn't wait to finish this book and not for the reason you may think. I refrained from reading it the end because I was curious to know if Pepper had the baby.
As for the almost the ending of the book, not surprised but more surprised by the name of her daughter (spoiler alert), Bob, which her grandchildren named. I still don't understand it even after reading it a few times. Maybe someone will respond to this review and explain it to me or maybe I'll see it in a review.
I've read two of her others so far and what I like about her writing is that she writes about different subjects and they aren't cookie cutter.
March 14, 2026
📚 Enormous Wings
✍ Laurie Frankel
📖 Fiction
⭐3.5/5
🌶️
📆 Out 5/5/26
🙏Thank you to Henry Holt and Co., NetGalley and the author for the advanced digital copy of Enormous Wings. All opinions are my own.
➡ A 77-year-old woman living in a Texas retirement community is shocked to discover she’s pregnant, sparking a public frenzy and forcing her to confront questions about autonomy, family, and the choices she’s still allowed to make late in life.
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🎯 What I loved: Laurie Frankel has such a unique approach to storytelling. Few writers can hit her comedic notes while making the bold statements about society that she does and she has mastered the art of balancing the two. Enormous Wings centers around Pepper, a septuagenarian who unexpectedly finds herself pregnant. Unexpected as the story sounds, Frankel rationalizes it and leverages Pepper in what becomes a story about bodily autonomy, women's rights, found family and love. It's chalk full of heart, hope and charm and has a cast of characters you can't help but adore.
🙅♀️ What I didn't: I typically love Frankel's quirky sense of humor with undertones of commentary about significant societal issues but I think this one veered just a little too far off the deep end for me. I found Pepper witty and the premise humorous but there were too many 'unexplained' components of this story for it to make sense. A big focus, for example, was Pepper wrestling with whether or not carrying her baby to term was what she wanted but the book never dug into how Pepper would actually raise a baby and what would happen to the baby should anything happen to her. It seemed to gloss over the logistics of a baby being born in an assisted living facility in favor of focusing on the quirky friendships Pepper formed and drama with other members of her family. I also found her relationship with Moth odd- considering their age, they bizarrely dealt with some issues of maturity. And the baby's name...what in the world?
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Read if you love:
*themes of female agency & women's rights
*unplanned pregnancy tropes with a twist
*found family & biological family
*when private challenges become very public
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See also: Sandwich, The Correspondent, Ready or Not
✍ Laurie Frankel
📖 Fiction
⭐3.5/5
🌶️
📆 Out 5/5/26
🙏Thank you to Henry Holt and Co., NetGalley and the author for the advanced digital copy of Enormous Wings. All opinions are my own.
➡ A 77-year-old woman living in a Texas retirement community is shocked to discover she’s pregnant, sparking a public frenzy and forcing her to confront questions about autonomy, family, and the choices she’s still allowed to make late in life.
◾
🎯 What I loved: Laurie Frankel has such a unique approach to storytelling. Few writers can hit her comedic notes while making the bold statements about society that she does and she has mastered the art of balancing the two. Enormous Wings centers around Pepper, a septuagenarian who unexpectedly finds herself pregnant. Unexpected as the story sounds, Frankel rationalizes it and leverages Pepper in what becomes a story about bodily autonomy, women's rights, found family and love. It's chalk full of heart, hope and charm and has a cast of characters you can't help but adore.
🙅♀️ What I didn't: I typically love Frankel's quirky sense of humor with undertones of commentary about significant societal issues but I think this one veered just a little too far off the deep end for me. I found Pepper witty and the premise humorous but there were too many 'unexplained' components of this story for it to make sense. A big focus, for example, was Pepper wrestling with whether or not carrying her baby to term was what she wanted but the book never dug into how Pepper would actually raise a baby and what would happen to the baby should anything happen to her. It seemed to gloss over the logistics of a baby being born in an assisted living facility in favor of focusing on the quirky friendships Pepper formed and drama with other members of her family. I also found her relationship with Moth odd- considering their age, they bizarrely dealt with some issues of maturity. And the baby's name...what in the world?
◾
Read if you love:
*themes of female agency & women's rights
*unplanned pregnancy tropes with a twist
*found family & biological family
*when private challenges become very public
◾
See also: Sandwich, The Correspondent, Ready or Not
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I genuinely don't think I can put into words how much I loved Enormous Wings. I wish Pepper was my grandma because I just adore her. She's a retired English teacher grappling with a sudden move to a retirement community and the loss of independence that comes with that, and then through a somewhat wild turn of events, she becomes pregnant at the age of 77. It is a weird and wonderful book and I'm so happy I got to experience it.
Laurie Frankel writes complicated, complex, real family relationships so well. Every relationship in the book feels true to life and I especially loved the bond between Pepper and her teenage granddaughter Lola. Lola explaining things to her grandma cracked me up and I just thought they were so fun together. I also love Moth and Pepper's sweet romance. Pepper + Moth 4ever.
Sometimes books featuring senior citizens as the protagonist can feel sort of cheesy or like the main character is being infantilized. I struggle with saccharine books that get super sentimental. That is luckily not the case here at all. The author does such a great job of treating the residents of Vista View with dignity and like full people rather than caricatures. Yes, there are reflections our elderly characters have about the life lessons they've picked up along the way, but it's not in an overly sweet or simple way. Each of the residents feel like real people with full lives even in their retirement years.
Even though I'd definitely classify this as a fun read, it does cover a lot of heavy topics. It touches on feelings related to aging, loss of independence, our treatment of the elderly, our treatment of women, and of course the obvious issues related to fertility and abortion access. A lot of times, the conversation about abortion rights feels very black and white, but this book did such an incredible job of portraying all of the nuances in that conversation and all of the things that go into women making decisions for their own bodies. I thought it was handled really beautifully without being preachy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this amazing, amazing book!
Laurie Frankel writes complicated, complex, real family relationships so well. Every relationship in the book feels true to life and I especially loved the bond between Pepper and her teenage granddaughter Lola. Lola explaining things to her grandma cracked me up and I just thought they were so fun together. I also love Moth and Pepper's sweet romance. Pepper + Moth 4ever.
Sometimes books featuring senior citizens as the protagonist can feel sort of cheesy or like the main character is being infantilized. I struggle with saccharine books that get super sentimental. That is luckily not the case here at all. The author does such a great job of treating the residents of Vista View with dignity and like full people rather than caricatures. Yes, there are reflections our elderly characters have about the life lessons they've picked up along the way, but it's not in an overly sweet or simple way. Each of the residents feel like real people with full lives even in their retirement years.
Even though I'd definitely classify this as a fun read, it does cover a lot of heavy topics. It touches on feelings related to aging, loss of independence, our treatment of the elderly, our treatment of women, and of course the obvious issues related to fertility and abortion access. A lot of times, the conversation about abortion rights feels very black and white, but this book did such an incredible job of portraying all of the nuances in that conversation and all of the things that go into women making decisions for their own bodies. I thought it was handled really beautifully without being preachy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this amazing, amazing book!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Laurie Frankel is an auto-read author for me, and I’m delighted to report that her new novel Enormous Wings did not disappoint! She is an absolute master of telling stories that give you a completely clear window into a world that is often unfamiliar for many readers and in doing so, takes on controversial issues in a relatable and unforgettable way. From gender identity to abortion to adoption to disability and more, Frankel uses humor and fully formed characters in her novels to give her readers a memorable story of lessons learned and hope for the future.
In Enormous Wings, we meet Pepper Mills, a 77-year-old mother and grandmother who recently moved into the Vista View progressive care retirement community in suburban Texas. She’s not exactly happy about this move that was more or less forced upon her, but she’s doing her best to make the most of her new home and meet some neighbors. And meet them she does - namely a dashing British man who goes by Moth (a nickname for Timothy). One thing leads to another, and Pepper miraculously becomes pregnant! The journey that unfolds from there is one of both true family and found family, female agency, reproductive rights and faith in humanity.
There is so much to love about Frankel’s writing. The humor that she imparts upon her characters is smart and witty, and brings lightness to a novel that touches on some heavy themes. Through the lens of a newly pregnant 77-year-old woman, we examine motherhood at every stage and reckoning with mortality, while also getting a poignant, timely, and satirical take on reproductive rights. Pepper is snarky in the best way - I wouldn't call her a curmudgeon by any means, but she just won't let us forget how the kids she raised were the ones that more or less forced her into the retirement home and as a former English teacher, there is just no excuse for poor grammar. Some may consider this next statement a spoiler, but I think it needs to be said for this one to find the right readers - if you have strong anti-abortion opinions, stay far away from this book.
All in all, the more I let this one sit with me, the more I love it. While the premise sounds bonkers, the storyline combined with the way that Pepper and the rest of the cast of characters stole my heart will make it stick with me for a long time. This is the fourth novel of Frankel's that I've read and loved, so I'm officially undertaking the goal of becoming a completist of her work - two more novels to go!
Thank you so much to Goodreads (I was a giveaway winner!), NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
In Enormous Wings, we meet Pepper Mills, a 77-year-old mother and grandmother who recently moved into the Vista View progressive care retirement community in suburban Texas. She’s not exactly happy about this move that was more or less forced upon her, but she’s doing her best to make the most of her new home and meet some neighbors. And meet them she does - namely a dashing British man who goes by Moth (a nickname for Timothy). One thing leads to another, and Pepper miraculously becomes pregnant! The journey that unfolds from there is one of both true family and found family, female agency, reproductive rights and faith in humanity.
There is so much to love about Frankel’s writing. The humor that she imparts upon her characters is smart and witty, and brings lightness to a novel that touches on some heavy themes. Through the lens of a newly pregnant 77-year-old woman, we examine motherhood at every stage and reckoning with mortality, while also getting a poignant, timely, and satirical take on reproductive rights. Pepper is snarky in the best way - I wouldn't call her a curmudgeon by any means, but she just won't let us forget how the kids she raised were the ones that more or less forced her into the retirement home and as a former English teacher, there is just no excuse for poor grammar. Some may consider this next statement a spoiler, but I think it needs to be said for this one to find the right readers - if you have strong anti-abortion opinions, stay far away from this book.
All in all, the more I let this one sit with me, the more I love it. While the premise sounds bonkers, the storyline combined with the way that Pepper and the rest of the cast of characters stole my heart will make it stick with me for a long time. This is the fourth novel of Frankel's that I've read and loved, so I'm officially undertaking the goal of becoming a completist of her work - two more novels to go!
Thank you so much to Goodreads (I was a giveaway winner!), NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the second book I've read by Laurie Frankel. The first was This is How it Always Is and I enjoyed the thoughtful and engaging style with which she expressed challenging family relationships. I had a similar reaction to Enormous Wings, but I enjoyed it even more than the earlier novel. I had moments reading it when I laughed aloud and when I found tears rolling down my sniffling nose and face. An almost 80 year old woman, Pepper Mills, moves into a retirement community and after becoming sexually involved with the most sought after man there, becomes pregnant. The story of how her family, her lover ("Moth"), and the world, react to this news is a vivid and sometimes outlandishly tender and funny tale. The story is set in Texas and the title is in reference to a short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings. I haven't read that short story (published in 1955) but this book makes me want to read it and share it with others. It sounds like the underlying themes of that book focus on faith, cruelty, and human behavior (including the not so nice side of human behavior). The question of abortion rights occupies a role front and center in Enormous Wings. As she makes her decisions about her life and her body, Pepper is confronted by confounding and somewhat unethical behavior from all sides--the media, the medical profession, pharmaceutical companies, anti-abortion groups, and abortion rights groups. Fortunately, her family, despite the usual complicated family issues you'd expect in any modern family, support her and her right to make her own decisions about what's happening. I decided not to become irritated by the craziness of the politics involved in this story (a subject about which I have very strong and strident beliefs). Instead, I just focused on Pepper and Moth, and the other characters. I came to love them, especially Pepper's granddaughter (Lola), Father Frank, Dr. Kim, Maisie, and Dot.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC of Enormous Wings. All opinions are solely my own.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC of Enormous Wings. All opinions are solely my own.
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