Okay, listen.

This is the first book I’ve read by Tiffany D. Jackson and I feel like I need to touch grass after this one. Or maybe just float around in my pool while reflecting on life because… whew. I went through so many emotions while and after reading this book. Heavy doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Right off the bat, yes, there is a trigger warning, and I really appreciated that. This story gets dark and uncomfortable real fast. One minute I’m squirming because no way this man, Korey Fields, is out here preying on young girls like this, and the next minute, I’m flat-out angry. Like, close-the-book-and-stare-at-the-wall mad.

What made it even wilder was the timing. I picked this book up during all the Diddy trial coverage and after everything that came out about R. Kelly… and let me tell you — the parallels were chilling. The way these men abuse their power, manipulate, isolate, and gaslight young girls? Nah. It’s heartbreaking. It’s frustrating. It’s exhausting. And it’s all too real.

I’m gonna keep it real with y’all though, I almost DNFed it. Not because it was too dark or triggering (though it is), but because I didn’t connect with it the way I expected to. There were parts that had me confused (Gabe?? Like what was even happening there??), and a few moments where the pacing threw me off. It wasn’t a bad book at all, I just think I wasn’t in the right headspace for something this heavy.

And now that I’m a mom to a daughter? Yeah… this hit different. It tore me up in ways I wasn’t fully ready for. It made me angry, made me protective, made me sad. I honestly think I need to follow this one up with something light and fluffy. Maybe a romcom. With cupcakes. And a guaranteed happy ending.

Would I read more from Tiffany D. Jackson? Absolutely. This wasn’t my favorite, but her writing is powerful and I can tell she has a lot more stories to tell. I’ll definitely be checking out more of her work when I’m not in my feelings.

Favorite Quote:

“And if I love him hard enough, maybe, just maybe, I can keep the dark side away.”

Yeah… that line. That hit. And it stayed with me.

If you’re planning to read Grown, please take care of yourself. Read the trigger warnings, give yourself space, and maybe line up a feel-good read for afterwards. This book is a lot, but it’s also important.