Enormous Wings

By: Laurie Frankel

Narrator: Becky Ann Baker

ISBN: 9781250446794

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Henry Holt & Co.

Publication Date: 05/05/2026

Format: Audiobook

My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)

MAY 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS

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. She fears it’s cancer, dementia, a stroke. But a raft of tests later, the news is even more shocking: She’s pregnant.

As word gets out, everyone wants a piece of her: the press and paparazzi, activists and medical researchers, belly-rubbers and rubber-neckers all descending on Vista View while Pepper struggles to determine her next move. Soon she 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 anymore. 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.

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#EnormousWings

My Review

"A manifesto of feminism tucked inside a sarcastic, geriatric comedy."

Top Audiobooks of 2026!

Following her success of Family Family, Laurie Frankel stays in her lane of "big-hearted" complex intergenerational family dynamics with the laugh-out-loud ENORMOUS WINGS. The novel cleverly focuses on the lengths a family will go to protect one of their own, delivered with her trademark wit and empathy.

Pepper Mills, a 77-year-old, a septuagenarian, is forced into a Texas retirement home by her children. She is a former English teacher (who likes to correct your grammar) and a piano teacher. She begrudgingly moves in, finds companionship and love with a dashing Brit next door, and is unexpectedly PREGNANT!

Vibe & Setting

~Vibe: A unique blend of absurdist humor and urgent social commentary. It is big-hearted and delightful yet simultaneously frightening and infuriating.

~Setting: The story is primarily set at Vista View Retirement Community in Austin, Texas. A "strange land" for Pepper, transitioning from a place of forced boredom to the center of a chaotic media and political circus.

Tone & Mood

~Absurdist & Surrealistic

~Witty & Wry

~Urgent & Timely

~Compassionate & Humane

Characters

Pepper is a "tenacious" heroine who fights to reclaim her independence, resilient and plucky. The cast is clever and empathic, billed with characters just a little too smart for their own good. They are imperfect, real, and not right or wrong, making their family dynamics relatable.

~Pepper Mills (77):

Fierce, clever, and full of "gumption". She is a narrator to whom the world keeps saying "no". Sharp-as-a-tack, snarky, and fierce, an English teacher who corrects grammar while fighting for her life.

~"Moth":

Pepper's romantic partner at the retirement home, whose nickname contributes to the book's whimsical yet grounded tone.

~Lola:

Pepper’s granddaughter, who provides a modern, emoji-filled multi-generational perspective.

~Supporting Cast:

A lively group of "oldies" and multi-generational family members who add emotional heft and humor

Relavant and timely, a "vital novel for our time," tackling pressing social and political issues. Despite the political themes, the story remains deeply grounded in human emotion and warmth. The narrative is filled with sharp, sarcastic humor and clever "quippy" dialogue.

Heavy-hitting social & personal themes

~Bodily Autonomy & Reproductive Rights

~Aging and Visibility

~Motherhood Across Generations

~Media Sensationalism

~Defiance and Choice

My thoughts...

A loud, messy, and necessary exploration of bodily autonomy set against the quiet backdrop of an Austin retirement home. Pepper Mills is the tenacious heroine we didn't know we needed—77, pregnant, and unwilling to be a political prop. I loved it!

In particular, since I am also in my 70's, a lively septuagenarian, I adored Pepper and my favorite parts are the intergenerational bonds with her granddaughter, Lola, and their unique connection. While the rest of the world sees a miracle or a mistake, Lola is the only one who sees Pepper.

Proving that feminist fire skips a generation —the bond between Pepper and her granddaughter is the beating heart of this story. Lola often understands Pepper’s desire for agency better than Pepper’s own children do. The Vista View retirement home is the unexpected "war room" where Pepper and Lola plot their rebellion. It’s that contrast between the quiet, bingo-playing setting and their high-stakes activism that makes the intergenerational bond feel so refreshing and defiant.

The "Legacy" Takeaway: It’s a story about how rebellion is inherited, and how the fight for choice connects women across decades. The most refreshing part of Enormous Wings? Seeing a grandmother and granddaughter fight for bodily autonomy side-by-side.

Pepper/Lola: The "Dynamic Duo"

~The Bridge: The ultimate intergenerational alliance.

~The Contrast: Pepper’s old-school grit meets Lola’s modern-day activism."

~Tech gap: Lola helps Pepper navigate the "media circus" and the digital world, while Pepper gives Lola a lesson in legacy and resilience.

~The Vibe: A relationship fueled by mutual respect, shared secrets, and a whole lot of subversive energy.

Why I loved Enormous Wings

~A septuagenarian shocker. The ultimate medical anomaly.

~A geriatric pregnancy meets a political firestorm.

~Wryly funny but deadly serious.

~A Surrealist satire with a heart of gold

~A feminist manifesto wrapped in a comedy of errors.

~Gilmore Girls-style quippy dialogue, sharp-as-a-tack prose

~Frankel’s signature blend of insight and absurdity.

A reminder that choice is a bedrock—even so late in the day. ENORMOUS WINGS is absurdist, infuriating, and ultimately refreshing—Frankel at her most unapologetic best!

The Writing

~Sharp, witty, and wryly sarcastic.

Frankel is known for "mucking about" in controversial topics without turning the story into a dry lecture.

~Luscious & Thoughtful:

Frankel's prose is both beautiful to read and intellectually stimulating.

~Engaging & Fast-Paced:

The story pulls readers in quickly, balancing a "media circus" atmosphere with intimate character moments.

~Satirical:

Utilizing humor and irony to interrogate serious topics like the medical system, legal, and legislative.

Metaphors & Takeaway Message

~Key Metaphor:

The title itself is a literary nod to the "miraculous and misunderstood" reminiscent of Gabriel García Márquez's A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings . In Frankel's book, the pregnancy is the "enormous wings"—a miraculous, heavy, and inconvenient biological event that turns a private life into a public spectacle.

~Takeaway Message:

When individual choice is stripped away, courage and community become the only path to reclaiming autonomy. The book asserts that women’s bodies are not political property and that aging does not mean the end of one's right to self-determination.

Audiobook & Narrator Highlight: Top Audiobooks of 2026!

The audiobook for Enormous Wings is highly acclaimed, particularly for its ability to balance the story's "wacky" premise with its serious sociopolitical undertones.

~Narrator:

Read by the talented actor Becky Ann Baker (known for Freaks and Geeks and Girls). With the Pepper/Lola relationship, she shines, perfectly capturing the playful yet profound shift in Pepper’s voice whenever she’s talking to Lola.

Performance Highlights:

~Master Accents:

She skillfully executes a range, including Brooklyn and British accents, which add depth and humor to the diverse cast of characters.

~Pepper:

Baker captures the protagonist's wry, sarcastic nature while imbuing the performance with the necessary tenderness for the more emotional scenes.

~"Besties":

Her voicing of Pepper’s retirement home friends is a highlight that brings the central friendships to life.

Book Club Pick

The phenomenon of geriatric pregnancy draws considerable media scrutiny and provokes complex legal debates surrounding issues such as bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, the intricacies of politics, the dynamics of sexuality, and the realities of aging. In today's post-Roe v. Wade landscape, this captivating topic promises to offer both entertainment and thought-provoking insights and further book club discussions.

At its heart, the book is about Pepper reclaiming her voice. Her journey is one of standing up to her children, the law, and societal expectations to decide for herself what happens to her body and her life. A powerful reminder that autonomy has no expiration date and that family—both born and found—is our strongest bedrock, even late in the day.

Recommendations/Similar books

If you enjoyed the mix of sharp social commentary, unique female voices, and reproductive themes, consider these titles:

For similar wit and "badass" older protagonists:

~Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe:

~Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave Elle Cosimano (Mrs. Haggerty)

~Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

For themes of reproductive rights and agency:

~Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

~Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

~The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church

~Looking for Jane by Heather Marshal

For writing style and "wackiness":

~American Fantasy by Emma Straub

~All Fours by Miranda July

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 5 Stars +

Pub Date: May 5, 2026

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Praise

A May 2026 Indie Next pick

“Hilarious and humane, this big-hearted book captures the urgent state of women’s rights post-Dobbs.”

―Ms. Magazine

“Only the fearless, funny, and endlessly inventive Frankel could have written this one-of-a-kind yet amazingly down-to-earth book about a woman’s right to choose.”

―Oprah Daily

“Brilliantly makes the impossible plausible, intricately collaging questionable medical treatments, geriatric sexuality, teenage pregnancy, women’s fertility and autonomy, religious and political oversteps, and so much more. . . . Frankel is poised (again) to make plenty of readers uncomfortable while also offering entertainment and illumination.”

―Booklist (starred review)

“In the hands of a lesser writer, this story would flounder, but Frankel’s deft understanding of nuance makes each argument, interaction, and forced conversation between the characters into an epiphany for modern readers to ponder and appreciate. VERDICT: An unusual premise, supported by great writing, makes this novel work.”

―Library Journal

“Frankel blends humor and gravitas in her portrait of an expectant mother who’s also facing her own mortality. Fans of the author’s quirky family stories about hot-button issues will find much to enjoy.”

―Publishers Weekly

“Enormous Wings is a brilliant, hilarious, dynamic, and all-consuming story of freedom, choice, aging, and the lengths we will go to for ourselves and our families. Laurie Frankel has written a masterpiece of humanity with just the right dash of weirdness. This is the ultimate interrogation of abortion access in a red state set in the most unexpected place: a senior living community. I am obsessed, moved, and utterly awed.”

―Leila Mottley, New York Times bestselling author of Nightcrawling and The Girls Who Grew Big

“Laurie Frankel is such a funny, smart writer, and I fell in love with 77-year-old Pepper Mills, our charming and resilient main character. A delicious novel of second chances that will warm you from your heart all the way down to your feet.”

―Annie Hartnett, nationally bestselling author of The Road to Tender Hearts

“Laurie Frankel is one of the best novelists working today. Her new novel, Enormous Wings, is a funny and humane testament to the miracle of love, family, and being alive in the world.”

―Lauren Grodstein, author of A Dog in Georgia and We Must Not Think of Ourselves

“Enormous Wings is miraculous―and enormous―in more ways than one. It's a novel of profound strength and compassion and levity and power, extraordinary in its premise, its storytelling, and its willingness to stand for something. The rare novel that is unabashedly political, gloriously entertaining, and deeply humane. A vital novel for our time.”

―Nina LaCour, nationally bestselling author of Yerba Buena and Meet Me in the Garden

About the Author

Laurie Frankel is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of the novels Family Family, One Two Three, Goodbye for Now, The Atlas of Love, and the Reese’s Book Club Pick This Is How It Always Is. Frankel lives in Seattle with her husband, daughter, and border collie.

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