How Stella Got Her Groove Back

By: Terry McMillan

Narrated by: Terry McMillan

How Stella Got Her Groove Back is full of Terry McMillan's signature humor, heart, and insight. More than a love story, it is ultimately a novel about how a woman saves her own life - and what she must risk to do it.

Stella Payne is 42, divorced, a high-powered investment analyst, mother of 11-year-old Quincy, and she does it all. In fact, if she doesn't do it, it doesn't get done, from Little League carpool duty to analyzing portfolios to folding the laundry and bringing home the bacon. She does it all well, too, if her chic house, personal trainer, BMW, and her loving son are any indication. So what if there's been no one to share her bed with lately, let alone rock her world? Stella doesn't mind it too much; she probably wouldn't have the energy for love - and all of love's nasty fallout - anyway.

But when Stella takes a spur-of-the-moment vacation to Jamaica, her world gets rocked to the core - not just by the relaxing effects of the sun and sea and an island full of attractive men, but by one man in particular. He's tall, lean, soft-spoken, Jamaican, smells of citrus and the ocean - and is half her age. The tropics have cast their spell and Stella soon realizes she has come to a cataclysmic juncture: not only must she confront her hopes and fears about love, she must question all of her expectations, passions, and ideas about life and the way she has lived it.

©1996 Terry McMillan (P)2004 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"The novel sparkles." (Chicago Sun-Times)

"A riotous, sexy book ... told in the inimitable voice of Stella, who will charm the reader from the first page. ... Fans and first-time readers will be hooked." (Richmond Times Dispatch)

"A sexy handbook of self-realization." (The New Yorker)

What a Love Tale

This book is a good book for older people living stressful lives to help them realize love and happiness can come at any time!

okay

I read this book a while back and absolutely loved it because I felt like I was being taken away to an island paradise along with Stella, the main character. I was disappointed that this was an abridged version but decided to buy it to see if it was any good. It's okay but Terry (the author) speaks way too fast and abruptly--she sounds kind of mad in general, so I suggest listening to the sample first before buying this to see if you'll appreciate her voice, which seems to me unlike Stella's character. Good story though, which is why I give it a 3.

Wanted more from it, but entertaining enough

Just wish there would have been more of a courting period for the love interest either pre-hook up or after. Being unfamiliar with this story, I expected a more pronounced character arc for Stella and I wanted this newfound love and life to really bring about a Stella 2.0. I watched the movie afterwards to see if they made changes to the pacing, courtship period, and character arc and it remained pretty close to the book, and honestly I was disappointed. That being said, the book is well written and light fun and I enjoyed the perspective. Really really wish the author hadn’t done the Audible tho. It really needs to be actors that do these things.

Narrator was flat and unemotional.

This book needs a different narrator. She was in way too big of a hurry to get through it. She had ZERO emotion and was obviously bored with her own book. I have never listened to a book where the narrator read so fast. Too bad, because there was a bit of humor, that, if it wasn't read with speed, would have been funny. Story line was predictable and ended way to abruptly. She must have been bored, so just quit. Not recommended. Waste of a credit.

Performance not the best

I was disappointed that the narrator wasn't more gentle with her tone of voice. It didn't feel like a heart led journey with such a negative tone from the author.

Amazing

I loved this book so much I had to purchase it I would recommend everyone to buy this book

Super cute romance

Omg I just binged this book in one sitting! It’s so freaking adorable! Now time to rewatch the movie and gush some more!

It's Much, Much Shorter Than The Book

I wanted to follow through on an Audiobook while having the physical copy but pretty much everything was skipped :( Did not finish listening

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

The movie was definitely better and much more juicy. Overall I liked the book. I would recommend reading it.

It was ok

I love this story but for the first time I’ll say the movie was better than the book.