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Groove
Geneva Holliday’s juicy novel brings a lighter touch to African American erotica, setting the sexual escapades amid the real-life folly and drama of four very different friends during one incredibly hot summer in New York City. This funny, sexy book has something for everyone!
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2005
10 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Geneva Holliday
8 books90 followersWelcome,
I am a Brooklyn born and bred author of ten novels. Six under my birth name, Bernice McFadden and four under my pen name Geneva Holliday.
I hope you pick one, two .....ALL of my novels!
Don't be a stranger. Drop by and visit me at my website and/or blog. I love having company.
Peace & Light,
Bernice L. McFadden
aka
Geneva Holliday
I am a Brooklyn born and bred author of ten novels. Six under my birth name, Bernice McFadden and four under my pen name Geneva Holliday.
I hope you pick one, two .....ALL of my novels!
Don't be a stranger. Drop by and visit me at my website and/or blog. I love having company.
Peace & Light,
Bernice L. McFadden
aka
Geneva Holliday
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 1, 2017
This was great beach read that provided two key qualities: amusement and relatabilty.
GROOVE is the story of four childhood friends and their crazy summer misadventures.
Geneva is a broke single mom of an adolescent son who is growing up way too quickly. She is also still sleeping with his no good father, and struggling with her weight.
Crystal is the top exec of the non-profit organization called "Ain't I A Woman" (I know). She is in a serious relationship with the handsome Kendrick who seems almost too good to be true.
Noah, my favorite, is gay and very open about it. He is also funny, kind and sassy. Noah is involved in a long-distance relationship with his London lover. He is working very hard to stay faithful, but when a very famous pop star catches his eye, he falls into some unexpected temptations.
Chevy, my least favorite, is a gold-digging fool. She sleeps with men to make ends meet and has no qualms about it. But one day she messes with the wrong man, and learns things the hard way.
These four friends are as different as night and day, but it all comes together harmoniously. Geneva Holliday a.k.a Bernice McFadden - as some of the other readers have announced - does a great job with this type of fiction. It doesn't always work when an author decides to explore a different writing style, but McFadden made it work. GROOVE was a hit.
GROOVE is the story of four childhood friends and their crazy summer misadventures.
Geneva is a broke single mom of an adolescent son who is growing up way too quickly. She is also still sleeping with his no good father, and struggling with her weight.
Crystal is the top exec of the non-profit organization called "Ain't I A Woman" (I know). She is in a serious relationship with the handsome Kendrick who seems almost too good to be true.
Noah, my favorite, is gay and very open about it. He is also funny, kind and sassy. Noah is involved in a long-distance relationship with his London lover. He is working very hard to stay faithful, but when a very famous pop star catches his eye, he falls into some unexpected temptations.
Chevy, my least favorite, is a gold-digging fool. She sleeps with men to make ends meet and has no qualms about it. But one day she messes with the wrong man, and learns things the hard way.
These four friends are as different as night and day, but it all comes together harmoniously. Geneva Holliday a.k.a Bernice McFadden - as some of the other readers have announced - does a great job with this type of fiction. It doesn't always work when an author decides to explore a different writing style, but McFadden made it work. GROOVE was a hit.
June 6, 2023
This book was a hot mess in a myriad of ways, but I miraculously still enjoyed it. Nostalgia maybe? Even though it was released in the early '00s, it totally read like it was inspired by Terry McMillan's and E. Lynn Harris' novels of the 90s: a group of friends navigating dating, sex, and their social circle's eyebrow raising shenanigans.
This also means that because of the time period, there were a lot of questionable story lines and beliefs thrown in that would not be received well in 2023. It also got extremely corny in a lot of places.
That said, I still enjoyed it because the voices took me back to the first real novels I read as a teen, and it wasn't too corny or too outlandish (though it got EXTREMELY close many, many times lol).
I think read somewhere that Geneva Holliday/Bernice McFadden described this book as humorous erotica, and I think that was a perfect description. Most erotica is written too poorly for me to be a fan, but I'm now open to humorous erotica, if that is a thing.
SIDENOTE: I wanted to read this book because I loved the cover. I cannot stress this enough: The cover has absolutely nothing to do with the book lol
This also means that because of the time period, there were a lot of questionable story lines and beliefs thrown in that would not be received well in 2023. It also got extremely corny in a lot of places.
That said, I still enjoyed it because the voices took me back to the first real novels I read as a teen, and it wasn't too corny or too outlandish (though it got EXTREMELY close many, many times lol).
I think read somewhere that Geneva Holliday/Bernice McFadden described this book as humorous erotica, and I think that was a perfect description. Most erotica is written too poorly for me to be a fan, but I'm now open to humorous erotica, if that is a thing.
SIDENOTE: I wanted to read this book because I loved the cover. I cannot stress this enough: The cover has absolutely nothing to do with the book lol
April 23, 2016
This book was awesome. I was initially attracted to the cover. I tend to try books out quicker if the cover models look chocolaty like me and my family. Geneva Holliday is a great writer, and i really love her style the way each chapter focused on the different characters. This book was on my "recommendations" good read list and I am so happy it was! Loved it!
May 30, 2017
This book kept me really laughing. I loved all 4 friends, however Chevy annoyed me through some of the story.
March 5, 2021
Groove was a funny and entertaining book to read. Four childhood friends sharing their lives with each other. I really enjoyed each character and each one brought something to the friendship. You could really feel that they had each other no matter what but that Chevy girl was to selfish for me. The way she disregard her friends...No Ma'am...and that Noah...WOW...Groove is a book for a relaxing day at the home or the beach. Happy Reading!!
October 27, 2021
This is a collection of stories about four friends and their trials and tribulations living in NYC. The back story on Noah is hilarious. On the down low, but hating it. Chevanese is a piece of work. Willing to do whatever for a dollar. Crystal and Geneva are the sane ones. Geneva has self esteem issue with reard to her weight. There are some tales of drug addiction and marijuana use. It was a quick read on the train.
July 3, 2017
Damn good!!! Man oh man I couldn't put this one down.
Chevy had me ready to shove my foot up her ass! :)
You won't be disappointed.
Chevy had me ready to shove my foot up her ass! :)
You won't be disappointed.
October 13, 2009
Geneva and her three childhood friends (Chevy, Crystal, and Noah) are still close despite choosing different paths to adulthood. Geneva, a chain smoking divorcee, is struggling to raise a teenage son with raging hormones, battles an ever increasing waistline and trifling ex-husband who seems to visit for sex only. She is a receptionist, gratefully employed by Crystal, who made it out of the projects via an Ivy League education with inroads to corporate America. Crystal founded and chairs the Ain't I A Woman foundation which allows her to live large in a laid-out uptown apartment complete with a non-committal, rarely seen, gorgeous, successful boyfriend. Crystal is not as happy as she pretends to be. She is frustrated with her love life and most recently disappointed with leech, Chevy, who has "borrowed" $5,000 for "emergency surgery" which turns out to be a breast augmentation operation. This half-truth is Chevy's latest scheme to promote her gold digging ways. She is a seasoned vamp, who uses men for money, clothes, vacations, etc. When her chain-of-fools wises up, her bank account dries up and to avoid eviction she moves in with the remaining friend, Noah, a successful broker and openly gay man who is troubled by his feelings of attraction to the opposite sex and bouts of uncontrolled bisexual behavior. All four friends are battling to keep their demons at bay from one another, so no one really knows what is going on behind their respective "grooves" - but by summer's end, the truth is revealed in a Brooklyn emergency room.
The author develops the characters nicely, moves the story well, and has some creative, funny episodes; for example, Noah's counseling sessions for his emerging heterosexual feelings and Geneva's experiences with Calorie Counters. However it was simply not enough for me because by the end of the book I was left thinking, "is this it?" There was enough mild drama to interconnect the characters' storylines and lukewarm threads of suspense involving drugs, fidelity, and commitment to make it a somewhat enjoyable and likeable read, but the plot was riddled with predictability and a hint of familiarity hence the middle of the road rating. This debut was good "enough" thus I am willing to give the author another chance by checking out her sophomore release.
The author develops the characters nicely, moves the story well, and has some creative, funny episodes; for example, Noah's counseling sessions for his emerging heterosexual feelings and Geneva's experiences with Calorie Counters. However it was simply not enough for me because by the end of the book I was left thinking, "is this it?" There was enough mild drama to interconnect the characters' storylines and lukewarm threads of suspense involving drugs, fidelity, and commitment to make it a somewhat enjoyable and likeable read, but the plot was riddled with predictability and a hint of familiarity hence the middle of the road rating. This debut was good "enough" thus I am willing to give the author another chance by checking out her sophomore release.
November 18, 2009
Groove published in 2005 Part I: My synopsis
Geneva, Crystal, Chevy and Noah are all friends living in New York. Crystal is a Director at a NonProfit and falls in love with someone she thinks she knows well and devistated when the truth is brought to light, Geneva is working a 9-5 at a call center who is battling her wait and the challenges of raising her son and dealing with her Ex-Husband. Chevy is also working a 9-5 at a call center with intent to find out the quickest way to make and spend money no matter where it comes from. Noah is homosexual (or bisexual and ashamed) he is in a long distance relationship with his lover/partner residing in Europe who he visits often.
These are very devoted friends through good, bad and the travel bumpy roads they have a profound love for one another.
I read this book in 5 days. It was really good. You should read the books in order as there are 4 books to follow. I have to say I really like they way the author developed the storyline. I got a lot of good laughs reading each book and each character had something substantial to offer. Through each book new characters are brought in and then they exit so effortlessly. I am glad I stumbled across these while I was at Hyde Park Library in MA!!!! Must Read.
Geneva, Crystal, Chevy and Noah are all friends living in New York. Crystal is a Director at a NonProfit and falls in love with someone she thinks she knows well and devistated when the truth is brought to light, Geneva is working a 9-5 at a call center who is battling her wait and the challenges of raising her son and dealing with her Ex-Husband. Chevy is also working a 9-5 at a call center with intent to find out the quickest way to make and spend money no matter where it comes from. Noah is homosexual (or bisexual and ashamed) he is in a long distance relationship with his lover/partner residing in Europe who he visits often.
These are very devoted friends through good, bad and the travel bumpy roads they have a profound love for one another.
I read this book in 5 days. It was really good. You should read the books in order as there are 4 books to follow. I have to say I really like they way the author developed the storyline. I got a lot of good laughs reading each book and each character had something substantial to offer. Through each book new characters are brought in and then they exit so effortlessly. I am glad I stumbled across these while I was at Hyde Park Library in MA!!!! Must Read.
September 1, 2015
This story was laugh out loud funny!. The characters are people we all know and love or love to hate. Everyone has at least one friend like the friends in this novel. If you want a quick read that will take you back to your college days and maybe even some of your current days this is the book for you. With friends like these who needs enemies?
June 17, 2011
I love this author! I stumbled across this author and just fell in love with the charactors in her book. I just couldn't get enough of them and had to collect the series so that i can see how their lives play out. A must read!
September 27, 2014
This is already one of my favorite authors, I have read everything under her Bernice McFadden titles, so it was only right for me to pick this up. It was fun and made me laugh out loud, will be starting the sequel very soon.
April 27, 2007
Hilarious storyline. I prefer her literary work as Bernice Mc Fadden more than her new moniker, Geneva Holiday
September 25, 2007
hillarious...witty, couldn't put it down
July 17, 2008
This was a very good read. I enjoyed this story from the beginning to the very end. Sneaking and reading a paragraph or two at work. :0) A good book for any book club.
February 16, 2009
great book. really enjoyed it
May 5, 2009
hilarious....very interesting storyline.
my 1st read and look forward to reading more of her books.
my 1st read and look forward to reading more of her books.
June 20, 2010
Great read! Funny and kept you wanting to know what was going to happen next! Looking forward to the Book Discussion!
June 11, 2010
very good book
June 16, 2010
Funny & Light Read
April 21, 2011
I love this book! It was such a exciting and inviting book!
Want to read
June 14, 2011Another book suggested by that same friend
February 12, 2012
Slow read, couldn't finish
Read
March 17, 2022DNF...I gave it 100 pages. The story just was not interesting enough to push to finish.
September 11, 2012
great author I love all her books
January 5, 2014
Great Read
February 16, 2014
It was a nice read.
Read
December 5, 2014Good read loves it.
Read
August 10, 2016great book
March 15, 2014
very fun cute african read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews