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The Groves
Returning to rural Vermont for her senior year after time abroad, New Yorker Daphne Howard just wants to make it to graduation. She’s still processing the sting of her social circle moving off-campus under the thrall of Serena Vigil, a talented poet from Texas who happens to be Daphne’s nemesis. But when a gruesome story overheard at a local bar leads Daphne to consider an unusual artifact discovered on campus in a new light, friends, lovers, and others unite to confront the collision of present and past, political and personal.
The Groves introduces listeners to an unforgettable ensemble of characters: a college-hopping drifter whose journalistic instincts drive the group’s investigation, a Virginia equestrienne turned intersectional feminist, the only Black lesbian majoring in art history… and more make up this eclectic, sharp-witted cast. Through the shocks and revelations of one momentous year, these bright twenty-somethings on the cusp of independence fall in and out of love, make plans and change course, and learn from each other what it means to be yourself.
The Groves introduces listeners to an unforgettable ensemble of characters: a college-hopping drifter whose journalistic instincts drive the group’s investigation, a Virginia equestrienne turned intersectional feminist, the only Black lesbian majoring in art history… and more make up this eclectic, sharp-witted cast. Through the shocks and revelations of one momentous year, these bright twenty-somethings on the cusp of independence fall in and out of love, make plans and change course, and learn from each other what it means to be yourself.
8 pages, Audible Audio
Published May 19, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 28, 2022
In truth I would like to have rated this book 3.5 stars for a few reasons:
-there's just so many characters swapping POV, that eventually it becomes a drag. Some of them don't even differentiate strongly from each other in personality to where it's meaningful to have them represented in their own voices. A couple stand out, but the rest sort of merge into one big New England Private College Queer Character.
-the multiple narrators started out as an OK concept, but each narrator voicing *the other* characters with different accents or cadences than their own narrators did, was just awkward and confusing. Also, Serena's narrator especially was so wooden and stilted in their delivery, it was a chore to listen to. I felt like I was sitting in elementary class being read to by a teacher.
-I haven't looked to see if the author has a degree in or has taught race and/or gender studies but the academic focused portions of this book were written so much more robustly and interestingly than the relationships or the core mystery was, that I would not be surprised if it's the case. It's like how you can tell when a doctor writes medical drama or a detective writes a copaganda crime novel. The university & its academic spirit is a more richly drawn character by itself than some of the core cast.
-pacing all the way through is just ... weird. Some of it may be the sensation of constantly interrupting flow by repeatedly switching off character POVs in ways that are imbalanced and sometimes just ... weird. Some of it may be the uneven time skips that are too easy to overlook, leaving a feeling of dysrhythmia in the pace.
-The extra half star is for the inclusivity and diversity of the rep among the characters, and some of the well drawn emotional beats which felt like they belonged in a romance rather than a multi-voice mystery novel.
-there's just so many characters swapping POV, that eventually it becomes a drag. Some of them don't even differentiate strongly from each other in personality to where it's meaningful to have them represented in their own voices. A couple stand out, but the rest sort of merge into one big New England Private College Queer Character.
-the multiple narrators started out as an OK concept, but each narrator voicing *the other* characters with different accents or cadences than their own narrators did, was just awkward and confusing. Also, Serena's narrator especially was so wooden and stilted in their delivery, it was a chore to listen to. I felt like I was sitting in elementary class being read to by a teacher.
-I haven't looked to see if the author has a degree in or has taught race and/or gender studies but the academic focused portions of this book were written so much more robustly and interestingly than the relationships or the core mystery was, that I would not be surprised if it's the case. It's like how you can tell when a doctor writes medical drama or a detective writes a copaganda crime novel. The university & its academic spirit is a more richly drawn character by itself than some of the core cast.
-pacing all the way through is just ... weird. Some of it may be the sensation of constantly interrupting flow by repeatedly switching off character POVs in ways that are imbalanced and sometimes just ... weird. Some of it may be the uneven time skips that are too easy to overlook, leaving a feeling of dysrhythmia in the pace.
-The extra half star is for the inclusivity and diversity of the rep among the characters, and some of the well drawn emotional beats which felt like they belonged in a romance rather than a multi-voice mystery novel.
June 6, 2022
I listened to this as a free Audible version and can't tell you how many times I furrowed my brow in confusion.
"The Groves" is certainly an experimental novel, and at first I was primed to listen to a new voice of a new generation. Set at an elite second-tier mostly (but not exclusively) East Coast college, it centers loosely around a mystery of a missing co-ed from the 1930s, while side-stepping into gender-fluidity, intellectual discovery, educational theory, and college party culture.
Other reviewers complained that there were too many characters (each chapter is supposedly narrated from the perspective of one of about seven college friends, though with the third-person narrative, it seems more like a tired trope than a purposeful scheme), and while I agree that a few of the characters were superfluous, my confusion is rooted in the messiness of the narration, the storyline, and the general lack of editing to clean up dialogue that was alternately cliched and pretentious. Nowhere in America do I know of so many aristocratic, woke, reckless college co-eds who are bent on being uber politically correct while inexplicably betraying one another and getting trashed. Peppered in are a seemingly obligatory few BIPOC characters who painfully try too hard: Serena tossing in Spanish words everywhere despite being at least third generation Mexican-American; Daphne pretending to be East Coast elite and almost denying race bias; Adrienne manifesting the hard-boiled city affect.
Honestly, I only finished the book to find out whodunnit and why. Even if you are curious about the novelties and liberties in this book, I wouldn't recommend investing in it. I hope J.V. Lyon gets a good editor and that she got her need to do too much in a story out of her system. May her next book be more focused and real.
"The Groves" is certainly an experimental novel, and at first I was primed to listen to a new voice of a new generation. Set at an elite second-tier mostly (but not exclusively) East Coast college, it centers loosely around a mystery of a missing co-ed from the 1930s, while side-stepping into gender-fluidity, intellectual discovery, educational theory, and college party culture.
Other reviewers complained that there were too many characters (each chapter is supposedly narrated from the perspective of one of about seven college friends, though with the third-person narrative, it seems more like a tired trope than a purposeful scheme), and while I agree that a few of the characters were superfluous, my confusion is rooted in the messiness of the narration, the storyline, and the general lack of editing to clean up dialogue that was alternately cliched and pretentious. Nowhere in America do I know of so many aristocratic, woke, reckless college co-eds who are bent on being uber politically correct while inexplicably betraying one another and getting trashed. Peppered in are a seemingly obligatory few BIPOC characters who painfully try too hard: Serena tossing in Spanish words everywhere despite being at least third generation Mexican-American; Daphne pretending to be East Coast elite and almost denying race bias; Adrienne manifesting the hard-boiled city affect.
Honestly, I only finished the book to find out whodunnit and why. Even if you are curious about the novelties and liberties in this book, I wouldn't recommend investing in it. I hope J.V. Lyon gets a good editor and that she got her need to do too much in a story out of her system. May her next book be more focused and real.
June 14, 2022
This book was a hot mess. I mean look, I get that I'm progressive but the younger gen will always get a little bit more progressive, and this makes me sound like an old crone, but good god, we get it. Everything and everyone is offensive.
Also, let's just be honest here. Nothing happened. It was supposed to be about a group of girls that come together to solve a cold case while everyone and everything seemingly works against them, but instead it was a constant drag of how they drank too much, went to the most pretentious classes that ever were, and treated each other like shit. This book exhausted me; it's unacceptable to make the actual crime the least focused upon point in the story.
And by the way, if you're gonna have 62 narrators, you have the make them different from each other. They're all moderately to extremely well-off queer non-binary/female students that hate the world and cheat on each other constantly. Thank god Daphne's narrator spoke softly so I occasionally had some clue of where I was?
Also, let's just be honest here. Nothing happened. It was supposed to be about a group of girls that come together to solve a cold case while everyone and everything seemingly works against them, but instead it was a constant drag of how they drank too much, went to the most pretentious classes that ever were, and treated each other like shit. This book exhausted me; it's unacceptable to make the actual crime the least focused upon point in the story.
And by the way, if you're gonna have 62 narrators, you have the make them different from each other. They're all moderately to extremely well-off queer non-binary/female students that hate the world and cheat on each other constantly. Thank god Daphne's narrator spoke softly so I occasionally had some clue of where I was?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2022
I very rarely write bad reviews, figuring that just because a story or writer isn't what I like it might still appeal to someone else. This one though is such a mess that I feel obliged to comment on it. There may be a halfway decent mystery to this plot, but it gets completely lost in whatever statement the author is trying to make about the sexuality and racial identity of the poorly developed characters. This is a very poor mixture of genre concepts and I can find nothing to recommend about the book.
September 3, 2022
2.5 stars. Well-meaning? Sort of interesting? But ultimately incoherent and fumbling and not very well put together. The story follows a group of queer students at a prestigious college in Vermont who start to uncover some sinister things about the school's past while navigating their varied interpersonal drama. This is the kind of story where I mostly liked all of the characters, and there was a lot of clever writing that I appreciated, but I don't feel like anything useful was actually said. Good themes, and I did like the historical journey we sorta took, but this just felt like a mess. Also, it's hard not to get frustrated with books that try to be inclusive of people outside the gender binary, but then turn that on its head by using terms like 'female-bodied' and 'woman-identified' in contexts where those descriptors reeeeeally aren't needed. Idk idk idk. I had sort of the same feeling about its commentary on race; a lot of true and good things were said, but some of it also felt useless. I spent a lot of this book with an undercurrent of frustration and annoyance. There were also just a few too many POVs, and the book was too short for me to really start honestly connecting with any of them. There are also two main f/f romances, which I mostly liked, but there's also a lot of casual infidelity which soured me a lot on the whole thing. And I say "main" romances... romance isn't the focus of this book, but it also doesn't feel like the commentary is the focus, or that the mystery is the focus. It was just kinda disjointed.
Listened to the audiobook as read by a full cast, and they were all great narrators and very talented, but again, I felt like maybe there were too many characters in too short of a book, and while they were all distinctive, I didn't come to care about any of them very much. This had potential, but I just feel kind 'meh' about it, altogether.
Content warnings:
Listened to the audiobook as read by a full cast, and they were all great narrators and very talented, but again, I felt like maybe there were too many characters in too short of a book, and while they were all distinctive, I didn't come to care about any of them very much. This had potential, but I just feel kind 'meh' about it, altogether.
Content warnings:
August 7, 2022
This was okay to listen to while doing something and I get where they where trying to go with it but I did not care about any of the characters.so if you are looking for something to listen to while doing something else so u don't need to focus then this is it.
July 21, 2022
It was OK. The characters were interesting. I liked that each character had different performers. But the story was pretty lackluster in my opinion. I think the intention of the book was not conveyed properly.
July 3, 2022
Found the multiple points of view rather confusing at times. Chapters and POV seemed to drop off without warning and the next one picked up at a different time or place leaving stuff out. Felt like half the story was just dropped. And the entire book ended just abruptly.
June 1, 2022
I feel like I need to relisten to this book just to figure out who everyone even is, but I’m definitely not going to. There was so many POVs that I got completely lost. When I finally found my way, I didn’t understand why I was supposed to care. This was labeled a “mystery” but that seemed completely overshadowed by the drama. Everyone cheated on everyone with everyone. Oh but this girl died in 1939. And then everyone cheated or broke up or cheated again.
It get 2 stars from me, which I think is more than generous, because of all the representation included, more books should have it even if it doesn’t go THIS hard. But I digress.
If you want an audiobook that’s confusing, full of cheating, and a sprinkle of mystery, check this out.
It get 2 stars from me, which I think is more than generous, because of all the representation included, more books should have it even if it doesn’t go THIS hard. But I digress.
If you want an audiobook that’s confusing, full of cheating, and a sprinkle of mystery, check this out.
June 12, 2022
I wanted to LOVE this book: over-privileged, mostly queer college students have rivalries, discover evidence of a century-old eugenics conspiracy theory at their New England liberal arts school (very similar to Bennington and the mysterious 1930s disappearance of one of their less-popular students).
If the book had been longer or focused on just one of those two co-plots, it would have been amazing. But I was left wanting more about both. I couldn’t stop listening though so there is that…
If the book had been longer or focused on just one of those two co-plots, it would have been amazing. But I was left wanting more about both. I couldn’t stop listening though so there is that…
June 18, 2022
I love the premise behind the story and I absolutely believe in the coverup and distortion of facts. However, I just could not get into this audiobook. It just wasn't very interesting or engaging to me.
October 14, 2022
Where to begin with this one? First of all, it falls so quickly to pandering to all of the most threadbare cliches about academia, race, gender and queerness in the the most belabored way — while saying nothing. It’s a shame, because my sense from reading the other reviews is that people are interested in these topics — why can’t they have them in a smart, not lazy and predictable way? Why isn’t anyone really doing the work? It’s such a disservice to real, meaningful conversation.
Next, I find it puzzling how the author manages to alternate between a self-indulgent amount of detail on the most trivial subjects while not understanding how to write believable dialogue or situations for these sloppy, irritating characters. Like, zero research or workshopping of what might be plausible or interesting. Lastly, it’s distractingly clear that this audiobook owes EVERYTHING to The Rules of Attraction and The Secret History, but it’s as if a precocious but actually not very worldly tween wrote it.
I’m also going to say for the benefit of whatever Audible acquisitions/production people might be out there: consider that audio-only books are a specific genre with its own rules for success. You don’t need texts with good writing as much as you need good editing — though this has neither, and it’s incredibly hard to follow as a result. Please think about how it will be read aloud, which means sentences mostly need to be constructed in a simple, straightforward manner to keep the story moving. And please GOD hire voice actors with some charisma, as well as some experience with a) the actual script they are reading and b) scripts in general, meaning that they not only understand the particular assignment but also WHO KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE FOREIGN WORDS AND PROPER NOUNS. A book about the most tedious aspiring intellectuals where the actors flub “couscous,” “Northanger” and “McMurtry” is just bananas — and I am a person who loves bad things!
Next, I find it puzzling how the author manages to alternate between a self-indulgent amount of detail on the most trivial subjects while not understanding how to write believable dialogue or situations for these sloppy, irritating characters. Like, zero research or workshopping of what might be plausible or interesting. Lastly, it’s distractingly clear that this audiobook owes EVERYTHING to The Rules of Attraction and The Secret History, but it’s as if a precocious but actually not very worldly tween wrote it.
I’m also going to say for the benefit of whatever Audible acquisitions/production people might be out there: consider that audio-only books are a specific genre with its own rules for success. You don’t need texts with good writing as much as you need good editing — though this has neither, and it’s incredibly hard to follow as a result. Please think about how it will be read aloud, which means sentences mostly need to be constructed in a simple, straightforward manner to keep the story moving. And please GOD hire voice actors with some charisma, as well as some experience with a) the actual script they are reading and b) scripts in general, meaning that they not only understand the particular assignment but also WHO KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE FOREIGN WORDS AND PROPER NOUNS. A book about the most tedious aspiring intellectuals where the actors flub “couscous,” “Northanger” and “McMurtry” is just bananas — and I am a person who loves bad things!
June 23, 2022
Really fun book with an emphasis on dialog perhaps. Working at a college, much of the story seemed really on point. I enjoyed the local references. It was super well done and exciting.
I'm not sure what to make of the lower reviews. You know how when you look at say the original Hardy Boys and how they were rewritten to remove some of the dated and racist content from the 1920s to be more acceptable to the audiences of the 1970s, and then again to modern audiences and how they still can't just keep up? I think this novel is current in that way reflecting college students as they are now. I recognize this in my own children who are now college age. Perhaps this book is uncomfortable for people who are fans of mysteries written from a time when characters were all white and they were solely described with their muscle tone or curves. I don't really know. I think this novel is underrated though and it is a solid first novel. I really hope the author is up for writing more.
I'm not sure what to make of the lower reviews. You know how when you look at say the original Hardy Boys and how they were rewritten to remove some of the dated and racist content from the 1920s to be more acceptable to the audiences of the 1970s, and then again to modern audiences and how they still can't just keep up? I think this novel is current in that way reflecting college students as they are now. I recognize this in my own children who are now college age. Perhaps this book is uncomfortable for people who are fans of mysteries written from a time when characters were all white and they were solely described with their muscle tone or curves. I don't really know. I think this novel is underrated though and it is a solid first novel. I really hope the author is up for writing more.
December 30, 2022
2.5 ENDING SPOILER INCLUDED it was hard to get into, and never really gained any real momentum along the way. I finished it, but can't say that I recommend it. Despite being a diverse group of queer women, lovers, friends and hook-ups, the plot just plods along until the mystery is solved, and a dark secret history of the exclusive New England liberal arts college is uncovered in a very public way.... and so, that was it. The book really lacked punch, even though it tries.
June 19, 2022
A really interesting read. Some beautiful passages and perspectives. Compelling characters and complex, modern settings. I only wish that I'd gotten to know some of the characters better. Gotten better acquainted with their motivations, thoughts and lives. I badly want prequels surrounding each of them.
August 13, 2022
Eh. I was interested because of the mystery, but there was so much other crap that, honestly, didn't matter. I kept listening because it's short and I wanted to know what happened – BUT the reveal wasn't even good and it ended pretty abruptly. This book could have been a whole lot more if it hadn't tried so hard.
March 25, 2025
What a debut tale. This could be one of the good things that came out of lockdown. Professor Lyon of academia writes a fiction tale . There's art history, queer stories and rascism woven through the journey of young students with inquiring minds. There's graduation week and a culmination of investigations put together in a believable way. A great read
July 20, 2022
Horrible. Was recommended as a fun mystery. It is 5% moderately interesting mystery. 95% pretentious college student drivel. Way to many voices in this book, all of them pretentious. Do NOT recommend.
October 5, 2022
DNF: this is a checklist of all the Woke battle-horses from the Liberal elite. Every single woke pet peeve is checked in the first 3 chapters. It may get better, I'm just done with the political content.
February 2, 2023
Overall I did like this book and I think it touches on some
important issues. However the premise of a missing
Person gets kinda lost in the story. Was kinda expecting more of a murder mystery type story line. It did wrap up good just kinda anticlimactic in my opinion
important issues. However the premise of a missing
Person gets kinda lost in the story. Was kinda expecting more of a murder mystery type story line. It did wrap up good just kinda anticlimactic in my opinion
February 11, 2023
DNF around 25%
I love how the idea was modernly queer, but otherwise I have no sweet clue what’s going on besides a bunch of stuck up kids in a private school drinking and having sex… disappointing.
I love how the idea was modernly queer, but otherwise I have no sweet clue what’s going on besides a bunch of stuck up kids in a private school drinking and having sex… disappointing.
March 31, 2023
This one is not a mystery novel, it is not a dark academia novel either. It is more of vignettes of the college lives of privileged students. As soon as I understood this was not the genre advertised (it did not take me long) I started to enjoy its woke narrative.
July 8, 2022
On Audible. It was good. I liked certain parts more than others.
January 12, 2023
Absolutely terrible. No actual story line and the one they said was coming never actually comes. It's just a story of college girls. I only finished it because I kept thinking it had to get better
April 2, 2023
Great group of interesting characters! Just getting to the clues involved too much ..
November 24, 2025
Very confusing, too much going on, not enough plot
February 25, 2023
This was quiet a transformation from a group women at Bromley college having lesbian hook ups. To a murder mystery wrapped up in a Nazi eugenics plot and research experiment that happens on American soil back in the WWII era. Relationships develop along side healthy paranoia (because there are puritanical pre KKK, gets out to silence these powerful multiracial Lesbian women.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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