Let ‘Stella’ Help You Get Your Groove

Wed., Dec. 18, 1996

Jennifer Hayes Gonzaga Prep

“How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” by Terry McMillan, is the story of Stella Payne.

Stella is a 42-year-old success story. She’s got it all - the six figure salary, a fancy BMW, a big house, beautiful son and a body that could make a 20-year-old jealous.

The only thing that her life is missing is love, but that’s OK with her. She doesn’t have time for something that probably won’t last anyway.

Then Stella sees a TV commercial for Jamaica. You know, the kind that makes you want to pack your bags and jump on the next plane. Well that is just what Stella does. It is perfect timing… her son is in Colorado with his dad and she has a couple weeks of vacation time.

Her sister, Angela, thinks she’s crazy, but Stella doesn’t really care. Vanessa, Stella’s other sister, is very ‘90s and thinks Stella should be proud of herself for going to Jamaica alone. Nobody goes there alone.

I don’t want to give the rest away… but just to keep you interested I’ll tell you about him. His name is Winston. He’s tall, he’s gorgeous and he is young. Read the book to find out what happens with that romance.

This novel has several important messages - you have to take risks in order to be happy, love does not recognize age and once you’re out of your groove, you have to work yourself back into it.

I promise this novel is well worth the time it takes to read. I found it so intense that I read the whole thing before being able to put it down.

Find a copy and read it, Stella’s story will inspire you to act on your feelings now.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.