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A Hood Comedy

Twenty-four-year-old Essa Murphy had everything a woman could ask for. She had the perfect six-figure man or so she thought. When Essa finds out the real truth about Ricardo, her life changes. After spending six-months in a detention center she comes home to nothing. With nowhere else to go, Essa, joins a program at Manor Apartments for women with low income. She meets, Governor, and he offers her a job opportunity. Will his kindness cause her to fall for him?

Governor Brooks is a twenty-nine-year-old business man. He owns Manor Apartments along with other businesses. He used to be heavy in the streets until his baby brother, Mayor, decided to follow his footsteps. Governor is trying to leave the streets alone and enjoy the legit life until Mayor gets caught up, pushing Governor deeper than he’s ever been.

Sinna, a young resident at Manor Apartments has her eyes set on one thing, her landlord Governor Brooks. She’ll do anything to call him her own, even disturbing the other residents and causing havoc in building 1077. How far is Sinna willing to go to get what she wants? But there is one problem, a tenant by the name of Rochelle has her heart set on Governor too. Is she willing to go further than Sinna to have him? Unfortunately their plans come to an halt, there is a new resident in the building who has everything Governor wants in a woman.

Essa’s cousin, Kitty, is what you would call a hoodrat, but she wants a better life until she’s faced with an eviction notice. Kitty is left to make the ultimate decision, live with her verbally abusive ex-boyfriend or her father and his controlling fiancée. Will Kitty and her ex be able to reconcile once he changes or is the love lost forever?

Rent Money is a gritty urban tale of everyday struggle for women. How far are they willing to go to keep a roof over their heads? And which tenant will capture the heart of the infamous, Governor?

630 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2019

551 people are currently reading
191 people want to read

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Natavia

60 books626 followers

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5 stars
1,159 (82%)
4 stars
165 (11%)
3 stars
66 (4%)
2 stars
7 (<1%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
Profile Image for She Watkins.
94 reviews9 followers
April 19, 2024
Absolutely love this book!! Essa and Governor were great! Loved their storyline, even with the little issue they had I just loved how they vibes with each other. Ricardo was weak! I mean I'm glad how he came correct at the end but him and his daddy could've gotten these hands 😂😂 I looooooved me some Kitty! I know my girl was trippin' but she always acknowledged that she had to grow up! I also loved her Cat couture 😂 just like she knew she needed to grow up so did Mayor! I loved them two so much ❤️ that darn Tinka and Baby head poo kept me cracking up! I can't wait for the continuation of this story!!
Profile Image for OhhSlimmm.
506 reviews31 followers
February 5, 2021
Hilarious

A title that match the MF book!!! I laughed and enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Between Tinka and Baby Head Poo idk who was the funniest, they were definitely the breakout characters of this book. Everybody wanted a piece of Governor and his character for helping his tenants didn’t make it hard for the ladies to want him more until Essa came and stirred feelings he had tucked away. All these ladies had their own soap opera to tell and it was entertaining af. Kitty, Sinna, Rochelle, Chelsie and Dade had some of the best moments and had me screaming!!!! I recommend this book and will always remember these characters lol
Profile Image for Jackie.
19 reviews3 followers
April 17, 2019
Hilarious

I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard throughout this entire book!! There were even times where I couldn't breathe!!! Lol
Profile Image for Tasha P..
573 reviews3 followers
March 29, 2019
Yo this book had me rolling from start to finish. Baby Head Poo and that dumb a** Tinka was a mess and a half. I hated Sinna cause she was always trying to start some mess with everybody. I can't wait to see if you bring these characters back for another book. Great read
Profile Image for Ladii Zig.
1,189 reviews24 followers
April 7, 2019
Great and Hilarious read

As of right now I could say this was the best read of the year. From the beginning to the end had me rolling. All I had in my mind was how on god's green earth do Natavia make up these characters and where her mind be when she's writing these amazing books. From Essa all the way down to Cooley they all had a story and they were hilarious. I think my favor part was when they said Baby Poo Head, head was so small she uses a condom for a shower cap that right there had me in tearsssssss 😭😭😭😭😭. Excellent read Natavia can't wait for the next book, but I wouldn't mind getting an update with these characters.
Profile Image for &#x1f4da;MekaG Readz&#x1f4da;.
145 reviews7 followers
August 11, 2023
The title is correct for this book!!!!

This was my first read by this author and she did not disappoint!!! I have laughed and screamed all the while reading this book. If you have not read it please do!! You will surely be entertained!
Profile Image for Honor L Hurst .
535 reviews
March 28, 2019
Love, Love, Love!!!

This book was funny, sexy, raw! The characters were realistic. I have always Natavia 's writing she is a true storyteller. Great job!
Profile Image for Miz. Lowery.
5 reviews
April 7, 2019
Everything

This book was everything! It had the right amount of hood, intelligence, humor, substance, sex and romance. Well done Ms. Natavia.
729 reviews16 followers
June 24, 2019
Well....it's not what I thought but it was ok!

This is my second book read from this author and it was "something"....
Essa was delt such a bad hand all because she thought she was the main chick and was accepted as such, yet come to find out she was not even a side chick. Strong, intelligent and beautiful, Essa had some extremely bad and selfish people around her which made her almost loose it all.
Governor, reformed street dope boy boss man, was still the boss, alpha man but in a more legit way was so affected by his upbringing that he decided to change all that for the others that had the same predicament that he had growing up. Strong, intelligent, very well endowed, people were taking advantage of him because they took his good heart and wholesomeness as weakness. Wish there was something as such that I was aware of when I needed it. I would have found my own Governor.
Mayor and Kitty, man what was that... He was on the down low but very selfish while she was as hood as ever with a conscience and a soft heart.
Tinka and Baby Head Poo were so hilarious and funny, they literally help this story get the 3 stars. They were hood, they were ratchet, but making the best out of their situation and their lives (hint: tinka's party).
Rochelle better watch out because Nucci is gonna come for her. Sina got exactly what she was looking for (playing crazy, now you gonna be truly crazy); and Ian, Josua, Frost, good riddance....
It was or it could have been a cute hood story, but the constant cursing, errors, and nastiness going on was a turn off yet the little bit of comedy and romance or knight in shinning armor type bought it out.
That's what I gather from starting reading MS. Natavia. She will always give you the heroine that you will always relate to with the finest male specimen that one would never think of being interested in these female and make you hope and see that there is light at the end of the rainbow after all.
Profile Image for Tajuana.
222 reviews6 followers
February 7, 2021
I couldn’t stop laughing

Rent Money: A Hood Soap Opera
By Natavia
First of all I  would have just used TF out of Ricardo until I gotten where I needed to be and then left him sucking his daddy's titt because he's lame, lame!😏
Alright Govvvvvvvvvvv I  see you!🙌🏾 Gov was my favorite character. I really liked that he really wanted to see females doing better and gave them stepping stones to get where they needed to be if they wanted to be there.
I like Essa too, surely she had the most since out of her crew, cause them other heffas...Aht, Aht
OMG Sinna and Rochelle both was getting on my last nerve. That Sinna takes the cake though, she a whole skank out in these streets, I loved
Dade for her, she deserves him🤨
Mayor is ignorant and think all over the place and none of that shyt he be talking about makes any sense. I was glad to see him trying to grow up and man up. He was doing his best trying to work through what he been through with his ex.
Ian!😳 Ion see that coming! But all I could say was Bihhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Tinka and Baby Head Poo 🤦🏾‍♀️ I don't know which of the two kept me more entertained but at times they both had my stomach hurting 😂😂😂😂😂 both of their pics should be in the Urban dictionary by the word ignant
It took me a minute to get totally vested in this book, but I think it was because of the genre I was reading before I jumped into this. But let me tell you...once I became vested, it definitely had my full attention until the end. Not only was the book extremely funny, I loved that the drama had "Oh Shyt" moments where you could hardly wait to see how the situation played out.
When I started this read, what I though would be a 3* Definitely earned 5* all the way down to the title.
5*
Profile Image for Kina M.
707 reviews8 followers
April 7, 2019
Not believable

I got to 11% and I'm just not gonna waste my time anymore. It doesn't make sense that Ricardo comes to Essa's apartment and sees Sinnara (whatever her name is)and right then and there makes an agreement to allow her to spy on Essa for cash. Like what would be the point? I could see if she was leading him on, but clearly she wasn't she told him there was nothing left with them except their son, so what is she spying for? He is not gonna gain anything from it. Then who in their right mind has the opportunity to live rent free in a decent apartment for 2 years, wanna pay rent when they have no job? I read that part like what? Essa stands on the bus stop and then tells someone how to carry their child, like the author tried too hard to make Essa the "angel" of the story but those two parts were so inauthentic. Governor having to question himself abt why he still hustles clearly symbolizes he has more than enough money not to, so y make him a damn drug dealer? I only read 2 others by this author "Damaged" and the spin off to "damaged". I guess I was looking to fall in love like i did with those characters so much so that i read the series twice. The spin off seemed like it was gonna be a pt2 but once again I may be waiting years for it 😔😔😔...but this one I will not waste anymore of my reading time going further.
60 reviews3 followers
May 31, 2019
Enjoyable Read with love, laughs and drama

I rated this 4 stars tops because although I enjoyed it, it wasn't Natavia's best. For instance although some of the bantering between Baby Head Poo and Tinka was funny after a while it fell flat. The name Baby Head Poo alone was annoying as was Tinka's mispronouncing every word she tried to use. Dade and his trifling and ratchetedness was also annoying. Now for the positives. I loved the bond between Essa, Kitty, Tinka and Baby Head Poo. They never switched up or became disloyal to each other. I also loved how Essa and Governors friendship grew into a loving relationship. Major started out being such a jerk but I'm glad he turned it around. Rochelle and Sinna were a mess and I'm looking forward to seeing how their stories develop in the next book if there is a part 2. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a hood tale with drama, love and laughs, this book will give you all of that. Hope there's a part 2.
873 reviews5 followers
April 12, 2019
Rent Money

OMG!!! This book was everything I wanted and more. The craziness and the laughs were great. This was a true hiod story. I loved Kitty, Essa and Tinka's relationship and add Baby Head Poo and you crazy. I loved Tinka cause she just ain't care no matter how many words she got wrong she kept right on being herself. Now I love Kitty cause she knew she couldn't be how she used to be and expect different results. Now Essa was on the grind for real for her son. Mayor and Governor are definitely book bae material. Now I wanted to beat up Mayor at first but he grew on me cause I was getting mad. Now Governor was just smooth and calm but honey that crazy comes out of him as well. Ms. Natavia I love your ratchet books... they keep me going. Great job!!!
Profile Image for M. Ethel.
651 reviews1 follower
June 14, 2019
Chaos rent is what it’s should be called

🗣first of all you are soooooo wrong for this from beginning to the got dang wnd😩😩🤣🤣 why and I do mean why is Baby Head Pooh even exist 🤦🏾‍♀️. When Kitty said “password” I dropped my entire iPad. I know Es was tired of all the mess but she was a real trooper about opening up to Governor. Now this Big Bucks why did he explain his orgies for a hit like it was cool and the deaf cousin just stuck in the mixed. I love your books and always be waiting to see what you drop next. But baby girl my head hurting so bad from laughing..can’t wait to see what’s next
180 reviews
July 3, 2022
actual rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️ anywayssss this was wildddddddd funny? yes but wildddd mayne i hated half the characters in this book but ig that was the point 😭 SINNA? the worst dawq that shorty is just pureee evil mayne Rochelle really never as bad as her 😭 Tinka? dumb as a rock and she was so funny to me!! I LOVED KITTY AND ESSA LIKE YESS COUSIJS UNITE AND THEN THEY DATING THE BROTHERS?? ughh😩 at first both Mayor and Governor did a run me the wrong way but now me really love Governor and ig Mayor aite…but dawq the other people dem innah the book sick tummuck and the plot twist? crazzyyy it was an aiteee book tho😂 the comedy was on point!!!
Profile Image for Gina Martin.
765 reviews11 followers
March 27, 2019
4 Stars

I liked this story, but I didn’t love it. It was well written and flowed well, but it was missing something. The story held my attention for the most part, but it didn’t draw me in, if you will, like some of the other stories Natavia has written. I liked Governor and Essa together, but I did not really feel a strong connection between them. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book overall. There were some really interesting characters in this book....i.e. Tinka and Baby Head Poo. They were hilarious. Anyway, I look forward to reading Natavia’s next release.
Profile Image for Faith.
593 reviews
April 22, 2019
Loved it!

As always, Author Natavia never disappoints! This book was great. The three cousins had me laughing at their shenanigans. Then the next scene would have me feeling the pain they suffered behind men, living situations and regular growing pains. Loved Governor, Mayor & their mother's relationship. Couldn't help but to hope Governor and Essa could make it work. Drama and laughter kept me entertained all the way till the end. Hopefully another part will be released soon.
Profile Image for Kimberley King.
35 reviews
August 24, 2019
I like literally really enjoyed this book

Oh I really enjoyed this novel. It was just what I needed.. its unrealistic, so much stuff going on in this book I couldn't wait to see how it ended. If you looking for a realistic bases fiction that is not all over the place without any dingbat hoes or dumb ass moments.. this book not for you coz it got all that.. and then some.. kudos to the author for this funny Ghetto stuff I just read with just enough touch of 'perhaps this can happen in real life' scenarios.. I truly enjoyed all the characters.
14 reviews
February 9, 2021
Not enough stars

When I tell you this book was not what I was expecting it wasn't. The characters came to life and the story was put together perfectly. This is not your typical Hood chick trying to get and keep a Boss. It was a genuine live story. While I loved Governor and Essa, my all time favs were Tinka and Baby Head Poo. I swear I have cousins like them.

I am waiting on the next one even though this story doesn't end on a cliffhanger and is a compete tale. I just want another book.

Great job.
73 reviews
March 5, 2021
5️⃣⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Idc idc idc Tinka Kitty and Baby poo head made the book!! Straight funny acted a fool lol I loved the fact they was unapologetically them.. They didn’t care what nobody thought of them and I loved that!! Especially tinka and baby head poo they stayed in shenanigans lol I wished I had a friend supportive like baby poo head she stayed in Tinkas corner with her rollers!! Lol great read great storyline I wished it was another book for them it seemed like it wasn’t enough but again great book I love the author work reading more from this author
97 reviews2 followers
March 26, 2019
OMG

I waited patiently for this book to come out and I must say, Batavia did not disappoint! This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Tinka is funny as hell, you just gotta love her. Governor is Bae. Sinna is getting just what she deserves and Rochelle is a gold-diggin snake. I believe Kendra is about to go back to men. I can't wait to see what's next to come for these characters.
1,055 reviews6 followers
March 28, 2019
Yes....

Natavia did it again I haven't work or slept in 2 days bc this book was that good. I couldn't stop laughing it was very entertaining. And these names of these characters had me rolling Baby Head Poo lol Omg and Tinka I loved her she couldn't talk to save her life. Essa and Governor I love them this whole book was drama filled I wanted more I hated that it ended. Good job
92 reviews
March 29, 2019
The best Soap Opera!!!

Natavia always brings it. Omg I loved this book. It was the best book I've read in a long time. 👏👏👏👏
It was full of comedy and drama. I laughed so much at Tinker and Baby Head Pooh. Tinker's vocabulary was so d@#m funny not to mention the house party, then selling CD "Twerk Angels" and the visit to KFC. I highly recommend and can't wait to hear from them again.....Hopefully soon!
Profile Image for Diania.
44 reviews8 followers
March 29, 2019
Great Read

Great Read. But that's all I expect when I read a book by Natavia. I love the growth between Mayor & Kitty . Governor was bae. I like Essa character to. Tinka & Baby Head was a straight up mess. I love how they were always arguing but still had each other backs. I loved how it was funny but still flowed. But overall a very dope read. Can't wait until Natavia's new release. Great job!!
2,002 reviews2 followers
March 31, 2019
Vett

That damn Tinka was crazy as hell she had me laughing the whole book right along with baby head Pooh. I was glad to see that Mayor and Kitty got themselves together. I loved the relationship that Governor and Essa had Ricardo was wrong keeping her son away from with his trifling ass daddy walking around with aids. That damn Sinna knew Governor was her man and baby daddy she was crazy as hell too.
603 reviews5 followers
April 7, 2019
Baby head poo

Tinka, baby head poo, kitty and Essa are certified crazy!! Out of all this author's books this is by far the best character creation ever. It just flowed from one scene to the next without missing a beat. Governor and mayor's characters were well planned out. Love this storyline but hated Sinna she got herself into a closed situation in the end. Great writing but I want more.
Profile Image for Denise Locust.
199 reviews3 followers
April 14, 2019
Never disappointed!

Ah man this book was good! Everything Natavia writes is good from hood romance, paranormal and now comedy! I love it! That’s why I follow you! I’ve read every last one of your books! As always I couldn’t put stop reading! I loved the characters in this story. Tinka and Baby Head Poo tickle me! I know there will be a book 2, It has to be! I dying to know the outcome of Rochelle, Sinna and everyone else in this book! 5 STARS!!!
945 reviews2 followers
April 19, 2019
Great read

You never disappoint. No matter what you are writing about you stay on point. This book had me laughing throughout. Sinna was crazy as all get out. Governor was lived by the ladies because he did things for all the ladies he was truly a captain save em. Mayor got himself together and locked Kitty down. Essa got her happy ending and she deserved it. Nucci gonna kill Rochelle because she dipped with his money.
Profile Image for aisha ray.
309 reviews3 followers
April 29, 2019
Pretty good

This was a pretty good book that had funny parts. There was one thing that bothered me. The author was describing one of the females in the book. She said shes dark but she has pretty eyes. Is that to say dark people don't usually have pretty eyes? Things like that bother me. I don't know if the author is aware she did that. It's like saying she's dark but she's pretty or she's fat but she's pretty and I see a lot of that in these books. Awareness is the key.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews

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