Waiting to Exhale

By: Terry McMillan

Narrated by: Terry McMillan

Length: 2 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

The critically acclaimed novel about four women who learn how to carry on while leaning on each other from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How Stella Got Her Groove Back and It's Not All Downhill From Here.

When the men in their lives prove less than reliable, Savannah, Bernadine, Gloria, and Robin find new strength through a rare and enlightening friendship as they struggle to regain stability and an identity they don’t have to share with anyone. Because for the first time in a long time, their dreams are finally OFF hold....

©1992 Terry McMillan (P)1992 Penguin HighBridge Audio

Critic reviews

“Hilarious, irreverent...Reading Waiting to Exhale is like being in the company of a great friend...thought-provoking, thoroughly entertaining, and very, very comforting.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Terry McMillan has created a well-written, truthful, and funny story of four African-American women...and the sometimes volatile world of Black female-Black male relationships.”—Spike Lee

“The characters are so real, that you’ll wonder if McMillan hasn’t somehow overheard a private conversation. In the end, you’ll cheer for Savannah, Bernadine, Gloria, and Robin. But the cheering starts for McMillan on the first page.”—The Boston Globe

“Waiting to Exhale’s electric voices grab you and never let go…We root for characters so immediate they leap off the page; these women are cynical, self-deluding, furious—yet ever hopeful and relentlessly funny...Their struggles will resonate for anyone fighting to get her fair share of loving.”—New Woman

“Terry McMillan has such a wonderful ear for story and dialogue. She gives us four women with raw, honest emotions that breathe off the page.”—Amy Tan

the memory for the first time

enjoying the book on audio first scene in the movie the movie was very enjoyable but the adaptation is from movies but the book itself is the real story.

We need another book terry

We need a part two to getting to happy . I loved both books . Great author , always will be in my top 5

Great story about sisterhood!

Always loved the movie, and never read the book! After reading, makes more sense to me as to why the characters are the way that they are! This book was a great display about sisterhood! Great read! I may read again with my meetup group!

Better than the movie

A must read, if you saw the movie but didn't read the book. I loved it.

Not a fan of Terry McMillan’s voice

I am a huge fan of her work, but her voice is DRYYYY honey! Everyone isn’t built for narration.

Finally Q forward to other books is of yours too appreciate youok

OMG this book came out in 1990 in the movie came out in 95 I believe this is so crazy because I was only nine years old at the time now that I am all grown up I must say this has been a treat for me what a great piece of literature I appreciate it every moment of it I’ve been there and now I am in a better place and I appreciate every finally I read the book I remember the movie came out in 1995 and I was only nine years old at the time I must say I definitely appreciate this piece of literature and I do understand why Terry McMillan will go down in history as one of the greatest black authors who ever lived as a grown woman I related to all of the women I feel like I saw myself and every last one of them true perfection five stars all day beautiful storyline very intellectual philosophical touch close to I believe every woman not just black women so thank you for this literature and I can’t wait to read the sequel I’m going to read this now LOL

The character are related-able

I see the difference in the book and the movie, it’s interesting I enjoyed it.

Great

Loved it and the narrator was very good at story telling and I felt like I was part of the story.

Suttle differences (except end) between book/movie

There were things I liked about the book, like adding info on other parents. Showing that a BW can make one bad decision and recover from it. It didn't really show the closeness of the friendships like the movie did. Many Suttle things, but both were very good.

A True Coming of Age Story

As a kid of course I watched the movie (probably not appropriate lol). As a 34 year old reading this book I feel seen, heard and understood. Thank you for this amazing story that touches so many of us in ways we could not have imagined.