Waiting to Exhale

By: Terry McMillan

Narrated by: Terry McMillan

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....

“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

Critic reviews

Praise for Waiting to Exhale

“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

“A delightful, irreverent, and sometimes raunchy novel about figuring it out (or not) with your friends.”—Lit Hub

“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

“Sharp, dynamic, and funny as hell.”—New York Daily News

“McMillan is not only a gifted writer but a social critic as clear-eyed as Mark Twain or Zora Neale Hurston or Edith Wharton.”—Newsday

“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

“McMillan shines new light on contemporary African-Americans in bars, cafes, offices, and health clubs all over America who seldom show up so vividly in print.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Women, triumph, revenge, comradeship…a paean to the sisterhood of all women.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review

“Savannah, Bernadine, Robin, and Gloria are bright and aggressive, resilient and sassy...just bursting with life...Through it all, these four vibrant and durable women are there for one another.”—The Washington Post Book World

“Captures what life and love are all about today.”—USA Today

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.

More in depth

Great overall. I enjoyed the whole book. I wish I had a book club to discuss it fully

Better than the movie!

I loved the extra details given about the characters that the movie did not. Worth the credit or movie!

Black women Nostalgia

Love all of Terry’s work! She’s so creative, and continues to shine. You go girl!

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!