Welcome Back, Terry... We Missed You!

Terry McMillan's Official Website

Terry McMillan's "Waiting to Exhale" was more than just a bestselling novel... its publication was a watershed moment in literary history. McMillan's sassy and vibrant story about four African American women struggling to find love and their place in the world touched a cultural nerve, inspired a blockbuster film, and generated a devoted audience.

In a new sequel to the novel, "Getting to Happy", McMillan revisits Savannah, Gloria, Bernadine, and Robin. She has brought back her much-loved characters to demonstrate that happiness is not an end point but a journey, one that takes patience, hard work, a sense of humor, and a little help from some good friends. All four are learning to heal past hurts and to reclaim their joy and their dreams; but they return to us full of spirit, sass, and faith in one another. They've exhaled and now they are learning to breathe.

Get the new book at Amazon.com!

When we last saw Savannah, Bernadine, Robin, and Gloria, they were searching for the moment when they could finally feel comfortable with their lives. But now, fifteen years older and wiser, they've realized that the solutions to their previous problems have brought up new issues. Love affairs and happy marriages have crumbled beneath deceit and betrayal, loneliness has crept in, and dissatisfaction has grown. Whether it's Bernadine's attempts to numb the pain of a debilitating divorce, or Robin's struggle to fill the emptiness in her love life, each woman searches for a way to make do. But getting by doesn't get you to happy, and beneath their frustrations, McMillan's characters are sharp enough to know they all deserve to be better off than they are.

In many ways, the women's struggles are similar. Both Savannah and Gloria work to get over the loss of a husband; Savannah, despite being hurt by the lies and infidelity of her ex-husband, needs to redefine who she is as a single woman at fifty-one, while Gloria struggles to rebuild her life in a different way after the death of her adored husband, Marvin. Robin and Bernadine must free themselves from their dependence on money and medication in order to proceed with their lives. But despite the seriousness of the women's struggles, the novel never slows down for a moment of melodrama or self-pity. Instead, McMillan delivers a boost of confidence and encouragement with a healthy dose of sass, and the four friends' affectionate and raucous friendship is both entertaining and inspiring.

"Getting to Happy" marks the return of McMillan's signature combination of tough love, sharp wit, and bracing honesty, and in it she highlights the value of friendship, both in coping with sadness and celebrating success. Her snappy dialogue and spot-on observations will remind readers why they fell in love with Savannah, Bernadine, Robin, and Gloria the first time around. Whether they're dealing with pain inflicted by others or struggling through hardships they've created for themselves, the women not only survive but ultimately flourish, moving beyond the dreams of their young selves and into better, more fulfilling futures. Unsinkable, unstoppable, and definitely unforgettable, the four friends show the deeper happiness that can be created after the happily-ever-after.

Negotiations are already underway for turning this novel into a movie as well. Three of the original actresses have already agreed to come back and reprise their roles in the film: Angela Bassett as Bernadine Harris, Loretta Devine as Gloria Matthews, and Lela Rochon as Robin Stokes. Unfortunately, the only holdout is Whitney Houston. It has been reported that she and "her people" have been contacted several times about the movie project, but no response has been received to date. I guess we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed on that one and hope for the best.