Terry McMillan Reading Order
4 series · 14 books
Terry McMillan is a celebrated American author recognized for her engaging narratives centered on the experiences of African American women. With a diverse portfolio of 14 books spanning four series, her most notable work, Waiting to Exhale, exemplifies her signature blend of humor and emotional depth. Active from 1987 to 2025, McMillan’s influence in contemporary literature is marked by her ability to authentically capture the complexities of life and relationships.
Anthologies Series
Complete2 books (1990–2002)
Start with Breaking Ice and read in order.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Breaking Ice 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Making Callaloo: 25 Years of Black Literature 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Ongoing2 books (2006–2025)
Start with It's OK if You're Clueless: and 23 More Tips for the College Bound and read in order.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  It's OK if You're Clueless: and 23 More Tips for the College Bound 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | It Was the Way She Said It 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete8 books (1987–2020)
Start with Mama, the first of 8 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Mama 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Disappearing Acts 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  How Stella Got Her Groove Back 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  A Day Late and a Dollar Short 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Interruption of Everything 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Who Asked You? 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  I Almost Forgot About You 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  It's Not All Downhill from Here 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
Waiting To Exhale Series
Complete2 books (1992–2010)
Start with Waiting to Exhale and read in order.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Waiting to Exhale 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Getting to Happy 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Terry McMillan written?
- Terry McMillan has written 14 books across 4 series. Their published works span from 1987 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Terry McMillan series?
- Here are the first books in Terry McMillan's series: Anthologies: Breaking Ice; Non-Fiction: It's OK if You're Clueless: and 23 More Tips for the College Bound; Waiting To Exhale: Waiting to Exhale.
- What order should I read Terry McMillan's books?
- We recommend reading Terry McMillan's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Terry McMillan still writing new books?
- Yes, Terry McMillan has 1 ongoing series: Non-Fiction.