Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Terry McMillan Reading Order

4 series · 14 books

Non-Fiction

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

Complete

2 books (1990–2002)

Start with Breaking Ice and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Breaking Ice
Breaking Ice
1990Buy 🇺🇸
2
Cover of Making Callaloo: 25 Years of Black Literature
Making Callaloo: 25 Years of Black Literature
2002Buy 🇺🇸

Non-Fiction Series

Ongoing

2 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
Cover of It's OK if You're Clueless: and 23 More Tips for the College Bound
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

Complete

8 books (1987–2020)

Start with Mama, the first of 8 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#Title
1
Cover of Mama
Mama
1987Buy 🇺🇸
2
Cover of Disappearing Acts
Disappearing Acts
1989Buy 🇺🇸
3
Cover of How Stella Got Her Groove Back
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
1996Buy 🇺🇸
4
Cover of A Day Late and a Dollar Short
A Day Late and a Dollar Short
2000Buy 🇺🇸
5
Cover of The Interruption of Everything
The Interruption of Everything
2003Buy 🇺🇸
6
Cover of Who Asked You?
Who Asked You?
2013Buy 🇺🇸
7
Cover of I Almost Forgot About You
I Almost Forgot About You
2016Buy 🇺🇸
8
Cover of It's Not All Downhill from Here
It's Not All Downhill from Here
2020Buy 🇺🇸

Waiting To Exhale Series

Complete

2 books (1992–2010)

Start with Waiting to Exhale and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale
1992Buy 🇺🇸
2
Cover of Getting to Happy
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.

You might also like