Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Terry McMillan Reading Order

4 series · 14 books

Non-Fiction

Terry McMillan is an acclaimed American novelist whose narratives center on the experiences and transformations of Black women, blending sharp humor with emotional depth. Her breakthrough novels, particularly Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, became cultural touchstones for their honest exploration of relationships, identity, and personal reinvention. Across fiction, essay collections, and standalone works published since 1987, McMillan has fundamentally shaped how contemporary literature represents African American women's stories.

Anthologies Series

Complete

2 books (1990–2002)

Start with Breaking Ice and read in order.

Start this series with Breaking Ice

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Breaking Ice
Breaking Ice
1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Making Callaloo: 25 Years of Black Literature
Making Callaloo: 25 Years of Black Literature
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

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.

Start this series with It's OK if You're Clueless: and 23 More Tips for the College Bound

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#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 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
It Was the Way She Said It
2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

8 books (1987–2020)

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

Start this series with Mama

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

Waiting To Exhale Series

Complete

2 books (1992–2010)

Start with Waiting to Exhale and read in order.

Start this series with Waiting to Exhale

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale
1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Getting to Happy
Getting to Happy
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

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.

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