Getting to Happy Audiobook By Terry McMillan cover art

Getting to Happy

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Getting to Happy

By: Terry McMillan
Narrated by: Terry McMillan, S. Epatha Merkerson, Gloria Reuben, LaChanze
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About this listen

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.

Now, McMillan revisits Savannah, Gloria, Bernadine, and Robin fifteen years later. Each is at her own midlife crossroads: Savannah has awakened to the fact that she's made too many concessions in her marriage, and decides to face life single again-at fifty-one. Bernadine has watched her megadivorce settlement dwindle, been swindled by her husband number two, and conned herself into thinking that a few pills will help distract her from her pain. Robin has an all-American case of shopaholism, while the big dream of her life - to wear a wedding dress - has gone unrealized. And for years, Gloria has taken happiness and security for granted. But being at the wrong place at the wrong time can change everything. 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: now they are learning to breathe.

©2010 Terry McMillan (P)2010 Penguin Audiobooks
African American Contemporary Fiction Family Life Fiction Women's Fiction Marriage
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Editorial reviews

It’s been 15 years and the four women you loved from Waiting to Exhale are back with a few more wrinkles, a few more pounds, but the same old man issues. Savannah (voiced by author Terry McMillan), who was single when we last knew her, has now been married for 10 years and is falling out of love. Robin has a 15-year-old daughter and is trying her hand at internet dating. Bernadine, now twice divorced, is drowning in her prescription drug addiction. And Gloria, the only woman out of the four with a good man and a happy home is dealt a tragic blow, which brings all four of the women even closer in support of their friend. The same personalities that made the original novel so great are still there, but the bitterness and unhappiness that pervades these women’s lives gets tiresome in this sequel.

McMillan’s portrayal of Savannah is especially bitter and acid-laced and one can’t help but wonder if her own failed marriage inspires the tone. The other three characters, voiced by S. Epatha Merkerson, Gloria Reuben, and LaChanze, sound strikingly familiar to the actresses who portrayed the women in the movie Waiting to Exhale. Whether on purpose or not, it’s easy to picture the characters as their on-screen personas and get involved with them all over again.

If you loved Waiting to Exhale and are curious about where these women ended up, this book is worth a listen. But if you’re hoping they all found a happy ending or have learned something about men and love in the past 15 years, you’re bound to be disappointed. Colleen Oakley

Critic reviews

“The women of Waiting to Exhale have returned.... McMillan fans won't be disappointed.” (Dallas Morning News)

"It's great to meet up with old friends again." (People)

"Required reading for anyone who cared about Waiting to Exhale." (Miami Herald)

What listeners say about Getting to Happy

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

what a journey

This book was great. I am sad to say that i was getting to a point where i was no longer excited by audio books and this book has jump started me again. After reading all of micheal connelly's books on harry bousch i couldn't find books that made me want to stay in the car after getting home to finish the chapter. But terry mcMillian did her thing and i am hooked. i feel like these women are a part of my family. Thank you terry.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding! lesson of mindful thinking - living

omg, this was a vivid story, i clearly pictured each character and felt their pain, dispair, joy, laughter, and HAPPY! terry did a wonderful job of Exhaling and then getting to the happy AGAin, after 40 yrs old.. lol.. this is a perfect book to read for ALL women over 40 if you are in or on that journey of "beging life again after 40" loved it all three times i listened to it, wanting to fast forward and rewind each time. i found myself laughing, mad and inspired throughout the book. I cannnot wait until the MOVIE comes out. excellent!!! I am now breathing.....each time i exhale.. lol

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Read

loved it! First audio book I ever finished. 1st novel in about 15 years. enjoyed felt like I was watching television in my mind

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Could not stop listening!

Narration was captivating and sooo enjoyable!!!
Very moving, happy and sad, I truly enjoyed every single second!!! Thank you Terry!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not As Bad As I Thought

I impulsively used a credit to buy this before reading the reviews. After I read them I was concerned about Terry McMillan being the only voice I would hear for 11hrs. Thankfully there were others to break up the monotony of her voice. It was challenging to tell which character was speaking when she narrated but other than that it was good to see a follow-up of the ladies we fell in love with in Waiting to Exhale. There was some terribly sad moments but the same can be said about real life. I enjoyed the story overall and would recommend a fan of Waiting to Exhale to read or listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable

This book was really enjoyable for the group of women out there who have those friends that always have your back even when sometimes you don’t like each other that’s book represent friendship love heartache and freedom I appreciate this book once again Miss Terry McMillan I wish they would’ve did a movie although when Houston lost her life many years before this book I still think they should do a movie before it’s too late and preferably with all the old characters from the first book waiting to exhale however see if you can get a fox to play with me Houston I think she would make a good replacement for Savannah Vivica Fox

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent book

well written and would reccomend to everyone who wants a great listen to enjoy awsome

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This was a great read!

I enjoyed this book so much that I aborted my ritual of only listening to my audio books during my drive time! I couldn’t stop listening! The main thing I enjoyed about this book was being able to see where the characters were in their in life from the movie.

As far as the author narrating one of the characters, I admit, her tone is flat with no personality even when she laughed it felt dry..... but the story line was so good it didn’t matter. It’s worth the purchase! The 4 stars is for the unpleasant tone of the narrator for the character of Savannah

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

They Exhale...

I must admit I was somewhat apprehensive about reading Terry Mcmillan’s sequel to her bestseller, Waiting to Exhale. This book picks up the lives of girlfriends Bernadine, Robin, Savannah, and Gloria fifteen years later. Let me say this, a lot has changed!

We start out with Savannah who has a fulfilling job but a boring marriage. Robin we find to be as self consumed and man crazy as we left her in Waiting to Exhale. Robin’s now fifteen year old daughter, Sparrow, is her voice of reason. Sparrow is a quirky teenager with an old soul and despite their monumental differences her and Robin has a great mother daughter relationship. It was good to find Gloria basking in happiness with her husband Marvin and son Tarek. Later both their lives take a turn for the worse. We discover our beloved Bernadine in a broken state and the pieces of her life are shattered and scattered everywhere. Among the online dating adventures, discovery of a porn watching cheating husband, addiction, death, and children that are growing into their own lives these ladies do discover some, Happy.

It was so exciting to get into this story and just revisit the lives of these ladies again. Reading this novel was like catching up and reuniting with some old girlfriends. Even though we don’t find them as resilient as we did in Waiting to Exhale, we do see the ladies will to persevere. Terry really tapped into real life with this one she did not try and make it sugary sweet. When the ladies laughed I found myself laughing and when tragedy struck my heart sank with theirs. This novel was simply “real” to me.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book, great narrative!!!

Great book, great narrative!!! The only complaint is that there could have been more variation in the voices to follow the different people talking.

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