Paperback
Terry McMillan’s powerful stories: love, life, and the way she told it.

It Was the Way She Said It

Short Stories, Essays, and Wisdom

$40.70

  • Paperback

    256 pages

  • Release Date

    6 October 2026

Check Delivery Options

Summary

This stunning collection from one of the great writers on Black culture covers the gamut: aging, love, poverty, trauma and plenty of lightness in between. - People

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Waiting to Exhale comes a remarkable, career-spanning collection of previously published short fiction and nonfiction pieces, as well as never-before-seen works.

Before Terry McMillan found success…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780593357163
ISBN-10:0593357167
Author:Terry McMillan, Ishmael Reed
Publisher:Random House USA Inc
Imprint:Random House Inc
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:256
Release Date:6 October 2026
Weight:229g
Dimensions:132mm x 203mm
A-Format
B-Format
It Was the Way She Said It by Terry McMillan - ISBN: 9780593357163
132 × 203 mm
C-Format
A4
mm / in
What They're Saying

Critics Review

Praise for It Was the Way She Said It

“This stunning collection from one of the great writers on Black culture covers the gamut: aging, love, poverty, trauma and plenty of lightness in between.”—People

“Terry McMillan … has assembled a collection of short stories and essays that portray candid vignettes of Black American life. With unflinching honesty and verve, McMillan writes stories that suck readers in from start to finish.”—Harper’s Bazaar

“Decades after Stella got her groove back, Terry Mcmillan just gets better… . McMillan’s new book shows the author at the top of her game… . This collection contains a multitude of truths.”—The Washington Post

“The best part of reading this entertaining collection of published and unpublished fiction, sketches, and nonfiction is the sheer delight of immersing yourself in the works of a writer who has plenty to say and has never been afraid to say it… . An entertaining reminder of McMillan’s storytelling abilities and unflinching honesty.”—Kirkus Review, starred review

“McMillan is a sharp writer who never fails to give readers memorable, richly developed characters and powerful insights.”—Library Journal


Praise for It’s Not All Downhill From Here

“A wise and wisecracking novel of aging, heartbreak, and the quest to ‘pump up the volume’ in late midlife.”—O: The Oprah Magazine

“[A] baldly honest, laugh-out-loud story.”—Good Housekeeping

“A hopeful and hilarious novel.”—Travel & Leisure

“I couldn’t put this book down.”—BuzzFeed

“This is a story of the power of women and the inspiring lives they lead.”—She Reads

“McMillan proves once again that she is a skilled master.”—Associated Press

“Lively, perceptive … Terry McMillan writes with a staggering depth of feeling, credibly capturing the characters’ emotions as she unpacks their interpersonal conflicts. This delightful novel balances inspiration for renewal with the hard facts of aging.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

About The Author

Terry McMillan

Terry McMillan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of:

  • It’s Not All Downhill From Here
  • I Almost Forgot About You
  • Waiting to Exhale
  • How Stella Got Her Groove Back

She is also the editor of Breaking Ice: An Anthology of Contemporary African-American Fiction.

Four of her novels have been adapted into films:

  • Waiting to Exhale
  • How Stella Got Her Groove Back
  • Disappearing Acts
  • A Day Late and a Dollar Short

She lives in California.

Returns

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.