GETTING TO HAPPY

The young women from Terry McMillan’s WAITING TO EXHALE—Savannah, Robin, Gloria, and Bernadine—are now middle-aged and still searching for their princes charming in this sequel. But life isn’t a fairy tale, and we find the friends’ lives in Phoenix mired in heartache and grief, drug addiction, unemployment, and the seedy side of the Internet. The voices of actresses S. Epatha Merkerson, Gloria Reuben, LaChanze, and author McMillan infuse fiery emotion into the main characters. However, they fail to differentiate the overwhelming number of other characters in this lengthy book, sowing confusion for the hapless listener. Still, this captivating chick-lit sequel is laced with humor and gritty jargon that offer entertaining listening. K.P. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2010]