Enjoyable but a little disappointing. I wanted to get caught up in the characters and their lives but they never fully engaged me. I did, however, persist in reading the entire book. Could be a good beach read this summer.

It's not all down hill from here is the story of friends who are older in life. This was a great book for me to read as I am approaching the same age as the ladies in this book. As you read the story you get the point of views of these ladies as they get to retirement, deal with death and family issues and memories. This book made me laugh, and it made me cry.

The story line is this. You have Loretha who is trying to deal with losing her husband, he had a heart attack on her 69th birthday. Understandably after Carl's death Loretha is a little lost. And if losing her husband isn't enough she has to deal with her sister Odessa, who's jealous of her success, and her then sadly there is her daughter Jalecia, who happens to be addicted to drugs and an alcoholic. You also get to meet her best friends. Sadie who has issues all her own. She is having an affair with ... (I'm not telling you). Korynthia who's problem is her son who is having problems with the law, you also have Poochie who is having some health problems and last but not least is Lucky. She is having issues with her weight and is not in a good marriage.

This book has a lot going on. But I could not put it down. I think I couldn't because I I related to the ladies in this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I definately recommended it to my friends to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine books for the eARC. “That it is still important to keep improving our lives, even at our age, and we should treat ourselves better and stop acting like our best years are behind us." Very well written and emotionally expressive .. I am annoyed that Loretha's family took an advantage of her. The conclusion was rushed. The main lesson is that everyone deserves to be happy and loved. The book deals with issues such mental health and addiction. It beautifully depicts sisterhood, aging, friendship, motherhood, life's unexpected trials and family. All the time, women often put others needs before our own. As a result, we neglect to take care of ourselves and focus on our goals. There were times in this book, I wanted to yell at one of the characters and tell them to you can't solve every problem, it's ok to accept help from others. It's a real reflection of life. Life is best spend with the people we love.

I received a digital ARC on this from NetGalley and I just could not get into this book. I tried many times. I like Terry McMillan but this one didnt float my boat

Love love love! Terry McMillan has such a distinct, strong voice that reading her books is more like eavesdropping on the characters lives. I feel like I know these women, I can picture them in my mind, and would know them if I saw them on the street. Another fantastic story from the divine Ms. M! #stayathome #keepreading

This was a bit of a departure from my usual fare of dark crime fiction, but it felt like a needed break. I enjoyed the story and the characters especially, which were memorable and entertaining. Recommended!

I love Terry McMillan’s books, maybe because her books mirror her age and so she knows firsthand what she is talking about. I just turned 70 and I understand everyone of these problems Loretha and her friends are dealing with. They’re serious problems like death of a loved one, the heartbreak grown children can cause, the unfettered love of a parent, the joy of grandchildren and great grands. These tough single women, divorced women, widowed women work toward solving the problems and never lose their sense of humor or the importance of friends. Getting older can be a joy despite the many losses experienced on the way to the downhill side.

I have been a Terry McMillan fan for years. I can remember sneaking through my mother’s books on her nightstand as a young girl in the 90s getting familiar with novels like Mama, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and Disappearing Acts. Secretly devouring these books late into the midnight hour by the small lamp in my bedroom fueled my love of reading. It’s Terry McMillan’s way of telling stories of family, love, and relationships that made me feel like I was growing into a part of a sisterhood no one had told me about. Flipping those pages was a rite of passage! I was reading things that I had only heard about while eavesdropping when my mama’s friends came by (because of course I was not allowed to be in the room). I have experienced so many stages of life through the lens of a fictional Terry McMillan character that resembled my mom, aunt, grandmother, and other loved ones. I’ve grown up on Terry McMillan novels and will brake for anything she pens, automatically.

All of that brings us to my experience with It’s Not All Downhill From Here. I read the synopsis and couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy! I was fascinated by the premise of a 68-year-old owner of a beauty empire with a full life. I dived in head first with Loretha and could not wait to see what kinds of gems she would share in this read.

Loretha was the owner of a beauty empire, which, as a beauty enthusiast, I loved. I did not love, however, how everyone in her family thought she was Daddy Warbucks because of this, though. Reading about Loretha’s family made me realize how much we rely on the matriarch of the family for so much support—whether it be financial, emotional, or otherwise. However, early in the book, Loretha experiences an unexpected loss. Thankfully, she can rely on her good girlfriends of over 50 years to offer her the emotional support she needs.

The friendships Loretha has with Sadie, Korynthia, Lucky, and Poochie seem to keep her afloat, mostly. When she isn’t discussing the trials of life with these ladies, she’s helping her family the best she can—including her daughter Jalecia, who doesn’t seem to want her help. While sometimes I wondered what would happen next with any character, other times I just wanted to move on to the next thing. The pacing read like Lo’s diary and I wanted so badly for her to do something that would shake some things up!

Speaking of pacing: when I got so far into the book, I started feeling like that scene in Life where Ray and Claude are new to the camp and the fellow inmates learn they can read. Everybody wanted their letters read, but each one was so depressing. After a while, nobody else wanted their letters read for fear of more bad news. I was like, damn. “Don’t nobody bring me no [more] bad news!” But just as the book suggests, it’s not all downhill from "here." There were happy moments. With all the tragedy and bad news I read in this book, I suppose these are the breaks and this is real life. I read a review that said this book was escapism, but it sure didn’t feel that way for me. Escapism for me reads like romance and HEAs. This one seems more real than anything I've read lately. And it made me sad.

While this may not be my favorite Terry McMillan book, I enjoyed reading it. Lucky might have gotten on my nerves a time or two too many. I might have been way too worried about Jalecia to even remember Lo had other family members. And I might have cringed every time Lo or her mother said certain phrases to "keep up with the times." But overall, It's Not All Downhill From Here taught me the importance of living this thing called life while we have it and loving your family members as they are.

Major thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the ARC of It's Not All Downhill From Here in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐🌟 (3.5 Stars)

This was one of the funniest books I have read in quite a while. The characters were all lovable. There is happy events as well as sad. It was like you were hanging with your friends and cutting up. The characters are older in their high 60's and 70's but that doesn't stop them from having fun.
Terry McMillan is a wonderful author and I highly recommend this book to anyone.

Loretha's life was going in the direction she planned so far, until an unexpected event changes everything. With the help of those closest to her, she goes on a journey that will bring about forgiveness, growth and reconciliation.

I thought this was a very good story, not only geared for Seasoned women, but for women of all ages. It showed ups and downs of life and also shows why you should strive towards living life to the fullest. Although it did seem to start off a little slow, I felt It was a great story and I enjoyed it all the way through.

I received a copy of this book via netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review

Terry McMillan a 15 ans de plus que moi. J'ai lu tous ses romans (Waiting to Exhale reste mon préféré) et j'attends toujours le suivant avec impatience. Je ne dirais pas que Terry McMillan est ma life coach, mais comme le vécu transparaît toujours dans ses romans, elle m'aide à comprendre ce qui va m'arriver alors que j'avance en âge (et à prendre des mesures avant qu'il ne soit trop tard ?). Vous trouvez peut-être que j'exagère ? À peine.

Loretha va fêter ses 68 ans. Comme elle en a assez des surprises-parties (au sens américain du terme), Carl, son troisième mari, décide de l'emmener en week-end en amoureux. Après avoir travaillé des décennies sans relâche, ils ont une vie plus que confortable : Carl est maître d'œuvre à la retraite mais refuse d'arrêter de travailler ; Loretha a deux magasins où elle vend des cosmétiques. Elle refuse d'écouter son médecin qui lui recommande de perdre du poids et de faire de l'exercice. Elle est encore trop jeune pour ça et il sera toujours temps de commencer. Malheureusement, Carl avec qui elle comptait finir ses jours (après deux échecs, elle a enfin trouvé le bon) décède. Et Loretha est désemparée.

Une histoire toute simple en somme, même si la vie de Loretha est plutôt compliquée. Elle a un groupe d'amies de longue date avec lesquelles elle partage tout. Son fils vit au Japon et sa fille est alcoolique. Elle ne s'entend pas avec sa sœur jumelle qui est devenue une grenouille de bénitier depuis qu'elle a pris sa retraite de la police. J'aurais pu faire sans l'histoire de la sœur jumelle (apparemment, dans les romans, les jumeaux ne sont intéressants que s'ils ne s'entendent pas ou sont psychopathes), mais bon... Le récit suit son cours simplement, avec quelques retours en arrière de temps en temps.

Et en fait, je n'ai pas grand chose à dire de plus. Même si Terry McMillan aborde des thèmes importants, j'ai trouvé qu'il y avait beaucoup de remplissage et trop de personnages. Le livre ne m'a pas déçue, mais il ne m'a pas emballée non plus.

J'aime beaucoup l'épigraphe : You cannot go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. C'est parfait pour moi qui pense souvent "si j'avais fait ça...".

This was an unexpected love affair after I completed this book. I knew that all the main characters would be the age of my grand parents compared to me but I still just wanted to give it a shot!

I am thankful that I not only gave it a shot but that I kept reading through the beginning of this book which for me was slow. Overall I feel like this is a story that my grandmother would tell me of how she and her four girlfriends got through struggles that they weren't expecting in their 70's. Each of the women in this story all have issues that they face at this age that they were not expecting to have to face. For some it's medical conditions, death, taking care of their adult children, finding true love, and the list just keeps going. Regardless of which characters is facing whatever struggles, one thing that they do have in common is each other. Through thick or thin, smart of stupid decision these women come together to pick each other back up and find their way. I have yet to find a group of women that can do this for me, but I'm hoping by this age I will have a group no matter how big. This book has surprisingly helped me in ways I did not realize I needed and I'm thankful to have read it.

If you are like me and have read all or most of Terry McMillan's books, you will find this one comfortably familiar in style and tone. The central character Loretha has her world turned upside down while celebrating her 68th Birthday. Her colorful cast of "besties" are there to help her pick up the pieces. I liked that McMillan shows the strength and resilience of black women and in this case older women. Loretha was a very realistic character to me. We see her struggle with loneliness and grief while dealing with strained relationships with her sister Odessa and her troubled daughter. Loretha is also a successful business owner that is generous and caring with friends and relatives in her life. There are some serious topics tackled in this story including alcohol abuse, depression, aging, health issues and sexual orientation. As we expect, there is plenty of humor, feisty dialogue and "too much cussing" the friends admit. There is a lot going on between Loretha, friends and family, which will take the reader through every emotion. There are also doses of wisdom relating to aging and moving from denial to appreciation. It was the perfect read for me during this mandated " stay at Home" time, serious enough to keep my attention and light enough to make me smile.

It’s Not All Downhill From Here is new women’s, multicultural fiction from award-winning and bestselling author, Terry McMillan.

Sixty-eight-year-old Loretha Curry has a full life as a wife, mother, business owner and loyal friend to a diverse group of women. She doesn’t believe that life is over at sixty-five. Loretha experiences a devastating loss and temporarily loses herself, but amid the turmoil she comes to realize the value of family, friends and self confidence.

It’s Not All Downhill From Here is a well-written novel told from the first person perspective. The characters are alive and vibrant. The novel is packed with sincere, vividly expressed emotions. Grief, happiness, love, hate and anger all seem real and appropriate. The author explores difficult familial relationships, but there is enough humor to offset the darker emotions. Ultimately, this is a story about love, loss, forgiveness, redemption and resurrected life. It’s never to late to change and improve. I throughly enjoyed this novel and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys good fiction.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

This was just like you were reading your own family’s story. It’s funny, heartwarming, entertaining and emotional at times. It definitely highlights the importance of family and friendships. I would definitely read again, and will definitely recommend to all my friends known as the “ village”. Once again Terry does not disappoint.

3.75 rating

****I had difficulty writing this review and it shows. I will revise at a later date.****

When I read the premise of It's Not All Downhill From Here I was immediately intrigued. Being that I am a women closer to the end of life than the beginning, I now look for stories that involve older characters. Ms. McMillan did not disappoint. There are very important issues in this book. The characters just couldn't accept their issues and get past their denial so, going over said issues became tedious after a while. The character development was strong. After making a diagram, to keep track of all the characters, I was able to lean in and experience them. Many sad moments in this book as well that seemed to happen all at once. I felt, as the reader, I couldn't catch a break. Many life lessons here for the taking. Did I learn anything from this read? Did it change me in anyway? Yes, it reminded me that I need to get my life together sooner than later, the people you choose to keep in your life are just human and to not be so hard on them, and that no matter your age you deserve happiness and love.

I was given an ARC by the publisher via Netgalley

Terry McMillan doesn't shy away from topics of importance in her latest book: It's Not All Downhill from Here. Instead of allowing older characters to serve as ancillary characters (at best) or be invisible (at worst), McMillan highlights that life isn't over for women in their sixties (and beyond) through the dynamic portrayal of Loretha Curry.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I really wanted to to love this book! I did love the subject or the idea of this book! I found the characters relatable and interesting! It’s refreshing to read a book about older women dating, running businesses and trying to figure out who they are or what they need. I love this author. That being said, at times I felt there were too much going on at times. So much that I was tired for Loretha. I do understand that it is like that for some women but I just wanted more for the women in this book. I would and have recommended this book! It is definitely a good read.

Terry McMillan is back with more lovable, yet complicated, characters for readers to get to know - but this time a little older. Though the main character, Loretha, is nearly twice my age, I enjoyed following along as she navigated triumphs and challenges with her family, career, and friendships. The story is told from Loretha's point of view, but the presence of her girlfriends is felt throughout and provides further insight into the main character's desires and conflicts. This is my fifth McMillan novel and I continue to appreciate the way she reflects the voices of Black women who exist outside the binary of Huxtable vs. hood. Her characters feel real - like my aunts and their friends. This nuance is important and significant and I will forever support her work for this reason.

INADFH is a lovely novel that addresses issues that are prevalent among people entering their later years (death, chronic illness, retirement, financial responsibility) but has plenty to offer younger adult readers, including reflections on identity, desire, friendship, and love. I will definitely be purchasing a copy for my mother for mother's day and it's a great choice for buddy reads/book clubs as well.

***i received a time-limited digital copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

I recently saw a quarantine-related Facebook quiz that designated the cast of the latest book you read as your quarantine companions. It helped me realize that I would immensely enjoy being quarantined with this group of ladies. I've read all of Terry McMillan's books and often find that I would like to be friends with the women she writes about. This book was no exception. I also very much appreciated how she wrote about women her age (70ish) and what they were facing (which I'm sure is a target audience vastly underrepresented in women's fiction) instead of writing a story for a different generation. That authenticity shines through -- the book doesn't try to be anything other than what it is, which is a realistic reflection of what life must be like when you're dealing with health and mobility challenges, family issues, and the loss of loved ones. That realistic reflection doesn't prevent an upbeat, positive ending, even at a time of life where some think that most of the good years are behind them. As long as Terry McMillan keeps writing, I'll keep reading.

I was provided an advance copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.