As an avid reader of Terry McMillan’s work, It Was The Way She Said It feels like both a homecoming and a revelation. This career-spanning collection of short stories, essays, and previously unpublished pieces showcases the full breadth of McMillan’s voice bold, vulnerable, and unmistakably hers. From the weary factory worker in “The End” to the scrappy widow in “Ma’Dear,” McMillan writes with a clarity and compassion that’s always been her hallmark. The stories are rooted in everyday struggles love, aging, poverty, betrayal and yet they pulse with emotional truth and cultural resonance.

The characters are quintessential McMillan: flawed, resilient, and deeply human. Whether it’s a young girl learning hard lessons from her grandmother in “Can’t Close My Eyes to It” or a couple unraveling under the weight of job loss and abuse in “Reconstruction,” each voice is distinct and unforgettable. Even in her nonfiction essays and sketches, McMillan’s personality shines through funny, wise, and unflinchingly honest. Her reflections on aging, writing, and Black womanhood add depth to the collection, making it feel like a conversation with someone who’s lived, loved, and learned without apology.

The conclusion of the collection isn’t a single story it’s the cumulative effect of McMillan’s legacy. She doesn’t just tell stories; she reads the times we’re living through, as Ishmael Reed notes in the foreword. It Was The Way She Said It reminds us why McMillan’s work has endured: not just for what she says, but how she says it with wit, warmth, and a fearless commitment to truth. For longtime fans like me, this book is a treasure trove; for new readers, it’s a powerful introduction to one of America’s most vital literary voices.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This was such a treat to read. It’s a collection of Terry McMillan’s earlier and unpublished work, and I loved getting to see her voice in short stories and essays. You can really feel her wit, honesty, and compassion on every page.

What stood out most for me was how these pieces show the complexities of everyday Black life...sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always real. It’s an amazing collection that made me appreciate her writing even more.

This book is a great way to be introduced to the authors work if you have not read any of their work before.

Terry McMillian is my absolute favorite author of all time so this collection of work
was a true treat for me to read. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and share feedback on this advanced reader copy of It Was the Way She Said It. Some of my favorite stories from the published fiction section were Quiting on the Rebound, where it was fun to see Gloria and Bernadine from Waiting to Exhale and Reconstruction, which made me want to read Disappearing Acts all over again!
Mama, Take Another Step from the unpublished fiction section was so interesting to read and explore the foundation of what would later expand into the novel Mama. It was really cool to see how the how the chararacters in novel evolved/changed. Sketches & Starts was a unique portion of this book. It was entertaining and exciting to see "some building blocks from books to come" in meeting Myrtle and Buster. I would love to see Today I Got a Letter turned into a novel.
From Essays, Speeches, & Opinions, This Is America was a gripping tale in which the themes discussed are just as relevant today as they were in 1992.
Would highly recommend for fans of McMillian's catalog.

I thought this was a good introduction for people who are not as familiar with Terry, but also those who love her. I am thankful to have grown up reading Terry McMillan books and thought this was a pretty good and interesting read. I love that the essays are also from different parts of her life.

Terry McMillian’s It Was The Way She Said It offers a look at her familiar and new pieces. Some of the stories were more impactful than others and are evident throughout the book. Reading this for the first time would be better going through her catalog first then coming to read this. This was a good read to get to know more about Terry McMillian’s work. Thank you NetGalley and publishing company for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing collection of short stories, essays and other things by Ms. Terry Mcmillan. I enjoyed reading some of her unpublished work, I would recommend this to anyone that’s a fan of her writing!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Raw, Real, and Rich with Emotional Wisdom

Terry McMillan has a gift—she doesn’t just tell stories, she reaches into you with them. It Was the Way She Said It is a beautifully layered novel that captures the complexity of womanhood, aging, relationships, and identity with McMillan’s signature honesty, humor, and emotional precision. The characters feel like people you know—or maybe parts of yourself you hadn’t acknowledged until now. McMillan’s dialogue is sharp, natural, and deeply revealing. Every sentence carries weight, not because it’s dramatic, but because it’s true. The title says it all—sometimes, it’s not what’s said, but how it’s said that makes the biggest impact. And McMillan knows how to say it just right.

Reading this book felt like sitting with a wise, funny, no-nonsense auntie who tells you about life exactly how it is—hard, beautiful, unfair, surprising, and still worth it. I found myself laughing out loud one minute and reflecting quietly the next. This book will stay with you. It’s for anyone who’s ever had to reinvent themselves, speak their truth, or come to terms with how life has unfolded. Terry McMillan reminds us—once again—that there is power in our voice, healing in our truth, and grace in simply making it through.

Terry McMillan's It Was the Way She Said It offers a broad look into her extensive career, compiling both familiar and new pieces that touch on themes of love, aging, and cultural identity. Her distinctive voice and candid storytelling are evident throughout the collection.

While the anthology provides valuable insights and moments of reflection, some pieces resonated more than others. The varied nature of the content made the reading experience somewhat uneven, with certain essays and stories leaving a stronger impact than others.

Overall, it's a commendable compilation for longtime fans interested in exploring the breadth of McMillan's work. However, for new readers, it might serve better as a supplementary read after experiencing her more cohesive novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Terry McMillan never disappoints. The short stories was just enough to keep our heart racing and pumping.