Review: Who Asked You by Terry McMillan

Title: Who Asked You?

Author: Terry McMillan

Publisher: Penguin Publishing

Pub Date: 9/17/2013

Source: Library









 Summary from Goodreads:

Kaleidoscopic, fast-paced, and filled with McMillan’s inimitable humor, Who Asked You? opens as Trinetta leaves her two young sons with her mother, Betty Jean, and promptly disappears. BJ, a trademark McMillan heroine, already has her hands full dealing with her other adult children, two opinionated sisters, an ill husband, and her own postponed dreams—all while holding down a job delivering room service at a hotel. Her son Dexter is about to be paroled from prison; Quentin, the family success, can’t be bothered to lend a hand; and taking care of two lively grandsons is the last thing BJ thinks she needs. The drama unfolds through the perspectives of a rotating cast of characters, pitch-perfect, each playing a part, and full of surprises.

Who Asked You? casts an intimate look at the burdens and blessings of family and speaks to trusting your own judgment even when others don’t agree. McMillan’s signature voice and unforgettable characters bring universal issues to brilliant, vivid life.

My Review:

Who Asked You? by Terry McMillan chronicles the lives of Betty Jean, her family and friends and their lives in Los Angeles. Although Betty Jean (BJ) is the main character, this book is also told in everybody else's voice such as her husband, her best friend Tammy, her two sisters and Nurse Kim. This is a big book but once I started reading I got lost in the story. My favorite characters were: Luther and Ricky, who are Betty Jean's grandkids, and her best friend Tammy. This book deals with real life issues such as drug addiction, identity, loss, love, and overall family drama.