An American Marriage
Author: Tayari Jones
Genre: Adult fiction 
Publisher: Alogonquin Books
Published: January 29, 2018
Pages: 308
My Rating: ★★★★

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.
A man wrongly convicted of a crime he didn't commit that forever affects everyone around him.
This book was something I had never experienced before. The book is told in three different perspectives which were very interesting as an outsider looking into a marriage. It does a very good way of showing that there are always two sides to an argument especially when it comes to relationships. I got a good glimpse into what married life is like beginning, middle, and end. This book kept me on my toes and at times I hated both characters for different reasons. I was very happy with the ending. It was not a cookie-cutter and was done very well. I loved the writing style. 

The only reason why this was not a five star read for me is that it did drag at times but I do believe that was the purpose seeing as to Roy is in prison for most of the novel. This book got me out of a terrible reading slump I had been having and is the first book I have finished in months. I think everyone should read this book. It deals with major topics and especially race. The book was very thought-provoking and it was just what I needed.
Barnes & Noble 


Tayari Jones is the author of the novels Leaving Atlanta, The Untelling, Silver Sparrow, and An American Marriage (Algonquin Books, February 2018). Her writing has appeared in Tin House, The Believer, The New York Times, and Callaloo. A member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, she has also been a recipient of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, Lifetime Achievement Award in Fine Arts from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, United States Artist Fellowship, NEA Fellowship and Radcliffe Institute Bunting Fellowship. Silver Sparrow was named a #1 Indie Next Pick by booksellers in 2011, and the NEA added it to its Big Read Library of classics in 2016. Jones is a graduate of Spelman College, University of Iowa, and Arizona State University. She is currently an Associate Professor in the MFA program at Rutgers-Newark University.