A review by andintothetrees
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

5.0

My first read of 2020 and it may end up being one of my favourites! I absolutely loved this novel which follows a young couple over many years. Husband Roy is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, and his wife Celestial rebuilds her life on the outside, with the help of their friend Andre. I won't say more because of spoilers but I was gripped by the story which is very well-told, with realistic characters who the reader is taken right inside the minds of. I enjoyed the secondary characters too, particularly the parents' generation. As well as being a fantastic story, An American Marriage touches on many issues such as race, the US prison system and family/marriage dynamics. I loved the setting of the novel too - Georgia and Louisiana, two states underrepresented in the American literature that tends to make its way over here. Highly recommended!