A review by books_baking_brews
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

5.0

I don't think I loved a single character in this book, not a single one. But I'm not sure I was supposed to love them. The story is told from three points of view, Roy, Celestial and Andre. Roy is a Black man in America checking all the right boxes. He's graduated from college, got a respectable job, a house, and is 18 months into his marriage to Celestial when he is convicted of a crime he did not commit. He is sentenced to 12 years in prison. The two begin a series of letters which highlights that for all their talking, they never really communicated. Andre is Celestial's best friend, but he is also the guy circling Celestial and so clearly in love with her that I question why the three of them never had a frank discussion about it. But all three of them make nonsensical choices. Roy and Celestial's marriage wasn't the strongest to begin with but this book shows the repercussions incarceration had on this marriage. It wasn't the strongest foundation but it also never got the chance to grow stronger, after all no marriage is perfect at the start. Wrongful convictions happen all the time in America, and honestly Roy is one of the lucky ones because he had access to the means to fight back. I read this book in one day but it will keep me thinking much longer.