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An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club): A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.3 out of 5 stars 62,725 ratings
Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction

Oprah’s Book Club 2018 Selection

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 12 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.

This stirring love story is a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control. An American Marriage is a masterpiece of storytelling, an intimate look deep into the souls of people who must reckon with the past while moving forward - with hope and pain - into the future.

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  1. Listening Length
    8 hours and 59 minutes
  2. Author
    Tayari Jones
  3. Narrator
    Sean Crisden, see all
  4. Audible release date
    February 6, 2018
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
  7. ASIN
    B078Z3RVRL
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 59 minutes
Author Tayari Jones
Narrator Sean Crisden, Eisa Davis
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date February 06, 2018
Publisher HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B078Z3RVRL
Best Sellers Rank #11,528 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#115 in Southern Fiction
#216 in African American Literature
#255 in Family Life Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
62,725 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this novel a riveting read with a compelling love story that feels the nuances of life and love. The writing style receives praise for its poetic dialogue, and customers appreciate the strong character development through alternating points of view. Moreover, the book provides remarkable social commentary and keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions, with some noting it unfolds at a propulsive pace while others find the beginning slow.

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1,730 customers mention "Story quality"1,660 positive70 negative

Customers praise the book's story quality, describing it as a riveting and well-written read, with one customer noting their unabating interest in the plot.

"...There is so much to love about this incredible story. We get history and heartbreaking moment to moment...." Read more

"...THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ IN AGES!!! I couldn't put this book down...." Read more

"...This book is a perfect book club read for the kind of discussions you can have around it, and I really appreciate that, too!..." Read more

"This is a must read and definitely enjoy it. To see different sides of marriage and how to handle was great story telling." Read more

1,205 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"974 positive231 negative

Customers find the book's story compelling and emotional, feeling the nuances of life and love, with one customer noting it's about real people with real struggles.

"...I loved the ending but I think it will be different for each reader. I am very intrigued by the author now and will read more by her...." Read more

"...This story is layered with love, pain, healing, and the tough choices between fighting for what's yours and knowing when to let go...." Read more

"...This is a love triangle, and the story is told from the perspective of the three people involved, Celestial, the woman, Roy, her husband, and Andre,..." Read more

"...writing was fabulous with some really strong lines and an overall heart-wrenching story that was, ironically, very easy to read...." Read more

855 customers mention "Writing quality"769 positive86 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it articulate and easy to read, with one customer noting how the language is embedded throughout the pages.

"...I am in a book club but this was a new way to read a book and it added to the enjoyment of reading The American Marriage...." Read more

"An American Marriage is a beautifully written, deeply emotional novel that hits hard, especially as a father...." Read more

"...The author has such a wonderful way with language; one of my favorite lines in the book is when Roy wryly notes: "If you have a woman, you..." Read more

"...So how do you rate this book, these stories? The writing was fabulous with some really strong lines and an overall heart-wrenching story that was,..." Read more

614 customers mention "Character development"530 positive84 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the alternating point of view and how each character is strong enough to engage readers.

"...He is by far my favorite character in this book. He had to grow in so many areas to be completely free...." Read more

"...Great character development with realistic flawed characters...." Read more

"...This book was seriously so moving. Tayari created real people, people I feel like I know or went to church or school with and it's always a treat..." Read more

"...how the story was told through the letters and the perspective of three main characters...." Read more

441 customers mention "Thought provoking"403 positive38 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and insightful, providing remarkable social commentary. One customer particularly appreciates the multiple perspectives presented, while another notes how it touches on various social and cultural issues.

"...The older men in the book are the true MVP's, old school wisdom. I laughed and cried, the story is very touching...." Read more

"...It's a powerful, culturally rich read that some might not fully grasp if they're not familiar with Black culture, but for those who do, it resonates..." Read more

"...This book raises some really important questions: what does it really mean to hang in there, for better or worse?..." Read more

"...This strengthened our relationship because communication occurred with calmness, respectfulness, and love...." Read more

198 customers mention "Interest"172 positive26 negative

Customers find the book highly engaging, with many noting they were hooked from beginning to end. One customer mentions how the story kept them reading to find out what would happen next.

"...How the incarceration affects all involved is an intense, emotional, love affair you will not forget...." Read more

"Jones bites into your soul’s curiosity. Her in depth characters’ inner dialogue twined through you. A real, riveting read that will not be put down." Read more

"...It is beautifully written. It kept my attention and I read it in just a little over one day. I could not put it down...." Read more

"This is a great read, well written, moves along, keeps you reading to find out what will happen...." Read more

104 customers mention "Writing style"97 positive7 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, noting its uniquely compelling and poetic nature, particularly the dialogue which reads like pure poetry.

"...There are no easy answers to this question, but it was poetic to watch the characters try to address them, each in their own way...." Read more

"This book is written so beautifully and at times it felt so raw and deep. I loved it cover to cover." Read more

"...Ms. Jones has a "knack" for lyrical writing and this book is no exception...." Read more

"...Great jokes, e.g. the CPT provisio. About the only thing I didn't like was the abundance of apologies. “It's not like this” and “It's not like that.”..." Read more

305 customers mention "Pacing"195 positive110 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some praising how the story unfolds at a propulsive pace and how situations keep it moving, while others find the beginning slow and note it takes about a month to read.

"...they're not familiar with Black culture, but for those who do, it resonates deeply...." Read more

"...Spoiler: the wife is a truly unlikeable, spoiled brat and the best man is a cowardly, back stabbing weasel." Read more

"...of systemic issues on personal relationships, making this novel a deeply moving and thought-provoking read." Read more

"...L: I found An American Marriage a moving and emotionally painful read, especially, in today’s racially charged climate where police are called by..." Read more

GREAT READ!
4 out of 5 stars
GREAT READ!
An American Marriage is a beautifully written, deeply emotional novel that hits hard, especially as a father. It makes you reflect—not just on your own marriage and family but also on your childhood and the relationship you had (or didn't have) with your own father. This story is layered with love, pain, healing, and the tough choices between fighting for what's yours and knowing when to let go. It's a powerful, culturally rich read that some might not fully grasp if they're not familiar with Black culture, but for those who do, it resonates deeply. I was completely hooked-finished it in just six days, which is fast for me with my schedule. Highly recommend! Oh… also, read it along with the audiobook if you can. Really brings this book alive.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Marce
    5.0 out of 5 stars From my blog I am glad I went into this story without any knowledge
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    From my blog

    I am glad I went into this story without any knowledge. A friend tagged me on Oprah's post where she recommended friends to read together. A day later another friend reaches out and starts a Whatsapp group to discuss the book. I am in a book club but this was a new way to read a book and it added to the enjoyment of reading The American Marriage. There are no spoilers.

    The story is told in 3 Chapters through the main characters Roy, Celestial and Andre. How you think about marriage will come into question, make you sit back and say what is right or wrong, traditional or not and if generations look at marriage differently.

    "Sometimes when you like where you end up, you don't care how you got there." Kindle 11%

    We get to see how young marriage unfolds, deciding on becoming parents, in-laws, career building and what no one should have to deal with, being locked up for a crime you didn't commit. How the incarceration affects all involved is an intense, emotional, love affair you will not forget.

    Tarai Jones has wrote a winner, I am positive this book will be in my Top Ten for the year. The older men in the book are the true MVP's, old school wisdom. I laughed and cried, the story is very touching. As a black Bermudian it is hard for me to understand the African American life and Tarai Jones does an amazing job on showing us how unfair life can be for an African American man without the feel of racism being uncomfortable.

    "I have one thing to say to you, as a black man: Roy is a hostage of the state. He is a victim of America. The least you could do........ Kindle 40%

    I did not enjoy the character of Celestial, I just couldn't relate to her thoughts, her decisions, she wasn't a strong or weak female, spoiled yes, but that is still no excuse, I really am stumped by how much I disliked her in the story. She has strong opinions on not belonging to anyone, this is a continuous topic. It came to a point every time we came to her chapters, I had to take a breath to tolerate her.

    My favourite characters are the fathers in the story and Roy, a true romantic. There is so much to love about this incredible story. We get history and heartbreaking moment to moment. A huge part of the story are told through letters which gave it a beautiful, genuine feel. You can also feel the journey of love change over the years.

    Is it love or is it convenience? Kindle 69%

    The situation was a lot of things - tragic, absurd, unlikely, and maybe even unethical - but it was not convenient. Kindle 69%

    I also enjoyed how as the reader you are unsure who to root for, how the story will end and who really is the underdog. I loved the ending but I think it will be different for each reader.

    I am very intrigued by the author now and will read more by her. There is so much to this story, I have had to be as general as possible in order for you to enjoy the story as it unfolds. I highly recommend.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • MrChris
    4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT READ!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    An American Marriage is a beautifully written, deeply emotional novel that hits hard, especially as a father. It makes you reflect—not just on your own marriage and family but also on your childhood and the relationship you had (or didn't have) with your own father. This story is layered with love, pain, healing, and the tough choices between fighting for what's yours and knowing when to let go. It's a powerful, culturally rich read that some might not fully grasp if they're not familiar with Black culture, but for those who do, it resonates deeply. I was completely hooked-finished it in just six days, which is fast for me with my schedule. Highly recommend! Oh… also, read it along with the audiobook if you can. Really brings this book alive.
    Customer image
    MrChris
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    GREAT READ!

    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2025
    An American Marriage is a beautifully written, deeply emotional novel that hits hard, especially as a father. It makes you reflect—not just on your own marriage and family but also on your childhood and the relationship you had (or didn't have) with your own father. This story is layered with love, pain, healing, and the tough choices between fighting for what's yours and knowing when to let go. It's a powerful, culturally rich read that some might not fully grasp if they're not familiar with Black culture, but for those who do, it resonates deeply. I was completely hooked-finished it in just six days, which is fast for me with my schedule. Highly recommend! Oh… also, read it along with the audiobook if you can. Really brings this book alive.
    Images in this review
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    One person found this helpful
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  • Amjedi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I know this book was just published but I can't believe more people haven't read it, and not just because Oprah endorsed it. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ IN AGES!!! I couldn't put this book down. I felt like I personally knew these characters and I know a book has captured my heart when I start talking back to the characters (via notes in my Kindle).

    This is one of those stories where you feel like you're watching a bad car accident about to happen and all you can do is brace yourself because you see it coming, but you can't prevent it. This is a love triangle, and the story is told from the perspective of the three people involved, Celestial, the woman, Roy, her husband, and Andre, Celestial BFF. Of course, Andre has actually been in love with Celestial his whole life but she just thinks they're buddies. Roy and Celestial have been married for 18 months and their marriage is like most marriages pretty early on, they have many ups and a few downs, but there is no way for them to know if they can weather a major storm. Well, they don't have to just deal with a storm, they are thrown into a tsunami when Roy is arrested for rape.

    The rest of the story gives the perspective of the three characters as they deal with Roy's arrest, conviction and attempts to exonerate him from jail. Along the way they learn some hard truths about themselves and about relationships, not just with each other, but with extended family members as well. This book raises some really important questions: what does it really mean to hang in there, for better or worse? What if the worse seems to be outweighing the bad by a mile? For those who are incarcerated, is it fair to ask and expect your partner to wait for you, no matter what? Should you let them go and let them move on? Is it infidelity if your partner is completely unavailable and you are married in name only?
    There are no easy answers to this question, but it was poetic to watch the characters try to address them, each in their own way.

    The author has such a wonderful way with language; one of my favorite lines in the book is when Roy wryly notes: "If you have a woman, you recognize when you have said the wrong thing. Somehow she rearranges the ions in the air and you can't breathe as well". YES, I LOVE IT!! She also does an excellent job with nuancing the cultural issues involved with the incarceration of black men, but she isn't preachy or on a soap box, the issues of racism and sexism is woven into the fabric of the story so they naturally evolve.

    This is one of those books that you can't put down and then you feel a sense of loss when it's over. I rarely read books more than once but this book is going to be one of those classics that you will want to return to over and over again. Bravo!
    20 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Kristina Kmieliauskaite
    5.0 out of 5 stars Liked it!
    Reviewed in Germany on January 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed the plot and how it was written. Easy to read, took me 4 days to finish the boo.
    Report
  • Laura Tolomei
    2.0 out of 5 stars Stale and pointless: a missed opportunity!
    Reviewed in Italy on July 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    As much as I appreciated Silver Sparrow, I disliked this new book by Ms. Jones. In many ways it was predictable and too similar to her other book, which probably explains why the end came as no surprise.

    The original twist in my mind would have been a happy ending for the three major characters of this novel, a broader kind of love so to speak, but of course we're miles away from it here.

    In fact, this book just presents a whole bunch of sterotypical relationships and tries to justify them all, even those at opposite ends from one another.

    And having Atlanta as the setting doesn't help either, however much I love the city and appreciated it in Ms. Jones's previous novels.

    That's why I consider this book a missed opportunity.
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  • Christie Dakin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!
    Reviewed in Canada on April 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book surprised me. I bought it because I am part of a book club but I didn't know much about it. The book is written in a unique manner and I am totally enjoying it. I highly recommend it!
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  • Glows2
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very compelling, emotional and well written
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book and it ticked so many boxes for me. Compelling characterisation, flawed and plausible protagonists, a well paced plot and cultural references and implied social commentary that enlighten those of us not brought up in America. The characters are a major strength, of course some you like more than others, but you just can't stop thinking about them and willing them to get the best outcome for themselves. The fact that one character's happiness could be another character's despair makes the book so riveting. The pathos at the heart of this book is breathtaking and I found it hard to stop reading.

    Just as in life a mistake in memory, identity or being in the wrong place at the wrong time can change the course of your life, this is what happened here and Roy Junior and Celestial suffered the consequences. I loved the story of their flawed love and the way it was tried and tested. The technique of using letters to convey their commitment, chaos and confusion was powerful. The trial gave just the amount of detail needed to make the story about the failings in the judicial system in America and how it can be flawed and stacked against African Americans but this a backdrop, don't expect a crime thriller. 'An American Marriage' is the story of family connections and the quest for love and connection. This is what made this book one of the best I have read. If a writer succeeds in making me care about the characters, think about society, learn about unfamiliar lives and culture, then it's a roaring success in my view. To achieve this without an overly sentimental or didactic tone takes skill and verve as a writer. I found it an emotional and absorbing book. An outstanding and memorable book, my first from this writer and I'm about to order another Tayari Jones novel. A complete triumph , I highly recommend it.
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  • Lucía
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reseña
    Reviewed in Spain on July 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    📝«You can never really unlove somebody. Maybe it changes shape, but it’s there.»

    Este libro habla de tantas cosas a la vez que es difícil hacer una reseña que le haga justicia. Partimos de que los protagonistas son afroamericanos en el Sur de EEUU donde desde se puede ver la brutalidad policial y la injusticia de un sistema en el que mete en la cárcel a alguien que es inocente.

    La autora nos deleita con narrativa sencilla y sin grandes adornos que va al grano, pero que está llena de dialogo que te hace sentir los personajes como tuyos y, con ellxs, su sufrimiento. Y es que en realidad este es un libro que habla del sufrimiento no solo por la injusticia sino también por la vida y por los caminos en que esta nos lleva. De seguir adelante cada uno a su manera. Sientes tanto a los personajes que es imposible buscar culpables y, al ponerte en su lugar dudas qué es lo que habrías hecho tu. El final impecable en mi opinión. Una lectura de diez. Tengo muchas ganas de leer más obras de @tayari.

    👉Súper consejo: Si entendéis el inglés os recomiendo encarecidamente escuchar el audiolibro a la vez que lees el libro en físico. Los narradores son espectaculares y hacen de los diálogos una delicia.
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