An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club) cover art

An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club)

A Novel

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club)

By: Tayari Jones
Narrated by: Sean Crisden, Eisa Davis
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $27.99

Buy Now for $27.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

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.

©2018 Tayari Jones (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
African American Family Life Fiction Literary Fiction Southern States United States Women's Fiction Heartfelt Marriage

Critic Reviews

"Narrators Eisa Davis and Sean Crisden skillfully portray Celestial and Roy.... In Part One, the narrators read the couple's letters so intimately that the listener may feel like an intruder.... As every wedding vow is tested, the narrators breathe intensity into Jones's riveting prose." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club)

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    254
  • 4 Stars
    151
  • 3 Stars
    73
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    272
  • 4 Stars
    116
  • 3 Stars
    42
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    216
  • 4 Stars
    125
  • 3 Stars
    76
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful and wonderful

A beautifully written story of terrible injustice and what relationships mean. The writing is superlative and the narration extraordinary. Such a beautiful book that has been brought to life in such a fantastic way.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not quite what I expected

This is an original narrative that held my attention in parts, but overall was something of a disappointment. The characters had complexity and depth, but I couldn't warm to any of them. The husband's continual whining in the second half was just plain annoying to listen to. Their attitudes I found sexist, which just rubbed me the wrong way too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So relevant to today

I can quite imagine this as a true story. Well written and performed. Sad, happy, tragic and so today's America.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great

great story beautifully read I am going to find my next listen by this wonderful author

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Flimsy

Disappointing, as there was no detail about the main event, which directed the story and characters were lacking.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

This bpok flowed beautifully, I loved the characters especially Big Roy, loved the ending. Delightful & engaging from start to finish

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The Title is Wrong

I listened to the end but it wasn't the most riveting book I've read. The title doesn't fit the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An absorbing story

I enjoyed the story from the beginning to end. It was realistic in its depiction of family relationships. There was not a simple fairy tale story but one that showed racial, gender and class divides.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Perfectly read

Loved the readers. They were fantastic. The story was a bit lacking though. It didn’t justify a whole book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great novel

Loved every part of this story. a true love story. you won't be disappointed. ever.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.