An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

 
Celestial and Roy have been a little over a year when it happens.  They leave Atlanta and drive to rural Louisiana to visit Roy's parents.  That night at the motel, Roy helps a woman in another room get ice and walks her safely to her room.  The couple go to sleep only to be awakened by the door crashing in and police pulling them from bed.  The woman who Roy helped has accused him of raping her.  Despite Roy's protests and Celestial's protestation that he had been in their room, Roy is arrested, quickly tried and sent to prison for twelve years. 

At first Celestial goes to visit him but she stops after a year or two.  She is running her own business where she makes dolls to order, and her friendship with Andre next door has deepened into a romantic relationship.  She and Andre had been friends since they were small children and Andre introduced Roy to her.  By the time Roy's appeal is granted, he has served five years and Andre and Celestial are engaged.

What is a marriage?  Roy believes that since Celestial has not yet filed divorce papers, that they are still married and will be.  He goes home to his father who tells him that it he wants his wife, he needs to go get her.  Roy takes off for Atlanta and there he pleads his case to Celestial.  Who will she pick going forward?

This book has gotten many awards.  It was a National Book Award longlist selection and both a New York Times and Washington Post notable book.  It was also an Oprah's Book Club selection.  It questions what love and marriage are and what we owe those we fall in love with in our youth.  It poses a dilemma that most can relate to and will question what they would do in the same situation.  This book is recommended for readers of literary and women's fiction.