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A Great Marriage: A Novel
When a perfect wedding is called off just days before the big event, it sends two people—and their families—reeling, in this poignant novel from the #1
New York Times
bestselling author of
Under the Tuscan Sun
and
Women in Sunlight
“A moving immersion in love and loss.”— People
A great marriage is an elusive thing, and only a few know the secret to making one.
Dara Willcox, in New York for a weekend, meets Austin Clarke at an art gallery. If love at first sight can happen, it happens to them. These two vivid, ambitious people are on different courses—he’s British, working temporarily in New York. She’s from North Carolina, set on law school. They don’t care. They will make their lives together happen. At their April engagement dinner at Dara’s family home, her mother, Lee, sets a beautiful table, and the family and close friends gather to celebrate. Rich, Dara’s father, raises a toast. Suddenly, Lee spills the wine, a brilliant red stain splashing onto the tablecloth and onto Austin.
Days later, Austin hears unsettling news from London that wrecks their plans. Dara abruptly cancels the wedding. She refuses to reveal the reason, not even to her best friends or her parents or grandmother, disrupting their family tradition of openness. As everyone knows, Lee and Rich have a great marriage, and Charlotte, her grandmother, had a colossal one, to the late Senator Mann. Charlotte literally wrote the book on the She’s the author of international bestsellers on what makes a good or possibly a great marriage.
While Dara escapes to California and Indigo Island, South Carolina, Austin, back in London, faces a major tragedy, the consequences of which are life-altering. But it’s Lee, Dara’s mother, whose impulsive visit to London alters their fate.
With her signature warmth, humor, and incisive style, beloved author Frances Mayes creates a multigenerational probe into the complexity of love and the great mystery ride of marriage. A novel of casual choices and fateful consequences, A Great Marriage introduces two unforgettable families and the arrival of a stranger who rearranges their futures.
“A moving immersion in love and loss.”— People
A great marriage is an elusive thing, and only a few know the secret to making one.
Dara Willcox, in New York for a weekend, meets Austin Clarke at an art gallery. If love at first sight can happen, it happens to them. These two vivid, ambitious people are on different courses—he’s British, working temporarily in New York. She’s from North Carolina, set on law school. They don’t care. They will make their lives together happen. At their April engagement dinner at Dara’s family home, her mother, Lee, sets a beautiful table, and the family and close friends gather to celebrate. Rich, Dara’s father, raises a toast. Suddenly, Lee spills the wine, a brilliant red stain splashing onto the tablecloth and onto Austin.
Days later, Austin hears unsettling news from London that wrecks their plans. Dara abruptly cancels the wedding. She refuses to reveal the reason, not even to her best friends or her parents or grandmother, disrupting their family tradition of openness. As everyone knows, Lee and Rich have a great marriage, and Charlotte, her grandmother, had a colossal one, to the late Senator Mann. Charlotte literally wrote the book on the She’s the author of international bestsellers on what makes a good or possibly a great marriage.
While Dara escapes to California and Indigo Island, South Carolina, Austin, back in London, faces a major tragedy, the consequences of which are life-altering. But it’s Lee, Dara’s mother, whose impulsive visit to London alters their fate.
With her signature warmth, humor, and incisive style, beloved author Frances Mayes creates a multigenerational probe into the complexity of love and the great mystery ride of marriage. A novel of casual choices and fateful consequences, A Great Marriage introduces two unforgettable families and the arrival of a stranger who rearranges their futures.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2024
500 people are currently reading
25750 people want to read
About the author
Frances Mayes
49 books2,087 followersFrances Mayes's new book is See You in the Piazza: New Places to Discover in Italy published by Crown. Her most recent novel is Women in Sunlight, published by Crown and available in paperback in spring 2019. With her husband, Edward Mayes she recently published The Tuscan Sun Cookbook.
Every Day in Tuscany
is the third volume in her bestselling Tuscany memoir series.
In addition to her Tuscany memoirs, Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany , Frances Mayes is the author of the memoirs Under Magnolia: A Southern Memoir; A Year in the World; the illustrated books In Tuscany and Bringing Tuscany Home; Swan, a novel; The Discovery of Poetry, a text for readers; and five books of poetry. She divides her time between homes in Italy and North Carolina.
In addition to her Tuscany memoirs, Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany , Frances Mayes is the author of the memoirs Under Magnolia: A Southern Memoir; A Year in the World; the illustrated books In Tuscany and Bringing Tuscany Home; Swan, a novel; The Discovery of Poetry, a text for readers; and five books of poetry. She divides her time between homes in Italy and North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
June 10, 2024
Initially I chose this because of my admiration for the author, who took the world by storm with her captivating memoir detailing the acquisition and modernization of a structure in Tuscany, complete with sensual overloads of descriptions of meals taken outside in timeless settings. Under the Tuscan Sun set off an onrush of emigres hopeful to recreate her experience. However, as with another author whose foodie expertise has led to amazing memoirs, her fiction wallows in the shallows of romanticism, and while there are mouthwatering depictions of every meal and nosh and accompanying drink, the characters are two dimensional, the situations overwrought, and the dialogue improbable.
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January 19, 2025DNF without feeling guilty. A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes was a book I had looked forward to reading but regrettably it did not grab my attention and I quit before the usual fifty pages. I found it to be ambiguous. There were too many characters at the onset and the author did not give pertinent details about what they had to do with the story. So there it is: my first DNF of 2025. I did not rate the book and this opinion is mine alone.
June 8, 2024
What makes a great marriage or even a good one or a good divorce?
Dara and Austin are in love and celebrating their upcoming marriage with family and friends. Little do they suspect that something will seriously impact their relationship, throwing their worlds into chaos. With support of those who love them, will they find their way back to each other?
Both literary fiction and romance, this is a beautiful story and I loved it. With an entertaining storyline, the book explores romantic relationships and partnerships. It is well written, literate, with a cohesive plot and charming intergenerational characters. As she has done with other locales, Mayes paints a beautiful portrait of the South (US). Perhaps a bit fairy talish, I think it may take a certain level of maturity and experience to truly appreciate this read.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @RandomHouse #BallantineBooks for the DRC.
Dara and Austin are in love and celebrating their upcoming marriage with family and friends. Little do they suspect that something will seriously impact their relationship, throwing their worlds into chaos. With support of those who love them, will they find their way back to each other?
Both literary fiction and romance, this is a beautiful story and I loved it. With an entertaining storyline, the book explores romantic relationships and partnerships. It is well written, literate, with a cohesive plot and charming intergenerational characters. As she has done with other locales, Mayes paints a beautiful portrait of the South (US). Perhaps a bit fairy talish, I think it may take a certain level of maturity and experience to truly appreciate this read.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @RandomHouse #BallantineBooks for the DRC.
December 10, 2024
I have never read a book by Frances Mayes. I just saw the movie, which I absolutely loved, that was based on one of her books, “Under the Tuscan Sun.” After I saw the movie, I remember checking out the book from my local library, but I just couldn’t get into it. I think I was too in love with the movie, and felt the book wasn’t anything like it. So, I returned it to the library.
After that, I just forgot about the author. Until, I saw this book at my local library. So, I said to myself, why don’t I give her a chance again. When I put this one on to my “currently reading” shelf, I was surprised to see such low rated reviews for it. But then I was reminded that I didn’t like her famous book that was made into a movie. So, I thought, well, maybe if I take my time with this one, I might feel differently about it.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. 😞
Well, this is what I discovered.
As readers, we begin with the understanding that a wedding is happening. And, then it is not. The story is going to revolve around this engaged couple’s breakup and the ramifications of it. Maybe I should have just stopped there. But I was curious. For a moment. Unfortunately, there were so many characters, I couldn’t keep track. And, I had a hard time caring about the many characters, too. The further I got in to it, the more I realized how rushed the story felt. And then, before I knew it there was the ending. Wrapped up so neatly. What? The reality for me was that the story felt as abstract as the cover. By the time the story ended, all I could do is feel relieved it was over, because it just didn’t work – for me.The End.
2.5 stars rounded down
After that, I just forgot about the author. Until, I saw this book at my local library. So, I said to myself, why don’t I give her a chance again. When I put this one on to my “currently reading” shelf, I was surprised to see such low rated reviews for it. But then I was reminded that I didn’t like her famous book that was made into a movie. So, I thought, well, maybe if I take my time with this one, I might feel differently about it.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. 😞
Well, this is what I discovered.
As readers, we begin with the understanding that a wedding is happening. And, then it is not. The story is going to revolve around this engaged couple’s breakup and the ramifications of it. Maybe I should have just stopped there. But I was curious. For a moment. Unfortunately, there were so many characters, I couldn’t keep track. And, I had a hard time caring about the many characters, too. The further I got in to it, the more I realized how rushed the story felt. And then, before I knew it there was the ending. Wrapped up so neatly. What? The reality for me was that the story felt as abstract as the cover. By the time the story ended, all I could do is feel relieved it was over, because it just didn’t work – for me.The End.
2.5 stars rounded down
April 18, 2024
ARC for review. To be published August 13, 2024.
When Dara Willcox of Hillston, North Carolina (just outside Durham/Chapel Hill) and Austin Clarke of London meet at an NYc art opening it’s love at first sight. She’s headed for law school; he’s an architect temporarily working in the city. They quickly decide they are ready for a life together.
However, just after their engagement dinner Austin gets distressing news from London which upsets their plans and Dara cancels the wedding. She won’t tell anyone why, which is surprising, her parents, Lee and Rich have a great marriage and her grandmother Charlotte, married to a late Senator, actually wrote a book about good marriages.
Dara flees to California, then South Carolina to recover while Austin returns to London to face what he must. Ultimately, it’s Dara’s parents and grandmother who take a trip to London….what happens to both families?
I’m not much on romances, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book, although Lee and Rich seemed a little too good to be true to me, as did Charlotte and her late husband. No wonder Dara was so worried she would suffer by comparison! And it killed me that Dara could just blithely take time off to do what she wanted….um, where do you get the money to support yourself? Where do all of these artists in South Carolina get money? See, I guess I’m just too cynical for romance!
All that said, I still liked the book, especially the line, “Plan B for southerners is always to return home.” That is so true. Love that. So, if you are a romance fan, read this!
When Dara Willcox of Hillston, North Carolina (just outside Durham/Chapel Hill) and Austin Clarke of London meet at an NYc art opening it’s love at first sight. She’s headed for law school; he’s an architect temporarily working in the city. They quickly decide they are ready for a life together.
However, just after their engagement dinner Austin gets distressing news from London which upsets their plans and Dara cancels the wedding. She won’t tell anyone why, which is surprising, her parents, Lee and Rich have a great marriage and her grandmother Charlotte, married to a late Senator, actually wrote a book about good marriages.
Dara flees to California, then South Carolina to recover while Austin returns to London to face what he must. Ultimately, it’s Dara’s parents and grandmother who take a trip to London….what happens to both families?
I’m not much on romances, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book, although Lee and Rich seemed a little too good to be true to me, as did Charlotte and her late husband. No wonder Dara was so worried she would suffer by comparison! And it killed me that Dara could just blithely take time off to do what she wanted….um, where do you get the money to support yourself? Where do all of these artists in South Carolina get money? See, I guess I’m just too cynical for romance!
All that said, I still liked the book, especially the line, “Plan B for southerners is always to return home.” That is so true. Love that. So, if you are a romance fan, read this!
June 19, 2024
In "A Great Marriage," Frances didn't write the ending I wanted to read.
Instead, she delivers an overly sweet resolution tied up neatly in a pretty bow. Readers are going to love it. I didn't.
Dara and Austin are set to wed when consequences from his stupid actions upend their storybook romance. Apart, they set out for a little self-discovery. Apparently, self-discovery comes to those with pockets deep enough to jet between countries or to take spur-of-the-moment road trips across the United States.
My opinions about "A Great Marriage" definitely were influenced by my own marriage to a wonderful man. Austin did a stupid thing and then compounded that with his awful reaction when faced with the initial consequences. My hubby wouldn't do that.
Still, most readers will be captivated by what is presented as a true love story that cannot be torpedoed. Happy endings all around.
Instead, she delivers an overly sweet resolution tied up neatly in a pretty bow. Readers are going to love it. I didn't.
Dara and Austin are set to wed when consequences from his stupid actions upend their storybook romance. Apart, they set out for a little self-discovery. Apparently, self-discovery comes to those with pockets deep enough to jet between countries or to take spur-of-the-moment road trips across the United States.
My opinions about "A Great Marriage" definitely were influenced by my own marriage to a wonderful man. Austin did a stupid thing and then compounded that with his awful reaction when faced with the initial consequences. My hubby wouldn't do that.
Still, most readers will be captivated by what is presented as a true love story that cannot be torpedoed. Happy endings all around.
April 10, 2025
“What did I think of this book?” asks Goodreads.
It was so very disappointing.
Dara ( from South Carolina) and Austin ( from London) fall in love quickly and plan to be married after only a few months of dating. In their twenties, Austin is working long hours as an architect on assignment in NYC and Dara is planning on law school while researching a book on her late step-grandfather. Shortly before their wedding Austin learns that a drunken and unremembered one night stand months before has resulted in a pregnancy. Dara cancels the wedding and Austin returns to London and becomes a single father. The mother dies in childbirth. The melodrama is just tedious and adolescent.
Mayes’ writing style in this novel was distracting. Most of the sentences are fragmented and incomplete. There is a huge cast of characters and the narrative constantly pivots to each one’s point of view. The novel would have been better with fewer characters who were more deeply drawn.
Dara is a quite unlikeable and self-absorbed young woman who wants a marriage like the one her parents have. Her English professor mother is constantly quoting lines from writers like Yeats and Beckett and her journalist father travels the world reporting on oil spills, politics etc. The eccentric grandmother is a successful psychologist who has written best selling books on relationships. I guess that is where the title comes from? For some reason this all takes place between April and December of 1995. Some chapters have the date on them. Others do not. I don’t get it. Why are there references to OJ and Gingrich? It is extraneous and unnecessary to the unorganized plot.
There are several chapters spent on the summer renovation of an Inn with pages describing paint colors, fabric, wallpaper choices…as Dara tries to refocus her life. Too much.
Many of the characters have lost a parent, by death or abandonment, and clearly that was intentional by the author, but nothing connects and it doesn’t add a thing to the story.
I so loved Mayes “Under the Tuscan Sun” and looked forward to reading this new novel all summer. The ending was so Hallmark movie and Harlequin romance I felt totally let down. Not recommended.
It was so very disappointing.
Dara ( from South Carolina) and Austin ( from London) fall in love quickly and plan to be married after only a few months of dating. In their twenties, Austin is working long hours as an architect on assignment in NYC and Dara is planning on law school while researching a book on her late step-grandfather. Shortly before their wedding Austin learns that a drunken and unremembered one night stand months before has resulted in a pregnancy. Dara cancels the wedding and Austin returns to London and becomes a single father. The mother dies in childbirth. The melodrama is just tedious and adolescent.
Mayes’ writing style in this novel was distracting. Most of the sentences are fragmented and incomplete. There is a huge cast of characters and the narrative constantly pivots to each one’s point of view. The novel would have been better with fewer characters who were more deeply drawn.
Dara is a quite unlikeable and self-absorbed young woman who wants a marriage like the one her parents have. Her English professor mother is constantly quoting lines from writers like Yeats and Beckett and her journalist father travels the world reporting on oil spills, politics etc. The eccentric grandmother is a successful psychologist who has written best selling books on relationships. I guess that is where the title comes from? For some reason this all takes place between April and December of 1995. Some chapters have the date on them. Others do not. I don’t get it. Why are there references to OJ and Gingrich? It is extraneous and unnecessary to the unorganized plot.
There are several chapters spent on the summer renovation of an Inn with pages describing paint colors, fabric, wallpaper choices…as Dara tries to refocus her life. Too much.
Many of the characters have lost a parent, by death or abandonment, and clearly that was intentional by the author, but nothing connects and it doesn’t add a thing to the story.
I so loved Mayes “Under the Tuscan Sun” and looked forward to reading this new novel all summer. The ending was so Hallmark movie and Harlequin romance I felt totally let down. Not recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2024
Dara Willcox and Austin Clarke are, at first glance, the perfect pedigree couple. A meet cute at an art gallery, a romance set against the buzzing backdrop of New York, a wedding for the ages in the works; nothing seems like it could possibly upend the young couple's future.
Until suddenly something unexpected and simultaneously cliche does. Without much of a second thought, Dara cancels the wedding and flees to California to soul search amongst friends and along the Coastal Highway. Left reeling from the broken engagement, Austin is left to grapple with the pieces of his life and the single choice that led him there. And amongst it all, the couple's families--generations deep--reflect on the fundamental question that most of us ponder at some point or another: what is it that makes a great marriage? A true love?
Without a doubt one of my most anticipated reads of the year, "A Great Marriage" boasts both a beautiful cover and the author that brought us "Under the Tuscan Sun" many years ago. While not the most unique premise for literary fiction, I was intrigued by Dara and Austin's story enough to dive in, but found myself slugging through the barely-over-300 pages of "A Great Marriage" with disinterest at best. Both convoluted and riddled with laughably out-of-touch, stiff, and conceited characters, I found "A Great Marriage" as much a strange read as a shallow one. With choppy, disjointed chapters and dialogue that never quite reached plausible for me, this isn't a novel I'd recommend despite Mayes' impressive track record.
*Many thanks to NetGalley & Random House for my advanced review copy of this title*
Until suddenly something unexpected and simultaneously cliche does. Without much of a second thought, Dara cancels the wedding and flees to California to soul search amongst friends and along the Coastal Highway. Left reeling from the broken engagement, Austin is left to grapple with the pieces of his life and the single choice that led him there. And amongst it all, the couple's families--generations deep--reflect on the fundamental question that most of us ponder at some point or another: what is it that makes a great marriage? A true love?
Without a doubt one of my most anticipated reads of the year, "A Great Marriage" boasts both a beautiful cover and the author that brought us "Under the Tuscan Sun" many years ago. While not the most unique premise for literary fiction, I was intrigued by Dara and Austin's story enough to dive in, but found myself slugging through the barely-over-300 pages of "A Great Marriage" with disinterest at best. Both convoluted and riddled with laughably out-of-touch, stiff, and conceited characters, I found "A Great Marriage" as much a strange read as a shallow one. With choppy, disjointed chapters and dialogue that never quite reached plausible for me, this isn't a novel I'd recommend despite Mayes' impressive track record.
*Many thanks to NetGalley & Random House for my advanced review copy of this title*
April 20, 2024
This poignant new novel by the Under the Tuscan Sun author beautifully reveals the complexities of love and marriage. Highly recommended!
dnf
October 6, 2024Dnf 33% in
May 14, 2024
Frances Mayes' A Perfect Marriage presents a tale of love, loss, and the complexities of relationships against the backdrop of well-to-do families and their seemingly perfect lives. The story follows Dara Willcox and Austin Clarke, two individuals whose whirlwind romance is abruptly halted by unforeseen circumstances, leaving their families grappling with the aftermath.
While the premise holds promise, the execution falls short. The characters, despite their privileged backgrounds, struggle to resonate on a deeper level. Their wealth and lack of substantial challenges make it difficult to connect with their experiences. Additionally, the sporadic shifts in perspective and the narrative style hinder immersion in the story, preventing a fully engaging reading experience.
Despite these shortcomings, Mayes' narrative does offer moments of introspection and exploration into the intricacies of marriage and family dynamics. The author's warmth and humor are evident throughout, creating a sense of familiarity despite the detachment from the characters.
Ultimately, A Perfect Marriage may appeal more to readers who enjoy exploring the nuances of relationships within affluent circles. However, for those seeking deeper emotional resonance and relatable characters, this novel may fall short of expectations. While not without merit, this particular work is not for me.
While the premise holds promise, the execution falls short. The characters, despite their privileged backgrounds, struggle to resonate on a deeper level. Their wealth and lack of substantial challenges make it difficult to connect with their experiences. Additionally, the sporadic shifts in perspective and the narrative style hinder immersion in the story, preventing a fully engaging reading experience.
Despite these shortcomings, Mayes' narrative does offer moments of introspection and exploration into the intricacies of marriage and family dynamics. The author's warmth and humor are evident throughout, creating a sense of familiarity despite the detachment from the characters.
Ultimately, A Perfect Marriage may appeal more to readers who enjoy exploring the nuances of relationships within affluent circles. However, for those seeking deeper emotional resonance and relatable characters, this novel may fall short of expectations. While not without merit, this particular work is not for me.
May 13, 2024
This is the first work of fiction I've read by Frances Mayes. I loved her books about her experiences in Italy. This too might be a good book to take on vacation. This is a light read, a romance mixed with some philosophical musings about marriage and relationships (most marriages fail through a lack of imagination). Other than the quirky, rich, writer, psychologist grandmother, I never got attached to the characters. Maybe I'm jaded, but I find it hard to muster too much empathy for a group who is so privileged, so attractive and without personal conflict. There is a blow up at the beginning of the book that sets the scene for drama and potential heartbreak. With all of the scene shifts and plot twists for the right reader the book provides a satisfying escape.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an Arc of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an Arc of this book.
September 5, 2024
Overwritten & boring! I wanted to like this book. I love stories about marriages & family dynamics but this book fell flat in every aspect. Also it lost its way as it gave pov’s to more outside characters. I just think it could of been better & instead it was a whole lot of nothing.
July 14, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up. A well written story, mostly about a couple who’s wedding is canceled for an obscure reason. Their families rally around them, support their respective situations, and the end is all tied up into a neat package. However, there is a deeper plot, where actually the “Great Marriage” is most likely about one set of parents. Also, other relationships are described which could be stand-ins for “great marriages.” Despite this deeper message, I felt it was soap-opera-y and didn’t really enjoy it.
August 2, 2024
I received a free copy of, A Great Marriage, by Frances Mayes, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Dara Willcox meets Brit Austin Clarke, and its love at first sight, they start planning a wedding, but end up canceling the wedding, with Austin back in London, and Dara in North Carolina. This was not an easy book to read at all, I did not enjoy it. The book started off very confusing and did not really get any better.
October 28, 2024
I was thoroughly amused.
THOOOOROUGHLY.
😬🫣But, 60% of the amusement came from how absolute cringe the characters or events were.
THOOOOROUGHLY.
😬🫣But, 60% of the amusement came from how absolute cringe the characters or events were.
August 30, 2024
Really 3.5
This novel centers around a couple as they put the finishing touches on their wedding plans. When something happens to derail the wedding, we learn about what happened and about the couple's family and friends from multiple viewpoints.
This would make a great book club pick because there's a lot to talk about in terms of family, friends, and relationships--especially marriages. Other themes are parenthood, forgiveness, acceptance, making the best of circumstances, and what makes a family.
While this isn't the best book I've read this year, I was very interested in the characters and their fates and can recommend the book.
The audiobook is performed by 10 voice actors. There were no weak links here. Karissa Vacker, Cassandra Campbell, and Carrington McDuffie took the parts of the three principal women and carried the novel quite well.
Thanks to the publishers for review copies in various formats.
This novel centers around a couple as they put the finishing touches on their wedding plans. When something happens to derail the wedding, we learn about what happened and about the couple's family and friends from multiple viewpoints.
This would make a great book club pick because there's a lot to talk about in terms of family, friends, and relationships--especially marriages. Other themes are parenthood, forgiveness, acceptance, making the best of circumstances, and what makes a family.
While this isn't the best book I've read this year, I was very interested in the characters and their fates and can recommend the book.
The audiobook is performed by 10 voice actors. There were no weak links here. Karissa Vacker, Cassandra Campbell, and Carrington McDuffie took the parts of the three principal women and carried the novel quite well.
Thanks to the publishers for review copies in various formats.
May 15, 2024
A Great Marriage was the first book I've read by Frances Mayes, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This is the story of Dara Wilcox and Austin Wilcox who meet and fall deeply in love. The book opens with a prenuptial dinner at her parents' house, and it's all perfect until some wine is spilled. Several family members see this as a possible bad omen, and it turns out to be just that. Austin receives distressing news that disrupts their plans and the wedding is canceled. Dara flees to California to visit with friends, then heads to South Carolina to help restore an inn. There are moments of angst and some drama, but it reminded me of a Hallmark movie in book form. My mother-in-law used to love to read books with very mild dramatics (where nobody suffered from serious illness or died) and the ending was all tied up neatly with a big bow. This book made me think of her as she would have loved it.
I found the author's writing style difficult to read. She used a lot of sentence fragments and once I started noticing them, I had difficulty concentrating on what she was saying and found myself paying attention to how she had written it. But if you like your books to be mainly romantic escapes where nobody really suffers and characters live happily ever after, this one may bring you enjoyment. (And as a bonus, it has an arresting and interesting cover!)
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on August 13, 2024.
I found the author's writing style difficult to read. She used a lot of sentence fragments and once I started noticing them, I had difficulty concentrating on what she was saying and found myself paying attention to how she had written it. But if you like your books to be mainly romantic escapes where nobody really suffers and characters live happily ever after, this one may bring you enjoyment. (And as a bonus, it has an arresting and interesting cover!)
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on August 13, 2024.
August 21, 2024
First off, this cover is weird and doesn't really go with the story. If I'm judging a book by its cover I would probably skip over this one.
Now to the book. This seemed to be a hot mess of a story starting out. I was confused by the story and the changing perspectives. The writing was a mess as in one sentence the POV seemed to change. This almost made me DNF the book. I don't like to be so confused that I need to go back and reread sentences over again. However, the writing cleared up the more I read and the story was actually pretty good. It was more than I expected from the rocky beginning.
Without including spoilers I will say I thought some of the storyline was a bit farfetched and could have been reined in a little.
This book reminded me of romances I read back in the day and I enjoyed the nostalgic aspect of it.
All in all this was a decent read. 3.25 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
Now to the book. This seemed to be a hot mess of a story starting out. I was confused by the story and the changing perspectives. The writing was a mess as in one sentence the POV seemed to change. This almost made me DNF the book. I don't like to be so confused that I need to go back and reread sentences over again. However, the writing cleared up the more I read and the story was actually pretty good. It was more than I expected from the rocky beginning.
Without including spoilers I will say I thought some of the storyline was a bit farfetched and could have been reined in a little.
This book reminded me of romances I read back in the day and I enjoyed the nostalgic aspect of it.
All in all this was a decent read. 3.25 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.
June 9, 2024
“What I would have preferred is moot. Maybe at some point, what I preferred isn’t what I prefer at all.” Isn’t that the truth!
Absolutely beautiful story about love, family and not just making a relationship work but, making it truly great.
Austin and Dara are the celebrating their engagement when their marriage is tested before it has even begun. We see both characters develop in ways they weren’t expecting and they are the better for it. I loved that all the characters in this story are striving to be in a great relationship. Even Dara’s parents are still working to have a great marriage. This was such a great reminder that we should all be thinking like this!
At the start of the story, I was expecting a typical romance novel but ,this story went much deeper. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
I was provided an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest options.
Absolutely beautiful story about love, family and not just making a relationship work but, making it truly great.
Austin and Dara are the celebrating their engagement when their marriage is tested before it has even begun. We see both characters develop in ways they weren’t expecting and they are the better for it. I loved that all the characters in this story are striving to be in a great relationship. Even Dara’s parents are still working to have a great marriage. This was such a great reminder that we should all be thinking like this!
At the start of the story, I was expecting a typical romance novel but ,this story went much deeper. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
I was provided an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest options.
June 11, 2024
A couple splits before getting married when the man finds out the woman he had an affair with is pregnant, and she is ill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2024
A Great Marriage
I loved this book so much! It is a love story, but it is a story of love, family, friendships, hurt, and healing. It made me happy to read it.
I loved this book so much! It is a love story, but it is a story of love, family, friendships, hurt, and healing. It made me happy to read it.
August 4, 2024
This novel is a slow burn romance between Austin and Dara. It is my first book by this author, best known for her memoir Under the Tuscan Sun. It took me extra time to become invested in the various characters, but ultimately I wanted to find out how their stories ended. I didn’t enjoy the third person narrative as I wasn’t able to get clear insight into any of the characters. I also had trouble identifying with Dara who presents as young and immature, initially running from Austin’s moral dilemma instead of working through their issues. My favorite character was Dara’s grandmother, Charlotte, who is sassy and also offered wise marriage advice. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy dramatic romances with a happily ever after. 3/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. Available 8/13/24
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. Available 8/13/24
November 13, 2025
A slow start, and then it grows on you. The year is 1995, and a wedding is cancelled due to unusual circumstances. Unexpected twists with likable characters. An altogether good read. I did have to Google "spotted dick." Thank you, Goodreads and Ballantine Books, for this free book.
May 26, 2025
Life pro tip - If you read this, get out a notebook and start writing down the characters at page 1. There are way too many and the author began throwing them around immediately.
I'm glad I stuck with it. The story did turn engaging.
I'm glad I stuck with it. The story did turn engaging.
June 12, 2024
A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes is exactly about that, what makes a great marriage. Dara and Austin are in love and plan to be married. Dara’s parents have an exceptionally great marriage and that is exactly what Dara is hoping for and feels that she is getting, until a wrench is thrown into the picture. On the night of their engagement dinner, Austin reveals to Dara something unexpected that sends her world spinning.
Dara cancels the wedding and does not tell anyone why. She leaves for California then South Carolina to try and put her life back together. Austin returns to London which is where he is from and where this devastating event took place.
Dara’s mother has a major accident while vacationing in London and has surgery there. She needs to stay there a while to recuperate. Dara goes over for her mother, winds up connecting with Austin, understands and accepts his problem, and winds up marrying him.
I enjoyed this romance novel after getting over and ignoring what I felt was a problem. For me there was way too much description of everything. I felt it took away from the story and had me skipping over much of it. Perhaps there might not have been enough there if not for the descriptions.
I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy.
Dara cancels the wedding and does not tell anyone why. She leaves for California then South Carolina to try and put her life back together. Austin returns to London which is where he is from and where this devastating event took place.
Dara’s mother has a major accident while vacationing in London and has surgery there. She needs to stay there a while to recuperate. Dara goes over for her mother, winds up connecting with Austin, understands and accepts his problem, and winds up marrying him.
I enjoyed this romance novel after getting over and ignoring what I felt was a problem. For me there was way too much description of everything. I felt it took away from the story and had me skipping over much of it. Perhaps there might not have been enough there if not for the descriptions.
I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2024
As a longtime fan of Frances Mayes, I looked forward to reading “A Perfect Marriage” via an ARC provided by NetGalley. The story follows Dara Wilcox and her fiancee Austin Clarke, whose wedding is called off due to a surprise happening in Austin’s former life in London. The book then explores how they both pick up the pieces, and figure out how to move forward with their lives.
Dara escapes to California to recoup with friends as Austin leaves for London. Meanwhile, Dara feels small in comparison to her accomplished parents and grandmother, who themselves have lived and loved within great marriages and privilege. I appreciated the multi-generational character depictions here: with multiple points of view, we get the sense of complex familial dynamics at work, even if the book carried low stakes. In comparison, Mayes previous novel “Women in Sunlight” pulls off its promise much more effectively.
Dara escapes to California to recoup with friends as Austin leaves for London. Meanwhile, Dara feels small in comparison to her accomplished parents and grandmother, who themselves have lived and loved within great marriages and privilege. I appreciated the multi-generational character depictions here: with multiple points of view, we get the sense of complex familial dynamics at work, even if the book carried low stakes. In comparison, Mayes previous novel “Women in Sunlight” pulls off its promise much more effectively.
June 20, 2024
Sadly I had to DNF this about halfway through. This book was incredibly choppy, and I found it jumping between subjects, which left me reeling and unsure of how we got there. It's difficult to know what POV each chapter is in, and consistently jumps between 1st and 3rd person, which took me out of the book constantly. Far too many sentences that consisted of 2-4 words. Not that I was easily able to get into it in the first place, as much of the dialogue was unbelievable and far fetched. What father is describing his future son in law's lips and hands as "sculptural?" The way these characters spoke to each other was two-dimensional and felt like a hastily written Lifetime movie.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Random House for giving me an advanced reader copy from in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Random House for giving me an advanced reader copy from in exchange for an honest review!
December 30, 2024
3.5/5
Interesting read dissecting relationships, both new and old
Interesting read dissecting relationships, both new and old
February 15, 2025
Years ago, I read “Under the Tuscan Sun,” relishing the descriptions of the food and beauty of Tuscany within the author’s work of love, renovating an ancient villa. Since then, Frances Mayes has published many books; this is my first time back, and “A Great Marriage” is embedded with luscious descriptions of food, natural beauty and gracious living.
The characters are intelligent, curious about the world beyond their careers, immersing themselves in culture and new experiences; they drew me in over and over again with their uneasy decisions and complex lives.
Over the course of nine months in 1995, Dara and Austin, the golden couple at the center of the novel, are torn apart by a life-changing tragedy. How they find their way through this takes them to the other side of the country and across the ocean, leaning on the support and love of friends and family. Dara’s mother, Lee, is a Yeats scholar; his poetry is quoted throughout the novel. Every phrase, every poem quoted enriched the story lines but more than that, a gift to me.
“A Great Marriage” is the title of a book written by Dara’s psychologist-grandmother, Charlotte, whose personality and wisdom drives much of the inner life of the central characters. “…a great marriage happens when two people are big enough to want more for the partner than they want for themselves…most marriages fail through lack of imagination…you have to be able to imagine otherwise and find the way over and around the lump that is the present.”
The many story threads in this novel take the reader to unexpected places that sometimes bring delight and at other times, anguish…”things fall apart; the center cannot hold”…Yeats again. There is a section toward the end of the book where several of the characters are discussing Beckett and Keats and their thoughts about accommodating to the chaos of our lives, adapting to the sticky mess we often find ourselves in. In the end, Keats thoughts that we must be “capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason” seemed the best explanation for how the characters move through their “sticky messes.” And us?
The characters are intelligent, curious about the world beyond their careers, immersing themselves in culture and new experiences; they drew me in over and over again with their uneasy decisions and complex lives.
Over the course of nine months in 1995, Dara and Austin, the golden couple at the center of the novel, are torn apart by a life-changing tragedy. How they find their way through this takes them to the other side of the country and across the ocean, leaning on the support and love of friends and family. Dara’s mother, Lee, is a Yeats scholar; his poetry is quoted throughout the novel. Every phrase, every poem quoted enriched the story lines but more than that, a gift to me.
“A Great Marriage” is the title of a book written by Dara’s psychologist-grandmother, Charlotte, whose personality and wisdom drives much of the inner life of the central characters. “…a great marriage happens when two people are big enough to want more for the partner than they want for themselves…most marriages fail through lack of imagination…you have to be able to imagine otherwise and find the way over and around the lump that is the present.”
The many story threads in this novel take the reader to unexpected places that sometimes bring delight and at other times, anguish…”things fall apart; the center cannot hold”…Yeats again. There is a section toward the end of the book where several of the characters are discussing Beckett and Keats and their thoughts about accommodating to the chaos of our lives, adapting to the sticky mess we often find ourselves in. In the end, Keats thoughts that we must be “capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason” seemed the best explanation for how the characters move through their “sticky messes.” And us?
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