I struggled with this book. It was overly wordy, in my opinion, to the detriment of the story.

While the story itself was probably good, I had a hard time engaging with it. I don't think I'd recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book after I got past the slow opening. Dara is engaged to marry Austin when he receives some startling news that upends things. The story bounces around from different characters perspective and adds depth. The love of family and great friends is felt throughout. This is a quick read.

An interesting story of how hard a relationship can be and the stresses that unexpected twists can derail even the strongest relationships.

The characters in this book did not make sense to me and the big plot twist had me rolling my eyes. I could not get into this book, but I really do not like novels that make me suspend belief. If I had know this going in, I would have not requested the book.

3.5 stars rounded up! I've always wanted to pick up some of Frances Mayes's novels, and thought A GREAT MARRIAGE was a great place to start. I really loved the overall writing style! It took a little bit to adjust to at first because it is very stream-of-consciousness, but I thought it was so well-done, and enjoyed reading the descriptions of the different settings and characters. I did feel like the pacing was a little slow at times, but not in a way that took my attention away from the story—it felt more leisurely and measured than dragging or tedious. I'd definitely recommend this one for lovers of literary fiction and quieter, character-driven reads! And now I'm even more interested to dive into Mayes's backlist. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

A GREAT MARRIAGE opens at a lavish pre-wedding dinner for Dara and Austin. A spilled glass of wine foreshadows the difficulties ahead for the couple in love. Austin’s moment of indiscretion changes everything, and Dara cancels the wedding. Without giving her family a reason, the distraught bride-to-be runs. The true story is revealed in time, and the reader walks through the period of recovery with both Dara and Austin. And it’s a mess. Will they again find that rare love, the one they tried to erase?

Frances Mayes’ story, both literary fiction and romance, is a beautiful tale of love and of marriage, of romantic relationships, and of the value of generational family support. I loved the narrative, so very well written, literate, blending an interesting and cohesive plot with quotes from Yeats and other greats from literature. Life is a mess—a glorious mess.

A GREAT MARRIAGE by Frances Mayes is a poignant, multi-generational story of love, marriage and the consequences of choices made. Dara Wilcox and Austin Clarke meet by chance at an art gallery in New York. She is from an affluent family in North Carolina, planning to attend law school. He is a British architect working temporarily in New York. The pair fall in love and despite the differences in their backgrounds and aspirations, they vow to make a future together. Just after their joyous engagement dinner at Dara’s family home, Austin receives stunning news from London that threatens to tear the couple apart forever. Dara immediately calls off the wedding and escapes to California, then South Carolina, to the comfort of her close friends, refusing to reveal the reason for the cancellation. Austin returns to London to deal with the devastating situation that will change his life forever. Can the couple ever find their way back to one another or is this the end of their fairy romance? I enjoyed this beautifully-written and emotional story exploring the true meaning of love and what it takes to have a great marriage in a variety of contexts. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

2.5 This one was pretty rough for me and super choppy throughout. I had a very hard time connected with the characters due to the writing style.

Dara and Austin a couple in love about to be married but just days before the wedding Dara calls it off. All the questions secrets revealed an emotional roller coaster beautifully written by Frances Mayes. #agreatmarriage#netgalley

Dara Willcox, while in New York for a weekend, visits an art gallery, and it is there that she meets her soulmate, Austin Clarke. It is love at first sight. Despite the fact that their lives are on two completely different paths - he is from London but is working in New York temporarily, and she is from North Carolina and set to go to law school - they decide to make it work, long-distance. Within a year, they are engaged. Days after their engagement dinner at Dara's family home, Austin receives unsettling news from London, news that changes his life irrevocably When Austin tells the news to Dara, she abruptly cancels the wedding, refusing to reveal the reason to even her parents or her best friend. While Dara is still off licking her wounds, and Austin is back in London dealing with his new reality, Dara's mom has an accident while visiting London on vacation, and that may be the catalyst that brings everyone back together again.

This book was a slow burn for the entire book. I didn't find any of the characters relatable or especially likeable. There were moments here and there where the story picked up a little bit and I got a little more invested in the story, and wanted to see how it all played out. I wanted to like this book, but it just was not the book for me.

I've long admired the work of Frances Mayes and A GREAT MARRIAGE further deepens my admiration of this accomplished storyteller. Deft in describing the complex relationships and grounding the story in a place and time that feel as vivid as my own memories, Mayes tells a story that will stay with me for a long time, the tale of a long marriage, of deep and rich relationship, and how we live our lives with the ones we love. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

This book didn't resonate with me. I didn't feel the urge to rush back and see what would happen next. While I appreciated the premise, the story seemed to drag, taking a long time to reach the conclusion. The descriptions of some settings were overly detailed, which I believe is characteristic of Mayes' writing style. For me, it was just a slow read.

I was very excited to read A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes and unfortunately my high hopes and expectations may have influenced my reading and reception of the book. I had trouble getting going, and by and large I just didn't feel like I connected to the characters overall. I just didn't feel particularly invested in any of them.
That being said, there are no doubt many readers who will thoroughly enjoy it; it just wasn't for me.

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes is a well written novel with diverse and engaging characters!
A delightful and entertaining story!

A story of relationships, this will keep you guessing what’s next. Overall, it was interesting, but very wordy and confusing at times. Fans of Frances Mayes will more than likely enjoy this new book!

I enjoyed this book. It’s got a very diverse group of youngish adults that the story wraps around. Since this is a book review and not a book report, I don’t want to give away too much of the story. Dara is the main female figure and Austin is the main male character. They are getting married ~ or are they? The story kept me interested. I will definitely be recommending this book to others and I will be watching to read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for my honest review.

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes is a beautifully crafted family novel that delves into the complexities of love and commitment. The story follows a couple who experience love at first sight, but as their relationship deepens, it raises poignant questions about what truly makes a good marriage. Mayes’ lyrical prose and insightful exploration of relationships make this novel a compelling read. Fans of Ann Napolitano will find much to admire in this introspective and emotionally resonant tale.

I'm going to be an outlier on this romantic novel that sags under the weight of so many words. At root it's the story of Dara and Austin who are about to be married when Austin gets a call from a woman he with whom he had a one night interlude. You can guess what happens next but there is a twist. It's also partly the story of Dara's parents and her grandmother as well as a young artist friend of Dara's. It's all very lush, layered with privilege and told in the first and third person within the same chapter (and by and about the same person) which can be a bit confusing at first, when it might feel like an editing issue. My bigger issue is that Dara feels remarkably immature, the situations even when dire too rosy (I know that's a contradiction but you'll see), and I struggled at the 60 percent mark to care about anyone because of, well so many words. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I appreciate that others will greatly enjoy it -especially fans of Mayes-but I found it frustrating right down to the ending.

Frances Mayes is one of my mom's favorite writers. She's read Under the Tuscan Sun numerous times and loves the movie version so much that I once woke up during an overseas night-flight and she was watching the movie without headphones and just whispering the lines.

All of that said, Frances Mayes may become one of my favorite writers as well. "A Great Marriage" is the story of a few months in 1995 when a wedding is called off suddenly and the former bride goes on an exploration of who she wants to be vs who she REALLY wants to be, and the groom moves back to London after upsetting news.

The relationships depicted in A Great Marriage are all discussed and explored. Rich and Lee, Dara's parents, have a loving and supportive marriage, where they both are free to be creative in their careers. Charlotte aka Mimi, is Lee's mother and has literally written the book on marriage. She's had two marriages - one with a prominent Senator who died on his front porch. She now lives in a cottage and is having a love affair with an old sailor.

While Austin is dealing with the repercussions of one drunken night, he's also dealing with an unimaginable tragedy, all while nursing his heartache. Dara, our bride, goes to California to visit friends and then spends the summer helping restore a historic hotel. Their hearts pull for each other, they yearn for each other, but they both need the time to see how much they truly need each other.

This is a beautiful book and the writing is the typical Mayes format of humor, warmth and intimate.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A Great Marriage is an interesting look at how our past can truly affect not only our present life but those that we love too. By Frances Mayes this novel is has a soap opera approach to a couple that end up calling off their wedding because the past comes calling. However, it is just as much about their parents and those relationships too.

I expected drama and angst of which there is plenty. A story of family, and of course, the mystery of a great marriage. Sure to be a hit.