A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

“I had been so engaged by Ann Patchett’s multifaceted story, so lured in by her confiding voice, that I forgot I was on the job. […] As the best personal essays often do, Patchett’s is a two-way mirror, reflecting both the author and her readers.” — New York Times Book Review

Blending literature and memoir, New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett, author of State of Wonder, Run, and Bel Canto, examines her deepest commitments—to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband—creating a resonant portrait of a life in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.

Stretching from her childhood to the present day, from a disastrous early marriage to a later happy one, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage covers a multitude of topics, including relationships with family and friends, and charts the hard work and joy of writing, and the unexpected thrill of opening a bookstore.

As she shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed, Ann Patchett brings into focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, and writer.

Ann Patchett is the author of novels, works of nonfiction, and children's books. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the PEN/Faulkner, the Women's Prize in the U.K., and the Book Sense Book of the Year. Her novel The Dutch House was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages. TIME magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. President Biden awarded her the National Humanities Medal in recognition of her contributions to American culture. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is the owner of Parnassus Books.

“I had been so engaged by Ann Patchett’s multifaceted story, so lured in by her confiding voice, that I forgot I was on the job. […] As the best personal essays often do, Patchett’s is a two-way mirror, reflecting both the author and her readers.” — New York Times Book Review

“Emotionally lucid. . . . Patchett is at her lyrical best when she catalogues the jungle.” — The New Yorker

“Patchett’s mastery of nonfiction [is] every bit the equal of her skill as a novelist.” — Shelf Awareness

“All the essays were a joy to read...No matter your interest, you’ll find words in this book that speak to you.” — Real Simple

“Each of the essays is its own delight and resonates with warmth and humor… If read straight through, the book presents a lovely and lyrical look at a life well lived.” — Library Journal

“Readable and candid, Patchett’s collection is a joyful celebration of life, love and the written word.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Reading Patchett is like spending time with a deeply perceptive longtime pal, or a new friend that one instantly connects with.” — USA Today

“[A] sparkling collection.” — The New Yorker

“Happy marriage, compelling writing and all worthy endeavor requires hard work. That’s Patchett’s strength. And she does a fine job.” — Miami Herald

“Patchett … is one of our best contemporary novelists. This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage reminds us that she is an exceptional writer of nonfiction, too. Her prose is a pleasure to read, regardless of genre.” — Dallas Morning News

“Novelist Ann Patchett’s excellent essay collection ranges from dogs to writing to white-knuckled air travel.” — Christian Science Monitor

“While being an artistic crafter of words, Patchett also has a storyteller’s ability to sketch a moment so vividly you can’t fail to see how her own writing life was developed.” — Aspen Daily News

“In this heartfelt collection of autobiographical essays, the novelist opens up about love, friendship, and family, exhibiting the compassionate voice that is a hallmark of her fiction.” — O, the Oprah Magazine

“It is a feat that Ann Patchett remains so lovable as a narrator, and so engaging as a storyteller, when writing about her excellent career, personal life, dog, and husband.” — Newsday

“Patchett’s is a no-nonsense voice: clear, sane, companionable… [T]he funny, frank and nervy ‘The Getaway Car’ (possibly worth the book’s price) plunges readers, roller-coaster style, into the story of Patchett’s writing life—essentially, this collection’s real subject.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“[I]n this terrific, wide-ranging collection, Patchett demonstrates how a pro does it.” — NPR's Fresh Air

“All of the essays, which have been collected from her magazine work over two decades, are excellent. Patchett writes enviable prose—fluid, simple, direct, clear, and fearless…” — Esquire.com

“Ann Patchett most definitely has something to say, in her fully realized and beautiful voice.” — Huffington Post

“[A]ll of the periodical pieces collected are finely polished, worthy of their packaging between two hard covers.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Writing of loss and of the complications of love, Patchett lets down her guard … and opens both her sense of humor and her heart.” — Columbus Dispatch

“Wit-filled and elegantly executed” — Entertainment Weekly

“The best advertisement for Ann Patchett’s new collection of nonfiction is anything else Ms. Patchett has written...Ms. Patchett’s style is not overly confessional, but it is beguiling in ways that make her sound like someone you’d want to know.” — New York Times

Coverage from NPR