Editorial note: I received a copy of Kin by Tayari Jones in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
Kin by Tayari Jones is an extraordinary novel that leaves an emotional impact.
This is the long-awaited follow-up to An American Marriage, a story that followed a young couple torn apart when the husband is falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. An American Marriage is a hard read at times, but very impactful and quite heartbreaking.
And Kin is right up there with An American Marriage, and maybe even more so. I was absolutely captivated by this stirring novel about found family. The story is set during the 1950s and 1960s, a period that was so vivid, yet despite how long ago it was, some of the same social issues remain today.
The two main characters felt so real to me. I loved their close friendship and their sisterhood. It all rang so true and was so profound.
What’s the Story About
The story follows two lifelong friends, Vernice and Annie, who were raised in Honeysuckle, Louisiana. Both lost their mothers at a young age. Vernice’s mother was murdered, and Annie’s mother left her behind. The two were immediately bonded by shared circumstances and proximity.
But while Vernice was raised to become a proper woman who would go to college, Annie wasn’t afforded the same opportunity.
Eventually, Annie runs away to find her birth mother, while Vernice leaves the town to attend college in Georgia. Despite their now big distance, the two strive to remain close through letters and occasional visits.
While Vernice will find stability, Annie embarks on a huge journey. After many years apart, the two are eventually brought back together, where everything will change.
Vernice and Annie
Any novel about found family really has to prove their closeness, and while they are so bonded. And I feel Kin did this and more. Despite their differences in almost everything in life, Annie and Vernice shared life experiences results in a closeness that is akin to sisterhood.
But being raised without their mothers impacted every major decision in their lives. Nothing could replace what it could have been like to be raised by their mothers.
There’s a sense of belonging that can never truly be filled. But trying to fill it is what causes Vernice to get engaged quickly despite ignoring her feelings for another person, and for Annie to find her birth mother. It also causes both of them to be closed off to anyone except each other.
The Setting
The setting in the South in the 1950s and 1960s almost serves as another character. It explores racism, classism, reproductive rights, and more. There’s quite a focus on the impact of segregation, for instance, including the aftermath of what happens after Annie accidentally sits in the white section of a bus.
Both girls yearn to escape their stifling, small southern town. But moving to cities provides their own challenges that they have to navigate. However, there are also more opportunities.
Tayari Jones really painted an image of what it was like to live in that era. But it is also a reminder about how some of the same challenges still exist today.
Narrative Choices
While I keep these spoiler-free, I do feel I need to discuss some narrative choices. I was so engaged with this story and had to know how it would all unfold. But when I got to the ending, it felt very abrupt. In fact, I thought maybe my early copy was even missing some pages.
For a story so richly drawn with vivid details, I was a bit perplexed at the rather open and very quick ending. While I understand the open ending concept, after all, this is a snapshot in the women’s lives, I at first didn’t quite feel that concept worked for this story to have left so many unanswered questions.
But then I did reread the ending a couple more times, and I started to see why she made this choice. Once this book is published, I’m very curious to hear your thoughts about the ending.
Verdict
There’s no doubt Kin will be one of the most popular and well-reviewed books of 2026. It deserves all the praise and more. Yes, I did want more from the ending, but it doesn’t take away from this impactful story.
This is a great one for book clubs with much to discuss. Check out my book club questions here.
