This was a nostalgic, relatable, and timelessly relevant read. Between 2020’s pandemic, social justice protests, and marital issues, there was so much to absorb as I read. Lies about finances drive a couple apart and another couple is struggling over an uneven balance of activism. It was fascinating to see the material issues explode and how the Cynthia and Melissa navigate the messes left behind. sisters have no choice but to turn to one another. I really enjoyed the way the themes of of trust and societal issues are painted throughout the pages. I felt a lot of emotion for every character and their individual issues.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review will be posted on Instagram and Amazon on pub day and links added to NetGalley.

Virginia Pye’s Marriage and Other Monuments masterfully intertwines the unraveling of two families with the chaos of a nation in turmoil. Set in Richmond during the pandemic and the protests that followed George Floyd’s death, Pye's latest novel captures how public turmoil seeps into and shapes private lives. The unraveling of two marriages unfolds against the toppling of monuments, revealing how race, class, and long-held secrets can erode even the strongest foundations. Pye writes with honesty and empathy about love, loss, and survival. Her characters are infinitely relatable, and I know I'll be thinking of them for a long time to come. Thank you, NetGalley and Koehler Books, for this wonderful early read.

This was an insightful portrayal of two tumultuous marriages amidst the Covid pandemic and racial protests in Richmond, Virginia. The "Other Monuments" in the title is both figurative--the monuments of social justice and society--and literal, as activists demand the removal of Confederate statutes in town.

The novel is told from the four points of view of the two marriages. The novel excels at showing each person's thoughts and needs, in a way that when reading each character, you're convinced that their story of their marriage is the correct one... until you are swayed by the character in the next chapter. Pye deconstructs the marriages realistically, showing that both sides of a story can be both true and misleading.

This novel is both a timepiece of 2020 as well as an unfortunately timeless story of inequality and hope. The characters are flawed and wonderful and spending time with them was pure joy. An excellent read.

I read this book with great interest and quite quickly. I found it to be a complex yet readable story and I loved how its various narratives were intertwined to deepen and connect the themes. I've read a few of Pye's other books and this one really stuck out for me. I was moved by the characters' dilemmas and being taken back in time to the recent history of the George Floyd summer was a powerful experience. Thank you for sharing this galley with me; I will certainly recommend this book with enthusiasm.

Elegant and reflective, MARRIAGE AND OTHER MONUMENTS manages to be both entertaining and wise. The time period, including social unrest, is expertly conveyed with exactly the right amount of detail. The COVID pandemic and racial protests are an important part of Richmond's history. I especially admired how we get to see four points of view as the story examines two marriages in a time of transition. Just when we are on someone's side, Pye shows us the other side of the story. The interiority of these characters was my favorite part of the novel. The ending wraps things up nicely.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.