Kin by Tayari Jones
A lush 1950s Southern story about two motherless best friends and the bond that keeps pulling them back together.
At a Glance
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Find It on AmazonKin by Tayari Jones: A March Book of the Month I Did Not Want to Wait On
I was very excited to see that Kin by Tayari Jones was one of the Book of the Month choices for March 2026. Sometimes I wait a bit before reading the Book of the Month selection if I have a large TBR pile, but my friend had recently purchased this book too, so I wanted to read it quickly so we could compare notes. Kin is a historical fiction novel set in the 1950s in the American South during segregation. It is the story of two motherless girls who are best friends, but so much more than that. One is being raised by her older sister, and the other is being raised by her grandmother. They end up taking very different paths as they begin to enter adulthood, and we follow each of them on those journeys.
Immediately upon reading the first few chapters of Kin by Tayari Jones, I needed to know more about the author. She is an exquisite writer and does an amazing job with both characters and setting. The novel moves from small-town Louisiana to Atlanta and Memphis. Vernice attends Spelman College in Atlanta and encounters all sorts of trials and tribulations there, while Annie sets off for Memphis to try to find the mother who left her as a child. While on her way to Memphis, she meets some misfortune and continues to feel the pull of sadness from her childhood once she arrives. All the while, the girls are separated, but that does not keep them from continuing to be there for each other, and eventually this leads to a reconnection during Annie’s time of need.
What Worked for Me
The novel deals with some pretty serious issues like racism, sexism, classism, and sexual exploitation in a way that is respectful of the seriousness of these issues but still provides some comic relief through the characters and their various predicaments, as well as their viewpoints on the world. If you like a short and to-the-point writing style, this might not be the author for you, but if you are like me and enjoy long and descriptive prose, then I would highly recommend Tayari Jones’ Kin.
Jones used a full three paragraphs to describe the use of the term “trifling” – and I was just blown away by her ability to play with language and draw you into the lives of these found-family characters.
One of my favorite parts was early in the book where Jones used a full three paragraphs to describe the use of the term “trifling” when referring to both women and men. I was just blown away by her ability to play with language and really draw you into the lives of these unique found-family characters and their strong bonds and relationships. The setting also pulls a lot of weight here. Jones makes 1950s Louisiana, Atlanta, and Memphis feel specific and lived-in rather than like a backdrop, which gives the heavy themes room to breathe.
Where It Fell Short
The descriptive, slow-burn style that I loved will not work for every reader. If you are in the mood for something quick or plot-driven, Kin may feel like it lingers in places where you would rather move forward. The book also asks you to sit with heavy themes for long stretches, so it is not a light pick-up-and-put-down read. Going in knowing it is a literary, character-first novel will help set the right expectations.
Who Should Read It
Read Kin if you love literary fiction with rich prose, layered characters, and a strong sense of place. It is a great pick for readers who enjoy historical fiction about the American South, stories about Black women and the friendships that hold them together, and books that take their time to build their world. If you prefer fast-paced thrillers or breezy summer reads, you may want to save this one for a slower season when you can really sink into it.
Final Thoughts
I would highly recommend Kin and will be looking for more books written by Tayari Jones to read very soon. It is the kind of novel that reminds you why you fell in love with literary fiction in the first place: characters that feel like people you know, language you want to underline, and a found-family bond that stays with you after the last page.
My rating is 4.3 stars. If you are a literary fiction reader who loves Southern stories, character-driven novels, and writing you want to slow down for, this is an easy yes. If you tend toward fast plots over prose, go in knowing this one rewards patience.