A Delicate Marriage

A Delicate Marriage

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From glittering ballrooms to verdant mountains to poverty-stricken slums, A Delicate Marriage takes the reader on a vivid tour of Puerto Rico 40 years after becoming a U.S. colony, a time of great change and political turmoil on the island. 

Isabela, a wealthy woman, sacrifices her artistic aspirations to marry Marco, a penniless man dedicated to improving conditions on the island. As the island’s insular government enacts pro-U.S. policies, Marco builds a real estate empire while struggling to maintain his populist principles. Meanwhile, Isabella feels unfulfilled in her traditional role as a wife and mother and becomes disillusioned with Marco’s shifting moral compass. She begins to identify with anti-U.S. factions, leading a dangerous double life that puts her family in peril.

As political violence threatens their paradise, Isabela and Marco question whether their marriage, like the island’s relationship with the U.S., should continue. Margarita Barresi’s debut novel celebrates Puerto Rican culture while delving into themes of class, oppression, and the effects of colonialism through the lens of a marriage.

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Awards & Recognition

  • Shelf Unbound Notable Book of 2023

  • National Indie Excellence Awards 2024: Winner in Latinx Fiction

  • Independent Press Book Awards 2024: Distinguished Favorite, Multi-Cultural Category

  • Literary Titan Book Award: September 2023 Silver Award

  • Firebird Book Awards Q3 2023: Winner, Multi-Cultural Fiction

  • Independent Author Network: Finalist in Historical Fiction and Multi-Cultural Categories

  • Historical Fiction Company Awards 2024: Long Listed

  • Eric Hoffler Book Award 2024: Historical Fiction Category Finalist

Buzz

“Margarita Barresi’s A Delicate Marriage is an electrifying debut … smart, heartfelt and timely… a trenchant portrait of an island and a marriage pushed to the breaking point. ”
— Junot Diaz, author of This is How You Lose Her
“I was up all night reading and couldn’t put it down. A Delicate Marriage is a story easily read, but not easily forgotten.”
— Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean
“A Delicate Marriage is an endearing and intricate portrait of a nation, a people, and a marriage, highlighting the collision of our hopes and dreams. ”
— Ivelisse Rodriguez, author of the PEN/Faulkner Award finalist, Love War Stories
“Barresi has written an absorbing and expansive debut that is both atmospheric and politically insightful, giving readers an undeniably intimate look at the volatile history of Puerto Rico, wrapped around a complicated and sweeping love story.”
— Jane Healey, author of Goodnight From Paris
“Immersive and interesting, empathetic, and expansive, Barresi skillfully interweaves a love story with the history of Puerto Rico politics. An impressive debut!”
— Susie Orman Schnall, author of We Came Here to Shine
“The 1930s and 40s in Puerto Rico come vividly to life in A Delicate Marriage, a finely crafted portrait of a couple tested by class differences and the turbulent politics surrounding the island’s status as a U.S. colony. This novel takes the reader from elegant ballrooms to crushing poverty as it explores two marriages: not just the stormy union of Isabela and Marco, but also the fraught relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States. A compelling debut. ”
— Lisa Borders, author of of The Fifty-First State and the forthcoming 20th Century Girl
“Barresi is a naturally gifted storyteller with a talent for narrative structure…What emerges is a fully three-dimensional portrait of a couple trying to find a way forward in a time of political and social upheaval…An absorbing and deeply nuanced romance.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Barresi expertly weaves captivating details of Puerto Rican history into this gripping love story.”
— Independent Book Review
“(A) heartfelt and enchanting love story enriched by a historic Puerto Rican backdrop”
— BookTrib
“A Delicate Marriage, with its blend of glamour, charm, and a nostalgic nod to a bygone era, promises to uplift readers’ spirits on even the dreariest of days, inviting them to revisit the tempestuous yet enchanting landscape of Puerto Rico.”
— Literary Titan, Silver Award-Winner
“A Delicate Marriage is rife with character and depth and a wonderfully educational look at the history of Puerto Rico.”
— Feathered Quill
“I loved walking through the 1930-1950s with Isabela and Marco, especially because of the setting, which showed the rich, poor, ugly, and beautiful sides of Puerto Rico—a place I’d now love to visit. Barresi’s flair for writing and storytelling made this a wonderful read.”
— Readers' Favorite
“A Delicate Marriage offers a captivating exploration of love’s power to transcend societal boundaries while shedding light on the complexities of personal and cultural change within the context of Puerto Rican history. ”
— OnlineBookClub.org
“Libraries and readers interested in either Puerto Rico or a winning story of a couple buffeted by the winds and tides of political change will find A Delicate Marriage compelling, revealing, and thought-provoking. ”
— D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

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