American Wife

A Memoir of Love, War, Faith, and Renewal

By: Taya Kyle, Jim DeFelice

Narrated by: Taya Kyle

The widow of “American Sniper” Chris Kyle shares their private story: an unforgettable testament to the power of love and faith in the face of war and unimaginable loss--and a moving tribute to a man whose true heroism ran even deeper than the legend

In early 2013, Taya Kyle and her husband Chris were the happiest they ever had been. Their decade-long marriage had survived years of war that took Chris, a U.S. Navy SEAL, away from Taya and their two children for agonizingly long stretches while he put his life on the line in many major battles of the Iraq War. After struggling to readjust to life out of the military, Chris had found new purpose in redirecting his lifelong dedication to service to supporting veterans and their families. Their love had deepened, and, most special of all, their family was whole, finally.

Then, the unthinkable. On February 2, 2013, Chris and his friend Chad Littlefield were killed while attempting to help a troubled vet. The life Chris and Taya fought so hard to build together was shattered. In an instant, Taya became a single parent of two. A widow. A young woman facing the rest of her life without the man she loved.

Chris and Taya’s remarkable story has captivated millions through Clint Eastwood’s blockbuster, Academy Award-winning film American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper as Chris and Sienna Miller as Taya, and because of Chris’s bestselling memoir, in which Taya contributed passages that formed the book’s emotional core. Now, with trusted collaborator Jim DeFelice, Taya writes in never-before-told detail about the hours, days, and months after his shocking death when grief threatened to overwhelm her. Then there were wearying battles to protect her husband’s legacy and reputation.

And yet throughout, friendship, family, and a deepening faith were lifelines that sustained her and the kids when the sorrow became too much. Two years after her husband’s tragic death, Taya has found renewed meaning and connection to Chris by advancing their shared mission of “serving those who serve others,” particularly military and first-responder families. She and the children now are embracing a new future, one that honors the past but also looks forward with hope, gratitude, and joy.

American Wife is one of the most remarkable memoirs of the year -- a universal chronicle of love and heartbreak, service and sacrifice, faith and purpose that will inspire every reader.

Heart warming and very powerful

The story captivated me and literally took my breath away. Family is everything to me, this book encouraged me to be a better husband and to enjoy the time I have with my family.

A great book!

I did think that I would be so moved by this book. Taya did an awesome job reading it.
It was a book that I had to keep listening to.
Their love for each other was amazing.
I am not going to spoil it by giving any of the story away, just listen to it and be inspired.

Great book

Such a phenomenal story and gives a different perspective from the eyes of a military wife. I cried at every listening session.

Great great book!!

This book was way better than any expectations I had for it I drive a lot and listen to books. It was like a personal friend to have Taya narrate it.

Beautiful, real, timeless

Chris Kyle won me in American sniper, and now his widow, Taya, has done more than that. She has reminded me that grief, as painful as it is, is something that can take you down paths you never would have gone and opened opportunities to help people you never would have been able to help before. God is using this woman in so many ways. Her strength and determination are an example for women everywhere to imitate.