This book was rough, but I understood there would be a rawness and realness to the story when written by Tayari Jones. 

To be honest, Roy and Celestial were doomed from the start. Roy’s infidelity and roaming eye was front and center in their newfound relationship and honestly not something I think Celestial or any woman could ignore. When the unthinkable happens and Roy finds himself in prison, all of the complexities of their marriage go out of the window and Roy’s expectations become too much. I think it’s easy to say that Dre’s presence is what made Celestial seemingly give up on her marriage and commitment to Roy, but I think Roy pushed her away on his own volition and Dre just happened to be there to support her. 

Add in the overbearing opinions of their parents and I just don’t think their marriage stood a chance, prison sentence or not. I give them credit for trying to work things out, but in the end, they were clearly better off without each other.