Algonquin,
2018. 308 pages, General Fiction
Roy and Celestial are
just learning to navigate life together as newlyweds when they are yanked from
their bed and Roy is sentenced to prison for a violent crime he didn’t commit.
Inevitably, life goes on, and this story recounts through their letters to one
another the ways that distance and doubt attempt to complicate love’s hold.
Celestial’s uncle works diligently to get Roy’s conviction overturned, but the
two must decide if there’s still a place in their hearts for one another as their
realities evolve and they face their unique circumstance.
This book is an
intimate portrayal of the perils and pitfalls of modern romance under strained
circumstances, and the compromises it takes to live a life committed to another
person. Race, though not the focus of this book, cannot be ignored, and the
story comments deftly on this topic, as well as gender roles, racial disparity, and
American culture. Though their story is all at once hopeful and heartbreaking, I enjoyed the unique style of
this book and getting to know Roy and Celestial through their letters to one
another. I listened to the audiobook version of this title, where a male and
female reader alternated narration. It was a unique, conversational format that
matched the storytelling style of the book perfectly; I would highly recommend
going that route.
RC
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