By Chenai Mugunyani
Do you believe in love? How much do you think you believe in love?
Roy has been married to Celeste for less than two years (everything is ok, they had a ‘future’ together when, what I suppose was an ending to a rightful beginning befalls them, considering they had to go through it all) they visit Roy’s parents and instead of sleeping over, they book themselves into a ‘motel’ and then they get into a fight, they have a safe word “Nov 17- a 15-minute timeout”, the day of their anniversary(I must say this is so cute), he goes downstairs, killing time.
When he gets back to his wife they makeup, all good, until later, in the wee hours of the morning, Roy is arrested for raping a woman he helped during his 15-minute timeout. He didn’t do it, because he was with his wife the whole night. Who would believe them, does it matter because either way, Roy goes to jail?
When Roy gets out, 7 years later, 5 years earlier than the initial time he was supposed to come out. He must reach out to her, he must see for himself, he sees the need to fight for her. Has she moved on, with who, why, when? This book probes the American injustice system. Family dynamics, growing, love as a whole and what it means to love.
The title is fitting, mundane issues we come across every single day, stories we see on TV and hear through a friend, of a friend, of a friend. Black men in America being incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. This book leaves you wondering if only it was possible to turn back the hands of time, but also reason by saying everything happens for a reason, it all works out for the greater good, right?
A bittersweet read that will:
-Leave you questioning EVERYTHING you thought you knew about love.
-It will leave you wondering if love really stands the test of time.
-It will leave you asking yourself what great lengths you are willing to go to in the name of love.
Happy reading.
😊
