A couple's marriage must be their priority.

Liane Moriarty argues in her novel Truly Madly Guilty that marriage must be a priority. The idea that being married (as well as other aspects of life) somehow makes the marriage itself less a priority is wrong. As Erika effectively states and argues on Moriarty’s behalf, her marriage is a priority.

Erika explains this much to Clementine later in the novel. Erika is not keen on having children, but she is willing to have children to make Oliver happy. She loves Oliver this much and wants to see her marriage with him thrive. He is kind and does not ask for much. Oliver, in turn, makes his marriage a priority in his life as well: he always, always protects Erika, and never speaks poorly about her to anyone (he tells no one about her hoarding of Clementine’s things...