cheating in the 21st century

Most people don't find it surprising that the divorce rate in the United States is a whopping 50%. So basically, one in two people you see in the street most likely have been divorced in the past. Many times, divorces stem from financial problems, abuse, and of course, the infamous cheating machine.

In Zadie's Smith novel, Kiki and Howard both cheat on each other, yet in the end, Howard and Kiki realize all they want is each other. WHAT?! I'm sorry, but I feel like this scenario would never appear anywhere other than a novel or romance movie. I feel like a lot of people cheat because they are unsatisfied or disgruntled with their current partner, and therefore, have to find other outlets. The fact that BOTH Kiki and Howard cheated, it shows that they were both unsatisfied with their marriage in some way. I've had friends who are divorce children because on of their parents, or even both of their parents, where cheating. Usually, when both of their parents are cheating, a divorce quickly ensues, but I don't think I've seen a case when both parents fall back in love with each other.

It's not that I have a cynical or pessimistic view on marriage or love or whatever, I just think that the way Zadie Smith portrays it in the end is just not very realistic. I personally could not forgive a cheater, so I just can't imagine how both Howard and Kiki just fell back in love with each other.