I think the cultural, political and religious setting is important for you to know for your novel. How does the immediate family, community. etc view divorce? What are her options for providing for herself within the context of her society? Has she been working all through the marriage, or does she need to find a way back into the workforce? What about herself? An excellent area to explore man vs self - does she feel guilty about leaving her husband because of her upbringing?
The more you look into the subtext of how those around her treat her, the more real your story will feel.