The Affair

I'm not really sure where to begin with this one. When I first started reading it, I found the first page very engaging and began to wonder why it has overwhelmingly poor reviews. However, after the first page, the quality seemed to drop significantly. While it is well written, it feels sparse and vague at the same time.

There is very little worldbuilding. We have almost no conversation with our husband, which I feel is essential in a narrative like this to emphasize the sense of distance between us. The maid is mentioned briefly but never appears in the story again. We do not get much information about Thomas, what drew us to him at the bar, or why he made us feel a certain way. The description and inner dialogue that are present don’t do subsequent actions justice. The story feels rushed, missing opportunities to heighten anticipation or show them subtly getting to know each other at the bar through awkward contact or forced conversation. This could have also allowed for character-building moments for Thomas, giving us a greater glimpse into his past, who he is, or how he presents himself.

The branching is quite linear. Regardless of our choices, we essentially end up with two outcomes: an automatic endgame if we do not let Thomas pursue us, or we sleep with him and always get pregnant, leading to the same result. It would have been more compelling to include internal monologue from the protagonist, exploring her torn feelings. Perhaps a path where she doesn’t sleep with him on the first night but gets his number, leading to more nuanced interactions and expanded branching opportunities.

There is probably much more to say, but these are my initial thoughts. While the story fell a bit flat, there is a great deal of potential here if more time is spent on the little details.


3/8 for now.