Review Of The Affair

This was a feel good romance, sweet, meaningful and so very insightful. Contrary to what I had expected from the title and the blurb, there was nothing 'taboo' and controversial about this book and that kind of worked for this book and to an extent it didn't. I wouldn't call the title completely deceitful or misleading but it's not what one would expect from a book titled 'The Affair'. It does have some elements of an affair but it's more like in the past (Elle's grandmother's story) and the way it influences Elle's life and her decisions in the present is what forms the crux of the story. There are loads of parallels between Elle's grandmother's story that she finds in her journal to her own life post the divorce be with her husband and her closeness with her husband's brother - Sawyer. As a reader, here Is where I wish the story had taken a more forbidden route by showing the affair even in the present. That would have made it all the more exciting to read. Coming to how the actual story plays out - it's more like a second chance romance - trusting people, letting them in and most importantly - learning to change and adapt. Despite being a simple second change love story drawing inspirations from the past, what works best for the story is the way the aforementioned elements are brought out in the story in a very natural way. 'Change' especially has been highlighted in so many ways - her antique store and what she sell there, all the way to how she sees and treats her family (mother and brother in particular). To add on, the author has also added lot of family ties, problems and some surprising elements towards the end. For the most part, they work and contributes for a very meaningful and 'complete' family and is not even boring for the most part. But what it lacks is the tension and love between Elle and Sawyer. There is love sans the associated tension, struggle, anticipation and pain of seperation, it feels lacking overall. And I also I didn't like how Elle took some decisions that left Sawyer hanging for the most and that too for no fault of his. But overall it was read that I enjoyed and left a smile on my face. I would go with 4 stars.