Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Evidence of the Affair stands as a testament to the power of epistolary storytelling, weaving an intimate portrait of human frailty and resilience through the correspondence between two strangers bound by betrayal. This Amazon Original short story demonstrates Reid’s exceptional ability to craft emotionally resonant narratives that explore the complexities of marriage, infidelity, and personal growth.
A Story Told Through Letters: The Art of Epistolary Fiction
Reid employs the epistolary format with remarkable skill, allowing readers to witness the gradual unveiling of two parallel stories of heartbreak. The narrative unfolds exclusively through letters exchanged between Carrie Allsop and David Mayer, two individuals who discover their spouses are having an affair. This format creates an intimacy that draws readers directly into the characters’ most vulnerable moments.
The choice to tell this story through letters proves particularly effective because it mirrors how relationships often develop through written communication—slowly, carefully, with each revelation building upon the last. Reid captures the hesitancy in early correspondence, the growing trust as the letters continue, and the eventual deep connection that forms between two people who understand each other’s pain in ways no one else can.
The inclusion of the affair partners’ letters adds another layer of complexity, providing insight into the passionate but ultimately destructive relationship between Ken Allsop and Janet Mayer. These letters serve as stark contrast to the thoughtful, evolving correspondence between Carrie and David, highlighting the difference between lust and genuine emotional connection.
Character Development Through Written Word
One of Reid’s greatest achievements in this novella is her ability to create fully realized characters through their written voices alone. Carrie Allsop emerges as a woman grappling with feelings of inadequacy, particularly surrounding her inability to conceive. Her voice evolves throughout the correspondence from desperate and uncertain to increasingly confident and self-aware.
David Mayer presents as a man struggling with financial pressures and the weight of providing for his family while feeling increasingly disconnected from his wife. His letters reveal a gentle, thoughtful nature, someone who notices small details like collecting pennies and takes care to make his children feel special with “macerated strawberries.”
The transformation both characters undergo is remarkable given the constraints of the format. Reid manages to show their growth not through action sequences or dramatic scenes, but through the gradual shift in tone, confidence, and self-reflection evident in their letters. By the story’s conclusion, both Carrie and David have become fundamentally different people—not because of external circumstances, but through the process of genuine human connection and understanding.
Themes of Marriage, Motherhood, and Identity
Reid explores several interconnected themes that resonate deeply with contemporary readers. The pressure surrounding motherhood and fertility issues receives particularly sensitive treatment through Carrie’s narrative. Her struggle with infertility shapes her entire sense of self-worth, a reality many readers will recognize and appreciate seeing portrayed with such nuance.
The story also examines how marriages can drift into patterns of mutual neglect and misunderstanding. Both Ken and Janet’s affairs stem not from sudden passion but from years of feeling unseen and undervalued in their respective marriages. Reid doesn’t excuse their behavior but provides context that makes their actions comprehensible, if not forgivable.
The theme of identity—particularly how we see ourselves versus how others see us—runs throughout the narrative. Carrie believes herself to be “damaged” and insufficient, while David sees her as remarkable and worthy. This disconnect between self-perception and reality becomes a crucial element in both characters’ eventual growth.
The Evolution of Forbidden Love
What begins as practical correspondence about their spouses’ affair gradually transforms into something deeper between Carrie and David. Reid handles this evolution with remarkable subtlety, never rushing the emotional development or making it feel contrived. The progression feels natural and inevitable, born from genuine understanding and shared experience rather than mere loneliness or revenge.
The relationship between Carrie and David serves as a counterpoint to the affair between Ken and Janet. Where Ken and Janet’s relationship is built on passion and escapism, Carrie and David’s connection develops through honesty, vulnerability, and mutual support. This contrast highlights Reid’s nuanced understanding of different types of love and attraction.
Historical Context and Setting
Set in 1976-1978 California, the story benefits from its specific temporal setting. The social expectations for women, attitudes toward divorce, and limited communication options all contribute to the story’s authenticity. Carrie’s situation as a woman entirely dependent on her husband reflects the realities many women faced in the 1970s, making her eventual independence all the more significant.
The geographic separation between Encino and Carlsbad serves the narrative well, emphasizing how two people can form deep connections across distance while struggling to connect with those closest to them. The specific California locations add authenticity without overwhelming the intimate focus of the story.
Writing Style and Emotional Resonance
Reid’s prose style adapts beautifully to the epistolary format. Each character has a distinct voice that feels authentic to their personality and circumstances. Carrie’s letters often carry a self-deprecating tone that gradually gives way to confidence, while David’s maintain a steady thoughtfulness throughout.
The emotional impact of key moments—such as Carrie reading Ken’s declaration that he’s “never loved before”—demonstrates Reid’s skill at crafting scenes that resonate long after reading. The story’s emotional climax, revealed through Carrie’s final letter, provides both closure and hope without resorting to overly neat resolutions.
Minor Criticisms and Considerations
While Evidence of the Affair succeeds admirably in most respects, some readers might find certain elements slightly convenient. The timing of revelations and the neat way certain plot threads resolve may feel somewhat orchestrated. Additionally, the story’s focus on the perspectives of the betrayed spouses means that Ken and Janet remain somewhat one-dimensional, defined primarily by their roles as unfaithful partners.
The novella’s brevity, while generally a strength, occasionally leaves readers wanting more depth in certain areas, particularly regarding the long-term consequences of the characters’ decisions.
Legacy and Connection to Reid’s Other Works
Evidence of the Affair shares DNA with Reid’s other works, particularly The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six, in its exploration of complex relationships and the stories people tell themselves about love. Like those novels, this shorter work demonstrates Reid’s ability to find universal truths in specific human experiences.
The story’s focus on women finding their own strength and identity connects it to themes Reid would continue exploring in later works such as Malibu Rising and Carrie Soto Is Back.
Similar Reading Recommendations
Readers who appreciate Evidence of the Affair might enjoy:
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
- Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
- 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
- Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
- The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Final Verdict
Evidence of the Affair represents Taylor Jenkins Reid at her most intimate and emotionally astute. This novella proves that powerful storytelling doesn’t require epic scope or complex plotting—sometimes the most profound stories emerge from two people simply trying to understand their place in the world. Reid has created a work that honors the complexity of human relationships while offering hope for redemption and new beginnings.
The story succeeds as both a period piece and a timeless exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery. It stands as evidence that the best fiction illuminates universal truths through specific, deeply human stories—exactly what Reid has accomplished in this beautifully crafted epistolary gem.
