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There are currently 18 member reviews
for Ordinary Love
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Ashe
Not so Ordinary Love
Ordinary Love stands out as a beautifully crafted and moving story that is deeply relateable. This second chance romance expertly navigates the complexities of an emotionally abusive relationship and its far-reaching impact on other connections. Although we do arrive at a happy ending, I appreciate that not everything is neatly wrapped up. The presence of unresolved outcomes adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, and it feels completely fitting.
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Marcia K. (Willoughby, OH)
Ordinary Love
At first glance this would appear to be a coming of age story of Emily and Gen. However it is so much more. Marie Rutkoski has done a brilliant job of character development as they have matured in their life choices good and bad. The protagonists are presented in such a way that you think you know them until there is a deep dive into the developing personalities. The age old problems of love, hate, jealousy, trust and forgiveness of yourself and others are predominant. The story expands and contracts as it progresses and culminates in an ending which is not totally expected. Bring your tissues.
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Kathy D. (Spotsylvania, VA)
Ordinary love not so ordinary after all
Friends since fifth grade, Emily and Gen realize their love for one another in their senior year of high school. Their relationship changes over time, through misunderstandings, life choices, intimacy, friendships, guilt, and loss. After a years-long separation they cross paths once again, their magnetic attraction still so powerful after all these years. Emily is unsure she can resist, or even if she wants to (What about my marriage? Am I gay, or something else?).
The book is told through Emily's experiences and her self-talk vividly portrays her self-doubt, the tug-of-war she has with her feelings and where/how she really fits into her world. As I read, I was unsure how Emily and Gen would resolve their complicated relationship and if Emily could fully accept the powerful feelings she had for Gen (along with the accompanying consequences).
These characters were depicted in such a way that the events and conversations seemed possible in reality. Overall I really enjoyed this book. The timeline jumped around, which at times I found a bit confusing, but the story and the characters drew me in.
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Melissa C. (Saint Johns, FL)
Incredibly Moving Love Story
An incredibly moving, heartwarming and heart wrenching love story that swept me away. At times, I felt the story dragged a bit, but it did not take away from the intensity of the characters and what they went through in their lives, both together and apart. This is an important read for those who may not understand or want to understand the complexities of "true" love, regardless of traditional conventional love.
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Judith G. (Costa Mesa, CA)
Duplicity
I followed the characters throughout hoping for a resolution that was good for all. Perhaps the ending did but it took a long time to get there. Selfish, narcissistic personalities. Unresolved gender issues. Graphic erotica dropped in periodically. Time/era/period changes. Somewhat difficult to follow. Still, a compelling read to the end to find the final resolution.
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Edie M. (Kennett Square, PA)
Not so ordinary
It's hard to imagine a more beautiful love story. From the beginning to the end and all the bumps in the middle. Very unexpected for me.
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Jennie R. (Plymouth, MN)
Almost a really good book
This book is about Emily and her high school best friend turned lover, Gen. They ended up attending different colleges after high school, then breaking up over a misunderstanding shortly after, but Emily has never truly forgotten Gen. It's also about Emily's marriage to a man named Jack.
Jack comes from a wealthy family and has a sophistication that intrigues Emily, and when they start dating, Jack goes out of his way to impress Emily, showering her with money and attention, and after six months, he proposes. Even before the wedding, there are red flags, warning bells of Jack's over sensitivity and reaction to anything Emily says or does that is remotely critical but Emily manages to convince herself all is well.
They marry and things are mostly good for a while, but over time, Jack slowly but intentionally isolates Emily from her friends and family, and Emily finds herself constantly having to anticipate what might spark Jack's often explosive anger. Two children later, the situation has evolved into an abusive marriage but Emily seemed oblivious, and always second guessing herself. Maybe she wasn't trying hard enough. It was hard to find sympathy for her by this point and I found myself really frustrated with her,
Overall, I liked the story, but more than once I felt the dialogue between Emily and her children seemed…not motherly is the best I can come up with…one example is when she tells her six year old he's a hypocrite. I enjoyed the relationship between Emily and Gen, but there were too many miscommunications and assumptions it made the story drag for me. By the time I reached the 350th page, I was glad to finish.
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