Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski is a beautifully written, novel that explores the complexities of desire, betrayal, and sexuality. It follows the story of Emily, who lives a life of luxury in Manhattan. She finally leaves her controlling husband., fed up of his coercive behaviour. Emily hooks up with a.n old girlfriend, Gen Hall, now an Olympic athlete, and is forced to deal with the resurgence of an old college passion. The story navigates the nuances of middle-aged longing and the scars it leaves. Rutkoski’s prose is elegant and incisive, peeling back the layers of her characters’ inner lives with precision. It’s a quiet yet devastating portrait of imperfect love—both romantic and familial. Many thanks to @netgalley and to @penguinrandomhouse for the advance copy in return for my review.

This was good, but it could have been so much better with some good editing. I got quite bored somewhere in the middle, and the ending seemed rushed, and could have been much better.

Emily and Gen grew up together and went to school together, and friendship morphed into love. When they fell out at the time of going off to college they didn’t see each other for years. Emily studied Classics, and them met and married Jack who was rich and put her on a pedestal. 2 children later she has tried to leave him a few times, and he always managed to suck her back in, until she leaves him for good. Gen, meanwhile, has become an Olympian and a gay icon with a string of famous ex’s in her wake. When Gen and Emily meet again they discover the feelings haven’t disappeared but can they make things work with Jack trying to get back with Emily, and the children wanting their family to stay together – and then there’s the pre-nup Jack made Emily sign....

This has the makings of a very good story, just needs a re-write.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7625367484

https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2025/06/ordinary-love-by-marie-rutkoski-this.html

Outstanding writing. Such an extraordinary book about extraordinary love, extraordinary people. Difficult topics were handed with care, grace and empathy, and not only was I infatuated with the main protagonists and their narrative arc, but every single minor character was fleshed out, relatable, and an individual - an incredible skill that not many writers can claim. I inhaled this book over a couple of feverish days and couldn’t recommend it more. Such a privilege to receive this arc, and so many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

Ordinary Love is not an ordinary book. I believe this is the first foray [author:Marie Rutkoski|1238111] has made into contemporary fiction and I loved it! Unpopular opinion: I didn’t enjoy [book:The Winner's Curse|16069030] (sorry/not sorry!) but if you didn’t either, then that is no problem because this is just so different. Not just in the subject matter/genre, but the writing is more sophisticated, the characters more nuanced… this feels like the work of a much more mature writer, and not just because it is an adult book.

Emily and Gen (Gennifer) first met as children and had a short, but intense relationship as teenagers. As with many first loves, they thought this was their forever, but they split up for complicated and messy reasons – I love that. Relationships, particularly teenage ones, are messy and Rutkoski portrays this beautifully. It is painfully real, in that concentrated first time that love and loss is.

Twenty years later, Emily has married a seemingly perfect man, Jack, and lives in Manhattan with two wonderful children. But Jack’s behaviour, always on the edge of controlling, becomes worse. Meeting Gen again brings this into sharper relief. Gen always wanted to be a runner, and she is – competing and winning Olympic medals. She’s living her passion, but what happened to Emily’s? Who did she want to be before Jack made the decisions; what were her dreams before she became a young mum? She loves her children, of course she does, but where did she go? Is it simply that she’s changed, as one does becoming a mother – or has Jack taken something from her, that something that makes her heart sing? And, even harder for Emily, what does it mean that she still has… feelings for Gen? Gen has her own life where she accepted and celebrated her Queerness, but Emily is married. She’d die for her children. That makes her choice simple. Doesn't it? (OF COURSE NOT!)

There are two stories being told here – the first of a controlling, abusive marriage, and the complicated, arduous separation; the second of a love story full of misunderstandings, words unspoken, and simmering anger. I think both are told beautifully.

The reader watches in horror as Jack systematically breaks Emily’s world (or at least I did!). The subtle (and later not so subtle) way he isolates her from her friends, insists on things being done His way (boy, can this grown man sulk! But it gets more dangerous than just sulking…), and, most horrifyingly, the way he treats his own children to manipulate Emily. But he simultaneously professes how much he loves her, says that anything wrong in their marriage stems from her anxiety, and all he wants is to make her happy, for them to be a perfect family.

This is a perfect read for anyone who’s ever though ‘why would anyone stay in an abusive relationship?’ Obviously, every relationship is different, but this could really help understanding. It’s painful to read, but steers clear of Full On Triggering Situations (although I can’t say with experience; I just mean that I didn’t find myself overwhelmed). In fact, the subtlety and the gas-lighting are so well written, I almost found myself thinking: ‘Well, maybe she should give him another chance…’ <i>Almost</i>. Not quite. It IS clear from the get-go that Emily needs to escape (to the reader at least), and find the other parts of her – her ability to BE a mother without fear of his reaction, to explore her love of ancient languages, to have adult relationships, to work out what else she wants from life… Her struggles aren’t sugar-coated, but there is a gentleness to the writing, which was needed in telling such a difficult story.

I thought it was going to be dual PoV, but the entire novel is third person past tense, centred around Emily. Now, having read it, I can’t see it being written any other way. We get to see Gen’s story through Emily, but I don’t think we could have seen Emily’s story enough through Gen’s PoV.
Their relationship is fractured, Emily believes irreparably broken, but she's still... Gen. Until she knows how Gen feels, Emily can’t even let herself realise her own depth of feeling – it’s too dangerous. I’m NOT a big romance fan (at all), but this level of romance? – this, I love. There were a few slightly graphic sexual scenes but mostly fade to black – as I like it ;) But – even in my probably asexual, cynical heart – I shipped them HARD. I wanted it to all be okay – but how the hell could it be? There are so many obstacles, decades of lives lived apart, choices about how they live, how they present, <i>who</i> they present. They break each other so much, though never purposefully, so can They ever work? With so much at stake?

Despite this being Emily’s PoV, the reader is also shown ‘behind the scenes’ into the Queer life Gen has made, and this works so well, with Rutkoski writing what existed at the time; she doesn’t use modern terminology about Gen’s circle of friends, she simply describes them. What a wonderful community of people she built around her – I have to admit I am (again) jealous of a fictional character! (Although, who hasn’t been guilty of that…?).* The evident confusion (from straight people) that femme lesbians or bisexuals can pass as straight and that butch women can be attractive was very real, and also of its time. (Not everyone has learnt differently, and current rhetoric is frightening, but I do believe – because I must – that we are progressing. We are a work in progress, and maybe we have to take two steps back to move forwards). <i>TL;DR</i> – I LOVED the Queer rep in this book, and it made me hopeful/wistful…

This wonderful sapphic tale was more than I hoped for. It’s not a traditional ‘page-turner’, and events takes years rather than days, but I didn’t want to put it down. Rutkoski’s prose – and dialogue! I forgot to mention the dialogue! – sings, and I feel so grateful to have read this.

*<spoiler>random annoying thing for me: how can someone just send a book off to a few literary agents, get a bit concerned because they haven't heard for, like, three months or something, and then GET AN ADVANCE?!? I know the publishing world has changed, but this is so damn UNFAIR! *cries*</spoiler>

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Virago for the arc; I’ll be picking up a physical copy because I need to give it to everyone else to read!</i>

Such an emotional read in so many ways, I loved the way the author added so many layers to the characters and they all felt fully developed in ways that added to the story and added more to the main characters personalities.

Definitely a story I will be coming back to, the only thing I felt was missing was an epilogue to see how the future looked like for Emily and Gen

Ordinary Love is such a lovely read and a really good exploration of love, who we love and why we love them.

Emily and Gen were deeply in love as teenagers but when life took them in different directions, Emily went on to marry a very wealthy and well connected man, Jack. Together they built a life and had children but as Jack’s behaviour starts to get more and more concerning, and Emily and Gen meet again at a party, Emily starts to consider what she really wants from life.

I loved the characters in the book, even though both Emily and Gen were at times really annoying (I think this was probably fantastic writing of them as teenagers - who amongst us wasn’t an annoying teen?!) Their relationship was interesting and I enjoyed reading about them at two different points in their life - once when they were just finding themselves and exploring who they were and then again, much older and more confident in themselves.

It was a really well-crafted story and a great read. I’ve seen it billed as a ‘beach-read’ and I think this does it a disservice - although it would be great to read on the beach, it’s also a great piece of writing and one that shouldn’t just be saved for holiday!

Emotive and thoughtful but essentially a template romance of which I’ve read too many recently. Woman in controlled relationship with wealthy man escapes into romance with old love. It’s well written but in no way original,

From the outside, Emily seems to have the perfect life - a rich husband who adores her and two beautiful children. But everything is not as it seems particularly when it comes to the husband and Emily is deeply unhappy. When she spots her first love, Gen, at a party, it brings back memories of their time together as teenagers and the person that Emily used to be as well as thoughts of the person she thought she would become. And then there is the undeniable attraction between herself and Gen who is now an Olympic athlete with her own pressures. Despite everything else going on in their lives, will they get a second chance at love?

I absolutely loved this book. There are so many themes touched on (including some pretty dark ones) but at no time did it feel sensational. I really enjoyed the way the reader is drip fed information on both Emily’s relationship with Gen and with her husband. The characters felt realistic and I was very invested in their story. And even with that realism, the writing was incredibly lyrical at times. I’m only disappointed that the book had to end and I can’t wait to read the author’s previous works.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

There was a lot going on with Ordinary Love. Much of it was discomforting and it'was meant to be. This story landed the reader in a jarring encounter with a failing marriage, one abusive partner and a difficult decision.

From there, the story slowly peeled back the layers but with a dual storyline. On one side was the tale of Emily and Jack. They made the gradual move from the lightness of a new marriage to children and coercive control invaded. On the other side was Emily's first love Gen tracking an honest love and a quick end. Gen appeared back in Emily's world and nothing was easy about that.

The narrative of the marriage was far more interesting to me as I got reading, it was as chilling as it was fascinating and I think Rutkoski told that story with a sense of authentic research that I respect. The story of Gen and Emily was one that felt easy to root for but less exciting than the other element of this plot.

Ordinary Love had a raw story to offer readers that many will find unsettling but rewarding.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ordinary Love is a beautifully written, slow-burning exploration of identity, desire, and the tension between the life you’ve built and the one you once imagined. It follows Emily—a woman with a picture-perfect Manhattan life—whose world begins to tilt when her first love, Gen, reappears decades later. What unfolds is a quiet unraveling of control, memory, and the different kinds of love we allow ourselves to believe in.

Marie Rutkoski’s prose is stunning—elegant, spare, and aching in all the right places. The emotional undercurrent is strong without ever tipping into melodrama. It’s a deeply character-driven novel, and if you enjoy books that are more about what simmers beneath the surface than dramatic twists, this one will resonate.

I particularly appreciated how Rutkoski handled queerness and longing with such nuance. The relationship between Emily and Gen—then and now—was tender, complicated, and full of feeling. Their chemistry was palpable, and I found myself really invested in that thread. That said, I wanted more time with Gen in the present; parts of the novel felt weighed down by Emily’s interiority, and I was craving more dynamic tension in the back half.

It does move slowly, and there were moments that felt a bit too still. But I don’t think this is meant to be a fast read—it’s a meditation. On love, regret, class, motherhood, control. And on how the past never fully lets go.

If you liked books like Little Fires Everywhere or Writers & Lovers—those that sit with complicated women at turning points in their lives—I think you’ll appreciate this one.

Ordinary Love is a deeply moving, slow burn story about an honest,nostalgic and tender love affair that spans many years. The book explored difficult topics like regret, identity, and the complexities of relationships in such a beautiful and well written way you could only end up falling in love with the characters. The idea of sliding doors, missed opportunities and lost chances made the journey feel raw and deeply relatable.

Today is my stop on the book tour for ‘Ordinary Love’ by Marie Rutkoski.

Emily comes from a broken home. Her mother doesn’t do emotion, her father has a new family and whilst they do spend time with Emily, she always feels like she is just someone looking in from the outside. No one sees or understands her until she meets Gen and her world is set alight for a few wonderful months as they fall in love. But life takes them to different places and it’s not long before an argument causes them to break up. Still young and yearning to be loved, Emily meets Jack, who at first seems perfect but in fact, he slowly and imperceptibly takes over their relationship and controls every aspect of Emily’s life. Emily makes excuses for him but there’s no getting away from it, Jack is abusive to her and whilst they have two beautiful children, Emily isn’t truly happy whatever the outside world may see. Then one day, fifteen years after their first kiss and totally unexpectedly, Gen is there again in Emily’s life. Could this be their second chance at happiness or are some things just not meant to be?

This is a book filled with emotion and explores so many issues: motherhood, class, self-acceptance, the choices we make in our lives, often unaware of the reasons deep down as to why we make them until much later on. It is a book also, of course, full of love and hope. It is not a fast paced read but reminded me of books like Tom Lake or French Braid, where you are absorbed into the characters’ lives in a tender and moving way.

Emily, a woman in an abusive marriage, leaves her husband and reconnects with her first love. Through the book, she reflects on how she's gotten to where she is and what she should do next.

The writing is compelling, and there's a good level of tension throughout as you root for Emily to make the right choices for herself. I also appreciated the perspective on abuse and how, even if it's primarily emotional, it can diminish and isolate a person.

I did feel like several of the side characters could have been more fleshed-out - there's a very tight focus on Emily's relationships to her husband and Gen, her re-found first love, with much less time given to others who have a place in her life. I also thought the end was a bit dismissive of how her divorce would turn out, especially given that her husband was still making threats about custody - it was an important character moment for her to be firm with her ex that their marriage was over and that she wanted custody, but it also didn't feel like the end of the story.

This is definitely the more literary side of the romance genre - very little happens outright, but there's a lot of reflection and small signs of changes in the characters. Good for people who want a slower-paced, more introspective queer romance.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A quick relationship that ended with a quick marriage by Emily, a girl of little means to a son, Jack, from a wealthy family. They had 2 children, Stella and Connor. But as the relationship developed over the years it became obvious that Jack is a control freak and a bully. Emily become estranged from her girlfriends by Jack not allowing her to meet up with them. Eventually Emily does leave Jack and gets back in touch with her very helpful and supportive girlfriends. But she ends up going back to Jack as he promises that things will be different, but they aren't and eventually Emily leaves Jack again and learns to stand up to him and pushes through with a divorce. Emily also gets back with her good friend Gen and realises her feelings for Gen, which complicates things for the divorce but they stand up to Jack.
Gen's story is that she is a elite athlete, qualifying for the Olympics, but her Grandmother is unwell and when Gen finds out, returns home and misses the Olympics which is not good for her career. But there is a future after the anger of her fellow team mates subsides with time.
Some interesting twists and turns with some sad moments but eventually a happier outcome .

This is an honest,, tender and nostalgic account of a love affair that spans decades between Emily, a high achiever who lands a very rich but controlling husband, and Gen, whose route out of their small-town home is through becoming a successful Olympic athlete. Class, money, sexuality and courage mix up to create a very readable and enjoyable story about love and connection.

Emily and Gen's relationship connects and disconnects them over time, but in the end having the courage to stay true to each other and to their deepest beliefs is at the heart of this book, as we wait to see if love will conquer all when the world has other ideas.

Ordinary Love was a deeply moving, slow burn story about Emily, who is leaving her partner and reconnecting with her first love. Rutkoski’s portrayal of Jack, Emily’s manipulative partner, was so strikingly authentic that my heart was thumping while reading. Emily and Gen’s love story was rich with chemistry, although the frequent miscommunications were frustrating. The supporting characters were well fleshed out and added depth to the story. The writing was compelling and easy to read and I look forward to picking up another book by Rutkoski.

Sensational! This will be one of my favourites this year.

When Emily catches sight of Gennifer (Gen) Hall at a party, she is transported back to the moment they fell in love as teenagers, back when she thought it would be forever.
But twenty years later, Gen is an olympic runner and Emily is married with a husband and two young children, living a wealthy life. Now, with Emily's marriage unravelling, they are drawn back together. Will they finally get their forever?

Yes, as the synopsis indicates, it is a story of potential second chances, love, family and relationships. It was emotional and bitter sweet in places but as I have said with many novels lately, it was filled with hope and joy and a novel that inspires you. I am so thankful I could read this early. 4.5*

I loved how this book explored difficult topics like regret, identity, and the complexities of relationships in a beautiful and well-rounded way. The idea of missed chances and misunderstandings made the journey feel raw and deeply relatable.

Marie Rutkoski’s Ordinary Love is anything but ordinary. It’s tender, brutally honest, and gorgeously written.
This isn’t a book that shouts. It doesn’t need to. It whispers quietly in your heart and stays there long after the last page.

This isn’t a big, plot-heavy book. It’s for the lovers of reflection and feeling. If you’ve ever lived through a moment that made you see yourself differently, this one is for you.
I read this slowly, taking in every perfectly written line.
This book is full of complex relationships and it stirs so many emotions. I loved the female characters in this book and I’ll carry them with me for a while.

A beautiful sapphic litfic romance.
I picked this up because I loved the author's YA fantasy books years ago. This book is very different, but her writing remains beautiful. Not many people can write such different things so well.

The main character, Emily, is in an abusive marriage that's falling apart. The novel alternates between the story of her leaving her husband and and flashbacks, primarily to her teenage romance with Gen, who she runs into again briefly after her separation.

Rutkoski does an incredible job showing the insidiousness and subtlety abuse can take, how someone may get stuck in such a situation, and how hard it can be to leave. It's not perfect, but it's sensitive, hopeful, and real. My only real criticism is that it was at times a bit too slow for my tastes. Overall, an excellent start to my pride month reading, if I may say so myself.

Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group for letting me read an eARC of this through Netgalley!