Marie Rutkoski’s *Ordinary Love* is a compelling exploration of class, ambition, and the tangled complexities of identity and desire. The novel follows Emily, a woman seemingly ensconced in the gilded perfection of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, but whose life is anything but serene. Her chance encounter with Gen Hall, her first love and now a glamorous Olympic athlete, throws her carefully curated existence into upheaval. Rutkoski masterfully captures the tension between Emily’s yearning for what was and the precariousness of what could be, crafting a story as magnetic and unpredictable as the romance at its core.

What makes *Ordinary Love* so captivating is Rutkoski’s distinctive narrative style, perfectly encapsulated by a line from the book itself: “Unusual. Voice-y. Less like a plot, and more like a memoir.” The writing is both intimate and introspective, drawing readers deep into Emily’s psyche as she grapples with the emotional weight of her past and the seductive pull of her former lover. Rutkoski eschews a traditional linear plot in favor of a more fragmented, memory-laden approach, making the story feel as though Emily is confiding her innermost thoughts directly to the reader. This unique voice gives the novel its sharp, compelling edge, blurring the boundaries between fiction and personal revelation.

At its heart, *Ordinary Love* is a profoundly human story about second chances and the courage it takes to embrace them. Through Emily and Gen’s fraught yet passionate reconnection, Rutkoski delves into the messy, painful, and ultimately transformative process of healing old wounds and reclaiming lost love. The novel’s rich emotional landscape and bold narrative voice ensure it lingers in the reader’s mind long after the final page. Both a sweeping romance and a raw, honest examination of personal growth, *Ordinary Love* is as unforgettable as it is beautifully written.

I enjoyed reading this title so much. I thought it was authentic and well-written. The characters were interesting and developed. I had a hard time putting this one down. I hope it becomes a book for clubs to discuss! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This had very compelling and complex characters. I love a second chance romance and this was pretty well done. The writing felt a bit over the top at times,but was mostly okay.

May I please have five minutes with Jack? What a colossal pri…er jerk. Manipulative is a gross understatement. Gen and Emily were wonderful together. There were some lovely love scenes between them. I only wish the author told us the result of the divorce. Nicely done by the author..

Gorgeous, moving, haunting. I devoured this like I do all of Rutkoski's books. Emily and Gen were compelling and nuanced characters, and I loved the development of a second chance at queer love.

Honestly, this was just alright. I was expecting something to sweep me off my feet, as the synopsis promises, but it didn't. I found this to be a very average novel, with (mostly) serviceable writing and characters. Oftentimes the writing felt contrived, like it was trying to be deep but missed the mark. But as a whole this novel was just fine.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

I LOVED this book! It was a bit slow in the beginning but then boom I was hooked!! I finished it in one sitting! My first by this author but will not be my last!!

This is the best book I have read in months and I’m so sad it’s over! Emily and Gen’s relationship felt so real and both characters were so vividly depicted. I felt like my heart was in my mouth every time Jack appeared, and I both understood Emily’s attraction to him and feared for her. I loved all of the little details too - Emily’s writing, Gen’s running career. I wish I could live in this book for just a little longer.

3.5 stars, rounded up. Upmarket second-chance romance. Not bad at all, and there were some lovely sentences and moments between Emily and Gen. The book just appeals to the primal-brain the way romances do (Who hasn't wanted to be the "exception" to the person whose constructed rules around romance?) I appreciated the complexity of characterization, especially of Jack, though the storyline was a bit indulgent and verged many times onto cheesy, and the plot points weren't particularly realistic. (I think this comes somewhat from the book's genre issue: for a romance it's fine, but for a book that felt like it was marketing itself as literary, I felt a bit tricked by how much of a conventional romance this was!) The "I don't need your money, i'll get a job! I'll become a published writer!" move was particularly unrealistic.

That said, this was a page turner and I enjoyed inhabiting its world. I'm also a sucker for stories about two people who have loved each other for a very long time, and across long periods of separation. Of course I finished it.