Ordinary Love By Marie Rutkoski Book Review

I want to be honest. Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski surprised me a lot. I stayed up very late reading it. I needed tissues because the feelings were strong. If you like books that make you feel and show real relationships, you should read this one. People who are sensitive may want to look at content warnings.

Full of feelings, honest, and hard to forget
Great for people who like stories about characters

Key Takeaways

Ordinary Love gives a real and honest view of relationships. It talks about love, regret, and second chances. The story goes deeper than normal romance books.
The book has characters you can relate to. It looks at queer romance, healing, and self-worth. The writing is clear and strong. It pulls readers into the story.
This story is good for people who like books about real feelings. It is for those who want stories about tough times and real problems, not just happy endings.

Overview

Premise

I have to admit, I went into Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski expecting a typical romance. I got something much deeper. The story centers on Emily, a woman who feels stuck in her own life. She faces heartbreak, regret, and the messiness of real relationships.

The book doesn’t just focus on falling in love. It digs into what happens after, when life gets complicated and feelings get tangled.

Note: This isn’t a fairy tale. The book shows how love can be both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time.

If you want a story that feels honest and raw, this one delivers. I found myself thinking about my own choices and what second chances really mean.

Main Characters

The characters in Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski feel so real, I almost wanted to text them. Here’s who stood out to me:

Emily: She’s the heart of the story. She’s flawed, sometimes selfish, but always searching for meaning. I related to her struggles and her hope for something better.
Gen: Emily’s ex, who brings a lot of old feelings back to the surface. Gen’s presence adds tension and makes Emily question everything.
Supporting cast: Friends and family aren’t just background noise. They push Emily to face her past and help her heal.

I couldn’t put it down because these characters felt like people I know. Their choices made me root for them, even when they messed up.

Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski: Themes

Queer Romance

I felt a real connection to the queer romance in this story. The love between Emily and Gen felt honest and complicated. It didn’t feel forced or like a plot device. Instead, it showed how messy and beautiful real relationships can be.

The book explores bisexuality and sexual identity in a way that feels natural. I saw Emily questioning herself, and it made me think about how hard it can be to be honest about who you love.

Tip: If you want a book that treats queer love with respect and depth, this one stands out.

Second Chances

Second chances play a huge role in Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski. Emily gets a shot at fixing old mistakes. She risks everything for a chance at first love again. I found myself rooting for her, even when she made choices I didn’t agree with. The story made me wonder if I would be brave enough to do the same.

The novel explores:
- Social class dynamics
- Personal ambition
- The risk of chasing lost love

Healing and Self-Worth

Healing takes time, and this book doesn’t rush it. Emily struggles with regret and self-doubt. I saw her slowly learn to forgive herself. The story shows that self-worth isn’t something you find overnight. It’s a process. I liked how friends and family helped her along the way.

Sometimes, the most ordinary moments can help us heal the most.

Writing Style

Prose

I have to give props to Marie Rutkoski’s writing. The prose in this book feels sharp and honest. I noticed how every sentence packs a punch. The words don’t waste time. They get right to the heart of what Emily feels. Sometimes, I stopped and reread a line because it hit so close to home. The writing style is clear, but it still has a softness that made me want to keep reading.

Short sentences keep the story moving
No extra fluff or fancy words
Every detail feels real and important

I love when a book’s language feels like a friend talking to me. That’s what I got here. The prose never tries too hard. It just lets the emotions do the work.

Narrative Voice

The narrative voice in this book stands out. I felt like Emily was whispering her secrets right into my ear. The story uses first-person, so I got to see every thought and worry up close. Sometimes, I felt her pain in my own chest. Other times, I laughed at her awkward moments.

Note: The voice feels raw and honest. It doesn’t hide the messy parts of life.

I’ll be honest, the voice made me care about Emily even when she made mistakes. That’s rare. I finished the book feeling like I knew her for real.

Character Depth

Emily and Gen

I have to admit, Emily and Gen felt so real to me that I started thinking about them long after I finished the book. Emily’s life looks perfect from the outside, but I could see all the cracks underneath. She struggles with her marriage, her family, and the heartbreak she never really got over.

Gen, her high school girlfriend, comes back into her life and everything gets messy in the best way. Their connection isn’t simple. It’s full of old wounds, trust issues, and the kind of forgiveness that takes real guts.

Emily: She makes mistakes. She says the wrong thing. She wants to be loved but doesn’t always know how to ask for it. I saw myself in her doubts and her hope.
Gen: She brings out both the best and worst in Emily. Their history together made every scene between them feel loaded with meaning.

The way the story explores their relationship made me think about how hard it is to risk your heart again, especially with someone who once broke it. I felt every awkward moment and every spark between them.

Supporting Cast

The side characters in this book don’t just fill space. They push Emily to face her past and help her grow. I liked how her friends and family each had their own stories and struggles. They felt like real people, not just extras in Emily’s life.

Emily’s kids and parents add pressure and warmth.
Friends challenge her choices and offer support.
Every conversation felt honest, sometimes even uncomfortable.

Note: The supporting cast made the story richer. They reminded me that healing and change never happen alone.

Emotional Impact

Intimacy

I have to admit, this book made me feel like I was eavesdropping on someone’s real life. The intimacy in every scene felt almost too close at times. I caught myself holding my breath during some of Emily and Gen’s conversations. Their honesty made me squirm, but I couldn’t look away.

The way the author writes about touch, glances, and small moments made everything feel personal.
I felt like I was right there in the room, watching secrets spill out.
Sometimes, I had to put the book down and just sit with my feelings.

Tip: If you want a story that doesn’t shy away from awkward, real closeness, this one delivers.

Resonance

Some books fade after I finish them. This one stuck with me. I kept thinking about Emily’s choices and how they reminded me of my own regrets. The story didn’t just make me sad or happy. It made me feel seen.

I found myself replaying certain scenes in my head the next day.
The characters’ struggles with love and forgiveness felt real.
I even texted a friend about a scene that left me gasping.

To be fair, not every moment hit me the same way. Some parts felt a little slow. Still, the emotional honesty made up for it. I’d rate the emotional impact a solid 7/10.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Standout Qualities

I have to give props to Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski for how real it feels. This book doesn’t just tell a love story. It digs deep into what happens when you try to live honestly, even if it hurts. Here’s what stood out to me:

The story shows queer desire in a way that feels natural. Emily’s bisexuality isn’t a big twist or a problem. It’s just part of who she is. That felt refreshing.
The writing is beautiful but never tries too hard. Every line feels honest. Sometimes, I had to stop and reread a sentence because it hit me right in the chest.
Motherhood gets a real spotlight. Emily’s worries about her kids and her choices made me think about how hard it is to be a parent and a person at the same time.
Jack, Emily’s husband, isn’t just a “bad guy.” He feels real, with his own struggles and quiet moments. That made the story more believable.
The book focuses on small acts of bravery. It’s not about big, dramatic gestures. It’s about the little choices that change everything.
I loved how the story explores regret, courage, and what it means to be true to yourself. It doesn’t rush. It lets you sit with the hard stuff.
The characters feel like people I know. Their pain, hope, and growth made me care about them, even when they messed up.
The book covers all kinds of love: first love, friendship, marriage, being a mom, and learning to love yourself.
The honesty in the writing made me feel seen. Even when the story got uncomfortable, I couldn’t look away.

Note: If you want a book that treats complicated relationships with respect and depth, this one stands out.

Limitations

To be fair, Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski isn’t perfect. Some things might not work for every reader. Here’s what I noticed:

The pacing can feel slow. Some chapters linger on small moments. If you want a fast-moving plot, you might get impatient.
The book doesn’t shy away from intimacy. Some scenes get pretty raw. If you’re not comfortable with honest, sometimes awkward closeness, you might want to skip a few pages.
The story asks you to sit with regret and tough choices. That can feel heavy. I had to take breaks to process what I was feeling.
Not every character gets the same attention. I wanted to know more about some of the side characters, but the focus stays tight on Emily.
The emotional honesty might push you out of your comfort zone. I found myself squirming at times, but I think that’s the point.

Tip: If you like books that challenge you and make you think about your own life, you’ll probably appreciate this one. If you want something light and easy, this might not be the best pick.

The emotional depth and raw writing made the book stick with me, even if it wasn’t always easy to read.

Who Should Read Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski

Ideal Audience

I always ask myself, “Who would love this book as much as I did?” Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski feels perfect for readers who want more than just a simple romance. If you like stories that dig into real feelings and don’t shy away from tough moments, you’ll probably connect with this one.

You enjoy character-driven stories.
You want honest looks at relationships, not just happy endings.
You’re okay with messy, real-life problems.
You like books that make you think about your own choices.

Tip: If you’ve ever stayed up late thinking about old loves or what-ifs, this book might hit close to home.

I think people who care about family, friendship, and second chances will see themselves in these pages. I found myself rooting for Emily, even when she made mistakes.

Genre Appeal

This book fits best with readers who love contemporary fiction and queer romance. I wouldn’t call it a typical love story. It’s more about what happens after the fairy tale ends. If you want a story that feels raw and honest, Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski delivers.

Fans of Sally Rooney or Taylor Jenkins Reid will probably enjoy the style.
If you like books that focus on healing, self-worth, and real intimacy, you’ll find a lot to love here.
The pacing is gentle, so if you want action or big twists, this might not be your thing.