Book Summary and Reviews of Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski

Reader Reviews

Write your own review

Peggy K. (Frederick, CO)

Brought Back Butterflies
Ordinary Love is a transcendent and butterfly-inducing love story. I could not put this one down, and I'm normally not attracted (pun intended) to domestic love stories. The themes of regret and repression are redolent, but yet there's this poignant whiff of hope that keeps the reader pushing on through the characters' questionable choices. Even though the love story is one between two women, it is ultimately a story about dealing with the consequences of our decisions. Powerful and potent, this tale will stay with you long after you put it down.

Deborah G. (Black Mountain, NC)

Love is Love
Emily is the central character of Marie Rutkoski's novel "Ordinary Love." We met her at her country home in upstate New York with her husband Jack, 10-year-old son Connor, and his younger sister Stella. Emily's confronting Jack concerning an incident with the children provides our entry into an examination of her marriage, relationships with childhood friends, her parents, acquaintances, and sexual partners. As is true of most relationships, Emily struggles with communicating, building trust, and resolving conflicts.

Rutkoski writes memorably about these interactions, but the relationships are fraught with missed opportunities for resolution. At a few points I dreaded reading what happened next—would she fail? We get glimpses throughout the book into lives of the elites—wealthy families and top-level athletes—that sometimes made me feel more excluded than informed. Overall, the author compellingly portrays the perils and rewards of the quest for ordinary love.

Avery Miller (Beach Dog Books, HI)

Ordinary Love
Ordinary Love is a beautifully written depiction of love, loss, and struggling to find yourself and your way through adulthood. Marie Rutkoski's writing pulls you in from the very first chapter, and convinces you to root for her characters as though they are your friends. She balances a heart-snagging love story with a tale of becoming a prisoner to the 'perfect life.' Ordinary Love is tender, brutal, and a stunning depiction of navigating life.

Terrie J. (Eagan, MN)

Great book
This book was about the ups and downs of love. It was about first love, friendship love, marriage love, motherhood love and being comfortable when you discover your true love. I found myself wondering which direction the book would take. I was also empathetic to the main characters and their feelings as they changed throughout the story. It was a page turner, and I was sad to see it end.

I would recommend this book to high schoolers and up. It may give clarity to the difficulties one faces when dealing with love gone right or wrong. It will make you laugh and cry.

Beth B. (New Wilmington, PA)

Is love ever ordinary?
Most importantly, I strongly urge you to read this book and encourage your fellow readers to do so. Marie Rutkoski has a gift for writing "take your breath away" prose as evidenced in her novel Ordinary Love. Her characters are so well fleshed out that you feel you know them, their best and worst selves. Nella is my favorite --- hers is a wisdom that is enviable.

The symbol of seeds runs throughout the book: :"seeds can live a long time." All readers, regardless of preconceived ideas, can learn much about compromising and confronting loss. The author's skill with understanding children, their thoughts and speech, are unparalleled.

JanineS

Intelligent and poignant love story
In spite of what the title says, this is not an “ordinary love” story. As one of the characters, Gen, says near the end, “nothing in life is ordinary.” This book is a love story of contrasts: Emily and Gen, high school sweethearts and Emily and Jack, the traditional man-woman love story. Each is fraught with problems, and each offers Emily choices as she grapples with discovering who she really is and what she wants out of life and love. In between these alternating stories, we see the impact of Emily’s love choices on her parents, her friends, and her children. As she grows and assumes responsibility for her decisions, we learn that she understands that in accepting a “second chance” at love, love can be ordinary in its truth but extraordinary in its honesty.

This is a beautifully written book. I was surprised how I was drawn to it as it was at times outside my comfort zone, but there was such a deep, searing honesty to it, I simply had to know the ending. It was a splendid read!

...13 more reader reviews

Other books by Marie Rutkoski at BookBrowse

6 more...