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Ordinary Love
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS AN ORDINARY LOVE STORY
'Almost unbearably beautiful. Ordinary Love is extraordinary' Emilia Hart, bestselling author of Weyward
'Profoundly moving' Emily St. John Mandel, bestselling author of Station Eleven
When Emily catches sight of Gennifer Hall at a party, she is transported back to the moment they fell in love as teenagers. Their connection was electric, and they thought it was forever.
Twenty years later, Gen is an Olympic runner, the career she strived for, while Emily is living a picture-perfect Manhattan townhouse, two young children and a wealthy husband, Jack. But Jack's controlling behaviour is spiralling, and Emily has lost sight of who she once was.
Now, despite Emily's fracturing marriage and the pressures of Gen's career, they are drawn back together by a magnetic attraction. After years of heartbreak, missed chances and misunderstandings, will they finally get a second chance at first love?
'Almost unbearably beautiful. Ordinary Love is extraordinary' Emilia Hart, bestselling author of Weyward
'Profoundly moving' Emily St. John Mandel, bestselling author of Station Eleven
When Emily catches sight of Gennifer Hall at a party, she is transported back to the moment they fell in love as teenagers. Their connection was electric, and they thought it was forever.
Twenty years later, Gen is an Olympic runner, the career she strived for, while Emily is living a picture-perfect Manhattan townhouse, two young children and a wealthy husband, Jack. But Jack's controlling behaviour is spiralling, and Emily has lost sight of who she once was.
Now, despite Emily's fracturing marriage and the pressures of Gen's career, they are drawn back together by a magnetic attraction. After years of heartbreak, missed chances and misunderstandings, will they finally get a second chance at first love?
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2025
321 people are currently reading
15747 people want to read
About the author
Marie Rutkoski
29 books8,362 followersMarie Rutkoski is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for children and young adults. Her latest novel, ORDINARY LOVE, will be published June 10, 2025.
Born in Illinois, Marie holds degrees from the University of Iowa and Harvard University. She is currently a professor at Brooklyn College and lives in Brooklyn with her family.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...
https://us.macmillan.com/author/marie...
(photo credit: Beowulf Sheehan)
Born in Illinois, Marie holds degrees from the University of Iowa and Harvard University. She is currently a professor at Brooklyn College and lives in Brooklyn with her family.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...
https://us.macmillan.com/author/marie...
(photo credit: Beowulf Sheehan)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 633 reviews
March 28, 2025
Not sure if it’s just me, but I always find the distance between 3 and 4 stars seems like the greatest between all the star ratings. For that reason, Ordinary Love is a solid 3.5.
There's lots to like here. Rutkoski is telling two stories-- a story of an abusive marriage and tumultuous separation, and a decades-spanning love story. The problem is it's a very slow-burn tale that I feel would have benefited from losing a hundred pages.
I thought the portrait of this particularly insidious form of abuse was very powerful. The way someone can make a casually callous comment, subtly manipulate their partner, so that they end up wondering if they are being too picky, too sensitive. As the reader, we watch in horror as Jack slowly isolates Emily from her family and friends, her support network gradually falling away.
One of the ways this abuse manifests is she can never be sure what he will do and she is constantly trying to anticipate his reaction. This goes beyond dealing with the reaction itself because she must also deal with the constant anxiety. One part of the book captures this perfectly— she imagines Jack's reaction to a change in Halloween plans, her mind catastrophizes the whole thing, and it isn’t what she thinks… but it’s the fact he put that anxiety in her, that never knowing when he will blow up and punish those around him.
Another time, Jack buys Emily a bracelet and this is her reaction:
Alongside this is the broody and melancholy love story between Emily and Gen, who met as kids, became lovers, and were later pulled apart by life and misunderstanding.
In fact, the almost constant misunderstandings and miscommunications between them was one of my main grumbles and what really made the story drag. It felt like one simple conversation could have saved years of hurt, and there was enough sighing and sad silence between them to rival Sally Rooney. Still, it has to be said they had chemistry and were very sweet and sexy together.
I'm convinced a shorter book would have been an easy 4 stars for me. It just went on too long, everything dragged out beyond the point of being interesting.
There's lots to like here. Rutkoski is telling two stories-- a story of an abusive marriage and tumultuous separation, and a decades-spanning love story. The problem is it's a very slow-burn tale that I feel would have benefited from losing a hundred pages.
I thought the portrait of this particularly insidious form of abuse was very powerful. The way someone can make a casually callous comment, subtly manipulate their partner, so that they end up wondering if they are being too picky, too sensitive. As the reader, we watch in horror as Jack slowly isolates Emily from her family and friends, her support network gradually falling away.
One of the ways this abuse manifests is she can never be sure what he will do and she is constantly trying to anticipate his reaction. This goes beyond dealing with the reaction itself because she must also deal with the constant anxiety. One part of the book captures this perfectly— she imagines Jack's reaction to a change in Halloween plans, her mind catastrophizes the whole thing, and it isn’t what she thinks… but it’s the fact he put that anxiety in her, that never knowing when he will blow up and punish those around him.
Another time, Jack buys Emily a bracelet and this is her reaction:
Emily could predict, though, how their happiness might sour. Maybe she wouldn’t wear the bracelet enough. Or if she wore it every day, he might say that she treated it like an ordinary object. Didn’t she think it was special enough? What more could she possibly want?
Alongside this is the broody and melancholy love story between Emily and Gen, who met as kids, became lovers, and were later pulled apart by life and misunderstanding.
In fact, the almost constant misunderstandings and miscommunications between them was one of my main grumbles and what really made the story drag. It felt like one simple conversation could have saved years of hurt, and there was enough sighing and sad silence between them to rival Sally Rooney. Still, it has to be said they had chemistry and were very sweet and sexy together.
I'm convinced a shorter book would have been an easy 4 stars for me. It just went on too long, everything dragged out beyond the point of being interesting.
July 20, 2025
Let me start off by saying that this book is best gone into as close to blind as possible. You will therefore note that I’m keeping this review short and to the point.
When I started this story on audio, I had no idea it would consume me the way it did for an entire afternoon. Completely unable to put it down until the final page, I was completely enraptured with author Marie Rutkoski’s emotionally evocative and thought-provoking storytelling.
“𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒. 𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝑜𝓈𝑒.”
𝙊𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 is quiet and profound as we bear witness to the main character Emily coming to terms with what is and deciding to fight for a chance at what could be. This story overall felt very much in the vein of Glennon Doyle’s 𝙐𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙, a book that just so happens to sit atop my lifetime favorites list. If you enjoyed that one, you will absolutely devour this one.
✨ Favorite reads of 2025
Read if you like:
▪️coming of age
▪️sapphic love stories
▪️rediscovering self
▪️family dramas
▪️character-driven stories
▪️second chance at love
Thank you Knopf and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
When I started this story on audio, I had no idea it would consume me the way it did for an entire afternoon. Completely unable to put it down until the final page, I was completely enraptured with author Marie Rutkoski’s emotionally evocative and thought-provoking storytelling.
“𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒. 𝒮𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝑜𝓈𝑒.”
𝙊𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 is quiet and profound as we bear witness to the main character Emily coming to terms with what is and deciding to fight for a chance at what could be. This story overall felt very much in the vein of Glennon Doyle’s 𝙐𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙, a book that just so happens to sit atop my lifetime favorites list. If you enjoyed that one, you will absolutely devour this one.
✨ Favorite reads of 2025
Read if you like:
▪️coming of age
▪️sapphic love stories
▪️rediscovering self
▪️family dramas
▪️character-driven stories
▪️second chance at love
Thank you Knopf and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
September 6, 2025
Emily appears to have a picture perfect life in NYC — a nice home, two healthy kids, and her attentive husband, Jack. But all isn’t as it seems — Jack’s public persona is different than his behavior at home, Emily isn’t close with her parents, and she still thinks about a previous heartbreak.
When Emily runs into Gen Hall at a fundraiser hosted by their mutual friend, Gen is no longer the lanky awkward girl Emily remembers from high school. She’s an Olympic athlete with a public profile. As Emily begins to reconnect with Gen, she must face difficult decisions about her life today and consider her future.
I really liked Ordinary Love, a story about friendship, family, and second chance romance. I loathed Emily’s husband, enjoyed that there were writing aspects in the story, and appreciated Emily’s character growth. This story isn’t overly similar, yet I was reminded of Like a House on Fire while reading Ordinary Love.
When Emily runs into Gen Hall at a fundraiser hosted by their mutual friend, Gen is no longer the lanky awkward girl Emily remembers from high school. She’s an Olympic athlete with a public profile. As Emily begins to reconnect with Gen, she must face difficult decisions about her life today and consider her future.
I really liked Ordinary Love, a story about friendship, family, and second chance romance. I loathed Emily’s husband, enjoyed that there were writing aspects in the story, and appreciated Emily’s character growth. This story isn’t overly similar, yet I was reminded of Like a House on Fire while reading Ordinary Love.
November 2, 2024
This was so emotional. I'm sure this doesn't need to be said, but Rutkoski damn she can write. This is heart wrecking but is also warm. The characters were so realistically flesh out, but sometimes the story got overwhelming for me
Romance readers who love good touching stories about second chance romance don't miss out on this one.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Romance readers who love good touching stories about second chance romance don't miss out on this one.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2025
4 Stars
Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski is a sapphic novel about friendships, love, mistakes and the dangers of coercive control.
Reviews kept saying it’s addictive but I was doubtful. When I was past my bedtime (2am and I have to get up at 6am) and still reading, I understood then what they meant. The storyline draws you in and before you know it, you want life to pause so you could finish the book.
What surprised me about the writing is the plainness of it all. It’s the everyday mundane “life things” being talked about but the immersion to the story was hypnotic.
Each scene with the husband where the readers are shown glimpses of what it was like living with Jack was so intimate (in a sense that it felt like being a fly on the wall) and psychologically arousing. The Jack character was well crafted in his villainess. He was scary in his subtlety and diabolical in how his full self slowly colonised and then successfully festered in his subject. I would dare to say that without this villain, the main characters’ arc would have been a little flat.
I enjoyed this book so much I had to go back and reread some chapters because the emotions explored were so raw and realistic. Highly recommend this book! My first of this author and I am definitely keeping an eye out for future works.
PS the flower seed was too innocent and heartfelt I burst out crying. It’s the little things.
Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski is a sapphic novel about friendships, love, mistakes and the dangers of coercive control.
Reviews kept saying it’s addictive but I was doubtful. When I was past my bedtime (2am and I have to get up at 6am) and still reading, I understood then what they meant. The storyline draws you in and before you know it, you want life to pause so you could finish the book.
What surprised me about the writing is the plainness of it all. It’s the everyday mundane “life things” being talked about but the immersion to the story was hypnotic.
Each scene with the husband where the readers are shown glimpses of what it was like living with Jack was so intimate (in a sense that it felt like being a fly on the wall) and psychologically arousing. The Jack character was well crafted in his villainess. He was scary in his subtlety and diabolical in how his full self slowly colonised and then successfully festered in his subject. I would dare to say that without this villain, the main characters’ arc would have been a little flat.
I enjoyed this book so much I had to go back and reread some chapters because the emotions explored were so raw and realistic. Highly recommend this book! My first of this author and I am definitely keeping an eye out for future works.
PS the flower seed was too innocent and heartfelt I burst out crying. It’s the little things.
Want to read
March 29, 2025Another lesbian romance by Marie Rutkoski with a butch love interest, I WILL be reading this immediately. The cover <3
August 28, 2025
ngl got a lil teary at the end there (rtc)
November 11, 2025
Truly not at all what I was expecting when I picked this up. You just keep peeling back layer after layer. This story is told over many years with flashbacks throughout which I really enjoyed. What a deep, emotional love story.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2024
Stunning. Really. In fact there is nothing ordinary about Marie Rutkoski’s Ordinary Love, neither in terms of its impact not in terms of the love story between MCs Emily and Gen.
This is a story of a love between two girls who meet young, fall in love in their teens, and who find it hard to navigate their relationship across distance when both go to college. As their lives drift away from each other, we see how former partners’ lives and paths can diverge so greatly. This is especially shown in Emily’s marriage and the psychological abuse that she suffers, while Gen goes on to athletic success and notoriety. Both of these developments are facets that show just how opposite the girls are in so many ways. And yet, in their apposition, it seems, as we progress through the story told across the present day and the past, both girls need each other to be fulfilled and to complete themselves.
What the author gives us is a superbly engaging and at times heart-wrenching journey as we watch Emily and Jane tentatively find their way back to each other, with perhaps two steps forward and one step back as they go. Or is it the other way around?
This book deals with pain, anxiety, and abuse, but Ms. Rutkoski is clever here since she treads a perfect line between never trivializing the issues or shortchanging the reader while never letting any of those elements overshadow—rather, inform—strands of the story. Each of the issues presented here directly informs character and decisions, and of course consequences and onward story.
The writing is always lush and clever in places, and you will enjoy tearing through the pages enjoying the prose and narrative voice, desperately hoping that Emily and Gen can find their way towards resolution.
Ordinary Love is anything but ordinary. It avoids many of the tropes you would find in a typical romance novel, and that’s because this is romance told differently. Indeed, this s more than a “straight-told” romance. It’s about self, about friendships, about sacrifice, about bravery, about venturing into the unknown. Don’t get me wrong, I love tropes! To hunt, bag, and consume them for tea! But it is very refreshing to once in a while read a book that features a near all-consuming love that charts its own path so brilliantly.
Thank you to the author and the publisher, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to very much enjoy this ARC.
This is a story of a love between two girls who meet young, fall in love in their teens, and who find it hard to navigate their relationship across distance when both go to college. As their lives drift away from each other, we see how former partners’ lives and paths can diverge so greatly. This is especially shown in Emily’s marriage and the psychological abuse that she suffers, while Gen goes on to athletic success and notoriety. Both of these developments are facets that show just how opposite the girls are in so many ways. And yet, in their apposition, it seems, as we progress through the story told across the present day and the past, both girls need each other to be fulfilled and to complete themselves.
What the author gives us is a superbly engaging and at times heart-wrenching journey as we watch Emily and Jane tentatively find their way back to each other, with perhaps two steps forward and one step back as they go. Or is it the other way around?
This book deals with pain, anxiety, and abuse, but Ms. Rutkoski is clever here since she treads a perfect line between never trivializing the issues or shortchanging the reader while never letting any of those elements overshadow—rather, inform—strands of the story. Each of the issues presented here directly informs character and decisions, and of course consequences and onward story.
The writing is always lush and clever in places, and you will enjoy tearing through the pages enjoying the prose and narrative voice, desperately hoping that Emily and Gen can find their way towards resolution.
Ordinary Love is anything but ordinary. It avoids many of the tropes you would find in a typical romance novel, and that’s because this is romance told differently. Indeed, this s more than a “straight-told” romance. It’s about self, about friendships, about sacrifice, about bravery, about venturing into the unknown. Don’t get me wrong, I love tropes! To hunt, bag, and consume them for tea! But it is very refreshing to once in a while read a book that features a near all-consuming love that charts its own path so brilliantly.
Thank you to the author and the publisher, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to very much enjoy this ARC.
July 7, 2025
Edit (July 6, 2025): I'm still thinking about this novel, so I'm rounding my rating up.
--
Original Review
I finished Ordinary Love last night and am still thinking about it. So my rating may change because this story is sticking with me in a way books don't often do.
The story follows Emily and her two great loves--her first love from high school, Gen, and her second love to the man she eventually marries, Jack. It's a story about abuse, shame, queer identity (from a bisexual lens), loss, and love.
Ordinary Love is not an easy book to read. It's frustrating and angsty and you will want to murder Jack, kick sense into Emily, and chew Gen out. And that's because it's realistic. Agonizingly and heartbreakingly so.
While I do think Ordinary Love is one of the best books I've read this year, I did find the narrative a little long. This isn't a page number thing but a pacing issue. The first 60% of the book really worked for me but it began to drag in the latter third.
4.5 for me I think. Rounding down for the pacing issue, but I may round this up later. Like I said above: I've not stopped thinking about this book since I started reading it.
Edited to add a kudos to Marie Rutkoski for giving us some butch rep in a sea that is dominated by femmes. This book is butch-femme.
--
Original Review
I finished Ordinary Love last night and am still thinking about it. So my rating may change because this story is sticking with me in a way books don't often do.
The story follows Emily and her two great loves--her first love from high school, Gen, and her second love to the man she eventually marries, Jack. It's a story about abuse, shame, queer identity (from a bisexual lens), loss, and love.
Ordinary Love is not an easy book to read. It's frustrating and angsty and you will want to murder Jack, kick sense into Emily, and chew Gen out. And that's because it's realistic. Agonizingly and heartbreakingly so.
While I do think Ordinary Love is one of the best books I've read this year, I did find the narrative a little long. This isn't a page number thing but a pacing issue. The first 60% of the book really worked for me but it began to drag in the latter third.
4.5 for me I think. Rounding down for the pacing issue, but I may round this up later. Like I said above: I've not stopped thinking about this book since I started reading it.
Edited to add a kudos to Marie Rutkoski for giving us some butch rep in a sea that is dominated by femmes. This book is butch-femme.
June 20, 2025
If you’re a big fan of character-driven novels like myself, then ORDINARY LOVE by Marie Rutkoski is just the book for you. It follows a young woman named Emily through high school, early adulthood, and into motherhood. We watch her grow, explore, experiment, and fall in love. It’s a beautiful story about womanhood that explores so many of my very favorite themes like marriage, motherhood, and female friendship. I couldn’t put down.
QUICK SYNOPSIS:
“𝘈 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦-𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.”
Rutkoski’s writing skills and style truly knocked my socks off. The character development impressed me so much that I just couldn’t give this novel anything less than 5/5 stars. I was immersed in Emily’s past and present storylines. It was an honor to witness her journey.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- NYC setting
- Young/first love
- Marriage and divorce
- Reflections on motherhood
- Second chance romance
- Queer romance
- Bisexuality
- Character-driven novels
- Flip-flopping timeline
- Female friendship
- Epic love stories
- Family drama
5/5 stars for ORDINARY LOVE! It’s out now! Highly recommend!
QUICK SYNOPSIS:
“𝘈 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦-𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.”
Rutkoski’s writing skills and style truly knocked my socks off. The character development impressed me so much that I just couldn’t give this novel anything less than 5/5 stars. I was immersed in Emily’s past and present storylines. It was an honor to witness her journey.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- NYC setting
- Young/first love
- Marriage and divorce
- Reflections on motherhood
- Second chance romance
- Queer romance
- Bisexuality
- Character-driven novels
- Flip-flopping timeline
- Female friendship
- Epic love stories
- Family drama
5/5 stars for ORDINARY LOVE! It’s out now! Highly recommend!
December 1, 2024
a perfectly average book. the writing often felt faux-deep, and the dialogue (especially for the side characters) often felt very contrived and tryhard, but overall nothing egregiously bad. again, perfectly average.
May 19, 2025
Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski. Thanks to the author for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emily has a seemingly perfect life but it’s now unraveling. A chance encounter with her old high school best friend reignites old passions and brings of questions of the future.
I loved the author’s book, Real Easy. Being a completely different type story, I wasn’t sure how I’d like this one but I ended loving it too. It takes talent to write so well within different genres! I loved this one because it really had two story lines: Emily’s family relationship and coming to terms with the reality of her marriage; and her feelings towards Gen and whether they were a thing of the past or more than that and part of her identity. All of this will be discovered and the reader is lucky enough to be taken along for the ride.
“It was the kind of happiness whose only worry is the loss of that happiness.”
Ordinary Love comes out 6/10.
Emily has a seemingly perfect life but it’s now unraveling. A chance encounter with her old high school best friend reignites old passions and brings of questions of the future.
I loved the author’s book, Real Easy. Being a completely different type story, I wasn’t sure how I’d like this one but I ended loving it too. It takes talent to write so well within different genres! I loved this one because it really had two story lines: Emily’s family relationship and coming to terms with the reality of her marriage; and her feelings towards Gen and whether they were a thing of the past or more than that and part of her identity. All of this will be discovered and the reader is lucky enough to be taken along for the ride.
“It was the kind of happiness whose only worry is the loss of that happiness.”
Ordinary Love comes out 6/10.
June 9, 2025
Many thanks to PRH International for the digital review copy!
Wow, was this book stressful and frustrating. I expected it to be centered around a sapphic second chance romance in the aftermath of a divorce, but instead the main focus was on Emily's abusive husband and their divorce, and her relationship with Gen felt like an afterthought until the end of the book. Had I known that going in, I probably wouldn't have picked this up. I'm extra disappointed about it because I did love Gen, and I wish I'd gotten to know her better.
Wow, was this book stressful and frustrating. I expected it to be centered around a sapphic second chance romance in the aftermath of a divorce, but instead the main focus was on Emily's abusive husband and their divorce, and her relationship with Gen felt like an afterthought until the end of the book. Had I known that going in, I probably wouldn't have picked this up. I'm extra disappointed about it because I did love Gen, and I wish I'd gotten to know her better.
June 18, 2025
This wasn't at all what I expected. And if I'm being honest, I'm not sure I'd have picked it up if I knew more about this book's main focus beforehand. It's just not the kind of narrative I'm usually in the mood for.
There are things I disliked, but I don't really want to get into that. This is a story that I felt emotionally very acutely. It felt like I knew these people personally, and they're real. I think that's why I can't rate it any lower.
There are things I disliked, but I don't really want to get into that. This is a story that I felt emotionally very acutely. It felt like I knew these people personally, and they're real. I think that's why I can't rate it any lower.
December 26, 2024
'Ordinary Love' is one of my favourite books this year. Rutkoski has written a beautiful love story about how no matter the direction life takes us, you'll always find the people you're supposed to.
Emily and Gennifer have an instant connection when they meet as teens, but as with first love, life gets in their way and it isn't until twenty years later that the two women reconnect. Once again life just seems to keep trying to pull them apart but the magnetism between Emily and Gen is just too undeniable.
I loved the strength that both women present with but also the fragile vulnerabilities that they trust one another with. Their pain stems from so much heartache so when they are together that trust in fate becomes infallible. I truly invested in their story and loved the brutal honesty that comes with Emily as the primary protagonist, she is flawed but she is also a mother and a woman and the balancing act is written beautifully,
This wasn't a story that I expected to adore so much but it became one that I couldn't stop thinking about once I finished, truly a celebration of LGBTQ+ love that I strongly recommend.
Emily and Gennifer have an instant connection when they meet as teens, but as with first love, life gets in their way and it isn't until twenty years later that the two women reconnect. Once again life just seems to keep trying to pull them apart but the magnetism between Emily and Gen is just too undeniable.
I loved the strength that both women present with but also the fragile vulnerabilities that they trust one another with. Their pain stems from so much heartache so when they are together that trust in fate becomes infallible. I truly invested in their story and loved the brutal honesty that comes with Emily as the primary protagonist, she is flawed but she is also a mother and a woman and the balancing act is written beautifully,
This wasn't a story that I expected to adore so much but it became one that I couldn't stop thinking about once I finished, truly a celebration of LGBTQ+ love that I strongly recommend.
June 15, 2025
4.7 ⭐️ because wait, is there a part 2??
October 12, 2025
I cried over marigold seeds. Yes, the story was that moving.
June 10, 2025
How will I recover from this? The stunning note from Knopf at the beginning of my ARC described this book perfectly: In Marie Rutkoski’s novel, which unspools in two timelines across decades, we see a pair of girls growing up in a small town where “lesbian” is only spoken in a hiss, we see the yawning chasm between state school and Harvard, we see the dawn of gay marriage in New York, and we see a culture slowly beginning to shift, to allow for a different kind of love to be considered ordinary. We preempted Ordinary Love in a passion buy-out from under a flock of other publishers (leaving them devastated in our wake) because we knew we had to have it. It is my great honor to share it with you, a reading experience that will linger in your brain and heart for months, a story that is equal parts sorrow and joy, and a work of literature that I hope you will find truly as extraordinary as we do.”
It’s high praise, and I have been anticipating the book so intensely since the moment it was announced, that for a moment I was afraid to be dissapointed. That moment dissapeared when I started reading. *I* dissapeared.
There is an inexplicable lucidity in the writing of this novel. Perhaps it is a love for commas and long sentences, the effortless eloquence, and fragments delicately placed. It is, of course, a familiar literary style, but it’s also Rutkoski’s own—light, airy, easy. Toeing the line with contemporary romance, it’s the kind of lit fic that would be someone’s favourite because it’s truly a pleasure to read (and equally devastating). It reminds me of some of my favourite novels of a similar genre—Annie on My Mind, Last Night at The Telegraph Club, Tipping the Velvet. But I don’t remember the last time I picked up a book with text so atmospheric that I forgot I existed as I read it. I stayed up all night to finish it, and I don’t reread books much anymore, but all week I’ve been going back to re-read sections, and I will soon need to reread the whole novel (perhaps more than once)—and I would still be in danger of pulling all-nighters again. Very, very excited for my preordered signed copy that’s on the way.
The book is written in third person, past tense (my favourite, because of course). I was, in part, surprised to find Emily as the only limited omniscient narrator. But this story couldn’t have been written any other way. Emily’s thoughts are dazzling in their deceptively simplistic observations, desires, convictions. The intimate care Rutkoski put into the perspective of a survivor of abuse, a bisexual femme for butch lover, a mother, a daughter, a writer, a dedicated humanities student, a small-town teenager crushing and falling in love, radiates off the pages. I can relate to only select few of her experiences, but in reading from her point of view, her feelings became mine. I spent a whole day after finishing just thinking of her love for her children. You know a book is well written when you can identify viscerally with a character who has a completely different life from you.
When I initially began the novel, I thought it might be written in three parallel storylines, but it’s actually written roughly in three chronological phases, enhanced to be seamless by the perfect rhythm of the writing. The blurb says it is a “page-turning, irresistable novel about class, ambition, and bisexuality”, and these elements snuck in so subtly I was actually startled by the end when I realised the long way the characters had come, how their fluctuating financial positions and their authentic (sometimes derailed) aspirations in turn drew them apart and then brought them together. This was also clearly never because they were actually incompatible (I’ve seen few fictional pairings of characters that so deeply love each other), but because they needed to grow the courage to be completely honest with each other, despite the sheer complexities of their situations.
Rutkoski’s most obvious talent (since her debut) is her writing of dialogue. Deliriously witty, delicious, and made me both giggle and cry at the simplest, most non-offensive exchanges. Gen and her vibrant group of queer adult friends is in stark contrast to Emily’s posh college circle at Harvard earlier in the book, but both interactions cause utter delight. As the letter from Knopf said, I read most of this book with my heart in my throat, and when Emily and Gen spoke as adults (in simple, but meaningful, achingly easy conversation) after we finally came back around to present day, I suddenly felt a great weight lift and startled myself by breaking into all-out sobbing. I realised in a few more pages that in my melancholic reading, I had began to expect that this would *not* be a passionate romance. I was wrong. Their teen romance was profoundly relatable, but sweet and nostalgic—In contrast, I confess I was never once normal about their electric chemistry when Gen and Emily were on the page together as adults.
While this story is deeply personal to the characters, the detailed historical and sociopolitical backdrop leaps out in certain parts. The telephones and letters, the subtle confusion (from straight people) that a butch can be considered attractive, the ease through which a femme can pass as straight (which often leads to harm rather than privilege) enhanced especially due to the invisibility of bisexuals. I was touched at the explicit inclusion of a bisexual femme, no doubt under the guidance of the entire list of experienced authors, including Malinda Lo, in the acknowledgements. (“Butch” is not used, probably due to the setting being past the era of the term.) In the age of the internet and the recent wave of (often implicit) reactionary TERF rhetoric and purity culture pushed by algorithms, it was comforting to read about the timeless, palpable warmth and vibrant diversity that can only exist in an IRL queer community, through the lens of a bisexual woman who instantly senses her belonging when surrounded by it.
Something about the instances where characters face difficulties are subtle, almost soft. Even the intimate partner violence, which is laid out in detail, is not exactly triggering to read, only discomfitting and restlessly heartbreaking. There is no sexual violence, no slurs. There is a kindness in this book towards its characters (and, by extension, its readers), uncommon in stories about minoritised groups, that makes it feel like a hug. It doesn’t sugarcoat struggles, but it feels more real because of its gentleness, perhaps because only a writer who has been there themself could hold a reader’s hand so firmly through this. I feel like I could read the last line over and over again, and never get tired of it.
Once I finished the book and caught up on sleep, I spent a day being dazed. It was like waking up from an embodied experience such as a dream, and trying to objectively recall how I felt about it. By every day that has passed since, my sheer fondness for the book only grows. I’ve spent a week trying to write a review that accurately describes it. My friends are sick of me raving about it, but I can’t stop. I think it’s easily going to be my favourite book of the year by a mile, even though it’s a great year for sapphic releases, with tough competition. All I can say is, please read it. If you relate to aspects of it, the experience will be transformative. And if you don’t relate at all, you will truly feel your heart expand as you read. Either way, you will be left changed.
Thanks so much to Knopf and Netgalley for an e-arc!
It’s high praise, and I have been anticipating the book so intensely since the moment it was announced, that for a moment I was afraid to be dissapointed. That moment dissapeared when I started reading. *I* dissapeared.
There is an inexplicable lucidity in the writing of this novel. Perhaps it is a love for commas and long sentences, the effortless eloquence, and fragments delicately placed. It is, of course, a familiar literary style, but it’s also Rutkoski’s own—light, airy, easy. Toeing the line with contemporary romance, it’s the kind of lit fic that would be someone’s favourite because it’s truly a pleasure to read (and equally devastating). It reminds me of some of my favourite novels of a similar genre—Annie on My Mind, Last Night at The Telegraph Club, Tipping the Velvet. But I don’t remember the last time I picked up a book with text so atmospheric that I forgot I existed as I read it. I stayed up all night to finish it, and I don’t reread books much anymore, but all week I’ve been going back to re-read sections, and I will soon need to reread the whole novel (perhaps more than once)—and I would still be in danger of pulling all-nighters again. Very, very excited for my preordered signed copy that’s on the way.
The book is written in third person, past tense (my favourite, because of course). I was, in part, surprised to find Emily as the only limited omniscient narrator. But this story couldn’t have been written any other way. Emily’s thoughts are dazzling in their deceptively simplistic observations, desires, convictions. The intimate care Rutkoski put into the perspective of a survivor of abuse, a bisexual femme for butch lover, a mother, a daughter, a writer, a dedicated humanities student, a small-town teenager crushing and falling in love, radiates off the pages. I can relate to only select few of her experiences, but in reading from her point of view, her feelings became mine. I spent a whole day after finishing just thinking of her love for her children. You know a book is well written when you can identify viscerally with a character who has a completely different life from you.
When I initially began the novel, I thought it might be written in three parallel storylines, but it’s actually written roughly in three chronological phases, enhanced to be seamless by the perfect rhythm of the writing. The blurb says it is a “page-turning, irresistable novel about class, ambition, and bisexuality”, and these elements snuck in so subtly I was actually startled by the end when I realised the long way the characters had come, how their fluctuating financial positions and their authentic (sometimes derailed) aspirations in turn drew them apart and then brought them together. This was also clearly never because they were actually incompatible (I’ve seen few fictional pairings of characters that so deeply love each other), but because they needed to grow the courage to be completely honest with each other, despite the sheer complexities of their situations.
Rutkoski’s most obvious talent (since her debut) is her writing of dialogue. Deliriously witty, delicious, and made me both giggle and cry at the simplest, most non-offensive exchanges. Gen and her vibrant group of queer adult friends is in stark contrast to Emily’s posh college circle at Harvard earlier in the book, but both interactions cause utter delight. As the letter from Knopf said, I read most of this book with my heart in my throat, and when Emily and Gen spoke as adults (in simple, but meaningful, achingly easy conversation) after we finally came back around to present day, I suddenly felt a great weight lift and startled myself by breaking into all-out sobbing. I realised in a few more pages that in my melancholic reading, I had began to expect that this would *not* be a passionate romance. I was wrong. Their teen romance was profoundly relatable, but sweet and nostalgic—In contrast, I confess I was never once normal about their electric chemistry when Gen and Emily were on the page together as adults.
While this story is deeply personal to the characters, the detailed historical and sociopolitical backdrop leaps out in certain parts. The telephones and letters, the subtle confusion (from straight people) that a butch can be considered attractive, the ease through which a femme can pass as straight (which often leads to harm rather than privilege) enhanced especially due to the invisibility of bisexuals. I was touched at the explicit inclusion of a bisexual femme, no doubt under the guidance of the entire list of experienced authors, including Malinda Lo, in the acknowledgements. (“Butch” is not used, probably due to the setting being past the era of the term.) In the age of the internet and the recent wave of (often implicit) reactionary TERF rhetoric and purity culture pushed by algorithms, it was comforting to read about the timeless, palpable warmth and vibrant diversity that can only exist in an IRL queer community, through the lens of a bisexual woman who instantly senses her belonging when surrounded by it.
Something about the instances where characters face difficulties are subtle, almost soft. Even the intimate partner violence, which is laid out in detail, is not exactly triggering to read, only discomfitting and restlessly heartbreaking. There is no sexual violence, no slurs. There is a kindness in this book towards its characters (and, by extension, its readers), uncommon in stories about minoritised groups, that makes it feel like a hug. It doesn’t sugarcoat struggles, but it feels more real because of its gentleness, perhaps because only a writer who has been there themself could hold a reader’s hand so firmly through this. I feel like I could read the last line over and over again, and never get tired of it.
Once I finished the book and caught up on sleep, I spent a day being dazed. It was like waking up from an embodied experience such as a dream, and trying to objectively recall how I felt about it. By every day that has passed since, my sheer fondness for the book only grows. I’ve spent a week trying to write a review that accurately describes it. My friends are sick of me raving about it, but I can’t stop. I think it’s easily going to be my favourite book of the year by a mile, even though it’s a great year for sapphic releases, with tough competition. All I can say is, please read it. If you relate to aspects of it, the experience will be transformative. And if you don’t relate at all, you will truly feel your heart expand as you read. Either way, you will be left changed.
Thanks so much to Knopf and Netgalley for an e-arc!
June 23, 2025
Emotional and beautiful storytelling of a lesbian relationship when they were in their teens that comes back into fruition — wrong time, right moment. Romance but also family and power dynamics, marrying a man, having a family, and learning so much of yourself along the way. I loved all aspects of NYC too <3
July 7, 2025
I fell in love with Marie Rutkoski’s writing ten years ago when she wrote historical YA romances. Back then, I never expected she would write a lesbian love story, nor what it would mean for my queer adult self.
This book was a masterpiece. Marie has always been a competent author, and she truly wrote her heart out here and it shows. It’s a long one, 400 pages, and every single word was so carefully chosen and delicately woven with the others: her prose never falters, and it’s truly artful. And it’s hard to keep up such a prose but also tell an engaging story. But the way she tells it, spanning more than a decade, and fleshes out the protagonists in all their different eras is incredible to read.
You get to follow these people since their teenage years well into adulthood, and then explore with them bisexuality, queer circles and lesbian love, but also heartbreak and friendship and trauma. There are dark themes in this book, but portrayed so respectfully, and though it does move you to tears (at least for me it did) it also doesn’t lets you delve into despair.
I may be biased, yes. I’m usually a bitch when reviewing stories, but I do get to be biased sometimes especially when one of Marie’s books is the first I marked as Want to Read in this platform. And I’m just so grateful for this one. To have grown up with her YA novels, and realizing my sexuality somewhere at some point, to now, to get to read this queer masterpiece, when there are so few out there, feels like a full circle moment.
This book was a masterpiece. Marie has always been a competent author, and she truly wrote her heart out here and it shows. It’s a long one, 400 pages, and every single word was so carefully chosen and delicately woven with the others: her prose never falters, and it’s truly artful. And it’s hard to keep up such a prose but also tell an engaging story. But the way she tells it, spanning more than a decade, and fleshes out the protagonists in all their different eras is incredible to read.
You get to follow these people since their teenage years well into adulthood, and then explore with them bisexuality, queer circles and lesbian love, but also heartbreak and friendship and trauma. There are dark themes in this book, but portrayed so respectfully, and though it does move you to tears (at least for me it did) it also doesn’t lets you delve into despair.
I may be biased, yes. I’m usually a bitch when reviewing stories, but I do get to be biased sometimes especially when one of Marie’s books is the first I marked as Want to Read in this platform. And I’m just so grateful for this one. To have grown up with her YA novels, and realizing my sexuality somewhere at some point, to now, to get to read this queer masterpiece, when there are so few out there, feels like a full circle moment.
September 7, 2025
Ordinary Love is one of those books that gets under your skin. It’s messy, angsty, and at times incredibly frustrating — but that’s what makes it feel so real. Emily’s story, torn between her toxic marriage to Jack and her decades-spanning love for Gen, is heartbreaking and beautifully written. The way Rutkoski portrays emotional abuse is subtle and powerful, capturing how manipulation and anxiety can creep in until someone starts doubting their every move.
The romance between Emily and Gen is tender and magnetic, even when weighed down by years of miscommunication and missed chances. At times, I found myself sighing at how easily a single conversation could have cleared the air, but their connection still pulled me in. They’re flawed, vulnerable, and yet undeniably drawn to one another, and I couldn’t help but root for them.
My only gripe is that the pacing dragged a little toward the end — not in terms of page count, but in how the tension lingered too long. Still, this was a raw, emotional, and ultimately hopeful story about love, loss, and finding your way back to the people who truly see you. Painful and poignant in equal measure.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
The romance between Emily and Gen is tender and magnetic, even when weighed down by years of miscommunication and missed chances. At times, I found myself sighing at how easily a single conversation could have cleared the air, but their connection still pulled me in. They’re flawed, vulnerable, and yet undeniably drawn to one another, and I couldn’t help but root for them.
My only gripe is that the pacing dragged a little toward the end — not in terms of page count, but in how the tension lingered too long. Still, this was a raw, emotional, and ultimately hopeful story about love, loss, and finding your way back to the people who truly see you. Painful and poignant in equal measure.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2025
Marie Rutkoski is, without exaggeration, one of my absolute all-time favorite living writers, so I was absolutely over the moon to see an adult release from her this year--and a gay romance, no less!
I generally like second-chance romance--I like to think that most people have a permanent spot of vulnerability around their first big heartbreak. It's something you carry forever, even after it stops being painful or even particularly memorable. I'm always drawn to books that get at that minute, archival soreness, so the premise of this one was an easy sell for me. This book explores ideas of first love, regrets, growth, and reconnection in a way I found intensely engaging and often moving. In many ways it's a straightforward manifestation of the second-chance trope, but there's a depth and tension beyond what's necessary or expected for a bog-standard romance. I also think this author is particularly adept at writing hot self-effacing soft butch love interests, and it's nice to see that skill at work in an adult book.
I will say that the husband character definitely veers into villain caricature more often than not, but 1) men really do be like that, oftentimes, and 2) Colleen Hoover is the biggest author in the world right now, and she is all about ridiculous villainous men. I would LOVE to see Marie Rutkoski get a piece of that audience.
This was one of my favorite reads so far in 2025, and I'm really looking forward to when everybody can read it!
I generally like second-chance romance--I like to think that most people have a permanent spot of vulnerability around their first big heartbreak. It's something you carry forever, even after it stops being painful or even particularly memorable. I'm always drawn to books that get at that minute, archival soreness, so the premise of this one was an easy sell for me. This book explores ideas of first love, regrets, growth, and reconnection in a way I found intensely engaging and often moving. In many ways it's a straightforward manifestation of the second-chance trope, but there's a depth and tension beyond what's necessary or expected for a bog-standard romance. I also think this author is particularly adept at writing hot self-effacing soft butch love interests, and it's nice to see that skill at work in an adult book.
I will say that the husband character definitely veers into villain caricature more often than not, but 1) men really do be like that, oftentimes, and 2) Colleen Hoover is the biggest author in the world right now, and she is all about ridiculous villainous men. I would LOVE to see Marie Rutkoski get a piece of that audience.
This was one of my favorite reads so far in 2025, and I'm really looking forward to when everybody can read it!
November 7, 2024
jesus christ. marie rutkoski knows how to write a book
July 11, 2025
“𝘈 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦-𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.”
A beautifully written love story about how no matter what direction life takes us, you'll always find the people you're supposed to.
If you are a fan of character driven books, then Ordinary Love is one you will love. It was heartwarming watching Emily explore adulthood, marriage, motherhood, and female friendship.
Emily and Jennifer have an instant connection when they meet as teens, but college, & life gets in their way, but twenty years later that the two women reconnect. Once again life seems to keep trying to pull them apart but the magnetism/chemistry between Emily and Jen is undeniable. You can feel the vulnerability, pain, and heartache both of these women carry.
This story wasn’t one that I expected to enjoy as much as I did & I truly can’t stop thinking about it.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention, I loathed the character of Jack!
Read if you enjoy;
- NYC setting
- Past/Present
- Young/first love
- Marriage/ Motherhood & Divorce
- Second chance romance
- Queer romance
- Bisexuality
- Female friendship
A beautifully written love story about how no matter what direction life takes us, you'll always find the people you're supposed to.
If you are a fan of character driven books, then Ordinary Love is one you will love. It was heartwarming watching Emily explore adulthood, marriage, motherhood, and female friendship.
Emily and Jennifer have an instant connection when they meet as teens, but college, & life gets in their way, but twenty years later that the two women reconnect. Once again life seems to keep trying to pull them apart but the magnetism/chemistry between Emily and Jen is undeniable. You can feel the vulnerability, pain, and heartache both of these women carry.
This story wasn’t one that I expected to enjoy as much as I did & I truly can’t stop thinking about it.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention, I loathed the character of Jack!
Read if you enjoy;
- NYC setting
- Past/Present
- Young/first love
- Marriage/ Motherhood & Divorce
- Second chance romance
- Queer romance
- Bisexuality
- Female friendship
June 18, 2025
4.25-4.5
This was an utterly fantastic novel, a real display of powerhouse writing. I do think some of the intensity of the story was lost in the second half. It was a really great story so it did not interfere with my opinion much, but I could see it impacting others more.
Thank you to Knopf for the gifted copy and prhaudio for the gifted audiobook. The narration was wonderful.
Publication Date: 6/10
This was an utterly fantastic novel, a real display of powerhouse writing. I do think some of the intensity of the story was lost in the second half. It was a really great story so it did not interfere with my opinion much, but I could see it impacting others more.
Thank you to Knopf for the gifted copy and prhaudio for the gifted audiobook. The narration was wonderful.
Publication Date: 6/10
September 26, 2025
i feel like this book was written specifically for me, ouch
June 15, 2025
This was ok, 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 good story, just needs a re-write.
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 good story, just needs a re-write.
August 17, 2025
i enjoyed this so much, the pacing was good, the characters were charming i really loved gen and emily, especially emily and her whole journey of realizing that she needed to leave her husband for herself AND for her kids.
Also i love second chance romance and for the most part i really liked gen and emily’s development. my main issue was that it had the third act break up moment that was so cliche and done in the same way every other third act break up has been done before, i’m kinda tired of the mc and li breaking up cause one of them refused to communicate and cause someone on the side said they’re not good for them.
other than that i really liked it, it would’ve been 5 stars if the final conflict had been done differently
Also i love second chance romance and for the most part i really liked gen and emily’s development. my main issue was that it had the third act break up moment that was so cliche and done in the same way every other third act break up has been done before, i’m kinda tired of the mc and li breaking up cause one of them refused to communicate and cause someone on the side said they’re not good for them.
other than that i really liked it, it would’ve been 5 stars if the final conflict had been done differently
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2025
I was fortunate to win this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Unfortunately, I wasn't enjoying it enough to read it the whole way through. I quit after 100 pages.
I thoroughly enjoy books about relationships that capture emotional complexity, feel real, pull you along the journey, make you believe, etc. With this book I struggled to care or feel the connection at the level the author wanted me too. I needed more from the beginning set up and never really believed, which made me lose desire to read the book.
I thoroughly enjoy books about relationships that capture emotional complexity, feel real, pull you along the journey, make you believe, etc. With this book I struggled to care or feel the connection at the level the author wanted me too. I needed more from the beginning set up and never really believed, which made me lose desire to read the book.
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