Review by giasbookhaven - Ordinary Love

giasbookhaven 's review for:

Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski

4.25

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

eArc Review:

Ordinary Love takes readers through the life of Emily as she recalls memories of her life after she decides to separate from her husband with her two young children.

Emily has only ever had one other relationship in her life and that relationship meant everything. She blames her age, naivety and faults none of her own for the end of that relationship. Captivated by the charm, ease and how desirable Jack finds her, Emily finds herself wound up in another relationship with an older man who knows what he wants and what he likes.

The signs are all there as their relationship progresses. But Emily begins to believe she's misinterpreting Jack's feelings and intentions. This is her first relationship with a man;her first real relationship ever to some.

I questioned Emily a lot while reading this book. I wondered about her motivations and actions when it was clear that she noticed the small manipulative things Jack would say and do. But as we see more of Emily's life and the relationships she loses and carries into adulthood and motherhood, I begin to see the significance of Emily's relationship with Gen.

Emily is a flawed character that has to do a lot of growing in this story. And while I could see just how real and important her relationship and friendship with Gen was, those character flaws were very much a big part of their breakup and distance.

It was such a juxtaposition to feel empathetic and annoyed with Emily as I was reading this book; I don't often feel like that when I am getting to know a main character. It's either one or the other at different points of the book. But the way the author petals small details in each scene that are descriptive and sentimental, it was hard not to be invested.

Ordinary Love covers different parts of what it means to love and cherish another person's heart, friendship, and body. I am talking about Emily and Gen's relationship over the years but also the close and strong friendships that Emily has with her friends who are very supportive. And the complexity of parental relationships with their children. Emily's father seemed to make Emily feel like she always had to report back to him with positive information and responses since her parents split and he remarried and had more children. And her mother was always working or too exhausted from work to pay her much attention.

Emily threw herself into literature and Greek mythology and school as like a protective bubble. She was fairly meek and submissive so popular and/or rich clicks liked her. She wasn't unaware of this; she knew where and why she fit into those spaces but it felt like she was always masking. I wasn't that surprised by Emily's father's reaction to Gen but her mother gained some points from me.

Last note on her parents, Emily wanted so much to not be the kind of parents her mother or father were to her, so she embraced motherhood. But the conversation she had with her mother when she found out she was pregnant with her oldest, tells readers way more about the kind of mother Emily had. And it made me question Emily's judgment a little.

Emily was always this perfect mimic around others. Except with Gen. How fortunate she was to find another person to be herself around. A place where she just fit and could be herself. A pairing.

I really liked this book overall. This was my first read by this author and I am tempted to read more of her work. The writing was lyrical, emotional and unfiltered. I felt Emily's feelings in this book and the tension she felt in each of the friendships and relationships she had throughout her life.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy character led stories that are emotional, reflective and a bit sad with romance crackling, character growth and healing.

Content Warnings