"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:

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."

"What in the actual sorcery. This was perfection in 82 pages. I felt so much! 🥹😭

Humour, heart and warmth all rolled into those pages and I had the best time reading it. Abby Jimenez is too talented. 🥰

“I felt like one of those dead plants on my balcony that had been brought back to life.� "

"WTF JUST HAPPENED?!?!? 😭😭

I AM LOSING MY MIND. THE LAST 15% OF THIS BOOK??! INSANE. CHAOS. I AM TERRIFIED. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT??!?!

Okay, let’s back up. I have so many qualms with this book. First of all, WHY is it so long when NOTHING HAPPENS for 80% of it, and then BOOM, in the last few chapters, EVERYTHING GOES UP IN FLAMES?? Also, why are the chapters SO LONG?! My attention span is suffering 😭

BUT WAIT. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE ROMANCE. We actually get more romance here, which I appreciate� but also I AM SCARED.

Kel & Antonetta??? FLAT. ZERO development. They have one scene and then� nothing. It was like Clare just threw them together because they had to be paired up. And LIN & CONOR?????

I HAD HIGH HOPES FOR THEM. AND NOW I AM SO CONFUSED. 😭

Listen, I DO NOT trust Conor. Not one bit. This man had the AUDACITY to ask Lin to be his mistress because, "Oh no, my duty, I can't marry you,"—LIKE EXCUSE ME?! Sir, just say you want your cake and to eat it too. I don’t know what it is about MMCs in royal books thinking this is a valid offer but IT GIVES ME THE BIGGEST ICK. And Lin says no, and then suddenly Conor FLIPS A SWITCH??? Like one paragraph later, he turns into this completely different version of himself and I AM NOT OKAY.

The way he treated Kel broke me. MY LOVE KEL 😭. Lin and Kel deserve so much better than whatever mess Conor is on right now. The epilogue kind of gives me hope that Conor might be playing a long game� but IDK. If this man actually turns full villain, it will be the first time I’ve experienced the emotional devastation of being BETRAYED by a fantasy male lead in real time. LIKE, I KNOW IT HAPPENS�(Adam from Shatter Me, Tamlin from ACOTAR even tho I never read it but I KNOW THE LORE)—but with those guys, I was prepared. I KNEW. THIS ONE? I AM LIVING THE UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW AND I HATE IT.

ALSO WASN’T THIS SUPPOSED TO BE A DUOLOGY?!?! WHY IS IT A TRILOGY NOW?? The plot barely moved and yet we are getting another book?? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.

� Final Thoughts �
� This book stressed me out.
� I still don’t trust Conor.
� Kel is suffering and so am I.
� Lin deserved better.
� Why did this book exist if it was just setup for book three??
� The epilogue gives me hope but also I AM STILL TERRIFIED.

Will I read the next book?? OBVIOUSLY. I need to know how this mess unfolds. 😭

Rating: 3 stars, but mostly bc I need THERAPY after that ending. 😭&±ç³Ü´Ç³Ù;