Virago Press pre-empts 'epic' love story by Marie Rutkoski

Virago Press has pre-empted Ordinary Love by New York Times bestselling author Marie Rutkoski.

Publishing director Carla Josephson acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in the novel from Felicity Blunt at Curtis Brown, on behalf of Alexandra Machinist at CAA. Publishing in spring 2025, Ordinary Love will be the lead literary fiction title for Virago and Little, Brown, backed by a "major" marketing and publicity campaign.  

American rights were acquired from Alexandra Machinist at CAA in a pre-empt by Jenny Jackson, vice president and executive editor at Alfred A Knopf. Sarah Harvey at CAA is handling all rights enquiries.  

The blurb reads: "Emily has a life many would envy: a Manhattan townhouse, two sweet children and an adoring husband, Jack. But Jack isn’t what he appears, and Emily’s marriage is secretly troubled.
"During their rocky separation, Emily encounters someone she’s tried not to think about for years: Gen Hall. As teenagers, she was Emily’s best friend, first love - and first heartbreak. Emily thought that she’d never recover from losing her. Now, separated by over a decade of mistakes and miscommunications, can they find their way back to each other?"

Rutkoski said: "At its heart, Ordinary Love is an epic queer love story. It’s also about life itself: friendship, motherhood, marriage, regret, growing up, figuring out who you are, and wanting more than people say you should. As a queer woman, I wrote this book for people like me, but also, honestly, for everyone, because I think everyone knows what it’s like to be marked by a love that never leaves you. Everyone knows what it’s like to want big things."

She added: "I am happy to be published by Virago, whose authors I admire, and to be working with the wonderful Carla Josephson. I’m excited for everything that comes next."

Josephson said: "I knew from the first few pages that Ordinary Love was something very special. Full of heartbreak, longing and desire, Ordinary Love is a sweeping queer love story about the possibility of a second chance at first love. Emily and Gen are such finely drawn characters and their epic story is truly one for the ages – it left me on the brink of tears and deeply moved."