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Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite
In Love, Ruthie by Bonnie MacDougall, Ruthie Lucas is enjoying her view of Sebastian Bay when she receives a letter from a close friend, Jane. The letter asks Ruthie for her interpretation of a quote from a William Wordsworth poem, described as "child is father of the man." Ruthie decides to give the idea intense consideration as she recounts her life experiences, searching for instances where her decisions impacted her adulthood, forming her personality. She dissects defining events from her childhood through her early twenties, but one instance from her past solidifies her conclusion. After her reflection, Ruthie reveals her feelings about the line in a letter to Jane and adds a surprise.
Bonnie MacDougall builds Ruthie's character from the bottom up, exposing every detail of her experiences to reveal the naivete that comes with the transition from a new adult into maturity. Readers witness Ruthie's good decisions, like her friendship with Jane, and her mistakes - the same most people make in their youth - and understand her developing personality better as she meets her "shadow" during times of intense stress. From her description of sporadic popularity to her feelings about her family's culture, I felt like Ruthie was trying to find a place where she belonged, and I was along for the ride. I enjoyed learning about her self-discoveries and the ones prompted by her friend as she navigated through hardship, heartache, and grief. Readers who like women's fiction with good descriptive language will enjoy Love, Ruthie.
