ARC REVIEW: How to Love by Katie Cotugno

Title: How to Love

Author: Katie Cotugno

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Release Date: October 1, 2013

Pages: 389, Hardcover

Source: ARC obtained at BEA

Summary from Goodreads:

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena’s gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she’s finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though she’d be lying if she said Sawyer’s being back wasn’t stirring something in her. After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?

In this breathtaking debut, Katie Cotugno weaves together the story of one couple falling in love—twice.

There is no rhyme or reason to how one person feels about another. You like who you like, amiriight? The things that often connect two people are not always easily explained or understood, just as are the things that often tear two people apart. Feelings are messy. Feelings don’t always make sense.

It’s not exactly clear what draws Serena and Sawyer together. After all, they couldn’t be more opposite. But their attraction is so strong it is almost tangible.  I wouldn’t exactly say that they work well together but there is no doubt that they care about each other immensely. And when it comes down to it, they are the only two people that have to get it.

How to Love is told in the “Before” and the “After”. In the “Before” part of the story, Sawyer and Serena are like two oncoming trains. You can see that collision is inevitable, and when it happens it is explosive, and messy and confusing. And as is the case with any train wreck, witnesses can’t look away. Readers know what is going to happen to their relationship; not only does the synopsis tell us but we see the “After” unfold at the same time. Yet the story is still irresistible. We see the good, the bad, and the ugly of relationships. We see two people who love each other so much it hurts.

In the “After” part of the story, Sawyer and Serena are thrust together yet again in the wake of Sawyer’s sudden return. Serena tries not to fall into the same destructive patters with Sawyer but finds it difficult to resist his charms. But what she doesn’t account for is that maybe he’s changed. The “After” is just as heartfelt as the “Before”. Timing and circumstance were against them in the past but things are different now. They get a second chance.

I can see readers relating to Sawyer and/or Serena and/or their situation in at least some way. I found it easy to connect with the feelings in the story even though I've never been in a similar situation (teenage pregnancy and destructive relationships and all that). Speaking of teenage pregnancy, I had no qualms with this aspect of the story. I think it was handled really, really well.

The writing in this book is just beautiful. The way the ending comes together with the “Before” and “After” is pretty perfect. There are just so many feelings and I really enjoyed this read.