Title: How to Love
Author: Katie Cotugno
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Pages: 389, Hardcover
Source: ARC obtained at BEA
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.
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.
