Reena can't remember a time when she didn't like Sawyer,
even though he never seemed to notice her that way. Then one
day, he finally does and neither predicted how intense their
feelings would turn out to be. Unfortunately, life is
extremely messy and that reflects in their relationship.
When Sawyer suddenly vanishes with no notice, Reena is left
heartbroken...and pregnant. Three years later, Sawyer turns
up
again and meets his toddler-aged daughter. Full of anger and
hurt, Reena will have to decide if she's ready to have
Sawyer back in her life at all.
HOW TO LOVE by Katie Cotugno is one of the most refreshing
and original books I've read this year. I'm not sure that
I've ever read another book that shows love in a light this
messy, sometimes cruel, and without a doubt, real. This is
not a sweet book that brings tragically torn apart lovers
back together; it is a book that takes two people who are so
faulted, so human, and puts them in a love that is far too
powerful not have doses of bitterness, betrayal, hurt, and
just plain mess in it. The beautiful thing about this novel
is that it not only shows that, but it somehow manages to
put a tender and hopeful tone under it that these
characters, even the reader, clearly needs to make it
through.
Beyond the moving themes of the novel are some other
excellent elements. The dialogue and voice of the characters
feels very natural. People trip over their words and say the
wrong thing like we are all guilty of, but sometimes in the
midst of all that, they find a wonderful truth. I also
really love the side characters of Reena's family and her
friend, Shelby, that take the story to another level of
depth.
HOW TO LOVE is now on my list of favorite contemporary YA
books. I would highly recommend it to fans of Nyrae Dawn,
John Green, and Ellen Hopkins.
Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long
as she can remember. But he's never noticed that Reena even
exists . . . until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and
Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer
disappears 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. Reena's gotten used to
life without Sawyer, but just as suddenly as he disappeared,
he turns up again. Reena wants nothing to do with him,
though she'd be lying if she said his being back wasn't
stirring something in her.
After everything that's happened, can Reena really let
herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?
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