How to Love
by: Katie Cotugno
Summary
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 life 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.
Quick Review
Have you ever enjoyed a vanilla cupcake? It wasn’t chocolate, it wasn’t frosted, and it wasn’t covered in sprinkles, but it was still so delicious because of its simplicity. How to Love by Katie Cotugno is that vanilla cupcake. It was a simple sweet and realistic novel about the happy moments and struggles of a teenage couple. It describes the journey of the female protagonist, Serena, when she first meets the love of her life Sawyer LeGrande, and then when she encounters him again after he disappeared mysteriously 2 years ago. Sawyer had unknowingly left Serena when she was pregnant with their daughter Hannah, and now he returns a changed man. Will Serena be able to forgive him? Will Serena drop everything she has built over the last 2 years to be with Sawyer again? I would personally give this story a 7 out of 10.The most unique feature of this book has to be how it is structured. The book is divided into two stories, the story of the first time Serena met Sawyer and the story of the second time Serena met Sawyer. The two stories are told in alternating chapters, which makes it easier for the reader to compare the difference the two years had on Sawyer and Serena’s personality. However, because the stories share so many similar attributes, the two stories sometimes start blending in your head. For instance, in one of the chapters she is at Sawyer’s house and he is buying oxycotin from a friend (1st time she fell in love with Sawyer), then suddenly Sawyer and Serena start talking about Aaron, Serena’s new boyfriend after Sawyer left her. Without rereading and realizing that you already entered a new chapter, the stories get quite confusing. If the author made chapters longer than 3 pages this story of storytelling would have been more effective.
The story takes place in warm Florida which is not highlighted in the book. The book overlooks the need to describe the setting and other inanimate objects. The focus is placed primarily on character behavior and character dynamics. The author, Katie Cotugno, wants all the readers’ attention on how each character felt and why that led to the decisions they made. As a result it is difficult to picture the story happening, but it is really easy to feel the story happening.
My favourite part of the entire story is how realistic it is, the female protagonist isn’t perfect and she is frequently on an emotional rollercoaster. But, most importantly, the male protagonist, is prince anti-charming and he is real. He isn’t terribly smooth, he does drugs, he has problems, and he isn’t obnoxiously wealthy. Sawyer isn’t just about having fun and partying. He knows when he is required to step up and take responsibility.
I really enjoyed this book, but it wouldn’t be one I would read again. The book felt very still to me.*Spoiler Alert* If you are a sucker for cute endings. You would love how this book ends.
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