Book Review: How to Love (Katie Cotugno)

This is a love story. But it’s not what you think. This is not a first kiss, or a first date. This is not love at first sight. This is a boy and a girl falling in messy, unpredictable, thrilling love. This is the complicated route to happiness that follows.

This is real. This is life. This is how to love.

BEFORE:

Reena has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember. But he’s never noticed her, until one day… he does. They fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town, leaving a devastated – and pregnant – Reena behind.

AFTER:

Three years later and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter Hannah. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again.

After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer again?

I haven't read an emotional book for quite a while until this one and How to Love had me tearing up quite a few times. The teen drama/ relationship problems are not usually the type I go for, but this one definitely blew me away. The love story is not the 'normal' kind where boy-meets-girl-and fall in love story, but one that focuses on their lives after their paths collided.

what I liked was how the chapters alternated between the past an the present which helped understand Reena and Sawyer's relationship better. It was well thought of and written as the story line remained smooth throughout the book. It kept making me want to know more, that's for sure.

My heart kept twisting and wrenching for Reena. I felt sorry for her and the troubles she had to go through as a teen mum, but what I liked about her was her incredibly strong character and personality. Reena was more than capable and persevered through her hard times - especially with Sawyer gone. I liked Reena, but sometimes I didn't get her at all and her character is quite unpredictable. She obviously still loved Sawyer, but pretends as though she does not, yet it is so obvious by the way she becomes weak whenever he is around.

My first impression of Sawyer was that he was kind of a jerk. Yet, that did not hold out long. I soon found him quite sweet to Reena. Incredibly sincere. As the story alternated between the past and present, you will definitely notice the change in Sawyer.

How to Love is an incredibly book that I found so hard to put down. At times, I became overwhelmed with emotion I just have to stop. It's an amazing love story and  I didn't want this book to end at all.

Five Stars