How to Love
Book Description
Love is a battlefield, and the scars it leaves can reshape everything. In "How to Love," Katie Cotugno plunges into the intense whirlwind of young romance, where friendships fracture and hearts clash amid the chaos of growing up. Two teens from opposing worlds must navigate the raw complexities of desire, betrayal, and self-discovery, all while the stakes rise with each choice they make. As they grapple with what it means to truly love and be loved, the lines between right and wrong blur. Will they find the strength to fight for their future, or will they succumb to their fears?
Quick Book Summary
"How to Love" by Katie Cotugno is a poignant exploration of young love, heartache, and growth. The story follows Reena Montero and Sawyer LeGrande, two teens whose lives and relationship are marked by passion, pain, and missed opportunities. Told in an alternating timeline—“Before,” when the two first fall in love, and “After,” when Sawyer returns after leaving Reena pregnant and vanishing—the novel traces the complexity of forgiveness, responsibility, and self-discovery. Reena's journey is one of navigating shattered dreams, becoming a young mother, and wrestling with unresolved feelings as Sawyer re-enters her life. Through raw emotion and realistic struggles, the novel unravels what it means to truly love, to accept imperfections in oneself and others, and to make peace with the messiness of the heart.
Summary of Key Ideas
Table of Contents
The Complexity of Young Love
Reena Montero has always been known as the responsible one—a driven, ambitious girl with a plan for her future. She harbors a quiet longing for Sawyer LeGrande, her best friend’s stepbrother and the local bad boy. Despite their differences and the warnings of those around her, Reena eventually falls for Sawyer. The narrative unfolds in two timelines: before Sawyer’s disappearance, when their relationship blossoms amid the chaos of youth, and after his sudden return, years later, when he discovers Reena is now raising their daughter, Hannah, alone.
Cycles of Betrayal and Forgiveness
Sawyer’s absence leaves Reena grappling with heartbreak and the burden of unexpected motherhood. She must give up on her dreams of escaping her small town and is left feeling betrayed by Sawyer and misunderstood by her family and friends. Reena’s love for her daughter drives her to mature quickly, but she still harbors resentment and hurt from Sawyer’s abandonment. The “Before” chapters capture the intensity and uncertainty of first love, while the “After” chapters show Reena’s resilience as she rebuilds her life around Hannah and confronts the wounds Sawyer left behind.
Navigating Identity and Motherhood
Sawyer’s return disrupts the fragile stability Reena has created. He wishes to become a part of Hannah’s and Reena’s lives, but his appearance forces Reena to confront unresolved emotions and the intricate web of trust, regret, and hope. Family relationships, particularly with Reena’s conservative parents and Sawyer’s dysfunctional home, shape both protagonists’ choices and growth. The couple must reckon with old hurts and new realities, testing the limits of forgiveness and the possibility of renewal when trust is so deeply broken.
The Impact of Family and Expectations
Cotugno delves into the pressures young people face—expectations from family, coping with loss, addiction, and newfound responsibilities. Both Reena and Sawyer struggle with self-identity as they juggle personal ambitions with the demanding realities of parenthood. Through Reena’s eyes, the story traces the pain and beauty of carving out one’s own path amid societal and familial constraints. Their journey embodies the messiness of love: tangled, imperfect, and requiring constant effort and understanding.
Growth Through Adversity
Ultimately, "How to Love" is a story of growth through adversity. Reena and Sawyer’s tumultuous romance demonstrates that love isn’t about fairy tale perfection but about honesty, accountability, and growth. The novel closes with cautious optimism—Reena and Sawyer learn to accept their flaws and each other's, recognizing the importance of second chances. By facing their fears and embracing vulnerability, the characters chart a path forward, not defined by their past but by newfound hope and the possibility of a future together.
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