Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: natural as breathing, endless as time. He’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists—until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love, hiding out in the back of the restaurant their families own together and taking winding, late-night road trips in his Jeep. But then one day, without a word, Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town, 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, making a big play to get Reena back–and to be the kind of dad Hannah deserves. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him–she’s too hurt, too angry, too busy for any kind of happy reunion. Still, 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?
HOW TO LOVE is now available! Order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Powell’s.
June 19, 2013 @ 12:37 am
Amazing book. Truly a roller coaster of emotions, and ended up loving characters that I didn’t especially like in the beginning. You have a wonderful gift in writing. “How to Love” really good and a refreshing romance novel.
I hope that many others will be blessed by it as I have been.
August 1, 2014 @ 8:03 am
Do u think that how it ended there might be a seconde book?
August 26, 2013 @ 11:48 am
My favourite book of 2013. I have never read a YA novel in which the characters have been so perfectly constructed and developed, and to whom I relate to so fiercely.
My first love – and my first heartbreak, was devastating, and it’s an experience that I’ve always felt cannot be understood unless you’ve been through it yourself – and yet somehow you have managed to capture the whole roller coaster so perfectly, that I was in tears every other chapter.
Reena is inspiring and I feel as though she’s become a part of me.
I cannot thank you, or praise you enough for How To Love.
October 19, 2013 @ 3:18 pm
i just finished ready it like a minute ago. i have to let you know how much i really loved this book! thank you
October 20, 2013 @ 10:46 pm
I absolutely adore “How To Love.” I finished it much sooner than I wanted too, but I just couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to read some more of your stuff soon! Definitely my favorite novel of 2013.
October 23, 2013 @ 7:51 am
Thanks for ‘how to love’ – I really really really enjoyed reading it last night until 3am… It didn’t feel so good this morning though when my babes needed a ride to school and kindergarden
January 9, 2014 @ 8:49 pm
I have been an 8th grade English teacher for almost a decade, and reading YA fiction and sharing my favorite new finds with students is my dream-worthy job. Until a recent snow day, The Fault in Our Stars, was my favorite. While How to Love is also a valentine to first love, it resonated with me even more than John Green’s novel. There is an authenticity to the characters. I found myself continuing to think about them even after I finished reading. The writing is beautiful; there was a line about a snowglobe that literally made me gasp. I look forward to reading more of Cotugno’s writing and giving this book to students and colleagues. Thank you for How to Love.
January 25, 2014 @ 1:00 am
This book has affected my views on life and has taught me that anyone can come out a winner in even the worst situations, you are officially one of my favorite YA authors
January 27, 2014 @ 3:26 pm
I went to Chapters In early October last year, and was just browsing through the YA section when I saw your book. I’m not too sure what it was that caught my eye- maybe the bright yet simple cover- but I was immediately drawn in. I read the summary and just completely fell in love with the plot line before even looking at the first page. I bought the book. That was really weird of me because first of all, I’m not exactly a girl that reads super-sappy books, but I have a special place in my heart for The Fault in Our Stars and How to Love (I’m more of a Veronica Roth, Kelly Armstrong and Pittacus Lore fangirl, and I like books that make you think like The Book Thief or The Help) and second, I’m one of those “Let’s borrow it from the library to see if I like it first” readers, then maybe I’ll buy it. Anyways, I’ve read it five times (I’m not exaggerating) and I just want you to know that every single aspect of that book is so, so perfect. I would also like you to know that How to Love is my favourite book ever, and you deserve to be ten times more popular than John Green or Sarah Dessen should have ever been. I know I should have written this a long time ago, but I just haven’t been able to. Thank you so much for inspiring me to start writing my own book. I hope to see more of your books in my local bookstore one day.
February 17, 2014 @ 3:32 pm
I just got done reading How to Love. It was amazing. I really enjoyed it. I was just wondering if it is the beginning of a series or not? If anyone knows, please reply. I have been searching for the answer for a while and commenting here was really my last option. Thanks.
February 18, 2014 @ 7:58 pm
Absolutely beautiful! The characters are phenomenal; they’re dynamic with layers upon layers of depth. LOVE LOVE LOVE this beautiful story written in a most eloquent and touching way!
February 18, 2014 @ 7:59 pm
I can’t wait to read more of your work!
Hangouts For Business with Brandee Sweesy - Author Katie Davis | A Writer Helping Writers | Brain Burps About Books
March 21, 2014 @ 1:04 pm
[…] Books and the Barrington Public Library. With these writers, too: Bianca Turetsky, Annie Cardi, Katie Cotungo, Tara […]
April 18, 2014 @ 4:14 pm
Is this book going to be made into a movie?? I really loves it and feel connected to it in a way too.
Inspiring.
New York Public Library Podcast Panel - Author Katie Davis | A Writer Helping Writers | Brain Burps About Books
April 25, 2014 @ 6:22 am
[…] Books and the Barrington Public Library. With these writers, too: Bianca Turetsky, Annie Cardi, Katie Cotungo, Tara […]
Brain Burps About Books Lunch 'n Learn with Katie Davis
May 2, 2014 @ 3:01 am
[…] Books and the Barrington Public Library. With these writers, too: Bianca Turetsky, Annie Cardi, Katie Cotungo, Tara […]
High Wattage Promotion Power | Writers on Wattpad
May 9, 2014 @ 2:39 pm
[…] Books and the Barrington Public Library. With these writers, too: Bianca Turetsky, Annie Cardi, Katie Cotungo, Tara […]
June 24, 2014 @ 11:32 am
hello! I’m a fifteen year old student from Indonesia and I just finished reading your book. Honestly, I loved it! I loved every bit of it, the characters, the way the story was written, everything. You have an absolutely great talent and I would like to thank you for this story. This story really got to me and I just absolutely loved it. 🙂
June 28, 2014 @ 10:57 am
I love this book so much, and I am so envious of you for writing Reena and Sawyer the way you did. This book is so painstakingly beautiful, and so painstakingly real, and it doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything, but then again it doesn’t deny that hope shines on anyone, even in the darkest of situations. Thank you for the ending, Reena and Sawyer both deserve it. THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS BOOK is basically all I’m saying. I’m probably not going to get over this story for an awfully long time. I’m probably not going to shut up about it for an awfully long time. So.
July 2, 2014 @ 4:42 pm
One of my new favorites. It was a roller coaster of emotions; ones that at 19, I could relate to which I loved. I loved all of the messages that I came across while reading. I love the way Reena developed as the story continued. 5 stars!
August 12, 2014 @ 12:52 am
Okay, here I go:
Your book is different then others I have read. I don’t know why, and I don’t know how, but this is what I read for. This is what I write for. In hopes to make or come across a book so head spinningly spectacular. My friends joke around that I’m a harsh critic on everything, especially movies and books. So when I mentioned to them that this book was perfect to me, they were like “woah, okay we have got to read it” The characters are still with me, even after a week later. This novel is my favorite book and I absolutely can’t stop thinking about the plot and the many scenarios and the awesome ride that was How To Love from the very first sentence to the very last page. You did what every author sets out to do, make a book that changes people, and it was utter perfection. Good job.
September 2, 2014 @ 11:32 am
This book is truly amaizing! I lobed every second of it! I wish i could thank you for everything that you have showed me yhorugh this wonderful book! Its definitely a roller coaster of emotions. I was never so touched before as i was now by this book!
-Thank you☺️
September 2, 2014 @ 11:34 am
This book is truly amaizing! I loved every second of it! I wish i could thank you for everything that you have showed me through this wonderful book! Its definitely a roller coaster of emotions. I was never so touched before as i was now by this book!
-Thank you☺️
January 22, 2015 @ 9:01 pm
Just read the book now (I’m a little late to jump on the wagon) but it was so, so amazing, and I’d definitely recommend it to literally anyone who was looking for something read. Reena’s character was gorgeously true and Sawyer’s was irresistibly complicated. It inspired me to grab my computer and start to write again. It was impossible not to love it.
Episode #1: Girl Talk | The Oral History Podcast
January 29, 2015 @ 5:49 pm
[…] How To Love by Katie Cotugno — @katiecotugno […]
January 30, 2015 @ 1:08 pm
There should be a movie on this book
February 23, 2015 @ 5:34 pm
Hi, first I want to say that this is by far one of the best books I’ve read in my entire life. I found this book around the spring of last year by chance because the cover stood out to me. My exact thoughts were ” oh my god it’s such a pretty shade of blue I have to read this book “. Once I started reading it I was hooked instantly and finished the book within 3 days. Since that time I’ve read the book 4 more times including now and it just gets me every . I’m so glad I decided to read this book because I thought it was pretty, I took a huge chance and it was one of the best ones I’ve ever taken. Thank you for writing such an amazing book
October 19, 2016 @ 2:35 pm
Will you ever write a sequel??????????
December 2, 2016 @ 3:12 am
How to Love was honestly one of the best books I have read. Me being a high school student, reading usually isn’t my thing, but this book caught attention. Once I picked it up I could not put it down. There was never a dull moment, and I loved everything about it! Amazing book!