emburklin's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jayfaith24's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. For this to be a debut novel is incredible. I love how this book was written. A little different, but perfect. The style definitely fit Reena and Saywers relationship. The book shocked me and made my heart melt, amazing novel.
michelle8731's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not usually a contemporary romance reader, but OH THE FEELS!
First of all, I really enjoyed the format of the story. We start in the "Before" where Reena is fifteen and falling for Sawyer and the "After" where Reena is eighteen and seeing Sawyer for the first time in a couple of years. I really loved the parallel structure there, as though her life was in some ways repeating itself.
The voices in the story felt very real despite being somewhat stereotypical at times. No one is so extreme as to become a caricature, but they're all very distinct. I would say in terms of realism, it doesn't get much better than this.
Katie Cotugno manages to address a lot of really significant issues surrounding accidental pregnancy in a careful but purposeful way. Religion is addressed. Abortion is addressed. The stigma of being a young teen mother is addressed. I think she manages to do all this without sound preachy or making it the focus of the story, as the real focus is Reena and Sawyer's love story.
It was enjoyable and full of feels, and while I still don't think I'm much of a contemporary romance kind of girl, I highly recommend this book!
First of all, I really enjoyed the format of the story. We start in the "Before" where Reena is fifteen and falling for Sawyer and the "After" where Reena is eighteen and seeing Sawyer for the first time in a couple of years. I really loved the parallel structure there, as though her life was in some ways repeating itself.
The voices in the story felt very real despite being somewhat stereotypical at times. No one is so extreme as to become a caricature, but they're all very distinct. I would say in terms of realism, it doesn't get much better than this.
Katie Cotugno manages to address a lot of really significant issues surrounding accidental pregnancy in a careful but purposeful way. Religion is addressed. Abortion is addressed. The stigma of being a young teen mother is addressed. I think she manages to do all this without sound preachy or making it the focus of the story, as the real focus is Reena and Sawyer's love story.
It was enjoyable and full of feels, and while I still don't think I'm much of a contemporary romance kind of girl, I highly recommend this book!
clementinemac's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Love Cotugno, but I would have stayed mad at everyone in this book much longer than Reena was.
ciaralo's review against another edition
5.0
Okay but I really loved this book? And Katie Cotugno’s writing was just gorgeous? I think one of the absolute best things about this story was the fact that the main characters did the wrong thing constantly. They made mistakes, and the didn’t always learn from them, but they were just trying to make it through the day. Anyways, I might have longer thoughts about this later but HOW TO LOVE reminded me why I love YA so much.
kelliepalmer's review against another edition
4.0
Part of the time, while reading this book and the main characters were having conversations, but not really saying anything, I was getting frustrated. Made me mad that the real topics or the real conversations were not happening. Then I thought, how many times have I wanted to say something important to someone, but then didn't actually ever say it. This author understood how human and real it is to talk but to not actually say anything.
holsarmstrong's review against another edition
2.0
okay so this kept popping up on my recommended for my kindle so I decided I would finally jump the gun and read it and the description sounded exactly up my alley. I will say, I think the book is well written and I did finish this in an entire sitting. I thought the plot line was interesting enough and there was something interesting about the dual timelines.
my biggest issue with this book is that reena was ridiculous. she seemed to forgive sawyer for everything so easily and she took all his shit like it was normal - okay even. he left her - with a baby - and now he swoops back in and says all these pretty words?? I mean his reason for leaving was non existent and I really couldn’t buy into their relationship. it was unreasonably unrealistic and nah, not for me.
if it wasn’t for that, which by the way is the majority of the book, I would have bumped this rating up. but seriously one of the worst written romances and wettest characters I have read in a while and I feel horrible for saying it but just what the hell reena???
my biggest issue with this book is that reena was ridiculous. she seemed to forgive sawyer for everything so easily and she took all his shit like it was normal - okay even. he left her - with a baby - and now he swoops back in and says all these pretty words?? I mean his reason for leaving was non existent and I really couldn’t buy into their relationship. it was unreasonably unrealistic and nah, not for me.
if it wasn’t for that, which by the way is the majority of the book, I would have bumped this rating up. but seriously one of the worst written romances and wettest characters I have read in a while and I feel horrible for saying it but just what the hell reena???
beccainabook's review against another edition
3.0
ummm I was not a fan of this book as much as I hoped I would be. I loved the main character though.
faex's review against another edition
1.0
This book truly depends on whether or not you like Sawyer. I didn't and because of that, I couldn't turn a blind eye on every toxic part of their relationship and about him and I really hope girls will not take Sawyer as an example for a good or romantic boyfriend. He is toxic and Serena should have stayed far away from him. She did not do what was best for her or her daughter.
romancelandias's review against another edition
2.0
I was disappointed in this one. I was looking forward to a sweet, secone chance romance between a couple that now has a child to raise together. I wanted to like Sawyer, I did. But there was nothing special about him. He was extremely boring. He had no reedemable qualities, he was terrible at apologies and I had no idea what the protagonist saw in him. Their relationship was boring and there was zero chemistry. Sometimes I just wanted to scream at the main character to stand up for herself! I did like the relationship she had with her daughter, though.