How to Love by Katie Cotugno — Summary & Review

Katie Cotugno’s "How to Love" isn’t your average teenage romance with butterflies and sweet texts. It’s a story that dives headfirst into the messy aftermath of young love gone sideways—unexpected pregnancy, abandonment, and the brutal reality of growing up faster than you planned. The novel centers on Reena Montero, a smart, grounded Florida teen with journalism dreams, who’s been nursing a secret crush on Sawyer LeGrande, her best friend Allie’s stepbrother. Sawyer is the classic bad boy with a troubled past, the kind of guy who’s magnetic but unreliable. Their relationship shifts from innocent friendship to something far more complicated, culminating in Reena’s unexpected pregnancy.

Cotugno doesn’t sugarcoat the fallout. Sawyer’s sudden exit leaves Reena to raise their daughter, Hannah, on her own, forcing her to confront the realities of responsibility, heartbreak, and the social stigma that often shadows young mothers. The story then jumps three years forward, with Sawyer’s return stirring up old wounds and new tensions. He wants back in, but Reena isn’t sure if she can—or should—trust him again.

The narrative’s clever structure alternates between "Before" and "After" chapters, giving readers a dual perspective on how their relationship evolved and how the consequences of their choices play out. This back-and-forth timeline adds emotional depth and lets us see both the hope and the heartbreak from multiple angles.

At its core, "How to Love" is about more than just teenage romance. It’s about the messy, complicated nature of love itself—how it can break you and build you up at the same time. Reena’s journey is a tough, honest look at what happens when life throws a curveball, and how forgiveness—of others and oneself—is rarely neat or easy. Sawyer’s character isn’t a one-dimensional bad boy; his return forces him to reckon with his past mistakes and the kind of man he wants to be, though his path is anything but smooth.

Cotugno’s writing style is straightforward but emotionally resonant, avoiding the usual YA fluff. The prose feels genuine, capturing the confusion, hope, and pain of young adulthood without resorting to clichés. The Florida setting adds a sun-drenched, sometimes stifling atmosphere that mirrors the characters’ emotional heat and isolation.

The novel also digs into family dynamics—how blended families, friendships, and parental expectations shape young people’s choices and identities. Allie’s presence as Reena’s best friend and Sawyer’s stepsister adds an extra layer of tension and loyalty conflicts.

For readers, "How to Love" offers an emotionally charged ride that doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. It’s a story that asks tough questions about trust, responsibility, and what it really means to love someone when everything’s falling apart. And it does so without preaching or wrapping up neatly, which is a relief in a genre that often opts for sugar-coated endings.

If you’re tired of YA romances that feel like a glossy daydream, this one’s worth your time. Just be ready for some emotional grit and a reminder that love—especially young love—is rarely simple or pretty.