How To Love - Katie Cotugno
Published: 03/09/13
Publisher: Quercus
Pages: 389
This is Katie's debut novel and I always get excited when I get the chance to discover new authors. There's something reassuring about going back to an author you know and love but there's something thrilling and exciting about trying a new author. The anticipation of whether you're about to stumble upon something that could change your life is quite unique and I was super excited to start How To Love.
Once it had fallen through my letterbox, I was hooked: the cover was probably the most attractive I've seen all year and the reviews were outstanding. I couldn't wait to start this gem.
Have you ever had someone in your life who you love, so deeply and so strongly, yet you can't stand them at the same time? Everything they do winds you up and you constantly want to shout at them? Serena has. Her problem is Sawyer. A notoriously good looking, guitar playing bad boy is not the way Serena sees him anymore. That's how she saw him before. But now, afterwards, she's sees him as a let down and a coward. In one tense summer, they created a child and Serena has been left to raise her daughter on her own. Sawyer returns two years later and old feelings and old memories resurface, bringing with them the unresolved tensions of summers long gone. Can their lives ever get better after everything that's happened?
The three words I would use to describe this book are: coming of age. If I'm not mistaken it's a YA novel and it has a distinct place within this genre. It tackles some pretty tough issues head on and fails to paint a rosy and perfect picture of teenage life; completely realistic. The characters were gritty and truthful, they spoke their feelings and weren't afraid of the confrontation.
Told from the perspective of Serena we see her struggles as a young, single mother trying to juggle child care with school work, a job and trying to keep her dreams afloat. I found her voice to be honest and moving; she shared the crap she had to deal with and how it made her feel. Sawyer was a character who really grew and developed well over the course of the novel; I enjoyed seeing his transformation and witnessing someone really turning their life around.
Katie's writing is perfect for this genre, it's lyrical yet gets to the point without an excess of words; something that you can sometimes find with other YA books. The pace was speedy and I was turning page after page, intrigued and excited to find out what was to happen next. I think this will quickly become a favourite among young adult readers and I can see it rivaling many of the big names in the genre. I honestly cannot wait to see what comes from Katie next, I'm expecting big, big things!
Perfect for fans of gritty coming of age titles, this novel will stretch the boundaries of relationships and responsibilities. It will raise questions about your own journey from adolescent to adult or, if you're currently on that journey, will give you some subtle but important tips along the way.
Publisher: Quercus
Pages: 389
This is Katie's debut novel and I always get excited when I get the chance to discover new authors. There's something reassuring about going back to an author you know and love but there's something thrilling and exciting about trying a new author. The anticipation of whether you're about to stumble upon something that could change your life is quite unique and I was super excited to start How To Love.
Once it had fallen through my letterbox, I was hooked: the cover was probably the most attractive I've seen all year and the reviews were outstanding. I couldn't wait to start this gem.
Have you ever had someone in your life who you love, so deeply and so strongly, yet you can't stand them at the same time? Everything they do winds you up and you constantly want to shout at them? Serena has. Her problem is Sawyer. A notoriously good looking, guitar playing bad boy is not the way Serena sees him anymore. That's how she saw him before. But now, afterwards, she's sees him as a let down and a coward. In one tense summer, they created a child and Serena has been left to raise her daughter on her own. Sawyer returns two years later and old feelings and old memories resurface, bringing with them the unresolved tensions of summers long gone. Can their lives ever get better after everything that's happened?
The three words I would use to describe this book are: coming of age. If I'm not mistaken it's a YA novel and it has a distinct place within this genre. It tackles some pretty tough issues head on and fails to paint a rosy and perfect picture of teenage life; completely realistic. The characters were gritty and truthful, they spoke their feelings and weren't afraid of the confrontation.
Told from the perspective of Serena we see her struggles as a young, single mother trying to juggle child care with school work, a job and trying to keep her dreams afloat. I found her voice to be honest and moving; she shared the crap she had to deal with and how it made her feel. Sawyer was a character who really grew and developed well over the course of the novel; I enjoyed seeing his transformation and witnessing someone really turning their life around.
Katie's writing is perfect for this genre, it's lyrical yet gets to the point without an excess of words; something that you can sometimes find with other YA books. The pace was speedy and I was turning page after page, intrigued and excited to find out what was to happen next. I think this will quickly become a favourite among young adult readers and I can see it rivaling many of the big names in the genre. I honestly cannot wait to see what comes from Katie next, I'm expecting big, big things!
Perfect for fans of gritty coming of age titles, this novel will stretch the boundaries of relationships and responsibilities. It will raise questions about your own journey from adolescent to adult or, if you're currently on that journey, will give you some subtle but important tips along the way.
Laura