Author: Katie Cotungno
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Purchased
Goodreads: Before:
Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, 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 being 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. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though 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?
In this breathtaking debut, Katie Cotugno weaves together the story of one couple falling in love—twice.
Ope’s Opinion: The Before and After telling of this story didn’t really work for me. Even though the chapters are clearly marked, at times, I couldn’t figure out where we were in the story. I think I would have enjoyed it more had it been told in chronological order.
Sawyer was not my favorite character. I thought he was self centered and egotistical. I didn’t really find him charming as I was suppose to. I like strong female characters, and I did find Reena strong as a mom, but not strong for herself.
I do enjoy Katie Cotugno’s writing, so I will probably try another one of her books.
