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How Can I Love You
How Can I Love You
Some wounds don’t come from lovers.
They come from the people who were supposed to love you first.
How Can I Love You is a raw, emotionally charged story about what happens when parental trauma quietly rewires the way you love, trust, and survive—long before romance ever enters the picture.
At the center of it all is Jainey.
Young. Guarded. Sharp-tongued. Still learning the difference between wanting love and knowing how to receive it.
This isn’t a fairytale.
It’s a coming-of-age unraveling—messy choices, blurred boundaries, desire used as distraction, and the slow realization that intimacy doesn’t fix what neglect planted years ago.
The romance is intense. Addictive. Complicated.
But the real story is Jainey learning how to sit with herself—unlearning survival habits, confronting emotional abandonment, and asking the hardest question of
How do you love someone else when you don’t know how to love yourself yet?
This book doesn’t rush healing.
It doesn’t soften the damage.
It tells the truth.
A raw, emotionally intense novel for mature readers.
Some wounds don’t come from lovers.
They come from the people who were supposed to love you first.
How Can I Love You is a raw, emotionally charged story about what happens when parental trauma quietly rewires the way you love, trust, and survive—long before romance ever enters the picture.
At the center of it all is Jainey.
Young. Guarded. Sharp-tongued. Still learning the difference between wanting love and knowing how to receive it.
This isn’t a fairytale.
It’s a coming-of-age unraveling—messy choices, blurred boundaries, desire used as distraction, and the slow realization that intimacy doesn’t fix what neglect planted years ago.
The romance is intense. Addictive. Complicated.
But the real story is Jainey learning how to sit with herself—unlearning survival habits, confronting emotional abandonment, and asking the hardest question of
How do you love someone else when you don’t know how to love yourself yet?
This book doesn’t rush healing.
It doesn’t soften the damage.
It tells the truth.
A raw, emotionally intense novel for mature readers.
460 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2025
About the author
Jada Glaze
2 books10 followersJada Glaze is a romance author who writes for readers who want more than surface-level love stories. Her books center on emotionally complex women, intense connections, and relationships that challenge old wounds while creating new beginnings.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 3, 2026
From the very first paragraph of the prologue, the author's words seeped into my soul, wrapping themselves around my heart and squeezing. Not enough to shatter me. Just enough to prepare me.
This story is fluid and unflinching, mirroring the brutal realism of growing up surrounded by abuse. Youth forced to learn how to survive with the dysregulation of knowing home isn’t safe, yet not knowing if the world beyond it will be any safer.
Jainey couldn’t wait to turn eighteen and leave home. And that reality isn’t a flex. Being “mature for your age” isn’t a flex. Holding everything in and pretending you’re fine isn’t a flex.
This story also holds space for the friends who were never really friends, and the boyfriends who were never really partners. The ones who eventually become part of the problem. The kind who realize you’re already beaten and broken and decide it’s easier to join in than to stand up for you.
Arina was Jainey’s only true friend. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, because every person Jainey had ever been vulnerable with had eventually inflicted pain. But every single time, Arina showed up. She loved Jainey without judgment. She reminded her of her value and that she still had fight left in her.
In search of love, the author puts us through it as we watch Jainey put herself through it. She loses herself in s3x, forgives red flags, and pushes her intuition to the back burner. She clings to hope without realizing that potential often comes packaged with pain. She convinces herself that thinking logically about her next steps means she’s micromanaging her future. Desperate for love, she throws caution to the wind, again and again.
Jainey doesn’t just need love, though. She needs safety. She needs to stop borrowing peace. She needs to choose herself.
As book one in the series, I am anxious to watch Jainey learn that loving yourself first isn’t selfish, it’s survival. Her self-destruction is devastating to witness, but as someone who understands this story all too well, I know that sometimes, not only do we need to fall, we need to be the ones to pick ourselves back up.
This story is fluid and unflinching, mirroring the brutal realism of growing up surrounded by abuse. Youth forced to learn how to survive with the dysregulation of knowing home isn’t safe, yet not knowing if the world beyond it will be any safer.
Jainey couldn’t wait to turn eighteen and leave home. And that reality isn’t a flex. Being “mature for your age” isn’t a flex. Holding everything in and pretending you’re fine isn’t a flex.
This story also holds space for the friends who were never really friends, and the boyfriends who were never really partners. The ones who eventually become part of the problem. The kind who realize you’re already beaten and broken and decide it’s easier to join in than to stand up for you.
Arina was Jainey’s only true friend. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, because every person Jainey had ever been vulnerable with had eventually inflicted pain. But every single time, Arina showed up. She loved Jainey without judgment. She reminded her of her value and that she still had fight left in her.
In search of love, the author puts us through it as we watch Jainey put herself through it. She loses herself in s3x, forgives red flags, and pushes her intuition to the back burner. She clings to hope without realizing that potential often comes packaged with pain. She convinces herself that thinking logically about her next steps means she’s micromanaging her future. Desperate for love, she throws caution to the wind, again and again.
Jainey doesn’t just need love, though. She needs safety. She needs to stop borrowing peace. She needs to choose herself.
As book one in the series, I am anxious to watch Jainey learn that loving yourself first isn’t selfish, it’s survival. Her self-destruction is devastating to witness, but as someone who understands this story all too well, I know that sometimes, not only do we need to fall, we need to be the ones to pick ourselves back up.
June 17, 2026
How Can I Love You completely wrecked me in the best possible way.
This isn't just a romance novel, it's an emotional excavation of what happens when childhood wounds follow you into adulthood and quietly shape every relationship you try to build. From the very first chapter, Jainey's voice felt painfully real: defensive, vulnerable, frustrating at times, and impossible not to root for.
What impressed me most was how honest this story is. It doesn't offer quick fixes, magical healing, or love as a cure-all. Instead, it explores the uncomfortable truth that emotional neglect leaves scars that don't disappear simply because someone comes along and cares about you. Watching Jainey struggle with trust, self-worth, intimacy, and her own survival instincts felt heartbreakingly authentic.
The romance is intense and emotionally charged, but it never overshadows the deeper story. Every relationship, every mistake, every moment of connection serves a larger purpose: showing how difficult it can be to accept love when you've spent your life believing you don't deserve it.
The writing is raw, immersive, and unafraid to sit in uncomfortable emotions. There were moments that made me angry, moments that broke my heart, and moments that felt so real I had to put the book down just to process them.
If you're looking for a neat, perfect love story, this may not be the book for you. But if you want a character-driven novel that explores trauma, healing, self-discovery, and the complicated journey toward self-love with honesty and depth, *How Can I Love You* is unforgettable.
A powerful, emotionally resonant read that stays with you long after the final page. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate flawed characters, messy growth, and stories that aren't afraid to tell the truth.
April 28, 2026
This book really stuck with me because of how raw and emotional Janiey’s story is. Her relationship with her family is incredibly painful, and the way they treat her makes it impossible not to root for her. Watching her grow—even as she trusts the wrong people at times—felt very real and human.
One of my favorite parts was her friendship with Arina. Through everything, Arina is her one true constant, and their bond adds so much heart to the story.
The only thing I wish had been different is the pacing. I would have loved the book to slow down and spend more time developing her relationships and friendships, because those moments had so much potential to go even deeper.
Overall, it’s a powerful, emotional read that stays with you.
One of my favorite parts was her friendship with Arina. Through everything, Arina is her one true constant, and their bond adds so much heart to the story.
The only thing I wish had been different is the pacing. I would have loved the book to slow down and spend more time developing her relationships and friendships, because those moments had so much potential to go even deeper.
Overall, it’s a powerful, emotional read that stays with you.
April 26, 2026
Reviewed the author advance copy
How Can I Love You is not an easy read—and that’s exactly what makes it worth reading.
From the very first pages, the book makes it clear that this isn’t a polished love story or a neatly packaged healing journey. It leans into discomfort. It explores the kind of emotional damage that doesn’t come from heartbreak in romance, but from something much earlier and harder to name: the absence, inconsistency, or failure of parental love. That foundation gives the entire story a heavier weight, and it lingers.
Jainey, the main character, carries the novel. She’s not written to be likable in a traditional way.
Overall, How Can I Love You is a raw, unfiltered and it stays with you long after you’ve finished.
How Can I Love You is not an easy read—and that’s exactly what makes it worth reading.
From the very first pages, the book makes it clear that this isn’t a polished love story or a neatly packaged healing journey. It leans into discomfort. It explores the kind of emotional damage that doesn’t come from heartbreak in romance, but from something much earlier and harder to name: the absence, inconsistency, or failure of parental love. That foundation gives the entire story a heavier weight, and it lingers.
Jainey, the main character, carries the novel. She’s not written to be likable in a traditional way.
Overall, How Can I Love You is a raw, unfiltered and it stays with you long after you’ve finished.
June 7, 2026
This was a very emotional read. Janey has definitely gone through some stuff while growing up and that really affected the way she looked at relationships. She wasn’t shown a healthy way. And it showed in how she went about hers. It really resonated for me on a personal level though. I wasn’t shown the healthiest way either, and I suffered through a lot of relationships that were toxic. And I wasted so many treats of my life because of it.
While she came across slightly immature due her age, I feel like that was because of how she was raised. But to see her take control of her life, and the growth she made, was awesome. I really liked being able to spend time in Jainey’s and see how she went from unhealthy to a strong woman with a lot of growth. Can’t wait to see her progression.
While she came across slightly immature due her age, I feel like that was because of how she was raised. But to see her take control of her life, and the growth she made, was awesome. I really liked being able to spend time in Jainey’s and see how she went from unhealthy to a strong woman with a lot of growth. Can’t wait to see her progression.
June 7, 2026
Heart string puller! Amazing! Beautifully written! This book had me hooked from page one!! Jainey grows up in abusive and rough household. She never feels loved , not even by the brother who is supposed to have her back! She keeps facing heartbreak. Until one trip to the strip club! Omg this book will grab your heart and squeeze!! I can’t wait for next book!! I highly recommend this book!!! It’s beyond 5 stars to me.
May 12, 2026
Jainey is a character that many girls can relate to when it comes to learning your self worth. She comes from a broken home, and huge parental traumas on both ends. She learns to find her way even after being pushed down she gets back up and keeps trying in her life she has been given. This book is spicey, but also shows the struggles a women can have when she didn’t have a strong family support system. My heart broke for Jainey and her failed attempts at love. I can’t wait to read the next book to see what she does next!
May 24, 2026
This book cracked my heart open slowly, then poured every emotion into the wound. How Can I Love You by Jada Glaze carried so much pain, vulnerability, and longing that it felt less like reading and more like standing in the middle of someone’s emotional storm with no umbrella.
The characters were beautifully flawed, and the emotional tension had this quiet ache to it that stayed with me long after I finished. There were moments that genuinely hurt to read in the best way, especially watching love and fear collide over and over again. I loved how raw the emotions felt without becoming overly dramatic. This is the kind of story that leaves mascara-smudged feelings behind like little fingerprints on your soul. 🤍
The characters were beautifully flawed, and the emotional tension had this quiet ache to it that stayed with me long after I finished. There were moments that genuinely hurt to read in the best way, especially watching love and fear collide over and over again. I loved how raw the emotions felt without becoming overly dramatic. This is the kind of story that leaves mascara-smudged feelings behind like little fingerprints on your soul. 🤍
May 1, 2026
A protagonist with a deeply painful past, where instead of love she has only known pain and rejection, repudiated by her mother since childhood.
Jainey learns that love can be complicated, cruel, and destructive, at least the love that comes from her mother. In each chapter, the protagonist's life unravels more and more, showing us her relationship with her family, the rejection, the way she was sidelined, and how all of this leads her through romantic disasters that destroy her even further.
Her moments of pain break you; you feel her pain, and you feel the emotions she conveys until the very end.
"Why can I never be enough for someone I love?"
I liked this story because it doesn't try to narrate an instant healing process, nor does it portray it as something "pretty." On the contrary, the story is raw, cruel, and emotional, reflecting all the complications of seeking love in any act, word, or caress.
The act of searching for something you've never truly received.
It's not just any love story; it's the description of a heartbreaking and conflicted healing process.
Jainey learns that love can be complicated, cruel, and destructive, at least the love that comes from her mother. In each chapter, the protagonist's life unravels more and more, showing us her relationship with her family, the rejection, the way she was sidelined, and how all of this leads her through romantic disasters that destroy her even further.
Her moments of pain break you; you feel her pain, and you feel the emotions she conveys until the very end.
"Why can I never be enough for someone I love?"
I liked this story because it doesn't try to narrate an instant healing process, nor does it portray it as something "pretty." On the contrary, the story is raw, cruel, and emotional, reflecting all the complications of seeking love in any act, word, or caress.
The act of searching for something you've never truly received.
It's not just any love story; it's the description of a heartbreaking and conflicted healing process.
April 25, 2026
Rating: 3.5 (Rounded to 4 stars)
How Can You Love Me? by Jada Glaze is an emotionally heavy coming of age story that does not shy away from the lasting impact of childhood trauma. This is not a light read, and it is not meant to be. It leans fully into the uncomfortable realities of how early experiences can shape identity, relationships, and the way love is understood.
Jainey is a deeply complex main character whose journey feels painfully real. Her reactions, choices, and emotional struggles reflect someone who has never been given the tools to understand healthy love. That authenticity is one of the strongest aspects of the book. You can feel the weight of her experiences in the way she navigates friendships, family dynamics, and romantic connections.
The writing carries a strong emotional core, especially in moments that explore abandonment, comparison, and the desire to feel wanted. Those scenes stand out because they feel genuine and relatable, capturing emotions that many readers may recognize in different ways. The relationship between Jainey and Arina also adds a meaningful layer, showing the importance of having at least one steady presence in an otherwise unstable world.
This lands at a 3.5 (4 star) rating because the pacing can feel very uneven at times. Certain sections are very detailed to the point where they begin to drag, and some emotional patterns feel repetitive. Jainey’s tendency to quickly attach and label her feelings can also become frustrating, even though it is clearly rooted in her past and her search for connection.
There are also moments where the writing could benefit from more polish, but for a debut, the emotional delivery remains strong and impactful.
Overall, this is a powerful and honest story about survival, identity, and the long road toward understanding love. It sets the stage for growth, and it will be interesting to see how Jainey continues to evolve in the next installment.
How Can You Love Me? by Jada Glaze is an emotionally heavy coming of age story that does not shy away from the lasting impact of childhood trauma. This is not a light read, and it is not meant to be. It leans fully into the uncomfortable realities of how early experiences can shape identity, relationships, and the way love is understood.
Jainey is a deeply complex main character whose journey feels painfully real. Her reactions, choices, and emotional struggles reflect someone who has never been given the tools to understand healthy love. That authenticity is one of the strongest aspects of the book. You can feel the weight of her experiences in the way she navigates friendships, family dynamics, and romantic connections.
The writing carries a strong emotional core, especially in moments that explore abandonment, comparison, and the desire to feel wanted. Those scenes stand out because they feel genuine and relatable, capturing emotions that many readers may recognize in different ways. The relationship between Jainey and Arina also adds a meaningful layer, showing the importance of having at least one steady presence in an otherwise unstable world.
This lands at a 3.5 (4 star) rating because the pacing can feel very uneven at times. Certain sections are very detailed to the point where they begin to drag, and some emotional patterns feel repetitive. Jainey’s tendency to quickly attach and label her feelings can also become frustrating, even though it is clearly rooted in her past and her search for connection.
There are also moments where the writing could benefit from more polish, but for a debut, the emotional delivery remains strong and impactful.
Overall, this is a powerful and honest story about survival, identity, and the long road toward understanding love. It sets the stage for growth, and it will be interesting to see how Jainey continues to evolve in the next installment.
May 11, 2026
🥀“How Can I Love You?”🥀 by Jada Glaze is a REAL love story. One that feels like reality because of the messy and beautiful love. 🌹 This book is crushing at times but heartwarming at others — the love is raw and earned. The FMC, Jainey, has many life altering relationships with romantic partners, family members, and friends. Jada Glaze takes the reader through each moment, allowing the reader to form their own relationship with each character. 🦋 At times, I was fully cheering for one MMC just to hate him a few chapters later. Because of this, “How Can I Love you?” feels REAL and RAW. 🌈 The title fits the story perfectly… how can we love those who betray us? And is it worth it in the end? 💔 The raw sections of this book slowly turn into Jainey learning how to heal. While this love story may not be all happy and rainbows, the ups and downs of “How Can I Love You?” drew me in over and over again because of my emotional investment in Jainey’s story! ❤️🔥 If you like romance books with earned satisfaction, relatability, and vulnerability, “How Can I Love You?” should be your next read! Book 2 of “How Can I Love You?” is in progress ☺️
4.5⭐️/5
4🌶️/5
Thank you so much Jada Glaze for sending me a copy of this beautiful book!!! ♥️
4.5⭐️/5
4🌶️/5
Thank you so much Jada Glaze for sending me a copy of this beautiful book!!! ♥️
April 21, 2026
How Can I Love You honestly hit way harder than I expected. It’s such a gripping, high intensity look at trauma and what it actually takes to start healing from it.
Jainey is one of those characters that just sticks with you. She’s sharp, guarded, and a bit rough around the edges, but underneath all of that you can really feel how much she’s been shaped by a lifetime of neglect and childhood trauma. The way the “mother wound” is explored felt so real, especially how that kind of abandonment carries into trust, relationships, and self worth.
The writing is raw and completely unfiltered, which makes every emotional moment hit that much harder. Nothing feels watered down or glossed over. It really leans into the messiness of healing and doesn’t try to wrap things up in a neat little bow, which I actually loved.
For a debut, this was seriously impressive. You can feel the vulnerability in it, and it’s the kind of story that lingers with you well after you finish.
Jainey is one of those characters that just sticks with you. She’s sharp, guarded, and a bit rough around the edges, but underneath all of that you can really feel how much she’s been shaped by a lifetime of neglect and childhood trauma. The way the “mother wound” is explored felt so real, especially how that kind of abandonment carries into trust, relationships, and self worth.
The writing is raw and completely unfiltered, which makes every emotional moment hit that much harder. Nothing feels watered down or glossed over. It really leans into the messiness of healing and doesn’t try to wrap things up in a neat little bow, which I actually loved.
For a debut, this was seriously impressive. You can feel the vulnerability in it, and it’s the kind of story that lingers with you well after you finish.
April 22, 2026
So I got an advanced cop of this ARC, and I'm not sure how I feel. Jainey to me seems a little too immature for her age. Yes, she is young, but sometimes the way she talks is more like a 15-year-old, not an 18-year-old trying to grow. I do like the relationship she and Arina have; it reminds me of what a true best friend is. I gave this a 3-star rating because it was hard for me to finish the last chapters. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be more trauma-based or if she just has more growing up to do. Sometimes I can tell the difference between what transpired in her past, and sometimes I like that she was using too much of this as an excuse. I do hope in the second book we can see more of her growth in relationships and friendships and the new men in her life.
May 25, 2026
I know my empathy is too strong because when I read about shit parents, it makes me irrationally angry. And then I remember that these are fictional characters and if the author wants them to get their comeuppance, it's up to them. I applaud Jainey's character. She's got a strong backbone and is unwilling to take shit from anyone, even the men she loves/loved. I'm curious to see who she'll choose: Cairo being the more reckless one to feed into her wild side but only behind closed doors, or Saint who is happy just to support her in whatever she does. I feel like she's leaning toward Saint but who knows? Also, we all need a friend like Arina. She asks where and how but never why.
May 29, 2026
1.5 stars
Thank you to this author for the physical copy of the book.
Unfortunately this story was not for me, I couldn’t connect with the FMC at all and found her extremely unlikable. I also felt all of the relationships she had with the men throughout the entirety of the book lacked any sort of depth beyond sex.
Thank you to this author for the physical copy of the book.
Unfortunately this story was not for me, I couldn’t connect with the FMC at all and found her extremely unlikable. I also felt all of the relationships she had with the men throughout the entirety of the book lacked any sort of depth beyond sex.
May 3, 2026
Amazing ily done. loved who the title is written to, being like a question. When I started this read, I was trying to piece it together like a puzzle, and as I went through it, I was able to put all the pieces together. And at the end, I figured it out, so that's how I can love you?
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January 17, 2026DNF 19%
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