As Long As You Love Me (2B Trilogy, #2) by Ann Aguirre
New Adult/Romance Contemporary
E book, 352 pages
September 30, 2014
Harlequin, HQN
Reviewed by Tori
Lauren Barrett is coming home. Unable to deal with the pressures of college and losing her scholarship in the process, Lauren decides to head back to Sharon, Nebraska and try to get her life back on track.
Rob Conrad never left Sharon. Stunning good looks and high school popularity can only take you so far, especially when your family seems to think that’s all you have going for you. Now working construction and stuck in a relationship that seems to be going nowhere, he can’t figure out where his life went wrong.
As Lauren and Rob begin to spend more time together, old feelings and new dreams begin to form and soon this unlikely pair are a couple. But when old fears rear their heads, Lauren and Rob will need to decide if loving each other is enough.
As Long As You Love Me is the second in Ann Aguirre’s new adult trilogy, 2B. Based on three friends from college, each books follows their trials and tribulations through love. Though this book expands on a subplot from book one, each one can be read as a stand alone with little to no confusion. Lauren and Rob were introduced in book one-I Want It That Way. Lauren is Nadia’s best friend and college roommate and Rob is Nadia’s brother. We were given hints that Lauren has nursed a crush on Rob most of her life but we learn he has always regarded her as a little sister. Towards the end of book one, we see Lauren is dealing with some serious issues and leaving college.
Once again, Ann Aguirre pens a low key new adult romance. Heavily character driven, it almost carries a defiant tone to it as if Aguirre is doing everything she can to buck the current trend of over the top dramatic emotional crazy pants new adult romances by penning the direct opposite. Minimum conflict, approachable characters, and an indulgent humor creates a fast, fun, easy to read romance. As Aguirre sets up the storyline and character dynamics, I couldn’t help but feel we were being presented with checklist of plot lines. Social anxiety? Check. Insecurity? Check? Bitchy ex girlfriend? Misunderstanding conflict? Check. Growth moment? Check. Regardless, I enjoyed the story overall as we watch two seemingly different characters drop their masks for the one person they can truly be themselves with.
Lauren and Rob are delightful protagonists; both individually and as a couple. I liked the role swapping in here with Lauren being the more sexually open and Rob’s strong need to be in a committed relationship before engaging in sex. It goes far in explaining how they each view themselves. If Lauren allows no one close, then she can’t be hurt like her mother was when her parent’s divorced. Rob has been told by family and friends that he’s not bright and he’s learned that most women view him as the man you want to have a wild one night stand with, not the one you want to fall in love with and marry.
The romance builds slowly. Though the chemistry is apparent from the beginning, both struggle with redefining and building an adult friendship. Also, Rob is dating someone in the beginning and neither are the type of person to cross that line. Once the all clear in given, we begin to see a delish alpha side to Rob that tells us his still waters run deep. Watching them each let down their barriers and let each other in was very sweet and sexy. Communication is at a premium and much appreciated in creating a realistic relationship. Aguirre uses their personalities to show us how perfect they are for one another-like two pieces of a puzzle. Though the romance remains the main element of the storyline, Aguirre intertwines it with the multiple plot lines, using them to further develop Rob and Lauren’s characters.
A healthy integration of secondary characters adds depth and humor to the story. We see some old friends, Nadia and Max, along with some new ones who help Lauren and Rob figure out exactly what and who they want out of life. The final conflict was overreaching for how calm the main storyline was yet it does afford both characters to opportunity to jump the last hurdle that was holding them back in their relationship. I found some of the emotional connection and development I felt was missing in book one in here and am looking forward to reading the final installment of this trilogy-The Shape of my Heart-which is set to release November 25, 2014.
Overall Rating: C+
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Thanks for linking me! I like your review! Hopefully you’ll find more emotional connection in book three! Happy Reading!