As Long As You Love Me by Ann Aguirre Pages: 384
Published by Harlequin, Harlequin HQN on October 1, 2014
Series: 2B Trilogy #2
Genres: contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Source: eARC from Publisher
Most people dream about getting out of Sharon, Nebraska, but after three years away, Lauren Barrett is coming home. There are the justifications she gives to everyone else—missing her family, losing her college scholarship. And then there’s the reason Lauren can’t admit to anyone: Rob Conrad, her best friend’s older brother.
Football prowess and jaw-dropping good looks made Rob a star in high school. Out in the real world, his job and his relationships are going nowhere. He can’t pinpoint exactly what’s missing until Lauren comes back to town, bringing old feelings and new dreams with her. But he’s the guy that women love and leave—not the one who makes them think of forever.
Though she’s terrified of opening up, Lauren’s ready to take that chance. Because the only thing more important than figuring out where you truly belong is finding the person you were meant to be with.
As Long As You Love me is the second book in the New Adult 2B Trilogy. It follows the original roommates of Apartment 2B. As Long As you Love Me is Lauren’s story. When the first book, I want it that way, left off Lauren had moved back home after college not working out. I felt for Lauren. For most of the first book, she was completely withdrawn and I had no idea what was going on with her until her breakdown at the end of the story. I was interested to get to know her better in this book.
Lauren gets back home and moves in with her mom. Her hometown is a small town so she runs into people from her past. It had to be strange for her to be back, but she was like a completely different person in As Long As You Love Me from basically the first page. I could feel her relief. It was like she was finally able to breathe, and the longer she hung around Rob, it was easy to see she was becoming more and more comfortable.
Even though As Long As You Love Me was told entirely from Lauren’s point of view, we got to know Rob, Nadia’s brother extremely well. I wish that we got to see his point of view a little better. I felt for Rob so much. I can’t believe that everyone in his life belittled him so much. I can’t even imagine everyone I know discounting me as dumb and just a pretty face. No one gave him any credit. It almost amounted to emotional abuse. My heart just broke for him. And it wasn’t any one person, it really was everyone around him. He turned down a college football scholarship because he genuinely believed, because everyone told him over and over again, that he wouldn’t be smart enough to make it in college. How awful is that??! So when Lauren ran into Rob and they started hanging out again, the thing that I loved the most about the two of them was how she was constantly reassuring him how great he was. It was a bit of a role reversal from most books, in the fact that the guy was the one with major insecurity issues. But Rob has a heart of gold, and I wanted so badly for him to believe more in himself.
I loved the Flipping/renovating houses theme running throughout As Long As You Love Me. I am a bit of a HGTV freak, so the YouTube Channel and TV show idea was the coolest thing ever. I would love to see some inspiration pictures of the house he was working on. My only gripe with As Long As You Love Me was what Lauren did when the idea of the TV show came up. I have a pet peeve when characters act this way, and while I “get” why they do it, it always makes me mad because I simply think there are better ways for them to handle things. It seems like an easy out. And I wanted to punch Lauren in the face. And hug Rob. But other than that bump in the road, As Long As You Love Me is a fantastic read. It is sweet and romantic, and the journey that Rob and Lauren go on. They spoke each others language. I actually laughed out loud when Rob mentioned “Lauren Bait”. It was so cute. He knows her so well. This book felt really different than I Want it That Way, and I think I liked that best of all. Nadia and Lauren are very different people, so it was fitting that their stories felt completely different. The 2B trilogy is a wonderful example of New Adult Fiction. I am super excited for Max’s story, but we need to take the word trilogy off, and write more books! I want Avery’s story now that I have gotten to know her.
Read the First Chapter HERE!
Other Books in the 2B Trilogy:
The Shape Of My Heart (11/25/14)
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kindlemom1
I have seen some love and hate for this so I am so glad that you fell into the first category! I do want to try this series.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I really loved the first book in this series. I can’t wait to read the rest!
kim { Book Swoon }
I’m glad you’re enjoying this series, Michelle! I picked up book two, but now I’m wondering if I should/need to read book one first so as not to miss out on the characters? Lovely review 🙂
Carolyn Injoy-Life
I will keep watching your series. Haven’t won anything but my fingers are crossed.