AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME BY ANN AGUIRRE
Genre: New Adult- Contemporary Romance
Source: The author/publisher in return for an honest review.
“To bad the dragon I have to slay lives inside my head .”
― Ann Aguirre, As Long As You Love Me
Series: 2B Trilogy (Companion Series)
I Want It That Way (#1 in 2B Trilogy)
Synopsis:
Most people dream about getting out of Sharon, Nebraska, but after three years away, Lauren Barrett is coming home. She has her reasons –– missing her family, losing her college scholarship. But 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’s the guy who women love and leave, not the one who makes them think of forever –– until Lauren comes back to town, bringing old feelings and new dreams with her.
Because the only thing more important than figuring out where you truly belong is finding the person you were meant to be with.
*I would like to thank Ann Aguirre and her publisher for the copy of the book I received!*
This book is the second in the 2B Trilogy, the companion series by Ann Aguirre. Like I said in my review for the first book in this trilogy, this book reminded me of my time in college and hit on so many aspects of life that happen during those year in school and the struggles I was facing within my self.
I could probably use most of the same content I used in my first review because I feel the same about this book in regards to Aguirre’s writing and the plot line of the story.
“Her writing style gave the story such fun and playful feel. It was light and completely gripping. There were a few times that the story lacked some substantial information,but her writing and the overall story made me keep reading. At times there were the cliches and corny sentences that are usually found in romance novels, but there was also sassy dialogue and humor that I could totally understand.”
The way that Aguirre threads the romance novel with a true reality, is aww inspiring. She really makes you understand that even a deep love and all the mushy, corny stuff cannot stop life from going on and issues arising. She added real life issues and made the book more believable and not some fantasy fairy tale. Aguirre proves that happy endings can come for people facing all sorts of challenges in life.
Aguirre developed a great dynamic of friendships and characters that were in this book.I felt a connection to the characters and really understood them and their struggles because I have been there (for most of the issues). I totally could relate to Lauren and what she was going through- ending up back at home with no money and no job questioning life is something I know all too well.
But the smallness of the town meant everybody knew you, and there was some comfort in the familiarity and the gossip.”
-Ann Aguirre, As Long As You Love Me
I am Lauren, in so many ways and it was nice to see how she worked through her issues. Lauren was an awesome character who was quirky and her own person and realizing that there is no such thing as normal. Aguirre sure knows how to write swoon worthy male leads. Rob was the ultimate gentleman, the only issue I had with him is that he was too insecure and corny. I very much dislike when someone constantly needs praises and convincing that they are worth it and good enough/smart enough. It is sad that there are things in life that beat someone down so much that this is the case, but for me personally it just didn’t work in the book for me. I got uber annoyed with Rob a lot throughout the book. I loved the other relationships that were developed through the story. It showed all the different sides and issues that can come from mother/daughter relationships, friendships and frenemies. It was nice to see that there were other relationships worked on and not just an all consuming romance.
Overall this was a gripping, raw book that incorporates more than a romance but the struggles of mental illness and sexual abuse. It displayed the difficulties of being in college, struggling with yourself, money, classes, friendships and finding/keeping love
On top of writing a enthralling story Aguirre includes a playlist at the end of each other 2B trilogy books and I think it is one of the coolest things ever! I love when authors include playlist to go along with the book or a playlist of music they were listening to when they were writing the book!
