REVIEW: As Long As You Love Me (2B Trilogy Book #2) By, Ann Aguirre

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.

This is the second book in Ann Aguirre’s 2B trilogy and I must tell you I am absolutely in love with it. I loved the first book but I think I enjoyed this book even more than the last. The characters, writing, and the story were just so much better. I might be biased because I am a complete sucker for falling in love with your best friend’s brother but oh well.

Lauren Barrett has failed out of college and now she is returning to her childhood home, and she’s happy about it. She has never felt like herself while she is at college. She put on a front so that she could be the normal everyone thought she should be. We learn a lot about the person that Lauren is. I wasn’t really happy with this being about Lauren because I didn’t really like her character in the first book. But Lauren turned out to be a completely different person. She became a person that I really liked. She was really a computer nerd that would rather code than go out drinking. She gets panic attacks and she has been in love with Rob forever.

“Then he pulled my palm down so it was open, facing up, and with one fingertip, he traced a curve. “You…” Then he repeated the motion on the other side, joining the invisible lines. “Are good for me.” As he released me, and I curled my fingers instinctively, I realized he’s drawn a heart on my hand.”

Rob has always been the dumb jock. He was a star in high school because of his looks and the way he could handle a football. No one has ever looked past that, his parents, his sister, no one has taken the time. Now he is in a relationship with Avery because she thinks he could become something. That seemed like the best relationship for him until Lauren comes back home.  I loved Rob. He was sweet, caring, patient, and totally swoon-worthy. I really hated the way everyone treated him. I wanted to beat everyone on the head. The only person I didn’t blame was Nadia because I think Rob resented her for the attention she got and she didn’t know how to handle him because he doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve.

Rob and Lauren were great together. They were both broken but they were good together. I loved how they have wanted each other in silence for years before either of them got the courage to change it. They were exactly what each other needed. Lauren helped Rob see that he was so much more than everyone thought he was. Rob helped her through her crushing panic attacks.

“A visible tremor went through him as his hand clenched into fists, showing off the veins and tendons, along the sexy swell of his biceps. I fought the urge to bite him.”

The supporting characters were great. I ended up really liking Avery. Even after all she did to Rob and Lauren she ended up being a great friend. I kind of hope we get a book for her….

Anyway the book was well written and the story really flowed. I loved everything about this book. The drama, the romance, the friendship, the comedy. There is a little bit of everything in this book and I loved every minute of it.

“This wasn’t a crush. It was Lurve. Capital L.