Book Review: I Want It That Way by Ann Aguirre

I Want It That Way (2B Trilogy #1)
Author:  Ann Aguirre
Publisher:  Harlequin HQN, 352 pages
Expected Publication Date:  August 26, 2014
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

From Goodreads:
Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she's determined to make them come true—for her parents' sake as well as her own. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, she barely has time to think, let alone date. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B….

Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can't risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, a social life is out of the question. The last thing he wants is for four noisy students to move into the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia's and Ty's paths cross, and soon they can't stay away from each other.

The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can't know what you truly need until you stand to lose it.

Review:
I really liked this New Adult novel by Ann Aguirre and here's why:

1.  Realistically portrays college life with Nadia balancing work, school, and a social life.  She's struggling a bit with her special education practicuum and her best friend is struggling with whether she wants to be a political science major.  I appreciated the fact that these characters don't have it all figured out and that it's ok not to have it all figured out.  I do wish the author had described the college a bit more, I had no idea if it was a small or big school, what the campus looked like, etc.  I also liked Nadia's other roommates, Max and Angus.  I'm assuming future books will focus on them.

2.  Ty…he was pretty swoony, I have to say.  An architecture major with a cute four year old kid.  A good guy who's trying to be a good dad, I liked the fact that he wasn't all bad boy broody (not that I don't like the bad boys, but it's a refreshing change).  

3.  Parents.  Yes, there are actually parents in a New Adult novel.  Even though Nadia is far from home, she visits her parents for Thanksgiving, Skypes with them, etc.

4.  Nadia and Ty's relationship.  They're very open with each other about how they're feeling, the fact that they're attracted to each other, and the fact that they can't really date each other because of Sam, Ty's son.  Ty is even open about his history with Sam's mom.  Given that so many NA novels have the characters keeping secrets from each other, that was a welcome change.  

5.  I liked the message the book sends about love and timing and that what's right for some people may not be right for everyone else.

If you like New Adult contemporary romances, you'll enjoy this one!

Posted by:  Pam