Book Review – I Want It That Way by Ann Aguirre

I Want It That Way
This one was a sweet love story with most of what I’m looking for in an “easy”, slightly angsty contemporary romance read. And you know me, I just couldn’t resist the “hot but grumpy single father living in the same apartment building” angle. I dunno… sometimes, there’s just nothing better than a romance book that starts off with neighbors that can barely stand each other. That can be SO fun.

And considering he was living in a building loaded in college kids (including her and her roommates… the new tenants), while he was trying to raise his young son (in peace!), promised for some tense interactions and heated arguments.

And it had just a bit of everything to keep me content in my romance journey. A bit of pining, a bit of “leave me alone” tension, a bit of flirting, cuddling, friendship (with the hope for more…)… and of course, that fun college-life ambiance (with all the comical roommate interactions, AND drama, to boot!).

“I’m in, as long as we go to the late show. I have work to do first.”

“All work and no play, something something, make me a sandwich?” Max tried.

I smacked him on the way to the kitchen for some ramen, then I took the cup to my room and cracked open a virtual textbook while I ate.

Mmmmm…. Ramen. Is it bad that I still love those? And LOL on “Max” her roommate. She had three. Count ’em. 4 total living in that one apartment. Poooooor moody, super-serious Ty <— the grumpy single father living right. Down. Stairs. 😉

Good stuff!

But fairly easy on me (maybe even a little too easy on me). I suppose I was expecting more, by way of the initial… grumpy neighbor “meet cute”. A longer time in “terse” territory. More of those uncomfortable meetings coming in and out of the complex, perhaps more late night noise complaints. And then… and thennnnn!!! After all sorts of “he’s-hot-but-an-ass!!!” encounters, where they’re pretty sure they can’t stand each other… maybe even an emergency situation where he needs a sitter, and she’s the only one available… and therein starts the ceasefire. You know?

Oh don’t get me wrong… there were a few emergency situations, and plenty of push-pull angst to play with,

 “If you are wondering, the answer is yes. I want to [email protected]%k you so bad it hurts.”

The breath whooshed right out of me, and all the tingles centered low. “I like where this is going.”

“It’s a problem,” he said frankly. “Because I really like you. And I don’t date. I don’t bring girls home to Sam.”

…but I was just hoping for a longer, more drawn out pining/hating period, before they… you know. 😉

And pretty much, that’s how the whole book went. Lots of little drama pieces spread throughout, but nothing with major freak-out potential, intense emotional reactions or on-the-edge-of-your-seat butterflies. Just pure sweet, with a sweet underlying message. One of… go with the flow. One about doing what makes YOU happy. All of that played out through personal misunderstandings, emotional resistance, a few secrets, super-sweet scenes, and longing… via the whole cast of characters.

I watched his profile as he drove, wishing that we could have more of this. But hey, one weekend a month was better than nothing, right?

Yeahhh…. I knew where this was going. 😉 Heartache alley!!! AND I LOVED the idea of it. But I didn’t get as much of the feeling of it.

Enough fun to keep me reading, but in this case, not enough (of my own personal attachment and connection) to have me shouting it from the rooftops.

3.5 stars! If you want a nice easy “traditional” contemporary romance read for a lazy afternoon… one that will give you just enough of everything and not too much of anything, I think this might be for you!