Title: I Want it That Way (Apartment 2B #1)
Author: Ann Aguirre
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: August 26, 2014
Genre: New Adult // Romance
Format: Physical Copy
Source: Author
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 (goodreads).
Besides transporting you back to the gold ol' early 2000s, I Want It That Way delivers a cute story about two people who seem to be on separate paths in life.
Plot: I Want it That Way opens like your typical NA novel. Girl moves into a new place and meets aloof hot boy. This is where this the similarities between this and other NAs differ. I liked that this wasn't just a story about Nadia and her infatuation (of obsession, no judgement) regarding Daniel Tyler, but also the dynamics of her roommates and family life. When you think about it, it's a pretty difficult decision to make at the age of 20. Do I give myself to this guy who has already started a family? It made me question what I would do in that position as well.
Characters: I can't say that I felt a connection to any other the characters, not even Ty's adorable child, Sam. This may be due in pat to the writing, but I felt like an observer throughout this novel, I was never engaged in the story line. The days seem to pass without much excitement, and the sexual tension seemed like it was just one step to the "I Love Yous" without any heart. I think the writing was a lot of "telling" instead of "showing."
Setting: I Want it That Way has a university setting like most NAs, but I'm not too sure we see Nadia in class, ever. She floats between a part-time job, her apartment, and then her high school practicum. Maybe the other books will expand more on their university lives.
Short N Sweet: I Want it That Way explores the difficulty of love after becoming a single parent. I appreciate it for its originality, but I didn't feel much for the story.
Labels: 3 stars, ann aguirre, book review, Harlequin HQN, I Want it That Way, review
