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Needed You
Not yet published
Expected 16 Oct 26Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 28, 2026
ARC review. Thank you so much KJ Crawford!
A debut book?? I could never tell. This had me in the feels from the very beginning!
I love how the grief was represented in this book. I’ve read a few recently where the deceased is basically the main story and the two MMCs are just there. But this felt different and I loved that. Levi and Dare both needed each other and I’m so glad they made it!! Dare’s “crush” on him wasn’t a big part of the story and I enjoyed that. I know it hurt once Lev left but I feel like it made a good space for them to establish a real relationship.
Dare annoyed me a little with his back and forth, leaving and then never texting back! Ughh I get why but I felt for Lev. But also Lev knew exactly what Dare needed and it was so sweet.
The spice was placed to enhance the story and wasn’t just thrown in which I enjoyed. The love they have for each other even at the beginning made it so much better! 🥵
Also loved Lindsay and Ryan as side characters.
Overall, 4.5⭐️ read so I rounded up. I’m so excited to see what’s next!
A debut book?? I could never tell. This had me in the feels from the very beginning!
I love how the grief was represented in this book. I’ve read a few recently where the deceased is basically the main story and the two MMCs are just there. But this felt different and I loved that. Levi and Dare both needed each other and I’m so glad they made it!! Dare’s “crush” on him wasn’t a big part of the story and I enjoyed that. I know it hurt once Lev left but I feel like it made a good space for them to establish a real relationship.
Dare annoyed me a little with his back and forth, leaving and then never texting back! Ughh I get why but I felt for Lev. But also Lev knew exactly what Dare needed and it was so sweet.
The spice was placed to enhance the story and wasn’t just thrown in which I enjoyed. The love they have for each other even at the beginning made it so much better! 🥵
Also loved Lindsay and Ryan as side characters.
Overall, 4.5⭐️ read so I rounded up. I’m so excited to see what’s next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is simply a beautiful second-chance story that really touched me. The romance was very, very sweet. I love "hurt/comfort" stories, and here, the heavier themes—such as grief and its impact on a person—were handled with great sensitivity. All in all, a fantastic debut novel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A very solid debut by KJ Crawford!
Separated years ago after Dare's older brother (and Lev's best friend) passed in a tragic accident, in Needed You Lev moves back to his hometown and reconnects with Dare. Dare, still dealing with grief over his brother's death and his parents' subsequent abandonment, is touch starved and desperate for connection, while simultaneously struggling to trust that anyone might actually stay by him when everyone else has left.
I loved the slow growth of the connection between Dare and Lev, and the progression of Dare starting to address his grief and trauma. His parents made me want to shake them, but this unfortunately this is also the reality many people face - not all families are perfect, or even caring.
Despite the length, I found Needed You to be a fairly quick read, and really enjoyed the story. Will definitely be looking forward to more from KJ Crawford.
Separated years ago after Dare's older brother (and Lev's best friend) passed in a tragic accident, in Needed You Lev moves back to his hometown and reconnects with Dare. Dare, still dealing with grief over his brother's death and his parents' subsequent abandonment, is touch starved and desperate for connection, while simultaneously struggling to trust that anyone might actually stay by him when everyone else has left.
I loved the slow growth of the connection between Dare and Lev, and the progression of Dare starting to address his grief and trauma. His parents made me want to shake them, but this unfortunately this is also the reality many people face - not all families are perfect, or even caring.
Despite the length, I found Needed You to be a fairly quick read, and really enjoyed the story. Will definitely be looking forward to more from KJ Crawford.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lev and Dare easily made their way into my heart. Even though this book deals with grief, it’s also insanely adorable! Dare and his little kid energy at times had me smiling.
This story is truly heartwarming even though you might cry at times. The way everyone grows together throughout the story is everything I could have asked for!
This story is truly heartwarming even though you might cry at times. The way everyone grows together throughout the story is everything I could have asked for!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a debut for KJ, and overall a good read.
Felt very slice of life with hurt/comfort. Poor, sweet Dare. Losing his brother set of a chain to losing so much. Making him feel unworthy of everything. He is basically just going through the motions of life, not really living. Life is so gray for our sweet man. When Lev, his brothers best friend, comes back home to take over his uncle's motorcycle shop feelings surface and a little color starts to bleed into our sweet Dare's life.
Their chemistry was sooo good. The draw Lev had to Dare was sweet. The care and attention Lev gives to Dare was perfect.
My only wish for the book was I would have liked to see the actual hurt and struggles Dare had with being with Lev were so focused on internally but when it came time to talk to Lev it felt a little brushed over. I would have liked a little more depth and a deeper conversation there.
However, that said for a debut this was a good one. I highly enjoyed it and finished it in one sitting. I just had to see their HEA through. I look forward to seeing more from KJ!! And you should definitely pick this one up!
Felt very slice of life with hurt/comfort. Poor, sweet Dare. Losing his brother set of a chain to losing so much. Making him feel unworthy of everything. He is basically just going through the motions of life, not really living. Life is so gray for our sweet man. When Lev, his brothers best friend, comes back home to take over his uncle's motorcycle shop feelings surface and a little color starts to bleed into our sweet Dare's life.
Their chemistry was sooo good. The draw Lev had to Dare was sweet. The care and attention Lev gives to Dare was perfect.
My only wish for the book was I would have liked to see the actual hurt and struggles Dare had with being with Lev were so focused on internally but when it came time to talk to Lev it felt a little brushed over. I would have liked a little more depth and a deeper conversation there.
However, that said for a debut this was a good one. I highly enjoyed it and finished it in one sitting. I just had to see their HEA through. I look forward to seeing more from KJ!! And you should definitely pick this one up!
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 star read.
For a debut book it was awesome. Such a light enjoyable story. I loved Dare and Lev, so cute together, once Dare pulled his head out of his a***. His moods and behaviours really showed his age, which was a good thing but annoying at times. Lev comes across older than he is, he has an emotional maturity that is perfect for Dare.
They are fierce together, and you feel the passion and the love.
It didn’t get me totally in my feels. The issues dealt with were good, but they could have been so much more. That could be my take on hurt/comfort though, this did not feel how I expected it too, so that’s on me not KJ Crawford.
I loved the touch starved side of Dare, omg he was so sweet. When he finally gave into the caretaking side of Lev it was amazing.
Simply an adorable book of grief, abandonment and how someone helps another through it.
For a debut book it was awesome. Such a light enjoyable story. I loved Dare and Lev, so cute together, once Dare pulled his head out of his a***. His moods and behaviours really showed his age, which was a good thing but annoying at times. Lev comes across older than he is, he has an emotional maturity that is perfect for Dare.
They are fierce together, and you feel the passion and the love.
It didn’t get me totally in my feels. The issues dealt with were good, but they could have been so much more. That could be my take on hurt/comfort though, this did not feel how I expected it too, so that’s on me not KJ Crawford.
I loved the touch starved side of Dare, omg he was so sweet. When he finally gave into the caretaking side of Lev it was amazing.
Simply an adorable book of grief, abandonment and how someone helps another through it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5✨️
I enjoyed this story. It was perfect to binge read and easy to follow and understand.
Loved Lev he was a sweetheart. The other MMC was a bit to much for me. I know he is 18 years so maybe his behaviour is normal but he annoyed the hell out of me when he ghosted Lev and when he let the other man touch him in front of him. He acted like a spoiled brat. Later on he got more enjoyable but it took some time.
Glad they both had a happy ending and were healing and dealing with there grief and issues.
I enjoyed this story. It was perfect to binge read and easy to follow and understand.
Loved Lev he was a sweetheart. The other MMC was a bit to much for me. I know he is 18 years so maybe his behaviour is normal but he annoyed the hell out of me when he ghosted Lev and when he let the other man touch him in front of him. He acted like a spoiled brat. Later on he got more enjoyable but it took some time.
Glad they both had a happy ending and were healing and dealing with there grief and issues.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews