Wanted You More

by B. Celeste

After surviving a tragic shooting that took her mother’s life, eight-year-old Austen Cole’s life is turned upside down by the haunting memories of that traumatic Fourth of July night.

Now, when the seventeen-year-olds self-destructive behavior gets her into trouble, it’s the son of the retired cop who saved her that tries coming to her rescue before she wastes the second chance at life she was given.

But not even twenty-two-year-old Noah Kingsley can help the snarky girl who insists she doesn’t need anybody.

This emotional hate-to-love-you slow burn romance spans over five years, telling the love story between one fragile girl molded by tragedy and the young man who wants to save her from herself…

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Emotional, College

470 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2023

About the author

B. Celeste is a new adult and contemporary romance author that gives voices to raw, realistic characters with emotional storylines that tug on the heartstrings.

She was born and raised in upstate New York where she still resides with her four-legged feline sidekick Oliver “Ollie” Queen. Her love for reading and writing began at an early age and only grew stronger after getting a BA in English and an MFA in English & creative writing. When she’s not writing, she’s working out, binge-watching reality game shows, and spending time with her friends and family.

Email: bcdwrites@gmail.com

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY REVIEW AND OTHERS can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

༺ 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 ༺ Is a full length new adult romance book by B. Celeste. Get ready to meet Austen & Noah. They first met when she was eleven and he was seventeen.

Going by the blurb and the author I knew I’d be on a raw emotional journey with this one and I wasn’t wrong. This had me hooked straight away and I survived all the too and fro these two put me through. Half the time I wanted to throw my iPad the other times I wanted to throttle them.

She was the one that took reckless chances.
He was the one that always saved her.

Raw, Realistic, Riveting!!

Austen is a survivor of a mass shooting at the age of eight which took place on the 4th of July, so now from that day onwards even in her late teens any loud bangs has her struck with terror subsequently seeking the comfort of others or booze to numb the pain of so much loss and destruction which occurred that horrific day. Her daily struggles pull on your heart strings as we watch her self destruct, and the family which stands on the sidelines watching it all crumble down around each of them suffering alongside her.

Noah did what he could to protect her whilst keeping her at arms length which upped the angst in this but no matter how far he tried to push her away he and his family are forever connected from that fateful day.

Even though most of the time I didn’t agree with our heroines choices she was still easy to connect with. Noah wrung out all the angsty, angry feels, if he didn’t keep pushing her away I don’t think she would’ve acted out as much as she did.

 

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[ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

the one word i would use to describe this book is bittersweet.

because it is equally painful to read as it is wonderful to watch Austen’s journey to self-love, self-acceptance and healing. she wades through her grief and trauma and it was a truly glorious thing to watch. she’s the shining star of this book— to me this isn’t a romance or a love story about who i “ship”. this is Austen’s story and no one else’s.

sorry to Noah xox

this is Austen Cole’s show<3

Wanted You More follows the story of Austen Cole as she navigates the trauma of being involved in a mass shooting when she was 8 years old and losing her mother in the process. the story starts when she is 17, a troubled misfit and the black sheep of her family which leads her to believe she’s a burden to everyone around her. she’s trying to cope with her trauma, her anger, her loss and her pain any way she can... which usually lands her in a shit load of trouble.

and earns her the disapproval of Noah, the son of the police officer who saved Austen’s life the night of the shooting. the pair are irrevocably linked despite the five year age gap

the story is told over the span of a few years (id say 2 and a half to three years— her last year of high school and the beginning of her college years) sectioned by the seasons.

now time jumps and moving the plot along so quickly like this can be a difficult thing to achieve without making the pacing feel disjointed and jarring. i think B. Celeste does an incredible job at keeping a fluid pace while executing the jumps in time. ultimately, it’s successful because we really get to see Austen grow— she blossomed as the seasons changed, she pushed herself, she got caught up in her past, she made new friends, she cried, she struggled.

it was very authentic watching her grow. it was the highlight of the story for me. this is Austen’s story and she’s all i really cared about the whole time— her story of guilt and survivorship, her path to finding inner peace... i truly loved her<3

now, the weak link of the story is the romance, honestly. and why this is four stars and not five.

the angsty push and pull of Noah and Austen was kinda exhausting. and when Noah and Austen finally do get together? it’s pretty anti-climactic. after the exhausting back and forth that spanned months to years, i expected something more intense and gut-wrenching. the emotional pay off was not there at all.

the story thrives due to Austen. by the half way point, Noah wasn’t even on my radar anymore lol.

my favourite part of the story was Austen’s relationship with Noah’s mother, Elizabeth. it was so tender and wholesome, full of the maternal love Austen craved so deeply. just everything about Austen was raw and gut-wrenching, i loved her sm.

i recommend reading this story for her<3

thank you to Wildfire Marketing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted You More is a heartbreaking story about love, loss and finding yourself. It shows you the different type of grief, self sabotage and trying to navigate your way through this thing call life. It's a raw look at how despite what people say, time doesn't heal all wounds.



After surviving a mass shooting at the age of eight that also claimed the life of her mother, Austen Cole has been trying to get back to a sense of normalcy. Even though it's been almost a decade, she still hasn't found it and sometimes that means exploring bad habits. Despite all of those things Austen knows that she has a good support system around her including Noah and even though their relationship is complex, he knows the real her. Flaws and all.



This story started off with a gut punch that just gave you an immediate sinking feeling and I was practically praying for something lighter after reading the prologue. This author has no problem reeling you in and ripping off a band aid full force and I really like that about her writing. The issue(s) that I had with this story was that I felt like no progress was made with the main character. I completely understood her struggle and her pain was real and so raw but the self sabotage was a bit too much. There was no growth until practically the final chapter and I didn't want that. I wanted to see the evolution of this character going from someone who was hurting and down to knowing her worth and being more than a survivor.

I know that this was a slow burn romance but I also wanted to feel a better connection between the main characters. It felt like they were friends the entire time and I didn't feel the passion or the longing that they had for each other and I needed to feel more.

Despite that, I think that if you're looking for slow burn emotional romance, then this one's for you.

[Finucha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️
Noah and Austen my adorable and soft babies whom deserve the world and I’ll defend till my very last breath.
I’m so mad I got robbed from more scenes between them and the miscommunication, but other than that I absolutely loved this book and will accept no criticism of it!!!

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4,5 "There's something in the air!!!" stars***



"You'll always be safe with me..."

This was the longest slow burn romance in the history of slow burns!!!
OMG!!! These two were driving me crazy, but I can understand the reasons behind their actions...
I just wish that Noah wouldn't keep her so much at arm's length, cause she could have been saved sooner!!!
But I must admit that this story had spoken to my heart... It was so raw, so painful, so emotional and in a destructive manner, very wonderful!!!
Austen and Noah were so beautiful together, even with the five year age gap that was standing all the time between them...

"There's temptation lingering between us.
Dangerous. Because we're friends."

Austen had lived through a tragedy when she was just eight years old and ten years later, she is still living with that trauma shadowing her... My heart was breaking for this girl sooo much!!! Unfortunately, her copying mechanisms weren't the greatest and she was landing herself always in trouble... Her loved ones were seeing her from the sidelines to self-destruct and they didn't know what to do, since they were having their own traumas to deal with since that fateful 4th of July!!!
Noah was a family friend and he was showing every time to her rescue... He wanted to save her, but it wasn't always easy when he had to keep some distances for her own good...
But that was kind of impossible to happen since the two families were connected irreparably from that night, ten years ago...

"Be eighteen, Austen. Live your life. It's better this way."
It's better this way.
It's better this way.
It's better this way.
What a fucking liar.

I liked Austen and Noah very much...
Their story was so raw and real, so heartbreaking... especially from Austen's side.
My heart was aching for what she had lost and for what she was giving easily to others.... She was losing pieces of herself and it was painful to witness it!!!
Noah meant something great for her and she knew that she could count on him, no matter what...
I liked Noah. He was just a great guy!!!
But he was afraid of his own feelings and what the world would say and he was messing things even more...
These two had hurt me, but it was worth it!!!

"We fight. We make up. We repeat the cycle.
But we always, always come back to one another in the end."

I really liked this story!!! It shot me straight to the heart and I won't easily forget it!!!
I liked Austen and her little family so much!!!
I liked Noah and his own family full of everyday heroes!!!
And I had a great time witnessing firsthand this story!!!
I just wish a little bit more intention between Noah and Austen after they came together...

"There's never been a time when I didn't want you around. Because all your chaos is somehow..."
"My chaos is what?"
"It's addicting."

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

[PFL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanted you More by B. Celeste tells the story of Austen who is the victim of a horrible mass shooting when she is 8 years old. She is now in her late teens and continues to struggle on a daily basis with the trauma, loss and how one responds/reacts when they attempt to mask the pain. Noah, her protector will do everything in his power to keep her safe, but struggles with his own feelings.

B. Celeste wrote a beautiful story and truly captures the trajectory of someone who has dealt with loss at a young age, as the result of a traumatizing event. It takes years for Austen to work through her emotional distress, with the support of Noah, her true love and friends that have helped her along the way.

How does one recover from a horrifying event when their own family struggles with the same issues? Are they able to move past the physical and emotional pain and acquire the assistance and help they need, so they can move on? Are they able to trust without fear of abandonment?

This is a candid look at the pain one experiences when they are struggling and how they gain strength to recover. This is one story that should not be missed, as it is a truthful portrayal of how individuals who have suffered through a great tragedy respond and recover. A 5 star review! One not to be missed!

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 angsty stars

[Clary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering the blurb, I knew this would be an emotional book. Going through that kind of event scares a person for life, and it was truly beautiful and raw to read Austen's story. She had a really interesting personality. She just felt real. However, I would have liked her ride through recovery at the end of the book to be a bit more detailed. I think it would have been important to put that process on page. Overall, in my opinion, this is more a life story rather than a romance, but a good book nonetheless.

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted You More by B. Celeste is Austen Cole's love story. But not with another man. But with her own life. It gave her heartbreak, it gave her pain, it made her reckless, it made her take bad decisions and finally it made her happy again. This stage belongs to Austen and Austen only. This broken, fierce, misunderstood and brave girl is the hero and the heroine of this story.

I don't know why Austen ruled my heart here like this. May be because it's told from her pov only. She is the survivor of a shooting incident. She lost her mother at seven years old. And probably her father too who lost himself in depression but still struggling to be there for his kids. Her nerdy brother is trying to balance his school and his family. The story begins ten years after the prologue and seventeen year old Austen is making every kind of mistake possible. And we follow her next two years as she grows and heals.

This is really complicated. I am not sure if this can be called a romance in a traditional sense. Because I really don't care about Noah Kingsley as a hero. I wouldn’t mind at all if Austen ended up with someone else. In fact I feel she deserves so much better than Noah. I agree she formed a bond with Noah's father that fateful Night and Noah always tried to keep her safe. But I feel Austen saved herself. She acted out a lot. She drowned her pain in smoke and sex and impulsive acts. She was hiding behind her mask of indifference and snark and cold hearted sadness. But things have to change at some point. And Austen did the hard work. I think her father and her brother were her biggest supporters along with the few friends she made along the way. She was angry. She was in pain. She was confused with her feels. She used her body as a defense mechanism and that sent her into a vicious cycle of shame and guilt. She didn't become a saint overnight. She fell and she stood up and fell again. But ultimately She learnt from some very costly mistakes. She found hope, love and healing. Noah was almost an afterthought here. I like how he was caring and protective at some points but I also feel he was very harsh to her many times. He didn’t show his true feelings and hurt Austen way too many times. And even at the end, Austen made the right moves. It was all about a teenage girl's heartbreaking and messy journey to happily ever after. She made her own rules after all. I love how raw and gritty this story is. Even when the romance part was completely lacking, this story still left it's mark on my heart. And that shows how powerful the writing is.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Jenny Lovez Bookz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. This story was more of a journey through grief, self discovery and growth. Austen and her family experience a great tragedy and this tells the story of Austen learning to cope with her new reality. It spans through a couple years so we get to see her struggles and failures along the way, but we also get her proud moments. There's also the relationship between her and Noah but I feel like that's not as strong of a storyline. The age between them is a factor, though it's not a big gap and also how close their families are. I like that although Austen acted like any other 18year old, she was also not afraid to put Noah in his place. They eventually ended up together after really no reason why they shouldn't. I loved the sibling relationship between Austen & Wolfe, he was sweet and it was also really nice to see their dad learn to be happy again.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice: 2/5

Austen Cole’s life changed when she was 8 years old on one Fourth of July night after surviving a tragic shooting that took her mother’s life. Fast forward to Austen at 17 and she is very self-destructive. Austen’s behavior causes her to get in trouble in and outside of school. The son of the retired cop who saved her tries coming to her rescue before she ruins the second chance of life she was given.

This story is told in a span of years starting from that tragic event to Austen dealing with the after effects years later. Austen was not very likable in the beginning of the story. She would get drunk or get arrested for underage drinking. Her father and brother didn’t know how to deal with her. There were times I was frustrated with Austen’s decisions because she was so reckless.

I liked though that Austen had Noah through all of this. They knew each other since they were young and Noah was always a constant in Austen’s life. With Noah being five years older he tried not acting on his romantic feelings. The romance was such a slow burn. I thought it help build the dynamic and character development of Austen and Noah.

What I loved the most was how we got to see Austen’s growth and healing. It was raw and real. I loved the epilogue too. Everything came full circle.   

[Rikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my Honest opinion.

I give this book a solid 4.5 stars. Austen experiences a traumatic event one Fourth of July evening that shapes her future. Austen has to learn how to navigate both her trauma and the normal teenage growing pains. This story spans over five years and it is definitely a slow burn. Noah and Austen have known each other since they were children and you really get to see their bond progress over the years. I was hooked and could not put the book down once I started. Austen’s healing journey was very raw and real and did not gloss over or invalidate her trauma or mental health.

I definitely would recommend this book. Thank you to B. Celeste and Grey’s Promotion for the opportunity to read this book.

[Page L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austen and Noah, where do I even start… Lets just say, that girl knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to call you on your crap - no matter who you are. Deep down, she knows what Noah wants but he’s afraid to admit it. She just keeps pushing him and it pays off. The ANGST between them until then though….. Once Noah is finally honest with himself, it is amazing to see how these characters grow together and individually. Although, Austen has some lingering doubts between them - I loved seeing Noah reassure and support her through the end. B. Celeste does it again with another amazing book!

[Jenifer Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story, and even though it was beautifully written with such obvious care as to what our characters have gone through (mainly our girl Austen) and love for all they have endured ... I don't qualify this as a romance. This story definitely is worth reading, and I adored watching Austen grow through the seasons and become healthy and as healed as possible. She's easily one of the best heroines I've ever read, and I throughly connected with her struggles and pain. However, I honestly couldn't stand Noah. I understood to a point what he was trying to accomplish by pushing her away, but he was just so unbelievably cruel to someone who was already broken and yearned to be loved and wanted. He just added no value to her character, but instead kept leading her on and giving her false hope over and over again. Plus he never once fought for her.. it was always Austen putting her heart on the line, so the end with them finally getting together was very anticlimactic. Honestly it would have been better for her to end up alone or with someone who actually loved her.

Despite my issues with Noah, this is such a beautiful book. B really handles this topic with such grace, and everything Austen did in reaction to her trauma just felt so authentic. With gun violence being as problematic as it is, it's important to be aware of any triggers before reading. This author is one of my favorites for a reason, and this book just proves as to how talented she is, so if you're in the mood for an emotional story full of growth and healing, this is definitely for you!

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions **

[B. Celeste]

I never read my own books after they're published, but I've been thinking a lot about Austen and Noah lately. I love this story. I love the angst. I love the tragedy of Austen's background. I love how Noah tries to fight his feelings for Austen. The slow burn is slow burning and I'm obsessed.

You can read it too if you want. It's in Kindle Unlimited if you're a KU readers like I am. But I also listened to it in audio and the narrator did an AMAZING job with the story.

Buy Here: https://geni.us/WantedYouMore

[Lymari Yenderrozos · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Check TW’s* Sloooow burn, but well worth it. A wonderfully emotional read with perfectly imperfect characters. The angst and tension were amazing, and I found Austen to be really relatable. Her coping methods for dealing with her PTSD weren’t always sensible or healthy, which made her character and the story feel very real. Austen’s journey of self discovery was really amazing, and Noah was a wonderful added bonus! Loved these two and their story, both individually and together. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5)

[Amelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alerte coup de coeur!

Austen a survécu à une tuerie à 8 ans mais a perdu sa mère. Nous la retrouvons à 17 ans, où elle tente de gérer le traumatisme de cet événement, les douleurs résiduelles mais aussi le regard des autres tout en tentant d’être présente pour son père et son frère. Elle peut compter sur Noah, son protecteur depuis toutes ses années pour se confier à lui mais quand les sentiments s’en mêlent tout devient plus compliqué.

J’ai adoré cette histoire du début à la fin. Dès la première page, je savais que ce livre allait être un coup de cœur même si j’allais souffrir. J’ai lu ce livre d’une traite. J’ai eu le sourire aux lèvres, j’ai pleuré (oui oui alors que je pleure rarement dans les livres), j’ai eu le ventre serré, j’ai voulu hurler… B. Celeste aborde avec justesse et profondeur la vie d’Austen qui tente de gérer la perte d’un être cher très jeune mais aussi d’être une survivante. J’ai adoré le personnage d’Austen que j’ai eu envie de serrer dans mes bras plus d’une fois, elle commet des erreurs, se relève, essaye de se reconstruire. Elle pourra compter sur l’aide de Noah qui est un amour même si parfois on a envie de le secouer pour lui faire prendre conscience de ses sentiments! J’ai vraiment adoré l’évolution de leur relation et surtout de la voir évoluer sur 5 ans!

En bref, un coup de cœur pour ce livre si jamais vous lisez en anglais, lisez le!

[Misty Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. This is an age-gap small town romance with a HEA ending. This book does speak of the aftermath of public shooting and could be sensitive to some readers.
When Austen was 8 years old, her whole world changed. She was a victim of a mass shooting that resulted in her losing her mother and having so much trauma at such a young age. She copes by acting out and being rebellious. She knows if she needs anything or gets into too deep, Noah or his dad Ben will come to her rescue. Just like he did when she was 8.
Ever since Noah's dad, Ben saved Austen all those years ago, the two families have been close. Noah and Austen have always had an undeniable bond. However, he refuses to cross the friendship line until she grows up and deals with some of her trauma.
Wow. I loved this book. Grab those tissues you're going to need them. It's definitely a must-read. 5+ ⭐️

[Karrie Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This was a beautiful story about loving and healing yourself. We have Austen who has lived through hell and did not come out unscathed as a child trying to make sense of her life after such tragedy. She is forever linked to Noah, the boy she can't have for multiple reasons, one being the 5 year age gap. We follow Austen as she navigates her teen rebellious years, wondering through life looking to make her tragedy be her past, but life keeps reminding her.

Noah is the boy of the police officer who saved Austen and their padts keep them in a complicated web. There is undeniable attraction, but because of his age and job, he can't act on it. Austen constantly is putting herself in situations that have real consequences for both of them.

I felt for Austen. She is trying to live as normal a life as she can, but no matter her choices, someone is always there to remind her that she is acting out from her trauma. She can't be normal. We watch her navigate friendships that are al too real and relationships with questionable men. To put it simply, Austen is so very relatable on so many levels. This was another fantastic read by B Celeste that packs angst and emotion into a beautifully woven love story.

[BCBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Wanted You More is my top read of 2023 and it’s not because B. Celeste is one of my favorite authors (though she is), nor is it because I love her characters (though I absolutely do). It’s because, once again, B has taken a story that is so prevalent and real and difficult, especially in the US, and wrote about it with compassion, all while portraying those feelings of fear, of the unknown, of the terror, and the unjustness that all too many of us face, far too often.

And while yes, there is a beautiful story that comes out of the darkness, what this story really focuses on is the journey of healing for Austen. And her journey is difficult, as you would imagine. And I love that B portrays that.

Now on to the characters that I love! Austen, of course, is a baddie! She has got her demons, who wouldn’t after what she went through? But she’s a fighter who pushed through in the only way she knows how. Then there’s her brother, Wolfe. One of my favorite characters and my heart breaks for that kid. And her dad - my heart aches. Ben & Elizabeth - King & Queen, respectfully. And then there’s Noah. Absolute hero. In every sense of the word.

I cannot give this book the love it deserves without spoilers. I cried.. a lot. Not the huge, can’t catch my breath sobs, but those pesky tears that you have to swipe away all of a sudden. My heart hurt so much reading this one. I did laugh, too. And smile a lot. And there were some proud moments - I felt like a mom to Austen and just wanted to hug her and hold her throughout this story.

B. Celeste did such a wonderful job creating this world and the emotions she evoked were real. She was sensitive and honest and well written and I was hooked from page one. Absolute 5 star read.

[Clarissa Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was more than a five star review for sure I loved the characters loved the storyline made me laugh made me cry I loved Noah and Austen's chemistry was sooo good definitely my top favorite read of 2023!!!!

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gripping book starts off with a horrible tragedy that took my breath away. B. Celeste is another new author for me and I was wrecked by this very raw telling of a young girl trying to heal from a traumatic event. 

Austen Cole has tried to cope with the stigma of being a victim of a mass shooting at a Fourth of July event ten years ago which also took her mother. Unfortunately, the constant questions from friends and media over the years have spiraled her into bad behavior. Her reputation is in shambles and her relationship with her dad is strained. There are a coveted few in her life that has her back and do the best they can to be there when she needs them. It's all up to Austen to accept their help and find her place in life to heal.

The reader follows 17-year-old Austen on a devastating and enlightening journey to self-love and self-acceptance. Her tumultuous relationship with Noah Kingsley, the 22-year-old son of the wonderful policeman who saved her that tragic day, is changing from friends to something more. But Noah feels he's too old for her and he has another life as he studies to be a lawyer while Austen completes high school and enrolls in college. Not to mention Noah has a girlfriend who doesn't approve of their relationship. The push and pull between Noah and Austen is frankly exhausting and underwhelming and I was hoping for something more significant and engrossing, but it fell short for me.

Austen is the star of this book. She is so strong and reckless and my heart broke each time she had a setback, but her transformation is beautiful and rewarding as she comes full circle and becomes an advocate for victims like her.

This story wouldn't be complete without the supporting characters. Austen's brother and dad also struggle with the past tragedy in their own way and I love seeing them grow as well. The Kingsleys are an awesome family who are so kind and giving to Austen and her family. I loved Austen's relationship with Noah's mom, Elizabeth, who gives Austen the maternal love she needs at such a vulnerable age. Also, Noah's kind and compassionate dad, Ben, gives Austen some stability when her dad is dealing with his own issues.

I highly recommend this candid look at an honest and turbulent depiction of how various people react and recover from tragedy. Pick up this unforgettable book, you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Ms. Celeste for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. 

[Alexis Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But despite all of that, there’s never been a time when I didn’t want you around. Because all your chaos is somehow…” I swallow. “My chaos is what?” “It’s addicting.”

Wanted You More was my first book by @authorbceleste and whew, what a gut punch it was... but like in a good way.

𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
Wanted You More follows Austen and her journey after a terrible night that left her scarred at the age of eight.

Throughout this book, we follow Austen as she self-destructs in her own form of grieving. In her destruction, she leaves her brother and father frustrated with how to handle her.

This is a moving, bittersweet, and emotional read. I couldn't put the book down and so many moments had me covered in goosebumps, chest tight, and tears in my eyes. It's griping, it's powerful, and it's moving.

Not only do we follow her journey over the course of five years, but we follow her journey with Noah. He's the son of the police officer who saved Austen on the night that would forever change her.

Noah and Austen have a complicated relationship that we follow in depth throughout the entire book. The angst, chemistry, and sexual tension between the two is THICKK.

“𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝, 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚞𝚜. 𝙽𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚕𝚍.”

If you're looking for a book that will have you feeling all the feels, this book is for you. Now I can't wait to make my way through her backlist!

⚠️𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
💕Hate to Love
💕Frenemies
💕Tragic Past
💕Love After Loss
💕Healing from Trauma
💕YA/New Adult

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

✨smalltown
✨childhood friends
✨slowburn
TW: gun violence, trauma after death of a loved one

After surviving a tragic event that took her mum’s life, Austen hasn’t fully dealt with her trauma. At 17, her reckless behaviour gets her into trouble on more than one occasion. And the boy who comes to her recuse repeatedly is Noah, the son of the policeman who saved Austen’s life. But she’s 17, he’s 22, and Noah just wants to be friends.

I’ve read a few B Celeste books before and she does deal with a lot of heavy topics so the romance doesn’t always feel front and centre but rather weaved around the trauma of the main characters. I think she did this really well in this story.

I found this story was one of 2 halves. The first 20-25% I found it was a lot of story building and setting up but I wasn’t that invested. Then 25-75%, mostly when Austen went off to college I was addicted to the angsty nature of Austen and Noah’s relationship whilst loving seeing her spread her wings with a side of rebellion. Then 75% to the end kinda fell flat again for me. I was much more invested in the angst around them not being together than I was in their actual relationship. When they got together it felt quite rushed and a bit boring. I really didn’t like the ending how it skipped so many timeframes in a few chapters.

I was much more invested in Austin as a character than Noah. I really loved the family dynamic of Austen, her dad and her little brother, all still living with the horror of losing their mum and each dealing with it in their own way. Noah was just a bit bland as an MMC. I think he suffered a bit because there was so much focus on Austen’s character development.

I did enjoy the story but elements definitely didn’t hold my attention and I didn’t enjoy the romance so much as I did the plot.

Thanks to the author and @greyspromo for the arc.

[Demi · Rating 3 out of 5]

wanted you more by b. celeste

₊˚ʚ . 👒 ✧ ˚. ᵎᵎ 🕊️ ✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡💚˚ . ⬫⁺ 🍡 . ˚ ⊹ .

wanted you more is a beautiful story about loving and healing yourself <3

austen survived trauma as a child, ever since the tragic incident she has been forever connected to noah. the man she can't have for many reasons: (1) they have a 5 year age gap (2) noah’s the son of the police officer who saved austen on that day, and (3) austen constantly putting herself in situations that have issues for the both of them. highly recommend you go in blind and prepare for the emotions. wanted you more is a book about loss & love, it’s much more than a romance book ✧˚ ༘

don’t go into this think the romance is hot and heavy it’s definitely a slow burn which i appreciated buttttt i wanted to feel a better connection between the two. It felt like they were friends the entire book and I didn't feel the passion or the longing for each other. despite that, i did enjoy this book even the little moments i did get from austen + noah! if you're looking for slow burn emotional romance, then this one's for you!!

˗ˏˋ ꒰ “it’s been 14 years since the night that changed my life forever. and it led me straight to noah kingsley” ꒱ ˎˊ˗

📖🧸: hate to love you, age gap, slow burn, forbidden romance, small town, & time jumps

xoxo, dem ⬫⁺

[Mrs. Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: Gun Violence

This book is an emotional gut wrenching story that walked us through Austen’s worst day of her life when she lost her mother to a mass shooting that happened when she was just eight years old on July 4th and her journey to attempt to live a “normal life” (now at 17) while coping with grief,loss,trauma & anxiety.

Noah ( now 22) was always connected to her because he’s the son of the officer who saved her life and probably the one person who understood her the most and was always there for her. It took a bit of time for them to get together because of their age gap but you could tell there was always this constant push and pull situation between them.

And even though we get some good romance in this whole mix 🔥🔥 for me it was more of a story about perseverance,self acceptance and healing.

I got a chance to read it early and absolutely adored this book and how delicate and respectful the subject was treated.

Highly recommend! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Hayley 〰 Hayley's Next Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It's me and Noah against the world. In some ways, it's been that way since we first came into each other's lives. We fight. We make up. We repeat the cycle. But we always, always come back to one another in the end."

- Small-town romance
- Frenemies to lovers
- Life after trauma (TW for mass shooting & panic attacks)
- Set over 2ish years

Wanted You More follows Austen 10 years after the mass shooting that changed her life. She is a complex character with a capital C that uses self-destructive behaviour to cope. There’s no denying she makes some bad and toxic choices. Most of the time I didn’t know whether I wanted to hug her (when people tried to exploit her & when her chronic pain flared) or shake her (when she repeatedly made the same mistakes).

But Celeste’s portrayal (from the dramatic prologue) felt very raw and realistic. Austen also had some endearing moments, including her relationships with her brother, her roommate and Noah’s family.

Do you know what else was complicated with a capital C? Her relationship with Noah. Austen called their on-and-off friend dynamic “like having whiplash” and I agree. I loved how protective and caring he was. I didn’t love how he kept ghosting Austen. I understood why he did it, but Austen really needed him to constantly be in her corner.

“Because all your chaos is somehow… addicting. Nothing about you should be addicting to me.”

I was curious how the story was going to end and overall, Austen’s character growth was very satisfying. But I also think where she ended up career-wise could have been explored more throughout the book to make it seem more than a spontaneous decision.

If you like angsty new adult romances that are destined to tug at your heartstrings, I'd definitely recommend Wanted You More.

Thank you to B. Celeste and Grey's Promo for the early copy.

[Life on Readpeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

B. Celeste is 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 with her first release of 2023 and she takes readers on an emotional journey with her brilliantly real and raw storytelling ability.

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 yanked on my heartstrings—leaving it battered and bruised from this beautifully haunting hate-to-love you romance. Austen Cole survived a tragic shooting that took the life of her mother and forever changed her life one Fourth of July night, sending her into a self-destructive lifestyle. Noah Kingsley is the son of the retired cop that saved her and now he is determined to continue to save her—without crossing any lines.

This story spans over five years and the undeniable chemistry between Austen and Noah was addictive. I instantly found myself lost amongst the pages as I devoured every bittersweet and emotional moment between these two and I was rooting for them every step of the way. These two 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗛 deserved a lifetime of happiness—and the author sure made them work for it. The angst surrounding their relationship was just the perfect dose for a slow burn romance.

Readers hearts will heal right alongside Austen's as she learns to cope with her traumatic past and blossom into the stronger young woman that she was always meant to be.

[Loralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austen and Noah have been close since the day Austen's world came crashing down. He and his family have always been Austen's lifeline. Their relationship is special, even though there were 5 years between the two. They are opposites: Noah is the do-good, good man and Austen tended to be a self-destructing, still-hurting, teenage girl. When feelings and lines start to blur, both try having other lives. Even as life goes on and others enter the picture, Noah and his family are there, even if Austen's family isn't as welcoming. It's tough to watch Austen struggle with wanting to be left alone by the people who want to see her fall, and not let in the people who want to see her succeed. While I love that Noah is there when Austen needs him, it takes Austen to do the work to finally deal with the loss and the love that she needs to find.