What We Need

The Wishbone Tattoos Series, Book 2

She gives me what I didn't know I needed. I don't know if I can do the same for her....

For years, I've lived as a broken shell of a man, the Prom Night survivor who doesn't deserve to live. I continue my stolen life for my family's sake, but my silent world is a dark one full of terrors, with no respite to be found anywhere.

Then Liaden comes along. She's my polar opposite. An extroverted, highly successful professor, always smiling, always a sparkling ray of quirky pink sunshine. This woman makes me feel things I never even felt with the girl I lost. The girl who died in my arms many years ago when the world exploded around us. The girl I failed to save.

Liaden, though...she draws me to her like a magnet, pulling me into the light in ways I don't deserve. But I'm broken, weak, sinful. I can't even speak the words to tell her how much she means to me. This can't work out. Can it?

©2024 Lizzie Stanley (P)2026 Blue Nose Publishing

Heartbreaking and beautiful 😭

What We Need is an intense and emotional book. Dean is a survivor of a mass shooting that happened on prom night at his high school. He was extremely lucky to survive, but was shot in the throat causing him to become mute. He is also suffering from severe ptsd, survivors guilt, hallucinations, flashbacks, and night terrors from the horrific and terrifying ordeal he went through. After living in New Orleans and dealing with all the gun violence in the US, he no longer feels safe. So Dean and his cousin Eli move overseas and now work at their cousin’s tattoo shop. Liaden is a professor at the university and is a linguist. Having a love of languages, she decides to get a tattoo to represent her life’s work! She is referred to Dean since he is amazing at tattooing script, and is set up for her conciliation. When sweet, bubbly, talkative Liaden walks in with her pink hair looking like sunshine itself, Dean is hit with a feeling he hasn’t felt in 15 years. He likes this girl. And from the way she looks and reacts to him, he knows she likes him too. For the first time in a long time, there’s a real connection between them and Dean is absolutely terrified. Can Dean overcome his demons and give this thing between them a real shot? Or will he let his fears take over and miss out on true love ❤️

Dean is a broken man living in his past trauma. The ptsd and panic attacks are heartbreaking, and representation of his depression and survivors guilt is gut wrenching. He hates being the mute that everyone has to watch over for fear of him having a breakdown. He feels like a burden, a problem, a menace, and wishes he was the one that died in that shooting instead of his girlfriend. He can’t move on and is stuck in his torment, but Liaden is a shining light in his darkness. Liaden is very intelligent and isn’t one to run away from a problem. The relationship between these two opposites was endearing, and both of them really tried to be what each other needed. But when things got really bad with Dean, Liaden and the rest of Deans family are there to make the hard decisions for the person they love.

The audiobook was so good and the narrators were outstanding! June DeBorahea with her Irish accent was so perfect for Liaden. She brought that chatterbox to life and really captured her personality! Ryan Stone nailed Dean with his inner dialog and his New Orleans accent. His performance was so emotional and brought you into Dean’s inner turmoil. Check the trigger warnings for this book. It starts off with a very intense first person encounter of the school shooting Dean experienced and it was hard to listen to, but it really made you understand why he is the way he is. And like I said before, the representation of his mental health issues was heartbreaking. Dean had the best family and support system anyone could ask for, and I really loved that. This book is emotionally draining, heartbreaking, traumatic, and really makes you think and sympathize with the characters. But this book is also about support, family, friendships, and finding a love that is understanding and true. This book was an experience. And though it has a lot of hard subjects, it was crafted really well and handled with care. The author did a phenomenal job and this series has really found a place in my heart ❤️

emotional tension, complicated relationships

This audiobook pulled me in with its emotional depth and raw vulnerability. What We Need explores complicated relationships, healing from past wounds, and learning to trust someone enough to let them truly see you. The story balances emotional tension with moments of softness that make the connection between the characters feel real and earned.
The duet narration by June Deborahae and Ryan Stone really elevates the story. Their performances bring the characters to life and make the emotional moments hit even harder. The push and pull between the characters, along with the layers of their past, keeps the story engaging from start to finish.
If you enjoy character-driven romances with emotional stakes, strong chemistry, and narration that pulls you into the story, this one is definitely worth the listen.
⭐️ Rating: 4/5
🎧 Dual narration
💔 Emotional healing
❤️ Complicated relationships
🔥 Slow-burn chemistry

beautiful story of trauma and healing

Despite the content being what it was I think the author did a fantastic job with the realistic portrayal of trauma and PTSD. There was no romanticizing of that aspect and I respect how she approached everything. I loved Dean in book one and now even more.
After book one I didn't really think I'd care about the third story with Leo and Sadie but after seeing them both in this book I do think I'm looking forward to the next one now.

Last but certainly not least the narrators! They were fantastic, they had a lot to live up to after the first pair for book one, but these two also did an amazing job with their accents, nothing felt cheesy or forced. It was really good.

Everyone deserves a person to call home

🎧 ALC REVIEW🎧



What We Need by: Lizzie Stanley

Produced by: BlueNoseAudio
Preformed in duet by:
June Deborahae & Ryan Stone

5⭐️s
2🌶s
5🎧



What We Need explores trauma in a raw and honest way, showing how deeply the past can shape who we become and how hard it can be to trust and love again. The story is emotional, layered, and full of moments that really make you feel the weight of what these characters have endured.

The audiobook narration by June Deborahae and Ryan Stone is incredible. Their duet performance brings so much authenticity to the pain, healing, and connection between the characters. They didn’t just narrate the story, they felt it, and you can hear that in every chapter. 🎧❤️

Emotionally devastating & so beautiful!

This book is peak angsty, heartbreaking romance and I loved every second. Lizzie's writing is multifaceted; it contains humor, excellent character development, and plenty of moments that will shred your heart and meticulously piece it back together. What We Need is perfect for lovers of opposites attract, emotional romance, virgin MMC, and PTSD/mental health representation.

Liaden is such a lovely FMC. She is quirky, bubbly, and all things positive energy. As a professor of linguistics, she is whip-smart; as a friend, fiercely loyal and a natural caretaker. I found her to be a very well-rounded and enjoyable character, and loved how she just fell into place with the Wishbone crew.

On the contrary, Dean is left mute after surviving a school shooting on prom night. He feels like he is too broken by his PTSD and survivor’s guilt to find love again. While his friends and family learned ASL to accommodate his communication barrier, he feels stuck in a vortex of his own guilt, shame, and fear.

My GOD this book is a roller coaster of emotion. From cackling over Liaden’s names for *female anatomy* and the side characters’ antics, to crying over Dean’s journey through grief and severe mental health battles, Lizzie’s storytelling is enrapturing and I could barely put it down.

June and Ryan’s performances are stunning in their own right, and they do a phenomenal job with some incredibly difficult topics and scenes. June’s Irish accent is stellar and her soft, lilting voice captures Liaden’s character. Her commitment to nailing the emotionally heavy scenes shines through. Ryan had an equally difficult main character and accent, and he does a fantastic job with both. His Cajun accent is amazing, and the way that he portrays Dean’s struggles is heart-wrenching.