My rating is closer to 3.5-3.75. This book is about Ari, who has just been broken up with by her fiancee - the only man she has ever loved. In an attempt to get over her heartbreak, she throws herself into a new job and quickly finds herself in a relationship with her boss. In addition to being older than she is, he is also married. I didn't love this element of the plot, mostly because I was frustrated by Ari's repeated poor decisions. It definitely felt fast paced at times, but then felt slow at others making it overall an uneven read. I thought the book had potential, but it just didn't deliver.

loved this romance and finding love and remembering love before the one. love the friends and the chemistry between the couple was on fire and loved the banter.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The writer did a great job giving the characters depth and making sure the stories came back full circle by the end. It was a satisfying read. The plot was intense I almost wanted it to be a thriller. I get the main focus is on Ari but each character got their shine and I thought that was perfect. I didn’t enjoy the sudden ending but I liked the way it ended. Overall a good read.

Meredith Turit’s debut novel, Just Want You Here, is a story about second chances and growth but it’s more of a cautionary tale about playing with forbidden, passionate love. Ari, a 28-year-old woman who was pretty and talented, became alone and lost after her boyfriend of 10 years broke up with her. Keeping her head above water, she moved to another city and got hired as an executive assistant to Wells, the CEO of a tech company. But things soon began to turn dark as Ari got involved with Wells, a married man with a son. The happiness and passion they felt were spiked with the pain they caused themselves, their family, and their friends.

This book left me devastated for two days after reading it. It felt like the main character was my sister or a best friend whom I cared for and rooted for, only to watch her make mistakes that destroyed her in the end. In life, it hurts when you see someone you love fall apart. The same pain that this story made me feel. I know Ari is a fictional character but the book developed this parasocial connection with her that triggered a heavy emotional response. This just showed how immersive Turit’s storytelling is.

I like that the pacing of the story is dynamic and matches the tone of the scene. For example, the relationship between Ari and Wells happened so fast that it felt like a match catching fire - instant and intense. But when it came to the characters’ thoughts and retrospection, the pacing slowed down, just enough to understand their revelations and let the emotions sink in. This rhythm makes the Just Want You Here raw and real pulling you into Ari’s highs and lows, making you live through every moment alongside her.

If you love emotional love stories that break your heart and piece it back together, this book is for you. Thank you, Meredith Turits, Little A, and NetGalley, for the ARC.

thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. A coming of age story that was well written. Not my typical genre, but the plot was good.

I really enjoyed this book. A quick book with lots of twist that make you want to read more and hooks you in.

The book had so much potential, but it didn’t deliver in the end. I expected way more from the characters and the story. It’s a real shame because I was ready to love it.

What do you do when the life you planned is falling apart? This book is a relationship study of a woman in her 20's named Ari and the choices she makes when her fiancée Morgan decides to end their relationship. Ari and Morgan have been together since high school and her best friend Summer is with his best friend Ryan. Morgan's mother is also a second mother to Ari and helped her get through some trying times. Ari and Morgan are engaged but haven't made any plans for their wedding and one day Morgan says he wants to end their relationship. He feels things have gone stagnant and they don't have the spark they had when they got engaged. Ari is devastated and has to move back with her mother, who she doesn't get along with.

The next step in Ari's life is getting a job as an assistant to a British tech guru named Wells. Wells is handsome, witty and also married with a toddler son. Ari quickly enters an affair with Wells, going to see him at the basement apartment of the home he shares with his wife. Ari is a passive character and seems to drift along letting things happen to her rather than making plans. Her friend Summer is also not a good person as she seems to be always angry at Ari and is much more devoted to Ari's ex, Morgan. Ari continues to make bad decisions including a choice to become friends with Wells wife, Leah. I enjoyed the exploration of finding out what you want from life and how difficult it is to maintain relationships. I did find the main character frustrating and hoped for some growth in her character which didn't come. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

Just Want You Here explores enmashed relationships formed at a young age and how getting the opportunity to get to know yourself outside of these dynamics can suprise you.

The book is easy to digest and the situations and nuances are relatable.

The pacing felt a bit inconsistent at times, but I think fast leaders would love it. My only real complaint that the characters' personality didn't really come through, they all felt like generic people, and I'm unsure if that's intentional or not.

It's a good bubble bath or travel read.

Just Want You Here was an uneven but intriguing read. The story was engaging and I was interested to know the outcome but the pacing felt uneven and it was difficult to keep reading sometimes. Ultimately I enjoyed that it shook up the typical romance storyline but it did not leave a lasting impact.

The concept behind this novel is extremely compelling, unfortunately the plot was not as compelling and I ultimately did not enjoy it.

2.5!
There is a fine line between introspective and fulfilling vs choppy and anti-climatic story telling and sadly this one didn't hit the mark when it came to engaging writing in my opinion. I wish the characterization and pacing were better when getting to know the characters, so there could have been a formed attachment to them. Some people may enjoy it, but it felt really lackluster and bland to me. I was just waiting for it to be over towards the end because it felt like there was no end point, and the plot was just going on and on. It could be just how I interpreted the characters and story but nonetheless i think there could be mixed opinions about this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little A for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I have to say, I couldn’t put this book down. Each chapter had me wanting more. But that’s part of the problem. The ending of this book is sudden and abrupt. The story was getting to a place where I needed to know more of what was going to happen, just for me to look down at my Kindle progress and see 99% finished. For that reason, I have to give it 3.5 stars. Still a good rating, but I wish the author included just a little more at the end to finish off with a satisfying ending.

I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Meredith Turits crafts a compelling and emotionally complex tale in Just Want You Here, a novel that explores love, betrayal, and the weight of secrets. The story follows Ari, whose world is upended when Morgan abruptly ends their relationship—only for her to later find herself entangled in a situation she never expected: becoming the other woman.

The premise is undeniably intriguing, diving deep into the messy realities of heartbreak and blurred moral lines. However, while the novel’s themes are rich and thought-provoking, the pacing is slow at times, and the narrative occasionally feels disjointed, making it a bit difficult to stay fully engaged. That said, Turits’ writing shines in its introspective moments, offering a nuanced look at the emotional turmoil Ari experiences.

For readers who enjoy character-driven stories with complex relationships, Just Want You Here delivers an interesting exploration of love’s complications, even if the execution feels uneven at times.

Thank you to the author. Little A and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Like others that have reviewed, I wanted to like this book. Novels that explore friendship and romance, and all the nuances in between are something I like to dive into. However, I really could not get into this. A female protagonist who gets out of a decade-long relationship, and immediately into an affair with her boss? Her very married boss? I am no saint myself, but that was one line I always drew very clearly and there is no leeway as far as I'm concerned, whether in real life or in novels. Maybe if the character development had given some insight into the character's thinking - but that was non-existent and the book ended with them at the same place as they began. I missed emotion and connection - and once things really went off the rails, I just could.not. Sorry, not for me.

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)

Publication date: 11 March 2025
Publisher: Little A

This book serves up a hefty dose of emotional turmoil, like a coming-of-age story that's had a few too many shots of existential dread. Ari, our suddenly single protagonist embarks on a journey of self-discovery that involves a morally questionable affair with her married boss because second chances come with a side of ethical dilemmas.

Turits crafts a compelling portrait of Ari's emotional landscape. The raw vulnerability and confusion of navigating heartbreak and unexpected attraction are palpable. The writing is evocative, capturing the messy, complicated nature of human relationships. You'll find yourself empathising with Ari's struggles, even when you want to shake her and yell "girl, what are you doing?"

The exploration of Ari's relationship with Wells is where the book shines and also where it stumbles a bit. The forbidden attraction is undeniably intense and Turits skillfully portrays the intoxicating pull of a connection that defies logic. However, the dynamics with Leah, Wells' wife are often murky and uncomfortable, leaving a lingering sense of unease.

The book raises thought-provoking questions about love, loyalty and the pursuit of happiness. It delves into the gray areas of human relationships, refusing to offer easy answers. But sometimes, the lack of clear moral direction can leave the reader feeling adrift. The pacing can be a bit uneven, with moments of intense emotional exploration interspersed with somewhat rushed plot developments.

Ultimately, this book is a complex and emotionally charged read that will resonate with those who enjoy exploring the messy realities of love and relationships. It's a solid three stars – a bit uneven, a bit uncomfortable but undeniably thought-provoking.

Just Want You Here is a story about growing up, making amends, and having second chances in life. Ari and Morgan were together for a decade had gotten engaged and were highschool sweethearts until they weren't anymore. They needed time to reconstruct and learn who they were and they made good and bad decisions always supported (during bad and good times) by Summer and Luke their long time friends. Ari cannot see her worth or that she is able to do things on her own after the break up with Morgan, she lets herself get swallowed into other people's lives just to feel wanted and does not realize she is breaking herself even more. Beautifully written, Just Want You Here is an entertaining story about how relationships change, people growth, and the need of moving on.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

After a decade together, navigating the highs and lows of adolescence into young adulthood, Ari's relationship with Morgan has ended. After rationing how many more times she can say his name, be enamored with the private, mundane things that happen everyday, they go their separate ways, move to new places and get new jobs. Apparently, Morgan gets to keep their double dating companions- Summer and Luke who were destined to follow in Ari and Morgan's footsteps. Is it harder to start over when someone else makes the calls or is it harder to walk away of your own accord? Is it harder to forget a love or to fall into it with someone new?

Ari's new job in Boston quickly turns her life around, for the better and possibly the worse. She and her tech CEO boss, Wells, become romantically entwined despite his beautiful, successful, blunt wife and young son. Having been with one partner for such a large portion of her life, it's easy to see why Ari is quickly enamored with the people she builds relationships with. Her inability to set boundaries, or abide by them lead to these codependent relationships with both Wells and his wife, Leah. The tension in the first half of the book keeps you turning pages before you're met with a spin you may not have expected. I did think this would be a typical "other woman" plot that panned out in one of two ways, but was happily proven wrong. However, the tension slowly building up in the second half of the book ultimately fell a bit flat and felt hurried. Aside from that, it was obviously unhealthy. Which, I think, is one of the points of this story. The bonds we create with others can be because of so many different things: proximity, similar interests, time, trauma; the bonds we lose can be just as varied: proximity, lies, love, deception/betrayal, death. While troublesome, I did appreciate Ari's relationship in the second half of the book more than the relationship from the first half. Unfortunately, her best friend Summer is not a good friend (and the way she drops that bomb so cavalierly, so quickly? UGH!). After so many trials and errors, Ari is finally stepping towards what she deserves, what is best for her, towards the light from the singular window opposite the open door of a dark room.

While some plot points were a little silly, unbelievable, out of nowhere, this book does offer us a chance to reflect on some of our own relationships, the things we have done for love or happiness. Life is messy, sometimes because of our own choices, but it's also full of potential. Overall, I'd rate this as 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I feel like this book had so much potential but fell short. I didn't really like the characters and the book wasn't executed well. I also feel like the first part of the book was really different from the second part. Thank you, NetGalley.