I was expecting this to be one of those books where the main character spends the entire time sulking and not moving forward in any aspect of their life without their other half, or unrealistically thriving beyond belief, only to end up back with them. I’m pleasantly surprised it wasn’t!

The way Ari and Wells’s storyline started was lacking a bit of a buildup for me as a reader, and the level of devastation she experienced throughout that relationship needed more depth for me to feel or even catch a glimmer of what Ari was going through but that wasn’t really there. The only times you could feel what she was going through was when there were feelings of guilt and shame brought up.

Ari’s fascination and infatuation with Leah and her son was so well written and the way she was stuck and trapped yet still somehow growing as a human parallel to everything that was going on was such a good narrative for the author to have explored.

Ultimately, this was such a good story about how when everything you know gets pulled out from under, you don’t necessarily always utterly fail or sky rocket into success and freedom. It was about all of the messiness of life and love and relationships. It was about the intricacies and absolute mess of what it’s like to grow as an adult in confusing and often toxic relationships, situations and environments. It explored the connections between family and your past and present self, and how what you see for future guides a lot of your choices (whether they be good or bad). It was a story of how growth is not simply linear.

It was such a good book!! The only things that would have made it better would have been adding more depth to what was going on between Ari and Wells and more clarity from Leah’s narrative.

#NetGalley #JustWantYouHere

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review! I was really intrigued by the premise of this book — I love a messy affair / complicated feelings plot. However, as much as I wanted to like this book, the execution just wasn't there for me. It started out as a fun, easy read, but as it progressed, it became clear that the characters weren't going to evolve, or show any depth. There was a lot of telling and not much showing, and frankly, I just didn't like or care for any of the characters — and not in a fun unlikeable way. Ari's "best friend" Summer was awful, with literally zero redeeming qualities. Random plot points added for shock value fell flat. The supposed climax of the book was rushed and dissatisfying. The ending was left open, with none of the required resolution. Sadly, a big miss for me.

This book was a stand still. It began. Things happened. It ended like it started. As a reader you need some developments. The characters need to grow, shrink or go through a metamorphisis but not just be the same like in this book. The idea is good and the plot sounds lika a hoot but the execution needs some tinkering.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I absolutely do not know what to make of this book. I have finished it and still cannot decide whether I liked it or not.
I did enjoy the few very subtle literary devices that were used, especially when showing how interconnected all the characters eventually were. Most of my notes are along the lines of “this reminds me of page x” or “this is parallel to the scene with person y”. It really underlined how repetitive the main character’s behavior is and how she is somewhat stuck in an endless loop of dependence.
I was also a very big fan of Summer, the protagonist’s best friend, for most of the novel. The way she drops everything after Ari’s accident to be by her side felt very supportive. I won’t say why I changed my mind at the end, but if you read the novel you will know. Some might interpret her behavior as helpful and caring, but I just though it was a really bad thing to do. It was not her place to get involved.
The novel shows the main character, Ari, in different relationships (romantic and not) and they all have in common that she is somewhat dependent on the other person and exists simply to be there for them. While some level of support and altruism should be the basis of any relationship, the way it is portrayed in the novel seems very one-sided. And through the novel, Ari keeps making decisions that might not be very smart, but that she can’t help making. And I believe this might be one of the reasons why I kept reading, because I wanted to know how her decisions impacted on her life and whether she might end up choosing more wisely. The twist at around 60% of the book was not expected and I did enjoy being surprised although I did not really enjoy what was happening. But that might also be one of the strengths of this novel: it keeps you in a constant state of being uncomfortable. You understand why the protagonist acts a certain way, you do not support her actions, but you still want to see where it is going and you are still somewhat rooting for her.
Very interesting novel and so different from a lot I have recently read. I will give this 3.5 (rounded up to 4) for now, but will need to think about this some more. (I do love books that make me think about them long after I’ve read them).

All Ari has known her entire life is Morgan so when it ends she is cast adrift in a world that doesn’t really make sense anymore. This is a novel about the decisions people make when they are desperate - either to be defined or to define themselves. To start with, I found the writing style a little confusing, but as I leaned into Ari’s character a little more, I found it enjoyable even if I disagreed with some of her choices. I found there to be moments where the plot went in a completely different direction to what I was expecting and some that I expected. This meant that the novel remained engaging throughout, even though I did find the ending a little quick. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an arc of this book.

The only love Ari has known is Morgan. Engaged and planning a life with him in New York, Ari is shocked when Morgan sits her down one rainy afternoon and tells her their decade-long relationship is over. They’ve been over for a long time now, he says—and Ari knows he’s right.

Twenty-eight years old and suddenly alone, Ari throws herself into a new job in Boston, as assistant to a tech CEO. Wells is British, twelve years her senior, a devoted husband and father. He’s also captivated by Ari, in a way neither of them can explain. Ignoring every warning signal from friends and their own instincts, they dive into a fiery affair, which becomes more dangerous as Ari finds herself intricately tangled with his wife, Leah.

Nothing can prepare Ari for the choices she must make as she tries to uncover what’s right for herself, and for the people she can’t let go. As a new path opens—a journey of lies and the twisted calculus of protecting them—Ari’s second chance at happiness forces her to consider who she really is. Can you love someone without dragging them under? What does it take to start over again?

Loved it. Will recommend to others.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This story was compelling at the beginning but as it played out you could tell that it wasn’t going anywhere. But the end I was left feeling like why did I read all that just for it to end the way it started. She blew up so many people’s lives, for what?

Can a person truly start over?

This is the question the main character of “Just Want You Here” asks herself as her decade-long relationship – one that sustained her from late adolescence into the formation of her adult life – comes to an end. We watch Ari learn to navigate while struggling to define what her identity is outside of her relationships, whether that be the romantic, familial, or otherwise. Honest, heart-wrenching, and compelling, this book reiterates that none of us knows truly how to place ourselves, no matter how many chances we get to do so.

The good: I would’ve read a hundred more pages. I was so dialed into Ari’s journey, her compulsion to bury herself in others for fear of what will be there when she comes up for air. I think Ari was perfectly flawed in that we saw her wrestle with herself, come to conclusions just to contradict herself in such an intimately human way. The other point of views serve to give us the 360 view of Ari that made her decisions more interesting, more nuanced. The emotional depth of this work pulled me in, and I couldn’t put it down.
The less good: I would’ve read a hundred more pages. While I think this shows how ready I was to stick with Ari’s journey, it is also indicative of how abrupt the end felt. I think the plot twist (no spoilers :D) came very late in the book which left us little time to process the implications of such a big moment. I think ultimately I found the end hopeful, but I would’ve been willing to sit with this draft longer to see how everything played out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little A for this treasure of a book! Highly recommend checking this out upon its release on 3/11/25!

I found the pacing of the book to be quite engaging; it kept me invested for the majority of the story. I appreciated how both halves of the book complemented each other in unique ways, creating a sense of continuity that made me eager to uncover the resolution.

However, I did encounter some challenges regarding character development. While I understand that the lack of growth may have been an intentional choice by the author, it left me wanting more depth from the characters, particularly Ari. I enjoy seeing characters evolve throughout their journeys, and in this case, I felt that Ari’s arc did not reflect that growth.

For readers who value character development as a key aspect of their reading experience, this may be something to consider. Although Ari’s messy decisions add an interesting layer to her character, I would have loved to see her learn from them by the end. Overall, while the book had many strengths, I found myself a bit disappointed in this area.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC copy. Just Want You Here is an intriguing story about real people and the bad choices they make just for their fear of being own. As someone who loves books about real and flawed people and with no happy ending, I enjoyed it very much.

The first half of the novel moves along at a leisurely pace, but Meredith Turits uses some unnecessary language here and there, which disrupts the flow of the book. I wasn't a fan of the characters or the book, but I think there might be people who would enjoy it. I also noticed that the character was drowning in overly dense and complex expressions. However, in the second half of the book, Turits' writing style becomes more natural, and I found myself warming up to the book a little bit.

Ari, the main character, is different from the usual main character in that he makes bad choices. Ari has a bit of a messy personality. One of the things I appreciated about the book is how much I related to Ari. I think what I liked most about her is that she's not perfect, but she's still trying to make sense of things.

However, as with any book, this one had its flaws. There were moments when the pace was slow, and it seemed like the story was dragging in the middle. Then, suddenly, everything happened too fast, especially towards the end. I wasn't too happy with how the ending came about. It felt like the book was building up to something important, but the ending left us with no real resolution.

What I found disappointing about the book was that Ari hadn't changed much by the end. I would have liked to see her learn from his mistakes or gain some clarity by the end.

If you like flawed and obscure characters, this is for you. But for those who can't enjoy it, I'm sorry to say that it's not a work I can recommend.

this one was… many things. it was good, but not the best, and felt very one-note to me. while it had a lot of great potential, the overall story fell sort of flat because it felt like all the tension and build up was for nothing, and the ending was super open-ended, which was frustrating for a story like this one.

i liked the characters, and enjoyed how grief was represented here- through different types of losses- and how grief in all of its forms can make you think and behave in unfathomable ways, while also greatly complicating life. but with all of that being said, it all still just seemed so one-dimensional. there was nothing really pulling on my heartstrings or making me gasp or gawk. it was just a fine story, executed relatively well, with an okay payoff. i’d say this one is more of a contemporary fiction than a romance.

Although a bit uneven, much of this novel was completely fascinating. I loved the sharply drawn characters and the narrative arc. The book surprised me at many turns.

This one had so much potential but it felt a little flat. It had the potential to really dig deep into raw and uncommon emotions but it missed the spot. I wanted more feelings and insight into the main character. I thought the ending and where the book went was super interesting and didn't mind it at all - it added to the complexity of the situation - but I think in the end, it was too surface level.

THANK YOU to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy


"Just Want You Here by Meredith Turits is a deep and sensual novel that explores the complexity of modern relationships and loneliness. The author skillfully conveys the subtle emotions and feelings that arise when a person tries to find himself or herself while remaining close to others. The story balances between the desire for intimacy and the fear of being vulnerable, which makes it very real. The book makes us think about how we build connections and the cost of maintaining them, even if it means losing a part of ourselves.

This was a captivating read and not at all what I expected. Ari is going through an identity crisis after her longtime partner breaks up with her. Soon, she starts an affair with her new boss and she also becomes intrigued by his wife. I think readers looking for an intense relationship drama may enjoy this - I was slightly charmed but maybe also annoyed by the fact that Ari didn’t seem to get any closer to self-discovery or enhanced self-awareness by the end of the story.

Thank you to Little A and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

loved this one a captivating read. very interesting to see the dynamic of these characters! THANK YOU FOR THIS ARC

Unfortunately this book wasn’t really for me. I love the classic tropes of post-breakups relationships, and Ari’s relationship with her boss Wells could have been really intriguing.

However, I felt like there was nothing particularly to set this book aside from other similar books and I felt that the characters lacked some depth and unique qualities…

I hate giving negative reviews but this wouldn’t be a book I’d recommend!

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC. This book is complex, with flawed characters. Finished it in a weekend as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. The first half of the book is different than the second. It was not what I expected. While I thought the story line was good, I was disappointed in the ending. It left a reader hanging. Maybe a sequel is in the works. Overall a story about love, lust, loss, and moving on. I’d recommend.

my first netgalley advance read! i enjoyed the character development and multiple POVs. the storyline was not as believeable as originally laid out in the beginning. despite the first and second half being wildly different, there were enough twists that left me guessing. an interesting take on the different types of love and loss that life offers.