Thanks Brilliance Audio, NetGalley and author for the audiobook of Just Want You Here.
I had high hopes for this one after reading the synopsis.
The premise was undeniably intriguing. It was fun and easy and I was excited for what is to come, I just couldn't put it down.

After the first half, i just struggled to connect with the characters especially Anis. She was so unlikable, and i just didnt like her. She really stressed me out with her bad decision making and childishness. She was an absolute toxic train wreck. I found her weak. Romanticizing infidelity is ano-noo for me. I thought she'll grow a pair later and learn from her mistakes, it never happened.

In the end, maybe Morgan and Ari might get back together, the thought of that possibility is utterly unrealistic.

But it was still a pretty read. Because irrespective of how you feel, you still can't stop listening, well I couldn't. I loved the narrators.

People who can look past a weak fmc will even love this more.

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 Brilliance Publishing for this audio-arc in exchange for an honest review!

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.

I went into this book blindly and this was such a wild ride. A book that explores relationships, first love, longing, desires and most of all finding yourself. Ari’s world as she knows it has just completely changed. Her long time boyfriend and first love has just broken up with her after a decade long relationship. She starts a new job. Her new boss is totally captivated by her. It’s messy and complicated but also a complex story of Ari starting over and finding herself.

The audiobook is narrated by Megan Tusing, Steve West, Sara Sheckells and Gary Tiedemann. The full cast was so good at having a voice for each of the characters. I loved the way the story was narrated and told. I found it captivating.

⅘ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just Want You Here
Author: Meredith Turits

Thank you so much Brilliance Audio for this read! This was super good. The book starts off with Ari and Morgan who have been engaged and together for a very long time. He ends up breaking up with her unexpectedly. Devastated, she slowly begins to piece herself back together and finds herself in a relationship with her new married boss and ceo of the company she is working at… however it does not stop there. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but she also ends up being wrapped up in a weird relationship with the bosses wife. This book was definitely like a twisted roller coaster.. all of the characters had their own flaws and it was interesting to watch the complete mess unfold. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this read! The narration was also amazing and I loved that each character had their own narrator for their POV. This book released today 3/11! Happy release day!

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.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ALC.

Briefly: I can see some readers really loving this book, however I struggled to finish it. Partly because there were multiple first-person POVs (I might’ve enjoyed it better if it was third-person for so many POVs). Personally, I struggled with more than 3 first-person POVs.

I thought the narrators were very good especially Ari’s.

I enjoyed the first half of the book a lot, but then as it went, I kept getting second hand anxiety and discomfort (hard to explain).

Based on the description, I had high hopes of some strong character development. However as the book went on, I really started to dislike Ari (which that is not something that will make me dislike a story, but I found her to be the same, insecure and immature person at the end that she was in the beginning). The best friend is a horrible person and I probably would have much more respect for if Ari walked out on her wedding day and never turned back.

I hated the ending (it’s an open ending with no clear resolution; if it was part of a series, the ending would have been fine). With the inference that Morgan & Ari might get back together, that in and of itself is a bit unrealistic given everything that happened IMO. Tbh, I would have preferred Ari to end up with Wells.

If the author were to turn this into a series and continued the story, I would read it as I feel I need more/a conclusion.

This book is so unhinged. It was a dumpster fire I just could not look away from. I did give it 3 stars because I couldn’t stop listening to it, but only because I had so much hope it was going to get better by the end. The main character is truly terrible. I really enjoyed the writing style and certain elements of the book, but it was a total flop in my opinion.

Interesting coming of age/ finding yourself kinda book. At parts guy hate the main character. At parts you wanna hug her and make her feel better.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was a tough one for me. I kept wanting to root for Ari but i genuinely couldnt. She was so unlikable and i just didnt like her. She let her relationship to Morgan define her and then let the breakup spiral her into the biggest mess possible. Dont get me wrong, Wells was trash too but Ari had a preexisting issue with cheating and STILL did it?! Girl come on.

And then the weird lesbian attachment thing with Leah but then not actually being a lesbian thing? Summer made the right call and that was to snitch Ari out.

And then for it to all turn BACK to Morgan? Sorry but no lesson was learned here. It sounds like the ONLY one who made progress was Morgan.

This was just so all over the place and Ari was such a mess that i just couldnt get past it. You are 30 and you need to get it together.

3.5⭐️
Well overall I liked this book enough to round it up and recommend it to people looking for a light coming of age story. However, my enjoyment fell mostly in the first half of the book as o got pulled in and enjoyed listening. Bjt then the second half of the book seemed really rushed and almost like someone else took over the writing.

This is a typos of book that should pull at the heart strings and get intertwined with the characters but that’s not what happened. The characters and the overall execution felt flat.

I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from Brilliance Publishing through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

This was a multicast narration which they did a fine job. The book needed that variety and probably made me like it more than I would have.

I recommend this title especially for women’s book clubs for a light read that can be dissected.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

liked some of this story, but I found myself aggravated with Ari and her bad decision making. She was hard to connect with because I didn't feel like I got to know why she was making these decisions. Her thought process wasn't really shown to the reader. I wanted to see her have some real self-discovery, but she seemed unmotivated to make any real improvements in her life. I like a flawed character, but there just wasn't a lot of redeeming qualities about her. She was wasting so much time. And as a reader, I also felt I was wasting time.

The pacing of the story is inconsistent and feels like it jumps around, then it's just really slow toward the end. The ending being was unsatisfying for me, too. That being said, I didn't dislike the story, I just wasn't overly impressed with it and it's not memorable.

Narration was good - thankfully - that's what kept me engaged.

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC!

‘Just Want You Here’ by Meredith Turits is a beautifully written and emotionally captivating novel that had me hooked from start to finish. Listening to the audiobook only enhanced the experience with its excellent dual narration. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the characters and their emotions to life, adding depth to the story and making the connection with the characters even more profound.

The novel follows Ari, who is heartbroken after a breakup with her longtime boyfriend, and her journey as she gets involved with the wrong man. There were moments where I wanted to reach through my headphones and shake some sense into Ari, as she makes choices that seem to spiral her life further out of control. Yet, despite those frustrating moments, I found myself emotionally invested in her journey. Turits does a brilliant job of crafting a character whose flaws and struggles feel incredibly relatable, making her story both compelling and heartbreaking.

The first half of the book sets the stage and introduces the emotional turmoil Ari is experiencing, but it’s in the second half where the narrative truly shines. The plot picks up pace, and the emotional depth of the story becomes even more gripping. Turits has a way of weaving tension and vulnerability into every scene, which kept me coming back for more. By the end, I couldn’t help but feel connected to the characters and their journeys.

That said, there were occasional jumps in the storyline that made the narrative feel a bit disjointed. At times, it was a bit hard to keep track of the timeline or what was happening, which was slightly distracting. Despite this, the overall quality of the writing and the emotional weight of the story more than made up for those moments of confusion.

Overall, ‘Just Want You Here’ is an emotionally engaging read that I highly recommend to those looking for a novel with rich character development and a story that tugs at the heartstrings. Ari’s journey is one of growth, mistakes, and emotional resilience, and Turits masterfully captures that with both beauty and rawness.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the advanced copy.

I was really invested in this audio from the beginning. It drew me in with its depth and emotion, making me feel connected to the journey in a way I didn’t expect. Even though I wasn’t sure if this new start was the right decision, I found myself wanting to follow it through, curious to see where it would lead. There was something so reflective about it, something that made me think about my own choices and the moments in life when we stand at a crossroads.

As it progressed, I felt a mix of emotions—hope, uncertainty, and a deep sense of introspection. The way it unfolded was both engaging and thought-provoking, making me appreciate the power of storytelling in a whole new way. I loved how it didn’t just tell a story but made me feel a part of it.

By the end, I was sad, but in a way that felt meaningful. It wasn’t just an ending; it was a conclusion that made me reflect even more. Despite the bittersweet feeling, I truly enjoyed the experience. It stayed with me, lingering in my thoughts long after it was over, and that’s what made it so powerful.

Dual Narration
** narrator’s do a great job.
I struggled to connect with the characters.

Ari gets broken up with by her longtime boyfriend and her life spirals. She gets involved with the wrong man. There were times I wanted to grab her and shake her like wth are you even doing?

It’s not badly written or necessarily a bad story I just struggled to connect with it.

TW - Cheating