Here You Are

Here Together

by Jo Fletcher

Would-be artist and romantic Elda Brown is shaken to the core when an encounter with hot-shot barrister Charlotte Mason disrupts the monotony of her daily grind.
Career-minded fixer Charlie Mason has forged a solid reputation inside the courtroom and between the sheets. She’s accustomed to inviting people into her bed rather than her head, but meeting Elda challenges her outlook.
As Elda and Charlie navigate their newfound connection, an unexpected friendship blossoms that gives them a renewed sense of purpose to confront the scars of their past.
Will Elda and Charlie, flawed and haunted by their own histories, dare to seize the opportunity for romance? Can they gather the courage to unlock their hearts and find the happiness they truly deserve?

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Lesbian, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2023

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

**'Competency and literacy is part of the art in telling any story. A failure w/ either of these mechanisms -- you might be considered a bad writer..'

Average read!
A trying storyline --some parts good, lots meh w/ more UK lingo and surroundings.

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Sweet!

Elda and Charlie meet thanks to a chance encounter that leaves them instantly connected to one another. As they both face personal and career challenges that range from painful to traumatic, their friendship develops into feelings and more that throw them both into unexpected scenarios. But they both must decide if they can overcome what is holding them back from true happiness.

Loved every second of this very sweet romance. Elda and Charlie were alike in so many ways yet completely different, so while they could relate and empathise with one another’s situations, they also were their own worst enemy at times. Charlie was so kind, and really struggled with past demons that had her trying to protect and care for those that meant the world to her, and when she became friends with Elda that instantly included her too. Elda was torn between following her dreams and remaining loyal and being there for family and those she cared about, so doing anything for herself wracked her with feelings of guilt.

I was so glad fate intertwined their paths and made them connect because they were so sweet together. Even though at times things were tense, you just knew they’d eventually find a way through it or back to one another because as the title suggests, they were just there for one another. While there are saddening moments, the tone of the story remain upbeat and filled with a hopeful energy that meant I couldn’t put it down.

The beauty of the story comes from the simplicity of a right time, right place, difficult situations place many a reader will be able to relate to. I fell completely in love with the idea of Elda and Charlie and hope they’ll be around in future stories from Jo.

[JAYNE · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt story of love and loss coupled with the internal battles of making the right decision in the face of conflicting issues.

Here You are by Jo Fletcher captures the lives of Charlie and Elda. Charlotte Mason, Charlie, is an amazing kick ass barrister. Driven by her career goals, there is not much time for anything else in her life except for the occasional hook up. Charlie has never got over the loss of her true love 17 years ago.

Elda Brown, El, is an aspiring artist outside of work. For now, Elda is content with her day job to pay the bills, but it does not stop the daydreaming of becoming a renowned artist in the future.
Charlie and Elda's chance encounter leads to a bond of friendship, support, and respect. Past life events hinder both MCs. You cannot change the past. Learning to love again and realising you are worthy of another's love is a hard path to travel.

This book invoked powerful feelings and emotions which had me rooting for Charlie and Elda’s future. Imagining the places and events in the book was effortless because of the excellent writing. This is one debut author to watch for in the future. I have already recommended this book to friends.

I received an ARC for my honest review.

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good debut. Wonderfull characters. Good story building around the characters. I felt both characters struggle and come back to the real world and go forward with all lessons learned. In this story there also some quirky side characters.

I got an ARC for an honest review

[Myrtle Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I set myself a challenge to read more and read ‘new’ and this was a recommendation from a friend - and what a friend! I loved ‘Here you are’, the MC’s we’re easy to love (especially Elda) the flow was great and each page left me wanting to read further.

I especially liked the friendship between Elda and Jack, it reminded me of myself and bestie - always offering advice, a shoulder and chocolate.

A must read for anyone wanting to read a bit of sapphic romance.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and was hooked from the first page. The characters are beautifully written and relatable. Very much enjoyed being part of Charlie and Elda’s world. A warning, once you start reading, it’s difficult to stop. I’m looking forward to the next book from this author.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully written debut novel. I found some parts hard to get through as they explored areas that hit very close to home. Looking forward to what's next from the author.

[Kristene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually give this 4.5 - I really enjoyed this! I loved the story and character development of Charlie and Elda from beginning to end! It was a very realistic tale of two women who have struggled with relationships in the past, and found their way to and back to one another after a few struggles. I also love the somewhat butch/femme dynamic - I don't know if that was the intention but it had a little bit of that vibe. I really love butch/femme love stories!

The struggles that the two individual main characters had were also very realistic and relatable, for both career and family struggles. I could see some of my own story in each of their struggles, as well as how their struggles challenged their relationship.

This is also a great read if you enjoy spicy lesbian scenes! Overall they were well written (as they made me want to scoot closer and be more intimate with my own wife when I was reading this in bed at night)! The one thing that makes me give this a "4.5" and not a full "5" is I don't prefer sex scenes in the first chapter of the book. The first chapter of a book sets the tone for me, and it confused me on how the entire tone of the book was going to be. I know some enjoy that, so it's not necessarily bad or wrong, but it is not my preference. The sex scene in the first chapter was not the couple that the story is about, but it's purpose was to paint the picture of Charlie's current relationship patterns. I understand the purpose of the first chapter, however I would have preferred a little more time in the beginning before delving right into a sex scene. Even the second chapter would have been better. I honestly almost did not continue reading because I thought maybe the tone of the book was that it was going to be all spice with no substance. But I kept reading it, and it turned out to be great! Don't get me wrong, I love spice when reading fiction, especially lesbian fiction, but I enjoy the slow burn and I get more out of it when it is a slow burn. (Which, to be fair, the sexual intimacy between Elda and Charlie WAS a slow burn). I overall don't prefer opening a book and it jumps right into a sex scene...I know some love that. It's just not for me.

Lastly, I want to add that there was a scene with a therapist. I am a therapist. I usually cringe at therapy scenes in books and movies because they usually are written terribly. This therapy scene was SO good...on point and realistic. Making statements like, "A.J. held the silence..." yes! My psychotherapy heart loved the therapy scene. Very real, very ethical, very appropriate. Well done!

[avalon b✨tches bout books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

💜 Friends-to-lovers-ish
💜 Cheerful best friend sidekick
💜 Found family
🗼 Paris!
🌈 Lesbian MCs, other queer side characters

~*~*~*~

Okay y'all. Here I was thinking that this was going to be a pretty light-hearted read - and to be fair, the first half of Here You Are is mostly a wholesome friendship journey - but then stuff happens, and I was not expecting to cry dammit.

I really really *really* wanted to give this a solid 4 stars. A book that can make me tear up is usually at least 4 star material. And the only reason I couldn't was that the romance aspect itself was sweet but not quite as developed as the friendship, challenges for the characters, and complex feelings. Since this *is* a romance novel, I'd say that's a little bit of a flaw. But it certainly didn't ruin the story, and there is a lot here that I really enjoyed.

Debut indie author Jo Fletcher has a flair for writing Big Feelings. The way she handles ordinary human fear and grief, as well as trauma and social justice, is just *chef's kiss* 👌

So our MCs: Elda and Charlie have this natural connection from the beginning, and their unexpected, slightly rom-com meeting is a bit cute. Their blossoming relationship is what triggers both of them to learn what it is to have boundaries, to ask themselves what they truly want - and have the courage to pursue it.

And oh my gosh, Jack. Seriously, this guy. (Literally, a childhood best friend who drops chocolate digestives into your lap on a bad day and demands to cook for you is one we could all do with.) Elda and Jack are forever encouraging each other and bringing out the best in one another, which I am 💯 here for. 👏👏👏

I did enjoy the uncomplicated writing style, but when it came to the connection between Elda and Charlie, I felt like I was being told about their romance rather than shown. Don't get me wrong, I was still cheering for them to get together, but their connection didn't quite have the same emotional feel that characterised everything else.

There is a loooot of potential here, and with the author's talent for conveying difficult emotions I can see her writing some seriously incredible romances in the future. This is one to keep an eye on, indie lesfic friends. 🖤

*ARC generously provided in exchange for a review.*

[Amanda Swift · Rating 1 out of 5]

A real shame that the cover of this book uses AI generated art, after looking up the publisher it seems they're well aware of this and chose to proceed with its use anyway.

Knowing that, and the content of the book itself, it got me questioning if the author chose to use chat gpt for their written work seeing as they themselves seem comfortable with stolen artwork gracing their cover (yes. A little look into their Instagram and it seems even THEY know its AI and don't care!) the written work stumbles around itself that I couldn't stop thinking about the gelatinous blob of the two figures gracing the cover and kept thinking - if the publisher and author are happy to support AI art, then surely AI writing isn't beneath them?

I don't want a future where books have ANY AI content, and want only work where so called "indie publishers" actually publish work made my human creators NOT stealing from other indie creators.

Avoid this author, and the publisher, the complete disregard for the harm AI causes and refusal to take responsibility tells me all I need to know about the morales of all involved.

[Addison Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then, a new writer’s debut novel comes along and takes my breath away. Through every page, I thought, “Gee, I wish I had written this.” Jo Fletcher’s “Here You Are” is one such novel. Jo expertly paints the setting while interweaving all the characters’ raw emotions. You’ll cheer for them. You’ll cry for them. And you’ll love every minute.

Charlotte “Charlie” Mason, a lawyer, hides her sadness in work, then she runs into a budding artist, Elda Brown 😉 They form a friendship, and desire bubbles beneath the surface. As love blossoms, they must push through some hard times to get to their HEA. The book is so well written that the reader is there with the characters every step of the way through every challenge and emotion. As for the intimate scenes, they are sexy and emotional. You can feel the love that Charlie and Elda have for one another.

Jo Fletcher’s “Here You Are” does not disappoint.

[Onia Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Jo Fletcher’s Here You Are, having heard her interviewed on Bare Books Podcast, and so glad I did.
We meet two seemingly opposite characters (at first), Charlie and Elda, who become emotionally entwined. Although not an obvious match on paper, they do both … enjoy/suffer … traumatic backstories and their unfolding romance becomes more understandable, or even inevitable, as the plot progresses.
Here you Are is billed as a sapphic romance and there certainly is romance threading through the story. I’m not sure if we are sometimes supposed to pity Charlie for her libertine and shallow approach to her sex, but I personally identify with her approach. Sex might be an important component of many loving adult relationships, but the absence of such a relationship shouldn’t preclude an active sex life with all that offers the participant.
A striking, clever, sexy, modern romance with a riveting plot.

[Minna Perälä · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely 2 stars. I struggled with the book a lot. The writing is clumsy and unruly, especially in the beginning of the book, there's a lot of jumping forward between paragraphs without "pauses". It's difficult to keep up with the plot. The characters, especially Elda, are very inconsistent. The character change her opinion / way of thinking within 2 pages.

The book is described to be a romance and yes, there's HEA, but most of the book is about everything else but the romance/their relationship. The book should come with a list of content warnings. It's full of heavy topics that, in my opinion, are not written that well. I'm not against family drama or outside influences but Here You Are is a lot. The book is very chaotic.

Finally, there's a big gesture in the end but I think it's done by the wrong character. And the epilogue is over the top and does not fit/support the story itself that much. It's just something that is very common in sapphic romances.

[E.V. Bancroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe this is a debut novel as it is so well written, revealing a maturity and deft handling of some difficult topics.
Elda is an artist looking for romance in Paris. Instead she has a painful encounter with a successful lawyer, Charlie, and after meeting up again they begin an unexpected friendship.
The characters are engaging and well rounded and trying to make the best of life, despite their difficult pasts. There are some wonderful secondary characters, such as Jack, and the banter between them acts as a delicious contrast to some of the emotional scenes. And there are some very emotional scenes as they deal with everything life throws at them.
The locations also come alive with a few apt sentences- you can imagine you are sitting on a sidewalk in Paris for example.
A fabulous book from a new author. I can’t wait for the next!

[Valden Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here You Are is one of those books that grabs you on the first page and sweeps you along to the end of chapter one. I thought if the rest of the book is like this I’m on to a winner. And it was. I was swept along through emotional turmoil, loss, happiness, humor and all the emotions in between to finish a winning book that I really enjoyed.
Jo Fletcher belies the fact that this is her first book. The characters are all grounded and believable and beautifully described, sometimes with all their faults. The story is easy to read and moves along at a pace. I loved her descriptions of place, they gave enough information to make it count, but didn’t over do the detail.
Well done Jo Fletcher.
I’m already waiting for the next book.

[karen fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. I really liked the real life emotions that were portrayed here, very selfish reactions that are so true to life as the majority of us feel our own angst and emotions far more acutely than being able to analyse the emotions of those around us, especially the ones we love. The only other  author I have found to do this was Alysia D Evans in Red Wine and Mint Cake, it is so refreshing to have real flawed characters instead of one's that are always PC and know the right thing to say.
I felt love and annoyance with Elda as she went through her highs and lows, and pity and respect for Charlie as she tries to navigate her love for Elda while dealing with her own issues.
To say all of that about one book is quite an achievement, we'll done Jo Fletcher.

[Mari Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic, heartfelt and wonderful debut novel

This debut novel by Jo Fletcher it’s very interesting and also very honest. It is a realistic tale of women loving women. I found the characters and the reality of their lives very engaging.
This is a very well-written tale about finding love. The characters are well-developed, and the storyline flows from the pages. The character growth and world-building are two of the main things to look forward to in this book.

It is a read that evokes so many feelings, it is hard at times and joyful at others. I enjoyed the writing style of the author.

I experienced every emotion reading this story. It is a very good debut novel that I’d like to recommend.

I received an ARC for an honest review.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo has written a book that will take you on an emotional journey of discovery with Charlie and Elda. They meet under unusual circumstances and work their way through friendship to lovers. The characters lead interesting lives with close friends who help them find their love.
The book is an easy read, it is edited very well and will hold your attention, through the good times, as well as the bad. There are highs and lows Charlie and Elda must work through, with a happy ending that will make you smile. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lis Reads Everything · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore how sweet this book is. I absolutely love the way Elda and Charlie met and I felt their connection from the start. It’s hard to believe this is Jo Fletcher’s debut novel as it is well-written and a fabulous story.

I really felt for both Elda and Charlie with their past tragic happenings and family issues. It was all examined in a sensitive manner. The book made me tear up a few times with what the characters were going through. The support they showed each other, even when going through their own tough time, was lovely to read. A gorgeous HEA indeed.

I’m looking forward to more books from this author!

[Safictions · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Charlie and Elda and how they navigate their delicate new relationship when their life is not on the right track and falling apart.

This was a sweet read and the characters were going through very realistic problems like being taken advantage of your kindness and putting up with someone talking down constantly and how they break away from it.

Also, I loved Jack and how he's a male character and how much he cherishes Elda as a best friend with no selfish intentions or him being made a homosexual character with every gay best friend stereotype which I'm pretty tired of reading on Sapphic romance books.

Would highly recommend this!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say. I loved it. I was routing for Charlie and Elda right from the off. 💛 love is messy, but there is hope throughout.

Even the most painful and complicated relationships are given space to do a little healing.

The characters are given space to share their story, their personalities space to shine.

The detailed description of time and place have you feeling like you are immersed in their world watching their love story unfold. It’s not all fun and games and there are difficult themes dealt with - this is not superficial offering. I love it. Xxx

[Iona Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written debut, this book transported me from dreary workplace, to Paris, to the English seaside seamlessly. I felt I was there with Elda and Charlie, who are exquisitely drawn and keep you rooting for their happy ever after. But the ups and downs keep you on your toes and you feel every emotion along with the characters.

I hope Jo Fletcher is a fast writer, because I can’t wait for her next book.

[Lou Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really lovely book. I was connected and invested in the characters from the very beginning. There were a lot of well written emotional situations that felt real and relatable.
It was an easy to read, feel-good book that drew me along on Elda and Charlie’s journey and I was sad to get to the end but happy I’d read it.
As a debut author I was impressed with Jo Fletcher’s descriptive writing and I’m excited to read what comes next.

[L A Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a debut book. And a very good one. With a great cast of likeable characters. Charlie and Elda are the two main characters. I really enjoy learning about them. Charlie has past issues that she can't seem to put behind her. Eldar is struggling to get her true passion off the ground. Jo weaves a great story about how they help each other. I recommend this book. Enjoy.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading a new-to-me author and this book didn't disappoint! Elda and Charlie were fantastic characters and the romance was just the right pacing. I love the familial aspect where we see struggle but also reconnection. Jack made me laugh and smile because he's exactly like one of my besties, even down to the cooking! Highly recommend this read :)

[Lindsay White · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy “will they, won’t they” style novels then this is the next book you should read. It’s a solid sapphic romance from debut author Jo Fletcher and whilst this wouldn’t usually be a genre (romance) I read ( I took a punt on a recommendation from a friend), it was an easy, well written read to demolish in one sitting.

[Danelle Bradley (queerlygayoticreader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! This was such a treat. I did not go into this book with any expectations, and was it WAY more emotional and gut wrenching than I expected. When Charlie FINALLY goes after Elda in Paris and finds her at the museum. I was in TEARS not well. This was an emotional rollercoaster and can’t wait for Jo to write more books!!!

[Melissa Hastry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great Sapphic romance. Not only were the main characters relatable, the side characters were as well. I don't like to give away the story in a review, but I was rooting for love to win out in the end!!

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the cover. The book has a great start and is captivating, but the pacing and timeline become confusing, and some of the plot and twists were bizarre to me. I would still love to read the author's future works though.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting Story, Hard Read

The author definitely knows how to transmit ennui and depression through their writing.

Overall it’s an interesting enough story. But also a bit of a drag, and slow moving.

I wouldn’t read it again, but it’s worth checking out once.