Get ready to learn more about the book Here You Are in this discussion with sapphic author Jo Fletcher.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Jo Fletcher about Here You Are, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Paris category in the 2026 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Here You Are?
I wanted to turn the trope of Paris as the city of love on its head. What if Paris wasn’t everything you dreamed of? What if the love of your life was waiting back home?
Who is your favorite character in the book?
Charlie is my fave character. She’s a hot shot barrister who is on the career fast track. She’s sharp and sexy-as-hell. I love her because she’s VERY different to me in most ways. When we meet her she’s all about one night stands and no strings sex. But she meets Elda and falls in love.
What inspired the idea for Here You Are?
The early seeds of the idea came to me because I wanted to turn the idea of Paris as the city of love completely on its head. The book ended up as a more complex book about found family, feeling abandoned, grieving loss, and finding the love of your life.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
Writing about losing someone you love. I didn’t kill off any main characters! But I did write about grief and family. I had lost my mum the year before I started writing this book and I think in some ways this novel touches on those themes.
What part of Here You Are was the most fun to write?
Paris. Undoubtedly. I loved taking Elda to Paris and having her meet the sharp-tongued, Sylvie, who becomes the main character in the follow up: Here in My Heart.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
I struggled for AGES. I wanted it to be about finding love. I wanted it to be about places and people. And then I thought it was about the person you love being right there all along. Here You Are.
How much research did you need to do for Here You Are?
I have spent a lot of time in France. Both in Paris and in the south. I spent time reflecting on that. I also spent time researching Charlie and Elda’s career paths in family law and art.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
Here in My Heart is out now! It’s the story of awkward marine biologist, Ade and ambitious professor, Sylvie on a gap year that changes everything. In the golden glow of a South of France autumn, two very different lives collide.
With an age gap, diverging paths, and an ocean between them, a fleeting spark becomes a raging attraction.
What is your favorite line from your book?
“The past few weeks had carved unfamiliar paths in her wandering mind. They all led to Charlie.”
What is your writing process like?
I started as a pantser, but I am much more of a plotter now. It helps me to stay on track.
Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I like to write in my office at home or in a bust coffee shop. I often get words down when I am travelling on a train or plane. I’d really like to try dictation this year to see if that works for me.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
I’d like to spend time with Taylor Jenkins Reid and ask her about the writing process. Atmosphere is one of my favourite books. Some of the scenes in that book took my breath away.
What’s your favorite writing snack or drink?
I don’t tend to snack while writing, but I do like to drink a nice cup of Earl Grey tea. Strong. Not too much milk. I am very British about tea.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
I like to collapse on a sofa and binge watch something fun.
Is there a particular genre you would love to write but only under a pseudonym?
I’d love to try a crime novel, but I don’t have much of an idea about crime, or creating suspense!
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
I have a cat named after Virginia Woolf who likes to walk over my keyboard.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?
“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” Terry Pratchett. Game-changing advice for anyone who thinks they need to write something perfect as soon as they fingers lay on the keyboard.
Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?
I cried when I wrote a scene in Here You Are. It was the scene involving the loss of Elda’s grandmother. I’d helped to care for my own grandmothers in their final days and I’d lost my mum the year before. Writing that scene involved digging deep and excavating some big feelings about the powerful and beautiful women I’d lost.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
I love reading sapphic romance. I haven’t always felt this way. When I was growing up, I had no idea that I would discover a world which reflected my life and role modelled loving, healthy relationships between women.
What books did you grow up reading?
I used to check out stacks of Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High from the library and go back the next week for more. I loved the cast of characters and their drama. I would disappear into my bedroom for hours, turning the page and only emerge for snacks.
I moved onto an obsession with F Scott Fitzgerald and Virginia Woolf when I was at university.
What books have you read more than once in your life?
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald. Daisy Fay keeps me coming back.
