4.5/5 stars, rounded to 5!!!

I am definitely one to judge a book by it's cover... and this one lived up to the beautiful purple-pink hues. I didn't even read the description before requesting. I saw "Tarah Dewitt" and knew it would be an immediate win. Tarah DeWitt has never let me down with her books! As an avid romance reader reader, it can be such a challenging genre to read when so many of them have the same resolution and same version of a HEA, but DeWitt is the reason I love romance. Her books are so cozy and romantic, yet they touch on more challenging topics in the most beautiful way. This book was very slow, but in a good way! Dewitt took her time, dare I say *savored it*, to allow the reader to fall in love with Sprunes and it's characters. A great setup for a possible series (we can only hope).

Grumpy/sunshine is my favorite trope, and Sage and Fisher were EVERYTHING. Their romance was intense and relatable, the kind that makes you laugh, cry, and tugs at your heart strings. This was the story of two broken people who didn't fix or heal one another, but loved each other wholly. I *savored* every moment I got to spend in this small town with it's gorgeous characters. It was a fictional masterpiece.

Thank you netaglley for the arc!

Fell into a food coma reading about Sage and Fisher! This was a pleasant slow-burn small town romance that just got better and better as the pages flew by. The food descriptions were on point and Sage was wonderfully upbeat and stood out amongs other heroines I've read lately. I'm a forever-fan of plucky leads who rescue animals and work to bring out the best in others. Fisher was also extremely likeable and relatable. Their flirtation was a fun journey to go on and their chemistry was delightful. I'll be looking up the rest of the author's book list just based off how much I loved Savor It.

If I could rate this 10 stars, I would. I was already a big fan of Tarah Dewitt's books, but this one is just impeccable! Tarah's writing is beautiful and addictive and I just can't get enough.

Sage was so relatable to me. Her world in Spunes, Oregon was as close to (real life) perfect as life can get. If I could book a ticket to this town today, I would! She had a plethora of animals, a wonderful best friend, loving brothers, a small town community which included some fancy scones, hobbies and a career. She was filled to the brim with happiness, even though life had not always been fair or easy for her. I absolutely loved how she always figured things out....even the things that seemed impossible.

Fisher.....oh, Fisher! How I love a man who can communicate. And he cooks, too? Perfection!

Some of my favourite things in this book:
- Gary and his love for Indy
- Sage's late mother's journal of 'sage advice' (I absolutely cried when Fisher realized what she gave him at the end)
- Indy's feelings for small town life
- the library!!!
- the perfectly imperfect realness of the main characters

All in all, the story was amazing but it's the writing that made this an all time favourite of mine.

This was a cute read.
I loved the banter and dialogue between the MC’s. They were very honest and realistic with each other which I liked. Unfortunately I didn’t feel as invested in the characters as much as I wish I would have. If you like small town romance, with dual POV and a lot of cute animals.. this book is for you!
Thank you SMP and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Truly beautiful book .,
This story is beautifully written, it has some tides to grief, AND finding your self again , farm animals that do silly things like the goose with indy ! I died. Overall such great characters
Fisher and sages relation ship was truly adorable, good rebutle, good chemistry HOWEVER i need an ellis and wren book !

I absolutely love Tarah’s books, and this one was no exception! The characters felt like people I’ve known forever and I loved the humor and banter. I will continue to read anything Tarah puts out because her books just feel like a cozy hug.

I found this book to be a delightful, quick read. The dynamic between the main characters was enjoyable, but their relationship could have benefited from deeper development. While I expected more insight into Fisher's life as a chef, the decisions he makes by the end didn't seem fully convincing to me. The mutual breakup in the third act was a nice change from the typical dramatic split, but the reasons behind it felt a bit off, particularly with Fisher's waning passion for his job and his niece's influence over his life choices. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to more from this author.

This was such a fun read! I was transported to the Oregon coast and fell in love with the characters and their stories. Also, any time you combine food and romance, I'm in. That was certainly the case here, and I dreamed of some of the dishes that were mentioned! Oh, and add a cast of animals, including a goose that imprints on a teenager who needs some friends? Yes, please! I'm going to need this to be a series about Spune, OR (not to be confused with Forks, WA) and see what happens with Wren and Ellis.

It was a privilege to fall in love with this book! I savored every page and fell in love with all food, flowers and animals! You'll devour this very spicy 🔥 romance book!

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Will be reading this again. Not sure where TD comes up with the stuff but I almost judged myself for crying over a goose. It was perfection. Preordering a hard copy as I type.

This book is incredible. The characters, the plot, the ambiance? One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Read it if you’d like your heart warmed, enlarged, broken, and sweetly made right again.

I've been a huge fan of Tarah DeWitt since reading Funny Feelings a couple years ago, and could not wait to get my hands on this book. It did not disappoint! Savor It is the story of washed up chef, Fisher, who is trying to figure out how to rebuild his career in the face of crushing grief all while learning how to be there for his 15-year-old niece, Indy. They move to the tiny town of Spunes, Oregon for the summer so Fisher can help with a restaurant opening there. Enter town golden-girl, rescuer-of-lost-animals (and people!), and all around sweetheart Sage, the eccentric school teacher who lives next door. After getting dumped by the mayor's son following a five-year relationship, Sage's confidence is a bit shaken and she, too, is struggling to figure out exactly what she wants for herself. Fisher and Sage spend a magical summer challenging, supporting, and loving one another before facing some difficult decisions about the future.

One thing I love about DeWitt's writing is that she is SO GOOD at writing flawed, broken characters in a way that feels realistic and relatable without becoming tragedy porn. She writes about people who have real problems, but find ways to communicate with one another, show up for themselves and those around them, and strive to be better. I love that her characters (especially her male characters) are always so willing to have difficult conversations. They aren't perfect and they aren't always able to articulate things completely, but DeWitt does NOT fall back on the miscommunication trope and I love her for it. So many of Sage and Fisher's conversations in the book were so raw and beautiful, especially near the end of the book. The pacing was a little slow at first, but once the relationship began to develop, I was completely hooked.

And let's talk about the swoon factor...Tarah, girl, you brought the heat! The yearning between Sage and Fisher was palpable; you really get swept up in the romance and desire as you read. (Several open door scenes, but tastefully done, imho.) And I am sorry, but a tall, sexy pirate-esque male lead who can cook an amazing omelette while I gaze adoringly at his flexing forearms??? Yes, please!

Overall, I give this book a 4.5/5 stars. I think Funny Feelings remains my very favorite of DeWitt's work, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and shed a tear or two at the ending. A must read for lovers of emotional, heartfelt romance!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tarah DeWitt for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An absolute masterpiece! This book captivates from the first page to the last. The characters are richly developed, the plot is engaging, and the writing style is simply superb. It's a literary journey that evokes a myriad of emotions, leaving you both thoughtful and fulfilled. A must-read for anyone seeking a truly remarkable and unforgettable experience. Five stars without hesitation!

I absolutely devoured this! I have adored Dewitt’s other books and this one was no exception!

The dual POV is lighthearted and tugs on your heart strings. I laughed and cried throughout the book.

The MCs are just so honest and irresistibly adorable. Their banter is delightful and I couldn’t get enough! Fisher and Sage are so wonderfully imperfect that together, they are exceptional! Both characters know that personal growth is necessary for the current situations they are in but they fall in love with each other through the process. It was refreshing to have both MCs able to appreciate each other’s progress.

This book is all about finding yourself, intertwining your old self with a new and improved version, and has many meaningful life lessons. The tension, humor and small-town charm make it so you never want this book to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book. It’s already one of my 2024 favorites!

Savor It
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️/5

Sage Byrd is living a comfortable but lonely life in her hometown of Spunes, Oregon. Her boyfriend of five years broke up with her one year ago only to become engaged months later. As she move on with her life she hopes to be able to fill a missing void.

Fisher Lange, the Michelin-starred chef, has a lot going for him until tragedy strikes and he becomes the guardian of his niece. After leaving New York City to assist in the opening of a restaurant in Spunes, Fisher and Sage meet and fall in love.

I really enjoyed this story. I loved all of the characters - including the animals (Gary!). Both Sage and Fisher are characters you cheer for throughout the book. I appreciated the quiet independence from Sage and the confidence of Fisher. This love story wasn’t a woman pining away for a man. Sage’s ability to live her life while respecting Fisher’s adjustment to a new life is really great.

There is swooning, flirting, some spice but no jealousy or possessiveness between the two. I loved that about the story! This was the first book I’ve read by Tarah DeWitt and I hope to read others.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

One of my favourite books is Funny Feelings so I jumped at the chance to read this one. The writing was well done and the story was interesting but I didn’t find this one memorable. The trope, small town, fake relationship, single parent was one that I found over done. I know this going in but I had hopes this would some how have a fresh take on it. Sadly, I was disappointed to find that this wasn’t that different from all the others with the same trope. That being said very well written and the characters were well developed but I just didn’t care that much about them.

I will say I loved the animals in this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

While I have spent a lot of time reading & loving previous titles from St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books, I must side with my BIPOC friends & family members in the current controversy surrounding your marketing team. One of your employees made a negative public statement about people in the BIPOC community. This is someone that regularly works with BIPOC creators on ARC and marketing campaigns. I sure hope this has been dealt with behind the scenes but the reading community is requesting you make a public statement about the situation and how you've moved forward or will be moving forward.

I will not be talking about this book or any others under the St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books imprint until the BIPOC reading community hears a satisfiable response from your company.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

What can I say about Savor It? 🥵 The banter, the chemistry, the characters. I loved it all. Sage and Fisher were messy, beautiful characters. I didn’t want to put the book down. I was rooting for them the whole time.

Starting off, we were introduced to a lot of characters (including animals) pretty quickly, and I had to check to see if this was the 2nd or 3rd book in a series. The brothers names (Silas and Ellis) were so similar, I kept confusing the 2. I felt like I needed less characters or more reminders of who they are throughout the book. I loved the banter and dialogue between the 2 main characters. But I felt like once they got together, I didn’t feel I got to see their relationship bloom as much to warrant when they said “I love you”. I also felt like in order to be together, one of the characters had to change who they were and what they loved in order to be together. I also felt like Indy was a bit of an afterthought partway through. They don’t build the dynamic, and she’s off at sleepovers for half the book. Overall, I didn’t love the book as much as I had hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 Stars!!

Fisher is a big-time chef from NY. He recently got custody of his niece Indy. Their life has been rocky the last couple years, so a summer away at Spunes, Oregon sounds like the perfect plan to get his life back on track. When they arrive, a hysterical situation leads him to finding out that his neighbor is Sage. Sage has lived in Spunes her entire life. She loves the small-town charm and has her own animal farm. The last year for her was also a little rocky because she ended a serious relationship with the towns golden-boy Ian. She wants everyone to forget it ever happened. She plans on competing in the town's festival to have a win in something. The only thing is she doesn't have a partner. However, she did just get a new neighbor who could use a good image to win some of the townspeople over. They create a pact to help one another by competing in the festival for sage, and fake dating to hopefully get the townspeople to like Fisher more. The more time they spend together, the harder it gets to tell if they're truly faking or if something is beginning between the two of them.

I loved this read! I truly wanted to savor each part of it. The relationship between Fisher and Indy pulled at my heart throughout the entire story. This story had a beautiful way of showing how grief can come in waves. Also, I truly adored Fisher and Sage. They got to know each other when they were both broken, and still loved one another fully.

I highly recommend this book!