Having lost a Michelin Star and creating a scene while working at his NYC restaurant, Fisher knows he needs to take a break from the kitchen and go back to the beginning and find why he loved cooking. He and his neice head west to a small town in Oregon and stay at an Airbnb as he helps get a new restaurant off the ground. When he meets Sage, he is not prepared for how much she will affect him. Bold, genuine, and unapologetically honest, Sage captures Fisher's attention. Her zeal for life begins to bring him back to life and give him inspiration for the kitchen. As they grow closer, they realize the chemistry between them is undeniable, but the reality of a relationship is non-existent. Agreeing to be friends with benefits for the summer until Fisher leaves, they have fun. But what will happen when it's time to leave, and their attraction is too great?

3 ⭐ it was okay!

Narrators: Karissa Vacker and Zachary Webber
Length: 9 hours and 5 minutes

Thank you so much Macmillan Audio, Tarah DeWitt, Netgalley, for the gifted #Audio and #ARC #MacAudio2024 🎧

I loved these narrators! Full of emotion and entertainment. It was easy to follow along and engage with the story. I did read the beginning on my kindle but truly think the audio was a much better experience. Was this my favorite from this author? No but still okay :)

So what did I enjoy?
- I have always enjoyed the way Tarah creates and sets the characters. They are relatable, funny, honest, and entertaining.
- Small town romance
- Good communication
- Heart tugging moments

What could have been better?
- The love story felt a bit forced and not natural? Almost like an insta love attraction that they just fed into because of the proximity. I just did not feel the connection between the main characters. Everything was pushing them together but I just didnt get the attraction and love. They were great separately but together: meh.
- What was that ending??? It just did not make sense to me.

Please check trigger warnings!!!

Read if you like:
👢small town romances
👢slow burn
👢funn moments
👢grumpy x sunshine

After reading about 25% of this one, and consistently picking up any other book other than this one, I'm throwing in the towel. I cannot make myself care about these characters or this story.

This was my first book by Tarah DeWitt and I am looking forward to reading more by this author. There were parts of this novel that felt a little slow, but once I got through the book to the end, I realized they were needed. I really enjoyed the development between Fisher and Sage. I was unexpectedly emotional at certain parts of the story as well. Overall, the small town aspect plus the town gossips and the path Sage and Fisher take through life really had me enjoying the story.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tarah never misses 😤 Such a soft and tender story about love and the different ways to have a fulfilling life

Thanks so much to St Martin Griffin for my copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

“Sometimes courage is just quietly trying again.”

Ok I’m not sorry but I literally cried I loved this book so much. I don’t know if it was the right place right time or whatever, I. Loved. It.

Tarah takes the idea of living in the moment and creates a story so compelling you just can’t put it down. I loved Fisher. He was messy and broken when we met him, and all the more real because of it. A disgraced chef struggling with so much, Fisher is an incredible MMC who finds kindness and hope and contentment in the little things despite the rough hand he’s been dealt.

I also loved Sage. A school teacher with way too much history wrapped into the small town around her, she embraces life to the fullest and comes into her own now that someone (see: Fisher) is finally encouraging her to be herself. I loved her heart, how she was so kind and supportive of everyone around her, and how she had to come to terms with the idea that she also needed to be kind and supportive of herself.

I loved this story because it was imperfect but perfect. We were given a small town with multiple library scenes, hand clenches, banter, and lots of sage advice. Not everything is wrapped up with the perfect little bow, but it didn’t need to be. (There is an HEA so please don’t misunderstand that lol.) It just reminded the reader that even when life goes to sh!t, you can still find hope/happiness in it when you have it all rooted in the right place.

Another cute, laugh out loud funny, swoon-worthy romance from Tarah Dewitt. Her books are always so easy to read and just plain enjoyable and this was no different. The chemistry between Fisher and Sage is off the charts and their connection is so authentic. Then throw in all the funny side characters and animals. It’s the perfect combination!

3.5 stars! This book was exactly what you want from a small town romance. I enjoyed the way the setting itself played a role in the story, and how the characters have the trope of coming from two different worlds: one a big city guy and one a small town gal. I enjoyed the way that the characters interact and how my favorite tropes are used: friends to lovers and fake dating to real feelings. I definitely really enjoyed this story. I think the thing that was missing for me was more time to establish the relationship. I felt like at first the pace was slower, but then I felt it pick up in a way that felt disjointed to me. Overall I really enjoyed this one and will definitely recommend it

My first Tarah Dewitt and I absolutely loved every single thing about this god damn book. I listened to it on audio and the narration was PERFECT and these characters were FUNNY and STUPID and SILLY and PERFECTLY IMPERFECT and all! of! the! animals! And Fisher! And Sage! And Sam! And Indy!

Excellent. Heartwarming. Sweet. Steamy. Wonderful. I’m obsessed with it gimme 14 more of em immediately.

This was a cute book! I wish it delved a little deeper into the feelings that Sage and Fisher had about things other than one another, and maybe touched on their grief a little more, but it was a cute book. I would've enjoyed hearing more about the town and townspeople, though I feel like maybe it's setup so there will be more of these books? Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This was a really fun and cute summer read!

However, I did have issues with the pacing and the “plot.” The plot in the blurb is not the plot we get in the book, and the pacing felt weird to me. The basis of the “blurb” didn’t even happen until 50% in! This has been a reoccurring issue in Dewitt’s books for me, so I don’t think I’ll be picking up another one of her books.

This is a sweet story about knowing and choosing yourself and what you want out of life. The romance and connection was lovely. I'm excited that this is the start of a series.

Audio Review: Zachary Webber does a terrific job with Fisher's perspective of this book too! Karissa Vacker is one of my favorites and knocks it out of the park with Sage's chapters.

Savor It by Tarah DeWitt started off really strong, the opening scene was super funny and engaging, which gave me high hopes for the rest of the book. Unfortunately, the remainder of the story fell a bit flat and definitely didn't live up to the hijinks of the opening chapter. The story takes place in a really cute town called Spunes, Oregon (pronounced like Spoons), which was cute because cooking plays a large role in the storyline. It's about big time New York City chef whose sister recently passed and he now has responsibility for his teenage niece, and due to his grieving ends up losing his Michelin star and desire to cook. He goes from NYC to Oregon to take a break and consult on a new restaurant opening. As luck would have it, his neighbor Sage is spunky, fun, and up for the challenge of trying to help him turn his life around.

I think my expectations for this were just too high. When Tarah was first posting about it, I was obsessed with the aesthetic of the setting and vibes in her Instagram posts. It seemed like one I would really love, but honestly there wasn’t anything truly gripping about this to me. I did the audiobook for this one and really enjoyed both narrators which is a major plus. In one sense, it was a really easy and comforting listen. On the other hand, I just wasn't super invested in their relationship and was slightly bored. I don't know if it was the writing, not connecting with the characters, or the weird pacing. Tarah's books have been very hit or miss for me. I was a big fan of Funny Feelings. I am looking forward to the next book and to see how the rewrites of her previous books may change my opinions on them, but unfortunately this one just didn't quite do it for me.

Seeing all the 5 star ratings, and with it being set in a coastal Oregon town (I'm from Oregon) I was expecting to LOVE this one. Unfortunately, I only liked this one. I did love Sage and Fisher, and there were some bright spots that I really related to, particularly about grief.

“I…I think I keep my world small so I don’t feel insignificant in it.”

Spunes, OR is completely fictional (which of course is totally fine)--but unfortunately I didn't feel the Oregon Coast vibes with this one AT ALL. I have family there and have spent countless days at the Oregon Coast. I read this book while on vacation at the coast and it just...didn't hit the vibe I wanted.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Um WOW!! This was my first Tara Dewitt book and it did not disappoint!!!!!! It was fantastic, loved the story, the characters, all of it! Can’t wait to read more by Tara!

Savor It is a sweet and spicy romance about a down on his luck chef moving for the summer to a small town with his niece. He meets the beautiful neighbor, integrates into the town and learns to love again. Yes, its basically a Hallmark movie with spice and I am absolutely here for it. I loved the characters and the story, the side characters and their stories, and the ending was great. I was not a fan of the epilogue because it left me wanting a lot more, so hopefully that means there will be a lot more coming in this small town and with these brothers of Sage.

SAVOR IT
By Tarah DeWitt

Slow Burn romance
Small town
Grumpy/Sunshine
Swoony romance

I thought this was such a beautiful story about trauma and loss - so much love for this couple Fisher and Sage to get to their HEA. I loved the journey and a new author to me to read all the backlist.

I always want to start my reviews by thanking the author and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book early. I thought this was a very well written story. I highly enjoyed it!

This small-town romance is perfect for summer! Sage and Fisher shared a swoon-worthy story filled with many romantic moments. This is a great summer read. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.