Reading a Tarah Dewitt book again felt so good! Her books are always heartfelt, emotional yet funny! This one was no different and I LOVED it! Strangers to friends to lovers who are also neighbours? And he is the guardian to his teenage niece? And a fun small town?! Chef’s kiss! (Which is perfect cause the MMC is a chef!) can’t wait to read the sequel (leggy of forever) and ready to get my heart wrecked again!

Overall, my experience with this new Spunes novel was a total delight. It's the kind of book that leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling long after you turn the final page. If you're looking for a charming small-town romance with engaging characters, witty dialogue, and a satisfying blend of humor and heart, then you absolutely need to add this one to your TBR pile. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

I knew from pretty early on that I was going to love this book- there isn't anything about it that I didn't like- Fisher's relationship with his neice and how that develops, Sage & Wren's friendship and even Indy and the goose!!!! Especially Sage & Fisher though were just exactly what eachother needed and the ending destroyed me

I had heard good things about this book and was looking forward to it after enjoying Funny Feelings, but I couldn't get into this one. There was too much backstory in the first few chapters and I really didn't care about the characters enough yet.

4.5 🌟

I loved this small-town romance filled with heart, humor, and heat. I related to Sage so much - including her puns and quirks as well as her soft girl soul - and found both her and Ellis to be such lovable characters. I appreciated how real they felt, the ways in which they supported each other, and their commitment to staying true to themselves.

This is my second book by Tarah and her writing has only gotten better. The prose was beautiful at times and the banter was well-written. I'm SO excited to read Left of Forever and return to this world!

**3-Star Review of *Savor It* (A Spunes Novel) by Tarah DeWitt**

*Savor It* by Tarah DeWitt is a lighthearted and sweet romance that centers around food, relationships, and finding love when you least expect it. The story follows the protagonist, who is navigating her career, family expectations, and romantic interests, all while trying to make a name for herself in the food industry. The premise is enjoyable, and the setting—focused on food—adds a flavorful charm to the narrative.

DeWitt’s writing is engaging and filled with warmth, and the romance is cute, though a bit predictable. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, but at times, the story feels a little too familiar, following many of the typical beats found in romance novels. The pacing is generally smooth, but there are moments where the plot slows down, leaving the story feeling a bit repetitive.

While the main characters are likable, some of the secondary characters and plotlines feel underdeveloped, and the emotional stakes never quite reach the depth that would make the story more impactful. The focus on food adds a unique touch, but it could have been explored in more creative or meaningful ways.

Overall, *Savor It* is a fun, easy read for fans of sweet romances with a food-centric twist. It’s not particularly groundbreaking, but it offers enough charm and warmth to keep readers entertained. It’s a perfect choice for those looking for a cozy, feel-good romance, but it lacks the depth and originality to make it stand out in the genre.

"Savor It" follows Sage Byrd, a small-town local whose ex's sudden engagement makes her the target of Spunes, Oregon's pity. When former NYC chef Fisher Lange arrives with his teenage niece to open a restaurant, the unlikely neighbors strike a deal: she'll help him win over the town, and he'll be her competition partner. What begins as a strategic alliance quickly simmers into something deeper as summer races by.

Sage is an animal lover with a big heart, that has recently been broken. Fisher is a Michelin-starred chef learning how to balance his new responsibilities as guardian of his teenage niece with his career. When Fisher is sent to the small town of Spunes to support a new restaurant opening, he ends up living next door to Sage—and I bet you won't guess what happens next. ;)

This was such a quick read for me. Though the romance leans toward insta-love, which isn't typically my favorite trope, I still enjoyed the storyline and the charming small-town atmosphere. The characters were fun and engaging, and it's clear this will likely become a series, or at least have a sequel, based on some of the side storylines that were developed.

I'd recommend "Savor It" as a cute beach read for fans of the Lovelight series by B.K. Borison and anyone who enjoys small-town romances with a dash of cooking, competition, and healing hearts.

4.5 stars!🌟

Reading this book felt like glittery sunset magic.
Tarah DeWitt’s writing manages to capture the heartwarming coziness of a hallmark movie, but adds in authenticity, vulnerability, and humor.
This book pulled on my heartstrings, made me laugh, and made me SWOON. I love a book with no miscommunication in it. Thank you SO much for that!

If you’re not already enticed enough, here’s some quotes:
“You’re all my favorite colors…”
“It’s been a privilege to fall in love with you…”
“I think your laugh could maybe defibrillate me.”

This book was one of my first reads of 2025. The characters arcs in this book were masterfully done. Sage and Fischer were complicated people trying to overcome life’s difficulties . She does a wonderful job of weaving their journey of resilience into the plot of her books. I am looking forward to her follow up books in this series.

For a lot of this book, I was reading and thinking to myself "okay, it's enjoyable but I don't get why people are raving about it." The last 80 pages or so had me, though, and while I still wouldn't say I love it as much as others, I definitely fell for Sage and Fisher in that end as they fell deeply in love and worked together and cared for one another all while dreading the end date. I do love a small town and the characters in Spunes make it loveable. Fisher dealing with burnout and anxiety in his career, and learning how to parent his niece while they're both grieving. Sage learning to trust her talents while teaching him to enjoy the now. Gary the goose imprinting on Indy. A three legged cat named Legoless. So many quirky little details I really did enjoy when I'm thinking back. I'm not sure I would necessarily want to reread this one, but if we someday get a second chance romance for Wren and Ellis, I certainly would to prepare for a return to Spunes because I want their story.

Savor It was a truly enjoyable read that blended humor, heart, and a sprinkle of steam. While it doesn’t top my list of favorite fake-dating romances, it still delivered plenty of warm, fuzzy moments and had me laughing out loud more than once.

The small-town charm was strong in this one—from cozy community vibes to adorable animal side characters—and the overall cast was well-developed. The standout for me was absolutely Fisher. His POV was the highlight of the book; he’s the kind of book boyfriend that sets the bar high. Thoughtful, funny, and just emotionally in tune—if any guy wants to study up, this is your textbook.

Indy, surprisingly, was another favorite. Teen characters can sometimes be overly angsty or irritating, but she was such a well-balanced addition to the story. Her reactions felt real and grounded, and even her more "teenage" moments added depth rather than drama. I really appreciated the nuance in her character.

Sage was... fine. I didn’t dislike her, but I didn’t find myself especially drawn to her POV either. She had some tender, reflective moments, but whenever it was her chapter, I was low-key counting the pages until Fisher took the mic again.

The romance itself had a nice emotional foundation, and the spicy scenes were well-written, but I did feel like there was a bit of a lull in the middle where the chemistry lost some of its spark. The pacing dragged just a touch, and I wished for more romantic tension leading into the finale. That said, the ending wrapped things up beautifully—truly a “chef’s kiss” finish.

I also listened to this via audiobook, and while the narrators did a great job (especially with character voices), the audio production itself could’ve used a little more polish. There were some jarring scene transitions that made it hard to track time jumps or shifts, which pulled me out of the story occasionally.

All in all, Savor It is a heartfelt, charming romance with characters worth rooting for. It might not be a top-tier fake dating favorite for me, but it’s definitely worth the read (or listen, with a little patience for the audio quirks).

I really wish I had enjoyed this because I love small town romances, but it felt too cliche to me and the writing was difficult for me to retain interest! I found the characters a bit annoying and unable to really bond with.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc and Tarah Dewitt for letting me read this!

EVERYONE NEEDS TO EEAD THIS IMMEDIATELY!!!


At first this was slow for me but I loved it so much! So many good quotes in this book
Sage is my favorite

Small town
Lost of animals
Friends to lovers
Fake dating
Slow burn
Grumpy x sunshine

The ending was so cute!!! I didn’t think we would get a happy ending but we did.
I loved seeing fisher and Indy relationship grow!

I appreciate how well they talked about grief in this book

I absolutely devoured this book! Sage and Wren are delightfully quirky, and their personalities add so much flavor to the story. Honestly, it’s my life goal to be like Sage—with her animals and her wonderfully chaotic energy. And don’t even get me started on the pirate fixation—I ate it up!
One of my favorite things about this book is how self-aware the characters are. Instead of ignoring their past hurts, they actually acknowledge and work through them, which is so refreshing. I especially loved that Fisher wasn’t afraid to go to therapy with Indy—it made his growth feel so real.
The humor and puns throughout the book were perfectly seasoned, but the goose and Indy? Absolutely iconic. And the scene where Sage shares the pure, unfiltered truth about herself with Indy was breathtaking—it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, realizing you were about to fall because someone else was so unabashedly honest.

The romance itself was a slow burn, like a simmer pot. The time apart between them was heart-wrenching, and I barely survived it. But the library rescue? That had me ready to faint.

This book was a recipe for perfection and deserves all the Michelin stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

Some mild to moderate spice. Found family. Small town romance.

I loved the added background of the animals and farm.

I do wish there had been more of the festival and market and actual restaurant prep and cooking. It seemed like lots of things were teased on but could have added more depth to the story.

No miscommunication trope, just characters trying to find what brings them peace.

Overall a sweet love story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the love story of Sage and Fisher. They both have gone through major loss in their lives. Fisher is raising his niece after the loss of his sister. He has also had upheaval in his career as a chef. Sage just got out of a five year relationship and wants everyone in the town to stop pitying her.
The way they fall in love by helping each other and just getting to know each other without any expectations. They try for a Summer fling, but they end up actually falling in love. There goodbye at the end of the Summer is heartbreaking. I almost cried during Fisher’s chapter when he gets back to New York. The way he is with Indy is also an endearing relationship.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook. The narrators did a great job. I enjoyed having a female and male narrator.

It’s not very good is it? Two ppl raising thier never and nephew that have a summer fling? Atleast make it interesting

I was so scared to read this one because the hype for it is so real among my friends. They had me nervous as I went in with such high expectations. Nailed it. No need to worry because this book was giving!

Fisher and Sage's story was beautiful. I adored the location, animals, and side characters. It was a steady emotional ride. "I think your laugh could maybe defibrillate me"-swoon that might be the best line l've ever read.

Savor It | Tarah DeWitt
Grumpy big-city chef gets more than he bargained for from the small town and its resident free-spirited animal lover.

What do you expect from a penis-shaped observatory restaurant? People are gonna talk, especially in a small town, and they stick their noses right into Fisher’s business when he shows up for the summer to prepare for launch. Juggling his own grief and frustration and looking for inspiration, he struggles to find the balance between creativity, security and guardianship over his niece, Indy. Just across the meadow is Sage and her menagerie of quirky farm residents (devoted goose, dopey dog, cranky three-legged cat, etc.) and while she doesn’t set out to wreck his plans, maybe she is the perfect storm of chaos he’s been looking for. They start the summer with separate challenges to face, but how will it end?

Sage is everything to everyone except herself. Full of doubt and insecurity, she opens her world wider and wider, truly showing up for everyone. She finds delight in almost everything – and it takes Fisher reflecting her joy for her to realize that this isn’t the weakness she perceives (thanks to a dropkick of an ex who could be related to Meredith in the Parent Trap, Lindsay Lohan edition). Fisher lacks focus and stability, though he is trying to prove and provide that to everyone else – especially Indy and his boss – but it is difficult to stand firm on a broken heart.

I love the way the heat cranks up in such a serene setting. The library?! Under a capsized boat?! The heat is hotting with these two and I am here for it. The pace was a little sluggish for me in the beginning of the story, but I loved the roller-coaster loops at the end (did you know geese bond for life?!) and felt so satisfied with the journey to the resolution. It was not a perfectly spaced staircase to the end, and I LOVED that.

4/5 stars!
Big thanks to St Martin’s Press, NetGalley and Tarah Dewitt for the ARC for review!