withholding review in solidarity with the SMP boycott. (one star because I had to star rate it in order to submit this review)

This was my first book by Tara DeWitt and I loved it! This book was truly so sweet and comforting. Fisher was such a relatable character and Sage was so hopeful and caring they were truly a perf match. I loved all the animals Sage had in her farm especially the baby goats. Indy was funny, and endearing and all the side characters from the town were crafted really well. I loved the ending of this book because it truly felt like a reassuring hug. So many beautiful and important moments to take and hold on from this book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It started very slowly and the real action only kicked in at around 50%. While I liked the premise and overall themes, I felt that the characters weren’t as fleshed out as I wanted them to be. It was difficult to get attached to them because I didn’t really know who they were. Ultimately I liked the book, it just was lacking on a few key things.

Savor It by Tara Dewitt

There are SO many elements within this book that I love but sadly this one fell a little flat for me. I struggled to really get into this book until about the 60+% mark. I felt that the overall relationship between the FMC and MMC needed to have a little bit more development and depth. I liked them both individually but I felt together as a couple they were lacking a bit of that spark for a good portion of the book.

Read if you like:
- dual POV
- main characters in the 30s
- small town romance

In a post-COVID world where burnout is a real thing, Savor It by Tarah DeWitt captures this phenomenon in a rom-com that addresses burnout, finding your place, and savoring the little things in life.

What I liked: This book addresses real issues of losing your passions, which many romance books gloss over. These characters are so real, but they truly shine in their communication. Their communication is honest and open to the point you have to ask: why hasn’t my partner done this?!?! The characters are so unique without being over-the-top, which in a book like this is easy to do. DeWitt has written a book for every millennial out there trying to find who they are in a safe environment.

To keep in mind: There are some parts of this book that are a little slow, but are necessary to the plot.

Rating: 4 ⭐️ This book is honest, but where it truly shines in the dialogue. Dewitt’s book feels fresh with some spice and a lot of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

2.5 rounded up 💫🫢 this just didn’t do it for meeee🫣

✨friends with benefits to lovers
✨small town romance
✨single uncle?
✨he’s a disgraced chef, she’s a farmer? I think?
✨audio narration was well done!!
✨little spicy

I finished this yesterday and didn’t write a review because I needed more time to think on it, but now the problem is I already forgot everything there is to know. Probably because I didn’t feel like much at all happened? And what did happen I didn’t really care for 🤷🏻‍♀️ I enjoyed the beginning, I enjoyed the end! But meeehh on everything in between!

Contemporary rom com dual point of view small town grumpy sunshine with some spice. LOVED this book. I enjoyed all the characters but the leads were especially delightful. Their budding relationship and how it progressed was believable. The male lead was gruff but then the sweetest hottest book boyfriend. The female lead was quirky and fun. Their chemistry was fantastic and there were several open door scenes. Rather than being graphic they were quite lovely and almost poetic (but still spicy). I will definitely be looking for other books from this author.

Essentially, I thought Savor It was charming and had lots of pluses but it didn’t quite gel for me. What initially attracted to me to try this author was the solid plot concept - the forced proximity of a small town girl and a big city chef with career issues. As the story progressed, I particularly enjoyed the delightful personalities of Sage’s animals, Sage’s affinity for gardening, and Fisher navigating his relationship with his teenage niece. I was impressed, even before the story started, by the acknowledgement of triggers. The unique placement was appreciated.

On the other side of the coin, there were things that kept me from really falling into the story. Holes in the backstory affected understanding the problems in Fisher’s career, the guardianship, as well as the relevance of Sage being a teacher. Sage and Fisher’s developing relationship- the timeline, pacing, their chemistry – seemed uneven.

Overall, lots of potential but too much crammed into the mix.



FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! I loved the theme about making each day count. The ending really hit it out of the park. Overall a great read with quirky and fun characters that I found myself drawn to and not wanting to put down.

I love Tarah’s books and Savor It is no exception. She writes beautiful characters who show their flaws and all. Seeing what Sage and Fisher go through together and separately to be together in the end is a beautiful story. I loved all the side characters, meddling townspeople a la Gilmore Girls, are a favorite of mine.

This was my first Tarah Dewitt book and it will not be my last! I loved this one! I’d heard so many good things about funny feelings, but hadn’t read it. Now I must!
This is a sweet romance set in a small town in Washington. Sage and Fisher are such SWEET incredible main characters. I really enjoyed both of them. This book may also have you shedding a few tears but in the best way!

A few of the tropes:
🐢Slow Burn
🧑🏼‍🍳 Culinary Romance
🏡 Small Town Setting

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book! It comes out May 21 so pre-order your copy now!

This was cute! I loved that it made fun of small towns while very much being a small town romance. The ending and the boat race felt quite rushed compared to the rest of the book. And I felt that Indy was there more as a prop and convenient excuse to influence the plot rather than being a fleshed out character.

This is one of those books that’s fun and entertaining while you read it, but will most likely forget in a month 🙈. It’s a feel-good, heartwarming story that’s perfect for summer.

I enjoyed the small town setting with their small town traditions. I liked the beginning of Sage and Fisher’s relationship and the deal they made to help each other, but it’s a SLOW burn. The author did a fabulous job though building up the tension!

This book will definitely make you laugh. Between the dialogue (I love when characters are sarcastic), ALL the animals, and the events that happen, you’ll be smiling the whole time. I sure had some good laughs with these quirky people!

I received a copy of this for my honest review

Our MMC has lost his job, and Michelin Star in NYC, after he goes on a downward spiral of passionlessness towards work. He ends up with an offer to help his old bosses new restaurant in Spunes, OR, along with his niece, that he is raising. His rental happens to be neighbors to our FMC. She is a local teacher, who has been told she is too nice. It might not help that she adopted a bunch of strays and orphaned animals. She tries to help him acclimate to the small town life. But one day he ends up coming to her rescue when she freezes up at seeing her ex with his new girlfriend. They decide that they could both benefit from a fake date situation. It helps him look good to the town and she gets a partner for the local festival.

title: Savor It

author: Tarah DeWitt

publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

publication date: May 21, 2024

pages: 336

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: death pf parents (off-page), grief, career burnout, bodily injury (off-page)

summary: Sage, who has a menagerie of pets and a simple, if overly solitary life, meets Fisher, who's renting the neighbor's house for the summer while he tsakes a career reset (Michelin-starred chef who's lost his mojo) and a personal reset (uncle to Indie, who is grieving the loss of her mother and is frustrated by Fisher who didn't take her on after his sister's/ Indie's mother's untimely/unexpected death. Together, Sage learns to think bigger and Fisher learns to love cooking again, but he needs to go back to his life in NYC, where Indie wants bigger things than the rural West Coast town has to offer.

tropes:

cooking
strange pets
intrusive family
small town/big city
unexpected parenting
can't avoid the ex
sulky teenager
she loves puns
not ready to follow her dreams

what I liked:

Maybe because I recently watched season two of The Bear (highly recommend), I was all-in on the food preparation. In fact, he makes an omelet eggactly (sorry, couldn't resist) the way Sydney does on the show.
She small-town vibes.
Indie is a great character, so is her duck.
Fun protective brothers.
Funny animals.
 All past heartache made sense.

what I didn’t like: N/A

overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)

This was my first book by Tarah and I thought it was good! I had a hard time with the relationship between Sage and Fischer, I think it all happened a little too fast for me, and so I couldn’t get into it. I liked the characters, it was just their romance I did not click with.

I love the setting of this story, and that it's a small town, what small town meddling side characters, and I liked that Safe had so many animals, it was all so fun.

Thanks to St Martin’s Griffin for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

It’s rare I rate a romcom five stars but this one just had everything I’m looking for. It definitely reminded me of the best of Christina Lauren. Both main characters are a little broken and dealing with grief, finding purpose and a little bit of loneliness. They’re both coping in their own way. What I really loved was they had instant chemistry but didn’t fall right into bed or fall right in love. They were likable and the story progression was believable. Their banter was great and their interactions were never cringey. Both characters had agency over their choices and made them with their own best interests in mind. There were animals galore and library love… what more do you need in a romcom. Definitely read this one if you need a boost of serotonin.

3.5 stars.

Loved the premise and the setting (PNW?! Sold) and the characters. Sage is such a great character, and I think Fisher's experiences and personality adds a nice dynamic. The development and connection wasn't as dynamic as I had hoped. I really wanted to know more about Sage's ventures on the farm and the market and putting together floral bouquets. I was also super intrigued about Fisher's comeback to the restaurant scene and his repaired relationship with Indy. But everything stayed a little too surface level. Because it was a solid read, I give it 3.5 overall.

FAKE DATING!! Say no more!! I was immediately hooked! This was my first Tarah DeWitt book and I will be adding her entire backlist to my TBR. Not only was this an incredibly funny read - but there were SO many swoon worthy quotes!! I absolutely loved the setting of the book - I felt fully immersed into Sage and Fisher's Life and want to spend endless amount of hours in their town.

I read "Savor It" by Tarah DeWitt on NetGalley. I really enjoyed reading this romance book. The main characters, Sage & Fisher, are easy to root for, and the other characters are just as well portrayed. This would make a perfect summer read!