Sage is living a good life in Spunes, Oregon and enjoys small town living. She is a huge animal lover and rescues several during the story. All of her animals are a bit special (misfits) but it's one big happy family. Sage is getting over a 5 year relationship and her ex has announced his engagement to another woman.
Fisher has recently gained custody of his niece, Indy, after his sister passes away unexpectedly. Fisher is dealing with grief and trying to figure out how to raise a teenager. He is a chef and sadly his restaurant in New York he has worked at loses a star in a review. His boss makes the call to send him to Spunes for the summer to create a menu for the new restaurant that will open and for him and Indy to get away for a bit while they adjust to a new normal.
Fisher is hitting roadblocks for the new restaurant when he meets Sage, the quirky, beautiful, neighbor who loves to garden with the wild pet crew. Talk about opposites attract energy! The slow burn begins and Sage offers to help him get the town's people's approval if he will join the annual summer race with her as her partner.
Fisher is rowing with Sage to practice for the competition and Sage is happily being Fisher's taste tester for the menu. Neither can deny the attraction any longer and agree to let things happen and flow, but at the end of the 9 weeks they go back to life as it was. Sometimes that's easier said than done. Can they really go back to their old lives without each other? How will Indy take it all? The way those answers are revealed make this a total page turner!
If you love romance, hearts that heal, new beginnings, and see the humor in this thing we call life....this book is perfect for you!

The PERFECT summer read. You will want to pack up and move to the very charming small town that is Spunes. This is a truly lovely romance.

He doesn't fix her and she doesn't heal him, but they love each other wholly. - "He didn't fix me, and I didn't heal him, but we loved each other wholly."

The banter was perfect and actually funny, but what was truly special was the way Fisher and Sage could always be honest with each other. The communication between them was so special.

This book has a bit of everything aside from the romance - grief, humour, family relationships, and a bunch of silly animals. The cast of diverse characters had me reading not only for the main characters but also for all of the small-town charmers.

The epilogue was so different from other books where it is the main couple getting married or engaged, here we get to see everyone in Spunes gathering for a different (happy) reason. This was a sweet surprise!

Read if you like:
- grumpy x sunshine
- small town romance
- farm animals
- next door neighbours
- dual POV
- HEA

oh my god i loved this book.

i have not felt this much over a book in so long. it made me laugh, it made me giddy, it made me cry. my heart was broken and mended all at once. sage and fisher were everything and i am so so glad i had the privilege of reading this book.

tarah dewitt truly popped off with this one. put her heart and soul and sage and marionberries into it.

thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a fun and wholesome small-town romance from Tarah DeWitt!! Sage and Fisher are such a lovely couple and I saw so much of myself in both of them. Sage loves her little town of Spunes, Oregon and the little joys of everyday life, but she’s tired of people pitying her after her ex-boyfriend gets engaged. Fisher is a disgraced Michelin star chef looking to get his fire back and raise his niece, Indy. The two come together over a summer of great food and a local competition and figure out to heal each other’s wounds and savor each moment with each other.
💓“Whenever you think too little of the world, try to remember that somewhere, something, or someone is always waiting to be known.”
💓“He didn’t fix me, and I didn’t heal him, but we loved each other wholly.”
I loved watching their relationship grow and it felt so real! I also loved all the animals and Indy was such a sweet character. The writing got a little choppy at times and I found myself missing information and having to go back and reread sections with the POV changes to make sure I wasn’t missing things, but overall, I really enjoyed the story and how vivid and adorable it was.

3.5 stars rounded up! I enjoyed this one! The characters were likable, the setting was excellent, and I loved the strangers to friends to lovers. I thought that was done super well. Fisher was such a sweet mmc and he was so good to Sage. Ugh he was such a sweetheart. I really loved Sage but I couldn’t connect to her. I wanted to know more about her as a person, etc. She totally got me being an animal lover though 🫶🏼

While I enjoyed their romance, I felt like it was missing something! There was so much description and inner dialogue/thoughts from each MC but not enough actual dialogue between the two. I found that really took me out of the story and had me losing interest from time to time. I also really would’ve loved to see more of Fisher’s job and why he was in Spunes to begin with. I feel like that kind of dropped off once he got there and I really would’ve liked more of that added to the story. Same with him being Indy’s guardian! I honestly just wanted more.

Overall, a really sweet summer romance that had me swooning but just missing a few things for me personally.

This might be my favorite book of the year, so far. I am completely blown away by how much I absolutely loved this book. I could relate so much to Sage, but also with Fisher. These two were so sweet with each other and so gentle with the others heart. I laughed and I cried and I will never forget my time in Spunes. I cannot convey correctly all the feelings this book brought out in me. This deserves all the stars. I can’t wait to have the physical book in my hands!

This was such an adorable, refreshing romance novel! I absolutely loved Sage, the quintessential small town girl. She lives on a farm with some very interesting animals, is a high school teacher, raised by her brothers, and sees the good in absolutely everything.

Fisher is a world renowned Michelin star chef, fresh off being fired while simultaneously trying to raise his 15 year old niece. He moves to Oregon for the summer to “help” his old boss set up a restaurant and get out of New York City. He needs inspiration. He needs rest. What he finds is his next door neighbor Sage, a town to fall in love with, and maybe even a new dream.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. The witty banter and fun animal antics made me laugh. Many of the characters made me feel like I was reading Gilmore Girls -but make it romance.

Thank you Tara DeWitt and St Martin’s Griffin for the advanced copy of this novel out in May.

I had to DNF because the pity party was getting on my nerves.

Also the language in this was odd. I didn’t understand her euphemisms half the time.

I’m sure this book is good for someone but not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah Dewitt, and the publisher for granting access to this book. My review is an honest reflection of my thoughts and feelings.

4.25/5

There were two things that carried throughout the book that I held on to with both hands: savoring it and the permission to be everything you are. Savor it made my nips nervous (IYKYK), my taste buds tingle, and my heart happy. The love story between Sage and Fisher, Sage and Spunes, Indy and the animals, and every other character kept me entirely present the entire time. I NEEEEEED a Spunes collection, right now.

I'm rating this less than 5 stars for one main reason....the last 20% felt like a montage. DeWitt took us into rich detail of the first couple weeks of Fisher and Indy adjusting to their new home and how Sage and Fisher start to develop a relationship. Once they're finally in a relationship, we get a montage of moments and a lot of Sage's internal monologue and are not given the same emotional depth on the page and in conversation as the reader has become accustomed to. We're not pulled back into the rich interactions until Indy and Fisher have their last confrontation, and even that gets cut short to be a summary.

There were so many phenomenal moments and lines in this book surrounding grief, burnout, growth, and love that will stick with me for a long time. For everyone who has ever been too much and still felt like not enough, who wanted to be known and considered, and who try to strengthen their courage muscle every day, I hope you read and enjoy this book.

Thank you to the author and publisher for my copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This cover is quite possibly the most gorgeous cover I’ve seen in a long time. It’s as beautiful as a special edition cover. I also love this author and fell in love with Fisher and Sage. The small town charm and sweeping views of the PNW permeate the pages of this fake dating that isn’t so fake romance.

Synopsis:

“Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She's learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win—something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like...Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Setting—I have yet to visit the PNW in my life and yet I feel like I was made for it. I loved this setting so much. I loved the small town aspect and all the animals. It was so charming.

The Banter—I think the banter is the best part of this book. It was next level good. I found myself smirking and snorting and could hear the characters’ voices so clearly in my head. I look forward to more in this universe!

The Chemistry—Ohhhh I sure did love the chemistry between these characters. Fisher and Sage were adorable and I really loved their connection.

What Didn’t Work:

First Act Pacing—It took me a little bit to get into this book. I think the first act was a little slow but I’m glad I stuck through it because the end had me in a puddle.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Content Warnings:

death of a parent/sibling, grief, fire/fire accident

Tarah Dewitt has quickly become an auto-buy author for me! She does not miss, and this book did not disappoint my very eager expectations. Her characters are relatable and endear themselves to you right off the bat.

Thanks so much for the arc, I will definitely be buying a copy when it is released! 🎉

5 stars! Absolutely obsessed with this adorable rom-com and will be trying to find Tarah Dewitt's backlist immediately as a next step. Truly, it's so hard to find rom-coms that have a balance of romance, comedic relief, and REAL SUBJECT MATTER. The topics covered in his book beyond the fluff were deep and real, and truly relatable. Also, the intimacy between Sage and Fisher was written beautifully. I cried multiple times in this book.

Thanks so much for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars. I thoroughly enjoy DeWitt's ability to make out of the box characters. The small quirks she gives them make them stand out from many of the other romance novels out there. Both Sage and Fisher were incredibly likeable and felt like real people, unfortunately I just didn't believe the spark between them so it kept me from getting fully engrossed in the story. Bonus points for writing in an angsty teenager who added to the story rather than being nothing more than a plot point. I wish we had more scenes between Indy and Fisher and gotten an inside look at their struggles as a newly formed family.

This is a really sweet book, especially if you're a fan of small town romances and cinnamon roll heroes! Tarah is a great writer and one thing I appreciated about this story was the pacing, it really created that feeling that you get from hanging out in a small town where people and life just moves at a lovely, slower pace. Settle in with a cup of tea or coffee and a cozy blanket when you curl up with this book.

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I think it's hard to surprise romance readers but Tarah Dewitt manages to do exactly that. Every time I thought I knew the shape of this story based on the tropes (small town, fake relationship, grumpy/sunshine, etc), it would take a turn I wasn't expecting. It was a thoroughly delightful read!

The writing is beautiful. Sage and Fisher and Indy and all the animals are wonderfully developed and flawed and unique. I had no trouble imagining Spunes thanks to Tarah's perfectly-detailed descriptions. It's steamy while still maintaining a hazy film of privacy (something I imagine is hard to balance). I really wanted to savor all of it.

Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR list immediately!

Tarah DeWitt is a HIT for me, I usually love all her books. Her writing is so special, and I love the uniqueness of all her characters. This one had a lot of talk of animals, which is not something I connect with, so it didn't work for me, but I might still come back and finish it sometime! Still would recommend trying it, as I know several friends who really enjoyed it!

It’s official, if Tarah writes it, I’m going to read it. Am I entering my romance era?!

“It’s been a privilege to fall in love with you.”
I. AM. SOBBING.. While simultaneously giggling and kicking my feet.
I loved this book so much, everything about it is cozy and atmospheric and still so REAL. If I could spend a summer in Spunes, I would. You could probably even convince me to move there. Fisher and Sage were just, chefs kiss 🧑‍🍳 💋🤌
Funny, full of heart, and just the right amount of spice. I preordered the book the SECOND I finished the arc.
Go preorder Savor it! I promise you’ll savor every second. 💕

4.25 stars. I love Tarah Dewitt. it's official. Fisher and Sage are so precious. Their love is so tender. Their connection started so genuinely. I grew up in a small town so I know small towns aren’t actually like this but I so badly wish they were. I LOVE a broody teenager side plot and this delivered.

Wow! This has quickly become one of new favorite romance books of 2024! This book was beyond phenomenal! The characters, setting, emotions, story, and everything in between was so good and excellently crafted. This book made me so emotional and the ending left me in tears! The chemistry between Sage and Fisher, was so good! They stood strong on their own as individual characters and I loved how they brought the best out of each other. Watching Fisher’s relationship with his sister grow was so beautiful and heartwarming! This is the perfect slow burn, small town romance for this summer and I can’t wait for it to release soon!

The Instagram and Goodreads post are now linked and online.

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

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

My goodness this is hands down my favorite book from Tarah Dewitt so far (and yes they have been getting better and better each time).

From the start till the end, I was so incredibly captivated the whole entire time! I could not get enough of the puns/witty banter/cooking/competitiveness/animals/love/small town vibe that this story contained. Sage is such a light throughout the book with all her “Sage Advice” and Fisher was the observant, most perfect character there is. I also enjoyed reading about how Fisher & Indy’s relationship grew throughout the Summer (and her love for Gary).

I appreciated that the miscommunication troupe was not used and that both characters were open & honest with their feelings along the way. I do wish I could have seen more of Fisher’s cooking and his profession as a whole since that was the main reason for him relocating.

I 100% NEED this to become a series about all of Sage’s brothers so we can keep visiting Spunes (*cough cough* Ellis and Wren !!) please!

Overall, if you’re looking for a summer, small town, quick easy, dual POV read with some humor and depth to it - look no further!! You will not regret it.

Can’t wait for the next release by Tarah Dewitt!