Savor It

4.25 ⭐️

Tarah DeWitt is such an amazing writer and I was so excited when I got Savor It on @netgalley! If you haven’t tried her romance books out, run!

Try if you like:
Small town romance
Dual perspectives
Single Uncle (Dad) romance
Heartfelt stories with grief

This book and its characters were beautiful. I loved the quirky town in Oregon full of meddling characters but also big loss that they work through as real people.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

This book was just what I needed when I picked it up! There is a part of me that has always dreamed about living on a farm with rows upon rows of flowers. A life of reading on a wrap-around porch, swinging idly on the porch swing. Of finishing out the day watching the sunset with a glass of wine. *heavy sigh* That would be the life!

Savor It paints a picture of that life and reading about it made my heart so happy.

I am a BIG FAN of the small town romance and this story gave us the quirky side characters and all that country charm. The romance that blooms between Sage and Fisher also made me smile from ear to ear. I really loved to watch their relationship grow, as well as Fisher’s relationship with his niece. There was a lot of heaviness that accompanied this story, with both Sage and Fisher dealing with their own grief over losing loved ones. This piece really tugged on my heartstrings.

Overall, I waffled back and forth over my rating of this. While I really loved the story and the characters (Gary the goose, in particular!), there is a part of me that wanted a bit more Michelin-star cooking and more training for this big town competition. This aspect was hyped up SO MUCH, only to fall flat for me and be over and done in a few pages.

The ending, though, was perfect for me. Though there was a mutual third-act breakup, the realization that they had all made a mistake had me bursting with joy and renewed my love for this story! I was honestly almost full-on sobbing.

This was my first book by this author and I cannot wait to read more by her in the future!

Savor It will be published on May 21, 2024.

Thank you to Tarah DeWitt, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sage Byrd has lived in the small town of Spunes, Oregon her entire life. She loves it there, but it's been difficult since her boyfriend of five years left her and is now engaged to a former friend. Fisher Lange is a rising chef in New York City who just lost a Michelin star and his job along with it. He also recently took custody of his niece Indy after his sister Freya passed away. He comes to Spunes to help open a new restaurant and hopefully get his job back when he comes home. It’s supposed to be temporary, but things rarely turn out how they’re planned.

This book was adorable. Such a fun and easy read. Perfect for anyone looking for a small town romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins for the ARC!

Talk about the right book at the right time! I felt almost like I was going into a reading slump and starting to read slow this month . However , when I got this it had to be the perfect timing because I COULD NOT put it down! This book at me swooning one minute and the next chapter I am almost having tears! The banter and little grumpy sunshine was done so perfectly well. I absolutely loved Sage’s personality and character through out the entire book. Let me tell you though , Fisher Lange wow what a man. I absolutely loved his character growing through out this story. I clearly cannot put into words how much I absolutely adore this book! Oh and the Library scene ! 🤤 Thank you again NetGalley!

This is my first Tarah Dewitt novel, and she is now an auto-read author for me! She brought the reader into the heart of Spunes; I fell in love with the small town vibe and Sage’s many animals. The romance between Fisher & Sage was beautifully executed. I do wish Fisher & Indy had gotten to talk through more of Indy’s grief and her feelings of being unwanted, but I can understand that it wasn’t the main focus of the book.

Full review will be posted on Goodreads closer to publishing date!

Savor It is a small town romantic comedy between a quirky teacher and a big city chef who is struggling to raise his teenage niece. I found myself getting attached to Sage and Fisher very early on in the book, which doesn’t happen too often.
The first meeting between Fisher and Sage is one of the funniest meet cutes that I have ever read about. It is his first night at the new house, and Indy hears what she thinks is an intruder moving around downstairs. She wakes up Fisher, and he calls 911. Turns out, it was a vacuum set to clean the house at 4am. The cops, who happen to be Sage’s brothers, arrive and hilarity ensues. Sage is his neighbor, and she knows her brothers are on shift, so she comes over to “save” Fisher from her brothers.
Though they both know they are in love, they will not admit it out loud because their romance has a time limit on it. Fisher promised Indy that they would return to New York at the end of summer, and he feels like he can’t let her down anymore. He also doesn’t feel worthy of love. This leads to so many back and forths, from the dual POVs. Reading the progression of their feelings had me cheering them on.

Really sweet beautiful love story about healing and finding true happiness. Would definitely recommend to anyone who’s in love with small town romances!

Thank you St. Martins for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Yeah, this book was fantastic.

Couple of things that were my favorite;
1. 3 legged cat named Legolass
2. Gary
3. As a horse girl, Bud was a lovely addition to any book
(the theme here is the animals, I loved the animals)

Sage was a great FMC she was charming and sweet and lovable and it never felt forced for her to be the way she was.
The topics of healing and grief were added in and told really well imo. I also found it to be remarkably accurately on small town living both suffocating and amazing all at once while also being wholly misunderstood by anyone on the outside of it.

This romance was slow but stead, beautiful and sweet. Also v sexy.
I lost it when the journal was read at the end, and that sealed the deal for me on the final rating being 5 stars. I am hoping a Silas book mayhap be in our future? or MAYHAP A REUNION BETWEEN TWO PARTICULAR PARTIES???? HMMMM???

Definitely recommend this book, I did have to google some of the culinary terms but that's okay.

I would like to move to Spunes please. I loved this book so much. Sage and Fisher are everything. So much pining and longing throughout but ultimately trying to make the best of a situation and savor it while they can. P.S. the animals in this book should be considered main characters.

Small town romances never miss! I had so much fun reading this book!! I really enjoyed reading Sage and Fisher falling in love with each other. They were so PERFECT. The writing was great and some of the quotes had me blushing and giggling. The side characters were so loveable and I’m really hoping we get books for Sage’s brothers (please I need them)!! Also special shoutout to Sage’s animals! I want a little farm too!

The beginning of the book was a little slow and I wish Indy’s character would’ve been more developed but other than that it was so good! This book is worth the read and I would definitely recommend it if you like small town/grumpy x sunshine romance!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I will not be posting a public review until St. Martin's press addresses the publicity boycott demands that can be found here: https://r4a.carrd.co/

I may be in the minority with this book, but I didn't really enjoy it. It had all the makings of a great concept - a woman from a small town with Hallmark-ish vibes and a chef from the big city coming to town with his niece that he's caring for. There was a slow start to the book, and then the plot never really picked up. The author focused more on providing background information and setting the scene, but didn't provide a ton of dialogue or interaction between the characters. I wanted more talking and less description.

“it’s been a privilege to fall in love with you”

THIS BOOK!!!! I’ll keep shouting about it from the rooftops because I love it so much! 😭

May I recommend….he’s a hot chef. I don’t feel like that needs any more convincing.🧑🏼‍🍳

Sage and Fisher have such a patient and slow love which is, in my opinion, the best kind. I absoluetly loved the small town setting of Spunes, Oregon and how quirky and fun everyone was! I felt so immersed in the town and the characters and Tarah has some of the best descriptions!

This book also focuses on some heavier topics such as grief, career burnout, and finding what it means to be alive. I found this to be one of the best aspects of the book, because it was done with such care and felt so real. I really was rooting for them both together and separately!

I just don’t have enough good things to say about this book honestly and I now need everyone to read it!! UGH! I get so giddy just thinking about it!

🛶🌅read if you enjoy:
- grumpy x sunshine
- hot chefs
- small coastal town setting
- dual POV
- all the summer feels
- characters who go to therapy
- friends to benefits to lovers

SAGE AND FISHER ARE EVERYTHING TO ME! Okay that’s all!

I have been irrevocably changed by Spunes. I know this story will be one I continually go back to when I need a little reminder of all the sage advice tucked into its pages. Reminders to be present in all things, make the most out of life wherever you’re at, and that a simple life doesn’t mean a small life if it brings you happiness.

I cried through the last 50 or so pages and I feel I need to find my Spunes (which hopefully there’s also a hot chef waiting for me). Savor It not only brought tears, but also laughs and butterflies - I truly never wanted it to end and I tried my best to savor every last word. I read the entirety of Savor It for the first time in May 2023 (reading bits and pieces of it previously), but it doesn’t matter how many times I’ve read it I still find myself getting lost in the story. I swear Tarah gets better with each and every story.

Tarah has this innate ability to put your deepest, darkest feelings into words in a way you never thought possible. The multi-faceted characters she develops allows every reader to see a piece of themselves in each of her stories. I related equally to both Sage and Fisher throughout - so much so it was like Tarah’s words revealed a portion of myself I didn’t know was there.

The stories Tarah creates are highly relatable, deep, and soul touching while also giving levity throughout. Something I find truly masterful and rare in the literary space today. You’ll find yourself swooning, melting, laughing, and even shedding a few tears here and there (or a lot). Each novel is a well rounded, masterpiece that every reader should pick up.

But don’t let the deeply moving stories fool you, you will still find exquisite spice throughout each. Spice that has the ability to make you blush, but also tear up in a way you didn’t think possible. I’ll be shocked if she doesn’t surpass the likes of Emily Henry within the contemporary romance space.

Savor It broke my heart and put it back together in such a way I didn’t think was possible. It was a privilege getting to read this story since its inception, and it was a privilege getting to fall in love with Sage, Fisher, Indy, Spunes, and the menagerie of animals and local townspeople.

This one comes out May 21 and you really don’t want to miss it!

Fun things you’ll find in Spunes:
💜 strangers to friends to lovers
👨🏻‍🍳 yes, chef
🏡 small town (full of puns)
🪿 Gary the goose
🛶 canoe canoodling
📚 stolen kisses between the library stacks
✨ a mutually beneficial arrangement
🩷 only for the summer
✌🏻 dual pov

This is a case of right book wrong time for me. I started and struggled twice with this book and figure that it's best not to force it. The cover is lovely. It is going to be a great read for someone else.

4.5 stars

I had seen this reviewed on Instagram and have been in a bit of a slump and it sounded like the perfect book to pull me out of it and it was! I really enjoyed reading this book and my time spent in this world. The MC is such a great one and the romantic interest is a man that is flawed but still dreamy.

I'm really hoping we get another book with Wren!

Highly recommend for all, especially if you like Abby Jimenez/Christina Lauren!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for my review.

I loved this Gilmore Girls coded open door romance. Big city man and small town girl, and they know it's temporary.
Uncle raising teenage niece.
Fiercely supportive of each other's goals. There's Sage, who brings Lorelai level sass but not the coffee induced speed talking, Fisher, who is so perfectly grumpy Luke...and even Rory and Jess (I mean Indy and Sam), though related to the adults, these are not Fisher and Sage's kids. But let me be clear: the story is unequivocally Sage and Fisher's.
There's an (O') Doyle who reminds me more of Taylor Doose, Wren is the perfect Sookie ...like wow. There are nosy AF siblings and neighbors...it's so Stars Hollow.
There's no miscommunication. The 3rd act breakup, I can't really call a breakup, though it is. (Yes, I'm aware that makes zero sense. Guess you need to read it to understand! 😉) And
A man who shows his feelings. Doesn't shy away from them. Who embraces them. A man written by a woman for sure, but he's imperfect, and learns from his foot-in-mouth moments. A strong woman who knows her worth, her strengths, and weaknesses.
There's migraine rep and caretaking while sick.
Oh, and the "savoring" refers to a few
And it's so well done.things that, again, you need to read to understand.

It's so good. One I'll be gifting to friends, for sure.

4.5 stars!

This is one of the sweetest small town romances I’ve read! 😍. I don’t usually go for the small town troupes, but this one really caught my attention so why not? And I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it.

It did start off slow…. Since it’s a slow burn.. but at the half way point, I FLEW through and finished it quickly! Fisher and Sage and are #couplegoals because she is such an amazing and loving and selfless person who loves ALLLLL THE ANIMALS, except gophers 😅😂

My favourite parts are the midnight meetings 😉 and their journey towards each other…. AndI love that 3rd act because I SHED TEARS PEOPLE! 🥺🥹 I know some hate it, BUT I LOVE THE GUT WRENCHING feeling.

I cant wait for you all to read it!!!

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲𝘀:
🧡Small Town
🧡Found Family
🧡Fake dating
🧡Single Guardian
🧡On aTime Limit
🧡Slow burn
🧡He’s a chef

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such a cute book!! Such a fun small town read that made me laugh, cry, and cheer on all the characters! I loved the dynamic between Fisher and Indy! I want a book all about Indy!!! I hope this becomes a series!!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this E-arc for my honest review.
A beautiful story that was also humorous. Well-written with relatable characters. You will laugh and cry throughout.