Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! Oh my goodness, it’s been a minute since I’ve read a book that really pulled on my heartstrings and had me desperately turning the pages to see what happens next. This book was such a treat and my only complaint is that I haven’t read any Tarah Dewitt before this emotionally turbulent tale!

This is a second chance romance, revolving around a divorced couple who thought that their lifetime spanning love was the exception to the rule of eventually out of love with one another and they want to come back together 5 years later. I loved that this was real and true, without overly romanticizing their heartbreak. The story covers their journey of learning to love and trust again but also being ready to walk away if they truly aren’t meant to be. The readers are also treated to a torturous slow burn and the most heart pounding of moments.

I will note that the only thing that kept me from rating this a full 5 stars, is that I felt that the discovery of the “big” secret was lackluster. It felt as though it was rushed and that we didn’t get to have much character development during what was supposed to be their tumultuous moment. Other than that I loved the songs that were mentioned throughout (shoutout to T Swift and Bon Iver). I felt that the songs not only helped set the mood for the story but also the setting.

Adding in a TW for discussion of ectopic pregnancy and infertility ❤️‍🩹

it was absolutely refreshing to read about a couple who were honest about their feelings for each other instead of avoiding it !! Both Wren and Ellis knew they were still in love with each other and I loved seeing Ellis actively show Wren that he is doing everything he can to show her that he’s worth the second chance 🥹 During Wren and Ellis’s road trip, they were vulnerable, flirty and had genuine fun together. They communicate in a really healthy way when telling each other things that had bothered them and I really enjoyed that in the book!!

Thank you so much to the publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel early in exchange for a free review. I have never read anything by Tarah Dewitt but this won’t be my last! I love second chance romance books and this was no exception. Dewitt’s writing & story telling is incredible!

I enjoyed this second chance romance. This is my first Tarah DeWitt book and it won't be my last. I loved the story and characters.

My first book by Tara! I didn’t finish yet but I read enough to know I want to read every book she has written!

This book was perfect in every way! Second chance romance will always be such a special trope and this book did it well! I love Tarah’s writing and cannot wait for all her future work!

I had to DNF for now because I’m recently divorced and it’s just too soon to read a second chance with marriage/divorce. However, I know this will be a 5 star read for me when I’m really ready.

This is my second book by this author and I like her writing. Ellis and Wren are divorced but they are still drawn to each other. This story is told with flashes to the past, which solidify the love these characters hold for each other. Be warned, the miscommunication trope is pretty heavy in this one, which for me was a little much.
Overall a sweet and spicy read.

Left of forever follows Wren and Ellis Byrd, two former high school sweethearts who fell in love young, had a son as teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. Now in their 30s and divorced, Wren runs a local bakery while Ellis works as a firefighter. Though they’ve gone their separate ways, their connection never fully faded. When their son Sam leaves for college, Ellis convinces Wren to take a scenic road trip back home with him along the California coast. As they revisit old memories and spend time together in close quarters, old feelings resurface, and they begin to wonder if they might still have a future. But before they can start over, they’ll have to face the pain, mistakes, and unresolved issues that led to their breakup in the first place. This is Tarah DeWitt’s best book hands down. I loved this book. I love these characters. I love this world. Tarah Dewitt is easily one of my favorite romance authors and I can’t wait for everyone to read this book!!

I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said before about this book. This was everything I wanted it to be and more! The epistolary vibes at the start were a fun surprise and the roadtrip to follow just delivered on everything I love about second chance romance. Also, impressive t0 me that the characters and tone are so different from Savor It, the world of this series (of standalones) feels so real!

Thank you to SMP for the eARC.

Man, second chance romance is where it's at lately, I've been loving them, and Left of Forever was no exception.

Ellis and Wren’s story completely pulled me in. After five years apart, watching them navigate all the tough conversations, work through their past, and slowly find their way back to each other was so emotional and satisfying. I loved that they actually communicated, no ridiculous drama, just two people being honest and working through real issues.

Ellis had me fully in my feels, the yearning, the growth, the way he fought for Wren… swoon. And Wren was just the best. Her humor, kindness, and love for baking made me want to bake right alongside her. The chemistry between them? Off the charts. I may have blushed more than once. 😂

The Byrd family added so much, too, their banter, chaos, and love felt so real and made the story even richer. And while it takes place over just a few days, it somehow felt like we got their whole journey. Tarah DeWitt crushed it with this one. Addictive, emotional, funny, and just such a feel-good read. Highly recommend if you're into second chance romances that make you feel all the things.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC via Netgalley.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: Second Chance Romance
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Wren and Ellis had a baby at seventeen, and even though they loved each other, they ended up divorced. Now, with their son graduating high school and moving to college, they start to explore the feelings that they still have for each other and start to look into if they could rekindle their relationship.
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I love a second chance romance and this book was so good. I loved Wren and Ellis' love story and how they fought their way back to each other. Tarah Dewitt is becoming an auto read author and I need to read all of her books.

Left of Forever was a great second chance romance. There was longing and tension. It was so clear that the two main characters were still desperately in love with each other.

- second chance (divorced couple)
- small town
- road trip!
- only one bed
- no breakup
- 🌶️🌶️.5/5
- dual pov
- dual narration by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks

Left of Forever didn't hit quite as hard as I expected emotionally, but I still really enjoyed returning to Spunes and revisiting this world.

Ellis and Wren are a divorced couple facing a major life shift as their son heads off to college. Ellis convinces Wren to join him on a week-long road trip to drop him off in California, giving them space to talk, reflect, and figure out if there's a second chance waiting for them.

Ellis is the definition of a man obsessed, and his quiet yearning is one of my favourite parts. You can feel how deeply he loves her in every moment. Wren is the kind of woman you'd want in your corner—strong, thoughtful, and grounded. Together, they share honest and vulnerable conversations that delve into their shared past and what went wrong, while slowly building toward something new. There's a lot of growth here, both individually and as a couple.

And let's not forget the spice. Once they reconnect, things definitely heat up, and it balances beautifully with the story's emotional depth.

The ending wraps up in a really sweet, satisfying way. It left me smiling and hopeful, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what the rest of the series has in store.

Also, I have to shout out the audiobook. Megan and Connor are perfect as Wren and Ellis. Their performances bring warmth, heart, and chemistry to the story, making the experience even better.

5/5 ⭐️

Just like me ugly crying while reading this book, a romantic relationship can be just as ugly and broken. Wren and Ellis have so much to fix to find their forever. You’ll witness heart wrenching conversations that will break you and tender moments that put you back together.

So if you are looking to get emotionally wrecked with words so real and raw you feel them enter your soul and leave in the form of tears. Then, this second chance love story is the right book for you.

Thank you so much @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for the gifted audiobook and ARC.

“For how many words we’ve used to help us through this to get here, from writing them to finally sharing all the ones we held back, they all fall short when it comes to

Review Title & Vibes:
{WILL FOREVER RAVE ABOUT THIS BOOK}
FRIENDS - DO NOT LET THIS BOOK PASS YOU BY.
It’s so freaking fantastic. A beautiful story of second chance love, personal growth, and unshakable bonds. I loved everything about this. The spice was just the perfect amount - icing on the cake of a deeply emotional journey. Throw in some comedic relief and fantastic side characters-this is one of my top reads of the year.

I would caution you - this needs to be read after Savor It. Jumping into my first Tarah Dewitt - I had many questions about side characters/happenings that were discussed in Book 1.

Who’s gonna be next?! Sign me up.

Audio Notes:
{Dual} No notes - an absolutely perfect performance. I was definitely ugly crying at work for the gut wrenching bits, I laughed out loud (in real life), and swooned so freaking hard my knees literally went weak. Megan Wicks and Connor Crais couldn’t have done a better job! It’s a MUST LISTEN.

Rating: 5⭐️ | Spice: 3🌶️ | Audio: 5🎙️
What to Expect:
Second Chance Romance
Divorced Couple
Small Town
Forced Proximity
Road Trip
Letters / Journal

Recommended to...  
EVERYONE who reads contemporary romance - or even if you don’t.

Narrated by @connorcrais and @meganwicks
Produced by @macmillan.audio

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is a heartfelt, second-chance romance that completely wrecked me in the best way.

Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love young, had their son Sam as teenagers, and built a life together in the small coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. But now they’re in their 30s, divorced, and quietly orbiting each other — still connected, still aching, but unsure how to move forward.

They decide to take a road trip together after dropping their son off at college, to see if their love is worth another shot. Along the California coastline, old feelings resurface, long-held truths come to light, and they’re forced to truly face what they really want.

I was absolutely obsessed with Wren and Ellis. Their chemistry is palpable, their love feels lived-in and raw, and the emotional payoff? Incredible. The small-town backdrop, the community rooting for them, and the slow-burn pacing made this one hit so hard.

Tarah DeWitt’s writing is emotional, grounded, and so full of hope. She truly makes you believe in love after heartbreak. And I have to say — I did an immersive read for this one and loved both versions. The audiobook was so good and added even more heart to an already emotional story.

Tropes you'll find:
• Second chance romance
• Small town
• Road trip
• Co-parenting
• Slow burn

If you love slow-burn second chances, messy emotions, and stories that feel like a warm hug and a heartbreak all at once — Left of Forever is a must-read.

Thank you St Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for providing an e-ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was Chef’s kiss. 5⭐️ and no notes.

I received this an ARC. I haven’t read Tara before but always heard such great things. Well now I’m a fan and she is added to my auto buy author list!

If you love:
-second chance romance
-child friends to lovers
-one bed
-road trip
-grumpy x sunshine
-pen pals
Then you’ll love this book!

I did not read Savor It beforehand (it’s on TBR) but I still felt connected to the book even and the setting. This book follows Wren and Ellis who are childhood friends to lovers to strangers. Wren and Ellis at the start of the book have been divorced for 4 years and they have a son together who is graduating high school. This book does have accidentally pregnancy in it but doesn’t focus on that. They had Sam at 18 while also balancing raising Ellis’s siblings. They decided to embark on a road trip together to celebrate dropping their son at college while also trying to see if the spark is still there between them.

Throughout the book you learn about each MC’s background and how they move through the barriers that affected their relationship leading up to the divorce. Both Wren and Ellis are open to discussing both the good and the bad in their relationship in order to start anew. This displays strong emotional intelligence between the characters. I love how mental health is mentioned and utilized before reconnecting in their relationship especially in order to create a stronger dynamic. The ending was perfect and I was rooting for them the whole time.

Also the spicy scenes have the perfect build up and slow burn but still pretty fast. Go read it!!!

3.5-3.75 stars

I did enjoy the second-chance romance. It was a little bit predictable, but I did enjoy the story and more time with the characters in Spunes. Honestly, the ending had me tearing up with the quotes. I would recommend this if you are looking for a lighter story that is easy to read and fast paced. You will see all of your favorite characters from the first book in Spunes. Overall, I did enjoy my time reading it and will read more books from Tarah DeWitt.

Second chance romances are fast becoming a favorite of mine. Left of Forever hit a lot of feels as Wren and Ellis begin to rediscover their romance. While at times Ellis was a little shady in keeping his secret, I also get it, Wren would have run, and run fast. I also appreciated how their son Sam played a roll in moving things along and helping them get back together.