Wren and Ellis are the perfect example of people loving each other through everything, and should be protected at all costs. I am not usually a fan of second chance romances, but this book was amazing! I love the way the characters learn to be vulnerable with each other again. Also their son and friends give parent trap vibes in the background and funny shenanigans ensue.

I do think the flash back period was a little long, but it did not take away from enjoying Wren and Ellis’s story. 4.5 stars

Really enjoyed this! I loved Tarah's use of metaphors throughout, it really tugged on my heart strings. It was a unique take on second chance romance and I liked how neutral-positive Ellis and Wren's relationship stayed. The side characters added a lot to the story. I really liked seeing more of Silas and Micah. I'd love to read books about them! I think the only thing I struggled with was the timeline. I found myself a little confused when we jumped back in time after the prologue. It made sense later, but took me a little bit to understand.

It's the summer of quick, easy-to-read romance! And this one was spicy as all heck...

Tarah DeWitt's latest follows Wren and Ellis. A divorce five years earlier led to them staying on "friendly" terms but those feelings are still just always there. It's hard to forget your first love! When their son, Sam, gets accepted to college and requests his parents to bring him down, Ellis takes the opportunity to plan a road trip for Wren and Ellis for one last shot at love.

The story itself was fun. I enjoyed the journey but the actual story that was advertised didn't start until about 50% of the way in. The beginning felt more like filler and, truthfully, slightly unnecessary in the grand scheme of things.

But the real gem of this story was that it was really no frills with raw emotion. You don't see many romances nowadays without some epic drama. Instead, the focus was on mature adults talking through things instead of typically just assuming and I ADORED that!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I truly have no words! This book was the absolute best thing I have read! Tarah had me all in my feels and I love when books can connect to your own life! I have read every.single.thing Tarah has written and this is hands down my favorite of them all! I love Wren and Ellis and I will carry them with me for a lifetime! I knew from Savor It that they had a story to be told and boy did it deliver! Their story is full of raw emotion that will wreck you but heal you at the same time! I know it does cover some heavier topics but I think Tarah handled with them with so much care. I will recommend Left of Forever to everyone that will listen because it was that good!! 🥹🥹

THIS BOOK!!!!! Where do I begin? We follow Wren ("She's still a Byrd") and Ellis Byrd, a divorced couple on the cusp of dropping their only son off at college. It's been five years since they divorced and they're totally fine...or so they say. What better way to find out than on a return road trip, where they can be honest with each other and themselves for one last shot at love.

These characters are so real, they jump off the page as does their love for each other and their CHEMISTRY!!! It was raw and palpable and believable. Yes, they are attracted to each other, but also the care they have for and show each other brought me to tears. Theirs is the kind of love story that makes me believe in soulmates.

As this was a second chance romance there is so much history for these two to revisit and rebuild with. I loved that this history was introduced to use through journals and letters, as well as banter between the two in an effort to reconnect and rekindle their love.

I'd be remiss to talk about this book and not mention the cast of characters behind Wren and Ellis. While in Savor It the whole town was part of the story, in Left of Forever we really zoom in on the Byrd siblings, and how their relationships with each other are shaped by their family history and how they grow together to forge new ones.

This book was heartbreaking and beautiful and lovely. It was a beautiful look into second chances, the power of honesty, the grit of determination, and the strength of true love. I will be thinking about this one for a long time!

Wren and Ellis have been friends since they were 5. They even fell in love, had a child together, and were married for several years before ultimately divorcing. Now, 4 years later, this story has them searching to see if they can make their relationship work after all. The book begins with them being pen pals while Ellis is on the front lines of forest fire duty. I loved this part of the book the best, where the characters didn’t know that they were writing to each other but the reader did. Unfortunately, the rest of the book (what felt like half of it) fell flat once they stopped writing and discovered that they both still had feelings for each other.
I really liked the first book in this series, but this one felt like it needed more of a plot. There was a lot more that the author could have done with the road trip aspect, and talking out their feelings for why they had gotten divorced in the first place. I am still a little hung up on the fact that they had loved each other forever but then got divorced and then just 4 years later discovered they still loved each other–without any additional relationship counseling or discussion of the break up. Still, I’d love to read another book from Spunes, OR (“not to be confused with Forks, WA”). 2.5 stars rounded up to 3

Left of Forever is one of the most romantic love stories I have ever read in my life.
Wren and Ellis after getting pregnant young and marrying not long after, weren't given the tools they needed to succeed in their marriage leading to their eventual divorce. Now, years later under the guise of a simple road trip after dropping their son off in college, try to see if the feelings they still have are genuine or if it's what remains of their shared past. .

Ellis is so determined to win his wife back, prove to her that he has changed for the better, after going to therapy and doing some work on himself, he wants to prove to Wren that he is deserving of her and her love. Wren, wary of even entertaining the idea of getting back together with Ellis, cannot deny that her feelings are still there, and never left.

I have never been so convinced that two characters genuinely belong together, that they are so deserving of their happily ever after, more that Wren and Ellis.
Not only did this book leave me in a puddle of my own tears, but it has rendered me totally- utterly- completely- speechless. As often as I refer to this book, as many times as I mention it or recommend it, no words can truly describe how beautiful this story was.
Tying in the communication through letters, reigniting the spark that never really extinguished in the first place, I love this book more than I know how to put into words

Wren and Ellis have been divorced for several years but are now sending their son off to college. They both still have feelings for each other and decide to take a road trip after they drop Sam off. They try to see if there is still something there or if they need get closure and move on. Great read! Love this author!

Are you kidding me? This is book has everything you need in a romance and more. Only thing I had a hard time with is they come off as really old but they were only 33/34. Haha. Didn’t stop me from loving it though.

Want a book that will sweep you away in a slow burn second chance romance? Add this book to your TBR!! This love story was raw, real and emotional. Wren and Ellis were childhood friends and sweethearts. They had a whirlwind love story that started fast and strong. As the years passed and some emotional events that have happened in their life they find themselves falling out of love. They separate but become co-parents for their son. Now the son is heading off to college and fate is trying to bring them closer together again. The chemistry between and Ellis was undeniable.

This book made me sob, laugh, swoon, and everything in-between.

I absolutely adore Tarah DeWitt's writing, characters, and everything this book gave me. I knew it would make me cry, but watching these two beautiful characters find their way back to eachother was so special. The found family, the close family dynamic, the OPEN talk of therapy ( so hot) and everything about this book just made me swoon.

I'm so greatful to have read such a masterpiece.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read Left of Forever. I enjoyed reading Ellis' and Wren's story. They are and feel so real, and relatable; I have not read Savor it, but I have a feeling Left of Forever will stick in my heart more than the 1st book in the series. Left of Forever has it all; it made me laugh, but also nostalgic, felt the characters' pain and doubts, but also their joy. Thanks again for the opportunity!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC and ALC!

"She's still a Byrd"
I don't know if I even have the words to express how much I loved this book. This book was everything. Wren and Ellis felt so real and so genuine. It's been a while since I've been sad to leave characters after finishing a romance novel. I just adored these two. They both grew so much throughout this book and I was holding my breath hoping things were going to work out (I know, it's a romance, it has a HEA, but this one really makes you work for it).
Both characters demonstrate so much personal growth while addressing that they've both made mistakes within their relationship. Wren may have given up too easily, but Ellis didn't fight it. We see them 5 years post divorce reuniting for a roadtrip to move their son into college. It's clear Ellis is absolutely all in, even if Wren needs a little more convincing she's willing to try. I loved seeing Ellis work on complimenting Wren more often and saying what was on his mind. They both opened up so much and were willing to talk about the great things about their relationship as well as their worst moments. I cried. Several times.
This book is the perfect exploration of what can happen when you meet your person too young. It digs into the work involved in being able to grow together.
The audiobook was fantastic! I've always been a fan of Megan Wicks but i think this is her best work yet! She was the perfect voice for Wren and brought so much life and emotion to the character.
I typically wouldn't read the second book in a series first, even if they are interconnected standalones. But I am actually so glad I dove into this one first because now I get to read Tarah DeWitt's entire backlist with a fresh perspective and appreciation.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of Tarah DeWitt's latest romance book. in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was my first Tarah DeWitt book. I know this a stand-alone story that is connected to Savor It, but I think I may have enjoyed this more if I had read that book first. I really enjoyed the letters back and forth at the start of this book. The story started off strong, but then I just go bored with it. The middle moved so slowly and it took forever for things to happen. It was mostly Wren's thoughts about her relationship with Ellis and why it failed. The book finally picked up once Ellis and Wren agree to go on a road trip together to move their son into his college apartment. They plan to take their time on the way back up the coast to see if they can work through their issues and see if they can try to be together again.
I feel like the physical aspect of their relationship happened quickly and that became a big focus.

While there were some enjoyable moments, I didn't really enjoy this book. The writing is good, I just wasn't invested in the story or the characters. I will probably try another of Tarah's books though!

What is Tarah DeWitt putting in her books?! This was AMAZING, and I'm addicted!! The depth of emotion and heart found in this book is unmatched. It successfully ripped my heart to shreds and painstakingly put it back together with care. I feel like Ellis and Wren are two characters that I'll carry with me for quite a while (the fact that I still remember their names after closing the book really proves that). And I found them to be just as relatable as Sage and Fisher in Savor It, which I honestly didn't think would be possible after how much I love(d) Sage in particular! I won't give anything about their story away, but I will say that I desperately want to stay in the little town of Spunes for as long as Tarah will have me!!! I loved Wren & Ellis, I loved the locations which I felt transported to with Tarah's beautiful writing, I loved the minor characters- each and every one of them (including the ones with hooves). My heart just feels so full!
If you're looking for a book full of heart, found-family, and two people doing the hard work to make forever happen- then this is the book for you. ♡

P.S. I DESPERATELY need Silas to get his own book, like PLEASE, I'M BEGGING! 🙏🏻

P.P.S. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU @Netgalley, for providing a copy of this book in exchange for review! ♡ Also though, how dare you- because now I have to buy a shelf-trophy of this one too because I loved it too much 🤣

If You Liked That, Read This:
• Savor It by Tarah DeWitt (obviously, but this is just as good, no sequel fatigue)
• The Lovelight Series by BK Borison

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶 (Open Door, Not Crazy Spicy)

TW's:
• Parent-Illness (MS)
• Infertility
• Miscarriage (Off-Page)

Tropes/Vibes:
• Second-Chance
• Childhood Sweethearts 💞
• Sprinkle of Miscommunication
• Road Trip 🗺

I had heard so much positive feedback about this book so I was really excited to jump in. I thought this was a fantastic second chance romance and you could really feel what the couple went through and the why things happened the way they did. I enjoyed that this couple was older than the majority of romance characters and they had some life experience behind them. The only negative thing about this book is that I felt like it really needed to have the book Savor It read first, as there were several times I just felt like I was missing the bigger picture/more info.

The Byrds are empty-nesters.

Where do I even start with this book? There are romance novel writers - and then there’s Tarah DeWitt. She’s truly in a league of her own (and I’m including Henry, Hazelwood, Jimenez), and Left of Forever is her best work yet.

Let’s take that even further - I can’t think of another contemporary romance that captures the emotions of love and heartbreak and loneliness and hope like this one. It honestly reminds me of listening to a Taylor Swift album when the lyrics hit you in the gut because you exactly recognize the feeling being described.

I’m not a crier when I read, but this is the first book in years that’s got me :) And the lump in my throat was permanent from about 20% in, refused to be dislodged, even days after finishing LOF.

In fact, maybe this one should have come with a warning especially for me: an only child, in her late 30’s, who, just months ago, became an empty-nester. Yes, the second chance romance between Wren and Ellis is the star of this read. But the self-reflection, the collateral damage to friends and family after a breakup, and the overwhelming desire to be accepted…that’s what haunts me.

So, yeah, this one is heartbreakingly beautiful and in a league of its own, even among the titans in this genre: a list to which Tarah DeWitt has solidified her top spot with Left of Forever.

Left of Forever completely wrecked me — in the best way. It’s one of those stories that sneaks up on you with its quiet intensity. The emotional depth hit hard, but never felt heavy for the sake of drama. The characters were so real, flawed in ways that made their love story feel achingly genuine. There was grief, growth, and healing, all wrapped in moments of unexpected humor that gave the weighty parts room to breathe. Their connection wasn’t instant — it was built piece by piece, and that made it all the more powerful. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

This is Book 2 in an interconnected standalone series.

This is a Small Town, Second Chance Romance set on the Oregon coast.
🧁
Wren and Ellis got pregnant at 17/18, got married and raised their kid together…until things stopped working. They got divorced 5 years ago, but neither have been able to completely move on.

Now they are moving their son to college and they will loose the one thing that ties their lives together.

Not if Ellis has his way, he’s not giving up on them yet.
🧁
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨🌶️🫑
Man, this was amazing.

It definitely hit hard for me as someone who has an 18+ year relationship and going through the “empty nester” shock of loosing the connection that bound us in the day-to-day life of raising kids. Then learning how to be just a couple again when the kids were out of the house.

The rollercoaster of doing life, with loosing parents or dealing with health issues with parents, sending kids to college, the insecurities within a marriage, and being able to come back to each other through it all.

Now…my husband and I met later and were early 30’s when we had our first, so being empty nesters at 48 definitely looks different than being empty nesters at 36.

But, man, I teared up because I lived a huge portion of this story.

So good!
🧁
Definitely read Savor It first

Tarah does it again! The writing in this book was impeccable for my personal taste. I binged this and wished the story was longer. I would have appreciated more flashbacks. Normally, this trope is not my go to, but was executed so well that I ended up really enjoying. I love the setting, the ambience, the characters. Overall, I would have liked the story to be longer, slower burn, and to have had more of Wren and Ellis’s backstory. I highly recommend. I hope we get Silas or Micah’s stories next!