I received an ALC/ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This author has been on my radar for quite some time now and after reading Savor It, I knew it would not be my last. My, my, my. This book was EVERYTHING and then some! I absolutely adore and love this story and these characters. Wren and Ellis had me from the moment I started reading this story. It was a raw, heartbreaking, and unbelievably touching story about two people who get a second chance that is so deserved! It had me giggling, blushing, kicking my feet in the air, swooning and melting like no tomorrow.

This book is a perfect read for summertime and anyone looking for a lighter read that will sweep you off your feet.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely obsessed!! This book was so incredible. I loved the characters, the second chance, the letters & the love! Tarah DeWitt has definitely done it again!!

loved loved LOVED this one!

I am usually not a fan of second chance romances, yet this one stole my entire heart. Perfection from beginning to end. Wren and Ellis are newly divorced, yet they're still so in love with each other it's heartbreaking. They were childhood friends to lovers, and started a family really young, so from a young age their identity was wrapped heavily in one another. My favorite thing about this one was the use of mixed media (writing letters, journals, emails, etc.) because it just screams romantic.

The audiobook was perfection as well; the narrators voices fit the characters so well. I love me a good dual POV story when it's done right, and they did it justice.

TW: ectopic pregnancy, mentions of cancer, divorce, death of a parent

HIGHLY recommend.

Thanks St. Martins Press and netgalley for an e-ARC copy; and MacMillan audio for an e-ALC copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is going to be my favorite book of 2025. I know it already. I don’t have the words to properly explain how beautiful and special this story is. I cried so many times.

This is a story about two soulmates who lost their way and find their way back to each other, who go through the hard shit no matter how difficult and painful it is. It’s a story about fighting for love and choosing your spouse over and over again. When I tell you this, take it seriously ya’ll: if you’re married with kids, this book will gut you, break your heart, and put it back together again in the best way. It was a treasure to read a book about two people in their 30s. I love romance, but lately I have read so many stories about younger couples in college or their mid-20s, which I love but it’s not reflective of where I’m at in this moment. Not this book! It was raw, it was real, IT WAS STUNNING.

After I read this, I went up to my husband and gave him a giant hug. This is the mark of a truly beautiful and resonant story. I’m a Tarah DeWitt fan for life!

Perfect second chance romance.

Wren and Ellis were highschool sweethearts, turned Mom & Dad quite early. The marriage ended and now their son Sam is about to graduate highschool. To say feelings are still there is an *understatement* but both sides had to do a lot of work on themselves. They drive Sam to college and do a little road trip on the way home - for a check in more or less, a dare to one another - can YOU handle it? Is a spark still there?

The question is can WE HANDLE it and yes we most certainly can.

I was way too excited for this book and it just didn’t scratch that itch. I had to duel listen to make it through the entire thing. Their terrible communication really irked me. And how do you not recognize the handwriting of your former significant other after knowing them for decades?! Why does it take a secret penpal relationship and a text message to make you realize what you want? Idk I’m starting to think this author may not be for me.

I ready Savor It last year where we first meet Wren and Ellis in that book and I knew I needed more of their story. This book delivers that.

Wren and Ellis were high school sweethearts, turned teen parents and at the same time Ellis lost his father and then was also responsible for his younger siblings. After years together they lost their way and ended up divorced. They live in a small town and are still very much in each other's lives, but are emotionally distant. They end up connecting again through a series of letters and then going on a road trip after dropping their son off at college.

Their story is so full of love and hardship and having to figure out life together. I loved it so much and seeing them reignite their love and passion was such a joy. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Wren and Ellis finally getting it right brings me hope!! Two divorcees go on a roadtrip to find their spark again, yes please. I loved that these two were open and honest with each other during their road trip. Ellis showed up in all the right ways. Their chemistry is undeniable, banter amazing and love so strong. I am so happy they worked together to get their life back together.

Second chance romance is one of my least favorite tropes, so this book was not for me. But, everyone else loved it, so if you are into that, then you will love this as well. Despite that, it was still a quick read with a well written story and great characters in a small town setting, Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

Tarah's writing is truly in another category, and this book just solidifies that!! I truly started this book and DID NOT MOVE until I was done. Absolute perfection.

Second chance, epistolary, road trip, SO much pining...this book is everything! I adore Wren and Ellis, separately and of course together. And watching them learn how to open up as they re-learn each other after 5 years apart was so beautiful and tender.

I am hesitant to give too many details because I think this book just needs to be experienced, but I will say the letters and journal entries were some of my favorite parts! I love Tarah! And I truly hope the other brothers are getting books because I want more books with all of these delightful characters!

Oh my gosh this book was so cute! I love the characters! They are so adorable together and I appreciate how they acted while divorced. It is refreshing to not have a divorced couple just hate each other.

Left of Forever was full of longing and second chances. Ellis the man of yearning. 🔥 All of it beautifully written. Tarah Dewitt knows how to write a romance.

My one gripe was all the fake Oregon beach towns. I really love throwing in a cute little fictional towns in states but there wasn't a single true Oregon beach town. Spunes was so cute but Yoos Bay and Gandon? Why not just make them Coos Bay and Bandon. Idk if its a me thing being an Oregonian but it was a small annoyance. 😅

I think second chance romance has become one of my favorite tropes. The mutual secret pining. The secret letters in the beginning were beautiful. This story wasn’t as “rom com” as the author’s other books, but the cooking lesson scene was hysterical. I also liked seeing a mmc who realized he needed therapy on his own. I loved the family dynamics and can’t wait to see more.

🧡🌲Left of Forever🌲🧡

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📆 pub date: 5/20/25
✍️ author: Tarah DeWitt

This was my fourth book by @authortarahdewitt! I love her writing style and the characters she creates.

We were introduced to Wren and Ellis in SAVOR IT and I’ve been eagerly anticipating their love story ever since.

LEFT OF FOREVER is about a couple who fell in love when they were kids and had a son when they were teenagers. Everything was great until it wasn’t. Divorced and in their 30s, Wren and Ellis take a road trip to see if they can give their relationship another shot.

Their reasons for separating and holding resentment felt very realistic. I loved how emotional this story was because of how much love Wren and Ellis had for each other. Just two mature individuals who had real emotions, figuring out how to talk about things that went left unsaid in the past 🧡

My absolute favorite romance trope is second chance, so it’s probably no surprise that I devoured this book!

I adore Ellis’s siblings—getting to see more of them put a smile on my face. Spines, Oregon feels like such a magical place 🌲

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy. I was a big fan of Savor It. I found the romantic tension between Wren and Ellis something I wanted to see more of, so was absolutely delighted to receive an early digital copy.

The review contains some spoilers. Wren and Ellis’ story was a fresh take on the second chance romance trope which is not usually my favorite. Dewitt does a fantastic job of demonstrating the instant physical chemistry and the melancholy of their past romance, while also writing a “fresh” new love excitement.

The nuanced discussion of therapy and growth from trauma gave both Ellis and Wren dimension. The infusion of “one bed” trope and other new dating hijinks also made for comedic moments and the push and pull that had me rooting for them. I also appreciated that the reveal of the letter writers’ identities did not cause a dreaded third act break up nor was it leveraged to stir up drama.

My only minor note was that it felt as though the side characters were too involved and invested in less believable ways. Though Savor It demonstrated the very small town family vibe that Spunes has, it felt a bit heavy handed for the characters to be changing the hotel reservations and calling every moment.

I really loved the journey the characters went on. Great writing and characterization. I found the pacing a bit on the slower side but still great.

tarah dewitt does it again. i could never sing her praises loud enough, she is my favorite romance author

Absolutely loved this "sequel" to Savor It.

Huge fan of the small town vibes and I adore the family. This is a second chance romance REALLY done right... While sweet and sometimes cute I love that Tarah touched on a topic like infertility - something I'm currently navigating with my husband. So this one hit home for me.

I will forever be a fan of Tarah DeWitt's writing.

Without question, this is my favourite Tarah book. The emotions in this just took me on a roller coaster and I loved every second.

After meeting both Wren and Ellis in Savor It, I knew I had to read their story. Getting to watch them reconnect and fall in love all over again was the best thing ever!

I feel some mixed thoughts on this one. I did like it, and I really liked the characters. I thought that their learning better communication and vulnerability with each other was realistic and well-written. On the other hand, I thought that some of the issues the couple experienced previously in their first marriage were just glazed over, and the "rekindling" was just them being intimate. This book was funny, emotional, and a bit raw at times. I could see myself possibly picking up another Tarah DeWitt book in the future to give her writing another go, but we'll see.