I really really liked the concept of this book and it had so much potential but I feel like it missed the mark. The delivery was off and I didn’t feel all that emotionally attached to the characters the way that we were supposed to.

“I grew up with my great love, so I think my maybe my heart took shape around his.”

I don’t care that it’s only February, I feel confident saying that this will be in my top 10 reads of the year. Wren and Ellis are everything. They are endgame. I need this book to come out immediately so I can talk to everyone I know about it. The prose is breathtaking. The heartache is so visceral. I'm in love with this book and this family and I want to move immediately to Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington).

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
-Second chance romance
-Divorced couple
-Road trip
-Emotionally intelligent characters
-A tender treatment of infertility
-5/5 spice
-TW: mentions past infertility, ectopic pregnancy (off the page), death by fire (off the page)

WHAT I LIKED:
-Everything. Seriously. This book is perfect from the dedication until the last word.
-I loved the shifting perspectives between Wren and Ellis. Experiencing their story through both of their eyes brought so much more depth and emotion to the story.
-The sex scenes are unfathomably hot, my god.
-I loved every character. This book stands independent but interconnected with Savor It, which I haven’t read but am immediately adding to my TBR. Every character in this book is so rich and vibrant and really jumps off the page, no matter how major or minor their role in the story is. The universe of the book feels very complete and dimensional.
-This is one of the most moving, tender books I’ve read recently and treats some really difficult subject matter with such care. The raw grief and pain around infertility is so deeply accurate and really resonated with me. I felt so seen and my own infertility experience felt so validated reading this.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
-That it ended. I have no notes, I loved this book so thoroughly.

Left of Forever comes out on May 20th - pre-order now. This will be your favorite book this year. I’m so grateful to have had the chance to read this and cannot wait for you all to get your hands on this one.

I absolutely loved this story. As someone who’s been married for a decade to the boy I fell head over heels for as a teenager—and have loved deeply every day since—it hit me right in the feels. Growing up alongside the person you love is such a rare and beautiful experience, and Left of Forever captured that so perfectly.

What made this story even more special was how it explored the complexities of love, especially when it’s tested by life’s challenges. Seeing Wren and Ellis navigate the delicate process of finding their way back to each other after taking a break felt so real and raw. It was a powerful reminder that love isn’t always easy, but it’s worth fighting for. This story was heartfelt, emotional, and deeply touching—one that will stay with me for a long time.

The minute I read, "she's still a Byrd" in Savor it, I knew I needed more of Wren and Ellis. Left of Forever is Ellis and Wren's second chance. Ellis was the guardian of his siblings at 18 and also had a baby with Wren around the same time. They weathered many storms together, but ultimately got divorced 5 years prior to when this book takes place. Tarah did a great job of showcasing how the circumstances of our life, grief and poor communication can take a toll on even the strongest relationships. The circumstances around their divorce and witnessing Wren and Ellis relive their worst and best memories was heart wrenching. Tarah just a wonderful job writing complex characters with such genuine feeling. It is moving to read her writing and I am so happy that I got to go on this journey with Wren and Ellis.

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 highly recommend!

4.5/5 ⭐

Whenever I read something by Tarah Dewitt, I know I'm going to get my socks knocked off at how beautiful and poetic it is. Tarah *always* is able to write emotion so well, like these characters hearts are bleeding straight onto the page. I was invested after meeting Wren in Ellis in the previous book. I was heartbroken by their story, childhood lovers to spouses due to a teen pregnancy, and then getting divorced due to heartache. I was so patiently hopeful that Tarah would write them and give them the happy ending I wanted and she did not disappoint. Tarah begins this journey with Wren and Ellis dropping off their son at college. They've been divorced for five years, yet neither of them truly has closure nor have they stopped loving eachother. At Ellis's request, they embark on a road trip, taking the scenic route home and finally having the heart to heart discussions they've been long overdue. As they journey together, they finally start communicating, forgiving one another, and falling in love for each other once again and it is absolutely beautiful to see. I loved getting to live through Wren and Ellis's memories in their letters and adored that Tarah chose to go this route instead of the flashbacks that are typical for these kinds of stories. There is also something so unique about falling in love with someone and growing up alongside them and Tarah captured that here so beautifully, highlighting the complexity of how their childhoods influenced their marriage. This story was full of hope, vulnerability, and an open honesty that was so refreshing. This felt like a rare gem among so many others in the romance genre, and definitely left a lasting impression.

I wanted Ellis and Wren's story since they were introduced to us in Savor It. This more than delivered. Ellis and Wren were everything to each other until it just got too hard. They never stopped loving each other though. After avoiding each other when possible, they realized that they hadn't moved on at all. With misunderstandings and poor timing making things guy wrenching at times, they embark on a road trip to feel things out. They put in the work, opened their eyes and got their forever. Now we need everyone else's story, including Indy.

the 5 star streak for books about Byrds continues🌲🌊🐦‍⬛🥹!!! my expectations for this book were SO high from the snippets we got of them in Savor It and i’m so pleased to say that Tarah not only met my expectations but exceeded them in so many amazing ways!!! i love them so much🥰🥰🥹🥹🤭🤭

thank you SO much to the publisher & netgalley for the free e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

context: i have only ever read funny feelings by tarah dewitt and not the first book in the series. they are standalone, but i prob missed some easter eggs. also, i was emailed the ARC. i liked funny feelings but am def a fan after this one 🫶🏻

synopsis:
a baker from oregon who has been divorced for 5 years from the love of her life and the father of her child decides to write to a random firefighter in colorado to see if two bonded horses were rescued. these letters allow her to have some level of "intimacy" (they just bonded, not romantic interactions - she poured her heart out on paper and romanticized their exchanges) since her separation. the anonymous firefighter turns out to be her ex - honestly, i don't know how she didn't think this was a possibility since he is always working away from home. he holds onto these exchanges until the horses are found (alive and together) because these are the only moments he can see into her mind. after cutting off their correspondence, he makes it his goal to get her back by learning how to ~express emotions~ because it is obvious she misses him just as much as he misses her. this leads him to devise to plan a trip to celebrate their child going off to college as "friends" and their story goes from there.

this was beautifully written and was the best second-chance i have read. i usually don't like them because they need a lot of depth for them to be believable or have you rooting for the characters to reunite. these characters were so believable and definitely had you rooting for them to end up together - their TENSION and their deeply, sentimental love for one another. the minor complaints are about the book's structure (i.e., the prologue felt out of place and would have been more impactful once it got to that point in the story), but it did not negatively impact the reading experience for me.

my detailed pros and cons list contains spoilers so it will be on my goodreads.

honorable mentions:
- pepper dick scene (YUP)
- silas, i love him and am his #1 fan
- their playlist was pretty good and did not make me cringe like some books' do
- if i had a nickel for every time a MMC gets a wren tattooed on him without her knowing because the FMC's name is wren, i would have two nickels (cannot remember the name of the other book atm)

This book is precious. The Byrd family is so full of wit, hope, and love that one can only truly ever wish to find something comparable. God bless Ellis Byrd’s mustache.

5⭐️
I wanted to read this as soon as I saw the gorgeous cover art. Then I found out it was a second chance romance with a couple that had been married. How can it work? I had to know.

I loved this book! Ugh, the feelings, the letters, the mutual pining, the family rooting for them. Swoony.

Wren and Ellis have been divorced for 5 years. Neither has moved on. They have coparented their son the best they could and stayed civil. Now their kid is off to college and both are wishing things were different between them.

Ellis is fighting a forest fire and happens to pick up a box donated by his ex wife with baked goods and a letter. He writes her back anonymously, and they start exchanging letters. They both confess somethings, and when Ellis writes “I still love my wife” it’s heart breaking.

Later Ellis suggests a road trip to drop off their son at college, and to spend time together with Wren. They are open with each other about hoping for more and actually talking about hard stuff. It’s romantic and sweet, sexy, and sad in some parts.

Can be read as a stand alone. We get a cameo of Deacon & Laryn from The Co-op, and lots of Fischer and Sage from Savor It.

Content Warnings for fertility issues, miscarriage, death of parents in the past.

4.5 🌟

i knew i wud love this and i.did.

obsessed with these two and the healing that they did UGH making me believe in love fr

*read as ARC from netgalley*

I love the way Tarah writes emotion. I can feel these characters hearts bleeding onto the page and fell in love with them immediately.

I was a young mom/wife and related so much to the ups and downs of forming a relationship while also trying to figure out who you are and how to raise a child.

I was fully invested in watching Wren and Ellis fall back in love, their growth and communication was beautiful.

One thing I love about second chance are the small but significant things that pop up in the story that are only important and sentimental to them because of their history. This story was full of these moments and I loved every one.

I highlighted so much of this book because Tarah is a master at how she captures emotions and translates them on page.

This book is very spicy so I wouldn’t recommend to everyone but overall I loved the story and the characters so much and nothing felt forced or cringe worthy.

Every word of this book was perfect, when the title came into play I had goosebumps. I am a stickler for a good ending. The last chapter of a book can really affect how I feel overall. The last two sentences of this story perfectly wrapped it all up and made me cry. This a beautiful story about second chances, hope, and fighting for your love.

Favorite Quotes:

“[we] let life chip and file away at us until our edges were too dull to catch on each other and keep hold”

“Time does that, I suppose. When you spend so much of it looking forward to the next thing, it can easily slip out from under you.”

“I’ll beg you every day if I need to. I’m begging you to fight with me, do anything with me. Just be with me.”

CW: explicit language, multiple open door

I gotta be completely honest Tarah Dewitt books have been hits or misses for me. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Funny Feelings and I found Savor It to be cute, but just ok. But y’all Left of Forever is by far the best book Tarah has ever written. And I’m saying that as someone who isn’t the biggest fan of second chance romance novels. But Ellis and Wrens story was so heartbreakingly beautiful that I know it will leave a lasting impression on me for years to come.

Slight disclaimer this book is a spin off. I don’t believe Goodreads has it listed as a series. But Left of Forever picks up immediately after the events of Savor It. Please read Savor It before reading Left of Forever. I promise you’ll be thanking me later.

Left of Forever follows Wren & Ellis childhood sweethearts who got married young due to a teen pregnancy. Flash forward to today they are divorced for 5 years and sending their baby boy Sam off to college. After dropping him off, Wren & Ellis decide to go on a roadtrip to see if they can rekindle and repair their relationship. Even if they cannot they are both hopeful for some closure on past hurts.

Like I mentioned I am not normally a second chance romance girlie. Especially if they are previously divorced. However, after I was introduced to them in Savor It. I knew there was something special about them and I just wanted to know more. Tarah did not disappoint. Reading Ellis & Wrens story was everything I wanted it to be and more. Tarah left me hanging onto every word. I could feel every hurt and longing that Wren & Ellis endured. Those two have been through so much, and watching them build back to each other is inspiring and earth shattering.

I seriously cannot recommend this book enough. Please check out this book when it releases May 2025. Lastly big Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an earc in exchange for an honest review.

Tarah writes such soulfully touching, deeply connected characters. You cannot help but fall in love with them every single time.
Wren and Ellis were a testament that the saying 'if you love something let it go, if it's meant to be it'll come back' and back did it come.

It was exploring the difficulties that happen AFTER the blissful romances, and fighting to make your way out of the monotony of life and find your way back to that love.

Their story was beautiful.

I would be remiss in admitting, that their story gave me hope but did not make me cry as all her others have - however I DID cry. The true stars to me in this story, are (unshocking to anyone who knows me) Major and Kelpie and the surprise of Hope. Soon as I saw Major and Kelpie on page in part 3 I cried the entire rest of the book. Thank you to Tarah for the TW months ago that they are in this book but are not harmed or im not entirely sure I could have read this in peace.

Anyway, I can't recommend Tarah's books more - I can't wait for more to read, and thank you for letting and trusting me to read this early copy. <3

This was such a beautiful emotional journey of forgiveness, love, acceptance and letting go. I sobbed as I read, feeling everything those two beautiful broken people felt. I can’t imagine meeting your soulmate so young, having baby at 18, building a life and then lose the connection and separate. My heart was aching. When they decided to go on trip, after dropping their son to college, I was rooting for them. I loved the part when they talked about things they didn’t like about each other and finally tackled the hard issues. Communication at its best! Highly recommend this book to anyone, but friendly warning: have tissues ready!

This is a great read if you like second chance romances and small-town settings. It's cozy, humorous, and with a dash of angst. Ultimately, the writing wasn't my jam, but I can see a large audience for this book.

I loved this just as much as I loved Savor It. I will read everything this woman writes. I love her prose, the steam, the character development. I love it all. Spectacular give me 14 of them.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is an emotionally charged, beautifully written second chance romance that tugs at every heartstring. Wren and Ellis’s journey is messy, deeply felt, and achingly realistic, making it impossible not to root for them as they navigate love, heartbreak, and the possibility of starting over.

From the start, DeWitt crafts an intimate and poignant love story between two people who were meant to be—but life, youth, and circumstance got in the way. Wren, now a bakery owner, and Ellis, a dedicated firefighter, have built lives apart after their teenage love led to marriage, parenthood, and eventually, divorce. Yet, despite years of separation, their connection remains undeniable, simmering beneath every glance, every shared moment, and every lingering regret.

What sets this book apart is how real it feels. DeWitt doesn’t shy away from the complexities of love and healing. There’s angst, nostalgia, and unresolved tension, but also humor and warmth. The road trip element adds a layer of forced proximity that makes their slow-burning reconnection even more delicious. And when I say steam, I mean steam! The chemistry between Wren and Ellis is undeniable, and DeWitt balances it perfectly with raw, emotional depth.

At its core, Left of Forever is about learning to communicate, confronting the past, and deciding if love is worth the risk one more time. The addition of heartfelt letters woven into the story only deepens the emotional impact, making this a must read for anyone who loves romance with both spice and substance.

If you love second chance romances that are as sweet and swoony as they are soul stirring, this one belongs on your shelf. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah DeWitt, and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book.

Stunning second-chance romance. So much history and angst. I loved the main character’s families. I really appreciated the MMC realizing what he wanted and going for it and actually communicating! Absolutely loved this.

I enjoyed Tarah’s first novel set in Spunes, “Savor It”, but this one? “Left of Forever” has stolen my heart. I loved this!

Perfect for fans of:
*** Second chance romance
*** High school love
*** Dual POV
*** Romantic steamy chemistry
*** Strong Family bonds
*** Joint parenting after divorce

Wren and Ellis married and had their son Sam at a young age. Despite all the love they had, they called it quits after 10 years. We catch up with them 5 years later, where its clear that each of them is still holding onto the once in a lifetime love they had. Will they be able to find their way back to each other, or realize they need to move on?

The pure and unfiltered romance of this story was beautiful. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved how realistic their journey was. This might be one of my favorite second chance romance novels. I can’t wait to order a copy of my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.