I cannot say enough good things about Left of Forever. Tarah absolutely captures longing and tenderness is the best way. This book may have single-handedly confirmed that I love a second chance romance. It gave me the same emotional impact as when I read The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce. I absolutely loved Wren and Ellis and devoured their story in a day. Tarah is easily an auto-buy author for me now.

Wren and Ellis have known each other their entire lives. When Wren gets pregnant as a teenager, they are thrust into parenthood and Ellis is also taking care of his younger siblings after their parents die. They end up divorcing and five years later, are sending their only son off to college. They use it as an opportunity to do a little road trip back home to rediscover their friendship, or more.

I really enjoyed this book and was a quick, light read. I think as a married person, it was more relatable than your typical falling in love story. It was interesting to see how they worked through what went wrong, opening up and being vulnerable/honest to figure out next steps.

"My DNA mixed with yours, and it altered your very bones, Byrd."

I could leave it at that, and you'd already understand why this is one of the best romances ever written. Ellis, the man you are! I had to pause more than once just to process the things that came out of his mouth because they made me feel absolutely insane.

This is a second-chance romance, so I knew it would be top-tier. But nothing could’ve prepared me for the way this book completely rewired my brain. The glimpses of Ellis and Wren in Savor It had me excited, but this story? It expanded my mind, shifted my entire perception of life and love. Ellis and Wren didn’t just redefine romance—they invented it. They set the standard for second chances.

The plot was beautifully crafted, adding layers of tension that made every moment between them even more electric. It was so deeply emotional sometimes, especially the entire talk about time passing, life moving on, seeing all the changes, having to adapt to them, and saying goodbye to the past—it made me sob so hard. Ugh. Some scenes were laugh-out-loud funny, others were heartbreakingly emotional, and the spice? Absolutely insane. It was the perfect mix, and it left me breathless.

It’s been two days since I finished this book, and not a minute goes by without thinking about it. I need it in my hands, to reread, to annotate, to obsess over. This book didn’t just tell a story; it became a part of me. I didn’t know I needed this book until it shattered me and put me back together again.

*** Spoiler Free Review of Left of Forever out May 2025***

I’m a big fan of second chance romance, but make it previously married / still married. An interesting spin on a beloved trope that brings another level of reality that sometimes it’s always the right person, but wrong timing.

Wren and Ellis have been in love since kids, having their own child at just 17 years old. But as he grew older, they started to drift apart. Now, they’ve been divorced and it’s time for Sam, their child, to start his own life. Working as a bakery owner and a firefighter, they decide to take a break from their day to day in order to take a celebratory road trip after dropping their son off at college. During this road trip, they must decide whether or not their love will last or extinguish one last time.

My thoughts: I knew when I saw the playlist for this, that it would hit hard. I love this take on second chance romance, and thought Tarah’s writing was excellent. As my first book, I definitely will be picking up others by Tarah. This was heart wrenching with some good comedic timing that never cheapened the heart of the story. Plus, who doesn’t love a firefighter with a mustache!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in exchange for a spoiler free review!

Absolutely adored this story! The characters are such good people you can't help but root for them. I did get confused in the beginning with the time line but ultimately figured it out about a third of the way in. Cannot wait to continue reading more by this author!

Review of "Left of Forever" by Tarah DeWitt
⭐ 4.5/5 Stars

"If you're lost, I'll find you." 🥹

A heartfelt, emotional second-chance romance set against the backdrop of the California coast, "Left of Forever" follows Wren and Ellis as they navigate love, loss, and the possibility of rekindling what they once had. A second-chance romance, forced proximity, and a soul-stirring road trip, this book delivers big emotions, meaningful character growth, and a love story that feels both deeply lived-in and full of possibility.

From the very first page, this book made me feel. Hope radiates from every scene, every moment shared between Wren and Ellis, and it’s impossible not to root for them. Their longing for one another is palpable, and every interaction is charged with both the weight of their past and the possibility of their future. I found myself utterly captivated, soaking in every stolen glance, every unspoken word, and every moment of quiet understanding.

Wren and Ellis are beautifully developed characters - flawed, deeply human, and incredibly real. Their growth throughout the book is one of my favorite aspects. They don’t just fall back together; they work for it. They’ve learned from their past mistakes, and their journey feels all the more rewarding because of it. Their road trip isn’t just about traveling back home - it’s about confronting their past head-on, having the hard conversations, and making space for each other in a way they couldn’t before. One of the most powerful elements of their story is how they communicate, even when it’s difficult. The honesty between them is raw and necessary, making their second chance feel not only possible but inevitable.

"Hard-water air, my Mom always called it. It can warp wood and weather stone, but that’s the stuff that builds character. When something can withstand it, you know it’s better made."

I loved Tarah DeWitt’s writing, and while this was my first book by her, it absolutely won’t be my last. I’m already adding her backlist to my TBR and will be eagerly following her future releases. If you love emotional, deeply felt second-chance romances that don’t shy away from the tough moments, "Left of Forever" is a must-read.

I was generously provided an ARC by St. Martin's Griffin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own ♡

Review posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7238297229
And StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/a91b33fb-ce13-429a-bec1-7a8afdfd7896?redirect=true

I don't even know where to start. First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Having this book in my hands months before publication was a privilege!

Being back in Spunes (not to be confused with Forks) felt like coming home. I knew as soon as I met Wren and Ellis in Savor It that I was going to need their story. I'm such a sucker for a second chance romance, especially one with a man who yearns the way Ellis Byrd yearns.

The dynamic between Wren and Ellis felt so true and honest that there were moments that made me ache for them. Following them through this week-long road trip as they hurt and heal and LOVE and try to figure out how to be whole again was just beautiful. The way Tarah writes her characters is deep and personal, and every single time I think I can't love one of her characters or one of her couples more than I already do, she releases a new book and I'm proven wrong.

That said, I absolutely adored the moments with Sage and Fisher (one of my all-time favorite book couples), as well as getting to know Silas and Micah a little better. (I can already tell Silas is going to wreck me when it's his time to shine.)

I cried some sad tears and a lot of happy ones, and I'm just so grateful this book is about to exist in the world!

Love love LOVED this one. The little pieces of their failed marriage/relationship in Savor It made me yearn for Wren and Ellis's story like none other. And Left of Forever did NOT disappoint. Truly. The writing was beautiful. The navigation of falling back in love, and ensuring it was done in a healthy way? Stunning. No notes. Read it.

This book had me in my feelings!!

I loved every minute of this.

The book had me up till 1 in the morning, laughing out loud, giggling/kicking my feet, crying and having my heart melt over and over with Ellis' POV!

Also, I'd like to mention that the set up in the beginning with the letters was PERFECT. *Chefs Kiss*

This is definitely a new auto buy author because, the fact that I went through every single emotion is all I'll ever need to know when it comes to opening her books.

Do not miss out on this wonderful book if you like second chance romance-small town romance.

10/10 her best book so far and I’ve loved every single one of her books. The yearning, the mutual pining, the pain of them being separate after so many years together was done so well. Wren and Ellis were perfect and I’m so happy they got their HEA (again)

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book! I really enjoyed this second chance romance. I did struggle a little bit in the beginning getting into the story line because it was different from what I was expecting. But then I couldn’t put it down reading about Ellis and Wren and how they navigated their past while trying to rebuild their relationship! This story was unique and offered a fresh perspective of the second chance romance genre. The author created a perfect environment for the characters to reconnect and face their past.

I got this as an arc copy and I’ll be forever grateful. I don’t know what Tarah is putting in these books but it’s stunning. 10/10. I’d like 100 more please.

I’ve never been a huge fan of second chance romance. But between this and Happy Place, I’ve changed my mind. There are so many real life quotes in this book. I just really love it.

I really enjoyed these characters and was very invested in their emotional (re)connection. I love a second-chance / marriage-in-crisis book, and this one was particularly angsty, sweet and moving. However, I hadn't read DeWitt's previous books and I felt this didn't 100% work as a stand-alone; there were a lot of side characters that regular readers likely know well, but as a new reader it was easy to get a bit lost and bored in these group scenes. My other reservation was the epistolary / hidden identity element of the plot (it happens near the beginning, but I won't say much more in case of spoilers); it felt really redundant to me.

But overall, a solid and emotional second-chance story, and I'll definitely try more of DeWitt's books. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

Left of Forever
Wren and Ellis started dating in their teens, accidentally got pregnant, got married, built a life together. And well, life happened to both of them in between. Their marriage fell apart and now they’ve been divorced for five years. But the threads to each other never really left. Wren is still very much a part of the Byrd family (“she’s still a Byrd!”) and Ellis finds himself longing for any attachment to her when they become accidental anonymous pen pals. Months later, he gets up the nerve to suggest they do a celebratory road trip together after they drop their now-grown son off at college. He makes it clear that he also wants to reconnect and hopefully give them another chance and a fresh start. Wren reluctantly agrees to the trip on the condition that they both agree to unpack everything together with as much brutal honesty as they can muster, while also discovering each other again. What ensues is a beautiful fusing our souls who were always meant to be together and - even when separated - were never really far apart.

Rating: the easiest ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve ever given
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I don’t even know how to begin processing this book.

Most romance books are about falling in love. But STAYING in love is a completely different beast. It is waking up every day and making the same choice forever. It is grit and work and fight and pain and joy and laughter. It is exposing every raw thread of yourself and asking someone else to hold onto those things for a while because sometimes doing it on your own is too hard and too heavy. It is trusting that they will know every ugly piece of you and never use it against you. Falling in love is easy, staying in love is hard.

That’s what this book is about.

Left of Forever is a masterclass in redemption, forgiveness and second chances. It is the most real representation of the true work necessary to sustain a marriage. Wren and Ellis two have been through it all and didn’t make it. I love, love, love that they were already divorced. It puts a completely different lens on what it means to reestablish the relationship.

Tarah Dewitt, you have truly outdone yourself. You wrote these characters so real, raw and authentic, from the way they fought to their inside jokes. I admired how they laid it all out on the line for each other. They engaged like people who had nothing left to lose because, well, they had already lost the most important thing. May we all love so bravely. (“What is bravery if not hope in action?”) The recurring symbols throughout the book like the cranes and the “save you a seat” were poignant nods to a bone-deep relationship.

The whole damn Byrd family is to be adored. I love that you get to know all of them so much better in this book than Savor It. I so hope that the other Byrd brothers get their day. I would love a Silas book (pretty sure that is happening). I would love a Sam book! I love that you get to see more of Sage and Fisher’s engagement. And I won’t spoil the end but holy shit, I loved the end.

This is the movie A Marriage Story meets Jessica Joyce’s The Ex Vows. This is undoubtedly a top read of the year for me, if not in my top books of all time.

🫡 Tropes deployed: second chance, marriage redemption, road trip, single parents, young parents, grief, small town, tight knit family

This was phenomenal. The second chance romance of my dreams. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

"“Nice of you to join us, Meridian,” O’Doyle declares flatly. Wren appears to ignore her, but someone says something low from the corner of the room. “Excuse me?” O’Doyle calls. “Did someone else have something to say before I begin?” “I said,” the voice says louder this time, and every head in the room turns toward Ellis. “She’s still a Byrd,” he firmly states. Sage’s fingers dig into my arm. Wren closes her eyes like she’s stung." - savor it

This was the moment I became obsessed with Wren and Ellis! Im so so grateful that they got their own book.
I can’t pinpoint why but this story was so emotional to me, I think I cried my way through half of this book! The characters were so real! I will repeat myself again and again and again but having a companion novel series is just the absolute best! It was so fun to see all of these characters again!! I loved the family, how close they were, that they were always there for everyone! This was also so funny at times.
I really could feel the love from both mcs, it was the little things that made me swoon.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc! Thank you Tarah for writing such a beautiful story!!

Left of Forever is one of the best books I've read in a while. I flew through it because I COULD NOT put it down. It was emotional and real.
Ellis showing up and doing the WORK. Wren opening up and being honest about how she feels 🥹 And the spice?!?! SO GOOD.
Rarely does a book make me cry, but this had me crying a few times. I will tell literally anyone who will listen about this book.

My favorite second chance romance that I’ve read and possibly my favorite romance of the year. 6⭐️

Wren and Ellis’s love is so sweet, I have been rooting for them since I read Savor It and was not disappointed with their story, everything about it was perfect. The letters were beautifully done, I felt all of the emotions, and i didn’t want it to end! I hope we get the see more of the Byrd siblings.

Thank you Tarah and NetGalley for the pleasure of getting to read this early. 😍 I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy in May, I will treasure it forever.

One of the most romantic books I’ve ever read. Breath taking prose. A story about true love, hardships, and second chances. Tarah Dewitt is a genius!

Dear Stranger,

Do yourself a favor and read this book. It will tear your heart out and put it back together with the perfect blend of humor, romance, and emotion. After reading Savor It, I could not wait to dive into Wren and Ellis's story. I was not disappointed and already know this will be one of my top reads of 2025.

"I grew up with my great love. So I think maybe my heart took shape around his."

The book hits on some heavy topics - teen pregnancy, guardianship, secondary infertility, and divorce - to name a few. Tarah was able to write about these topics in such a beautiful way while capturing how hard it was for the characters. Wren and Ellis are childhood friends who fell in love. They had a kid when they were still basically kids themselves and got married young. After growing apart and divorcing, they still have to co-parent their son, Sam, and coexist in their small town. Ellis convinces Wren to go on a road trip on their way back to Spunes after dropping Sam off at college to see if they can give their romance a second chance. They take the opportunity to get to know each other again and have tough conversations while making memories traveling the Pacific Coast.

This book made me laugh; it made me cry. It was everything I wanted it to be.

The story also had some of my favorite microtropes: only one bed & secret tattoos

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