I am an absolute mess. I’ve laughed, cried, kicked my feet, and all of the things. I have absolutely no notes. This is Tarah’s best book yet, and I’m a sucker for a slutty mustache ❤️

“I’ve been living and loving in half-measures for years. Living my life in pencil, because I don’t think I can get shit right the first time. Maybe because I think it’ll save me some pain. So far, I’ve been wrong.”

“But I want someone to belong to me again, too. I wish it were still you. I hate that I wish it were still you.”

Woah, did I love this book. To be completely transparent, I am NOT a second chance romance trope fan whatsoever. I’m more of a long time lover of “it’s always been you.”That being said, I was very hesitant picking this ARC up because of the gigantic cynical chip living on my shoulder, but I knew if there was anyone that could change my mind, it would be Tarah DeWitt. And she did just that.

Ellis and Wren. Period. They are the standard for this trope and honestly a lot of others too. I fell in love with them separately, but together? They were next level couple goals. I really loved the vulnerability in Ellis’ POV and while there was a lot more of Wren’s POV, I found his so necessary for laying down the foundation of their history and love story. Then there was the mutual pining that had me OBSESSED with needing them to admit their feelings to each other. I also love that Ellis put in the work for himself before he even reached out to Wren to see if there was anything left there from their marriage. SO good and I definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Tarah DeWitt for this advanced readers copy! ◡̈

There’s something that hits just right about a second chance romance for a marriage in crisis—and Tarah NAILED it.

Wren and Ellis have been through it… but despite their tumultuous relationship, their son, Sam, has always come first. But now he’s off to college, and Wren and Ellis are left struggling with the questions of what comes next…especially since they’re both secretly (or not-so-secretly pining for one another). Divorce may have been what they needed at the time…but is it still the right choice for them?

I love the acknowledgement that marriage is hard at times. That growing as an individual simultaneously beside and with another person is incredibly difficult to align. And for Wren and Ellis, it just didn’t line up the way they’d hoped. More than that, they were also struggling with infertility when trying for their second child.

But now? Now they have another chance, and Ellis isn’t ready to give up on it—so he tries. He works on communicating—something he’s notoriously struggled with—and does his best to share, listen, and respond in hopes of growing with Wren this time around. And what better time to do all of this than on an isolated road trip together after dropping their son off at college?

I love Tarah’s writing and how she poetically weaves these two together through not only their words but also their actions.

I’ve seen so many people rave about this one, so it’s no surprise that you should go pick up a copy for yourself by now—but let me just say that I highly recommend it as a story of hope and self-growth, because not many authors can capture this as beautifully as Tarah has and package it up so beautifully for us to enjoy.

Read if you like:
- Marriage in crisis
- Second chance romance
- Found family
- Small town
- Road trip
- Forced proximity
- Childhood friends to lovers

I loved everything about this book. It's a second chance/marriage in crisis combo. The dynamics of the Byrd family make it really special. They are all wonderfully charming. The small town/ road trip setting is adorable. Ellis is a sensitive and dreamy hunk of a man. I loved how he pinned. Wren is a hot mom. The discussions of where they went wrong and past trauma was so real and raw. The spice was perfection. Highly recommend!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC!

Left of Forever takes us back to Spunes, however this time the plot focuses on second chance romance. This book is about Wren and Ellis' story. Wren and Ellis fell in love young, had a baby young and ended up growing apart/divorcing. The story follows them as they take a round trip back from dropping their son off at college. More importantly, it follows them as they find their way back to one another. One of the things I like most about Tarah DeWitt's books is that they are so realistic. Yes it is contemporary romance, but the relationship development and personal growth of the characters happens in a way that is plausible and relatable. Tarah is able to really relay the full gambit of human emotions so that you are can connect with the characters and the story. This is an emotional and heartfelt book!

Thank you Tarah DeWitt and St. Martin's Griffin for letting me read this ARC via NetGalley.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Vibes: 🔥🚒💔📝🚗🌲🥵🌶️💦💞
Rating: 3.75⭐
Tropes: second chance / divorced couple / childhood friends-to-lovers / road trip / forced proximity / love letters / reflection and rediscovery

I was obsessed with the hype around this book before I even really read the description on NetGalley, and then realized that there might be a chance I don't like this title with all the tropes but I'm glad I gave it a chance because I enjoyed it. A little more spicier than my usual picks, but thank goodness I don't have nosey coworkers when I'm reading.

I love Ellis and Wren, the end.

Thank you netgalley, St. Martin’s, and the author for my #gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the journey of Wren and Ellis. I loved the way these two found their way back to each other and really never stopped loving one another. When they went through what these two do, it can be so hard to find yourself and they really needed that time apart. And their family pulling so hard for them?🥹

🎧 Megan Wicks and Connor Crais were the PERFECT Wren and Ellis. We’ve all been waiting for their story and these two really brought them to life.

This one is already out and if you haven’t read Savor It, I recommend it but it’s not necessary!

ARC Review: Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is Dewitt’s second novel set in the charming small town of Spunes. Ellis Byrd realizes after 5 long painful years, he wants a reunion with his ex-wife Wren. After dropping their son off at college, the pair embark on a trial reunion roadtrip, to discuss the harsh truths of the past and see if there is a way forward together. I feel like this should be the template that all second chance romances need to follow. It was truly fantastic, and I usually don’t pick up second chance romances (I don’t give out second chances 🤷🏻‍♀️). I loved that despite Ellis’s burly exterior, he was genuinely very soft and open with Wren, even a little goofy. Their dynamic and sexual energy was 10/10, they are such a perfect couple. There are a few triggers, please check them out and take care of yourself while reading.

Left of Forever releases May 20th 2025!

Love, joy, hilarious moments, and hope
Left or Forever is finally out in the world and I KNOW yall have been waiting for this one!!

It’s a story filled with love, joy, hilarious moments, and arguably most importantly, hope. It shows the importance of self-work, and work in relationships. That it’s never too late to go after what you want. Life is too short to let love slip past you. You have to grip it with both hands, be brave, and never let to.

I loved this story, and these two MCs. Second Chance Romance and Found Family were the two big tropes in this one 🫶🏼

I love a second-chance romance, and this one? This one is pretty special.

Technically the second book in a series of interconnected stand-alones, "Left of Forever" follows Wren and Ellis Byrd—a divorced couple who got pregnant in high school, got married young, and ultimately broke up, years later. Now in their early 30s, their son is about to head to college, leaving them both grappling with the fact that 1) they're parents of an adult, 2) they both still have so much life left, and 3) they're both lonely. When it's time to move their son to his new home, Ellis suggests he and Wren roadtrip there and back together—and though she is hesitant, she agrees.

From there, we go on a journey through their past along with the present, learning about their childhood friendship, their teenaged love affair, their less-than-rosy marriage, and the family they created together. It's a lovely, nuanced look at a relationship that has never gone in the direction anyone expected and all the ways life can surprise you.

And the yearning? THERE IS SO MUCH YEARNING. FROM A MAN! A MAN WHO YEARNS!

It's a beautiful, sexy, and emotional book about love, life, and second chances—and it's one that's going to stick with me for a long time.

4.5🌟

This book had me in a total and complete chokehold. I loved how emotional and how deep it was, and I’m a sucker for a second chance romance!

After Savor It, I was so excited when I saw we would be getting a book for Wren and Ellis! As someone who loves second-chance romance, I was really looking forward to reading this, but unfortunately I don't think this book was for me. For some reason, the romance between Wren and Ellis wasn't very believable to me. For a couple that's been divorced for years and who've known each other since childhood, it felt like them wanting to rekindle their marriage came out of nowhere. As the story progressed, I felt kind of detached from the romance and it was getting very lust-centered. I would've liked more intimacy and communication, feeling like they're gradually reconnecting and falling back in love, but instead it felt like everything happened very fast and after having a few conversations they resolved all of their issues. Despite this, there were many sweet moments and I really appreciate the heavier topics Tarah included in this book. I also loved getting glimpses of Sage and Fisher and highly recommend reading Savor It before this! I expected a second-chance romance would make me feel more emotionally but I still had fun reading and I think a lot of people would enjoy this book!
～Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to the publisher for the eArc.

I just wasn’t connecting with this one like I had hoped I would. It may be a case where I come back to it another day but there’s too many communication issues that don’t feel grounded to be believable for me to continue with it at the moment.

This book was second chance perfection. The emotions between these characters were developed so well in this book. They're a divorced couple, who are far out from their doomed relationship, so the pieces of it that we see in the beginning of this book are full of reluctance and bitter sadness. Wren and Ellis have learned to exist in the world without one another, but they've never actually learned to thrive on their own.

In this book, a unique set of circumstances has thrust them back together. Ellis's yearning for Wren was key in pulling me in right away. I felt that man's heart bleed out on the page, in the most subtle ways, and knew that this story would bring on a tidal wave of emotions. Wren I think was the most reluctant out of the two because of how she internalized a lot of what happened between them around the time they split. Can she trust herself in a relationship again? Can she trust Ellis?

As we go through this book, we get to experience all the raw, nervous emotions that they feel. They've never truly fallen out of love with one another, so the tender way that their hearts find each other once again was so, so beautiful to read. I love that we get to see them put it all on the line. I love that the couple is a "grown" couple, living normal lives. I also love that this author took her time to tell the story the right way.

If you're a sucker for a second chance romance, you won't regret picking this book up. Now I'm off to explore more of her backlist!

A sweet, touching second chance romance that’s will have you smiling, laughing, and swooning. It can be read alone, but best read after Savor It. I can’t wait to see what Byrd will fall in love next.


I voluntarily read an early copy.

such a perfect second chance romance. it was so raw and emotional. i loved wren and ellis & how they found their way back to one another on that road trip. the yearning and growth i saw in these characters was portrayed so well. tarah handled heavy topics with such care. truly a beautiful story of true love. 100% recommend this book + savor it if you haven’t read it already!! 4.5 stars!

I am so lucky the stars aligned so I could exist at the same time as this book

One of my favorite reads of the year!!! This is one of the best second chance romances I’ve ever read and I truly haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished. The pacing was absolutely perfect, at no point did I feel like the story was dragging. It flowed SO seamlessly and I never wanted it to end 😭.

I’m completely in love with both main characters- Wren and Ellis are EVERYTHING!!! If I didn’t believe in true love, these two would have convinced me it was real. They were just so REALISTIC! The heartache was truly palpable and I found myself hurting right along with them. My chest aches just thinking about them. I cried multiple times and I was in shock at how well the relationship was portrayed, the good the bad and the ugly parts!!! The tension, the spice, the romance, the vulnerability, the humor, the TENDERNESS 😭😭 it was all perfect, I have absolutely zero critique.

I will definitely be rereading this one at least once per year, it’s stuck in my heart forever ❤️‍🩹

This was a fun book, im a a sucker for a second chance romance. I love firefighters too so I was so excited to read this one.

This was the sweetest romance and the perfect choice to read between darker stories.
Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love as children and had their son Sam as teenagers, trying in vain to hold up under so much of what life threw at them. Even though they went their separate ways and tried to build happy lives, they never stopped thinking of each other. When Sam leaves for college, they agree to take a week-long road trip together after dropping him off, with a goal of at least rebuilding a friendship but possibly more.

I loved the romantic settings of the California coast road trip, but most of all their agreement to analyze all the good and bad of their time together, to see if they had grown into people who could make it work. Their chemistry has always been scorching, but they had so much to learn about communication, and it was just overwhelmingly hopeful to see both of them trying so hard, not just for the sake of their son but for the love they still held for each other.

I was not really won over by the spicy scenes in this, and I found myself cringing during some of them (the ice cream, OMG.) Overall, the conversations they had were fantastic and I love their strategy of revealing a limited number of negative things each day while answering more philosophical questions to reveal themselves.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Griffin for this book!

I loved LOVED DeWitt’s book Funny Feelings. But this book? Not so much.
I was excited to read a second chance romance about a married…errr formerly married couple. I was riding high on the idea as I’d just come off the tails of Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young, which was *CHEF’S KISS* buut this book…was not like that one.
I just…didn’t believe their romance.
In terms of the storytelling, I love the epistolary elements at the beginning (aka the letters and emails). I see lots of folks disliked it, but I* liked it. Go figure.
I also found the initial part of the narration to be confusing as it would go back and forth through time and kind of assumed you’d read the first Spunes book (Savor It), even though I *think* this book is supposed to be a stand-alone.
That BEING SAID. The story was infinitely better as an audiobook thanks to the GREAT narration by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks. They really salvaged the book for me during my second “read-through” of it with the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, and Tarah DeWitt for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.