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.

DNF. It was too slow and a little boring with how straight forward it was for them to rekindle their relationship and overcome their trauma.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
The whole time reading this, I couldn’t stop rooting for Wren and Ellis. I love how this book is organized, especially how unique it begins with them becoming pen pals (unbeknownst to Wren). It really set up a beautiful love story, one of not just redemption, but healing a love that had always been true for them. Life circumstances can make it difficult for love to stay at the forefront, so to see them be able to go through stages of nostalgia, grief, anger, mistrust, appreciation, passion, and compassion for each other shows why their love could persevere through it all. Their forgiveness, and acceptance, and willingness to rejoice in giving each other that chance they deserved was so beautiful. I loved this book so much!
My ARC was provided by the publisher St. Martin’s Griifin and the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Tarah DeWitt book and I enjoyed it immensely. Those of you who ask, “where did the yearning and pining in romance novels go?”, look no further. I don’t read a lot of second chance romance but I feel like this must be a standout of the trope because the introspection and growth both characters have to go through before they make their way back to each other is so perfect and well constructed. We love a man who is not afraid to go to therapy! Not to mention there’s the inclusion of letters, journal entries, and flashbacks which are some of my favorite motifs in these types of stories. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

❤️ Second chance romance
❤️ Road trip
❤️ Forced proximity
❤️ Pining
❤️ Small town romance

2/5 🌶️ open door romance

Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

oh my heart! <3 This book was EVERYTHING!! It's Tarah's best work yet.

As Wren and Ellis Byrd send their son off to college, they are forced to face the fact that they have a long shared history with each other that may not be over. Having divorced 5 years prior, they've lived separate lives, dancing around each other in the same small town they live in. But the connection they have isn't an easy one to break. As they prepare to take their son to college, Ellis suggests a week long road trip back to Oregon as a way to see if they still have that spark and if there is any chance at reconciliation. Wren is hesitant, because it's not a secret she is still in love with her ex, Ellis, but she doesn't know if they have what it takes to make their relationship work again.

As they travel home together on this roadtrip, they look back on what they originally loved about each other, not just what broke them. The more time they reminisce and talk, the more they connect.

This is a true work of art! The second chance romance was done so well and I will have this living forever in my heart and mind!

You know I love a man with a mustache... But for real though, I am a sucker for a slow burn second chance romance. Every thing about this worked for me. The setting, the romance, the cameos from DeWitt's other characters. The forced proximity was just the cherry on top. I love this authors writing so much and it just keeps getting better and better. I will be yapping about this on the internet and to all my friends because I truly believe that every romance lover should read this and all of DeWitt's other books.

This book was absolutely incredible. I am a hugeeeee sucker for a second chance romance and this one ticked off all my boxes. The setting is perfect, the characters were fully fleshed-out and relatable, and at times I kind of wanted to jump right into the book. I am officially in love with the big boisterous Byrd family!

Wren is such a dynamic character; her fun loving, whimsical nature is perfectly juxtaposed by her deep emotional connections and desire to be a part of something bigger than herself. She is an amazing mom, sister and friend and often some aspect of these characteristics jump off the page every scene she is in. I absolutely adored her. Also, Wren Byrd makes me laugh every time I think about or say it. Poor lady.

Ellis has quite the growth arc in this. He starts out insanely lovable, but he does feel more emotionally stilted at the start. The therapy positivity, especially as it relates to men, is really special here. I loved how much it helps him to understand his own contributions to what went awry in their marriage. He was already the ideal MMC, but his emotional growth took it to a whole other level. I would also say, he more than Wren, had the most romantic lines of the book.

This story immediately gripped me from the very beginning. It was so emotionally beautiful in a way I can’t even describe. this is one of the best second chance romance i’ve ever read. Ellis and Wren will forever have a place in my heart. I love angst and yearning in a book, and this one DELIVERED. The amount of pining and yearning oh god it was too good! The emotion paired with amazing humor and a beautiful atmospheric setting made me feel like I was transported into this story! The romance between Wren and Ellis was so utterly beautiful and oh was the tension hot and through the freaking roof!! Every time Ellis said “baby” I literally freaked out, screamed, giggled and kicked my feet… screamed some more… (!!!!!!)

Will be highly recommending this book to my audience and anyone that ever asks for a romance rec.

tarah dewitt, the queen that you are!!!!! this book was absolute perfection and definitely her best book yet.

wren and ellis were such complex but yet fleshed out characters. i loved loved loved following them along on their journey reconnecting 5 years after their divorce. their story was incredibly beautiful, full of love, heartache, and some incredible growth. THIS is exactly what a second chance romance should be!!! i loved how the letter writing and wren’s journal entries gave a unique insight into their past rather than your typical flashbacks. the GROWTH that our man ellis went through phewwwww let me tell you! this was a man that truly understood what he had to do to get his wife back, he started therapy, he LISTENED to wren, and actually implemented the changes necessary.

this story tore my heart out and stomped on it…multiple times. so if that sounds like something you’d like to experience then definitely pick this one up.

a million thank you’s to st. martin’s press for the opportunity to read this early, i will cherish this book for a long long time

“He can have whatever he wants from me again. Everything is his.”

It’s hard to put into words the many ways this book felt like my life reflected back at me and the immense amount of gratitude I felt reading this story. I really am in my second chance era and I truly loveeee these stories. Seeing the absolute YEARNING Wren and Ellis have for one another, the not only has it always been you but I always WANTED it to be you, is just an absolute smack to the feelings.

“It terrifies me to think that I might've let this life go by without finding my way back to you.”

From the moment Ellis said “she’s still a Byrd” in Savor It, I knew the love story between him and Wren would bring me to my knees. I will be handing my physical copy to my husband as soon as it arrives and make him read it. The man doesn’t read. At all. But he will read this story because it is everythinggggg. Life changing in the best of ways.

“Even the most consuming love doesn’t necessarily mean happiness in the end.”

This is my third Tarah story and let me just say, if you want emotional, pining, yearning, I can’t think because you’re in my life type of love, she’s your lady. I can’t wait to read the rest of her work and wherever the rest of this wild ride in Spunes goes.

“Oh no. Did I just flirt with my ex-husband? Time to rein it in.”

Read if you like:
🪿second chance
🪿one cabin
🪿road trip
🪿secret letters
🪿journaling
🪿therapy rep

Make sure to read the cw before diving in. Wren and Ellis have a lifetime of memories they explore, many of which deal with very heavy subjects.

This was promoted as a stand alone novel with the same setting and characters as a previous novel. Unfortunately, I did not read the first in this series. I felt lost for many of the points and felt like I missed a lot of the backstory due to this. The story had too many facets for the short book that it was. That said, I liked the characters and their story, though I just didn’t buy the initial breakup or the getting back together. Very unrealistic.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review! I think Left of Forever altered my brain chemistry; this book was just so beautiful. It was brimming with heart and characters that feel like friends and SO MUCH YEARNING. I love a second chance romance and this was such a banger. Ellis' journey really got me - it reminded me a little of the way Darcy makes things right and reflects and grows during the back half of Pride and Prejudice; he has to work on himself and grow and discover to really appreciate what he's lost and what he's missing and then the way he WORKS to win Wren back. I could wax poetic about how smart and funny and tender this entire book is, but I'll pause here - just know that you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want what's best for Wren + Ellis, you'll still have this book on your heart weeks later.

Left of Forever is a very sweet second chance romance between Ellis and Wren Byrd. Ellis and Wren had met as children, had a child as teens, and got divorced before their thirties. As their son goes off to college, they decide to take a road trip on the way back to celebrate their accomplishment. It doesn't take long for sparks to fly again between this baker and firefighter.

I haven't read the first book in this "series" though it says they are able to be read as standalones. Other than maybe missing some of the towns backstory, I don't felt as though I missed anything by jumping straight to this book. Some of my favorite characters were the background characters though, so I am excited to see who the next book will revolve around!

It’s official. I’m obsessed with Tarah DeWitt’s writing. I loved her other books, and I needed this story from the moment I first read “She’s still a Byrd” in Savor It.
What I didn’t expect was for this book to make me weep. Multiple times. I’m a sucker for second chance romance and always have been, but there’s something about people choosing to love each other, intentionally, despite and because of everything that’s come before. It gets me every time, and I can’t wait for more (but I will be patient because the best stories take time to tell).
10000% recommend and please don’t ask how many physical copies I ordered.

I received an advance copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own, and a review was not required.

Tarah DeWitt does it again! I was hooked from the very beginning. It broke my heart to see bits of Wren and Ellis’s marriage came to end, but watching them find each other again stitched me right back up. BRB looking for my own Ellis because WOW. He definitely made it into my Top 10 Book Husbands. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Lots of swoony and spicy moments, but I wanted the main characters to work through their problems a little more? Seemed rushed in that department to me!! Especially for main characters that are in their 30s.

👩‍❤️‍👨Dual POV
💕Second chance romance
🌶️Spice
📖Connected standalone to Savor It
🏘️Small town
🚗Road trip
🎧Great audiobook narrators

Check content warnings! I appreciate that the author included them at the beginning of the book.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my ALC and St. Martin’s Press for my eARC. Left of Forever is out 5/20!

While this is set in Spunes, OR and the author noted that you don't have to read the first book, I felt like I was missing something because I hadn't read the other story set in the same town. This story followed a second chance romance trope and was structured a little interestingly. It started in the present, moved to the past to provide context, before coming back to the present. While I was happy for Wren and Ellis, the second chance romance isn't my favorite trope. The characters were always in reflective mode and did not spend a whole lot of time truly talking about the future. I did like how they reconnected, though, it was cute!

This was so cute & the best representation of second chance romance!!!

I knew when I read Savor It & Ellis claim Wren was still a Byrd that this book would EATTT and that it did.

This book was the definition of when you know you know and how sometimes life can really bog you down (& your relationships) but you’ll always eventually find your way to your person. I loved how real it was too showing the work the characters put into their own mindset before they got back together, mostly Ellis!

I really loved that when Wren & Ellis get together, you really see that they were always meant to be. The yearning of this one too was top tier.

Tropes:
Second Chance
Small Town Romance
Forced Proximity
Childhood friends to lovers to divorcees to lovers (lol)

Loved this book, finished it about a week ago & am still thinking about it. Yet another Tarah DeWitt book I got for free but will probably spend money on to make sure it’s on my shelves 😩 while I really liked funny feelings & the co-op, the spunes series has an extra special place in my heart. Was obsessed with sage & fisher from Savor It, now I’m in love with wren & ellis 🥹 and ofc I’m not complaining that this was spicierrr than the others hehe (“Get it, baby,” lives rent free in my head now, I SWOONED 🥵)

other fave quotes:
Gray. Gray. Gray. Autumn in Spunes is nothing but wet and gray, and I love it. It’s like everything is brighter in contrast.

It’s more of that dangerous hope, as delicate as blown sugar. I want that. I want to feel cherished and wanted again, I want to feel that way for someone again. The realization makes me unsteady, like I’m being pulled in two directions.

“Hey,” I say. What an idiotic, pathetic word compared to the emotional anarchy in my head.

God, I would have died for this man, once. Now we’re reduced to single syllables and stilted silences.

I am so scared to fail to the point that it prevents me from acting, let alone taking a risk, or it makes me try to control everything that poses a potential risk around me. 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.

“This past Thanksgiving. He ate a piece of the chocolate bourbon pecan. I tried to make meaningful eye contact with you over it multiple times, but you were preoccupied with eye-boning your pirate lover.”

His voice is like having my back scratched.

I miss you, too sounds glib. You have been missing from me is more accurate. There’s a void where you lived in me.

“All I know is that if I found out heaven was real and got there first? I’d hang back in the waiting room and save you a seat.”

Hope is cruel in its persistence.

Hope is my Tell-Tale Heart, thumping away no matter how hard I try to silence her.

Bright and rainy, like Spunes itself was crying happy tears to watch our boy go.

I miss fighting with him. It was when we stopped fighting that everything went cold.

Because as desperate as I am to be near you, to be inside you, I’m terrified that having you this close again will also remind you of all the parts of me you wanted to leave.

“course I was hoping a little … mixing the batter might help you two work out a few things.” “Could have gone my whole life without hearing that euphemism.”

Make plans with me forever, I mean. Hitch your life to mine again and we’ll go places. We’ll share every plan, every heavy thing together, and all the good stuff, too.

“You robbed me of YOU! Don’t you see how not telling me how you really felt robbed me of you?!”

Everything we were to each other, to know that you wouldn’t trust me to care about what you wanted?

I’m grateful he’s as messy and out of control as I am for once.

For the million and one kisses we’ve shared, I’ve never felt like this. I want to be in him and for him to be in me. I want to be Ellis. I want him to be me. I want to be one single body and spirit, and I want him to feel what I feel for him like air in his own lungs.

“I’m begging you to fight with me, do anything with me. Just be with me.”

“That’s okay, baby. Be mad at me forever,” I say. But then she kisses me sweetly and it feels like forgiveness.

DNF @ 51%

This is my 3rd attempt at a Tarah Dewitt book and I can firmly say that her writing style/storytelling isn’t for me.

I love second chance romance but this was boring. Where’s the angst? It doesn’t make any sense to me why they aren’t together. They clearly just didn’t communicate properly. The setup for the story feels weak so I’m tapping out ✌🏻

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc.

after all, what is bravery if not hope in action?

4 ★

another escape to the wonder and comfort that is spunes could never be a bad thing. whether you choose to read left of forever with your eyeballs or with an audiobook, there is truly no wrong choice. tarah's ability to craft a story full of heart and soul and warmth will soar either way. ellis and wren's journey back to each other was intimacy and hard-fought, a rediscovery of the life they once dreamed of sharing.

additionally, tarah's knack for delivering intentional and impactive spice added such a necessary layer to this story. it is never smut for the sake of it, but rather worship of all the other is and what they could be together. all of those elements of a romance are on full display for wren and ellis as they navigate a second chance at their happy ending.

left of forever is a found family, second chance, small town romance wonder. all of the best components of those popular romance tropes are used to their fullest potential here. after falling in love so young, to witness the ways this pair learned to laugh together again was so special. having to relearn someone they never anticipated being separated from created both an ache and a healing for them. they fought for it and the future is theirs again.

this release has felt like a long time coming, but I am so pleased for tarah and readers alike that wren and ellis are finally out in the world, ready for their rightful home on bookshelves everywhere.

thanks to tarah dewitt for trusting me with a very early copy of ellis and wren's story and st. martin's press for access to an eARC in exchange for an honest review.