FIVE STARS!!! Ellis, what a MAN! I loved this second chance romance. I do not want to give away any spoilers, so I won't go in depth but this is a must read for 2025! The romance, the spice, the COMMUNICATION! 10/10.

I have never fallen harder or rooted more for two characters than I have with Wren and Ellis Byrd. This was hands down one of the most beautiful books that I have ever read.

Left of Forever is a raw and incredible story of two people who fell in love young, got dealt with a heavy dose of life circumstances, divorced and in their early 30s were given a second chance.

This story made my heart ache early on when both Wren and Ellis described the loneliness that they both felt after experiencing so much of their lives together and then apart for 5 years. The road trip, side characters (the Byrd Family) and the building blocks that all lead to the end were all so perfect and beautifully written. This will be a story that stays with me for a long time.

🕊️Small Town Romance
🕊️Second Chance
🕊️MMC and FFM in 30s
🕊️Forced Proximity
🕊️Firefighter & Baker

Thank you so much to Tarah DeWitt and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this beautiful story!

Sweet second chance romance. It was funny and real and emotional. I really liked Ellis and how sweet and earnest he was. Overall I really enjoyed it and will be checking out more from DeWitt.

LEFT OF FOREVER by Tarah DeWitt

This book is perfect. By far, the best second chance romance I’ve ever read. And second chance romances are like catnip for me. But this one — this one is special.

We first meet Ellis and Wren Byrd in Tarah DeWitt’s lovely Savor It, as they navigate their new-ish lot in life: unhappily divorced co-parents to teenage Sam. Now, they’re dropping Sam off at college — an achievement they agree to celebrate together as they roadtrip home. On their trip, they plan to finally seek closure that could either bring them back together or cement their separation forever.

Tarah’s usual wit and banter shine as always, and the emotions here are raw and real. I think what makes Left of Forever stand out is that these two characters attack their relationship out loud, tying and untying knots, piecing things together and ripping themselves open. It’s not luck or proximity that will determine their future — it’s the work they put in. There’s a maturity to the approach that feels insightful and honest where so many second chance romances fall short.

Have I mentioned I LOVE THIS BOOK?!

Left of Forever comes out 5/20!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I just finished this book and can’t even fully process how I feel so I’m going to come back and write a more detailed review, but I couldn’t wait to come on here and say this book is phenomenal and it deserves infinity stars. I loved Wren and Ellis so much!!

Here is my actual review-
Left of Forever was such a raw, beautiful and emotional experience. Tarah’s writing brought me right into Ellis and Wren’s feelings of loneliness and the confusion they both felt about their divorce and the love they still had for each other.
I could feel their raw vulnerability as they opened up to each other about their past hurts and struggles. Their love for each other was so real and beautiful that I felt as if I was right there in their story.
The banter between these two and their family and town had me laughing so hard! Some really funny stuff happens on their road trip and I found myself crying laughing 😂
But the emotional parts are really emotional and had me feeling all the rough emotions. I absolutely loved the ending! This might be my favorite book of the year so far!

Like so many others, I knew I was going to love Left of Forever from the moment I read the seed Tarah DeWitt planted in Savor It, when Ellis said, “She’s still a Byrd.” I have anticipated this book for months, and it was everything I hoped it would be and more!

First of all, Tarah’s line level writing is full of feeling, so specific, and so poetic. It was a pure pleasure getting lost in her words.

Tied to that is her character work. There is so much yearning and love and regret and hope and angst and pining here, and it feels deeply personal and real. I love how the communication (or declaration) of feelings between Ellis and Wren isn’t the destination but truly part of the journey. They yearn openly. They want each other openly. And sure, there are doubts, and they fear screwing things up — there are real stakes here — but they don’t have to build up to that honesty. They put it into practice throughout a good chunk of the book. It’s so refreshing to see two people open themselves to each other, say what they’re thinking, and actively STAY open to each other. It feels very mature and very realistic, even as it is actually so hard to do in real life.

This feels like a totally original take on the second chance story. It’s also so incredibly hot! But it’s tender and funny and charming, too, as I have come to expect from Tarah. What a time to be a romance reader with books like these! Tarah is a cornerstone author of current contemporary romance. She is simply at the top of the game when it comes to clutch-your-heart realistic romance.

And now I can’t wait for those last two Byrds’ books…

A beautiful, second chance romance that speaks to how love can be found again despite it being lost for a time.

As soon as Tarah announced this new release it immediately earned a spot on my most anticipated new romance books of 2025 list. How could it not when after getting only a few cameos of Wren and Ellis in last year’s hit, Savor It, those moments alone had me clamoring for more of these two. And when I say clamoring, I mean I was DESPERATE to know more about what drove these two apparent soulmates a part and if they would be able to find their way back to each other.

What transpires is a beautiful, second chance romance that I think a lot of people may be able to relate to and that’s the beauty of DeWitt’s romances I’m coming to find. She creates these perfectly imperfect characters who are so relatable in the struggles they find themselves in and the way they navigate giving their heart and their love to another in the process of moving through those struggles. I’d convinced it’s DeWitt’s superpower as an author.

Wren and Ellis are no different. She crafted two people who found each other as kids and who grew to become friends, then lovers and then parents at a young age and who let the bad times overshadow the good until they called it quits. Now with their grown son off to college, they are in the headspace to see if what they once had is still there and salvageable – to finally be together again and enjoy what’s left of forever.

The story however doesn’t jump right into the road trip that’s mentioned in the summary. This might make the story seem like it has a slow start to some but I think it was actually pretty genius. Instead, Tarah gives a bit of background and understanding (especially for those who haven’t read Savor It which you don’t need to as this is a standalone) to where Wren and Ellis are in their respective headspaces – both finally letting themselves realize how much they miss their other half and how they might be ready to fight for each other when they didn’t before.

From there the forced proximity of their road trip home after dropping off their son Sam at college is a mixture of reminiscing and dealing with the moments and feelings that drove them to divorce as well as dropping their guards to admit the love they still have and hope to resurrect again.

While the topic of infertility is mentioned (and might be a trigger warning for some) and played a role in their drifting a part, it wasn’t really about one moment or one piece of drama that drove their separation which is what makes their reconciliation so much more hopeful and believable.
It takes courage for them to be honest with their “2 negatives” a day that they share but also with the hopes that they have for a future as well.
There were a number of one-liners that really stuck with me while reading this that illustrate how tough it can be in any relationship and in any marriage even if you are soulmates. And every moment that he called her Byrd just melted my heart.

The found family aspect of this story, while subtle in the background, is so lovely. I loved each member of the Byrd family and would love to get Silas and Micah’s stories as well.

Sometimes the best romance books are those about a love so enduring that it takes your breath away in its simplicity. I loved how these two finally allowed themselves to fight for the love that never left them and how much joy it brought to all of those around them as well.

I highly recommend reading this AND Savor It if you love a fulfilling romance with all the feels.

*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read. I haven’t been this struck by a book in a long time. I’m in shambles. Tarah is an amazing author. Will pop back in on good reads and share my thoughts when I can articulate them properly.

This was a beautiful story of second-chance romance, successful young co-parenting, and finding each other again after life knocks you down. This was my first book of the inter-connected series so I was worried I would feel lost with the characters but the author did a great job of reviewing characters readers may met before while having the MCs be the primary focus. Can definitely be read as a standalone but I'll be back to read the backlist! Thank you!

Left of Forever follows Wren and Ellis, two people who fell in love as kids, had a baby as teenagers, and got married. But somewhere along the way, their marriage fell apart. Now divorced and in their 30s, they’ve built separate lives after being apart for five years, all while successfully co-parenting. Despite this, they still haven’t been able to move on from each other. When they help their son move into college, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended road trip back home to see if they can give their relationship one last chance. 

Funny Feelings is one of my top five favourite books of all time, so any book that Tarah DeWitt releases is immediately an anticipated read of mine, and her upcoming release, Left of Forever, gave me everything I want in a romance book and more. Wren and Ellis’ love story was so beautifully written and heartwarming. I really appreciated how they worked through their problems and found their way back to each other, ensuring it was done in a healthy way to protect their family.

In addition to writing compelling love stories, I love how Tarah DeWitt brings her characters to life, showing flaws and real-life struggles, making them so relatable to readers. Both characters had things to overcome, which made their happy ending even more satisfying.

Left of Forever is truly second-chance romance at its best! Tarah DeWitt will forever be one of my favourite romance authors, I can't recommend her books enough!

Still dying over the fact I read a Tarah DeWitt ARC 🤯 This book follows divorced couple Ellis and Wren as they go on a roadtrip to celebrate sending their son off to college, and as the trip goes on, they start to rekindle their relationship.

This book definitely gave me an “I love this book feeling” at only 4% in. The amount of highlights I have is absolutely insane. The moment I realized they both missed eachother badly and wanted to work on things but didn’t know how, I was hooked. It gave such good tension.

Absolutely obsessed with Ellis, we love a man that goes to therapy and actively WANTS to become a better person.

This was also surprisingly funny, even in the midst of tears, I still found myself laughing at something said on the next page. Especially that cooking scene, it was so chaotic.

This was the cutesttt Tarah book i’ve read, and it was so relatable to some aspects of my life that I was reading and was a little freaked out lol. This was an interconnected standalone to Savor It, which was also one that I really really enjoyed by her. The only thing that would’ve made this a 5 ⭐️ read for me was if it was more of a slow burn. I feel like they very quickly got over their awkwardness which was kinda their biggest issue in the beginning.

I absolutely adored everything about this book. I will read anything Tarah DeWitt writes, I’m convinced she can’t write a book I would dislike.

5.0

♾️⭐

I first met Wren and Ellis is Savor It, and was very excited to read their story. I knew 30% in that this would be one of my top favorite romance books of all time.

Their story of growing up, growing apart and coming back together was done so beautifully.


"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." 😭😭

It was emotional and funny at the same time, I would alternate between laughing and crying. I loved how things got started with the letters, and how they both agreed to be open and communicate with each other on their road trip.

This is second chance romance DONE RIGHT. And I appreciated how the MCs were in their 30s and had gone through stuff.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. I will be immediately rereading as soon as I get my paperback copy upon release 💖

this book felt like sitting on the floor of an open room, window ajar, letting the delicate shine of the early morning glow merge itself to the gentle but firm summer breeze as it plants itself into my soul. truly supernatural sunshine in book form. i won't soon forget. Wren and ellis, thank you. tarah, you are a gift.
"I'II love you for everything left of forever, in every lifetime we get."
thank you to netgalley for the arc🤍

Tarah writes it, I read it. I looooooved this. I’m usually not a huge fan of second chance romance or marriage in trouble tropes but Tarah has such a way with words and emotion. I think I say this in all my book reviews for her stories but this one’s got a lot of heart!

This was such a beautiful and emotional second chance romance.

This book contained Tarah DeWitt's signature fast-paced writing, and I absolutely flew through it. The way she creates characters who are flawed but honest, and who love each other despite, and because of, their messiness, never fails to make me swoon. Ellis and Wren were meant to be. It was heartbreaking to read about their reasons for breaking up, but seeing them try and put their love back together was a delight.

Ellis is a man who wants to be in control of his life. He wants to make everything ok for everyone else, and it hurts him when he can't. Seeing him work through things and get himself help was so heartwarming. Wren was a strong woman and mom, and it was hard to witness the grief she dealt with over the loss of her marriage and her hopes and dreams. (While there weren't flashback chapters, both characters did a lot of writing that detailed their past.) I also loved the glimpses we get of their childhood friendship and teenage love.

The road trip chapters were a lot of fun, and I was eagerly waiting to see how these two would find their way back to each other. There was a lot of humor, along with some of my favorite romance tropes. (I'm looking at you, one bed!)

If you love Tarah DeWitt's books, you will absolutely adore this one and I definitely recommend it. I'll be off to read Savor It soon because I want to spend more time with the characters of Spunes.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the e-arc of this book!

Tarah Dewitt, you’re amazing. We already knew that, but you continue to outdo yourself. Having met the characters in “Savor It”, I was nervous. Why? I have no idea because Ms. Dewitt ALWAYS comes through in a spectacular way. I want to say more, but don’t want to ruin this one for anyone reading the review because I can’t gush without spoilers at this point. This one is a 5 ⭐️ book for me & I can’t wait to have her sign a copy of it for me.

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

Tarah has done it again! How am I expected to move on from this book???? Like many of you, I was ready for an Ellis and Wren book from the moment I read the words, “She’s still a Byrd” in Savor It. This was such a beautiful story. I loved seeing Wren and Ellis find their way back to each other. I went from giggling like a dork at their flirting/tension to bawling my eyes out at the heavy conversations they needed to have.

I may be biased as someone who lives in California, but I loved the road trip aspect of the story! Wren and Ellis reconnecting while traveling the state was not only fun but important for the story. As much as I love Spunes, I loved seeing these two reconnecting outside of the town where they fell in love.

I can’t wait to return to Spunes with the Byrds! Thank you, NetGalley and SMP for this eARC!
Pick this baby up on May 20!

This ARC was my first (and currently only) five star read in 2025! Tarah writes romances the way that I wanna read romances and I just absolutely ate this one up. I giggled, I bawled and I fell in love with Wren and Ellis. There is such genuine and thorough character development that makes the story just so authentic and raw.

The pacing was truly so spot on. Tarah find a great balance of character and plot development. There is wonderful exploration of their faults in the relationship in the past, which makes their journey throughout the novel more genuine. I will be screaming about this book from the rooftops!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (NO NOTES!!)

Gahhhhhhhhhhh…this gosh darn book people! First of all, let’s just discuss the cover – it is screaming to have a step back, like the vibes it is giving off an old school historical romance cover – I cannot. Then Tarah DeWitt has the audacity to write a masterpiece second chance romance for Ellis and Wren in Left of Forever – how dare she! The pining that man does is just perfection, and THEN you’re going to throw in letters and emails and journal writings! I will eat it up every single time. I did a lot of squealing and maniacal laughing (think Pepé the King Prawn), reading this book. There might have been unhinged texts to my bestie including “Tell me why Ellis talking about his feelings is like one of the sexiest things ever?!?” and “he’s down sooo bad”.

Pretty much the perfect specimen for how a second chance romance should be written – they were both so vulnerable and open with one another and it just made it feel all the more real to see what went wrong the first time, and how they would work to make sure it went right forever.

Ohhh and getting to catch up with Sage and Fisher, being back in Spunes, Oregon AND we get to see Deacon and LaRynn from the Co-Op. Sooooo good!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Tarah DeWitt and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book!