I had put off this book for a while, but I'm not sure why. I'm so disappointed that I did because I was immediately sucked in. I'm not sure why I resonate so strongly with a divorced (separated) couple who to their core still love and adore each other, but I was! The fact that Wren is a baker and Ellis is a Firefighter is swoon worthy. Their connection bleeds through the pages and into your heart. While there are some deep trigger warnings for this book, I will absolutely read the attached books to this series. Thank you for surprising me!

Wow, wow, wow, wow. This book completely surprised me in all the best ways.

When I opened the eARC and saw that this was part of a series, my heart sank a bit. I always read books in a series in order, even if the author says it can be read as a standalone, so I was prepared to miss a few inside jokes and be annoyed by references to scenes from the first book. That did not happen at all - Tarah DeWitt did an excellent job introducing Spunes, Oregon and the Byrd family to new and returning readers.

Second chance romances are really hit or miss for me, and this was an absolute hit. Wren and Ellis fell in love in high school and were forced to grow up quickly when they got pregnant as teens. Despite their strong foundation, their relationship hit a rough patch five years ago that they never recovered from. When their son gets into college in California, Ellis suggests taking a road trip after dropping him off. He pitches it as a trip for co-parents celebrating their greatest achievement, but Wren cannot help but wonder if his intention is to reignite a romantic spark between them. The road trip was the perfect blend of vulnerable reconnection and laugh out loud moments, making it truly difficult for me to put this book down!

I enjoyed this book so much that I can safely say that I absolutely will be reading Savor It (Book 1 in the Spunes, OR series) and all of Tarah DeWitt's backlist.

Read this book if you like:
💕 Second chance
🌲 Teen sweethearts
💕 Found family
🌲 Road trip
💕 Small town
🌲 Firefighter MMC

The characters! Were so darn perfect!!! Spunes just keeps getting better and better! I fell so in love with with Ellis and Wren, their grit, soft sides and commitment to one another.

It was sweet, hillarious, tough and spicy with the best cast of characters. Tarah does family/community so well.

I hope y’all love this grow up together, second chance romance as much as I did!

Thank you NetGalley, Tarah DeWitt, and St.Martin's Press for this ARC. Available May 20th!

A second chance romance that outshines all others. Tarah DeWitt has been a favorite of mine from her debut, Rootbound. No one writes an emotionally moving, yet whimsical romance quite like she does.

Wren and Ellis go on such an emotional rollercoaster. As someone who also married too young, I resonated with some of the feelings these two carried. Sometimes it's all too easy to get stuck in the negatives and the hard life things that bring us down. Watching Wren and Ellis work through those memories and feelings while making new positive memories was incredibly beautiful. I found myself teary eyed through most of the novel. Tarah delivers on all fronts, really. Emotional, banter, spicy scenes, callbacks to past books and characters. It really has it all and in no way was I disappointed. All the stars.

If Tarah DeWitt writes it, I will read it.

Left of Forever is utter perfection - and if you love second chance romances, strong family bonds, and a couple who are utterly perfect for each other in a world that's imperfect, you're going to love this book.

Wren and Ellis are teen parents turned divorcees, trying to maintain a good co-parent relationship and move on from what once was a perfect life together. But when their son needs to move into college, there's an opportunity to revisit what once was, and try to salvage what's left of their forever.

When I tell you this book made me feel things - first, please make sure to check the trigger warnings and take care of yourself as readers. There's some heavy stuff in here, and if you want to know more I'm happy to chat about it before you dive in. But there is beauty in being broken, and I think this story does an absolutely incredible job at discusses all types of loss - love, fertility struggles, deaths, and dreams. Tarah's depth to her characters makes these themes feel very real - I know I personally could relate to a few of them, and the way some of the lines made my tears fall...

Ellis is the literal blueprint for men - so boys, take notes. The way he loves his family and everyone who falls into his life is incredible - and the sheer growth we see from him throughout the book made me fall in love with him practically immediately. Adding him into my top ten book boyfriends was one of the easiest decisions I've made. Wren is also a force - I wish I knew her in real life, because she would be an incredible friend. Her commitment to her family and her passion and drive are traits to look up to.

The audio version of this book is perfection - both narrators are easy to listen to on high speeds, and bring to life the story as they read. The one thing I found tricky about the audio was when the journals and letters are being read - it was hard to differentiate sometimes between the story and the letter, and I wish there had been a more clear distinction, but when I followed along in my ARC the audio just heighted the story.

I look forward to the rest of the Byrd sibling's stories - but this one will always have a spot in my heart.

Divorced parents Wren and Ellis take a trip after dropping their son off at college to see if they can rekindle what they once had.

Alright gang. I wanted to love this one so badly but the first 40-50% was SO BORING. To be fair, I am not someone who loves lots of inner monologuing and I think this book does that VERY well. Then it felt like we were jumping into sexy times while also figuring everything out and it felt like sexy times were every other page. The ending was cute and there were a few times where I teared up but while I enjoyed this one overall, it left me wanting a little bit more.

Read if you like:

- second chance
- road trip
- grief & emotional
- small town

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own!

4.5 stars.
This was my first book from Tarah DeWitt and I loved it! Really enjoyed the characters and small town vibes. The road trip plot was fun and kept the book engaging as the romance progressed. This was beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. Flew threw this and it left me with the warm and fuzzies. Loved!

I have read all of Tarah’s books (you should definitely read them), and I think this is her best one yet! I LOVE a second chance romance. The pining, the yearning, the hope it gives readers. The hope that wrongs can be righted, that apologies (and groveling) can be accepted, that forgiveness does not mean forgetting, that people can change and grow independently and together. Tarah is a master at writing all of these complex emotions when it comes to letting someone back into your heart. Ellis and Wren’s story is so special and I hope you love it as much as I did.

Thank you to Tarah DeWitt, St. Martins Press, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Want to read a second chance childhood friends to lovers to divorcees to strangers to lovers? This is hands down one of the best. Not to mention baker x wildfire firefighter, secret pen pals, and a roadtrip down memory lane.

Tarah has created another story that is heartfelt, relatable, funny, and romantic. Seeing how Ellis and Wren grew apart was heartbreaking but made their reconnection that much more impactful. From the author’s note: “Life doles out circumstances that make relationships hard… But, for as much as it deals in hardship, Life hands out those occasional chances, too. Sometimes second chances. And lasting love ultimately comes down to Choice.” Ellis and Wren must choose to come to terms with their past and learn how to move forward together. I would quote the last paragraph of the book but you’ve gotta earn that one *sobbing*

This is Tarah’s best book yet. And considering how much I loved Savor It, that’s saying a lot. I was so happy to be back in Spunes with the Byrds. I was already so invested in Ellis and Wren from book one so I was highly anticipating their story. This is the ultimate second chance romance. From the flashbacks to the roadtrip, we see Ellis and Wren in all stages of their relationship. I felt the character growth both individually and as a couple. This book sent me on an emotional rollercoaster. So. Many. Tears. I loved the little Co-op cameo! This book is so special. I am already itching for a reread and I will probably dive into the audio soon! Consider this my official petition to become an honorary Byrd please.

OK, but hear me out- they're a divorced couple who got together when they were teenagers and haven't been in love with anyone else since but they're also pining for each other and there are letters and basically my heart was already exploding 40 pages in.

I love DeWitt's writing, and this new small town series, that kicked off with Savor It, is all about vibes. The women are unapologetic. The men have earrings and mullets. And there is so much love, this series is bursting with it. This book features Wren and Ellis, who got married after an accidental pregnancy when they were teens, and then grew apart as their son neared his teens. But growing apart doesn't mean they stopped loving each other or thought about finding their way back to each other. If you've been married before, there may have been a time that you experience this yourselves. And in a larger sense, this is what this book is about- falling back in love with the person you married.

The way Wren and Ellis talk about each other, their life together, even having their son together, reflected the sentiments that only a couple who have been together a long time could. I found this book so intimate and special. It's a deeply romantic love letter to married couples and spouses and it's getting such rave reviews, I know it is hitting the right chord with its audience. Thank you St Martin's Press and Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Oh Ellis and Wren how they stole my heart. I loved being on every step of their journey back to one another. Through the pain of opening up about what went wrong between them. To the swoony, heartfelt moments. This book was special and written so beautifully.

The road trip home after dropping their son off at college was the perfect close proximity situation. I felt the yearning and hope, but also the worry about what if they couldn't make it a second time. Ellis truly listened to Wren and showed her in so many different ways how much he loved her. I appreciated the memorable details and moments that made me feel the connection between Ellis and Wren. Just to name a few, I adored the letters, origami, dancing, and the small but significant touches.

This is a book I will never forget.

This is my fourth Tarah DeWitt. What I have appreciated about each of them is the unique way they tell romance with such heart and authenticity. This round was about a divorced couple who decide to reconnect on a road trip after dropping their son off at college. It's definitely a slow burn (which is not always my thing, but this works well!) as they remember where they've been and explore where they might go next. I loved this story of second chance because it was so real in the way it explored the experiences and emotions of Wren and Ellis' relationship. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this May 2025 release. I'm so glad this author is putting so many wonderful things into the romance world!

My little heart feels full, wow this was such a good book, I won’t stop thinking about it for a while. Wren and Ellis have known each other since they were 5. They were friends, bf/gf, mom/dad and married at a young age and divorced and then they came together 5 years after. The yearning!!!!! wanting each other back so badly and knowing the only person that can ever make you happy is your ex-husband/wife. This story was about them finding their way back to each other and being happy and trying to get back all the time that were robbed when they were apart. I loved that both characters searched for what they needed to change and accomplished as individuals to be able to go back and try again at love. I loved everything about their journey back to each other. This book was filled with so much emotion, and I love that. Tarah did such a good job writing this second chance romance! I am obsessed with anything she writes. It felt good to be back in Spunes Colorado! I was so glad I was able to read this as an arc thanks to NetGalley.

4.5 Stars

I knew by page three, this book was going emotionally destroy me. And I was right. This book was so powerful, the writing utterly perfect.

Wren and Ellis have a lifetime of memories together, the up and downs, and especially the steps leading up to them slitting up. This second chance romance balanced the chemistry and emotions very well. I’m not usually a fan of angsty, but this author wrote it so well, I’ll definitely come back for more.

There was no denying the chemistry between Ellis and Wren, and I really appreciated that the characters took the necessary steps to work on themselves, and that not everything can be fixed by the physical intimacy.

The side characters did provide a good amount of levity throughout the book, especially Silas. It was absolutely wonderful to be back in Spunes again after reading Savor It.

-Definitely check the CW with this one, the author has them listed at the beginning of the book.

This is Tarah DeWitt’s best novel yet, hands down. I say that as somebody who does not love second chance romances, but Left of Forever is truly something special. Ellis and Wren’s love story immediately hooked me and would not let go until I finished it.

Wren and Ellis are childhood sweethearts who got married and had a child young, but somewhere along the way they lost their connection. They’ve been divorced for five years now and most days it’s hard to even be in the same room. When it’s time to drop their son off at college, Ellis sees this as the perfect chance get his wife back. A weeklong road trip along the west coast with nothing to do but have fun and learn how to reconnect with each other.

This book was so beautifully written. You can feel the depth of love Ellis and Wren have for each other. And the yearning - my god. Once they realize the feelings are still there and they might actually be able to rekindle their relationship, you can’t help but feel hopeful for them. The road back home is filled with plenty of fun moments, but Ellis and Wren don’t shy away from the difficult topics that caused the demise of their marriage. You will feel all of the emotions along with the characters - heartbreak, longing, so much passion, so much hope. I really, really loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

It all started when Ellis Byrd yelled out "She's still a Byrd" in Savor It. From that moment, the masses BEGGED for Wren and Ellis's story, and it is truly the gold standard for second chance romance. Tarah DeWitt, we are not worthy.

This is such a special story. Wren and Ellis fell in love, had their son Sam, and got married all at a very young age. They were both still growing up, and then Ellis also had to become a parental figure for his three younger siblings when they lost their parents unexpectedly. Unfortunately, Wren and Ellis's marriage didn't survive. They divorced, but kept their relationship amicable for the sake of Sam and their broader family. Wren is still a Byrd after all!

Now, five years after their divorce, Sam is headed off to college, and it's clear that Wren and Ellis have not moved on. Ellis, the mayor of Yearntown, is fed up with missing Wren and is determined to win her back. He proposes that he and Wren take an extended road trip after they drop Sam off at college. And when I say this man yearns, he YEARNS. He PINES. He ACHES.

The story that ensues is incredible romantic, emotional, and grounded. I loved watching them find their way back to each other! Definitely one of my favorite second chance stories of all time!

I also love how Tarah continues to setup future stories for the other Byrd siblings. Silas, I am looking at you, and I am SO READY!

Please. Please. PLEASE read this book. I am confident in saying that this book is going to be in at least the top 5 of my favorite books this year. This was so beautifully written. I have read a lot of romance books and this one was honestly so refreshing and unique in its own right. Left Of Forever grabbed me by the throat and did not let go. I finished this book in under. day and I have zero regrets. I was completely enthralled in Ellis and Wren's story. This was a perfect second chance romance with real life problems that made me connect to the story on a personal level. Wren and Ellis were well written characters with amazing development as the story went on. Their journey was so fun to go on together. Though there are some not so fun topics covered in this book, they were handled with care and love.

This book was honestly the breath of fresh air and I loved every single second of this book.

"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"

I was very fortunate to be Able to listen to an ALC copy of this and Connor Crais and Megan Wicks truly made this story even more magical than I could have dreamed. I felt everything that these characters were going through from the narrators and it was wonderful.

5/5 stars

Tarah DeWitt cannot be allowed to keep doing this to me. I've read this ARC three times and only now do I feel ready to even attempt to write a review.

ELLIS AND WREN. There was that one moment between Wren and Sage in Savor It that had me dying for a Wren and Ellis reunion. But I didn't realize how badly I needed that until I started reading Left of Forever, and boy it did not take long for me to be sick over these two. I probably say this every time I read and review a book by Tarah DeWitt, but I truly do not believe anyone writes longing like this author. I NEEDED Ellis and Wren to be together because I could feel how much they needed it.

There are too many things about this book that I loved. We get so much of the past these characters share and how it has shaped them into who they are now. And at the center of all of it, even when their marriage was falling apart, there is so much love between them and between their extended family. I'm going to need Silas and Micah books. I don't know what Tarah and her publishers have in the works, but I need more Byrd family asap.

The raw honesty these characters share with one another, their hurts, their wants, their dreams, all of it wrapped up in their love for each other. It's just all so beautiful. Thinking about it as I write this, I know I'm about to pick it up and read it again.

This book made me experience a range of emotions. I've already commented about the longing. But this book made me cry (I didn't count how many times but it was just the right amount), it made me laugh. I think I might have squealed in a giddy way at least once. I can only assume that the author has personally experienced "hot pepper hands" as my mom calls them. I say this as a person who tried dicing a jalapeno for the first time at age 22, and then the following day had to take a handwritten college midterm with my hands still burning. The descriptions of Ellis' conundrum were so incredibly spot on. I laughed, but with the knowledge that it is utter misery.

I'm not one for summary reviews. Read the book synopsis if you want that. Just know that I adored this book, as I do all Tarah DeWitt books. She has not let me down yet. I wish I could read this again for the first time but I'll settle for reading it a fourth time. Read this book. Read all of her other books.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

This book was BEAUTIFUL and I did not want it to end. The characters were so well developed and so emotionally raw. I had a few good cries while reading.