This was a second-chance romance that had gripped me right from the start. Tarah Dewitt captured the story of Ellis and Wren so well, and I was immersed in their heartache the whole novel as they found their way back to each other. I loved how, as the reader, you are learning about the demise of their initial relationship, while also falling in love with them as they navigate their trauma they never discussed and learning to love one another with their scars.

“Ellis didn’t put me on a pedestal. He put me on a shelf where he had to strain to reach me. I stayed there because I couldn’t risk him seeing me in pieces, knowing he’d take all the blame.”

“I’d thought we could love each other through our hard times, but maybe we should have fought our way through them, too.”

“Left of Forever” is a story about growing through pain and learning to open your heart up again after going through something traumatic. This story highlights how people can grieve differently, despite experiencing the same thing. As a couple, their differences in grieving became a wedge between them, and they didn’t know how to communicate through that. Tarah Dewitt does a phenomenal job of navigating their fears after heartache and the walls one puts in place to prevent further sorrow.

“I’ve only learned to barricade my heart. Like maybe that’ll protect other people from my debris.”

“Living my life in pencil, because I don’t think I can get shit right the first time.”

I love a romance story with strong communication between the main characters, and Dewitt did not disappoint. This story is ingrained with honesty, openness and healing; I was rooting for this couple to work through their barriers and find their way back to their deep love for one another. The dialogue between the two was tender and gentle, giving maturity to their story that correlates well with their age and lived experiences. Dewitt’s narrative made me believe in the love they still had for each other, despite their years apart.

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

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

Another beautiful book from this author. For me, she doesn’t miss often, and I easily become immersed in the story she is telling. She seems to only get better with each new release, and I’m so grateful for the ARC from her and Netgalley.

I would have DNFed this book if I didn’t need to review it for netgalley. It is offered as an interconnected standalone so I didn’t read the first book and honestly I think it probably really limited how connected I felt with any of the side characters. It felt like their deeper personalities other than the bare bones were missing.

I was also disappointed by how the secret letters were handled, it was an interesting premise but then it was ignored for 90% of the book and the “conflict” got resolved in one page.

The roadtrip premise felt like the pacing was off and I honestly could not tell you anything they did besides the carnival and aquarium, after that it’s like “ok how do we get them to the next iteration of hotel room so they can kind of talk but mostly fuck?

When they did end up talking and exploring their marriage and what they actually want I thought it was good, but I’m not sure if I actually saw any character growth besides Ellis just thinking “I’m going to do whatever wren wants me to now”

The spice was ok but I was pretty bored by the rest of it.

I didn’t realize this was part of a series or a novel that’s intertwined with Savor It. Maybe I would have liked this one better if I would have read savor it. It can definitely be read as a standalone but I felt I was missing something.

This book was fantastic!!

I find it hard to really connect to characters sometimes as an over-30-mom, but this second chance romance delivered everything!!

The small town setting, found family, second chance romance had flashbacks from a life together- I was eating up the stories of their youth and when love was fresh, and watching them grow up and face hardships (check the trigger warnings!) pulled at my heart strings.

The spice was some of my absolute favourite!!! It was swoony, spicy and just BINGEABLE!!!


highly recommend this read!!

Second chance romance readers rejoice.. this is THE second chance romance book. I’m not joking. I’m really picky about this trope because I love it so much and this book was just.. everything I wanted and hoped it would be and more.

This book was so romantic. The roadtrip. The adventures. The love Ellis and Wren had for each other was so endearing and raw. It takes a lot to surprise me but their love story was full of longing and surprises and LOVE and I loved watching them fall for each other AGAIN. It was so so good.

I felt everything really deeply in this book. I think this is a testament to Tarah DeWitt’s writing and how much care she puts into her characters and her craft. I really loved Savor It too but this one just did something to me. Maybe it’s the absolutely hopeless romantic in me.

5 stars all around I love this world of Spunes (not to be confused with Forks). I loved all the character cameos from Savor It and love how much it builds this small town romance. I’m off to read everything else this author has ever written.

IF I COULD GUSH ABOUT THIS BOOK ALL DAY I WOULD.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press- St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was a beautiful letter to second chances and how people can change for the better. Ellis and Wren have topped my favorite couples list - their connection was phenomenal and I’m so glad to be back in Spunes again!

Tarah writes the swooniest, most enjoyable romances. I love her stories and this one may be at the top of my list!

Ellis and Wren have been through a lot together, but their second chance might be just what they need. Having been divorced for a few years, there’s some tension and hesitation when they first try to reconnect. But their chemistry is undeniable and I loved reading their journey!

I would definitely recommend this read!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

Left of Forever has completely captured my heart. As a huge fan of second-chance romances, this story took me on an emotional journey. The author does a phenomenal job with the character growth and development throughout the book. The chemistry between Ellis and Wren is so palpable, you can practically feel the tension and yearning between them. I loved how considerate Ellis was and how dedicated he was to bettering himself for their relationship. The origami and letter writing added such a beautiful, personal touch. There were also some hilarious moments at the winery that had me laughing out loud. Above all, I was deeply moved by their love story. It felt as though I was right there alongside them, watching them fall in love all over again. I can't wait for this book to reach readers everywhere—I know they'll fall in love with the Byrds just as I have.

I mean, has Tarah DeWitt ever disappointed me? So far, no. I'm iffy about second chance romances but got this one for two reasons: 1) Tarah DeWitt and 2) the scene in Savor It in which Ellis says "she's still a Byrd" in response to his ex-wife, Wren. Ellis and Wren had a baby as teenagers, got married a few years later, and worked for a long time until life got in the way. Wren initiated the divorce after years of brutal infertility issues, and the two of them have tried to remain friendly while being supportive co-parents to Sam. Ellis is still in love with Wren (as his comment in Savor It suggested), and after some secret identity letter exchanges, he talks her into extending the road trip the two of them will take back to Spunes, Oregon after dropping their son Sam off in California for college. I loved both Ellis and Wren and thought that DeWitt did an excellent job exploring what happens to you when you find the love of your life too young and have to grow through too many hard things together. I laughed and cried, which is par for the course for me with Tarah DeWitt's books. Content warnings for infertility, fire danger, and death of parents (prior to the story).

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the
E-ARC! Tarah does it again!! Loved so much. Beautiful story & fun romance. Loved the setting too. Fav author alert!

this was simply incredible!!!! I seriously can’t stop thinking about this book. just such a beautiful story with the best characters in the world. I cried so hard I almost threw up. everyone needs to read this.

4.25 stars.

I wanted to read Ellis and Wren's story ever since Savor it. "She's still a Byrd", ugh. Second chances are growing on me and I honestly never saw that coming.

Reading bout Wren and Elli's love truly felt like you were experiencing a childhood love that blossomed into adulthood. Having all your firsts with your favorite person blended with life forcing them both to grow up a bit too fast and prolong a lot of emotional healing that happens to most people in their 20s (ish?? lol). Seeing them go back and rework a lot of their miscommunication while also going through the process of understanding their defense mechanisms and rewriting a healthier version of them felt like a mega therapy session. I liked that I got to see them both as "the bad guy" instead of one person shouldering a lot of the blame. Both of them definitely had a lot to learn before their happy ending.

This story was beautiful. It did feel a bit predictable which is why it's not a 5 stars. Maybe predictable isn't the right word but I think I would have just needed a bit more oomph to push it to 5 stars.

HOWEVER, THE ENDING. Definitely cried a couple times at the end. It was just so satisfying and felt like a warm hug. The joy their love brings to the people around them was felt so deeply.

5/5! STRAIGHT TO THE TOP OF MY LIST FOR THIS YEAR. This is a second chance marriage trope which I did not anticipate enjoying, however please don’t let that stop you from reading this. It turns out this is a set up for all of my favorite aspects of romance. You get the depth of characters who know each other well and have deep and meaningful interactions. I also don’t typically love a friends to lovers because they usually have misconceptions and perils of defining the relationship, which didn’t happen with this story. They also display the beauty of seeing how change can happen in your life as you grow as a person. I loved hearing Ellis and Wrens story and look forward to more books from Spunes. These characters will stay with me for what’s left of forever.

If I could give this book infinity stars, I would. Possibly a favorite book of the year and it’s not out yet.
Wren and Ellis made my heart ache in the worst and best ways. Watching their second chance romance was emotional and hopeful. I love that even though they divorced, neither had gotten over the other. And a man who puts in the work and goes to therapy? Yes please. I loved the journey and the peaks of other Spunes characters. I’ll be grabbing the audio and a physical copy as soon as they’re available. I need this one in every format possible.

Thank you to St. Martins for the early read. All opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness!!!! Where to begin! I absolutely adored this book. This is one of those stories where I simply couldn’t help but cry happy tears. This is my third Tarah DeWitt book, and they just keep getting better and better (and spicier, too!).

Wren and Ellis’ love story was one that I was rooting for. They were divorced but clearly still loved one another, and I thoroughly enjoyed the pining and yearning in this second chance romance. I especially loved Tarah’s writing in this one. She has grown so much as an author since Funny Feelings, and this is my favorite book of hers yet. She crafted such a raw and emotional story of second chances, grief, and healing, and gave us a realistic portrayal of two people who despite it all, fell back in love.

Thank you to Net Galley, Tarah DeWitt, and the publisher for this ARC! 5 stars!

If I had a nickel for every time one of my favorite authors released a heart-rending second-chance romance this year, I'd have three nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it has happened thrice.

Left of Forever comes on the heels of Out of the Woods and Wish You Were Here, two other second-chance romances that I absolutely adore. Left of Forever follows Ellis and Wren's attempts to rekindle their relationship after a divorce five years ago. You knew this book was going to take you for a ride the moment that Ellis said "She's still a Byrd," in Savor It and DeWitt delivers.

The two had a child (Sam, introduced in the first book) in their teens and got married young, though time and circumstance drove the two apart. Ellis was too reserved with his feelings and compliments, and unwilling to trust Wren with his thoughts. Wren's battles with infertility and an ectopic pregnancy (trigger warning for those that may have issues with either) further drove the two apart. But, from the start of the book, you learn that both Wren and Ellis are still holding a candle for each other. Bringing Sam to college provides an opportunity for the two to reconnect on the way home and for Ellis to show how he's grown and changed in order to feel worthy of Wren's love. Enter meddling families on both sides, that force the two into increasing proximity and a single bed.

Look, we love a man who goes to therapy and rocks a mustache, so Ellis is always going to be someone worth cheering for.

On a more serious note, DeWitt is so deft in showing the challenge of marrying young. How do you grow together instead of growing apart? Can you love every version of each other along the way? Second-chance romances often fall flat because whatever drove the two main characters apart is often something worth being apart because. But, in this case, you can sense that the two still loved and cared for each other and that, with better coping strategies on both sides, may have survived the roughest years. The two have tough conversations about what the loved and hated about each other and the drama feels very, very real.

I think DeWitt must thrive on our tears, because she continues to provide books full of such painful longing that you can't help to feel a little melancholy along the way.

* Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *

♾️/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Puffin for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tarah Dewitt has done it AGAIN with another story that had my clutching my heart, laughing out loud, and crying at various intensities throughout this story. The Byrds of Spunes, Oregon, (not Forks, Washington 😂) are so messy, imperfect, relatable, beautiful, and real. There are so many parallels that I see in Ellis to fire fighters like my dad and “uncles” from the firehouse that made him that much more endeared to me. Wren and Ellis finding their way back to each other was beautiful, heartbreaking, hilarious, and absolutely deserving of being your next read. Be sure you have tissues at the ready for all the emotions!

Five stars! Wren and Ellis are childhood friends who fell in love young age and had a child together following an unplanned teenage pregnancy. After spending more than 2 decades together, the hardships in life tore their marriage apart. Five years after their divorce, Wren and Ellis decide to take a road trip after sending their son off to college to see if they can have another chance to spend what's left of forever, together.

It's an absolute delight to be back in Spunes and spend time with some of my favourite characters. I've been intrigued by Wren and Ellis since reading about them in Savor It. They met and fell in love and carried so much responsibility before they fully found themselves as adults. Their hearts took shape around each other and I don't think they've ever stopped loving one another. However, communication is clearly not their strong suit. Maybe that's what happens when you're too busy being your family's Rock of Gibraltar. You end up minimizing your own needs and you end up falling through the cracks. Then, they tried to build walls to shield the other person from their sharp edges and ended up locking each other out.

I loved reading the letters, journal entries and emails they exchanged. Those, combined with the difficult, candid conversations they had, the vulnerability they shared, ultimately broke down the walls they built around each other. I laughed with them, felt for them and almost didn't cry with them. Well, I managed to keep it together until the very last sentence in the book. That line really got me. In summary, this was a moving, second-chance romance about two amazing people finding their way back to each other. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

♾️⭐️

I find it difficult to write reviews for books I love so much, but I do know this to be true: we're so lucky to live in this world at the same time as Tarah DeWitt. If anyone wants to come at me and claim that romance books are in any way inferior, I will direct them to Tarah's backlog.

Tarah's books are about genuine, messy, loving people making their way through life and finding the love they deserve. No fictional couple deserves this love more than Wren and Ellis.

Wren and Ellis are childhood friends to lovers, to teenage parents, to exes living in the small coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. After bringing their son to college, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended roadtrip back to Spunes to give their relationship another shot.

I think this is the first thing either of them have ever truly done for themselves. They’ve been caretakers from the time they were basically kids and it’s a privilege to watch them navigate their way back to each other without any distractions or responsibilities holding them back.

The yearning and raw hope contrasting with the fear of messing it all up again is executed so beautifully earnestly. It’s not even just the big emotional scenes that make such an impact. It’s the little moments in between. A line that catches you off guard because it’s so ridiculously clever and gorgeous that you have to put your kindle down and give your brain a minute to absorb it. I stopped counting the times I teared up after we hit number four at thirty percent.

Left of Forever is out May 20th, but you can (and should) preorder it today.

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for the early access.

I loved Savour It so I was really excited to be back in Spunes for Left of Forever. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this one. The fall out between Wren and Ellis felt unbelievable, just as much as their reconciliation. The letter writing back and forth made it so hard to connect with either of them, because it was so obvious how little they communicated in their real life. Which just doesn't make sense when they have an almost adult son together. I also had a hard time with the time line being during the same time as Savour It, made me really confused in the first part of the book.