4 Stars

Tara Dewitt has been a hit or miss author for me in the past, in fact I didn’t even finish the first book in this series! Despite this, I found Left of Forever really enjoyable! I may have even rated it higher if I had been able to devote more time to reading it quicker.

I feel like this specific type of second-chance romance is rare to read about & I’m not sure why! I think this was done well. It was sexy. sweet & earnest.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Left of Forever in exchange for an honest review!

this book was so beautifully written!! I loved every single moment of this book and seeing two people who never fell out of love be together again was so beautiful. Wren was such a relatable character and I saw parts of myself in her . And Ellis deserves a huge hug taking so much at such a young age . He deserves everything and so much more.

this book is definitely for those who live and breathe second chance romance !!

3/5 ⭐️

thank you to netgalley for a copy of this arc!
i was confident that this was going to be a 5 star read for me but unfortunately i felt a little disappointed with this one. i know that this is an interconnected stand alone but i really don’t feel like it can be read alone. i have read interconnected series where ill start on the last book and not feel lost at all but i felt like this one definitely had gaps and only gave little to no explanation about the events that are being eluded to. i feel like i enjoyed the couple a lot in the beginning (me being a sucker for second chance) but then the ending felt rushed to me? i guess its not because they were previously married but 5 years is a long time & i would’ve thought it would’ve been more slow burn given that this was the first time they even really had more than simple conversation in those 5 years.
overall i do like the humor & flirting that came from this book & would recommend for someone who is looking for second chance romance!

Here is the summer romance book you NEED!!

This is a second chance romance with childhood sweethearts with tension and yearning that’s spill of the pages. The things Ellis says literally gives me chills. This is the new standard for second chance romance.

I really love seeing how much these two grow. How they both heal their past trauma and come together. Even if that means going to a therapist which I find very important to mental health.

I’m just head over heels with these two and I’m already needing to re-read.

Loved this! This is one of the most wrapped-in-a-bow HEA I've ever read!

The pacing was on point. The first half of the story I was in the feels for Wren and Ellis. Their inner emotional turmoil in their own heads was heartbreaking. Nearly this entire book is a big fat miscommunication trope one after another! But it just worked so well. Ellis's family seems amazing. I haven't read the other books, but now I want to. I loved the therapy representation and the positivity around it.

The writing is beautiful. The way Wren and Ellis feel about each other is MORE than soulmates. I couldn't get enough. The little adventures on their road trip were adorable.

Second change, best friends, soulmates. YES!

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for my gifted copy of this book.

INJECT THIS IN MY VEINS.

I fear this book has taken over my soul. I will never recover. First, never have a teared up before even started a novel, but Tarah Dewitt did that to me. I could feel from her introduction to this book, it was made for me.

Quite literally, the best second chance romance I’ve ever read. I cried every time I got the chance to pick it up and read it. Tarah’s writing is impeccable and the pages were brimming with emotion. STUNNING PERFECTION. I tell you what.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book, and to Kayleigh for buddy reading with me!

Left of Forever is the delightful follow-up to Tarah DeWitt's 2024 release, Savor It. After reading Savor It, a lot of us in our buddy read group were hoping Wren and Ellis would get their own second-chance romance—and Tarah DeWitt absolutely delivered with her latest release.

This story was both sweet and emotional, and I loved being back in Spunes, OR with these beloved characters. DeWitt’s signature mix of humor, heart, and richly developed characters made this book really stand out.

While Left of Forever is a follow-up story to Savor It, you don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy this one—though I’d definitely recommend it, since it adds more depth to the main characters and gives you a nice intro to the supporting cast.

Left of Forever is out now!

What a beautiful, heartfelt, hopefully, and truly emotionally cathartic love story! Tarah DeWitt never fails to capture my whole heart and squeeze it- gently, with compassion and tenderness, but squeeze me none the less. I truly felt this story with every fiber of my being. It's profoundly existential, beautifully emotionally affecting, and deftly resonant. A story whose characters, whose journey feels so unique their own...yet also, somehow yours too. And a story that stays with you long after you turn the final page. Left of Forever is charming, witty, brimming with charming characters and endless chemistry. Easily one of my top reads of the year and perhaps my favorite yet from the endlessly talented Tarah DeWitt.

Tarah's love stories somehow manage to both be a warm and cozy hug while also being an emotional juggernaut. Stories that pack an emotional wallop while also somehow feeling SO fun, flirty, and light. And Left of Forever has a herculean task. It's a second chance romance between a recently divorced couple who married as teens after a teenage pregnancy but who ultimately broke as adults after years of challenges, including infertility....a story full of heavy and traumatic and complicated real life truths and challenges that is attempting to paint them realistically..but hopefully. To convey them with truth and authenticity without. making the narrative feel too HEAVY. And DeWitt sparkles here- she somehow achieves the impossible. She finds the hope in failure and heartache, she finds the romance in a love story the begins after the love story has actually ENDED. And it's brilliant.

I've always loved second chance stories, particularly marriage in crisis ones. It's easy to FALL in love. What's harder is staying in love. Figuring out how to grow TOGETHER as life and experience and age and being a human morph us and change us. And this isn't just a crisis...this is actually POST crisis. Two people who genuinely care about each other who somehow just couldn't find a way to make it work. Who couldn't ever communicate and connect in the way they needed to to heal the wounds between them. SO instead they festered and rotted until it felt too daunting to repair. At some point these two felt it would be easier to face losing someone they care about than actually dig in their heels to make it better- and how devastating is that? It makes for an epic and challenging story emotionally- particularly since there are YEARS of history and unspoken truths and unaddressed hurt that still exist beneath the surface. It felt like an impossible, we felt just like Ellis and Wren. How could this ever be fixable?

But Tarah explores the most basic undercurrent of love and partnership- CHOICE. This isn't a story about how love HAPPENS to us, this is a story about two people CHOOSING to do the work of loving. Because love isn't an accident- it's intentional. It's a choice we make- to love someone, to invest in them. And these characters finally find a way to invest both in themselves and in the other. And oh my gosh it's beautiful. It's intimate. It's powerful. but it's also SO FUN and and clever. Yes, Ellis and Wren have to work through some stuff on their epic road trip- but this isn't just about dealing with the hard emotions alone. They find joy and fun with each other again.

This is a story you don't read. YOU FEEL. I loved every moment with Ellis and Wren. Constructing their future while deconstructing their past. I must admit, after reading Spunes 1, I was OBSESSED with what their story could be...but I was also terrified of it. There is so much history here, so much ground to cover. But Tarah smartly keeps the narrative FOCUSED. The forced proximity element, the fixed timeframe, the laser like focus on the emotional fissures she needed to press on with both of them. We believe in their past, their connection and chemistry literally explode off the page, but the story itself is still compact. Each word, each moment feels divinely intentional- it's a beautiful story construction. Brilliant. It's a master class in characterization, in showing not telling, in emotional interiority and chemistry.

The ending is so rewarding, because this is a love story so hard fought. One where our characters REALLY do the emotional labor of growing, of figuring out how to FINALLY grow together. Love matters. Love matters MOST- but sometimes it's not about just loving each other. It's about leaning into vulnerability, CHOOSING to fight for someone every day. Because being true partners isn't easy- it's work, GOOD work, THE work. The hope, the healing here is so emotionally resonsant. I cried multiple times- but I also felt such warmth and restoration too.

I loved this tender, real, and yet still playful story with all of my heart. And I can not WAIT to be back in Spunes (not to be confused with FORKS) again- it has fast become my favorite fictional escape.

I am NOT okay. Well I mean I am now, but I sure wasn’t after I finished this book. Left of Forever broke me and put me back together in the best, most soul-squeezing way. This was my first Tarah Dewitt book and the second I finished, I was on Libby requesting every single thing she’s ever written. Like, how dare she write characters that feel this real??

Wren and Ellis?? Good lord. The yearning. The way you can feel how much they still love each other even after years apart. It’s soft and aching and so deeply human. Their road trip had me feeling all kinds of things—hope, heartbreak, that scary vulnerability of trying again with someone you never really stopped loving. Every letter, every dance, every tiny moment between them was just chef’s kiss.

And don’t even get me started on the Byrd family—I want to marry into them immediately. The small town, the cozy chaos, the way everyone is all up in your business but also fiercely loving? Yeah. I’d like that.

This book felt so personal. Like someone cracked open my chest, peeked at all the messy parts of marriage, parenthood, identity—and said, “Hey, you’re not alone.” I saw so much of my own story in Wren and Ellis. That feeling of losing yourself in the grind of raising a family and trying to find your way back? Oof. It hit.

I laughed, I sobbed, I texted my husband “I love you” at 1am. This isn’t just a romance—it’s a reckoning and a reminder that second chances don’t come easy, but they’re worth everything.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Left of Forever. I give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.

Left of Forever is the second chance romance of a divorced couple. Ellis and Wren were childhood sweethearts who got pregnant and married very young. Things fall apart not necessarily because they didn't love each other, but rather due to circumstances that were hard to handle. Their son graduates from high school, and they go on a trip together to take him to where he will be going to college and on the way home, they explore the possibility that maybe they still belong together.

This book is like no other second chance book I've ever read. The longing on the part of both characters is off the charts. The writing is beautiful and the way the characters truly bare their souls in order to show the other how they have changed and how deep their love goes is beautiful. This is a steamy book which at times was almost too much for me, but that's just my personal feeling and didn't factor into my rating.

What I also enjoyed about this book was getting to see how Fisher and Sage are doing and watching not only them but everyone else in Ellis' and Wren's circle truly pull for them because they knew how important this trip was for the future of their family. So good! I look forward to Tarah's next Spunes story.

3.75 ⭐️
{Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!}

I enjoyed this! it was a solid romance with likable characters and a sweet childhood sweethearts story. The dynamic between the leads felt natural, and I appreciated how the relationship developed without relying on overdone drama or unnecessary miscommunication.

What stood out to me most was how there was no third-act breakup, which is so rare in romance and really made the story feel more mature and satisfying. While it didn’t completely blow me away, it was a cute, easy and entertaining read that delivered exactly what it promised.

Thanks to Tarah DeWitt, Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press for the #gifted copy of this book.

Rating: ♾️/5⭐️

Summary: Childhood friends turned lovers, Wren and Ellis got married young after she became pregnant. Five years ago, they divorced, but both have struggled to move on from their first love. Since their son graduates from high school and is attending an out-of-state college, Ellis proposes a road trip home with just the two of them to see if they can rekindle the love they share. During the miles of their trip, they start to dive deep into their best moments, but also their devastating ones, and start to see that maybe they have a future together.

Dani's Thoughts: Well this is how you write a second-chance romance and it is Tarah's best book in my opinion. Wow, I loved this so much...I'm having trouble putting my thoughts down... but this will hands down be a favorite of 2025 for me. I fell in love with the people of Spunes, OR with the first book and I was so excited for Wren and Ellis after all the tension between them.

This story was such a journey of healing through real conversations between Ellis and Wren. Though they both grow a lot throughout this journey, I think Ellis makes the most growth. I love that Ellis decided to work on himself through therapy before he pursued rekindling a relationship with Wren. There were some swoony and sweet moments(that I will not mention and spoil some of my favorite parts) that had me in all my feels throughout reading this book. By the end, I was just in tears for all the moments these two shared and watching their love story continue.

Though it can be read as a standalone, be sure to read the first book in the series, Savor It. I adored that book so much and it sets the stage for the people of Spunes and also the story of Wren and Ellis.

Read if you love:
💖Second Chance
🚗Road Trip
🥰Childhood Friends to Lovers
💜Found Family
🤩Small Town

Left of Forever" follows Wren and Ellis, who had a child together as teenagers and are currently reeling from their divorce five years ago. But their story is far from over. Ellis suggests they go on a road trip to try and rekindle their relationship after dropping their son off at college.

I loved everything about this romance. It starts with somewhat "secret" letters between Wren and Ellis (I always love a good espitolary moment). We get glimpses of the feelings they're still haboring for one another before a road trip full of banter, chemistry, STEAM, many vulnerable moments, tears, and love confessions.

If you've been shouting from the rooftops for authors to bring back yearning and pining, this is THE book for you. Ellis yearns for Wren unlike any other book boyfriend/husband I've seen.

Tarah's writing in this book is also stunning. I wrote down so many beautiful quotes and moments throughout the book that made me smile and cracked my heart open. You can see just a couple of my favorites in this post.

My husband walked in on me crying multiple times while reading about Wren and Ellis finding their way back to each other.

This is EASILY an ♾️ 🌟 read for me. If you haven't picked it up yet, RUN. And read Savor It, the first book in this interconnected standalone series, while you're at it, too.

Second chance romance✅
Characters that I fell in love with ✅
Perfect pacing✅
Spicy romance✅

I will be reading more from this author!!!

Tarah DeWitt really seems to shine with the second chance romance trope, which is not an easy one to master! The conflicts were believable, and it was so emotional and romantic when they rekindled their love.

Literally everything about this book was perfect. I knew before I was even 5% in that this book was going to wreck me, and wreck me it did (in the best way possible, of course). Wren and Ellis - both beautifully written and complex characters on their own, and even more so together. These characters were so well-developed that I was just 1000% IN and felt like I knew them & needed every bit of their story - no detail was too much!

Their banter - I cannot even begin. Each of them had me laughing out loud as I read - from start to finish (I’m still chucking to myself over Nosferatu - IYKYK). But even more than their banter - their love for each other. Sweet baby Jesus. I love their love so much - and the way that they both know and understand each other and then can so easily reflect on their struggles together and then recognize these things as they are happening - hello, growth!

I cried so many times while reading this book, and now that I’ve finished, I don’t know what to do with myself! I really hope we see more of Wren and Ellis at some point, I could do with about 10 epilogues, ma’am.

Rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading.

This book was utter perfection! It had everything that I love the most in a romance; small town vibes, forced proximity, slow burn, etc...

I simply couldn't put it down. Ellis and Wren's relationship journey is one for the books and it was so incredibly beautiful to witness. It was obvious that they were meant to be. Cannot wait to read this one again!

I don't think there are enough words in the english language to properly capture how this book made me feel. Tarah has once again given us a full-bodied romance with characters that feel real and a setting that feels like where I want to live. Savor It was our entry point to the small town of Spunes, OR (not to be confused with Forks, WA) and Left of Forever picks things up and expands on our favorite family, the Byrds. It's worth mentioning that Silas and Micah get a decent amount of page time here—perfectly teeing us up for future Spunes love stories.

If you read Savor It and the line "She's still a Byrd" gave you heart palpitations as it did for me, you're going to adore this book. Wren & Ellis have so much history expanded upon in this story, and that contextualized with their current situation(ship) gives their bond so much depth and love and pain. I just want these two to be happy, especially if that means they're together forever. And luckily for all of us, that's what Ellis wants too. 😈

This book made me laugh, cry, and kick my feet up and giggle. I can only say that I can't wait to see what Spunes magic Tarah creates next.

“Left of Forever” is one of those rare romances that doesn’t just tell a love story—it unearths it. Ellis and Wren’s relationship isn’t about falling in love for the first time; it’s about returning to something that never fully left, something that needed time, space, and honesty to be seen clearly again. Their connection doesn’t bloom softly like a spring flower—it crashes in like a tide that’s been held back for years, aching to reclaim the shore.

What makes this story so unforgettable is the way the author blended longing, humor, heat, and healing. & what moved me most was how deeply the story let them unravel—not just together, but individually. Tarah DeWitt doesn’t shy away from showing Ellis and Wren’s flaws, their fears, or the ways they failed themselves and each other in the past. Instead of sweeping their history under the rug, she has them examine it—carefully, painfully, truthfully. Watching Ellis and Wren rediscover each other while also confronting who they’ve become was powerful and deeply emotional.

Favorite moments:
The road trip felt like both a map and a mirror—forcing them to confront what they’ve avoided while also giving them space to fall into old rhythms, the kind only true familiarity can create.

Their use of journaling to communicate wasn’t just a cute gimmick—it felt necessary. There was so much they couldn’t say out loud, so much history and hurt, and the journal/emails gave them a space to be brutally honest without the fear of immediate reaction. Every entry felt like a quiet, aching confession—like they were slowly peeling back the layers they’d built around themselves. It made their reconnection feel even more real and their love more authentic.

The spicy pepper scene was the perfect mix of chaotic, tender—showing how attraction and affection still simmered beneath everything unsaid but how true love requires us to be vulnerable even when it’s not our initial reaction.

Then there’s the gondola ride and post dinner scene—not soft, not sweet, but all heat and urgency. It was the moment their restraint truly cracked open (in my opinion), and every unspoken feeling came through in touches instead of words. And it didn’t feel out of place—it felt earned. Like a release long overdue.

Their families added even more warmth and texture, reminding us that love isn’t just shaped by two people, but by the memories, grief, and ties they carry. And through all those complexities, the motif of home lingered. Because “home” in this book isn’t just a physical place—it’s Ellis in Wren’s soft smiles and kind eyes, Wren in Ellis’s steadiness and rare moments of laughter, it’s their shared love for Sam, and their differences in music taste. It’s the way they come back to each other, again and again, even when it means confronting mistakes and fears.

Overall, Ellis and Wren’s love never stopped existing—it just dimmed in the shadows of loss and exhaustion. Their story is about what happens when two people finally stop burying their feelings and start choosing hope again. Not because it’s easy, but because the love they share is still alive—and this time, they’re prepared to tend to it to keep it burning bright.

By the end, I didn’t just want them to find their way back—I believed in it. I highly recommend this book especially for second chance romance fans. Just be prepared to be fully immersed in all the emotions that come with falling in love too young, falling apart, and the hard work it takes to put jagged pieces back together again.


Thank you to the author, St. Martins Press Griffin, and YouHadMeAtHEA for the e-ARC via NetGalley! This review is my honest opinion.

Left of Forever is one of those books that sneaks up on you emotionally. On the surface, it’s a second-chance romance, but what it really delivers is a masterclass in character growth—especially for two people who thought their story was over.

Wren and Ellis got married young, raised a son, and built a life together in their small hometown. But over time, real-life pressures—like infertility, unspoken grief, and emotional distance—slowly chipped away at their connection until all that was left was the paperwork: divorce. When the book opens, they’re co-parenting amicably, a little awkwardly, and still clearly nursing wounds that haven’t fully healed.

Then comes the road trip. Their son’s off to college, and Wren and Ellis are left in the car together, with hours of highway and years of unresolved tension between them. What follows isn’t just a rekindling of romance; it’s two people being forced to finally say the things they never did the first time around. Through conversations, silences, letters, and some truly tender moments, you get to watch them peel back the layers and confront the versions of themselves they had to become—sometimes for survival, sometimes out of fear.

Wren’s growth is especially striking. She’s spent so long defining herself by motherhood and emotional self-preservation that she almost forgets who she is outside of those roles. Watching her rediscover her voice, her desires, and her softness is incredibly rewarding. Ellis, meanwhile, has to reckon with his tendency to protect by withdrawing. His growth comes in learning to be present, to truly see Wren again—and to let himself be seen, too.

There’s no magical fix here—just vulnerability, communication, and a slow, believable rebuild of trust. Tarah DeWitt handles their emotional arc with so much care and realism, you honestly forget you’re reading fiction. It’s bittersweet, hopeful, and refreshingly mature.

If you’re looking for a second-chance romance that’s less about grand gestures and more about quiet truths and real healing, Left of Forever will hit you right in the heart.