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

Happy #PubDay to LEFT OF FOREVER by Tarah DeWitt! After devouring SAVOR IT, I was so excited to be back in Spunes, OR (not to be confused with Forks, WA - iykyk!) with Wren and Ellis’ story, a second-chance romance for a divorced couple and co-parents with forced proximity to boot!

After dropping their son off at college, the two go on a bit of a road-trip back to their hometown - where Ellis is determined to win back his ex-wife, Wren. What unfolds is a sweet, vulnerable, but hopelessly steamy reconnection.

At times, I did feel like they didn’t open up enough about what when wrong in their marriage - or the ways they would commit to overcoming those challenges if communication issues or obstacles arose. They definitely were pulled back in with their chemistry and nostalgia for each other - but even with that critique, I couldn’t help but root for these two childhood sweethearts.

However, what I felt was missing a bit on the realistic emotional vulnerability side - was definitely made up for in the steam. The tension and build-up was simply delightful…as were the payoffs!

LEFT OF FOREVER is out now!

From the opening line, I was hooked. “ This time they’ll get it right. ”

“We belong to each other in ways no one else ever will.”

The way I DEVOUREDDDD THIS BOOK. Ms. Tarah DeWitt has done it AGAINNNNNN. ALL HITS NO MISSESS. Left of Forever had me skeptical at first because a second chance romance where they divorced? I wasn’t sold at first. But this book spoke to a deep part of my soul. The part of me that still believes in soulmates or something close to it. Wren and Elis GET BEHIND ME, I will defend this book to the death. It was so SO SO good, now time to reread the rest of Tarah’s work so I can decide where it falls in my ranking but it is for sure top 3. This book is for my yearners, my lover girls, my overthinkers, COME TO THE FRONT AND ENJOY.

Y’all just get into some of these quotes:

“You have been missing from me is more accurate. There’s a void where you lived in me.” HELLLOOO?????
“Hope is cruel in its persistence. It’s a tease.” real
“Guess we’ve got a few firsts left in us.” Someone pick me up off the floor
“Tell me so I know.” YOUR HONOR HE’S TAKING IT. Wren might be the hottest MMC ever written I fear.
“That was nothing. I was starving to be near you again.” BEST BOOK OF THE CENTURY INCOMING. THE LONGING?? THE TENSION???

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would recommend this to any and everyone this summer.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Publising Group for my Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest review! And happy Publishing Day to Tarah!

This was my first Tarah Dewitt book and let me tell you it will not be my last! I loved everything from start to finish with this book! From the witty comments, the banter and most of all the love!!

Favorite quote “I’ll cherish every bit of yours in return, I’ll fight with you. I’ll fight for you. I’ll love you for everything left of forever, in every lifetime we get.” Ughhh love them

This is going down as one of my favorite second chance romances!! I normally get wary of marriage in crisis tropes but this was done so well! Wren & Ellis are perfect! They both equally have growth of their own which I love! The writing was so seamless and had such a flow to it!

Read if you love
Second chance
Marriage in crisis
Foodie romance
Small town
Found family
Banter
Firefighters

Thank you Tarah & NetGalley for this ARC!

ARC Review

Left of Forever

★★★★★

Tarah Dewitt does it again. Just like all her other books this one will get you right in the feelings.

Her characters are so well rounded, encompassing what real life is like, that there are hardships and everything isn't always sunshine and rainbows, sometimes it's a wildfire burning everything yet making room for all the new.

The emotions are raw, real, and full of truth while Wren and Ellis find their way back to one another. While reading you truly FEEL the longing and angst and how meant to be they truly are for one another, they just needed to relearn who they themselves are outside of who they were.

This book is proof that second chances do exist and that sometimes people need to grow, change and figure out who they are before they can be right for someone else.

WOW TARAH WOW!!!

This was my first DeWitt novel and it absolutely won't be my last. I grabbed this on a whim when it was available as "Read Now", and I am so happy that I did!

Second-chance romances are some of my favorites in romance novels, and this was no exception. While I was surprised to find out that it was book 2 in a series of interconnected standalones, I am happy to say that you definitely don't have to read book 1 to understand the characters and the dynamics going into book 2. However, I am much more likely to go back and read Savor It now!

One of the many reasons this spoke to me so heavily was that I also started dating my husband when we were in high school (although luckily we did not experience a pregnancy then, like Wren and Ellis did). I can personally attest to the unique struggles of finding your person when you still have a lot of growing to do, and the challenges you face as you grow individually and together. Wren and Ellis are beautiful characters and portray this situation beautifully.

I applaud Tarah DeWitt for this MASTERPIECE! Thanks so much to her, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Wren and Ellis. They were childhood best friends turned lovers, they had a baby and married young and 5 years ago the marriage ended. But they both still very much love each other. With their son off to college, Ellis proposes an extended road trip after they drop their Sam off at college. A few days to see if they can be together again, they will talk through their problems and everything will be on the table.

I immediately wanted to read this book from the moment Ellis announced Wren was “still a Byrd” in Savor It, and I am happy to say this book exceeded any and all expectations.

This book has everything: angsty inner monologue for both of them, mutual pining, some funny and lighthearted moments, some heartbreaking moments, meddling family members, and some excellent spicy scenes.

I loved Wren, you can tell how loved she is by the whole Byrd family, she has a special relationship with all of them. I understood her caution with regard to Ellis, she wanted to protect her heart, but she also couldn’t deny that her heart belonged to him.

Ellis, I think, had the most growth in this story, he is in therapy and did the work on himself before he tried to win Wren back. I loved the emotion he showed, and all the ways he tried to show Wren he never stopped loving her.

This book was so beautifully written. It’s definitely a top book of the year for me, I can’t say enough about this!

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book tells the story of Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love young, had a child as teenagers, and built a life together in Spunes, Oregon—until their relationship fell apart.

Now in their 30s and divorced, they still occupy each other’s thoughts. After dropping their son off at college, Ellis proposes a road trip back home, hoping for a second chance.

As they reconnect along the California coast, Wren begins to hope again—but buried wounds and unspoken truths threaten to derail their journey. In the end, a heartfelt letter may hold the key to healing—or final goodbye.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thoughts:

TARAH DEWITT DID IT AGAIN!! I'm unwell after reading this book. The story was so beautiful that it made me cry. LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! Very recommended.

Ps. I changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars because this book is so beautiful, I want to read all over again.

Read this book if you like:
- second chance
- only one bed
- childhood friends to lovers

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

Wren and Ellis have known each other since they were kids. They were friends until they became more in high school. Soon after they became parents at the ages of seventeen and eighteen. Ellis was already a parent to his younger siblings after their parents died, and Wren was always right beside him. Now they had their own child to raise. As the years went on, everything was good. Until it wasn’t. Life threw Wren and Ellis into a rough patch they couldn’t get out of, and they eventually divorced.
Five years later, they are sending their son, Sam, off to college. In the five years they were apart, they stayed cordial with each other for the sake of their son, family, and friends. But they also never really moved on from each other despite how hard they tried. When getting their son settled at college, Ellis asks Wren if she would be willing to take a road trip with him on their way back. He desperately wants his wife back and wants to use this time to see if they could have their second chance. When Wren agrees, Ellis knows he’s only got one week to get her back and have what’s left of forever with her.

Tarah has done it again! Left of Forever was such a heartwarming, emotional, and beautiful second chance story. I’ve read a couple other books by her, and they had the same heartwarming and emotional feel to them. Wren and Ellis’s story had me going through so many emotions. My heart was hurting for them because you could see how being apart was hurting them. They each had their own issues and unfortunately didn’t communicate them when they were married. Now that their son is going to college, it feels like maybe they could have a fresh start. I really loved how they communicated their feelings this time around and didn’t hold back for the sake of the other person’s feelings. I also loved that they were working through their issues before getting physical. Their story had me crying sad and happy tears. This is the best second chance romance I’ve read so far. Tarah did an amazing job and I can’t wait to read more by her.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Tarah DeWitt for the eARC!

I’ve loved everything Tarah has written, and this book was no exception. I couldn’t put this down, I was so captivated by Ellis and Wren. Their story was raw, real, and emotional. The kind of story you feel in your chest. 

Wren and Ellis were childhood best friends who became teen parents, then married young. Life hit them hard with infertility struggles, unspoken resentment, and a growing distance that eventually led to divorce. 

Five years later, Ellis realizes he’s still in love with Wren and wants another chance. They dropped their son off at college and took a road trip home together. Each stop on their journey was meaningful and intentional, showing Ellis’s thoughtfulness and how deeply he knew Wren. I loved watching them slowly open back up to each other and work through the pain of their past. I had no doubt that these two were meant to be.

This is a story about second chances, healing, and the power of love. Full of emotion and gorgeously written, this is another unforgettable book from Tarah.

This might be a book that i need to wait for the actual audio book. i feel like the story is there and there is potential for me to like it the execution is just not there for me yet at least in the current format i am reading it.

After dropping their son off at college, exes Wren and Ellis Byrd decide to take a week long trip to celebrate a job well-done and see if there’s a chance for them to reconcile. As they drive through California, they experience new adventures together and find that while 5 years apart has not dulled their desire for one another, there are still some unresolved issues. As they make their way back home, can they make their way back to each other?

I loved this! I was so thankful to receive a physical ARC and wanted to savor the experience of reading it, but much like Wren’s character in this book, I “overdicked it” (Set It Up anyone?) and ended up needing to read it in two days! No matter because I was entranced per usual by Tarah’s writing and flew through it.

The chemistry and connection between Wren and Ellis was so strong. Like most others, I’ve been rooting for them since Savor It and am so happy they took the chance on being together again. Ellis is so tender hearted and earnest. His commitment to showing Wren he’d changed and his declarations of love for her had me swooning. I loved that they didn’t shy away for talking about the tough issues that had broke them apart, but they also had fun and flirtatious moments.

I didn’t tab my ARC (I’m waiting for my pre-order to arrive), but I made 18 notations of quotes or moments that made me feel something, including a nod to You’ve Got Mail. For me who doesn’t usually tab, it’s a lot!

While I’m not there yet with my children, one of the parts I actually related to the most and that made me emotional was when they drop Sam off at college. Both the aspect of leaving him, but also wondering who you are when you aren’t someone’s full-time parent. I think so many couples face that challenge of finding out who you are both together and separately once your children are grown.

Of course, I loved catching up with all the other Byrds as well as Fisher and Indy. I can’t wait to continue on with the series!

I am forever going to be an Ellis Byrd Stan!!

Ellis and Wren literally have had me sobbing. I don’t even have words to do this book justice. Brb as soon as I can find them.

I swooned, I cried, I smiled. Tara DeWitt can do no wrong.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC!

OMG Left of Forever completely wrecked me in the best way possible. I seriously did not expect to feel this many emotions!! One minute I’m grinning like an idiot and kicking my feet and the next I’m ugly crying on the couch. The characters felt so real it was like I was living their story right alongside them. I had to set the book down and just stare at the wall for a sec. If you love stories that punch you in the heart and then gently hold your hand after, read this. Immediately.

If you know me, you know I love a second-chance romance, so it’s no surprise that I devoured this book! I thought Wren and Ellis communicated so maturely, which is always a breath of fresh air in romances. The yearning, vulnerability, and tension between them were off the charts, and the pacing of the story was done perfectly. I liked that the road trip plot took place in the span of a week and never felt rushed or even drawn out. If you’re looking for a new second-chance romance, go read this. It’s out today! Thank you for the ARC St Martin’s Press 🫶🏻

I'm not typically a second-chance romance fan, but I am a huge Tarah fan so I had to read this!

It hurt to get through, but reading about two soulmates lose each other and then find their way back was very beautiful 🥹 It only hurt because the writing is so, so good as always.

I would recommend to anyone who likes:
- small town 🥄
- first-loves 🫶🏻
- second chances 💝
- firefighter mmc 🔥
- quick-wit fmc 🧠🧁
- letters 📝
- serious honesty / communication around relationship

thank you to netgalley and st. martin’s press for the arc! 🫶🏻

rating: 4.75 🌟

left of forever is about a divorced couple, wren and ellis, who 5 years after separating still can’t seem to shake their feelings for one another. when their son, sam, graduates high school and moves for college, ellis proposes that he and wren take a road trip the week after and see if there’s any way they can rekindle their relationship.

i adored this story! i think it’s tarah dewitt’s best writing yet. i loved both ellis and wren and their inner monologues were so heart wrenching while they were missing each other and when the hope struck them both that maybe they really could find their way back to each other.

as someone who got married at 20 and has been married for almost 14 years now, this book really resonated with me. while we haven’t ever separated, i understand how hard things can be sometimes as you essentially grow up together and how hard you have to work to keep things together. i loved the idea that you can keep falling in love with each other over and over again through different seasons of life and the inevitable different versions of yourselves that will emerge throughout time. that gives me so much hope for the future of my own relationship and is also so motivating to read a second chance romance. you have to put in the work and not let things get to a point where you stop fighting for each other. just my personal takeaways!

more about the actual book! the way that ellis byrd realized his mistakes and did everything he could to rectify them was amazing. i loved how they both went all in on the agreement to try and how many walls they had to shatter in order to get through the other side. the open communication and letter writing was so lovely.

overall, an amazing book and i would definitely recommend!

tropes:
💔 divorced couple
❤️ second chance romance
🌿 small town
🚙 road trip

TW:
-infertility, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage
-death of a parent, grief
-chronic illness
-fire/fireinjury

quotes:
“you’re still a byrd.” “i am,” i say proudly.

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

“I’m just saying. My DNA mixed with yours, and it altered your very bones, Byrd.”

“If you won’t have me back anymore then I’ll find you in the next life. You are the only thing that makes me believe in that.”

hi hello this book was INCREDIBLE!!! Idk what it was about these characters but I was ✨OBSESSED✨ let’s be real… it’s a second chance romance so I should’ve known lol

I loved how descriptive the writing was in this book - I truly felt like I was third wheeling on Ellis and Wren’s little road-trip vacation! The pacing of this book was also incredible and kept me engaged & invested the entire time! 🤩 overall this book gets ♾️⭐️ from me and is a new favorite!

forever obsessed with Ellis Byrd and his slutty mustache 😮‍💨

I don’t cry at romance books. I don’t. I squeal and kick my heart, and maybe sometimes there’s a hand-over-mouth moment, but crying?

Not until this book. Happy tears. I think it’s safe to say that I connected with Wren and Ellis; second-chance romance is deeply personal to me and Tarah DeWitt just perfectly captured the emotion of it.

I picked up this book as an escape from heavier themes — and it is! It’s sweet and funny and sexy, but the emotions are the part I didn’t expect. The longing, the hope, the pain — all done so well. Tarah DeWitt is now an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. Admitting that a book made me teary is a thing I did all on my own.

"We have whatever's left of forever, you and me."

So we were all obsessed with Ellis and Wren the minute he said "She's still a Byrd", right?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy pub day to Left of Forever! Going back to Spunes felt like coming home. I missed these characters and this little small town in the PNW. This book was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025, and I'm so grateful that I received an arc! Like always, Tarah Dewitt's characters are complex and messy and make you fall in love with love over and over again. And oh my, did I love Daddy Ellis. My absolute favorite part of this book was seeing the Byrd's all together again and the chaos that ensued. The way they all tried to "parent trap" Wren and Ellis was perfection. 🤭

While this book wasn't my absolute favorite of hers, it provided a great set up the rest of the books that she will be writing in Spunes (aka Silas's and Micah's books).

"I'll love you for everything left of forever, in every lifetime we get."

Read if you love:
💍second chance marriage
🤍childhood friends to lovers
💍found family
🤍road trips

ARC Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt

Left of Forever is a second chance romance following Wren and Ellis. It’s got a small town setting and also a bit of travel for the two. This book was absolutely adorable. While second chance isn’t usually my favorite trope, this one is done so well. I loved that they fell in love young and were able to find their way back to each other. They did so without sacrificing their parenting roles and to me that made this special. I loved the letters to each other and how they explored their past relationship. I felt like the groveling and the effort to fix their previous mistakes made me actually root for their love story.

Definitely recommend picking this one up and it’s out today! May 20, 2025

Thank you to Netgalley and @stmartinspress for the opportunity to read this e-arc