Wren and Ellis Byrd are introduced in Savor It, but are a couple that the reader cannot help but be curious about. Wren and Ellis got pregnant in high school and spent a decade-plus married before divorcing, but neither of them is fully over the other. When they drive their son to college, Ellis asks Wren to give him a chance to get her to fall back in love through a trip together to rekindle their romance.

This is a beautiful love story. It is perfect for married women. I like to think that if my husband and I were to get divorced, he would work as hard as Ellis to get me back. Filled with nostalgia, it shows how love evolves over time and that a healthy relationship requires work, work together, and for each person to work on themselves.

Tarah DeWitt writes an excellent spicy scene and does a great job of balancing that with the characters' need to take it slow.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Tarah DeWitt….you have ripped my heart out, stomped on it, kindly picked it up and stitched it back together, and put it neatly back into my chest. This book, ohhhh this book. So many dimensions and layers to this friends to lovers/second chance romance book. Ellis and Wren have a love for the ages, that quite literally Ellis said he would find her in another life for if he couldn’t have her in this one.

Ok importantly though, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC 🙏

This is such an incredible book, a perfect second book in the series, and one I will buy for my personal library. I cried the last 1/4 of this book, and still have tears in my eyes as I try to compose myself for this review. I am giving it 4.5 🌟 though I’m going to guess after sitting with this for a while and thoroughly processing the book, it will likely be a 5 ⭐️ book.

Seeing a man who THROUGH THERAPY is able to be vulnerable, communicative, and honest with both himself and Wren is fucking HOT! Sometimes when we are in the thick of a rut/poor timing/etc it’s hard to gain perspective for what it is you were fighting for in the first place. It took 5 years for these two to be able to be in the same place together, and all of that was mostly because of the love they still had in their hearts for each other. No this shouldn’t be a spoiler to anyone, and I won’t mark it as such.

Also, GIVE ME A ROAD TRIP TO ROMANCE trope any day of the week 🔥 This was so well done, and when you realize the tie in it has to something else it will absolutely slay your heart. Ok now I’ve talked myself into the 5 star range with this review, and will be going back to change my star rating. It’s good. So so so so good.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Wren and Ellis have been divorced for 5 years and have been trying to move on. When their son is going away for school, Ellis convinces Wren to go on a road trip after dropping their son off and hopefully rekindle their relationship.

This is probably one of my favorite Tarah Dewitt books I’ve read! It was so sweet and emotional between Wren and Ellis and I was rooting for them the whole time. There were laugh out loud moments, emotional conversations, meddling family members, and some amazing spicy scenes! It was everything I wanted with their story. I highly recommend this and encourage others to read Savor It first though. We do get some scenes with previous characters which I loved!

This is, hands down, my favorite book Tarah has written. It was perfect from start to finish. Second chance romance is one of my least favorite tropes but this book makes me want to reconsider how I feel about that. It was funny, thoughtful, heart wrenching, and hopeful. There was something visceral about seeing Wren and Ellis confront their problems as a couple, but as individuals too. You saw not just how everything fell apart but the careful and deliberate way that it came back together. The love, the hurt, and the joy radiated off of the page and burrowed into my heart. I always love a series, especially an interconnected one where you get to check in with beloved characters but they don’t pull the focus of the story. So it was wonderful to be back with the Byrd family. I’m judgmental as hell with the books I read and I find I have no notes. I cannot wait for whatever Tarah does next.

I LOVED this book. Second chance romances can be a bit hit or miss for me, but this delivered. The character growth for both Wren and Ellis added to my enjoyment. I also thought the pacing worked really well - for whatever reason, this book really had me hooked. I hope we get more books in this series (give me a book centered on Silas, pleaseeeee!).

** I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Left of Forever is an emotional and beautiful story about finding love all over again.

I adore this story so much! Wren and Ellis have my whole heart. Left of Forever is a small town second chance romance with so much heart. Wren and Ellis were each other’s first loves, and got married and had a kid very young, before they really got to know themselves. After a falling out and a few years separated, we get see the couple fall in love all over again, but this time as the people they are now. I loved Savor It, and I was so glad to see Wren and Ellis get a story of their own. It was also nice to have a story featuring a slightly older couple. Love is hard work, and while they may have taken a break, it was so great to see this couple work though their issues and put in that work together. DeWitt has such a great writing style, too. It’s easy to read and get into, but so much emotion in the storytelling as well. I really enjoyed this book so much, and I hope we get more books from Spunes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The idea of this was better than the execution

I was relying on the five star reviews for this but this was lacking in a lot of areas for me. I want to preface by saying I did not know that this was an interconnected standalone. I haven’t read savour it by the author so I think people that have read and loved that book will enjoy this one because they know these characters already.
As for Wren and Ellis as a couple I could not root for them because the author really rushed them. Both of their POVs already show them wanting to get back together. Then their first kiss was rushed and every kiss or smut scene just made cringe with how it was written.
I just think this author is not for me because I also had problems with the co-op.

Thank you netgalley for the arc.

I gave Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt 4.5 stars (marked 4 stars on this grid)

This second chance romance was an emotional journey or two people that have always loved each other. Elias and Wren, a divorced couple decide to take a road trip after dropping their son off at college to find out if there is still something special between the two of them.

I loved this and I am usually not a fan of road trip romances (just don’t always love that trope).

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

Whoooooooa steamy steamy steamy. Always love Tarah’s beautiful and somewhat flawed characters. Her books are the best

Thank you to SMP and Tarah DeWitt for this ARC.

It’s no secret I loved Savor It last year, so I was ecstatic to get an ARC of Left of Forever, a standalone contemporary romance set in the same world! 🤩

📍 What did you love the most?
I was already obsessed with the tension between Wren and Ellis in Savor It and couldn’t wait to dive deeper here. 🤭 DeWitt does something really rare in second-chance romance novels: she shows characters working through trauma with real, healthy communication. 💗

I loved the way Wren and Ellis found creative ways to reconnect (notes, emails, conversations) and how the story focused on emotional repair, not just physical chemistry. It made the relationship feel so authentic and heartfelt. 🥹

📍 What to expect:
🚗 Emotional road trip romance
🖤 Older main characters
💔 Second chance love story
🧯 Firefighter male lead (swoon)
👥 Dual POV

📍 Do I need to read the series in order?
You don’t have to read Savor It first to enjoy Left of Forever, but just a heads up: there are a lot of cameos and light spoilers for earlier events!

🔥Steam level: open-door

📍 How was the romance?
This second chance romance isn’t about bad timing, it’s about learning how to show up for the person you love. 🥰 DeWitt perfectly balances the spice, the plot, and the emotional growth. Watching Wren and Ellis heal together, with all their messy histories, made this one of my favorite romance books about true emotional intimacy. 🥲

📍 Do you recommend this book?
If you love second chance romance books that focus on healing, vulnerability, and epic slow-burn tension, Left of Forever should be on your list. Tarah DeWitt nailed it again: funny, emotional, sexy, and so full of heart.

📍 Perfect for fans of:
💗 Tessa Bailey
💗 Christina Lauren
💗 Sarah Adams
💗 Abby Jimenez

📍 Mood: 🥹 Emotional | ✍️ Reflective | 🔥 Slow-burn

📍 Read if you like:
🚗 Road trip romance stories
💔 Second chance love tropes
🖤 Older main character romances
🧯 Firefighter romance books
📖 Emotional contemporary romance

This book was everything. The longing, the tension, the banter. I was completely consumed. I loved the characters, the emotion, and at moments I was brought to tears. I will forever read and love whatever Tarah puts out. I’m so grateful that I was able to read this book early. I can honestly say there was nothing I disliked about this book.

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

*sigh* I really love a second chance romance. I think that’s one of my all time favorite tropes at this point because it ALWAYS hits. This book was no exception. The scalding heat and chemistry between Wren and Ellis was insane. These characters were dynamic, mature, and sincere. I loved getting to know them both apart and together.

Though it can be read as a standalone, I felt like I was missing something by the end because I haven’t read Savor It yet. I was still able to follow and really enjoy the story, but that’s my only disclaimer, you might want to read Savor It first. I will definitely be reading it very soon!

It’s a phenomenal story about love, honesty, healing, and second chances. I highly recommend you check it out when it releases on May 20th!

Omg omg omg!! This book is amazing!! These characters will be on my mind daily! Their story was so beautiful and our MMC here is 100% book husband material!

જ⁀➴ 4 ✰
“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.”


Left of forever follows Wren and Ellis Byrd, two former high school sweethearts who fell in love young, had a son as teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. Now in their 30s and divorced, Wren runs a local bakery while Ellis works as a firefighter. Though they’ve gone their separate ways, their connection never fully faded. When their son Sam leaves for college, Ellis convinces Wren to take a scenic road trip back home with him along the California coast. As they revisit old memories and spend time together in close quarters, old feelings resurface, and they begin to wonder if they might still have a future. But before they can start over, they’ll have to face the pain, mistakes, and unresolved issues that led to their breakup in the first place.


➳ my thoughts:

GUYS, this book was amazing!! 🤩 I honestly don’t know what it is, but the second chance and marriage-in-crisis tropes always hit me right in the heart—and this one was no exception. There’s just something so powerful and deeply emotional about watching two people who once loved each other try to piece things back together. It’s not just about falling in love again—it’s about remembering the love that was always there, even beneath all the hurt and distance. Watching a couple slowly peel back the layers of what went wrong, all while you know they still love each other fiercely? It’s the kind of ache that’s absolutely worth it. This trope becomes even more special when it’s centered around a divorced couple or a marriage on the brink. There’s so much raw vulnerability, history, and hope tangled up in that kind of story. If second chance romance is your thing, you need to add this to your TBR immediately.

I won’t lie—I went into this with hesitation. My last experience with a Tarah book really let me down, and I was nervous this one would follow the same path. But I’m so glad I gave it a chance. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. I devoured this book, completely swept up in their journey. I felt every flicker of hope, and found myself desperately rooting for them to find their way back to each other. It was emotional, romantic, and beautifully written.

This book was such a beautiful, emotional journey—so deeply sentimental in the best possible way. Listen, I haven’t been married, and obviously that means I’ve never experienced a divorce either. So normally, you’d think it might be hard to fully connect with characters going through something so specific and personal. But that wasn’t the case at all. I felt everything—their heartbreak, their longing, their hope—as if it were my own. That, to me, is the mark of truly powerful storytelling. The way the author captured the rawness of their emotions, the weight of their history, and the quiet ache of what could still be… it was absolutely breathtaking. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t lived through what the characters had—because the writing made me feel like I had. On top of that, the pacing of the story was just perfect. It never dragged, never felt rushed. It gave the characters space to grow, reflect, and heal, and I loved that we got to experience every step of their emotional evolution. The story unfolded naturally, and I was completely immersed from beginning to end

Normally, when I pick up a second chance romance, I crave flashback chapters. I always feel like they help me connect more deeply with the characters—like they fill in those emotional gaps and show me exactly what went wrong and why it matters. So I was a little surprised that this book didn’t rely on traditional flashbacks. But honestly? It didn’t need them. The way the story unfolds gives you everything you need to understand their past, and why their love still lingers beneath all the cracks.

This book is so much more than just a romance. It’s about learning how to trust again—not just in someone else, but in yourself. It’s about rediscovering the parts of you that got lost along the way and finding the courage to fight for a love that’s worth holding on to. There’s a maturity and tenderness to the storytelling that makes it feel incredibly real and grounded. And don’t even get me started on the letter writing—I’m a sucker for that kind of emotional intimacy, and this book delivered it so beautifully!


So yes, as a proud, self-declared second chance romance lover, I can say with full confidence: this is one is a second chance book well made!!

I just feel like something was missing for me to give this 5 stars, can’t put my finger on it, might be some sex scenes. Also I think it’s important to say that this book rely more on the low stakes and angst imo. Also I dnf’ed savor it last year and I kind of regretted it while reading this because I feel like there’s so much vague context of things that happened in that book and when they mentioned here I felt left out lol. But it still didn’t ruined my enjoyment of this book!


➳ characters:

ೃ࿐Wren Salem Byrd

I love her so much—she’s such an incredibly strong and inspiring character. A devoted friend, a loving daughter, and a caring mother. After having a baby at just 17, she poured every ounce of herself into the responsibilities that came with motherhood. Somewhere along the way, she stopped dreaming for herself. She gave so much to everyone else that she forgot she was allowed to want things, to hope, to imagine a future that was hers alone.

What I adored most was watching her journey back to herself. The quiet, determined way she began to rediscover who she was beyond being a mom. Her story is such a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to dream again. It’s never too late to choose you. Her growth felt so authentic, and it truly moved me.


ೃ࿐ Elis Byrd

Did someone say hot firefighter? 😏 Because yes please—sign me up! He’s easily one of my favorite lover boys ever. The way he’s absolutely gone for Wren? Obsessed. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a whipped man who would do anything to win his girl back?

What made him stand out, though, wasn’t just the swoony moments (though there were plenty). It was the way he took real initiative to rebuild what he and Wren had lost. He didn’t sit back or wait for fate to work things out—he fought for her. He was ready to do whatever it took, no hesitation, because that’s how much she meant to him. That kind of devotion? Irresistible.

And then there’s his character arc—so, so well done. At the beginning, he was emotionally closed off, guarded in a way that made you ache for him. But watching him gradually open up, allowing himself to be vulnerable and grow into a better, more emotionally available version of himself? It was everything.

His backstory added such a meaningful layer to his character. After losing both of his parents, he stepped into the role of caretaker for his siblings at such a young age. He didn’t get the luxury of grieving or figuring himself out—he just became what everyone else needed. He lived most of his life putting others first, always in survival mode. So when the moment finally came where he no longer had to take care of everyone, he was completely lost. He didn’t know who he was without that role. Watching him figure that out, watching him finally learn how to choose something for himself—how to choose love—was honestly beautiful.



˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥˚✿ °. Elis & Wren:
⤷ The Byrdsᡣ𐭩

They are the definition of soulmates—two people who were always meant to find their way back to each other. The yearning between them was absolutely exquisite; every glance, every quiet moment was soaked in emotion. And the vulnerability they shared? It was everything I love to see in a couple. They loved each other so deeply, so completely, and even after all the years and heartbreak, that love never faded—it just waited.🥹

What made their story hit even harder was the weight they carried. Both of them had to take on so much responsibility at such a young age—becoming caretakers long before they were ready. And sadly, that burden came between them. It was heartbreaking to witness how much they still longed for each other, how fiercely they still wanted to be together, but simply didn’t know how to bridge the distance. That quiet ache of “I still love you, but I don’t know how to reach you” was so raw, so real, and so beautifully portrayed.


And through it all, they remained incredible parents. Even after their marriage ended, they never let their pain get in the way of raising their son. They co-parented with love, with mutual respect, and built a home where their child could thrive. Honestly, that’s one of the most powerful things they could have done—and it spoke volumes about the kind of people they are. They may have lost each other for a time, but they never lost sight of what mattered most. And now that they’ve found their way back? It feels like the universe finally got it right.

Tara DeWitt I was not familiar with your pen game I need to go back and read all her books. Left of Forever is the perfect second chance romance for fans of the book. This is such a good read this about a divorced couple who go on a road trip after dropping their son off at college. Will they become friends ? Or will they fall in love again because let’s be honest they never really moved on. The yearning and tension in this book is immaculate.

Thank you St Martins press for the arc

St. Martins, NetGalley , you make my world go round. The chance to devour this eARC is something I’ll treasure for awhile.

I’m a Tarah Dewitt girlie. A fan. An auto buy reader. A Farley and Meyer sobbing groupie. Wren and Ellis though, they’re different. They’re magical, and wounded, and incredible, and sad, and hysterical, and heartwarming, and so, so hopeful. Anyone who’s gotten married young will resonate so, so much with their story, and will be hard pressed not to cheer from the depths of their souls as they navigate their reconciliation, their love story.

The relationships in this book are where the magic of the story sings through. Silas’ recovery, Micah’s homecoming, Ellis and Kirby, Wren and Indy. So many small pockets of love make this story sing and I’m a bit awestruck as I finish it.

In my opinion, this is Tarah at her best, truly.

(It’s also her horniest ones kids, get READY for Ellis Byrd and his mustache!)

This was so good!!! I think this was my favorite
second chance romance l've ever read (and that is one of my fav romance tropes), and my favorite romance of the year so far. This was my first Tarah DeWitt book (probably should have read Savor It first, because this is an interconnected stand alone that follows it, whoops), and I can't wait to read more of her books. If you like second chance, please read it.

4.25 Left of Forever was my first Tarah Dewitt book but I'm absolutely going back to read Savor It asap.

This writing was BEAUTIFUL. For reference I have 50+ highlights on my kindle and will be buying a physical copy when it comes out so I can annotate it. Some favorites:

"I think I'm helpless when it comes to his gravity, like all the life between us created some fundamental reflex."

"My chest is an empty, barren cavern without her. My heart took shape around hers, too, and it will never go back."

I was a little skeptical going into this because I've found I don't always believe the couple should get back together in second chance romances. But Wren and Ellis belong together and I will die on that hill.

That said, I have a couple critiques. While this is an interconnected standalone, I do think it suffers a little bit as far as the connection to characters besides our MCs + Sam if you haven't read the first book (I'll be going back and am curious to see if/how my rating changes once I have outside context. Not really understanding the found family made it hard to care deeply about those scenes). Additionally, I think the pacing was a little off at times. There were parts where I was heart achingly hooked on every word and then other parts where I felt a little bored. Particularly, I wish that we had gotten to see some of the work that Ellis did on himself rather than just being told about it. Such a big portion of the book was their trip, which had me giggling and kicking my feet BUT when I really sat back and considered the gravity of their situation/that much time apart, I just wish some of the trip scenes had been cut and put towards other important steps towards them remarrying in the end.

All in all I had a fantastic time reading this book and am so thankful that I got the chance to read it early.

Wren and Ellis found their great love as children. Then life gets in the way and they split. Years later, they take a road trip to see if they should rekindle their romance.

I remember reading “She’s still a Byrd” in Tarah’s other book, Savor It and thinking how I hoped that would be a story! I was late getting to Savor It, so when I did, this book was announced shortly after! So exciting!

I really enjoyed this story! I loved Wren and Ellis! I thought their chemistry was great. Since they have so much history, I loved their banter and how well they knew one another. I loved that he called her Byrd. I loved how Ellis was determined to get her back and put in the work. I love how they unpacked all their past hurts with one another and worked through everything together.

I’ve really been enjoying these books where the couple has already been together and they’re trying to hold onto their love or find it again. It just feels more realistic and these characters felt very real!

I read this eARC while listening to the ALC and it was a fantastic way to read! Thank you to Tarah DeWitt, St. Martin’s Press, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: 𝗟𝗘𝗙𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 @authortarahdewitt (𝗔𝗥𝗖)
🤍🏕️🚗🪺📝

Release date: May 20/25 - Will be purchasing multiple copies for my shelf in case one gets water damage I dunno

Rating: ♾️🌟. 12/10. No notes other than I have been wrecked for all other books. Bury it with me.

Everything I love is in this book. Laugh out loud, relatable characters who feel SO REAL. Trauma. Letters. Swoon. SOB.

I’m actually still light headed writing this from the sobbing ^

Read it immediately. I highlighted so many quotes but I’m not going to share even one because you need to experience it yourself.

Thank you @stmartinspress for the arc & @authortarahdewitt for my new favourite book.

#netgalley #leftofforever