I was so happy to go back to Spunes with this book! Second chance romance (marriage) trope is so good when done well and this one was expertly done!! Ellis fights hard by working on himself first. Wren never stopped loving him but has to learn they are not the same as they were in the past. Swoony, steamy and so sweet! I loved it!!
I'm really hoping for a story on Micah and Silas!!!

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Left of Forever
Author: Tarah DeWitt

This book touched my heart in so many ways. This is my new favorite Tarah read. In the same world as Savor It, we now focus on Wren and Ellis, divorced and in their 30s. They were married and had a child when they were in their teens but their marriage fell apart. Now they are dropping their son off to college together and Ellis has decided that he wants Wren back, badly. Ellis creates an elaborate plan to try and win his wife back. This second chance romance had all the feels, and I just loved how even years later we watch these two characters try to rekindle their love for each other. The road trip part was fun, and I love that Tarah has so much comedy thrown in to a still extremely emotionally deep read. We have the characters from Savor it thrown in as well so it’s nice to read about our other favorites. I am praying she makes a book for each of the siblings.. please! I’m not ready to be done with Spunes, Oregon. Thank you so much Netgalley and St. Martins Press for my ARC copy! This book releases on 5/20/25!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. Wren and Ellis are childhood sweethearts that got pregnant at teenagers. Years later after difficulties with infertility they grew apart to the point they divorced. Five years later and they are taking their son to college and agree to a vacation together on the way home. Can they fix what happened in their marriage or will they try to be friends? A cute romance with heartfelt moments and spicy moments. A romance that really pulls you in. Loved seeing their growth and them being willing to be so honest with each other.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read an early copy of one of my all time anticipated reads. Left Of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is going to be published on May 20th and it is a must read. Just finished this absolute masterpiece and I’m still swooning. 💔💍 As soon as I saw it was a marriage in crisis / second chance romance, I knew I was in, it’s my ultimate comfort-and-cry trope, and this one hit every note perfectly.
Tarah DeWitt has done it again. I’ve read all her books and somehow each one is better than the last. Her writing is so raw, so emotionally honest, yet effortlessly elegant. She doesn’t just tell a story, she elevates it with beautiful vocabulary and graceful turns of phrase, the kind you don’t often see in the romance genre. This book reminded me why I fell in love with romance in the first place. This book has all the feels. You’re going to swoon, you’re going to cry, you’ll gasp out loud and highlight quote after quote because every word hits. You’re going to FEEL, and isn’t that exactly what we crave as romance readers?
Tarah Dewitt absolutely delivered. She poured heart, elegance, and emotional depth into every page, and the result is a story that stays with you long after the final chapter. This wasn’t just a read for me, it was an experience. Thank you Tarah.

Easiest 5 stars. I cried throughout this entire book. Sad tears, frustrated tears, heart broken tears and happy tears. I cried them all.

I love Wren and Ellis (and Sam) endlessly.

While this is technically a second chance as Wren & Ellis have been divorced for several years, it read more like a marriage in crisis to me. Marriage in crisis is one of those tropes that is SO underrated in my opinion, because you go into the book knowing their love already exists for one another, but watch as they experience the true difficulties of navigating a long term relationship. It's not always sunshine & rainbows after the HEA. It's people who are still flawed, still learning, still growing and not always growing in the same direction. Sometimes even growing complacent, or resentful. It happens, and it takes effort to maintain the magic in the everyday and mundane.

That's why I love marriage in crisis books so much. They're raw, they're real, they're hard, but it's so satisfying when they find their home in one another again.

Wren and Ellis were exactly that for one another. Home. They had a long and complex history that involved countless struggles including grieving the loss of parents, becoming teen parents to a newborn themselves while also suddenly taking care of Ellis' siblings.

Another one of my favourite tropes is a road trip romance. Ellis and Wren taking a week long road trip after dropping Sam off at college as a means to re-learn one another and hash out their issues on neutral territory created some hilarious and emotional moments that I loved. The drunken cooking class will live rent free in my head lol.

And the LETTERS!! Ugh, I am a sucker for letters on page and I loved how we got to know Wren & Ellis' personalities through them.

The tension and chemistry between these two was delicious, but there was so much heart and emotion captured in the spicy moments too. It felt very well balanced.

Tarah's writing... I wish I had words to express how much I love Tarah's writing, and every time I read a new book by her I am again surprised by how much I love her writing.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to tandem read the ebook & audiobook (my favourite way to read).

Left of Forever absolutely wrecked me in the best way! It's a second-chance romance that’s super heartfelt and emotional. Ellis and Wren have been divorced for five years, but after their son leaves for college, Ellis decides he wants to try to win her back. They've known each other forever and were teen parents, but life—and their struggles—slowly pulled them apart. Watching them try to figure out if they can rebuild what they once had was so real and raw.

This book felt like you were getting a glimpse into the real, messy parts of a relationship. There were so many moments that hit close to home for me, especially as someone who's been married for a while. Tarah really nailed the ups and downs of marriage—how it changes when life gets complicated and when both people have to work at it.

Ellis? Total dream guy. The way he tried to change for Wren and opened up to her really got to me. And let’s just say, I’ve never been into guys with mustaches, but Ellis completely changed my mind. Wren is such a strong woman, and her journey to find happiness after everything was heartbreaking but also so inspiring.

This book was emotional and touching in all the best ways, and definitely one of the best second-chance romances I’ve read. I’d totally love to read more about Micah, Silas, and Sam’s college journey too! If you’ve been married for a while, you’ll see a lot of yourself in this story. It’s definitely worth the read!

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is a captivating small-town romance filled with passion, intrigue, and opportunities for redemption. This steamy novel offers readers a glimpse into the complexities of love and the power of second chances.

ATTENTION EVERYONE this is my new favorite book of all time!!!! If I could give it a million stars, I would still fight to give it more!!!!

I have never read a book where I needed two characters to end up together more than I needed Wren and Ellis to be together. This book made me cry (way too many times), it made me laugh, it made me SWEAT!!!! It was everything to me and I hope you all love it as much as I did!

Read this if you like:
-second chance
-open door
-small town
-road trip
-only one bed
-secret tattoos
-crying yourself to sleep and rubbing your heart to ease the pain

I will admit that second chance romance is my least favorite trope but I can always trust Tarah DeWitt to give me the swoon worthy moments regardless.

This was a sweet rekindling love story told over the journey of a road trip, full of deep conversations and fun stops along the way.

I did love returning to Spunes and seeing more of the family dynamics of the Byrd family!

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martins Press for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Oh my goodness, where do I begin with this story? This is truly Tarah's best work so far. She has perfected the second chance romance and Wren and Ellis are the absolute perfect characters. I would give this story a million stars if I could. I was hooked right from the start and knew this was going to be a really special story. I am always a sucker for written letters between characters and I just felt it added so much more depth to Wren and Ellis' relationship. Coming back to Spunes was so special. I am so impressed with the growth of Tarah's writing, storytelling and character development and I cannot wait to see what is next from her!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I have been craving second chance romances lately. Boy was I excited to see what Dewitt would give me with this trope. I was not disappointed in the least!
Wren and Ellis Byrd have been divorced for 5 years, going their separate ways after having gotten pregnant so young and then slowly growing apart. When their son is set graduate from high school and has been accepted to a school in California, a family road trip becomes inevitable. And Ellis finally sees a way to try and win back the love of his life. But Wren is skeptical at best and, while she still sees she has feelings for her ex, she's not sure the rift that infiltrated their family bubble is fixable. Can they reconnect driving the beautiful California lands?
I'm just going to say that this book really wrecked me. The way the story was told, the development of the characters, the slow burn, the hope for a second change. They were all done so well!
Wren was so wonderfully done. Her longing for connection, her heart wanting to open to love, her fear of things hurting all over again. Her journey, while not mine, was so relatable. Her loneliness was truly palpable. I was rooting for her the entire book. She made me see how love is love, even if it changes shape and form and grows. And people change and grow and sometimes need to reinvent themselves to become the person they were always meant to be.
But ELLIS! If I wanted a character to stick out for me in this book, it was him. DeWitt wrote him with so much vulnerability. I could feel in in my heart as it clenched in my chest on many occasions when Ellis was telling the story. He has so many facets. His inability to see his true worth. His selflessness, sometimes to his demise. His need to fix things. I don't often relate to the MMC, even if I love them. With Ellis I felt seen. This character will absolutely hold a special place in my heart for a very long time.
The yearning Dewitt creates is really top notch. She can't write anything I wouldn't want to read. And the family and friends who surround this couple, cheering them and helping to show them they truly can overcome their past gives that small town feel. I love found families with real families tied in.
Everything about this story was tangible. Dewitt managed to crawl into my chest and wrap around my heart with this story. The pacing was spectacular and the only thing that kept me from finishing this in one sitting was me having to get up early the next day so sleep was necessary.
The plot os one I often worry about. The story of a relationship in demiseWhat can a author do to take two estranged beings and make them love again that hasn't been done before? But the road trip was such a great way to move the plot along. It never felt stagnant since you were moving from town to town with Ellis and Rynn and doing new things with them. I was desperate for an HEA and I don't think I story has made me laugh and then break down crying like this one has.
And, that Santa Cruz connection with The Co-Op, I absolutely loved seeing the Deacon and Rynn cameo and glimpse into their HEA.
This is absolutely my favorite DeWitt book to date. The journey these characters took is raw and honest. I can't wait to read it again and again.

This book was perfection. After seeing the longing & emotions from Ellis & Wren in Savor It, I knew I was in for a treat with this one. It took me through all of the emotions & more! Such a beautiful & honest love story. If you’re a Byrd, I’m a Byrd 🥹 by far my favorite ARC that I’ve received!!!

Left of Forever | Tarah DeWitt
A second-chance road trip with ALL the feels and tension

It took me a couple false-starts to get into this story, but once I did, it was such a smooth ride. I loved the cheeky side to serious-Ellis and was pleasantly surprised by Wren’s free-spiritedness. There was far less stumbling into awkwardness compared to my expectations, but this was more like finding that favorite pair of jeans shoved to the back of the closet and finding that they fit just as perfectly as they ever did. I loved the little Santa Cruz cameo from The Co-Op and the California road-trip setting had me looking up wineries and glamping sites giving me that perfect getaway feeling.

Left of Forever is full of all of the tension and longing we love, and the satisfying spice that paves the way to happily ever after. This was a perfect spring read (with a little taste of all four seasons) and a charming peek into the lives of the characters we met in Savor It.

4.5/5 stars!
Big thanks to St Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Tarah DeWitt for the ARC for review!

4.75 rounded up.

Ellis and Wren grew up together and had their son, Sam, as teens. A decade later, their marriage fell apart. Now in their 30s, they still can’t keep their minds off each other. A summer road trip to drop Sam at college is an opportunity to see whether forever might still be possible.

This was the first book I’ve read by the author and it was far beyond my normal threshold for explicit romantic content. I mean, 5 open door scenes plus 2 other highly suggestive ones— yikes! I had to think long and hard about why this one did work for me. Here’s what I came up with:

1. The reasons for this couple’s demise felt very real, having been through an ectopic pregnancy and stillbirth myself. There certainly could have been fewer of THOSE scenes for my taste, however I think DeWitt captures something about how pregnancy loss. I can’t speak for all women and I don’t think Wren’s POV explicitly states this, but what was implied was: “My body has failed me. It can’t even do something I thought it was made to do. Can I enjoy this part of life again? Will intimacy ever NOT carry the weight of this loss?” For this reason, I felt like although the couple’s verbal and written communication about their past was vital, their physical communication also brought much needed healing—it was a lot, but I give it a pass.

2. I have the home field advantage, folks! Ellis takes Wren to Santa Cruz, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and to the Shadowbrook restaurant in Capitola (it’s not named, but if you’ve ever taken the cable car down to the entrance, you’ll recognize this, I’m sure). They spend time wine tasting and camping throughout northern California. When you’ve been to these places, I think it makes a book come more alive.

Overall, this was a win for me. I only wish I’d known that Savor It came before it and had read that first. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the digital review copy.

This was a great second chance romance and one I was looking forward to reading after having read the first book in this series last summer. I remember wanting to know more about the couple featured in this book, Wren and Ellis, even while reading that first book. I think I might have liked this book better than the first and I enjoyed that one as well. I think I liked these characters and related to them a bit more. It was lovely to watch them finding each other again after being apart for 5 years, and their open communication in order to see if their marriage could work again was done so well. I cannot wait to read more books in future about the other Byrd family members.

I received an eARC thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press, all opinions are my own.

If Tarah DeWitt wrote the phone book, I would read it. The yearning in this book is absolutely top notch. It’s emotional, it’s poignant, it’s steamy, it’s everything. I love how emotionally present these characters and the unflinching support their family/community gives. Diving into the emotional turmoil of a couple’s divorce and struggle conceiving isn’t light subject matter, but this book was 1000% worth it.

5 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

ELLIS BYRD THE MAN THAT YOU ARE.
If you search "yearning" in the dictionary, I'm convinced his name will pop up.

LOF is my first book by Tarah, and I'm eager to jump into her backlist. Her writing style is so descriptive and bingeable (I literally read this book in a single day), and the characters feel completely real to me. This was a masterclass in second-chance romance and I can't wait for what she has up her sleeve next (also Silas?! I NEED)

I didn't think any book could top Savor It, but it turns out Ellis and Wren's story could.

I genuinely don't know if I finished this book or if this book finished me. I was so invested in all the characters and so desperately wanted them to find their happy ending and boy did Tarah deliver. I was laughing, crying, and am now in a book slump after finishing it.

Favorite quotes (I can't wait to get the physical copy and annotate these and more):

"I've finally come alive under my own skin again. The version of me I was meant to be, misshapen heart finding its missing piece."
"I'm begging you to fight with me, do anything with me, just be with me."
"We have whatever is left of forever, you and me."

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC, I loved it so much!

From the start I knew this was going to be a 5 star read, and I loved every second of this book! Tarah writes such beautifully flawed and mature characters that are easy to relate to and root for. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time and it might be my favorite of the year!

I really enjoyed this one! Tarah DeWitt has a fun engaging style and kept me invested. I liked previous works more but I would still recommend this for fans of hers and fans of Hannah Bonham Young and Cara Bastone.