I am a big Tarah Dewitt fan. I love her writing and the fact her books don’t have third act breakups.
I would rate this book 3.5 - 4 stars. Probably my least favorite of hers. While I did enjoy myself overall, I couldn’t get on board with the story. The divorce didn’t seem like it had a strong enough reason, as well as how it took five years and only like two conversations to realize they still loved each other. And the fact that she didn’t recognize his hand writing…
I think this book is more for the reader who has struggled in their marriage. Even though I married young and have kids, I just couldn’t understand how they gave up. This is more for the understanding reader.

I need this second chance romance injected into my veins. I lost track of how many times I cried (in a good way). This book is such a good portrayal of a real relationship (not just a book relationship). Whenever I’m mad at my husband I will just read this. 😜

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC through NetGalley.

Tarah's done it again!!!

Left of Forever easily solidified Tarah as of my favorite authors. I/m not typically a second chance romance girly because too much angst hurts me, but this was perfect. Wren and Ellis are everything to me. The town of Spunes, Oregon is everything to me. The Bryds are everything to me. I can't wait to see what Tarah does next with this series, I know it'll be amazing!

I loved this book so much. I’m a huge fan of DeWitt’s writing, and until now Savor It was my favorite of hers. I loved the intro to Wren and Ellis in that one, and getting to see their relationship rekindle as well as getting a look into their past was so satisfying.

DeWitt excels at finding the depth of emotions and relationships while never losing sight of the humor and lightness that is a cornerstone of the genre. Her prose is a delight to read.

I’ll admit, that as someone in a marriage with their high school sweetheart this story hit home even more. But I think anyone can learn from Wren and Ellis and what it means to love someone for a long time, to change and grow and to find love again.

I loved absolutely everything about this book! I am admittedly not a huge fan of the “second chance” romance novel trope, but Tarah DeWitt did it so well I couldn’t help but fall in love. Both main characters were wonderful and multifaceted, the dual POV chapters really shined. Being inside both of their minds was exactly what we needed as readers for the second chance plot line to work so well. The author’s voice was also a standout. The dialogue was so funny when we needed the levity but it didn’t take away at all from the emotional talks and character arcs we go through the entire story. I would and do recommend this book to all my soft hearted romance lovers.

4.25 stars

Oddly craving some ice cream now, idk why...

But for real though, this book broke my heart in the best way and stitched it all back together again. It was so wonderfully pure and emotional and happy and sad all wrapped up into one neat little present.
This time, they'll get it right. And they so did 😭😭 This was a beautiful second chance romance, and exactly the kind that I can get behind whole-heartedly, no matter how much I have to squash all the logic in my brain (just do not get me started on not recognizing the handwriting of someone you've known 18+ years, I mean...like...just a big ole flaw that I am happy to ignore for the greater good of happiness....)

I adored each of the MCs in this book. Ellis was a big brave soft boy who has the best of intentions and had to go through some pretty good internal growth to let his heart shine on the outside to be able to fix things. Wren fully embodied sweet little baker with a streak of spicy cinnamon in here soul. Reading their story just gave me all kind of emotions, I teared up a little bit, kicked my little feet a lot, and was bursting at the seams with glee. Sue me. I love a fun and sappy story.

And the playlist though??? I mean COME ON. Wreck me start to finish with that one. I kind of want to listen to it on repeat for days?

Beyond frickin' grateful to NetGalley, the publishers, the author, all you beautiful people, for the chance to read an early copy of this!

This was my first book from Tarah Dewitt, and I know one thing for certain it will not be my last. This was a beautiful story of two people who lost each other, but then found each other and fell even more in love all over again. Immediately when starting Left of Forever I was invested in these characters. I love the Bryds so much!!! It really pulls at your hearts strings. It was just everything and more. No notes Tarah ate and left no crumbs. I know this will absolutely be one of if not my top read of the year.

Thank you to Tarah Dewitt, St. Martins Press, and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

When i read Savor It last year, i LOVED the crumbs of Wren and Ellis. They were one of my favorite parts of the book, so how excited was I when we got their very own book? Elated thank you. I think this is Tarah DeWitt’s best book yet, and i’ve read them all. This one, for me at least, is way beyond her other works. The connection between these characters is so tangible and real and you can tell the love they have for each other is real by just their actions. The only think I wish about this book was that it was longer. I wanted more past chapters, more backstory of them as teenagers or with their child. I still felt deeply connected to them anyway though. Tarah always hits the endings so hard and this one was so exception. I did cry! The end is beautiful this book is beautiful, Silas’ book i’m so excited for. Thank you for writing this i needed it.

This book was sooooo wonderful, I’m in love with all of these characters. I know you never planned on a series, Tarah, but pleeeeeeease write a book for Silas and Micah. Ellis’s pining is top tier and Wren is such a real character, she is easy to relate to.

In this second chance romance, Wren and Ellis are divorced and taking their only child to college. Now in their thirties and realizing where their relationship went wrong, they each have regret in the way it ended. Both still secretly pine for the other, and Ellis suggests a road trip home to try to rekindle what they once had.

This was such a beautifully written, heartfelt novel and my new favorite from this author. As someone who has personally been through infertility, seeing this topic covered with care and sensitivity was refreshing and cathartic. Readers who find this topic upsetting should approach with care and be aware that loss and infertility are addressed within the book. Although second chance romance typically isn’t my favorite trope, I really loved it here with this young couple who grew apart due to the difficult circumstances life threw at them. There were also many moments of levity to keep me smiling (the cooking class scene and follow up will live rent-free in my head for a long time)! I’d definitely recommend this read, especially to those who enjoy second chance romance, forced proximity, road trip romances, and open door scenes.

Thank you to Tarah DeWitt and St. Martin’s Griffin for the arc and opportunity to be an early reader and reviewer.

“All I know is that if I found out heaven was real and got there first? I’d hang back in the waiting room and save you a seat.”

This was my first Tarah Dewitt book and likely not my last.
Different take on “marriage in crisis” seeing as how they’re divorced.

Ellis & Wren 💕
Divorced couple
Child (adult)
Childhood friends
Road-trip
Soulmate vibes

I really enjoyed this. It was beautifully written.
It had its sad parts and then it’s funny parts (the pepper situation 🤣🤣)

Arc review ✨
Netgalley

Love like Wren and Ellis is the kind of love everyone strives to have, this is romance GOLD. This what a romance books should look like, the yearning, the passion…. ITS PERFECTION


I have been waiting for Wren and Ellis’ book ever since I first read Savor It and let me tell you it did NOT disappoint!

I truly hope that Tarah continues on with each Byrd sibling because not only did I fall more in love with the town of Spunes and everyone in it. I could feel myself wanting more from each sibling. I would PAY BIG MONEY to have Silas’ book. The way that everyone meddled with Wren and Ellis is the most perfect representation of small town and nosy siblings!

Wren and Ellis got married and had a baby at such a young age and now that they have been divorced for five years you can still feel the yearning on every single page.

I knew going into this that I would love it, but when I was reading and there was LETTERS!!!!!!!??? I legit knew this would be a new favorite of mine!!

I cannot wait for the audio and physical book to release because I need this book in all its forms.

“I kiss her because there’s no glass or walls or miles between us right now. Just her and her glowing skin and her full lips that taste like sweet, bright grapes. I kiss her because she’s kind and clever and so pretty it takes my breath away. She’s mine and I’m hers, and all my life’s greatest happiness can be traced back to her, so I kiss her because I want to, and forget the rest”

“We have whatever’s left of forever, you and me.”

I could literally fill this entire review with quotes but I wont…. GO READ THIS BOOK!!!!

Left of Forever is an absolute masterpiece. 🤍

PUB: May 20, 2025

ARC Review:
Infinite ⭐️s for this book—I’m honestly in awe. I don’t even have the words to express how much this story means to me. 💌 Tarah DeWitt has officially made second-chance romance as my favorite trope, and this is hands down her best book yet. 💘

I never wanted this book to end—I just wanted to live in it forever. Ellis and Wren have my whole heart. The emotion, the rawness, the angst, the love, the pining—it was all perfection. I’m obsessed with these characters. Ellis… what a man, what a mighty good man. 😮‍💨 And Wren? She’s one of the most fun, whimsical characters I’ve read in a long time. A beautiful mom, an incredible person, and her longing for something bigger completely hooked me. I adored her.

This book is pure magic. It’ll tug at your heartstrings, break you a little, and somehow still feel perfect.

Thank you, Tarah, for sharing an early copy—so lucky to have read this one! 💛

📚 Left of Forever by @authortarahdewitt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Available May 20, 2025

I had the incredible honor of reading this stunning, magnificent, beautiful book early. Idk what Tarah puts in her books, but every single one of them raises the bar for what a romance book can be. This one made me laugh, made me cry, and touched me so deeply.

Ellis and Wren fell in love young, had a baby as teenagers, got married, and then life unfairly got in the way and they divorced. Now 5 years later, Ellis convinces Wren to take a road trip with him to celebrate their son leaving the nest and see if there’s still a chance for them.

This book was so tender and real, and really felt personal at times. Like Wren and Ellis, I also got married young, and life hasn’t always been easy on us. Seeing Wren and Ellis communicate and work out what went wrong felt like looking in a mirror at times. I laughed, I cried, I cried from laughing. I know this will be a top read of the year, if not the best.

Tarah has done something really special with this book. Go on and add it to your tbr now. It comes out May 20 and you really don’t want to miss it!

4.25 ⭐

Thank you so much to the publisher for an arc!

Left of Forever was a beautiful book. Tarah Dewitt's writing is so stunning, and this book had me experiencing all the emotions while reading. I was laughing, swooning, and crying over Wren and Ellis. They truly are soulmates and I was rooting for them so hard because it was so obvious to me that they were meant to be together. You know when you read about two people that are just made for each other, and when they're apart it's like they aren't whole? That's what it was like for them. The yearning, longing, and aching they felt for each other was so evident throughout the entire book and their love felt so real.

I recently read Savor It, and while I fell in love with the setting of Spunes, I wasn't super invested in the romance between Sage and Fisher. But the crumbs of Wren and Ellis intrigued me enough to read Left of Forever. And I think it's one of my new favorite second chance romances. I think the writing was even better, and the couple had a lot more chemistry. Even if you were on the fence about Savor It, I still highly recommend giving Left of Forever a chance because I think it's definitely worth reading.

I loved both of our main characters. Both Ellis and Wren are such complex characters who went through so much at such a young age and were forced to grow up so early. They grew so much throughout the book and were able to work on themselves both individually and as a couple. Ellis was so gone for Wren, and he is truly the definition of male yearning. He was so devastatingly in love with Wren and it was beautiful to read about, and I fell so hard for him.

Wren and Ellis are genuinely one of the few fictional couples I believe are soulmates. Their willingness to do whatever it took to fix their relationship was proof of that. Marriage isn't all sunshine and rainbows, and although it took them losing each other to get it right, I love how they were able to communicate about not just what worked but also what didn't. They make a genuine effort to listen to each other and actively work on making things better and doing things right the second time around. They showed each other that it’s okay to be vulnerable, and that they would still love each other through good and bad times.

As someone who rarely cries over books, I was certain I could get through this one without shedding a tear. But their journey of finding their way back to each other was so raw and real and vulnerable and by the end I was a sobbing mess over them.

Spunes and the Byrd family have my heart and I would totally read more books in Spunes if Tarah Dewitt were to write them. I absolutely need a Silas book! And I would also love to read a book about Kirby because I love her.

“I’ll love you for everything left of forever, in every lifetime we get.”

I'm going to go cry myself to sleep tonight thinking of Wren and Ellis.

This was my first book by Tarah DeWitt, and I instantly fell in love with her writing. I’m a sucker for second-chance romances, and this one was so beautifully written and deeply heartfelt. The dual POV made it even more special, allowing us to experience the mutual longing from both characters' perspectives. The setting was perfect, and the family dynamics were just as wonderful, making me so excited for the books to come in this world.

The story follows Wren and Ellis Byrd, childhood best friends who fell in love at a young age. As teenagers, they had their son, Sam, and with the support of their loved ones, they built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. For years, they seemed like the perfect couple—until they weren’t. Now, in their 30s and divorced, Wren runs the local bakery she inherited from her mother, while Ellis works as a firefighter. Their lives have become entirely separate, their conversations brief and limited to their only shared priority: their son.

But nearly five years after their divorce, Ellis starts to wonder if Wren might still love him too. And once that thought takes root, he realizes he can’t just let her go. When Sam gets accepted into college, both parents travel together to help him settle in, and on the way back, Ellis suggests a week-long road trip—one last chance to see if they can find their way back to each other. And OH MY GOD!

Ellis Byrd is truly one of the most thoughtful men ever. He plans the entire trip with Wren in mind, down to the smallest details, making it the most meaningful experience for her. But he wasn’t always like this. He had flaws—real, human ones—and what made his journey so special was his willingness to acknowledge them and grow. His character development was incredible. The way therapy was portrayed, especially in relation to men, was done so well, showing how it helped Ellis reflect on his role in their past struggles. He was already the kind of MMC you can’t help but adore, but his emotional growth made him even better.

Wren is such a vibrant, layered character. Her fun-loving, whimsical nature is balanced by her deep emotional connections and her desire to be part of something greater than herself. She’s an incredible mother, sister, and friend, and each of those aspects of her personality is portrayed incredibly throughout the book. I absolutely loved her. P.S. I don't know why but at times to paint the picture better, I was imagining her as Lorelai Gilmore.

When you’ve been best friends with someone since you were five, letting go of them is nearly impossible. One of my favorite quotes from the book captures this sentiment so beautifully:

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

"My heart took shape around hers, too, and it will never go back."

This is such a breathtaking and emotional story about two people finding their way back to each other. The pacing was absolutely perfect—never rushed, never dragging. The writing flowed effortlessly as it moved between past and present, letters and in-person conversations, inner thoughts and spoken words. It added so much depth to the story without ever feeling forced.

If you’re looking for a love story filled with depth, longing, yearning, and beautifully written emotions, this is the one to pick up! You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Excuse me while I scream: “AT EVERY TABLE ILL SAVE YOU A SEAT LOVERRRRR”
This book had me in my feels from start to finish. It was so special to see Wren and Ellis rewrite their love story, especially after watching them on the sidelines in Savor It. Tarah DeWitt has created something very unique with this ensemble cast that feels like real family. Left of Forever had me laughing, crying, squealing, and devouring the whole thing in <36 hours. I’ll read whatever you write next, Tarah!

It has taken me a good hour of staring at the wall after finishing the book, another read through, and 3 days of a book hangover to even find the words for this book.
I’m going to admit that i went into this book completely blind. I didn’t read the description or any promo on it before i applied for the ARC. I knew it was by Tara DeWitt and that was enough for me to click the request button.

This book shattered my heart and healed it at the same time from beginning to end. I can’t even explain how deeply connected i felt with both Wren and Ellis. When Wren felt that sting of seeing her ex husband, i felt that sting. When Ellis was reliving where it all went wrong, i felt every piece of my heart that broke. I felt their love for Sam radiating from the pages.

This book is the best second chance romance that i have ever read. I am almost sad that i don’t know if I’ll ever read anything that beautiful again. It is such a unique story. This has become the book that i will always recommend to my romance readers.

I love a Tarah Dewitt Rom Com - First of all Thank you NetGalley, Tarah Dewitt and St Martin Griffin publishing for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of Left of Forever. The first book I read of hers was an ARC of Savor It and I absolutely loved it, so I was excited to go back to Spunes and read Ellis and Wren's story. I think it was a unique story. I don't often hear of or read second chance romances like this so it was a fun change. Although you can read it stand alone I'd read Savor It first because you'll fall even more in love with the characters before you start this one.

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

3.5

GREAT for a second-chance story. i’ve been mildly hesitant with that trope lately, especially with divorcees, but this was done super well. and they were hot together! i would’ve preferred less setting of the scene, but that probably made the reunion hit hard, ig.

#netgalley