4.5 stars - I'm honestly still reeling from how much I enjoyed this book! I was hesitant for an "ex-marriage in crisis on a road trip", but the You've Got Mail vibes helped give it the reader a deeper glance into their situation. Grab the audiobook if possible and you won't be disappointed!

I also appreciate that there wasn't any pettiness between the families, and they all genuinely love each other since they have basically grown into a found family from a young age. This had plenty of hilarious moments, and a few steamy bits, but mostly I enjoyed the growth of the main characters, both separately and together.

I think this is my 2025 read of the year—WOW. The communication?? YES PLEASE! The honesty?? HELL YEAH! The vulnerability?? YUP. The spice?? PHEW! From start to finish, I ate this book up; it was such a good second-chance romance; I devoured it.

My guy Ellis? What. A. Man. His steadfastness and strength were incredible. The strength and vulnerability of Wren were inspiring. The two of them? Everything.

I just loved this book and want to reread it a thousand times because I had so much fun with it. 11/5 stars!!!!

“One day, when we’re very old and gray, one of us will open our eyes to a day the the other won’t, but we’ll smile knowing how full life has been, knowing how we spent forever.”

This book has my favorite micro trope in it- anonymous letters/penpals so obviously I was instantly hooked. Such a cute second change romance taking place 5 years after they get divorced. So many elements to this story that I don’t normally see/read in books. First being the divorce, second being that they have a child graduating high school and headed to college, third being ectopic pregnancy, and finally a road trip to salvage what might still be of their past relationship.

I really appreciate that they didn’t divorce due to any toxicity in their relationship. I think the author wrote about their infertility really well written regarding the emotions that followed from both the mfc and mmc including the moments leading up to their divorce.

The wedding scene was probably my favorite out of the whole book. It was a great closure to their story while also setting up the next book in the series perfectly.

♾️ stars - one of my all times favorite second chance romance stories 🫶

Dear stranger,

One day, maybe I will find the right words to express how much this books means to me and how good it is. Today is not that day lol. 🥲 But there are sooo many great reviews and edits out there on the interwebs, I'm just happy to sit here in my bubble and in my feels. It's been weeks and I haven't recovered. Send help. And by help, I mean anything Tarah ever writes I hope she never quits this everyone buy her books so she can be an author forever thank you.

This is one of the best second chance romance and by far, the BEST marriage/relationship in trouble book I have ever read in my life. The most raw, true, real, relatable, complex and beautiful story. I don't know how anyone will ever top it and if I don't see a NYT tagline on it when it comes out I will not be fine. It's like the therapy I didn't know I needed.😭😭🫶

How can someone pack so many feels, love and raw reality in one little book?? Like, it feels so precious and real like I shouldn't even read it. Like I want to protect it/them at all cost. Like I want everyone to read it but I also want to keep it for myself, you know?

Tarah's words hold a rawness and warmth to them that burrows into your soul. Pretty sure this book altered my brain chemistry.

The way I just wanted to highlight every line was unreal... There is charm, banter and funny moments too, ofc. I laughed so hard I cried at the vineyard scene. When you get there you will know.

Wren and Ellis are everything. They went through everything. They fell in love, had a beautiful romance story, started a family, lost themselves, hit roadblocks, worked hard, lost communication... but they never lost "them". Just got a bit in their heads and in routines and life hardships. But then... BUT THEN. *cue sobbing*.

Maybe they just needed a bit of distance, healing and perspective to get back on track. And the getting back on track was delicious! It was fun and flirty and had meddlesome families and roadtrips and adventures. Because no matter what, "she's still a Byrd".

I will probably never get over the "I'd save you a seat" lines.

Thank you Tarah for the story and the publisher for the arc. I don't do reviews I do emo rambling so here you go. 😁

I honestly have mixed feelings about this. One of the biggest challenges for me was the lack of meaningful communication between the main characters, it just felt like so much of their conflict could have been resolved if they had just talked honestly with each other or followed through on the FMC’s suggestion to go to therapy. The five-year separation, filled with heartbreak and other relationships, just seemed so avoidable to me which honestly made it difficult for me to fully connect with their story.

It also left a bad taste in my mouth that despite being childhood friends, the MMC had all his "firsts" with someone else. That choice weakened the impact of their shared history for me, especially since their connection was supposed to be so deep and long standing.

Another detail that didn’t sit quite right was how one sided their pasts felt: we get a lot about the FMC’s dating life post-breakup, but barely anything about the MMC’s, just because she didn’t want to know. That narrative choice felt inconsistent and left some important questions unanswered.

Lastly, while I appreciate a fast-paced resolution, the speed at which they got back together after years of unresolved pain felt a little too quick. If a book leans into miscommunication, I’d love to see a bit more depth and angst in the reconciliation process. Despite all that I still had a good time overall especially seeing the characters from the previous book.

Good God. Thank you for this book. It was everything I wanted and MORE.

A perfect piece of literature. Not one damn thing is wrong with it.

It was creative and beautifully crafted. These characters are fantastic and I couldn't put this story down. It consumed me.

Will be thinking about this one till the end of time probably.

Tropes: childhood friends to lovers, second chance, found family, epistolary, small town romance, road trip, one bed, pining, and dual POV.

If I could give this 6 stars, I would.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC for my honest thoughts and NetGalley.

The words on this book will be permanently etched in my brain. My love for this book began from one line in Savor It with "She's still a Byrd" and I have been anticipating this book ever since and it was just as amazing as I thought it would be.

Wren and Ellis finding their way back to each other was done in such a raw and real way. I can't wait to have this book physically in my hands so I can highlight and underline everything that I read and loved about this book. This book broke down a relationship and put it back together. I love novels that feature letters and I love road trips so this book was the perfect mixture of the two. I want to go to a town that doesn't exist. I want to go to Spunes! This gave me such "whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same" vibes.

Tropes:
Second Chance Romance
Road Trip Romance
Tight Knit Family
Dual POV
Small Town
Baker
Firefighter

Closed Door Mods: 4, 23, 29, 30, 33, 34

dare I say favourite book of all time???? I’ve read it 3 times already. my soul book.

bury me with this book. tattoo this book on my body. my soul characters. it is really hard for me to come up with the right words to describe how much this book means to me. i have never felt so connected to a bookish couple then i do with ellis and wren. this is the one book i will constantly come back to and no matter how many times i reread LOF it never looses its magic. if i’m not smiling or giggling i have tears streaming down my face.

tarah dewitts brain needs to be studied. the way she crafted these characters - each one painted with such depth, such aching beauty, they don’t just feel real but truly lived-in. there complexities hum with such vulnerability and tenderness you can’t help but route for them from the very first page.

second chance romances have always held my heart, but this one sits at the very top. there is something so aching beautiful seeing two souls who know each other so intimately find their way back. the homecoming that feels new, tender, and reborn.
some of my favourite parts of this book were when the smallest, most ordinary moments stirred daydreams of their shared history. glimpses of quiet intimacy and the echo of yearning that still lingered between them.
And beneath all of that softness lies something heartbreakingly real: the heartbreak of loving someone so fiercely, you start to wonder if you’re what’s holding them back. when you want the entire world for them, but carry the weight of your own darkness. it’s easy to believe that letting go is the selfless choice especially when you see the light in their eyes dimming. maybe that is the right thing. maybe it’s not. but that uncertainty, that ache, that’s what it is to be human. A messy, beautifully, flawed human, trying to love with everything they have, even if it means breaking their own heart.😭😭😭😭😭

tarah… your beautiful mind amazes me.

i could write a thesis on these two characters but maybe ill just journal about it instead lol. LOF comes out may 20th so pls….i beg you… preorder from your indie bookstore.

i also have to highlight the audio because my god it was perfect. these two narrators brought wren and ellis to life. i was seriously blushing hardcore whenever ellis was in my ear.

dare I say favourite book of all time???? I’ve read it 3 times already. my soul book.

bury me with this book. tattoo this book on my body. my soul characters. it is really hard for me to come up with the right words to describe how much this book means to me. i have never felt so connected to a bookish couple then i do with ellis and wren. this is the one book i will constantly come back to and no matter how many times i reread LOF it never looses its magic. if i’m not smiling or giggling i have tears streaming down my face.

tarah dewitts brain needs to be studied. the way she crafted these characters - each one painted with such depth, such aching beauty, they don’t just feel real but truly lived-in. there complexities hum with such vulnerability and tenderness you can’t help but route for them from the very first page.

second chance romances have always held my heart, but this one sits at the very top. there is something so aching beautiful seeing two souls who know each other so intimately find their way back. the homecoming that feels new, tender, and reborn.
some of my favourite parts of this book were when the smallest, most ordinary moments stirred daydreams of their shared history. glimpses of quiet intimacy and the echo of yearning that still lingered between them.
And beneath all of that softness lies something heartbreakingly real: the heartbreak of loving someone so fiercely, you start to wonder if you’re what’s holding them back. when you want the entire world for them, but carry the weight of your own darkness. it’s easy to believe that letting go is the selfless choice especially when you see the light in their eyes dimming. maybe that is the right thing. maybe it’s not. but that uncertainty, that ache, that’s what it is to be human. A messy, beautifully, flawed human, trying to love with everything they have, even if it means breaking their own heart.😭😭😭😭😭

tarah… your beautiful mind amazes me.

i could write a thesis on these two characters but maybe ill just journal about it instead lol. LOF comes out may 20th so pls….i beg you… preorder from your indie bookstore.

i also have to highlight the audio because my god it was perfect. these two narrators brought wren and ellis to life. i was seriously blushing hardcore whenever ellis was in my ear.

This was such a sweet read. I love romance books and I read a lot of them, but I always especially appreciate the books that focus on those couples who are just a little bit older and have a little more experience under their belts.

I really loved both Wren and Ellis. They were the model of good communication. They were patient with themselves and each other. They were respectful of each other. They were easy to root for.

This is a follow-on to Savor It, which I haven’t read. I didn’t need to. This book can stand alone, however I did feel a bit loot I was missing out on some details that would have elevated the story for me. So, I’m going to work backwards and make sure to read Savor It soon.

If you love more mature characters, second-chance romance, found family, and only one bed, this will likely be your perfect read. It releases on 20 May 2025.

A giant thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Oh, my heart. LEFT OF FOREVER is the ultimate second chance romance. Tarah DeWitt has gifted us a heartbreakingly real, raw, honest look at the effort it takes to save a marriage.

When readers are first introduced to Wren and Ellis Byrd in DeWitt’s SAVOR IT, it is clear there is still something between them despite their divorce, and I’ve been anticipating their story ever since. Let me tell you, LEFT OF FOREVER is worth the wait. (This can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading SAVOR IT first to truly appreciate the nuances and depth of longing that exists between these characters.)

Parents at 17 and married young, Wren and Ellis watched their marriage erode despite their deep love for each other. Five years after their divorce, they are faced with their son heading off to college. Neither has moved on. Both still harbor deep feelings for the other. The energy between them crackles whenever they are together. When Ellis suggests they spend a week together after dropping their son off at college to see if they can rekindle the spark, Wren agrees.

But what is between them is so much more than a spark. It is a raging inferno and it is impossible to resist. While this is a steamy, blush inducing novel, it is so much more. The focus of rebuilding the relationship is on personal growth and communication; with Wren and Ellis learning to understand, accept, and communicate their feelings. These two put in the work and tackle the hard stuff head on. There is pain and tenderness and unwavering love. It struck an emotional chord and brought me to tears more than once. There are no shortcuts here and DeWitt’s writing cuts deep.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

Tarah has a way with words that makes you FEEL. Like just beautiful writing and story telling. Funny Feelings is my favorite Tarah book but this one just it's place. Literally one of the best second chance romances I've ever read. And the spice??? One of her spiciest books yet. Wren and Ellis story is about healing, growing, and learning to fall in love all over again.

This book was *chefs kiss*! Perfect in every single way. I absolutely loved Savour It, and am SO happy we got to revisit both Spunes and this fantastic cast of characters. I adored Ellis and Wren from the very start and getting to watch them fall back in love was so special. Tarah has crafted a tender, emotional, heartwrenching romance in the best way and I will for sure be thinking about this book for months to come. Absolutely one of my top reads of 2025!!

Another winner from Tarah DeWitt! If you love second chance romance, you’ll love this one. Wren and Ellis’ dynamic and story felt so realistic. While this book touches on some heavy topics, it was still a really fun, heartwarming read and was everything I wanted it to be.

Tarah DeWitt is a magician and after reading this book, I am fully convinced. Spunes, Oregon, instead of seeming like a whimsical, somewhat aloof setting after Sage + Fisher's book, becomes a visceral feeling in the way Tarah navigates Wren + Ellis' story here.

This book will start you off in the bowels of heartbreak, and then slowly but surely mend you back together. I laughed out loud, I shed tears and I kicked my feet, and I am certain you will too. This book was BEAUTIFUL & I was so sad when it was over. Absolutely loved and can't wait for more!

It was so nice to be back in Spunes, OR and reading Wren and Ellis's story. They were each other's first love, had a child young and divorced. The story starts with their son moving away for college and they have a road trip together.

There is so much to love about this book. I loved how well the letters were woven into the story and it was told in a duet style narration. The flash back to the past worked so well to see what happened to them.

The character growth of Ellis is one of the best I've seen. Miscommunication is one of my least favorite trope, I loved that this was the redemption of the story.

I loved seeing characters from Savor It play a role in the story. Connor Crais and Megan Wicks did a phenomenal job bringing out the angst and emotions.

Thank you @youhadmeathea @macmillan.audio for a copy of this.

This is an absolutely stunning book, emotional yet funny, with a spellbinding romance that keeps the reader engaged from the first page of Left of Forever.

From the moment we meet Wren and Ellis, it is clear that these two are still truly madly deeply in love with each other, from the expository exchanges to the forced proximity on the road trip. There is a bubbling tension that has the reader rooting for their unification.

The dual narration is simply stunning. Both narrators convey an emotional, heartfelt performance with a vocal range that only enhances DeWitt’s incredible pros. Conner and Megan have incredibly warm, rich voices that capture the listener. They breathed life into these characters and left me weeping as I experienced this love story. From the emotional confessions to the sensual moments both narrators blew me away.

I always tend to favor second chance romance, but I cannot tell you how much I loved the way Tarah set this one up. The character growth is perfection with characters that not only fight for each other, but fight to make themselves better for their partner. I loved the way they communicated and the way the spice was incorporated in a way that felt like a natural progression. Additionally, I really enjoyed the uneven changes in POV, I think it enriched the reader experience.

Wren and Ellis and captured me and I could not stop listening to their beautiful story. Hands-down, one of my favorite romances ever and definitely a top thbook of the year.

Full review on Instagram to come closer to pub day.

As their son is heading off to college, divorced couple Wren and Ellis realize that where their future lies may be with each other.

This was a good second chance romance, here's what I liked:

Wren and Ellis: I liked how the narration goes back and forth with them. This really helped give a fleshed out story. You can see quickly how they should really be with each other, but how they drifted apart. Seeing them come back together was really nice.

The family: I loved all of the side characters in this. They all worked really well together and helped push Wren and Ellis together.

The road trip: I love books that have the characters traveling around. The different places they go really help push them together. It was all really well thought out.

All in all, this was a great emotional romance.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to review this book. This is my new favorite read of 2025, it had my heart in a chokehold the whole time. I was rooting for Ellis and Wren from the first page. Their love isn’t the type of love you ever truly lose, they were made for each other. Tarah Dewitt’s writing was spectacular and meaningful. It allowed me to truly feel connected with Wren and Ellis and feel the love and pain that they felt for each other. This has become my new favorite second chance romance and it’s going to be my go to recommendation to other romance readers!

Absolutely love the newest title in the Spunes series. It was a beautiful story of first love finding each other again after years apart. DeWitt managed to weave in the past to the present plot/story. The MCs are lovable and left me giddy at their angst and longing for each other.