Thank you Tarah Dewitt for ripping my heart into pieces and then putting it back together again WREN AND ELLIS I LOVE YOUR LOVE. Perfect heartbreaking wonderful sweet vulnerable lovely story. I need to read more of her books if this is the outcome; I loved the story, the characters and the writing. Can’t wait to read more

Ellis and wren are childhood lovers with lives that have been intertwined since the start. After having a baby young and letting life get the best of them we get a beautiful second chance love story. This book was full of so much angst, love, and all the emotions. I cannot wait to hear the audio version and get my hands on a physical copy. I love the Byrds. 🩵

Un libro interesante de segundas oportunidades y descubrimientos. Me gustó bastante la historia a pesar de que no soy muy fan de las segundas oportunidades. Ellis es un amor de persona! Pero a pesar de sus defectos es un personaje perfecto (demasiado perfecto)
Hubo varios detalles que no son muy creíbles:
#1: Wren y Ellis se escribieron cartas sin reconocer la letra del otro.
#2: Se divorciaron sin una razón real y sin comunicarse realmente al respecto. (Pero yo qué sé? Nunca he estado casada)
#3: Se dan cuenta que siguen enamorados por arte de magia, realmente no tienen gran conversación.
Pero también hay ciertas partes que me hicieron llorar y reír mucho, como las frases que dice Ellis son bellísimas, o cierta parte donde hay nieve.
En general me gustó y lo recomiendo, pero no es mi favorito de la autora.

First off I thought the MMC on the front of the cover looked like Pedro Pascal and I was like SIGN ME UP. “Left of Forever” didn’t disappoint. While I’m normally not a fan of the second chance or later in life trope this book had both and it was great

It was good to be back in the small town of Spunes, Oregon. Wren and Ellis have been divorced for 5 years, but haven't been able to fully move on from each other. After dropping their son Sam off at college, Ellis talks Wren into taking a road trip on their way back to see if they can rekindle the relationship they once had. Their banter had me laughing, but it was also nice to see the emotional side of them as they shared their feelings with each other about what happened with their relationship in the past. It did seem like they got back together a little too quickly for it to be realistic after 5 years of basically no contact, but overall it was a sweet love story that I enjoyed!

Spiciness: 3/5 🌶️

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

3.5 rounded up!

A second chance romance where he still calls his ex wife by his last name even though they’ve been divorced for 5 years.. Yes, thank you.

The quotes in this book hit hard being a wife and mom myself, I don’t usually highlight but this had some really touching topics that made me think. Some of the things the mmc would say had me swooning but other times they just felt too forceful and kind of cringey. The second half of this book felt like they got back together too easily and quickly. If it was longer and more slowly paced it would have felt more believable and real in my opinion! But the yearning from his side was there and I ate it up.

Left of Forever was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it absolutely delivered. After glimpsing Wren and Ellis in Savor It, I was already invested in their dynamic—the tension, the history, the way they still felt tethered despite everything. Seeing their full story play out was everything I hoped for, and as always, Tarah DeWitt didn’t just meet expectations—she exceeded them.

Second-chance romance is my favorite trope, and this book nails every element that makes it work. Wren and Ellis’s history isn’t just referenced—it’s felt in every glance, every hesitation, every quiet moment that crackles with unspoken words. They didn’t just break up; they unraveled, yet their lives remained deeply entwined, co-parenting their son while carrying the weight of everything unsaid. From tense bakery encounters to a road trip packed with unresolved feelings, every scene holds that perfect push-pull of longing and hurt.

This isn’t just a small-town romance with a baker and a firefighter—it’s a deeply emotional story about love that never really left. Their role in raising Sam and Ellis’s younger siblings adds another layer, making their second chance feel all the more earned. The intimacy is masterfully paced, brimming with slow-burning tension, lingering touches, and all the quiet moments that hit just as hard as the steamy ones.

I already want to reread this book, but I need a moment to recover emotionally first. Left of Forever is stunning, heartfelt, and unforgettable. Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC!

Sexy second chance story that will make you feel all the feels. Divorced couple Ellis and Wren head off on a chaotic road trip and realize they still love each other along the way. Great pacing, perfect banter, lusty edging and humour break up the heartache.

I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I laughed some more.

Tarah has a way with leaving me speechless after reading her stories. She approaches the heavy topics with grace so they don’t feel as heavy. And it never fails, I always see parts of myself in her characters.

Left of Forever was no exception.

e being THE second chance lover, there are some things I would've chosen to write differently if this were my dream second chance book but it didn't stop me from adoring ellis & wren's story. this was emotional and heartwrenching while also being so damn romantic. the back half of the book punched at my chest and had me fighting tears. I love their love and their happy ending is so deserved. this is the type of love I long to have. this is definitely my second favorite tarah book to date. can't wait for everyone to read this one. thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC

With every of Tarah's book, you know you are in for journey you won't want to leave. By giving us a glimpse of the second chances that Ellis and Wren give each other, Tarah expertly opens up your heart and your mind to the experience. I couldn't wait to make my way back to Spunes and continue meeting the Byrd family.

A very enthusiastic thank you to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for the absolute honor of being able to read and review Left of Forever.

Like so many others, I fell head over heels with Wren and Ellis in Savor It and could not wait for their story to be written. I'm not sure how many of you read acknowledgements at the end of a book, but I really encourage everyone to read this one. There was a deeply personal connection that Tarah had with this book, and it showed. She is so good at writing about big feelings and getting the reader to feel what she is feeling, what her characters are feeling; it's a gift. Being in a relationship with someone for so long, having them become your other half in every sense of the word - the way Tarah described these things that make up our biggest relationships is just so dang relatable. Falling in love is one thing, staying in love and choosing each other every day is another. She articulates how I have felt so often, I'm not sure I've ever had an author do that as well as she does.

This journey with Wren and Ellis is special. We are honored guests in the lives of these Byrds (and Indy and Fisher, of course). Getting to learn more about their love stories and their lives is a privilege. This novel gives light and hope in the tunnel of darkness, and all of the moments in between. I really have nothing but great things to say about how healthy the whole act of trying again was for them. Learning to communicate, telling each other what went wrong ... knowing the small stuff doesn't really matter in the end. Chef's kiss, seriously, bravo!

One last thing I want to call out is a scene near the end which I will not spoil, but here is what I will say: Silas could not hold back a sob, and the emotion broke free of him like an uncontrollable dam, and that, my friends, is when I lost it (in the best way possible).

Tarah, thank you for writing these beautiful stories. I look forward to many more!

this was so achingly tender and emotional and romantic. I could be nitpicky about a few things, but overall i was really fighting the tears. I could feel how much ellis and wren loved each other and the back half of this book really stole my heart

A stand out from Tarah DeWitt. Left of Forever is tenderhearted, introspective, all consuming, warm and fuzzy, and hopeful.

DeWitt is a master of character development and banter. Left of Forever is shining proof of her attention to detail and impactful dialogue.
I love the Byrds and can't wait for more of their stor. Wren and Ellis forever!

LEFT OF FOREVER by Tarah DeWitt, the second book to Savor It by the author follows the second chance love story of Wren and Ellis, that takes place during a road trip after dropping their son Sam off for college after deciding to see if their love is worth rekindling.

The complex love story between Wren and Ellis is one that I will never forget.

Strangers to lovers to parents at a young age; they’ve been divorced for five years after being unable to overcome a trauma event that happened between them.

This book especially made me fall in love with Tarah’s writing and storytelling. There was also so much depth and vulnerability to her characters you could feel every emotion that you read while Wren and Ellis’s story unraveled.
Tarah also handled heavier topics and themes in this book beautifully

It was emotional and fun. Both Ellis and Wren were incredible characters. I loved how we got to see both of their perspectives of the challenges they faced from the marriage and after. You could just tell how deeply they loved each other. I also admired how they communicated with each other during the road trip; how they were deeply open as well as honest with each other. They didn’t shy away from the heavy topics that needed to be discussed and they didn’t drag out arguments which I really loved.

You could just tell that they have respect for each other and value each other worth. They are the only two people that truly see the other and what they need in life.

I admired how despite them being divorced Ellis still considers Wren apart of his family, she is still welcomed in his family fold especially when she also helped him raise his siblings.

There as just so much love and passion between them and vulnerability.

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC. Overall this was an absolute beautiful read. I do wish it was longer and we got to see more of Wren and Ellis continue to adapt into their new norm and further rebuild their relationship together.

I did however, loved the cameos we got from pass characters

I’m really hoping we get Silas book next, fingers crossed

I love a good second chance romance. I haven’t read too many of them, but this had a different feel to it than the others I’ve read. It wasn’t until towards the end of the trip when I got what I was hoping to get throughout the book. Ellis’ speech was so beautiful.

This is my first Tarah DeWitt book. I believe this could technically be read as a standalone, but I wouldn’t recommend it. There appears to be a fair amount of references regarding the other characters and their story I didn’t understand, and I will safely assume it’s from the previous book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC review

5 ⭐️

Wren and Ellis, guys. She’s still a Byrd. I’ve been ever so impatiently waiting for these two since THAT line in Savour It and it did not disappoint.

I am not the target audience for second change, I’ll be honest, I really have to buy into a relationship to feel it would succeed a second time, but man am I invested in Wrellis, they are it! They loved each other so big and were so willing to put their hearts on the line for each other.

I also really want to stay in this universe that Tarah has created forever and loved getting little glimpse of Sage and Fisher, I’ll be back impatiently waiting for the next Spunes masterpiece (Silas I already love you!).

Thank you so much NetGalley and Tarah for the ARC.

This was a heartbreakingly beautiful read about coming back together. As someone who's been married for over a decade, it hit so hard. Achingly beautiful and a book I'd recommend to any friend going through a rough patch. It is a poignant reminder to communicate and appreciate the one you love.

I think this book will be for a lot of people, but it isn’t for me. And that’s ok. I’m going to gracefully dnf and I hope everyone else enjoys! Spoilers/things I don’t like:

-how do they not recognize each others writing?
-why is she opening up to a complete strangers so graphically about her sex life?
-why is he writing to her knowing it’s her and basically lying and hiding it as she’s getting vulnerable thinking she’s speaking to someone else? Feels slimy.
-this is supposed to be able to be read as a standalone but there are so many references to things that happened in the first book with some of the side characters that unless you’ve read that, so much is going to go right over your head.

I’m giving it 3 stars because it’s not for me but to be fair, I don’t finish it and it may get better.

I knew from the moment I first heard Ellis speak in Savor It that I was so excited for this book.

Tarah nailed longing, young marriage, trying your best but coming up short, making the most of what you have and most importantly..Hope. Thank you for writing another book that lets readers escape, feel seen, and encouraged.