A beautifully written, heartfelt second chance romance following two people who fell deeply in love at a young age. Life's challenges have torn them apart, but a road trip in close quarters may be just what they need to reignite the spark that has quietly smoldered between them all along despite their five year divorce.

This book was heart warming, authentic, and real. It felt like a story that anyone could experience - while not everyone will connect with every detail, the nuance of the characters made it easy to find something to relate to. Wren and Ellis were so incredibly likeable that you couldn’t help but root for them from the very first page.

I highlighted so many lines that I loved but I’ll just share my top quotes:

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

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

❣️ I’ve always wished for more of her independence, but maybe that’s impossible when you find your other half before you’ve got a fully developed frontal lobe.

❣️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.

A huge thank you to St Martin’s Press, Netgalley and the author for this copy💓

A million freaking stars to this book! This was so beautiful - raw and real - just an emotional banger of a read. It was so easy to get invested in Wren and Ellis—I loved them both so much as individuals and I couldn’t wait to see how their second chance would play out. And my oh my was it a ride. I swooned for all the romantic moments, and I laughed as well as cried - the vulnerability displayed by both of them, but especially Ellis really worked for me. And then the ending? Oof, so many tears. What a masterpiece.

“Sometimes love lingers just out of reach, not because it’s gone, but because we’re not ready to hold it yet.”

Left of Forever is soft and aching in the best kind of way. Tarah DeWitt writes with that rare blend of quiet tenderness and emotional weight, where every chapter feels like it’s pulling something loose in your chest. This one leans more introspective than her usual romcoms but still has that signature DeWitt charm. Full of small, meaningful moments and characters who feel like they’re living just off the page.

Wren and Ellis? Their connection is slow burn perfection. The kind that simmers with years of shared history, unspoken things, and the kind of grief that reshapes people. Teenage sweethearts, a life built too young, and the kind of love that waits. Patiently. Stubbornly. Even when it shouldn’t have to. It’s a story about timing. About how sometimes love lingers just out of reach, not because it’s not there, but because people aren’t ready to hold it yet.

There’s depth here. Grief and healing and the long, messy road in between. But it’s not heavy for the sake of being heavy. It’s hopeful. Raw. Earnest. The writing is lyrical without trying too hard to be poetic. Just honest. And the way DeWitt handles the emotional weight of their story? So gentle it sneaks up on you.

If you’re looking for something full of yearning, quiet beauty, and a love story that feels earned, not rushed, Left of Forever delivers. It’s not a romcom. It’s not supposed to be. It’s something quieter. Something that stays with you. One of those stories that doesn’t need loud declarations to hit hard.

It just knows what it’s doing.

Special thanks to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was so refreshing! Most romances I read are usually typical story lines...boy meets girl...they fall in love...third act conflict...then boom, story ends and everyone is happy.

Left of Forever was not that book! The main characters are divorced and after many years, find that they still love eachother and go on a mission to rekindle their love. So many emotional truths come out and the story was written so beautifully and realistically.

Please go pre-order this book! It comes out on May 20, 2025 ❤️

The emotions and genuine love of Left of Forever hooked me from the beginning. What a heartfelt tale of two people finding their way back to each other, feeling the love between them but scared of a second heartbreak! Add in the backdrop of a California and Oregon road trip, and I’m done. I just loved it.

Years back, Wren and Ellis found themselves as teenage parents and devoted themselves to their son, Sam, and family. But somewhere along the line, their relationship broke and they divorced, though the feelings never died completely. Now, with Sam going off to college, Ellis knows he wants Wren back and sees a chance to do things right. His idea? A road trip after they drop Sam off, a full week to have those hard conversations and make it work this time.

I adored Ellis and Wren, these lovely, caring, beautiful souls. Left of Forever is so character and relationship-driven—the full focus is on this couple and how they’re working their way back together. Sometimes that can be tough, but it really worked because of how beautifully the relationship built back up, the many deep and sometimes gut-wrenching conversations, the love you can truly feel in these pages. They are so invested in seeing if this can work, they both want it to work, they’re both scared, they both know they’re each other’s one true love. But will they be able to put everything back together or is all the past hurt too much to overcome?

tarah's best book yet!! i'm a sucker for a second chance romance but then she had to go and have them WRITE EACH OTHER LETTERS??? shatter my heart into a million pieces & then put it right back together. i was invested from page one and the chemistry was mmmm... i hope we get micah's book hehe

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an early look at another Tarah DeWitt delight 💖

We had gotten a peek at Wren and Ellis in Savor It but Left of Forever was their shining moment. I appreciated, even in the previous book, how they remained amicable even if it was only for Sam’s sake.

Even with their marriage burnout there was yearning which is highlighted here. It was refreshing to see all cards on the table to see if the relationship was something worth saving or letting go.

No spoilers here but it’s so worth the read and I ✨recommend✨ it. It’s out on 5/20/25 so be sure to put a calendar reminder!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. This was a 4.5 for me but rounding up to 5.

Left of Forever brings us back to Spunes, this time to follow the story of Sage’s older brother Ellis and his ex-wife, Wren, who is also best friends with Sage and her brothers, as they navigate the new dynamics of their relationship when their son goes off to college. This book spans the emotional gambit from absurd hilarity at times to heartfelt, tearjerking family moments. There’s also the added bonus of seeing more of Sage and Fisher’s romance from the previous book continued, and cameos of characters from some of DeWitt’s other books outside of Spunes.

Second-chance romances can be hit or miss for me, but DeWitt gives them such a beautiful and heartbreakingly relatable journey. Ellis and Wren are soulmates who fell in love as teenagers and had to grow up too quickly and marry too young when they became pregnant. The reasons for their divorce are explored more as the story progresses, and are very realistic for two people who married young and grew up too fast.

I appreciated that their initial separation wasn’t driven by insurmountable differences that one person would have to sacrifice to overcome, like small town vs big city, or wants children vs wants to be childless. It was all just normal things that can drive people apart if left unaddressed.

Wren is hilarious, kind, thoughtful, and so relatable. One of the first lines we’re introduced to her with is “I had all day to dick around and I over-dicked it”, which made me audibly snort from how much I feel that in my soul some days.

Ellis is a caretaker and a protector, who has to learn to share the burdens he carries and let other people in. He realizes he needs to grow and takes steps on his own to do that, going to therapy and trying to open up more, and it was refreshing how much self-improvement was driven by him and not by making the FMC the sole reason or person responsible.

Bonus points for no third-act breakup, these two have been through enough already.

THIS. THIS IS ROMANCE. 🤌🏼
Tarah’s best book to date, no questions asked.
She truly outdid herself with this one.

I absolutely loved being back in Spunes, Oregon. We got to meet these characters in Savor It and I loved seeing the other side characters and their story. It also seems like she could be setting up for more books in this series and I would absolutely love it.

Wren & Ellis are so special. There was no toxicity in site. This is the type of “marriage in crisis” and second chance romance that I absolutely love. They are just two people who deserve love and deserve to be loved by one another. They DESERVE that second shot together. Truly the sweetest souls.

THE LETTERS 😩😭
The meddling characters
The planned roadtrip
The origami birds 🥹
The smallest moments that mean SO DAMN MUCH!
FREAKING SWOON!!!!

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

“With that pile of golden hair and all your golden skin in the sun. I thought I missed your baking … That was nothing. I was starving to be near you again.”

“She’s kissing me. I’m home.”

“Wren, I can still taste you in my mustache. I can’t think of a single person on the planet to be jealous of right now.”

tropes:
♥ second chance
♥ childhood friends to lovers
♥ divorced couple
♥ they have a kid in college

wren and ellis fell in love when they didn’t even know what it meant, later on they had a kid together and got married ! but they also got a divorce and decide to co-parent sam together in their own ways.

now sam is going to college and ellis comes up with a trip idea, a road trip with his ex wife because what if they’re meant to be together but weren’t seeing the signs?

i’m all here for second chance but this one is barely a 4 star read, the plot idea was really good but it felt lacking in lots of places especially how fast they realized they were still in love with each other.

the road trip was funny, i’m glad i read this book but what do you mean you only recognized her handwriting because of her middle and maiden name?? and what do you mean it took you one year to realize it was him only because you saw the letters with his stuff?? this is what annoyed me the most, they know each other since they were toddlers and okay they’re divorced but your handwriting sticks to you for forever like???

regardless gotta love the byrd family !!!!

thank you netgalley, st martin press and tarah dewitt for the arc in exchange for an honest review !

4.5⭐️ Wow. This was my first book by Tarah DeWitt so I didn’t know what to expect. And, somehow, this book still exceeded my expectations? The character development was spectacular. In the notes/acknowledgments DeWitt mentions this book is deeply personal, and I think that really shines through. She knows these characters, and helps her readers know them, too. I’m always a sucker for dual POV and it’s executed so well here. The side characters were fun and distinctive, and the whole family dynamic felt special. The atmosphere, while most definitely secondary to the characters, had some really beautiful moments. The pacing was even and there was never a moment I didn’t want to pick this up. Overall, really enjoyed this.

But, Spunes?! Really?! Spunes?!

Infinite thanks to the author, St. Martin’s press, and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so much. The love story between Wren and Ellis was beautiful and gut wrenching. They fought so hard to be better for not only each other but themselves. I will never be over the epilogue.

"The alchemy of our bodies and the way my skin still remembers his is a part of that. He said it himself before: he's altered my very DNA."

What a beautiful story!! This one will sweep you off your feet, carry you away, and warm your heart for the entire journey! I knew I had to read this when I saw that it was second chance and that the main characters had known each other since childhood. As someone that also met their spouse very young, I truly connected with both the joys and the struggles of these two!

Wren and Ellis' story felt so familiar and I truly wanted to hug them and make everything ok for them, because you could just see how they were meant for each other but also how life got in the way of that and clouded their marriage until they could no longer see it themselves 😭 The road trip was amazing though (I was giddy when Ellis suggested it, because I knew it was going to be good!) and every moment so genuine. There were hard conversations and tense moments, but they needed to be had in order for them to move forward. I also must add that the spice here was perfection! Their chemistry had never dwindled, despite the 5 years apart, so those moments between them were just second nature and flowed easily after so many years spent together. I really liked the other characters too, specifically Ellis' siblings, so I need to go back and read the previous book!

I loved everything about Left of Forever and I've officially decided it's a new comfort read for me.

4.5⭐️

No it’s fine I’m just cryin in bed on Saturday night at midnight over this book !!!!!!

So freaking good!! Read over 75% in one day, truly haven’t read a book like that in a while.

But i absolutely loved Wren and Ellis’ story, second chance romances are a trope I willll neverrrr get sick of. And this one just became my top one to recommend!

Tarah always writes her characters so realistic and raw in my opinion, I love the banter, the flirting and the side characters!

Thank you so much NetGalley for the arc! Can’t wait to pick up my company when it releases!

This was a 5 star read for me. I loved the FMC and MMC equally. The Byrd family is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I laughed and blushed and cried and it was a fantastic experience.

Left of Forever was such a sweet story! Watching Wren and Ellis find love again warmed my heart. The second chance romance was done so well. I loved the road trip plot and seeing where all of their adventures took them throughout the story. I also loved getting to see the other characters from Spunes, it truly felt like a homecoming! I wished the plot line with the letters had been a bit more prominent, seeing as how it tied the plot together at the end, but overall, I felt that it didn’t add much. Still loved these characters so much and will be eagerly awaiting more from Tara Dewitt!

I feel like 2025 is the year of marriage in crisis romance books. This is the second one I've read within a span of a month and this book was an exceptional one. While more romance books focus on falling in love and that leads up to the happily ever after, I think it would harder to write a book about a divorced couple falling back in love again.

It was an emotional book and I particularly enjoyed it because it was told in dual POV. The story follows Wren and Ellis, who knew each other from the age of five and then fell in love as teenagers and had a baby at seventeen. We meet them at the present time as a divorced couple of five years with their son going off to college. We find out that a heart breaking moment in their life led to their separation. Through the flashbacks into their past, the journal entries and the letters show that their love for one another is still constant but sometimes a tragedy can tear two people apart who are consumed with their own grief. It is so easy to be drowning in your own grief that you can't see what is around you. Sometimes it takes time that heals all wounds. Certainly for Wren and Ellis it is putting in the time to work on themselves before giving each other another chance.

I loved the side characters in the book, including Sam, their teenage son and Ellis's siblings. I loved how close they remained to Wren too during their divorce. Reading about Sage and Fisher is making me go back want to read Savor It. The character that stood out the most to me was Silas. I mean who doesn't want to root for the wounded firefighter who gets his chance for his own HEA.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

I freaking LOVED this book so much. I was kicking my feet up and screaming at multiple parts - it has fabulous banter, angst, rawness, beautiful relationship development, and a man *owning his shit*. The pacing is perfect and there was not one part I would have changed. Ellis and Wren have my heart forever ❤️

Fav quotes:
-“Staying together and staying happy together does not come without its share of struggles. And you know what? So often the villain is simply Life. Life doles out circumstances that make relationships hard. Healthy communication and conflict resolution are so much more difficult than anyone talks about.”
-“The bravest thing I ever did was leave something that was fine, but not making either of us happy anymore.”
-“Time does that, I suppose. When you spend so much of it looking forward to the next thing, it can easily slip out from under you.”
-“I’ll cut out my own liver and cook it for you myself,” he speaks into my lips. “I’ll fucking forage an onion.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tarah DeWitt for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

My gut reaction is this my favorite book of the year so far. I’m literally in tears, runny nose righting this. To say I loved this book is an understatement. It was so beautiful. The tension and chemistry between Ellis and Wren were off the charts. I am nervous for this book to be out in the public as I feel some may be so hypercritical of the plot. And where I can understand it to some extent, my reaction is very emotional. Tarah wrote this book exquisitely with so much heart. And the fact we got to see Sage and Fisher again?! Perfection! I did a review post on Bookstagram and have it linked down below.

Tarah DeWitt is absolutely killing it with this series set in Sprunes!! I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this one and I absolutely adored everything about this book and how it incorporated all the characters from the first one but really let Wren and Ellis sine so bright. Something about their story felt so relatable to me and really hit home. Wren and Ellis have been divorced for five years after their marriage fell apart. Now both feel that same old pull toward each other and that their ending is unfinished as their son Sam goes off to college. I love a second chance romance trope and this one sure delivered. Needless to say I cannot wait to see if she writes more about this group of characters and am crossing all my fingers and toes that she does!