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

I will never ever stop thinking about Ellis & Wren. I truly was skeptical about a divorced couple trying to reignite their relationship, but after reading this book I am 100% in love with this book. The banter, the genuine connection, the rawness & reality of their relationship was so perfect. I cried a few times just reading the emotion from each character.

Ellis & Wren making their way back to each other after nurturing others was so beautiful to read. I truly wasn’t sure what was going to happen in this book, but man I loved every minute.

I am rating this book 5 stars because the amount of raw emotion I felt throughout this book was easily a 10/10 🥺💌 (less)

“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.”

I saw a bunch of people sharing that this book was available to read now on NetGalley and ran to get it. LEFT OF FOREVER is my very first Tarah DeWitt book so I didn’t know what to expect. Turns out this book is interconnected with SAVOR IT. I decided to read it anyway and I’m glad I did.

LEFT OF FOREVER is childhood friends to lovers, second chance romance about Ellis and Wren Byrd. Five years ago they got divorced but neither of them found a way to move on. Now their son Sam is going to college and Ellis and Wren decide to make a last attempt to reconcile.

This is a heartfelt story about genuinely good people that lost touch with each other somewhere along the way and decide to put a conscious effort to make it right again. It is full of hope, longing, love and healthy communication. I truly enjoyed the maturity of the story and can safely say that this book won’t be my last by Tarah DeWitt.

Very cute second chance romance with a beautiful cover. When I saw T-Swifts Exile and LOML(two of my favorite songs) in the playlist I prepared myself for an emotional roller coaster that sadly never showed up. The song are fitting but I feel like this story lacked some depth.

I love a book set in Oregon of course. Little did I know most of this book would be spent in California. It wasn’t as atmospheric as I wanted but it still delivered on the aspect of “they will get it right this time.” I wish we got a little more character development before we go back to the present. My favorite part was the written letters they exchanged. There story was cute in the end and will hit home with anyone who has gone through a relationship like this before, whether it worked out in the end or not.

**Publication Date May 20th, 2025**

"For the ones who hold on to their indomitable hope. Me, too, friends. I bet we make it." -Dedication

I had no intention of jumping into another ARC so quickly... however, this sucked me in right from the dedication. This is considered a interconnected stand alone (Savor It being the 1st book) but it didn't affect my reading experience not reading it first, but I will say I i will be jumping to go read it now after this. This is my first read by this author and will 100% not be my last!!!

I loved everything about this, the characters, the family dynamics, the setting, the continuous theme of hope throughout the book, the slow burn.... I could go on and on!!

This follows Ellis and Wren, who have been divorced for years and how they take make a trip of it, dropping their son off at college. They decide to use the trip to decide if there's a way back to each other and what that would look like. Its honestly such a beautiful read watching them work, listen, talk, and genuinely try to get back to each other.

If you were a fan of Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan, you will love this! Small town, second chance, loveable main and side characters, slow burn,deeply personal, hit you in allllll the feels kinda book!

"Hoping with one another is how you two got so brave in the first place. After all what is bravery if not hope in action?"


Huge thank you to Netgalley for the ARC and opportunity to read and review this beauty!

I fell in love with Tarah DeWitt’s voice with Savor It, but immediately scrambled to find out whether Wren and Ellis would get their happily ever after, so I’ve been waiting for this book for a bit. It was worth it. These characters are real and raw and vulnerable. Tarah writes with so much emotional honesty that the payoff is always satisfying. I devoured the book, but had to restrain myself to take in the gorgeous prose—feverishly highlighting passages that spoke to me. I cannot wait for her next book.

Wren and Ellis were childhood sweethearts who had a son and got married as teenagers. As time went on, life got heavy and they struggled to stay connected the way they once were. Eventually, they divorced. Now in their 30s, they can’t seem to fully move on from each other. Thrust together again while driving home from moving their son into college, they explore the possibility of what could have been and what can still be.

While technically a standalone, this is the second book about the Byrd family. I felt like I was at a bit of a disadvantage from the start because I didn’t read Savor It. There are a lot of characters and background info that I didn’t fully understand. In hindsight, I probably should have gone back and read it before continuing with Left of Forever.

Ellis and Wren have my heart! They were such well-written characters, and it was impossible not to root for them. The spice was SPICING and the angst and yearning were out of this world. I didn’t love the letter writing aspect and I think the story would have been better if that was left out or maybe if it were placed later in the book. I just didn’t connect with it since I wasn’t connected with the characters yet.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

left of forever | tarah dewitt

3.5⭐️

"I have genuine butterflies when I finally lie down to go to sleep. But … they’re heavier than butterflies, with different wingspans and speeds. More like birds."

_____

Okay, here's the thing. I looooove Tarah and all the words she writes, and my love for her has not dimmed, BUT. This book wasn't a smash for me.

It's a second chance story, but there was something missing for me in the setup! It felt a tiny bit choppy, and I just wanted more of the in-between. After things went wrong <-> before they desperately wanted each other back. I needed more of the circumstances and feelings that got them from one place to another!

But you know, there were also plenty of things to LOVE! I still totally recommend this if you love second chance romance with a little adventure and a lotta spice. 🌶

THINGS TO LOVE:
+ anonymous letters
+ second chance
+ wildfire fighting
+ baked goods
+ a make it or break it road trip
+ co parenting
+ paper birds
+ meddling family
+ only one cabin
+ the Spunes, Oregon fam

_____

{a gigantic thank you to Tarah, St. Martin's publishing, and NetGalley for the advanced copy!! Out 5/20/25}

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || LEFT OF FOREVER [thank you to St. Martin’s Press and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

Title: Left of Forever
Author: Tarah Dewitt
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
Star Rating: ★★★★☆

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
Wren and Ellis Byrd were once inseparable—first loves, teenage parents, and partners in building a life. But somewhere along the way, they unraveled. Now in their 30s, Wren pours herself into her bakery while Ellis battles blazes as a firefighter, their connection reduced to co-parenting their son, Sam.

When Sam heads off to college, Ellis proposes a cross-country road trip home—just the two of them, one last chance to see if there’s anything left to salvage. As they wind along the California coast, old memories resurface, unspoken words linger, and the possibility of forever flickers once more. But love isn’t just about finding your way back—it’s about deciding to stay.

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This was both one of my most anticipated reads this year & also one of the books that I think took me the longest to read - even though I was consistently picking it up!

It was deep, emotional, reflective, funny, and hopeful - and it was a lot to take in during each reading session (plus, I was crying on and off so I had to be careful when I was reading it).

After meeting Wren & Ellis in SAVOR IT, I couldn’t WAIT to hear their story. Even from a few scenes you could tell that it wasn’t over…and it’s definitely not over. This book is a beautiful reflection on a couple: how they started, how they fell apart, and how they came back together.

And honestly - it was beautiful. It was a hard read, but I think well worth it. Highly recommend.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Second Chance Romance
Marriage in Crisis
Found Family
Small Town Romance
Open Door Romance

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.64 ⭐️
# of Pages: 336
Pub Date: May 20, 2025

Tarah has done it again!!! This book was everything and more!

I loved being back in this universe and Spunes along with seeing Sage, Fisher again! I loved being back with Tarah’s words and this easily became my new second chance story. Wren and Ellis, my darling Bryds, they had such an emotional, raw, vulnerable story that I didn’t want to put down!

Going on this journey with them of reconnecting and reigniting the love that never faded was so rewarding and that’s just a testament to how good Tarah’s writing was here and this was her at her best! I was fully consumed by them and I just love them so so much and this was just the perfect story. I also loved the little cameo we got (my shaylassss🥹)! I’ll exhaust my vocabulary with how good this book was and the title is so fitting because I will be forever thinking about them! So so good!!!

not quite a 5 star read for me but so close! i don't usually love second chance, marriage in crisis romances but this was SO well done. i did find it at times confusing w/ the past/present chapters

Adorable and deeply moving second change romance that follows a divorced couple seemingly completely too far gone. While second chance romance is not typically my romantic trope of choice, when done well, like this, even I am a believer. The sentiment and heartfelt quotes were very memorable. Anyone in a long term relationship can appreciate the hard work people take to survive a relationship crisis. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this early and review!

Tarah Dewitt is an auto-read author, so if you've never checked her out.... just go. Just do it. She has the incredible ability to write about heavier topics and flawed characters that still have you feeling so hopeful for love.

Ellis and Wren's angst and longing jumps off the page even as they are avoiding each other at the start. I was so concerned with misunderstanding and miscommunication because of this, but we see proof that these two have done their work. They have felt their feelings, broken them down through journaling and therapy (we love to see it!) and it sets them up to rekindle what they had and fall in love with who they are now.

The playlist at the beginning of this book was a good indicator that Left of Forever was about to rip my heart out and put it back together in the best way possible. Wren and Ellis Byrd's story was one I've been excited for since "She's still a Byrd!" was yelled in the town hall meeting in Savor It.

Starting with the Spring then going back and seeing how these two dummies (said with nothing but the sheerest amount of love) started to realize the puzzle pieces of their lives belong together forever was such a joy. From their seperate lives to their trip to deliver their joint science project to college, the yearning is non-stop and top-notch. I don't know that I'll ever really be able to look at vanilla ice cream the same again, and I'm okay with that.

If you don't mind a bit of heartbreak and a LOT of mutual yearning, this second-chance romance is a must-read. Did I mention he has a mustache?

After enjoying my time in coastal Oregon both on many of my own road trips over the years, and on a trip to Spunes when I read Savor It last year, I was excited to check in with the Byrd family. While second chance has never really been the trope for me (I maintain that most of these couples broke up for good reason!) the cast of characters introduced in the first book of the series were so eclectic and memorable (who could forget “She’s still a Byrd?), that I went into Ellis and Wren’s story with an open mind… Sadly, this one didn’t quite land for me!

In Left of Forever we follow our main girl Wren, a baking wizard with big Sookie St. James energy. I absolutely ADORED Wren. She’s bubbly and charismatic, a 33-year old woman comfortable in her skin (refreshing for a romance novel!), that has been co-parenting her college-bound son with ex-husband Ellis Byrd since their divorce five years earlier. Ellis is in many ways Wren’s opposite. The eldest Byrd sibling is outwardly stoic and stern, all hard lines and weather worn from years of work as a firefighter. He's the fierce protector of the Byrd clan, used to carrying the world on his shoulders and putting himself last. When we meet them, they’re ships passing in the night - five years divorced but stuck in limbo.

At the outset, I was locked in to their story. Ellis while out of state fighting a raging Colorado blaze, through a romantic twist of fate ends up sending anonymous letters back and forth to his ex-wife. It felt very You’ve Got Mail or The Shop Around the Corner and was a fun hook. I wish more time had been spent using this as the lynchpin that kickstarts the re-kindling of Wren & Ellis’ great love, rather than as a mere device for Ellis to be the last one to learn he’s still in love with his ex-wife. (Um you haven’t been on a date in 2 years and had a near religious experience eating one of your ex’s homemade scones, of course you’re still in love with her my guy!)

The real romantic rekindling takes place over the span of one short week, when the two love Byrds go on a California road trip together after moving their son Sam into his new digs at UC Davis. This was where the book fell apart a bit for me. While the chemistry was palpable, the whole falling back in love narrative felt more like horned up teenagers getting into hijinks on the idyllic California coast. While Ellis and Wren are clear at the outset that they both want to set boundaries, take things slow, and work through the bad stuff… this is thrown by the wayside very quickly. The two are getting intimate mere days into their journey back to one another, without really doing any work to unpack why they drifted from each other in the first place. Yes we do get some snippets of tough conversations complete with heartfelt declarations, but it all felt performative and insufficient considering it had been five YEARS since these two have been in each other’s lives as anything but co-parents. To me it would have made much for sense for this trip to be one where they accidentally started to fall for one another after years of hurt, ending the trip on a hopeful note. Instead, they set out on this trip with the explicit intention of seeing if they can be a couple again, loading the trip with external expectations that culminates with them hurtling head first into a life together after a week spent outside the bubble of daily life. These two didn’t even recognize each other’s handwriting but we’re supposed to believe they are ready to wholly and completely be together again after a few days? It felt like they did exactly what they had set out not to do - got swept up in the romantic setting and let their pheromones do the talking.

My issues with the story and pacing aside, there were still some great moments. The setting, as I’ve already alluded to, is magical- journeying through the California redwoods and rugged NorCal coast. There were also some great moments with other members of the Byrd clan (I think the most romantic moment of the entire book actually involves Fisher and Sage) and some seeds were planted for future Silas and Micah stories that felt natural rather than artificially embedded into an ongoing series. (Micah in particular has got me intrigued, as the hot mess of the Byrd clan.) While this wasn’t my favorite trip to the Oregon coast, rest assured I’ll still be making future trips to Spunes!

My thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ellis and Wren <3 Ohhh I loved this one even more than I loved "Savor It." I am such a sucker for second chance romance, PLUS marriage in trouble. Being married for 17 years and having a child the same age, this one hit close to home as the older the child gets, the more the marriage has to evolve to stand on its own. Loved it.

I'm predicting this is the book that makes Tarah DeWitt explosively popular. Tender, poignant, and breathtakingly sensual, it has a beautiful ache that kept me turning pages.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Tarah for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to read this one after getting to know the characters in Savor It and getting familiar with their backstory as a couple. I was curious to understand what led to their break up and how they'd get back together, and Tarah didn't disappoint. She created a separation that made sense to the characters and a mature and sensible development throughout the book.

The only thing I didn't like (and after reading three books by Tarah, I think it's a characteristic of her writing) is that some scenes didn't seem to have a transition between them, and things felt disconnected. When it comes to the middle of the book, things felt a bit stuck. Other than that, I loved the characters and the romance. I highly recommend this book and am already excited about the next one in the series.

Tarah DeWitt's books are always winners, and this is no exception. Wren and Ellis were childhood sweethearts, married and had a child when they were young. But time and circumstance led them apart and they are now divorced, with their child going off to college. While they are living separate lives, they are still dealing with their decision to separate and figure out how to move forward. Ellis convinces Wren to go on a road trip after dropping off their son at college - in one last ditch effort to find common ground and return to each other.

What I loved: Tarah always writes great characters and even greater emotional connections. So many books feature the start of a relationship and the hope of a future - I love that this featured a relationship that was all but dead and gone - and trying to discover if it could be revived. I also love books that feature older characters (now that I'm getting older). Romance isn't just for teens and 20-somethings. Love and passion can exist as you get older!

What I didn't love: I genuinely loved it all.

If you haven't read any of Tarah's books - please do. You won't regret it!

Left of Forever is my second book that I've read from Tarah, and I really loved it! Otters were mentioned and I screamed because otters are my favorite animal, and I really loved all of the origami birds!! And was that LaRynn and Deacon I spotted in the first part of the book, my favs!!

Read if you love:
- second chance
- cute nicknames
- childhood friends to lovers
- a road trip

I fear I am addicted to the way Tarah DeWitt has the most perfect titles and truly wraps her novels around it or vice versa or however the heck her process goes because it WORKS!!!

Ellis reminds me so much of my very own book boyfriend, right down to the ice cube chewing at a fancy dinner and I see so much of myself in Wren in the unexpectedly taking care of a parent and the fertility struggles and the losing myself in taking care of those around me. I am obviously unbiased when I say that I love them. I love all of the Byrds to bits and pieces.

This book may not have spent a good chunk of it in Spunes, but damn did it feel like HOME. Tarah, I am on my knees, begging you, please please give me more. More Silas. More Micah!!

Also I loved the Co-Op cameo. A pregnant LaRynn? Please tell me they have a girl because Deacon is soooo girl dad coded I swear it.

Anyway I have a lot of great feelings about this book and I cannot wait to have a signed copy sitting on my shelf. Thank you NetGalley and Tarah for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.