This is my second book by this author and I like her writing. Ellis and Wren are divorced but they are still drawn to each other. This story is told with flashes to the past, which solidify the love these characters hold for each other. Be warned, the miscommunication trope is pretty heavy in this one, which for me was a little much.
Overall a sweet and spicy read.

Left of forever follows Wren and Ellis Byrd, two former high school sweethearts who fell in love young, had a son as teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. Now in their 30s and divorced, Wren runs a local bakery while Ellis works as a firefighter. Though they’ve gone their separate ways, their connection never fully faded. When their son Sam leaves for college, Ellis convinces Wren to take a scenic road trip back home with him along the California coast. As they revisit old memories and spend time together in close quarters, old feelings resurface, and they begin to wonder if they might still have a future. But before they can start over, they’ll have to face the pain, mistakes, and unresolved issues that led to their breakup in the first place. This is Tarah DeWitt’s best book hands down. I loved this book. I love these characters. I love this world. Tarah Dewitt is easily one of my favorite romance authors and I can’t wait for everyone to read this book!!

I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said before about this book. This was everything I wanted it to be and more! The epistolary vibes at the start were a fun surprise and the roadtrip to follow just delivered on everything I love about second chance romance. Also, impressive t0 me that the characters and tone are so different from Savor It, the world of this series (of standalones) feels so real!

Thank you to SMP for the eARC.

Man, second chance romance is where it's at lately, I've been loving them, and Left of Forever was no exception.

Ellis and Wren’s story completely pulled me in. After five years apart, watching them navigate all the tough conversations, work through their past, and slowly find their way back to each other was so emotional and satisfying. I loved that they actually communicated, no ridiculous drama, just two people being honest and working through real issues.

Ellis had me fully in my feels, the yearning, the growth, the way he fought for Wren… swoon. And Wren was just the best. Her humor, kindness, and love for baking made me want to bake right alongside her. The chemistry between them? Off the charts. I may have blushed more than once. 😂

The Byrd family added so much, too, their banter, chaos, and love felt so real and made the story even richer. And while it takes place over just a few days, it somehow felt like we got their whole journey. Tarah DeWitt crushed it with this one. Addictive, emotional, funny, and just such a feel-good read. Highly recommend if you're into second chance romances that make you feel all the things.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC via Netgalley.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: Second Chance Romance
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Wren and Ellis had a baby at seventeen, and even though they loved each other, they ended up divorced. Now, with their son graduating high school and moving to college, they start to explore the feelings that they still have for each other and start to look into if they could rekindle their relationship.
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I love a second chance romance and this book was so good. I loved Wren and Ellis' love story and how they fought their way back to each other. Tarah Dewitt is becoming an auto read author and I need to read all of her books.

Left of Forever was a great second chance romance. There was longing and tension. It was so clear that the two main characters were still desperately in love with each other.

- second chance (divorced couple)
- small town
- road trip!
- only one bed
- no breakup
- 🌶️🌶️.5/5
- dual pov
- dual narration by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks

Left of Forever didn't hit quite as hard as I expected emotionally, but I still really enjoyed returning to Spunes and revisiting this world.

Ellis and Wren are a divorced couple facing a major life shift as their son heads off to college. Ellis convinces Wren to join him on a week-long road trip to drop him off in California, giving them space to talk, reflect, and figure out if there's a second chance waiting for them.

Ellis is the definition of a man obsessed, and his quiet yearning is one of my favourite parts. You can feel how deeply he loves her in every moment. Wren is the kind of woman you'd want in your corner—strong, thoughtful, and grounded. Together, they share honest and vulnerable conversations that delve into their shared past and what went wrong, while slowly building toward something new. There's a lot of growth here, both individually and as a couple.

And let's not forget the spice. Once they reconnect, things definitely heat up, and it balances beautifully with the story's emotional depth.

The ending wraps up in a really sweet, satisfying way. It left me smiling and hopeful, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what the rest of the series has in store.

Also, I have to shout out the audiobook. Megan and Connor are perfect as Wren and Ellis. Their performances bring warmth, heart, and chemistry to the story, making the experience even better.

5/5 ⭐️

Just like me ugly crying while reading this book, a romantic relationship can be just as ugly and broken. Wren and Ellis have so much to fix to find their forever. You’ll witness heart wrenching conversations that will break you and tender moments that put you back together.

So if you are looking to get emotionally wrecked with words so real and raw you feel them enter your soul and leave in the form of tears. Then, this second chance love story is the right book for you.

Thank you so much @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for the gifted audiobook and ARC.

“For how many words we’ve used to help us through this to get here, from writing them to finally sharing all the ones we held back, they all fall short when it comes to

Review Title & Vibes:
{WILL FOREVER RAVE ABOUT THIS BOOK}
FRIENDS - DO NOT LET THIS BOOK PASS YOU BY.
It’s so freaking fantastic. A beautiful story of second chance love, personal growth, and unshakable bonds. I loved everything about this. The spice was just the perfect amount - icing on the cake of a deeply emotional journey. Throw in some comedic relief and fantastic side characters-this is one of my top reads of the year.

I would caution you - this needs to be read after Savor It. Jumping into my first Tarah Dewitt - I had many questions about side characters/happenings that were discussed in Book 1.

Who’s gonna be next?! Sign me up.

Audio Notes:
{Dual} No notes - an absolutely perfect performance. I was definitely ugly crying at work for the gut wrenching bits, I laughed out loud (in real life), and swooned so freaking hard my knees literally went weak. Megan Wicks and Connor Crais couldn’t have done a better job! It’s a MUST LISTEN.

Rating: 5⭐️ | Spice: 3🌶️ | Audio: 5🎙️
What to Expect:
Second Chance Romance
Divorced Couple
Small Town
Forced Proximity
Road Trip
Letters / Journal

Recommended to...  
EVERYONE who reads contemporary romance - or even if you don’t.

Narrated by @connorcrais and @meganwicks
Produced by @macmillan.audio

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is a heartfelt, second-chance romance that completely wrecked me in the best way.

Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love young, had their son Sam as teenagers, and built a life together in the small coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. But now they’re in their 30s, divorced, and quietly orbiting each other — still connected, still aching, but unsure how to move forward.

They decide to take a road trip together after dropping their son off at college, to see if their love is worth another shot. Along the California coastline, old feelings resurface, long-held truths come to light, and they’re forced to truly face what they really want.

I was absolutely obsessed with Wren and Ellis. Their chemistry is palpable, their love feels lived-in and raw, and the emotional payoff? Incredible. The small-town backdrop, the community rooting for them, and the slow-burn pacing made this one hit so hard.

Tarah DeWitt’s writing is emotional, grounded, and so full of hope. She truly makes you believe in love after heartbreak. And I have to say — I did an immersive read for this one and loved both versions. The audiobook was so good and added even more heart to an already emotional story.

Tropes you'll find:
• Second chance romance
• Small town
• Road trip
• Co-parenting
• Slow burn

If you love slow-burn second chances, messy emotions, and stories that feel like a warm hug and a heartbreak all at once — Left of Forever is a must-read.

Thank you St Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for providing an e-ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was Chef’s kiss. 5⭐️ and no notes.

I received this an ARC. I haven’t read Tara before but always heard such great things. Well now I’m a fan and she is added to my auto buy author list!

If you love:
-second chance romance
-child friends to lovers
-one bed
-road trip
-grumpy x sunshine
-pen pals
Then you’ll love this book!

I did not read Savor It beforehand (it’s on TBR) but I still felt connected to the book even and the setting. This book follows Wren and Ellis who are childhood friends to lovers to strangers. Wren and Ellis at the start of the book have been divorced for 4 years and they have a son together who is graduating high school. This book does have accidentally pregnancy in it but doesn’t focus on that. They had Sam at 18 while also balancing raising Ellis’s siblings. They decided to embark on a road trip together to celebrate dropping their son at college while also trying to see if the spark is still there between them.

Throughout the book you learn about each MC’s background and how they move through the barriers that affected their relationship leading up to the divorce. Both Wren and Ellis are open to discussing both the good and the bad in their relationship in order to start anew. This displays strong emotional intelligence between the characters. I love how mental health is mentioned and utilized before reconnecting in their relationship especially in order to create a stronger dynamic. The ending was perfect and I was rooting for them the whole time.

Also the spicy scenes have the perfect build up and slow burn but still pretty fast. Go read it!!!

3.5-3.75 stars

I did enjoy the second-chance romance. It was a little bit predictable, but I did enjoy the story and more time with the characters in Spunes. Honestly, the ending had me tearing up with the quotes. I would recommend this if you are looking for a lighter story that is easy to read and fast paced. You will see all of your favorite characters from the first book in Spunes. Overall, I did enjoy my time reading it and will read more books from Tarah DeWitt.

Second chance romances are fast becoming a favorite of mine. Left of Forever hit a lot of feels as Wren and Ellis begin to rediscover their romance. While at times Ellis was a little shady in keeping his secret, I also get it, Wren would have run, and run fast. I also appreciated how their son Sam played a roll in moving things along and helping them get back together.

4.5 stars. This story was beautiful and I loved it so much. Tarah DeWitt writes books that pull you in and don’t let you go. I was very happy to be along for the ride. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy!

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

Wren and Ellis’s story is magnetic in the best way possible. It immediately pulled me in and I could not put his book down. I have been curious of these two since Savor It and it was well worth the wait. As always, the writing was beautiful and I could be fully immersed in the world around these characters. I fell in love with Spunes in the previous book, and while most of this book takes place outside of this small town, the heart was still there. Tarah brilliantly crafts places that I wish I could move to.

“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.”

Wren and Ellis are electrifying. Their chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS. The banter, the emotion, and their relationship development gave me so many feelings. The tension that built up in this book is everything I want in a romance and more. This book broke me and put me back together. This book was truly one of the best second-chance romances that I have ever read. Wren and Ellis have a place in my heart forever. Tarah DeWitt has a new forever fan. I cannot wait to read whatever comes next.

This book is everything to me.

If there is one thing about me, it's that I love Tarah's books. I've read every single book she's written and can full-heartedly say this is one of her best yet. There's something so special about second-chance romances, and she channeled every emotion you could have into this one. It is a love story about two imperfectly perfect people who found their way back to one another, and I couldn't love it anymore if I tried. In all honesty, if you asked me my favorite thing about this book, I'd copy and paste the entire thing here.

Ellis and Wren have my heart for whatever's left of forever, and I would not have it any other way. There's just something so special about the Byrds that makes me wanna hug em all tight. This is one of the most romantic books I have ever read, and it's something that I will remember for a long time. This book will make you cry, smile, and feel every emotion. I cannot recommend this book enough and will forever say, "she's still a Byrd," until my last breath.

This was my first time reading Tarah DeWitt and I had a good time. I liked the concept a lot of a second chance romance where they were married and had a family together - it is not a setup that I come across too often. The start of the book with them being pen pals was a cute way to jump start their reconnection and from there it was a quick read for me. I was surprised when I looked and saw I was over 60% through. If anything I think the book could have been a little longer and drawn out their reconnection a little more, since I would have enjoyed maybe 50 more pages of tension.

I also enjoyed the setting as well. I loved the Northern California/Oregon coastal vibes and the references to the beaches being cold and windy, but beautiful.

Overall this is a fun read with an interesting premise!

Wren and Ellis felt in love when they were teenagers, had a kid when teenagers, and managedto create a life together. Until they fell apart. Now, two years after their divorce, their son is going to college and Ellis suggests a road trip to either find closure or begin again. Either way, this trip will shpae their future.

This book was so frustrating to me. Wren carried so many scars from her marriage and a lot of ressentments but we never got to see their previous relationship. So, when she kept on repeating that Ellis was the cause for a lot of their problems, it just bothered me. She felt like she saw herself as perfect and incredibly mature in her marriage and, since the author never shows us the previous relationship, it just felt as if she was victimizing herself and putting herself on a pedestal and Ellis had to catch up to how perfect she was. I hated the side characters, especially Ellis's brothers - why were they so involved in his romantic life? Ellis was just there.

In this kind of book, if I don't like the characters and don't buy their romance, I just don't connect to the story. So, I didn't like it.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

This is the way second chance romances should be! I was so vested In Ellis and Wren's story because they felt like people I knew. Real, wounded, life scarred, yet still there was that flickering ember that made you hope they would work it out.

This is the way to start a summer!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this copy and I can't wait to see what Tarah DeWitt writes next because I know I will be buying it to add to my shelf!

The absolute love and adoration I have for the fictional town of Spunes, OR and the characters that live there is unmatched!!!

Tarah, my girl, you did it again!!! AHHHH

I am not the biggest fan of second chance romances. They have to be done *just* right and this one should be the new standard. I could not put this down!!! The love that Ellis and Wryn have for each other 🥹🥹🥹🥹 Even now several hours after finishing I am reading up.

It is just so beautifully written.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Tarah Dewitt for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This might be the most romantic book that I have ever read. These characters are just bleeding with love for each other. I don’t always find second chance romances believable, but this one was so real that I can’t even fathom that these characters don’t exist in our world. ELLIS IS A MAN WHO YEARNS! IT WAS HEAVENLY TO READ ABOUT.

In addition to the love story, I am absolutely SMITTEN with the found family. The Byrds are so sweet and I love seeing them interact.

There is something so raw and validating about Tara DeWitt’s writing. It feels very safe and cozy. Both Wren and Sage feel like the cool older girls who you secretly dream of becoming when you grow up.

I hope we get to go back to Spunes. I ADORE Silas and his endless emotions and would love a book with his love story! Last, but not least…A MOMENT FOR THE COVER!!! IT IS BREATHTAKING.