Left of Forever was a good book, however, I did not love it as much as I thought I would. I love Tarah's writing and have always enjoyed her books! This book starts super strong with the premise of second-chance lovers and a "you've got mail" trope going on which I loved to follow!

However, as the book progressed I felt less connected to the romance/compatibility between the characters and a bit overwhelmed with the different plot components. With that being said, I truly enjoyed reading about the characters and the overall storyline but I felt a bit detached from the romance aspect as the lust became the forefront for a good bit of the book until the end. When they inevitably discuss their past and what made their relationship fall apart the first time, I was very happy with how Tarah wrote about such important and delicate topics! These characters and this small town are extremely lovable, I will 100% be reading the rest of the series and as I mentioned before I truly love Tarah's writing but this one was not fully for me & that is okay!! Also, Ellis Byrd the MAN you are!! If you like obsessive mmcs, this one is for you!!

I would HIGHLY recommend everyone to check it out themselves especially if you love second-chance romances, yearning, a man obsesseddddd, and more emotional storylines in your romance books!

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and Tarah for the early copy! <3

While I really struggled with Wren’s character, I loved Ellis right away. There’s just something about being in the hero’s point of view, especially when it was so rare in this book.

Left of Forever is an absolute gem! Tarah Dewitt delivers a beautifully written, heartfelt romance filled with great banter, deep emotion, and amazing characters. The leads of this books had such amazing chemistry, you could almost feel the electricity, and the slow-burn tension is chefs kiss. Tarah always blends humor and heartache, making all her books impossible to put down. If you love emotional love stories, this one’s a must-read!

Tarah Dewitt has done it again. Second chance isn’t usually my favorite, because I’m such a sucker for the beginning of a love story, but this book did it PERFECTLY. Wren and Ellis had such a heartwarming story, one that felt so real I found myself tearing up over and over and wishing I could give both of them a hug. Their initial breakup was the cumulation of a lot and a little simultaneously, and the change in both of them since then made it easy to root for them to be together again. I loved how invested the town was and the Byrd siblings are in bringing them back together, because really everyone knew they belonged to eachother and with eachother and were just waiting for them to figure it out themselves. I loved the journaling aspect and the travel/road trip part was perfectly done. I also loved how much Ellis listened to what Wren needed and gave that to her, now that she was able to ask for it. We forget that we have to sometimes ask for what we need and this book was a great reminder of that.
Aside from being so real and heartfelt, this book was also laugh out loud funny at points! I love a touch of humor and I loved coming back to Spunes.

Thank you so much NetGalley for this eARC!!! This is my honest review <3

Every time I finish a Tarah Dewitt book I feel like standing and starting a slow clap that will eventually lead to a frenetic applause. From me. In my bedroom. They're that good.

Tarah has a unique ability to write characters who are extremely relatable and feel personal, and then to make that a universal experience for all her readers. She taps into a magic that allows her to showcase a familiar humanity within her stories and provides an opportunity for each and every reader to feel seen and connected to her writing.

Left of Forever has quickly risen to the top of my list of Tarah favorites. I loved each detail of this story. I loved the setup and the history between Wren and Ellis. I loved that Tarah took a chance to explore what it means to enter into a long-term relationship with someone when you still have so much growing to do. My favorite part of this, though, was that Tarah didn't take the easy route and put anyone particulary at fault for the end of their marriage. Frankly, no one did anything inherently wrong. Life, itself, was responsible for their marriage ending. While that choice may seem less dramatic, it lends a credibility to the story. It was refreshing to see characters who were willing to change, grow, and take responsibility for their choices. These characters are endearing and you can't help but root for them.

I'll be (as always) anxiously looking forward to what Tarah has in store for us next.

First of all, thank you Tarah for bringing back YEARNING. That's what I'm talking about!

I loved getting those flashbacks of Ellis and Wren before everything fell apart. We could see how they grew up together, but then life happened, and they just… drifted. It was so real, seeing them figure things out, heal, and learn to be themselves again? That was my favorite part. And that week of them actually communicating and getting to know each other again was everything.

I'm a total sucker for a marriage in crisis story, plus a second chance romance? Pleeeeease sign me up! This book delivered on every level.

Left of Forever was truly the most amazing read. Infinite stars for me.
Tarah is a wonderful author that has an impeccable way of making the reader feel deeply connected with the main characters while guiding us to an unforgettable story. I cried and laughed wholeheartedly.
Can the Byrd family adopt me? I want to be another sister!
This book will absolutely be forever in my mind and heart.

Wow that was actually so precious!

I wasn’t sure what to expect because I’ve never read anything by Tara Dewitt but like… that writing was so solid. The story was very good.

I love how open Ellis is with his emotions. It’s not often you read a romance book where the MMC cries multiple times (all valid; I sometimes feel like authors make their characters cry over the most random stuff, but in this case, I feel like every time someone cried it was over really intense stuff, or they’d gone through something in the past that made them more susceptible to tears).

Wren was so funny. I wish we had gotten more of the letter storyline, because I loved how her letters were written. I LOVED that part of the book. I love letters so much.

I really like how quickly the conflict was resolved. These two were so good at communicating (once they were on the trip, obv), and it healed something in my romance-reader brain that dies a little every time I read a poorly-done miscommunication trope/third-act breakup.

I think the only reason I’m taking off a star is because the side character storylines felt too random in the context of the main romance (not sure if that makes sense). I felt like I was juggling the names of all the siblings, the locations and the people Ellis and Wren meet while in those places, plus the stuff that happened in the past.

The story felt a teeny tiny bit preachy at times, but I honestly felt like it fit with the characters. Sometimes the books that I read are preachy for no reason, but I think it makes sense that these two people who became parents and guardians at such a young age would sometimes come across as lecturing.

I will definitely be reading more of her stuff!! Esp since it’s on KU!!!

A top notch romance, truly. I laughed, I cried, I got my heart stomped on, then glued back together. It was a wild ride and I loved every minute of it. Tarah is truly in a league of her own and I bow down. This book felt so real and so raw - a marriage (or, well, divorce) in crisis done so perfectly that you couldn’t help but root for the characters and fall head over heels. Wren and Ellis are so complex and I loved getting to see them grow and unravel throughout. Their deep emotional connection … I felt it in every layer of my bones. I could read 2,000 more pages about their love story and it still wouldn’t be enough.

Left of Forever was my first Tarah DeWitt title I’ve read and it won’t be my last, as it was very cute and well-written. I absolutely enjoyed the characters, as they were very admirable

Ellis and Wren were made for one another… until they fell apart. The divorce went thru five years ago, though they are hardly off each others minds. When their son gets accepted into college Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended road trip to see if they should give their relationship another go. Will they make the most of what’s left of forever? Or is it finally time to let go?

This is a beautiful second chance story about two people who lost their way in a dark time but their love for one another never wavered. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s beautiful.

Splitting the timeline into past, present and future was a brilliant move. Building up the characters and tension before amping up the tension. Love it.

Left of forever is a romance novel written for an adult audience. It’s not all rainbows and sunshine. Life is messy and beautiful, that’s what Wren and Ellis story is. Real.

Read this if you like
🧡Second chance
✨Friends to lovers
🔥Steamy romance
🥂Road trips

Tarah DeWitt totally crushed it with Left of Forever. This is the sweetest, incredibly mature story of a divorced couple who decided to rekindle their relationship on a road trip, where they consciously open up to each other about what they did and did not like about their marriage. The emotions and vulnerability that both MCs so willingly displayed was such a treat. And let’s not overlook the spice 🥵. Left of Forever is making its home among my favorite romances.

Over half of this book is about the work Ellis and Wren put in to be better for themselves and their relationship and it was so realistic and relatable. The vulnerability made me swoon and tear up non-stop. I loved how grounded and mature Ellis and Wren were. This is what I look for every time I pick up a romance.

this book is so so precious, and i just adore the byrds. wven though ellis isn't my fav brother, i loved how protective he was!!! also love learning more about sam <3 can't wait for his story hehe

Of course, I cried (but no one’s surprised)
Wow, wow, wow another beautiful, gut wrenching book by Tarah. I have loved all her books and this is no exception. Loved the concept and covered a topic I don’t see a lot of romance books talk about. So happy to have gotten an ARC for sure plan to listen to the book when it comes out, but now I have to wait even longer for her next book😭.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Wow. This book. Second chance at its absolute best. Was not expecting to love a book about two divorced parents coming back together as much as I did, but my god, this was so good.

I've never read Tarah Dewitt before, but the cover drew me in, and the story had me fully immersed the entire time. Wren and Ellis stole my heart in every way. The yearning, their communication, their desire for one another. I loved it all. The spice was SPICING and their love was felt in every single page.

How rare it is to read something so emotionally intelligent, vulnerable, and honest.

I will absolutely be thinking about this one for a long, long time.

This was easily one of my favorite second chance romances of all time. This is Tarah DeWitt at her very best! Wren and Ellis’ story is filled to the brim with raw emotion, depth, pure love. It is also gut-wrenching, angsty, and vulnerable all at the same time.

Wren and Ellis fell in love as kids, and had their son Sam as teenagers, further building their life in Spunes, Oregon (obviously not Forks Washington!!!). After their marriage fell apart and they got divorced in their 30’s, they live separate lives… but still a bit rent free in each other’s minds. When Sam is ready to move to college, Ellis persuades Wren to take a road trip with him to give their relationship one last chance. Can they make it for what is left of forever?

Second chance romance at its finest, forced proximity, and two divorcees who are madly in love with each other… utter, utter perfection!

This was absolutely, by far, my favorite Tarah book to date. She handled heavy topics with grace and sensitivity. Both characters are relatable and shine in their own ways. Very spicy, very cute, very emotional! The epilogue was everything, as was the letters. I cannot get enough of my babies in Spunes and it was so nice to see Sage, Fisher, and the whole gang again! Also… she still likes it. As do I.

When I started this book, I realized I didn't want to rush through it and that I wanted to enjoy the words, the story, and the emotions this book was making me feel, so I wanted a moment to give my undivided attention to it. The best decision I have made.

Now having read it TWICE, I can confirm that is one of the best books I will probably read in my lifetime and I can assure you I till stay engraved in my mind and heart until the end of my days.

Ellis and Wren story is full of nostalgia of “what could have been” but also you get rewarded witht the most beautiful prize of “what will it be”

We get to see them work towards fixing their marriage in the most mature and emotionally responsible way. They are the dictionary definition of soulmates, and Tarah made sure we felt that to our very bones. The yearning and the raw emotions. Their connection and chemistry. The compromise of being better for each other!!!! This book is a warm and heartfelt hug to your soul.

Tarah's writing creates an emotional, very intimate, and personal channel between you and the words you are reading. A bridge between the pages and your heart, if you will. She has a gift of transmitting the rawest and most genuine emotions and introspections that capture you from prologue to epilogue; this one was no exception. She has healed so many holes in my heart without even trying; that's how special she is. Her words have the power to mend, to make you feel understood and seen, just like she shows us with her characters. This book was no exception.

I loved this. I loved that the mc’s are 30s-40s because you don’t see that very often. The start was a little slow, but it had so much heart, pining, and yearning that I soon became obsessed. I was on the edge of my seat hoping these two could heal and work out their pasts to come back to each other. It’s an emotional ride but I loved it so much!

Left of forever is a second chance romance between divorced Wren and Ellis. Their story picks up 5 years after their divorce. “You’re still a Byrd”

They embark on a mini road trip to save their relationship. Ellis is still madly in love with Wren, when he gets hit with a sign to get her back there is nothing stopping his determination. This alone makes him feel be of my favourite MMCs, he cares so deeply about what he loves and he would go to the end of the earth for his family.
“I would chose you. Over everything! Over everyone”

There is passion and tension through each dynamic. You feel their history with each conversation, look and touch. I’ve never read a second chance that had me so hooked into the characters, that made me feel like i had known them all along, knew their story just as well as they did. The anticipation of each moment kept me hooked all the way through.
“This overwhelming, gutting, soul-rendering feeling is so dangerous. And I’m watching myself dive for it with so little caution”
“I’ve got the biggest, most devastating crush on my ex-husband, and i hope I don’t get absolutely flattened by it in the end”

You can tell that Tarah Dewitt really put her all into this book, the emotions are so vivid. The characters are so raw and real.


Also loved the little Deacon and LaRynn cameo 🥺

4⭐️
Second chance romance will do it for me every time!! I liked Savor It just somewhat but was really intrigued to pick this one up because I love second chance so much. Left of Forever follows Wren and Ellis five years after their divorce. Their love was raw and real and so sweet. I loved how open Ellis and Wren were in acknowledging what went wrong, validating each other's feelings, and working to make the necessary changes to grow together. The love that they have for each other and the family they created truly shines through in Tarah's writing. This book had some heavier topics and I loved how she handled it while continuing pushing the plot. Her writing in this one is truly some of her best work!! Also the spice in this was HOT (but that ice cream scene was wild).

After finishing this, I really hope that Micah and Silas, the other brothers, get their own books because they were some of my favorite parts of this and I want to learn more about them!

Thank you to Tarah Dewitt and Netgalley for the e-ARC 🧡