THIS BOOK!!!

I fear I will not recover. My brain and my heart have been altered by this book and I will never, ever get over it.

this—this is the epitome of what a second chance romance should be. It was EVERYTHING— from start to finish. It hit home, hard, for me in more ways than one and I want to take this book and imprint it on my soul somehow 🥹

The love—the LONGING— between Wren and Ellis had me overjoyed and also felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest at the same time. It was raw, it was real… it was so damn perfect. The tension was palpable, the angst was ANGSTY in the best way, and the LOVE behind it all just had me feeling all the things.

Ellis was everything you could want in a MMC. He was so, so kind and caring and I cannot put into words how much I loved him. His growth was beautiful to see throughout this story and Wren.. my sweet baby Wren I just want to hug you and tell you how much I love and understand you😭

This book was impeccable. funny, heartwarming, beautifully messy perfection. I want to hold this book in my heart and never let it go 🥺 I know with certainty it will be one of my top reads of this year! 🫶🏼

And the spice?!?! 10/10 !!!!!
…dare I say it was….Capsaicin? 🤣🌶️
(IYKYK hehe)

Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with this digital ARC!!

Thank you the NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Ugh, I don’t hate this book, but it certainly wasn’t for me. We have two 30-something year old adults (Wren and Ellis) who got got married too long, got divorced five years ago for unknown reasons, and they share a teenage kid together. Ellis proposes to rebuild the relationship with Wren to see if things can go back to it once was. A second chance romance.

My problem with this book was that I felt like they did everything backwards, and maybe that’s just my preference. But they have this large huge explosion of feelings and emotions towards the end of this book, when instead they could have talked it all out towards the beginning of this trip and then worked on building the relationship from there. It’s all nice that we got the first-date feelings and giggles, so we know the attraction is still there. But it felt like we ignored the main causes of the divorce until the end, which then got resolved in all of two seconds with “but I love you and I always have!” And then they decide to get married shortly after this trip is over. I don’t know. I don’t understand this book. I’m glad other people liked it but it was not for me.

Dear Stranger,

I don’t know how she does it but with every book, Tarah DeWitt manages to make my heart clench and ache before sewing it back together and returning it to me with Care Bear level expertise. I have never annotated a book but this spoke to me on such a deep level that I need to keep the words close to me.

Left of Forever is an emotional journey through teen pregnancy, loss of a parent, guardianship, infertility, illness of a parent, divorce and so much more. Ellis and Wren didn’t just find their way back to each other, they healed parts of themselves along the way. I very much enjoyed the comedic and spicy relief. The tension between Ellis and Wren has been building since we met them in Savor It!

Left of Forever is a book that will stick with me forever. I cannot wait to reread it and hopefully see more of Spunes in the future!

Sincerely hopeful,
Clari

“We belong to each other in ways no one else ever will.” PLEASE!!! strike me down RIGHT NOW!!! i LOVEDDDDDD IT i am crying

this story, left of forever, follows childhood friends ellis & wren, showing their journey, trying to find their way back to each other for a second time after their first time ends in divorce. i’ve been wanting to jump into this as soon as i read about them in savor it.

in their first journey, they become pregnant at 17 & 18 and try to make it through life the best they can. but being a child yourself with a baby is arduous. you learn from a young age that you are no longer allowed to just do whatever, be whoever, but you have someone that depends on you to LIVE. as their son, sam, gets a little older, they become lost in their responsibilities & burdens of life, & in turn, each other. sometimes life takes us into unexpected places, which happened to both ellis & wren when they end up getting divorced. but are they really done? could the love they had & cherished really be through? this follows their journey in trying to find their way back to each other. it’s hurts. it’s raw. it’s real. it’s emotional. it’s beautiful. but what good love story doesn’t have a little pain?

ellis has had to be everything for his family. provider, caretaker. label after label. he’s never been able to just BE. BUT ELLIS BYRD. ELLIS ORION BYRD I SWEAR TO GOD. this man, y’all. he takes life in stride & steps up anytime he is needed. he loves wren more than life itself, but sometimes love isn’t enough, which he does have to learn. he is THE MANNNNN!!! wren is just baby. that’s it. i love her & want to be her.
“I miss you, too sounds glib. You have been missing from me is more accurate. There’s a void where you lived in me.” it HURTTT but in the best way. this book was SO GOOD. i can not stress that enough.

thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3

4 ⭐️

This was sooooo cute! Savor It was one of my fav romances last year and I was so excited to read the ARC for this book. Ellis and Wren’s story was so sweet and I am such a sucker for a second chance romance.

Ellis and Wren had known each other their whole lives. They become a couple when they were 16 and 17 and end up getting pregnant a year later with their son, Sam. As they get older, they fall into some emotional issues and end up divorcing. Now, as their son is leaving for college and they have spent the last 5 years apart and living separate lives, they are experiencing some feelings towards each other and end up going on a road trip to celebrate her birthday and their son. Along the way, they are sharing honest feelings and raw emotions with each other while also endearing some unhinged chaos (ice cream scene, iykyk)

My only negative feeling toward the book was at which the speed they reconciled their marriage at. I feel like it was sort of rushed and I was there was a little more tension building/build
up before they were physically together again, especially considering they hadn’t really spoken unless it involved their son for 5 whole years. Either way, I enjoyed this book and hope we get another Spunes experience (GIVE US A MICAH BOOK)

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC approval!

This book was EVERYTHING! The world is not ready for Wren and Ellis. I devoured Left of Forever in less than 24 hours. I wish I’d savoured it (see what I did there) but once I started reading their story, I couldn’t stop. It was both heartbreaking at time but also had me squealing and kicking my feet in excitement. No notes!!

Oh my heart. I married young, and my children are a few short years from leaving the nest. This book broke me in parts and then put me back together. The tattoos, the road trip, the letters, the cooking class-all perfection. I was a sobbing mess by the last few chapters. My husband and I live by the motto “hold on forever” and Ellis and Wren depicted that so beautifully.

absolutely beautiful. the settings, the characters, the storylines, all of it. I remember thinking “oh he definitely still wants her” when reading about Ellis and Wren in “Savor It” and I’m so glad Tarah decided to write their story. This is the first time I’ve ever felt invested in a second-chance romance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! Can’t wait to pick up a gorgeous physical copy when it’s out.

Tarah Dewitt’s best book. Loved every word of it. Such a lovely, heartwarming second chance romance. I’ve never highlighted so much in a book. The yearning and the pining of this mustached firefighter (I pictured Bella’s dad the whole time) made me swoon. And the spice… 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. Autobuy author for me at this point. Thank you Tarah for writing these amazing books!!

"I grew up with my great love. So I think maybe my heart took shape around his."

My rating: infinite, bright ⭐

Read if you like:
- second chance romance
- letters
- divorced couple
- forced proximity
- road trip
- men who yearn
- moustaches
- characters in their 30s
- toe-curling spice
- heart-shattering HOPE
- iconic side characters
- She's still a Byrd

My thoughts:
How can I put into words the amount of emotions I feel every single time I think about this book?
How can I convey enough praise and reverence for what Tarah has created here without splintering into little pieces once more?
How can I feel whole again after reading something so pure, so raw, so full of quiet hope and yearning, when I'm feeling like a tender bruise on pale skin? Battered and flaky and constantly on the edge of pain but not quite?
The fact that I read this book back in December and I'm writing the review in February should tell you enough of my state of mind and the emotional chaos inflicted by Left of Forever.
I started crying from approximately the 5% mark and now here we are. Two months later and the tears keep flowing.

"I'm just saying. My DNA mixed with yours, and it altered your very bones, Byrd."

Sometimes fictional places and fictional characters stay with you for way longer than you anticipated. Like ghost limbs that send a dull ache at the most unexpected of times, they're just there, in the back of your mind, ready to pinch your big, squishy heart without a warning.
Ellis and Wren grabbed and squeezed mine from the very first word and honestly? I don't think they'll ever stop.

Reading about them felt like being forcibly shoved in front of a mirror I didn't necessarily wanted to look at, but one I needed, nonetheless. Because while some of their struggles might not be the same as mine, I do know how much effort it is required to make a relationship work, every single day. And how sometimes, even when you think you're giving your 100%, that's not enough and you still see it crumble in your hands.

"We're the war-torn adults who loved each other fully and still didn't make it together in the end."

Being an adult is effing difficult. There's no manual and no guarantees that what you're doing and the choices you're making will lead you to safe port. There's just hope and blind faith and, perhaps, if you're lucky enough, a handful of people on the sidelines rooting for you. Even when you don't. Even when you're exhausted and beat up so badly, breathing becomes a chore. One you feel you're failing at, too.
And maybe, MAYBE, there's also one more person. Your person. The one that makes you want to do better. Be better. The one you'll pick through thick and thin. The one that picks you, too.
But that takes daily work. REALLY FUCKING HARD WORK.
So it's incredibly humbling and refreshing to see a romance book portraying exactly that: the exhaustion, the healthy, honest communication needed to make a relationship work, the heavy emotional toll of having a person by your side, day after day, but not seeing your partner in there anymore. And the hard, constant work to make your way back to each other. The CONSCIOUS CHOICE to do so.

"I'll save you the best seat in the house, Byrd."

Whether I will it or not, Ellis and Wren's story is one that will be forever part of my brain chemistry. From the moment the words "She's still a Byrd" were put on a page, everything shifted. Lives were altered. And I'm not sure if she knew it back then, the ripple effect that single sentence would put into motion. If this was her plan all along, to create a small army of unhinged and unconditional fans who would burst at the seams with every little snippet she shared about their journey.
And either way, whether it was pure Machiavellian genius fueled by tears of her readers or the happiest of coincidences, Tarah created magic. Changed the game. Raised the bar. Will probably go bankrupt paying all of our therapy bills.


So yeah. Read this book. Go be devastated and turned inside out. Go cry your heart out. Go fall in love and be as horny as you can possibly be with these two idiots. Go explore your own range of emotions and question why all of the sudden you can't stop smiling when you pass the red peppers at the supermarket.
Go read this fucking book and thank me later.

What an emotional ride this book took me on!! I’d been looking forward to Ellis and Wren’s book since I read “Savor It” and Ellis yelled, “She’s still a Byrd!” at a town meeting. I knew it was going to be beautiful, but I knew it was going to hurt too - I just didn’t know how much.

This book is a slow burn, but I was invested in their story since Tarah’s last book so I was in-it for the long haul. Some things I absolutely LOVED but will make no sense to you until you read it: the stranger letters, the capsicum burn, the ice cream, the pining, the internal dialogue, the found family, Silas’s speech, and the tattoos.

I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc, these opinions are 100% my own.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is a wonderfully emotional read that blends humor and longing with an exploration of second chances. The dual POVs really elevate the experience, giving readers insight into both main characters’ perspectives as they navigate the tension and rekindled chemistry between them. The slow burn of their rediscovery of each other is done beautifully, with each moment feeling earned rather than rushed, allowing their connection to rebuild in a grounded way. The way DeWitt mixes humor into the moments both characters experience makes their individual journeys feel real, with moments of levity that keep the tone from becoming too heavy while still allowing the emotional depth to shine (capsaicin, anyone?).

My one wish is that the story had delved deeper into the reasons behind their divorce and provided more of the missing years between then and the present. It would’ve been great to understand more of what led them to separate in the first place and to get more context on how they evolved individually before reconnecting. Still, Left of Forever is a beautiful exploration of love, forgiveness, and the complexity of relationships, with well-crafted characters that feel authentic and relatable. It’s definitely a book that will leave you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is a wonderfully emotional read that blends humor and longing with an exploration of second chances. The dual POVs really elevate the experience, giving readers insight into both main characters’ perspectives as they navigate the tension and rekindled chemistry between them. The slow burn of their rediscovery of each other is done beautifully, with each moment feeling earned rather than rushed, allowing their connection to rebuild in a grounded way. The way DeWitt mixes humor into the moments both characters experience makes their individual journeys feel real, with moments of levity that keep the tone from becoming too heavy while still allowing the emotional depth to shine (capsaicin, anyone?).

My one wish is that the story had delved deeper into the reasons behind their divorce and provided more of the missing years between then and the present. It would’ve been great to understand more of what led them to separate in the first place and to get more context on how they evolved individually before reconnecting. Still, Left of Forever is a beautiful exploration of love, forgiveness, and the complexity of relationships, with well-crafted characters that feel authentic and relatable. It’s definitely a book that will leave you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is a wonderfully emotional read that blends humor and longing with an exploration of second chances. The dual POVs really elevate the experience, giving readers insight into both main characters’ perspectives as they navigate the tension and rekindled chemistry between them. The slow burn of their rediscovery of each other is done beautifully, with each moment feeling earned rather than rushed, allowing their connection to rebuild in a grounded way. The way DeWitt mixes humor into the moments both characters experience makes their individual journeys feel real, with moments of levity that keep the tone from becoming too heavy while still allowing the emotional depth to shine (capsaicin, anyone?).

My one wish is that the story had delved deeper into the reasons behind their divorce and provided more of the missing years between then and the present. It would’ve been great to understand more of what led them to separate in the first place and to get more context on how they evolved individually before reconnecting. Still, Left of Forever is a beautiful exploration of love, forgiveness, and the complexity of relationships, with well-crafted characters that feel authentic and relatable. It’s definitely a book that will leave you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.

Some books don’t just tell a story—they wreck you in the best way, leaving you sitting in the aftermath of their words, completely undone. Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is exactly that kind of book. A second-chance romance that is raw, emotional, and deeply intimate, it follows Wren and Ellis as they navigate the messy, beautiful reality of love after loss, after distance, after everything.

The road trip setting adds so much to their journey—those quiet, in-between moments that feel like the heart of a relationship. The stolen glances, the shared laughter, the weight of unspoken words—it all felt so real. Tarah DeWitt’s writing is stunning, capturing both the tenderness and ache of loving someone through the highs and lows.

As someone who is married, this book hit hard. It made me pause and reflect on love, on the struggles and the effort it takes to choose each other every day. Wren and Ellis’s love story isn’t just about finding each other again—it’s about choosing each other again, and that distinction is what makes this book so incredibly special.

And let’s talk about the HEAT. Because yes, this book brings the emotional devastation, but it also delivers on the passion. The chemistry between Wren and Ellis is intense—a slow burn that simmers until it absolutely erupts.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best second-chance romances I’ve ever read. The way DeWitt handles the heavier themes with such care, the way every moment between Wren and Ellis feels earned—it’s just perfection. If you love emotional, beautifully written love stories that will stay with you long after the final page, Left of Forever is a must-read.

This was the most beautiful second chance romance I've ever read.

Ellis and Wren were childhood friends, turned lovers, turned early parents at 17/18. They got married young and eventually divorced 5 years ago as they started growing apart. Their son is headed off to college so Ellis proposes a road trip for himself and Wren to potentially reconcile.

The beauty in the growth of these characters is so incredible. They show that they have learned from their mistakes, communicate well and actually address difficulties head on. Ellis has been working hard on himself as he never gave up hope that he and Wren may get back to one another. Wren has been journaling and the letters they write to one another are so full of emotion it was one of my favourite parts of the story.

The heartbreak, the tension, the joy and the hope that Tarah wove throughout this novel is a work of art. I teared up multiple times due to the raw emotion that she evoked and was full on sobbing during the epilogue. It was perfection.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Tarah DeWitt and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

second chance romance will forever be one of my favorites but unfortunately this one was a miss for me. there were some moments while reading that i was really liking this and then there were moments i was cringing and wanting it to be over. i feel like the dialogue and the writing threw me off a bit at times?! like it didn't fully flow to me. it just didn't feel believable and i wasn't connected to the characters at all. i did love the journal entries and the flashback moments from when they were younger tho!

thank you netgalley & st martins press for the arc!

~Thanks to NetGalley and Tarah Dewitt for the ARC!~

Why am I IMMEDIATELY obsessed with Wren and Ellis. I mean I know I already loved them from Savor It, but even when I was barely starting the book, I already loved their story and their chemistry 😭 By the end… I had cried SO many times. The emotions are flying off the page with every word I read.

This was a book I simply couldn’t put down. Read half of it late into the night, then woke up early to read the second half. Tarah Dewitt has became an “auto-buy author” for me. I will forever be chasing the high of reading her books. I’ve been recommending Savor It to everyone I know (literally…sorry, not sorry) and I’m happy to announce I will be recommending Left of Forever as well.

This book was so freaking emotional. And I don’t even have kids. Their son, Sam, turns 18 and is going off to college and that provides an (un)fortunate opportunity for his divorced parents, Wren (FMC) and Ellis (MMC), to spend some time together as they drive him on a roadtrip to get him settled for college. And as I’m sure you can guess, they may or may not rekindle some old feelings being alone on a roadtrip to head back home from dropping him off. Mind you they have been alone together for the last 5 years since they’ve been divorced. *wink wink*

Random musings…

I love that even though Wren is feeling lonely and missing Ellis she is Still being so body positivity and secure in herself. It’s so lovely and refreshing to read. She isn’t letting insecurity get to her despite feeling like she’s missing out on what their life could have been. A lot of people would fall into the insecurity of it and feeling like they aren’t enough but I’m not getting that from her.

LOVE the mental health representation. MEN TAKE NOTES. You want to be a better person for the loved ones in your life and for YOURSELF??

👏🏻GO👏🏻TO👏🏻THERAPY👏🏻

Without giving anything away, I do wish we could learn a little more about what happened with one of the characters that’s come back to Spunes. What happened? It’s not explained just almost a throw away line about them being hurt and drinking and then later asking someone to hide his stuff so he doesn’t obsess about not being able to do something he loves. I wish there was just a little bit more about the WHY. I’m assuming it’s setting up for future books but I feel a little unsatisfied with that minor story line.

Psst - if you like playlists while you read…this one was PERFECT.

⚠️⚠️⚠️SPOILER ALERT⚠️⚠️⚠️
- some fave quotes (I will need to confirm when the final copy comes out, but please I hope these all stay in there cus I LOVE)



“My problem is that I’ve never been able to stop measuring every prospective romance I might have against what I once had with Ellis.”

“I’ll save you a seat, Byrd” 💞

Honorable mention:
“Got a case of the streptoCOCKus?”

“Been nice motorboating you!”

I truly don’t know how to adequately share how much I loved this book. Left of Forever had me feeling ALL of the feelings. I laughed out loud, I teared up, my heart broke and my heart healed. I love Wren and Ellis so much, and getting to know their story in this book - the good and the bad - was so special. Relationships are so complex; and sometimes they don’t work out for no one reason, and by no fault of one person. While this book was fiction, Wren’s and Ellis’s story and their feelings felt so real, and being able to go on this journey with them while they work through their past and try to find their way back to each other was beautiful. I will think about these characters for a very long time.

A complicatedly beautiful story about 2 people who fell in love young and lost themselves & each other along the way. I love the way this author writes characters.
I learned things about capsaicin that I didn’t know.