3.25 ⭐️ I love the cover! It's what drew me to reading the book. You can feel the connection there. ❤️ Also the narrators did a wonderful job 👏🏾 I just didn't connect with the story as much I wanted to. It was sweet and I was definitely routing for them but it just didn't engage me enough to pull at my heart strings.

There aren’t enough words to express how much I love this book. I was a big, big fan of Savor It, the first book in this series, and had been hearing how good Left of Forever is, so when I got the email saying I was approved for the audiobook, I screamed. Wren and Ellis have all of my heart and more. I love love love the Byrd family so much and wish I could live in Spunes and experience life with them.

This is the first audiobook I’ve listened to where the female narrator didn’t have a high-pitched, almost childlike voice, and that made me love this book all the more. Thank you thank you thank you, Tarah DeWitt, for writing this beautiful piece of art. I love you.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook. This one had me all in my feelings!! I loved Wren, I loved Ellis and adored Sam! The narrators were flawless!!! The female narrator had a little bit of a raspy voice and it was PERFECT for Wren!!! I could have listened to them banter for hours. This was the perfect book, and I won't go into too much detail but I was in absolute tears at the end--HAPPY TEARS.

Thank you thank you thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC 🤍

I was lucky enough to have read this book a while back and it immediately became one of my favourite books ever written. I loved Savor It so much and this next installment only had me falling more in love with the Byrd family. Wren & Ellis are my soul couple and I adored going on this heartbreakingly beautiful journey with them.

Connor and Megan really enhanced this story. They were truly meant to narrate these characters. They left me a sobbing mess by the end and I can guarantee I’ll be relistening to this audiobook over and over again until the end of time.

I need to thank Tarah again for creating these comfort characters and sharing her magic with us 🤍

Well then. I wasn’t expecting so much spice… what a pleasant surprise! 😏

Second-chance romance isn’t my favorite trope, but this one was enjoyable! I particularly loved *SPOILER* the lack of a third-act breakup. That being said, it didn’t feel like there was much conflict throughout, so I guess that’s what you get with a real breakup. Sigh.

Either way, a sweet and spicy marriage rekindling! Spice was like 3.5-4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

(Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley, for the ARC and audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

“We have whatever’s left of forever, you and me.”

♾️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5


I don’t even know where to start. Tarah DeWitt’s writing just speaks to me on a soul deep level. Wren and Ellis’ story is a second chance romance but it is also so much more. Wren and Ellis met when they were so young. They started their relationship as well as parenthood before they were even adults.

This story captures the ups and downs of marriage and the tiny ways that we can slowly start letting things slip. The examination of how you can be so madly in love with someone, but still not be able to make things work due to the day-to-day challenges of life was so painful and so beautifully written.

Wren and Ellis have a relationship that I loved reading about so much. Their chemistry and intimacy was perfection.

I think this book also resonates with me on a deeply personal level. My husband and I met when I was 17 and he was 18. We have been together ever since and married for 10 of the 20 years we’ve known each other. While we are still together, Wren and Ellis are so relatable. When you’ve had to grow up together you can easily see the moments that can make everything fall apart if you don’t keep choosing to find one another and fight and love and communicate.

The Byrds and all the characters in Spunes are my favorite. Micah and Silas are going to have incredible stories and I love how much we got to see of them in this book as well.

The audiobook narration is perfect. Both voice actors are incredible and really made the story come to life.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

I fear that Tarah DeWitt COOKED with this one! A second chance, sort of marriage in crisis, firefighter romance full of yearning?? What a magical ride.

I previously have felt sort of meh about the books that I've read from Tarah DeWitt. I didn't really see the magic that I always see people going crazy over... well I finally see the magic with Left of Forever. I'm not sure if its because it includes several of my favorite tropes or if it really is just THAT good (I'm leaning towards its just that good).

Wren and Ellis are made for each other and getting to see them fall back in love and learn to trust each other again was so delightful. The yearning and the horniness were so exquisite!!! (I mean the cable car scene??? HELLO????) What a romance to make you believe in love again.

Thank you to Netgalley and SMP for my ALC.

I listened to an advance copy of the audio book. It was a quick read and honestly I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it at first, but once I realized how much I could relate to their relationship, I was hooked. They started young and had their challenges. Eventually they chose to part, not realizing they both still loved each other. Their adventure that brought them back together, realizing they were each other’s home was where I felt the most connection. I couldn’t imagine those 5 years they spent apart, but I understand their deep need to make up for that time and ensure it’ll never happen again - a beautiful love story!

✨ Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley & MacMillan Audio for the ALC!

Left of Forever is a beautiful and emotional second chance romance that explores love, loss, and the complicated path of reconnecting. Wren and Ellis, once married and now five years divorced, are thrown back into each other’s lives, and the emotional tension is palpable from the start.

The story is rich with heartfelt moments, and I especially loved the focus on family and found family—those relationships brought so much warmth and depth. Tarah DeWitt continues to be an auto-buy author for me; her writing never fails to hit the perfect emotional notes.

The audiobook performance was stellar. TConnor Crais’s voice? Like butter. So emotional and smooth. Megan Wicks was new to me and absolutely fantastic! Together, they brought Wren and Ellis’s story to life in such a powerful way.

4.5⭐️. — highly recommend for fans of heartfelt, character-driven love stories

It’s not very often I give a book 5 stars these days. This book more than earned a 5-star rating, though.

I love that romance books can be a form of escapism, but I love the raw honesty and realism that Left of Forever brought to the table. Marriage and long-term relationships aren't always easy, but this book shows just how beautiful those things can be when we work at them.

The struggles between Ellis and Wren were so real. It was such a fun journey watching them make their way back to each other and rebuild a healthier relationship. They had amazing chemistry and some really funny moments along their journey. I loved seeing how much respect and love they had for each other, even when they weren’t a couple.

The banter throughout the book was top-notch, as was the spice. Things didn’t feel at all rushed, which can sometimes happen in second-chance romances.

Overall, it was just an amazing book with plenty of laugh-out-loud funny moments and a few that could cause some tears. This is easily one of my favorite romance reads in a very long time.

STUNNING. BRILLIANT. HEARTFELT. FUNNY.

Ughhh I knew by the 6th chapter that this was a 5 star read for me! And that it was going to make me emotional in the best way.

And the audio is FANTASTIC! Truly the performance by Megan Wicks and Connor Crais was outstanding. This is not a duet but the voice actors did a great job with the other characters voices that I forgot at times. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

Here is what you need to know:

Wren and Ellis Byrd were once young and in love. Wren got pregnant with their son Sam in high school around the same time Ellis had to step up as the oldest in his family. They were a family through it all, but after dealing with pregnancy complications and other ways they pushed each other away they divorced. Once high school sweethearts now co-parents. But when the opportunity arises to see if there is still something between them will they be able to stoke the spark they once had? Or will it all go up in smoke?

If you are a romance reader that doesn’t mind spice this is one to put on your radar! I am a Tarah DeWitt fan and I will be trying to convince everyone to read her stuff now!!! 🥹

Tear tracker: I did tear up but did not outright cry, but my goodness this book is gorgeous.

About 4 open door scenes.

THANK YOU NetGalley, St. Martins Press, You had me at HEA for the eArc of this book! It has changed my reader DNA 🥹

4.5

Thank you netgalley for this ARC ebook. I loved this book so much. This trope of marriage in trouble/ love after divorce is my favourite trope ever. And Tarah Dewitt did it extremely well. Ellis and Ren are meant to be and they're relationship is great. One bed trope and road trip trope. Their son going off to university. Just perfect.

I really enjoyed this. And I’m not normally a second chance romance fan. But this one did it for me. Great narrating as well

Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt
Romance
Pub day: 5/20/25
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 when I say I want a second chance romance read…THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT! I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest fan of second chance romance. It has to be done really well, and Tarah Dewitt NAILED it! Wren and Elliot’s story was so believable and realistic. It’s so sad reading about two people falling out of love, but then it’s beautiful reading them piece it back together. I also loved that though there was a little bit of miscommunication in there, it wasn’t too much, and it was handled very well. Wren and Ellis are soulmates and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them finding their way back to each other.

🎧 The audio of this was SO GOOD! I loved the dual narration. Wren’s POV is narrated by Megan Wicks and Ellis’s POV is narrated by Connor Crais. Both narrators did a phenomenal job and their voices matched the characters very well. The audiobook is just over 9 hours long.

Thank you St Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts are my own.

I do not have words for this book that feels so etched onto me now. I’m so grateful to have had the chance to, not only read this eARC, but listen to it now as well. Left of Forever is a story of hope & resilience like no other romance novel. As a girl who will be getting married so soon to the man she’s been with since they were both 18, this story feels like inspiration. Like a pulsing heartbeat saying, “love can look like the hardest times you’ve ever faced, but true love will fight to set you right on your feet again.” The courage to always choose for love to be sustained—that’s what I’m taking away from Left of Forever. Mr. Rogers said that love is a verb, & Tarah DeWitt painted the perfect picture of that in this story. Wren & Ellis’ love story will always have a special place in my heart. I’m so grateful to know them & grateful for their roadtrip of learning to hope for & choose each other again. I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again—well done. Easy peasy 5 stars, once again.

Shoutout to this incredible audio!! Audio lovers you will not be done wrong!! The narrators did a beautiful & faithful job of it, an absolute gift!!

Thanks so much to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this ALC!! I love you (left of) forever!!

I really thought I was not going to cry with this TD book but that ending got me real good. One of the types of books that once you finish you immediately want to go back to the beginning. What a great second chance romance. It is as hot as the cover.

A huge thank you to Macmillian Audio for this ALC!

when i started the alc and the first song listed in the playlist for this book was Exile by Taylor swift, I immediately knew this book was gonna hurt so good. And boy, did it deliver.

When I met Wren and Ellis in Savor It (one of my favorite reads of the year so far) I immediately wanted their story. I laughed, I cried, I blushed, and I enjoyed every single second of it. There is just something so addicting when it comes to a second-chance romance and I'm going to eat it up every single time.

The narrators, Megan Wicks & Connor Crais, did such an amazing job bringing their characters to life.

"We have whatever's left of forever, you and me"

If you are looking for a book with childhood friends to lovers, marriage redemption, a road trip with some spice to round it all out, this is the book for you!

Left of Forever releases May 20th <3

Gripping, steamy, sexy, evoking emotion, charming, thrilling and hard to put down! Left of Forever had me falling in love with Tarah DeWitt's writing all over again! Tarah DeWitt first came on my radar when I read and loved, Savor It. If you have read that book, you may recognize some of the characters in this book! If you love second chance romances, this is the book for you! I adored both Wren and Ellis Byrd. They fell in love as teenagers, got pregnant, got married, then got divorced. Both are likeable and enjoyable characters who had me rooting for them the entire book. They are both relatable, likeable, vulnerable, and warm. They grew up together, grew apart, yet always longed for the other. Sigh.

I was instantly invested in this book from the very beginning. I loved the sense of community, friendship, and family. I also loved how readers get both Ellis and Wren's POV's. This was a very nice touch and plays out wonderfully in the audiobook! As I mentioned, I felt for both characters and the journey they both went on individually and together. Their journey is not just an emotional one, they go on a physical one after they drop their son, Sam off at college.

Several of the pluses for me in this book, besides the characters, are the emphasis on communication, being open and honest, being vulnerable, listening, and working on oneself. There is also talk of therapy and growth. There are also fun moments, great banter, longing, heartfelt moments, steam, and adventure. The supporting characters are awesome as well.

Wonderfully written, well thought out and perfectly paced. My biggest beef in romance books is rushed endings. Nothing felt rushed or dragged out in this book. Everything evolved at a steady and realistic pace.

I was lucky enough to have both the book and audiobook version of this book! The narrators of this book, Connor Crais and Megan Wicks, did an amazing job of bringing this book to life. If you have not read a book by Tarah DeWitt, what are you waiting for???? I have loved the two books that I have read by this author and will be reading more as soon as possible.

Charming, heartwarming, sexy, streamy, emotional and brimming with love. I highly recommend Left of Forever!

Wren and Ellis are everything to me. I would’ve waited five years for them.

The catalyst for change in the post-divorce relationship is masterfully done. The past is woven in seamlessly. The separate lives of both Wren and Ellis are seen and felt and understood. The way they’ve grown and changed — and not changed — in their time apart is clear. And THEN we get the actual reconnection process and, again, it’s everything. The communication, the openness, the tension, the steam, the ever present love. There are so many things I want to talk about but don’t want to take away the experience of reading some of the special moments and truths and reveals for anyone.

*Second read/audiobook thoughts*

Megan Wicks and Connor Crais did an excellent job bringing Wren and Ellis to life. They nailed the emotions and spirit of everything this couple had to work through and come back from. It added a whole additional layer to this story that had already altered my brain chemistry to hear it performed for the audiobook.

The unrelenting pain — of loss and of recognition of a need that was still there and of hope and of misunderstanding — in Part One felt almost more visceral the second time around, and the audio really drove it home for me. The healing and reconnection that happens throughout the whole of Part Two felt completely immersive. Part Three once again left me in tears at the beauty and depth and richness of the love between Wren and Ellis and the entire Byrd family. I will forever hold this book in my heart.

This will absolutely be a top read of the year and I am a Tarah DeWitt fangirl for life. Thank you St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin via NetGalley for the eARC and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook specific comments: LOVE the narration. Both Wicks and Crais are phenomenal and really bring the story to life.

Review of ebook copy: 4.5 stars! Tarah put something in this book (was it her heart, soul and talent? probably) because it is truly all-consuming and addicting. I found myself desperately trying to slow down and make this book last longer but was unable to stop myself from getting sucked in and ended up reading it in a day. Wren and Ellis are so carefully crafted and beautifully messy that this story feels like it could not be anyone else's. Tarah contextualizes their story in the present with flashbacks, conversations and journal entries (as opposed to dual POV, which her latest release, The Co-op, is) and it builds and builds as the road trip continues and they get closer to coming home. While the book spends a lot of time outside of Spunes, the secondary characters help keep the story moving in their own ways, and I enjoyed how much of Sage, Fisher, Sam, Indy, Silas and Micah we got to see. Devastating, tender, romantic, emotional, sexy, angsty, hopeful, funny and genuinely fantastic, this is a story I will be thinking about for a long time.