Left of Forever | Tarah Dewitt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

📖 My heart is still picking itself off the floor after this one. I’m a sucker for the “meant to be lovers finding each other again after they become better versions of themselves” trope. This book was heartbreaking in parts but SO romantic. Can’t wait to pick up Left of Forever on May 20th! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook!

Synopsis: After dropping their son off at college, divorced couple Wren and Ellis go on a roadtrip to try to rediscover their love and give their relationship one more chance.

Thoughts: This will be one of my favorite romances of the year, calling it now! I love second chance romance, and it is SO well done in this story! Wren and Ellis are so freaking sweet and their story is so raw and real and emotional. Watching a couple be vulnerable and rediscover their love after so much hardship really gets me in the feels. Wren and Ellis individually have a lot of depth and growth, and then their relationship progression on top of that makes for such a compelling read. There is quite a bit of spice, including a scene with an unfortunate literal hot pepper incident, but it all fits so perfectly with their relationship journey. The pacing is excelling, the road trip setting is fun, and the side characters are wonderful. I have zero complaints. Note: Check the triggers, there are a couple big ones! Also, please do yourself a favor and read Savor It first - you will get more out of this one if you do, and Savor It is also amazing.
Loved the audio narration!
Read this if you like:
🐦‍⬛ second chance romance
🐦‍⬛ family
🐦‍⬛ road trip
🐦‍⬛ single parents
🐦‍⬛ firefighter mmc
🐦‍⬛ marriage in crisis
🐦‍⬛ dual pov
🐦‍⬛ spice

Wren and Ellis are divorced. Once childhood sweethearts, they now orbit around each other careful not to cross paths too many times. While they have a son whom they love, Wren's pregnancy loss left scars on both of them and ultimately they lost their way. Ellis proposes taking a road trip after they drop their son off at college. Some time together to figure things out and maybe try to reconnect. Together they explore beautiful destinations and talk about all of their hurts and joys from the past and present.
This book was a great slow burn, second chance romance, with enough spice you might need your Tums.
Tarah Dewitt brings yearning, heat, hurt, and hope alive in this book. The fact that these two were able to have mature and adult conversations was *chefs kiss*. I loved Ellis and Wren together. I felt like I was secretly cheering them on, just like the rest of the Byrd family.
Plus, the audio for this one is next level. @meganwicks and @connorcrais bring a stunning emotional range to
I'm not sure if these two have ever met, but their voices have CHEMISTRY and I am here for it. I have no notes. Pure perfection. Thank you for letting me experience the magic of this book

I liked the concept of this book because it is about a divorced couple that are working towards getting back together, which is a nontraditional plotline for a romance novel. I will admit the pacing felt a bit off in the beginning. The prologue began in the spring, it jumped back to the fall, and then flash forwarded again to the spring, which made the timeline seem jumpy. Otherwise, a sweet and spicy read!

Adorable! Left of Forever picks right up after Savor It either Ellis and Wren. The couple showed an excellent display of maturity and growth as they navigating their re-coupling. Macmillan Audio was fantastic. You could hear the pain and longing in Ellis as he talked about his yearning to be a family again.
I typically shy away from second chance romances but this hit it out of the park. I love Tarah Dewitt and this was one of the best things she’s ever written. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audio arc.

Oh.
Damn.

Oh Damn, this is a must read.

Okay first- the playlist is actually impeccable. Top notch quality.

Second- let’s get the disclaimer out of the way. I did read ‘Savor It’ years ago, getting into ‘Left of Forever’ some of the details were a little bit lost on me initially as I tried to remember who was who but I did pick it back up within the first few chapters so no reread necessary and if you haven’t read the first Spunes book don’t feel like you need to to understand anything. (I’d recommend reading ‘Savor It’ first, for sure, if you want to and are interested but technically this functions as an interconnected standalone and can be read by itself.)

Okay back to telling you to read this book. Emotion and heart- got it. This has you feeling deep right out of the gate. Spice- check, let me just say 🥵 Characters and plot- YES. This has substance and keeps you going beyond the usual romance hooks, and the connection between the two leads is tangible.

I’m not a second chance romance kind of girl- it’s usually not done well enough to convince me the romance is realistic/a good idea/ect. Second chance to me usually means it ended for a reason and should be left in the past. When it’s done well though UGH, dagger through the heart in the best way. This is that.

Audiobook 4/5- I had a bit of a tough time with the early chapters and the time jumps, might have been easier to keep track of in physical format but the voice actors were flawless.

This book feels like a warm hug on a cloudy day. Like a gentle touch to the soul when it feels like no one understands. It embraces you softly, yet sincerely. And it reminds you: you are worth fighting for.

First of all, it deserves a full 5 out of 5 — and even more! It's hands down one of the best stories I’ve read this year. It left a mark on my heart, and I’ll carry it with me for a long time.

This book raised the bar for any future boyfriend or husband. And you know what? I have no regrets.

Recently, I heard in a k-drama that crying makes you lose muscle. I really hope that was a mistranslation…Because I cried more than once reading this story 🤣

This book reminded me just how wrong I was when I said I don’t like “second chances.” It shattered that belief and built something much warmer from the pieces. I'm so thankful for that.

I won’t go into the plot — the tropes will tell you enough. This is a book you have to live through. Feel it. Let it move through you. It’s for everyone: those in love, those who loved, those who lost, and those still waiting.

The audiobook is beautifully narrated by the talented Megan Wicks and Connor Crais.

Tropes:
— second chance
— divorced couple
— childhood lovers
— small town
— road trip
— firefighter

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Left of Forever is the perfect example of why second chance romance is my all-time favorite trope. Everyone else in romance, take notes… that’s how you do yearning. Pining hits hardest when two people have loved each other their whole lives, taken time apart to grow, and come back stronger for it.

Dewitt’s character work with Wren and Ellis is masterful. Their world feels real and lived in like you’re not just reading about them, you’re with them. That’s partly because Dewitt is one of the few romance authors who truly nails realistic dialogue.

There’s something deeply universal about this story. It moves between the specific and the relatable in a way that lets everyone find a piece of themselves in it.

Connor Crais and Megan Wicks deliver incredible performances… equal parts sexy, lovable, and downright gut-wrenching. If you’re diving into Left of Forever, I highly recommend the audiobook. It adds a whole new layer of depth to an already beautiful story.

Back to Spunes! Yes please!

I don’t know that I always love second chance romance but i definitely like it better when it’s a marriage in shambles like this one. The characters were so lovely and everything felt so heartfelt and realistic.

Huge fan of Tarah DeWitts mmcs. I don’t know if anyone will kick Meyer Harrigan out of top spot but Ellis came close. What a sweet book. I could reread it immediately.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an alc

Oh man, this book had me in my FEELS the entire time!!

A second chance for love between two individuals who are so perfect for each other!! Ellis and Wren's journey was so healing and you could feel their bonds clicking back together as the story went along! I loved how they focused on communication and being open on past grievances in order to grow from them. You could feel how much these two loved each other and were rooting for them immediately to get back together!

Connor Crais and Megan Wicks deliver emotionally rich performances as Wren and Ellis Byrd. A story dealing with the complexities of marriage and teenage pregnancy is no small task and Connor and Megan do so with grace and humor. What a wonderful listen!

10/10 no notes.

I love the Byrds. Wren and Ellis are perfect and made for each other.

I don’t know what Tarah put in here but damn it’s good.

That’s all. Just read it and experience the emotional journey for yourself.

Oh and the audiobook narrators were FANTASTIC!

Thank you NetGally for this ALC of Left of Forever! In exchange, here is my honest review…

This was a cozy second chance romance that delivered! I appreciated the characters ages being a little older (in their 30s). The life experience felt real- Wren and Ellis getting together very young, Wren taking care of her sick mother, the ectopic pregnancy, and the infertility all can weigh on a marriage and impact it greatly.

Ellis has a lot of well written character development. He grows as he reflects on the past. Wren is emotionally mature and has also reflected on her past throughout her divorce. The characters are fleshed out and you can’t help but root for these two! This book was a fun and easy summer read with emotional depth.

Left of Forever is about a divorced couple falling back in love. They got married too young and a few years ago, they officially divorced, but now they are going to road trip together after dropping off their son at college. I don't want to tell you much about the plot, honestly, because I really didn't know what exactly I was getting into when I picked the book up beyond I knew I was obsessed with the glimpse of Wren and Ellis that we got in Savor It. So, without telling you anything about the plot, let me tell you why you should pick this one up:

You want to read a romance with a lot of depth, emotions under the surface, a couple with a past that they need to excavate to figure out where they went wrong and how to keep it from happening again.

You want to read a book that will still have you giggling and kicking your feet even while it puts you through an emotional ringer.

You want a book with a man who goes to therapy on his own because he wants to be the best version of himself.

You want a book with adventure.

You want a book with family dynamics and friendship and the small town vibes without being in a small town.

Y'all, I literally cried in the epilogue because I'm actually so attached to these characters. Like, I think they're real people. Allegedly they're fictional, but I'm not convinced. Truly just want them to be real so I can be their friend. Anyway, definitely read this book if any of that sounds appealing. Also! The audiobook? I loved it. The narrators did a fantastic job. I really liked both of them. And it falls somewhere between dual and duet, in that they read their own texts, but the conversations are just done by whoever is narrating that perspective. Anyway, a million stars. I loved it!

reread update: GOD THIS BOOK ON AUDIO IS LIFE ALTERING!!!! Connor Crais and Megan Wicks ACTED in this audio!! they PREFORMED!!!! the narration was literally incredible and i fell to pieces during every chapter bc their performance was that good!

Megan perfectly encapsulated Wren's grit and strength and vulnerability, and Connor WAS Ellis like his narration was stern but so soft just like Elis! i was kicking my feet the entire time listening to this audiobook!

the overall audio production was so nice as well bc we got a little dual narration during the letters portion of the book and it felt like listening to an actual conversation between them which was so surreal.

i read the e-galley of LOF back in April and getting to listen to an early copy of the audiobook was such a pinch me moment! the Byrds are incredible physically read, but they come to life via audio!

thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC, it's out in all formats on 5/20!!!

Left of Forever: Spunes, OR #2

By: Tarah DeWitt -I read Savor It and gave it 4 *

Setting: Spunes, Oregon

Page count📖: 336

POV: 1st person dual

Publication date: 5-20-25, read 5-18-25

Audiobook: 9:18

Narrators: Connor Crais and Megan Wicks voice all the characters with standouts from Wren and Ellis. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🤷🏾‍♀️WHAT TO EXPECT:

✨ contemporary romance
✨surprise pregnancy
✨ marriage/divorce
✨2nd chance romance
✨ small town
✨ single parents
✨ road trip/journey companions
✨H/h 33 yrs. old firefighter/baker
✨pen pal romance

Summary: Wren and Ellis Byrd met at 5, got pregnant at 17, and were married and divorced by 28. Their son Sam is going to college, and they make it a family road trip. They became accidental pen pals when Wren wanted to know about a fire in town with 2 horses. Can they rekindle old love, or will this be goodbye?

🥰 What I liked: mature main characters/no silly miscommunications, actively date each other again, Wren's journaling. The side characters Silas, Micah, and Sage added to the family vibes.


😞 What I didn't like: N/A


⚠️TW: teen pregnancy, infertility, death of parents-H, drug addiction-not H/h


🤔My Thoughts: A second chance for childhood sweethearts is chef's kiss. Wren and Ellis put their hearts on the line for each other and did the work to put their marriage back together. They addressed their issues honestly and maturely and had some spicy times too.


Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Spice 5/5 🔥open door

🙏🏿Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, Macmillan Audio, and Tara DeWitt for this ARC and ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

An incredibly well done second chance romance… a small town couple whose lives are so intertwined that their 5 years apart weren’t really apart. Young parents of a newly graduated son, his raising and the caretaking of their siblings and community had taken so much of their lives, energy, and love that they lost their way to each other. They put some seriously good work into better themselves and finding their way back to each other and it was truly lovely. Tarah does a great thing here, making me believe not only in Ellis and Wren, the fated mates feel of their love, and the inevitability of them being together, but also the beautiful and difficult lives of a couple who lead a close family, businesses, friends, and homes. I really, really fell for the both of them. PS it was great to be back in Spunes with the whole Byrd crew.

Tarah DeWitt’s Left of Forever is a second-chance romance set in coastal Oregon. The novel reunites Wren and Ellis Byrd, childhood sweethearts and now divorced co-parents, as they embark on a road trip to drop their son off at college, a journey that reopens old wounds and rekindles unresolved feelings.

I received the audiobook of this story, and I have to say the narrators did a fantastic job. Their performances brought emotion to the characters, making the listening experience immersive and impactful. Their voices captured the vulnerability and tension between Wren and Ellis perfectly.

This wasn’t my favorite second-chance romance.. At times I would find myself losing interest and I wasn’t a big fan of the miscommunication.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy.

I really enjoyed book 1 in the Spunes, OR series, and knew I had to check out book 2. This one features a second chance romance, and I love the way that DeWitt chose to have their love story unfold. Although it felt a bit too neat and tidy at times, DeWitt has her characters deal with the issues that caused the end of their marriage. I loved the role that journaling, therapy, and road trips played in this one as well. The characters in this series are all well developed, and I can't wait to read the next book (and I hope I know who is going to get their story next!).

4.5 ✨

Second Chance has never been my favorite but slowly I’ve been changing my mind on that and Left of Forever is definitely playing a hand in that.

Wren & Ellis have such a beautiful yet heartbreaking love story. High school sweethearts turned teen parents, they did life together until things got too hard and they divorce. 5 years go by, their son Sam is going off to college in California, so as a family they road trip down to drop him off at college, but Ellis has something else in mind while on this trip, to win his wife back.

Wren & Ellis’s story is gut wrenching but two hurt people finding one another again was so lovely 🥹 they both worked on themselves and started yearning and pinning for one another again.

Tarah Dewitt is one of my favorite romance writers, she just really knows how to be get in your feels and then make you laugh. Just such a wholesome yet raw book. We need stories like these, because love stories don’t just end once someone gets married, there’s a lot of work that goes into marriage, and sometimes you can grow apart and somehow find your way back to one another.

Tropes:
💚 Second Chance Romance
🧡 Teen parents
💚 MCs in 30s
🧡 Baker x Firefighter
💚 Forced Proximity
🧡 Small town Romance
💚 Road Trip
🧡 Marriage Reconciliation
💚 Meddling Family

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me read Left of Forever in exchange for an honest review!