Thank you so much for allowing me to listen to the audiobook for Left of Forever. Tarah DeWitt is an instant buy for me and this book may be in line to be my new favorite. I already knew I would love Wren and Ellis, but wow. The yearning. The yearning from both of them! I love the pacing of the story and the peeks into their early years together. This book had me laughing, crying and squealing. She’s still a bird!!

The audiobook narrators were perfection! I’m obsessed.

P.S. I’m getting greedy, but I need books for Silas and Micah now. I love the Byrds and I need them to all have their HEAs.

THANK you so much to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for this ALC. Seeing this approval come in on a Monday morning made this the BEST start to week and I’ve been in a giddy mood ever since.

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There’s very few times where I find a book and just KNOW. I will take in the cover, the title, the description and just KNOW I will be in love. This book had everything I look for in my “perfect romance novel” and it did in fact, DELIVER.

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The hook:
5 years after Ellis and Wren divorced, they’re sending their son off to college. With the passing of time and with a lot of growth, Ellis and Wren come to realize that maybe their love story isn’t over. They decide to road trip up the California coast on their way back from dropping their son off at college and learn whether they’ll get a chance of taking back what’s left of forever.

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Here’s the short:

Second chance, friends to lovers
Pregnant and married young (age 17 and 18)
Firefighter x baker
Divorcee’s co-oparenting
Therapy, mental health, growth
Dual POV

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My overall thoughts:

I think about 15% in, I could already tell this was going to be incredible. Everything just felt like it clicked- the pain and yearning, the frustration, the pride all come together and Tarah makes you FEEL it. I almost don’t know if there’s enough words to properly write this review, but I will try to be as concise as possible because I somehow want to INK this story into my skin.

THE WRITING - absolutely stunning. Powerful and relatable. Tarah has a unique style in which she uses a lot of analogies and connects what she’s explaining to a the most unique descriptors. I’m clearly not able to even express how her words feel. I very rarely feel the need to highlight or pick out a quote from a book. I felt absolutely compelled here and one that stuck out to me was “[the car] smells like him in a an overwhelming way. Something that kicks up an old full body response. I’m a Heinz 57 bottle of emotion, upside down and shaken, waiting for the inevitable plop.” Like are you kidding! I pictured in my head this so visibly, was already in tears at the scene happening and this just made my sob pour out of me like ketchup in a glass bottle. I had to rewind just to listen to it again, stunned that would bring out that emotion in me.

Another quote that made me gasp and again, rewind to immediately hear it once more was “all I know is if I found out that heaven was real and I got there first, I’d hang back in the waiting room and save you a seat”. This WRECKED ME. In the best possible way.

I also loved how Tarah brought in background / explained the meaningful moments in their life when doing “flashbacks”. They’re not flashbacks and that’s what elevated the writing for me. It’s expected that in second chances we have full chapter flashbacks (honestly, like Co-Op which I still loved). But here, she intertwines journaling and reflection to bring back bigger moments that are woven within each POV in current day. And she was able to do so without dragging along. I was glued to this story. I also love how some of the callbacks to their time together before the divorce wasn’t always a linear explanation. Tarah pops in pieces of their past into the current day story relevant to the current experience, rather than in a traditional linear sense of working back up to current day.

I could probably write forever (ha) about the writing, the character growth, the call backs to her other books, etc. But something unique to me and elevates this even more is how the title ties into the story. It’s like a lightbulb moment when you hear the title of the book woven into a story. And it’s easy for that to come across cheesy - this instead felt unique and made me go “OH!”. This made a perfect ending for me, as she once again talked about “taking whatever is left of forever” back. Couldn’t have asked for a better ending to this story.

I felt SO MUCH!!! Ruined me for good and I already can’t wait to listen to this again to experience it all another time.

-

🎧Audiobook specific notes🎧:
-This was dual narration and dual POV
-Although dual, the written communication (letters, emails, texts) are read in duet style (i.e a letter written by the MMC is read by the male narrator even if it’s the FMCs POV
-Connor Crais is an instant listen for me. He is one of my top 3 narrators so I already knew this was going to be great just with him alone.
-Although I recognize Megan Wick’s name, I couldn’t instantly recall her voice. But as soon as I hit play and heard her, I was so happy. She has such a soothing voice it felt like a cozy blanket
-Together their performances were phenomenal and I want more of this combo
-The production felt even more elevated having the letters/emails/texts be read in duet style. It helps so much in audiobooks to clearly define where the page would cut to a written communication. Huge fan of this when it’s not a full duet.
-As a ride-or-die duet narration fan, I would still give this a full 5 stars for audio specifically !

Dual POV
Second chance romance
Small town
Baker x firefighter
Divorced couple
Spicy

Dual Narration - Connor Crais & Megan Wicks
Always love Connor Crais and Megan Wicks was a new narrator to me she did fantastic loved her voice.

This is book 2 in The Spunes series

I found this to be heartwarming and sweet. The story follows Ellis and Wren high school sweethearts, friends all their lives and young parents who married young and lost connection after going through some tough times.

You follow them on the road back to each other. They learn to communicate and listen to each other. So sweet and I loved every minute of this book. Would definitely recommend to a friend!

Thank you Netgalley, MacMillan audio and st martins Press for the e-Arc and alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. What an absolute perfect book top to bottom. I loved the dual narration I loved the second chance I loved the connection after years I loved the whole thing. This is her best book and I will absolutely need a copy for my shelf.

5/5☆

Suggest giving it a try

4.5 Stars!

A heartfelt story of second chances!

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for my #gifted ARC.

Wren and Ellis met in elementary school and loved each other for as long as they can remember. Wren got pregnant with Sam young and they married young. After years of infertility and family stress, they grew emotionally distant and divorced. Now they're dropping their son off at college and realize they've never gotten over their first loves.

Ellis proposes an opportunity to spend time together after they drop Sam off at school to unpack some of the difficult things they went through. He plans an adventure for them at different stops and Wren sets some guidelines for their time together.

This story just spoke to my heart!! Wren and Ellis are each working on themselves and the role they played in the ending of their relationship and they were willing to work through the hard things that got them where they are now. It was emotional and raw and filled with so much love between each other and the extended family.

"She's still a Byrd!"

"I started writing, thinking it would help me sort of reveal the ugly truth of things, and instead, I keep remembering a lot of good."

"(We) let life chip and file away at us until our edges were too dull to catch on each other and keep hold."

"I promise I'll fight with you more... I'll fight for you more too..."

April 2025: I had the opportunity to preview the Audiobook. Loved even more quotes from the story. They did a great job finding narrators that fit the vibe of the characters well. They brought out the emotion of story and I ended up crying during the epilogue at the end.

This story won't be for everyone as it's pretty spicy, but if you're looking for a heartfelt story with a second chance at making a marriage work, this is a gem!

Romance Content: Multiple open-door scenes and language

This book RUINED me! Ellis and wren are perfect. This book is perfect. I have NO NOTES. I take 10 more Tarah books!

Left of Forever: ★ ★ ★ ★ . 5

Tarah DeWitt

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

Wren and Ellis Byrd have been divorced for five years. But when they take a road trip to move their son into college, it's so hard for all of the emotions to not come flooding back.

Tropes:
— Second chance
— Forced proximity
— Road trip

Another Tarah DeWitt banger, I fear. This boooook wow. Anyone who knows me knows that I have been waiting for this book since the second that I read Savor It. I wanted “She’s still a Byrd” ingrained on my heart and that’s how I feel about this entire book. It was such a tender, sweet and loving story about two people who never really fell out of love with one another, but are still falling in love with each other all over again and realizing that that same love was what somehow drove them apart. I just adored the level of communication that the two of them had and how well they work together and wanted to be better for/to one another. There is literally no doubt that Wren & Ellis Byrd are cut from the same fibers of the universe.

Ellis. Wow. What an incredible character. I feel like he may come off as grumpy to some people, but honestly, he is the caretaker of his family and everybody around him and the way that he feels like he needs to internalize all of his feelings and keep everything to himself so that he can keep holding everybody else up is so relatable. He’s just… such an amazing man. He’s GOOD. That’s what he is. He’s a really good man.

And Wren, oh my goodness. She is such a real and raw embodiment of feminine love and the perfect complement to Ellis. While he is holding up everybody else around him, she is holding him up with a quiet, steadfast love from a heart that beats FOR HIM. She loves him SO much and it’s just so heartwarming to read how she feels about him!!

The audio is SINFULLY good. Megan Wicks and Connor Crais are masters at their craft and bring Ellis, Wren and their story to life PERFECTLY. I absolutely loved listening to this one.

Left of Forever made me wanna find a husband, marry him, divorce him and then five years later, fall back in love with him. It really has me yearning for heartache just so I can heal.

I love love love the Byrds and love stories by Tarah DeWitt!

A divorced couple take an empty nest road trip - not such a unique story, but adding super-spice to the mix made this an unexpected read.

Wren and Ellis Byrd drop their son off at college and explore the unlikely idea of reconciliation. Their teenage romance led to a pregnancy they were unprepared for and readers get to examine the mistakes they made along the way as they reflect on their past relationship. Will spoken words, written words and physical attraction clarify how the future might play out? Will they have the courage to listen to the voice that really matters?

On their way back to their small town in Oregon the most pressing question seems to be, “Will they find their way home?”

Narrators Megan Wicks and Connor Crais provide an excellent performance and their vocal talents are incredibly compatible in the main character roles.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Summary: A finding our way back romance

My Review: Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is a 2025 release.

About the Book: "This time, they'll get it right.

Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love as kids, had their son Sam when they were only teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. They were made for one another…until they fell apart.

Will they make the most of what’s left of forever? Or will they let each other go for good?"

In My Own Words: An emotionally charged explosion of love, forgiveness, grace, and growth

About the Characters:

Wren - > Two words that come to mind in relation to Wren are hurting and healing. This character was strong, but she was also in a tender season of life. So much of what she was dealing with stemmed from a place of brokenness. It was the what comes after the brokenness phase that I truly saw her heart for those she cared for. With that said, I was able to see glimpses of the woman underneath during the flashbacks of what was.

Ellis - > This man broke my heart with his love for Wren. He also put it back together again, as he boldly engaged in a campaign to win her over. His life had not been easy, but he was determined to make the most of it. His words...whew! I melted.

Sam - > It was nice to see the pre and post view of his life, regarding his parents. Further, I loved that he was able to express his honest feelings about what was happening with them.

The Byrds - > Loved them all!!! (Might I have more?)

About the Audiobook: This book was narrated by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks. They did an exemplary job. From start to finish, I was locked in. The way they were able to express the raw emotions and feelings of Wren and Ellis was truly outstanding. I listened to them in one sitting. They made this romance incredibly entertaining and quite memorable.

My One Word Reaction Post Reading/Listening: Passionate

My Final Say: This story... A standing ovation is totally deserved.

This novel was a full circle love story. It was perfectly imperfect and oh so real. I devoured it, and I would do it again easily. What can I say that would properly communicate just how good this book is? I don't have the words. All I know is that this little treasure gets my highest gemstone rating.

Other: Readers who enjoy second chance romances, parent trap scenarios, and family rich love stories will fall in love with this book.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties Shelf: Yes
Read on Repeat Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: 💖💖💖💖💖 + 💎
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +

Heartfelt appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Macmillan Audio), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for granting access to a digital ARC of this wonderful title in exchange for an honest critique. It was my absolute pleasure to review this work. Every word that I have shared is my own and has been submitted voluntarily. I am grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to reading more from this writer.

This story offers a refreshing and realistic take on second-chance love, especially when a child is part of the picture. It captures the emotional complexity of rebuilding a relationship with authenticity, showing that love isn’t always neat or easy.

Rather than leaning on a perfect “happily ever after,” it explores the kind of love that grows through real-life challenges. It reflects what many modern families face—uncertainty, healing, and the hard work of choosing each other again. A grounded and honest portrayal that stands out in the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this gem!

Narration 5 ⭐️

When @authortarahdewitt announced this book I was screaming and packing my literary bags for a return trip to Spunes (not to be confused with Forks- IYKYK)

Anywho.. Wren & Ellis’ story is nothing short of beautiful. Heartbreaking, hopeful, healing, humorous, and just plain beautiful.

I think any “old married couple” can see a bit of themselves in this story and really resonate. AND YES, coming up on our 10 year wedding anniversary I’m including myself in that description

this book was good! I read the epub version and was lucky enough to also receive the audio. the narrators were great and kept me engrossed in the story. overall, I really do love a second chance romance and this was one was at it at its best. I enjoyed seeing some glimpses of the past and how it mostly stayed in the present. I also loved seeing characters from book 1... I sense this will be turning into a small town series and I cant wait for the next book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martins Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy! You can pick up Left of Forever on March 20, 2025.

Tarah DeWitt never fails to make me feel all the feelings with these gut-wrenching, hope-ridden romances. I absolutely devoured Savor It last year, and I was overjoyed to have a chance to read Left of Forever early this year. And it did not disappoint.

I immediately clocked Wren and Ellis in Savor It as a couple needing their own love story told, and I ate UP this second chance romance. What really struck me about this story is how present we are with Wren and Ellis's pain as much as their love. The truest, most devastating forms of love cut as much as they heal, because the person holding the knife is someone you trust above all others. And watching Wren and Ellis build that trust again was beautiful.

I loved the pen pal storyline (though I wish the reveal at the end had been handled a bit better), because we see Ellis finally start to open up and acknowledge his feelings for Wren. When they take the road trip over the summer, each date was romantic as hell and full of delicious tension and yearning.

But my only complaint is that so much of Ellis's character growth occurs off-page. He goes to therapy for several months to work on his communication skills and ability to open up, so when we (and Wren) meet him several months later, he feels like a much different MMC. More self-actualized and self-aware, open and vulnerable, and very much the opposite of the rough and gruff older brother who was thrust into a fatherly role too early in life. I would've liked to witness his transformation more alongside Wren, but as it is, I loved seeing them work through past issues together to form a new future.

And the spice? Let's just say I didn't know Wren and Ellis (and Tarah DeWitt) had it in them. Some truly jaw-dropping scenes in the best way and slipped in so innocuously (though I could've done without the whole pepper burn dick thing).

Safe to say if you loved Savor It or love a good rekindled love/second chance romance a la The Parent Trap, this is the book for you!

First the audio was nice and I like how the narrator does the voices.
Now the book. It was nice. I like some of the aspects of it . How is a second chance. I like how the couple is try to make this work and work thru their issues. Definitely a nice a book.

Tarah DeWitt poured so much heart and soul into this book, it is without a doubt her best work yet!

Ellis and Wren have known each other since they were 5 years old. They fell in love as teenagers, became parents to their son Sam by 17, divorced by 28. Is it possible to move on when you’re still in love with your ex? Is it possible to try and make things work when the marriage has already failed once before?

This book was so beautifully written and the characters were well developed. The duel POV and perfect balance between inner monologue and outward dialogue really helped bring the story and its characters to life. The pacing was perfect and held my attention throughout the entire story. I love how DeWitt takes the time to dive into the different ways their marriage went wrong and then elaborates on how Ellis and Wren work on themselves and then their relationship to repair what they have lost. I’m not usually a second chance trope girly but this book was a breath of fresh air and also a great reminder to married couples on what to do and what not to do to avoid falling into a rut that so commonly happens over time.

The narrators were such a perfect fit for this audiobook. They both did a phenomenal job at bringing out all of the different emotions. Their voices helped bring life to both Ellis and Wren.

I had the opportunity to listen to and read Left of Forever and I enjoyed both versions. I will definitely read more Tarah DeWitt in the future as it was the perfect balance between character development and spice. This book is the perfect second chance romance with lots of depth built into the plot and the characters so that you are rooting for them throughout the story.

The dual narration was perfect in this audiobook as the book changes from Wren to Ellis in each chapter. The narrators chosen were perfect for the characters as I have gotten to know them in the novel.

Thank you Net Galley, Tarah DeWitt MacMillian Audio and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
Left of Forever is expected to be released May 20, 2025 just in time to add to your summer TBR!

This is Tarah DeWitt’s best book hands down. The setting is perfect, the characters were fully fleshed-out and relatable, and at times I kind of wanted to jump right into the book. I am officially in love with the big boisterous Byrd family!

The pacing here is beyond superb. While 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒕 was more of a slow burn, particularly because it has to do the heavy lifting of setting the stage for a whole series, this one dives right in - no section dragged, no scene went on for too long.

I love the descriptive language used throughout. There are throw away lines that really help us to understand the characters and situations as much as the full-on dialogue does. “I’m a Heinz57 bottle of emotion, upside down and shaken, waiting for the inevitable plop.” It is these small things that make the book feel entirely relatable even if the reader hasn’t experienced the same set of circumstances.

Wren is such a dynamic character; her fun loving, whimsical nature is perfectly juxtaposed by her deep emotional connections and desire to be a part of something bigger than herself. She is an amazing mom, sister and friend and often some aspect of these characteristics jump off the page every scene she is in. I absolutely adored her. Also, Wren Byrd makes me laugh every time I think about or say it. Poor lady.

Ellis has quite the growth arc in this. He starts out insanely lovable, but he does feel more emotionally stilted at the start. The therapy positivity, especially as it relates to men, is really special here. I loved how much it helps him to understand his own contributions to what went awry in their marriage. He was already the ideal MMC, but his emotional growth took it to a whole other level. I would also say, he more than Wren, had the most romantic lines of the book.

“𝑴𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒐𝒐, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌."

The writing itself feels very seamless as the story flows from past to present, letters to in-person conversation, and especially inner monologue to dialogue. It adds so much more depth to the story without feeling stilted or forced in any way. I am a big fan of scenes that include both an internal story and an external one. “Because I can practically touch both ends of this room with my arms spread…𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦…” Not only does this style allow the reader to feel more connected to the character, it also adds depth and makes them feel as though they could exist off of the page entirely. These characters both feel insanely realistic, flaws and all.

I ended up rereading this one on audio because I love it that much, and the chosen narrators were absolutely perfect for these characters. I could not have envisioned anyone better to portray Wren and Ellis, than Megan Wicks and Connor Crais. This book is literally amazing in any format you choose to read it in.

Read if you like:
▪️marriage in crisis
▪️second chance
▪️foodie romance
▪️found family
▪️small town
▪️firefighters
▪️road trip fun

If you are looking to be swept away into the most perfect love story, pick this one up immediately. You will not regret it.

📆 Pub: May 20, 2025

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy.

I could not be more THRILLED to review Left of Forever.
I am literally so stoked for the romance world to read and fall in love with Wren and Ellis's story.
This book is the absolute perfect amount of angst - a lot of deep emotions here, but balanced expertly with Tarah's light and sense of humor. I just adored Ellis's yearning for Wren. Once he decided he wanted to get his girl back BOY HOW DID HE!!
I also love Tarah's mature, nuanced and realistic approach to her romance novels. She builds a great path forward for Wren and Ellis to become friends again and then something more.
Will be thinking about this one for a long, long time

Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book! This is definitely my favorite Tarah DeWitt book that I’ve ever read and Ellis has officially ruined me for all other men. This is such a beautiful second chance romance, and of two people coming together after losing each other for a while. I loved both of them so much, but Ellis…whew! That man was so deliciously wonderful. And the way he loved Wren and Wren loved him and how they both loved the rest of the family was so so sweet. The chemistry was off the charts!! And no third act breakup!
Also, the audiobook narration was incredible!!

After reading "Savor It" last year and not quite connecting with it, I still wanted to give Tarah DeWitt another shot—sometimes it's just the wrong book at the wrong time, right? So I went into "Left of Forever" with an open mind (and barely any memory of "Savor It"), hoping for a fresh experience. Oddly enough, as I read, bits and pieces of "Savor It" started coming back, which helped a bit, but unfortunately, I still felt pretty lost.

I’ll be honest: second-chance romance has never been my favorite trope. I prefer getting to see the relationship unfold from the beginning rather than trying to catch up on a past I wasn’t there for. Wren and Ellis clearly have a long, complicated history, but it’s not one the reader is fully let in on. That made it hard for me to feel emotionally connected to their journey.

What really baffled me was their breakup. These two are so clearly obsessed with each other—there’s no major conflict, no betrayal, no philosophical difference—so why did they break up at all? I kept waiting for a satisfying explanation, and it never really came.

Also, I tend to like a healthy dose of comedy with my romance, and this one is definitely not a romcom. It’s emotional, introspective, and moody—which some readers will love—but it’s not the light, witty banter or laugh-out-loud kind of read I usually gravitate toward.

That said, Tarah DeWitt can write a steamy scene, no doubt about that. The chemistry is intense, and the physical connection between the characters is well done.

I listened to the audiobook, and while both narrators had great voices, I really struggled with Megan Wicks’ performance. Her voice is beautiful—smoky and expressive—but the lack of clarity between Wren’s inner thoughts and spoken dialogue made things confusing. I often found myself unsure who was “speaking,” or whether it was a thought or actual conversation.

At the end of the day, I think Tarah DeWitt’s style—and this kind of emotional, second-chance romance—just isn’t for me. And that’s okay! I can see why she has a loyal following, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for my tastes.

Thank you to Tarah DeWitt, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.