Tarah DeWitt remains a strong auto-buy author for me! I've now read this book with both my eyes and my ears, and the audio format was excellent. Great narrators who were a good fit for the characters they voiced.

What I liked: the longing, the uncertainty, the chemistry, the realness of how people change over five years apart. I loved seeing Sage and Fisher, not to mention LaRynn and Deacon (what an absolutely delightful surprise)!! I love Wren and Ellis individually, too; Tarah DeWitt is so good at writing women with a little bit more of an edge than we often see in contemporary romance. I feel like Wren and LaRynn could have been friends.

What I didn’t like: I didn’t love the letter-writing plot device. If I was Wren, I would feel deceived and creeped out by that. I also didn’t like that they decided to only do new things as their relationship got physical. It seemed odd to me that they would jump to stuff they hadn’t done before, when they're first reconnecting after so much time apart. It seemed less intimate, somehow.

I don’t know what kind of magic she put into this book, but it was addicting. I never wanted it to end! From start to finish, I was completely pulled in, and even when I had to pause, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The characters were so well-written—not just the main couple, but every single side character felt fully developed and brought something special to the story. And the man in this book? He had me full-on blushing and giggling like I was the one being flirted with. The chemistry was unreal!

The pacing was interesting too—it took place over the span of just a few days, but it somehow felt like months (in the best way). The depth of their connection, the emotional build-up, the banter—it all made their relationship feel earned and incredibly satisfying to read.

One thing I really appreciated was how they handled communication. Any time there was potential for a misunderstanding, they talked about it. And when they did slip up or misread a situation, they actually addressed it and resolved things like adults. It was refreshing to see a couple work through things without unnecessary drama.

This book had everything I love—heart, humor, chemistry, and growth. It’s definitely one I’ll be thinking about for a while.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this story! It was an interesting take on second chance romance!! Rather than a marriage in trouble, this couple has been divorced for 5 years. They have to bring their son to college and decide to go on a road trip after dripping him off to celebrate this accomplishment and see if there is something still between them. The story that ensues is so beautifully written. The banter is witty, the spice is spicy and the side characters are fantastic!

I listened to the audiobook. Connor Crais and Megan Wicks do an incredible job of bringing this story to life.
I started with this book in the series and can not wait to go back read book 1! I've recommended it to all my romance book lover friends!

Thank you @youhadmeathea and @macmillan.audio for the eARC/ALC. 🫶🏼

I’m a Tarah DeWitt girlie and will read anything she writes forever and ever. Wren and Ellis broke my heart to absolute pieces and then put it back together again (thankfully!!!!).

Left of Forever is a true second chance romance that follows a couple who were high school sweethearts until they weren’t. Having been separated for a few years now, they decide to take a roadtrip together after dropping their son at college to see if there is a flame worth rekindling.

Hope is such a beautiful theme at play here and Tarah writes it so well. The whole journey Wren and Ellis are on in this book is full of hope and driven by such strong emotion. I loved that aspect! Honesty too!! They had the tough conversations and it made me emotional!

The Byrd family just might be my fav small town fictional family yet (but don’t quote me because it’s hard to choose just one!!!). Between Sage and Ellis and all of their siblings, there is no shortage of great material there and I hope we continue to get more books in this world!

The spice was spicin’ in this book (especially second half) and that was my only complaint. I wanted to more of them connecting outside of the bedroom.

I ended up consuming this via audio after hearing RAVE reviews for it and y’all were right!! Connor and Megan absolutely KILLED IT when it came to Ellis and Wren. Highly recommend this format for anyone!

Tarah’s writing is just beautiful and like I said, I’ll read whatever she writes until the end of time. 🖤

I loved this one so much! The Dear Stranger letters were perfect and of course Ellis did not tell Wren as soon as he figure out it was her and they were on speaking terms so that there was some drama in the story. I loved how they were able to find their way back to each other after their divorce and that it was after dropping their son off at college was o sweet. I really like how Wren still had a relationship with Ellis' family and that they were mature enough to respect those relationships. There were so many sweet and sentimental moments, but also some sexy and spicy moments as well.

I knew the minute I heard the playlist for this book that it was going to emotionally ruin me & I was 100% correct. Left of Forever is the best second chance romance book I’ve read thus far. Every single piece of this story flowed so well and I thoroughly enjoyed each second I learned more about Wren and Ellis. The minute I found out he was a firefighter and her a baker? Melting. When the “Dear Stranger” letters began? On the edge of my seat. The moment she discovered why he chose the places he did on their trip back from dropping their son off to college had me delusion-ally imaging a way my own husband and I could split for a hot minute only to romantically find each other again 😂😂 (obviously kidding - but that’s the power of the story telling in this book!) the healing they both did in their time apart and the raw vulnerability they showed by being honest and unpacking everything that happened was done so well. Left of Forever really has it all! The tender, hilarious, heartfelt and spicy pieces fit together perfectly and left me crying my eyes out by the end. Highly recommend this audio! The narrators did a phenomenal job and I’ll be seeking out more of their audio books as well. I loved both of their voices/performances.

“All I know is that if I found out heaven is real and I got there first, I’d hang back in the waiting room and save you a seat.” 😭 💞

Thank you endlessly to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of Left of Forever in exchange for my honest review.

A Beautifully Raw and Real Second-Chance Romance

Left of Forever is a masterpiece that delves deep into the complexities of love, loss, and the journey of rediscovery. Wren and Ellis Byrd's story is a poignant reminder that sometimes, love isn't about perfection but about finding your way back to each other after life's challenges.

Tarah DeWitt's writing is both lyrical and grounded, capturing the essence of small-town life in Spunes, Oregon, and the emotional landscapes of her characters. The chemistry between Wren and Ellis is palpable, making their journey toward reconciliation both heart-wrenching and hopeful.

This novel is a testament to the resilience of the human heart and the enduring power of love. It's a must-read for anyone who believes in second chances and the beauty of starting anew.

Thank you @youhadmeathea @netgalley for the free arc and @macmilian.audio for the alc 💖.

🗓️Out May 20, 2025

✨What it is about:
Wren and Ellis Byrd, once teenage sweethearts and now divorced co-parents, take a road trip together after their son leaves for college. As they revisit old feelings along the California coast, they must confront the pain of their past to see if love deserves a second chance, or if it’s time to finally let go.✨

💭My thoughts:
This story is one of the best trips you’ll go on, guaranteed.
It’s my first book by Tarah DeWitt, but definitely not my last. I have Savor it on my shelf and will now get to it asap. This story was absolutely real, raw, sexy, romantic, and most of all, beautiful. The story grabs your attention from the start and pulls at your heartstrings the whole way through. If you haven’t preordered, I suggest you do. RIGHT. NOW. This isn't just a love story, it is a journey of healing, vulnerability, and connection. You'll laugh, and maybe even shed some tears along the way. I’m not saying another word, as it’s best if you experience each little moment for yourself.
🎧Narrated by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks, who both did an amazing job. Crais brought Ellis to life with a grounded, emotionally restrained yet vulnerable tone, while Wicks gave Wren a soft, thoughtful voice. They made each character shine. A truly great listen.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
💖Divorced couple
💖Second chance romance
💖Meant to be
💖Found family
💖Mutual pinning
💖Road trip

⚠️CW: Ectopic pregnancy (off the page), mentions of infertility, explicit language, death of an unknown character by fire (off the page), explicit sexual content.

thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and Tarah Dewitt for this ARC!

I really enjoyed the narrators, they did a great job bringing the characters to life. The writing was well done and the story line at one point made me cry because it was so relatable. 4 stars for me ✨

5 stars of hopeful, messy perfection.

Respectfully, f you Tarah DeWitt (again).

It will surprise absolutely no one who knows me that this book CONSUMED ME. I thought nothing would ever top Savor It... and then freaking Tarah DeWitt writes Left of Forever and I'm just a puddle on the freaking floor. Literally from the dedication to the very last word on the last page, I was glued to this story.

Left of Forever: "This time, they'll get it right." *deceased*

I loved how we got to travel through Wren and Ellis's relationship, from their young start as parents, through being a season of pen pals, grief, the loss of their relationship, all the way through to dropping Sam off at college and taking a road trip to maybe rekindle their relationship along the way.

Moments and things I absolutely loved about this story:
- THE LETTERS + Wren's journal *iykyk*
- Every little nod that Ellis still deeply loves Wren... the perfume, the origami birds, the memories of her body and the way he worships what it did to bring Sam into the world, THE BAKED GOODS,
- The freaking meddling family members that I love SO MUCH, especially Sam, Indy, and THE BYRD SIBS
- MEN IN THERAPY. THANK YOU.
- The most thoughtful road trip of all time.
- Dropping Sam off at college had me SOBBING.
- THE CAFE CO-OP EASTER EGGS
- The game Wren plays to keep her feelings offline during the road trip
- ELLIS'S FREAKING TATTOOOOOOOOOOOO
- "GOING SLOW" lolololol
- "Soft and firm and mine." (love a good "mine" possessive statement)
- Chapter 23, which I basically highlighted in its entirety lol sorry not sorry?
- THE COOKING CLASS + the chaos that happened..... after
- Ice cream + flip flops + elevator rides + all the moments so taut with tension
- Ellis being all "Wren, I can still taste you in my mustache." *squeeeee*
- The vows
- All kinds of wedding festivities

Some of my favorite quotes:
"I grew up with my great love, so I think maybe my heart took shape around his."

"She's still a Bryd."

"I managed to go almost five years without your baking." This statement is shaded in innuendo. "Don't underestimate my self-control, Wren."

"She's kissing me. I'm home."

Okay, I'm off to reread this book now, bye. Thanks SMP Romance for the eARC!

EDITING TO ADD: THE AUDIOBOOK IS MAKING ME SOB ALL OVER AGAIN. Megan Wicks was AMAZING as Wren. I felt every single emotion along the way with her. And then FREAKING CONNOR CRAIS AS ELLIS IS WHAT LITERAL DREAMS ARE MADE OF. That sexy man talking about his sexy mustache... the emotions that Ellis wears mostly in private, Connor absolutely brought to life. While Ellis was amazing on paper, in my ears, I was like... UM YES PLS MORE. I'll be relistening to this book for YEARS to come. 5 stars of audiobook perfection.

If anyone was going to have me rooting for a second chance romance, it was going to be Tarah DeWitt.

Megan Wicks x Connor Crais bring to life Wren x Ellis Byrd with heart, humor, and heat. Their chemistry is undeniable and practically seeps off the page, or in this case, my ears! I loved their performance and it's one that is going to be hard to forget.

For the story, let me start off by saying that I am not a fan of second chance romances. But this one? THIS ONE was done so well with believable circumstances that cause a rift in a relationship, YEARNING for your first and only love, and family that is rooting for mcs to get back together. From the very beginning, I couldn't help but here Taylor Swift's "Down Bad" lyrics as a way of describing Ellis's x Wren's love, and slowly as they find their way back to another with flashbacks of their past driving their story forward it becomes "The Alchemy."

I can't tell you enough how I LOVED Wren x Ellis. By the end, when the title context comes into play, I was SOBBING. I was not expecting the weight of its significance because here I was thinking "left" meant directional. And if you think I'm going to spoil this, I AM NOT.

If you're looking for a second chance romance that is filled with yearning, heart, and humor look no further than Left of Forever.

12/10 stars

*also not me realizing this a second stand alone book in a series so now I gotta go and read Sage's book!

Way more open door than I prefer to read but second changes are my second favorite trope so that was good. It was also fun to get a few updates from other Spoons couples from earlier in the series. P.S. this book made me so hungry for baked goods, especially the holiday pie! 🤤

The narrators were so amazing! 🥵 love them!

“I’m just saying. My DNA mixed with yours, and it altered your very bones, Byrd.” - Ellis

I think this book altered my brain chemistry

“All I know is that if I found out heaven was real and got there first? I’d hang back in the waiting room and save you a seat.”

All the stars! I’ve been waiting for this book since last year and I decided to take my time with it. I knew it would make me cry and I thought a couple of times from the very beginning until about 90% that maybe I could hold it together. But at the very end the birds got me 🥹🥹🥹

You meet Wren and Ellis Byrd in the first book, Savor It. They are currently divorced but at a town hall meeting when someone calls Wren by her maiden name Ellis loudly proclaims “she’s still a Byrd.” At that moment you know there is still love there and I was smitten.

Wren and Ellis got pregnant young and got married and when their son is about a teenager, their marriage starts to fall apart. They divorce and 5 years later even as they try to avoid each other they can’t avoid the love they had or the past they shared.

Now their son is headed to college and Ellis wants his wife back. So he suggests on their way back from dropping off their son that he and Wren take a road trip back home. She reluctantly agrees and what a trip it was. 🥹🥹🥹🥹

Second chance romance, banter, firefighter mmc, baker fmc, childhood friends to lovers, second in interconnected series,

I have been waiting for this book ever since I read Savor It over a year ago. I was OBSESSED with the little bit of Wren and Ellis hinted at in that book and have not stopped thinking about them.

This book did not disappoint.

I loved reading Wren and Ellis story and then realizing that they never really fell out of love with each other. Something that I also appreciated in this story that I haven’t really seen in other series with interconnected books is how there were things we didn’t know about Wren and Ellis before getting into this book. We didn’t know about Wrens reproductive issues, so we were able to really learn about her and not just the surface level we learned in Savor It.

Something I really appreciated in this book is the open communication between Wren and Ellis. Sure in the beginning it was just about their kid, but once they got on the road trip and they decided to give them another chance was glorious. You gotta communicate with your partners. While the letters/short lived pen pal situation didn’t come to light right off, that was an adorable part of the book with Ellis fully realizing he was going to fight for Wren again.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an early read of this book. All thoughts are my own, I do not accept money for reviews.

📖: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5
🎧: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5
🥵: 🌶️🌶️/5

Left of Forever follows divorced co-parents Ellis and Wren Byrd. Having fallen pregnant as teenagers, they divorced when their son Sam was 12. Now he's 18 and preparing to head off to college, so they decide to spend some time together figuring out why their relationship feels so unfinished.

I absolutely loved this story! I adored Savor It, and I was so happy to hear the Tarah was going to write the Ellis/Wren story the whole of bookstagram was calling for. That one line made everyone fall head of heels for Ellis, and I'm so glad they lived up to the expectations!

I really enjoyed how a lot of this story was told through recollections or flashbacks. It definitely helps to cement our understanding of why Wren and Ellis are who they are. Seeing them at different stages of their relationship and parenthood added so much depth and feeling. Their story was so heartbreaking, and I loved seeing them work to put themselves back together.

Ellis was such an interesting character because of his relationships with his siblings. He's always had to be the strong one, providing for and protecting them. This, and the loss of both his parents, makes him close himself of off. He stops truly living for himself, and this ultimately takes a toll on his marriage. However, we love to see a man putting👏in👏the👏work👏. When he knows he wants Wren back, he sort his stuff out, he's working on himself, and their relationship is all the better for it.

Wren was such a strong character. She is there to help others, especially her mum and Sam, and looks out for herself. The grief she goes through trying to conceive another baby was heartbreaking, and it would understandably put strain on a relationship. I loved her relationships with all the Byrd siblings, and of course Indy as well!

The narration for this story was performed in dual style by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks. I've listened to both of these two before and have long been a fan. I thought they worked really well together, and provided a good range each of both male and female voices. Connor as Ellis was the perfect grumbly grouch! A brilliant listen!

Overall, a really enjoyable story, with some super cute cameos from LaRynn and Declan! As a Tarah Dewitt fan, this was so exiting. I can't wait to see what Tarah writes next!

Oh this book has my heart! ❤️ I absolutely loved Ellis and Wren’s second chance romance! For me, I found I could relate to so many things about their story and I loved that so many people in their life were rooting for them. Also, can we talk about their banter and any story with letters or e-mails. 🫠 This is definitely one to add to your tbr!

I should start by saying I didn't know this was part of a series, so I read this as a standalone. I was definitely missing some context, but, for the most part, I was able to read this without issue.

I am not a second-chance trope girlie, but I do think this was done well. I thought their love was believable, the connection was there, and I liked seeing them putting in the work to fix things. I do think them getting back together after a whole divorce was quick & unrealistic, but I am able to suspend some reality in romance. The Byrd family is so fun, so I may need to go back and read the first novel.

I recommend the audiobook, as well -- the narrators were great!

4.25⭐

There are no words… this story is utterly perfect. I am pretty stingy with my 5* ratings but this story absolutely deserves it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC of this story. Listen… I love reading Tarah’s stories but you need to listen to this one. Connor Crais and Megan Wicks are the perfect narrators for Ellis and Wren.

I don’t normally read second chance romance stories but Ellis and Wren are just so perfect… they are the Notebook lovers of the new generation.

This story made me laugh and cry… I weeped and felt and it absolutely cracked me open.

You need to read this story. And before this one, you need to read Saige and Fischer’s story (Savor It). I absolutely cannot wait for Silas and Micah’s stories too.

Tarah, you are a wizard. Never stop writing.

First of all I didn’t realize this was the 2nd book in a series. It’s a standalone but features characters also from the first book. So I need to immediately go and read that one. Left of Forever was absolutely incredible!! I loved this book so much. This may be one of my favorite romance reads this year! Second chance romance, slow burn, a lot of spice. The chemistry and love were so good. I’m obsessed with Wren and Ellis! This book had me feeling so emotional throughout it. Beautiful. The narrators were perfection! I loved the dual pov! Thank you so so so much NetGalley for an audiobook arc!

"I had the day to dick around and I overdicked it." I seriously lost it — this book is hilarious in the best, most unexpected ways.

Left of Forever is a second-chance romance that hit all the right notes for me. Wren and Ellis were teen parents who got married young, stayed together for years, and are now four years divorced… but very much not over each other. After dropping their kid off at college, they take a road trip back home and decide to see if there’s still something between them.

The tropes are so good — second chance, single (ish?) parents, road trip, firefighter, and yes… the one bed trope.

The writing is fantastic — heartfelt, funny, emotional — and the audiobook narrators were amazing. I couldn’t stop listening, and I already grabbed another copy as a birthday gift for a friend. Highly recommend if you’re into emotional second chance romances.