Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
The synopsis of this book caught my attention. It ended up being very entertaining! While it was fairly predictable, it was still a good story! I had the audiobook and the narrators were great, I listened to this in one sitting. Overall, I would recommend for a quick, entertaining read!

The narrators are ABSOLUTELY fantastic and bring the story to life!!! one of the best second chance romances/ marriage of reconciliation I’ve read! Tarah’s BEST WRITING YET she brought me to tears with her beautiful prose! Wren + Ellis I LOVE YOU!!!!!

The way Tarah wove both perspectives first of Ellis in the first couple of chapters then wren? SHE SET UP THE STORY SO PERFECTLY. Achingly romantic and so freaking sexy!!!!

*Left of Forever* was a captivating read that swept me away from the very first page. This book was a slow-burn romance that built into something truly passionate, and made this book impossible to put down.
I especially appreciated how the story didn’t rush. It gave space for character development and let the tension build naturally. The result was a romance that felt authentic. If you're looking for a book that combines heartfelt storytelling with steamy romance, *Left of Forever* delivers in every way.

Tarah Dewitt delivers a romance that’s raw, angsty, and even spicier than expected—making Left of Forever an unforgettable listening experience. The emotional depth hits hard, pulling you into a love story filled with longing and intensity. Every moment is charged, and the audiobook format adds an extra layer of immersion, making the tension and passion even more palpable.

If you love romance that keeps you hooked from start to finish, this one will leave you breathless in all the best ways.

"Left of Forever" by Tarah Dewitt is a master class in exploring the depths of love, heartbreak, and second chances. Few authors manage to evoke such raw, authentic emotion in from me when reading romance, but Dewitt’s storytelling feels both heartbreakingly beautiful and deeply relatable. Her prose is stunning—poetic and evocative—perfectly capturing the aching, yearning, and longing that this story’s characters experience.

The book centers on Ellis and Wren Byrd, who fell in love young, had their son Sam as teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. Their love was passionate and seemingly unbreakable—until life’s inevitable challenges pulled them apart. Dewitt vividly depicts the pain of their separation, making their reconciliation not just a plot point but an emotionally charged journey.

What made this story resonate so strongly with me was Dewitt’s honest portrayal of love—its frustrations, joys, and everything in between. Their road trip across California becomes more than just a change of scenery; it’s a pivotal moment for both characters to confront their past and consider the possibility of a future together. We emotional depth and growth that Ellis experiences as he works through his own grief at losing a part of himself to caregiving was incredible relatable on a personal level to me, and the Wren finally getting to purge all the pent up emotions she's been to afraid to express...this is the only type of miscommunication trope I like.

Dewitt’s writing is both tender and brutally honest, capturing the humor, frustration, and tenderness of real relationships. The chemistry between Ellis and Wren crackles with electricity, yet it’s rooted in a genuine sense of vulnerability—showing that sometimes words, whether spoken or written, are what ultimately bridge that emotional gap.

This novel is a powerful reminder of love’s transformative potential—its ability to challenge, to heal, and to endure despite life’s hurdles. Dewitt’s portrayal of Ellis and Wren’s journey is so real and moving that it feels like a life-changing experience. If you’re seeking a love story that’s honest, stirring, and full of hope, "Left of Forever" is an absolute must-read.

In all honesty, I wish I could rate it beyond five stars. Dewitt’s talent lies in capturing the deepest longings of the heart through beautiful, honest words on a page. This is contemporary romance at its finest—relatable, emotional, and inspiring. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

I absolutely loved this book. Maybe it’s because I’m married now and realize how much of life lives in the grey areas. People are flawed. We make mistakes. We get tired. Sometimes we give up when we shouldn’t—and sometimes, we grow up and try again. That’s why second-chance stories hit me so hard. I know some people question them—“If it didn’t work the first time, was it ever real?”—but life’s not that simple. Growth changes everything.

This story hit several of my sweet spots: a second-chance romance, childhood friends to lovers (told through well-placed memories), and even a brief penpal exchange that I completely ate up. Wren and Ellis felt real—messy, likable, human. I found myself rooting for them individually and as a couple. And as a mom, I especially loved how proud they were of what they built with Sam. That part was genuinely touching.

When I saw I was approved for the audiobook ARC, I almost screamed—but I was in a work meeting, so I had to settle for silently freaking out. The narrators were phenomenal. Voice acting is such an underrated art, and these two brought the characters to life with so much heart and nuance.

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC, and to Tarah DeWitt for continuing to write books I can’t wait to devour.

Savor It was fine but nothing outstanding. Left of Forever on the other hand?!!?! FREAKING SUPERB!!!

Ellis Byrd is everything, that's all you need to know.

Five years after their divorce, Ellis and Wren embark on a days long roadtrip after dropping their son off at college. Never having truly fallen out of love with one another, they take the opportunity to learn who one another is in the present, while reflecting on where they went wrong in the past.

Readers who love the following will enjoy this gem from Tarah DeWitt:
🪶 Second Chance Romance
🔥 Small Town
🪶 Forced Proximity
🔥 Spice
🪶 Humor
🔥 Angst and Longing
🪶 Found Family

This was my first read by Tarah DeWitt and it definitely will not be my last! Second chance romance is my favorite trope and this one was exceptionally done! Their initial separation is understandable considering all the trials they had to endure at very young ages. It's not hard to loose oneself and not be able to keep the one you love the most when life hits hard and fast as it did for these two. Ellis and Wren’s story shows that sometimes the only option is to let go and grow on your own so that eventually, you can give one another what is left of forever.

I was given the opportunity to listen to an ALC of this story by Macmillan Audio. Letters within the story are narrated in the voice of character that wrote them which was a nice to hear but otherwise, this is dual narration. Connor Crais gives a stellar performance as Ellis and I absolutely loved the narration by Megan Wicks for Wren, who was a new-to-me narrator. They both have this maturity and sexy raspiness to their voices that was just perfect for these characters! Some heavy emotion but bits of humor laced through to provide some respite. This was a beautiful love story made even better with the fantastic narration!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

Thank you, Tarah DeWitt and Macmillan Audio, for this ALC of 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳! (Spunes book 2)

Narrators:
🎤 Megan Wicks
🎤 Connor Crais

This book was amazing 👏 It was funny, emotional, and romantic. I love Ellis and Wren's story and their journey to find their love for each other again. This was just a special book all around.

I'll be surprised if there are very many reviews that don't mention the peppers and ice cream. 😬 😂

Also, I love the Byrd siblings! I want more of these books.

𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 will be released May 20th on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible. As always, I definitely recommend the audiobook! 🎧

Wren and Ellis Byrd are introduced in Savor It, but are a couple that the reader cannot help but be curious about. Wren and Ellis got pregnant in high school and spent a decade-plus married before divorcing, but neither of them is fully over the other. When they drive their son to college, Ellis asks Wren to give him a chance to get her to fall back in love through a trip together to rekindle their romance.

This is a beautiful love story. It is perfect for married women. I like to think that if my husband and I were to get divorced, he would work as hard as Ellis to get me back. Filled with nostalgia, it shows how love evolves over time and that a healthy relationship requires work, work together, and for each person to work on themselves.

Tarah DeWitt writes an excellent spicy scene and does a great job of balancing that with the characters' need to take it slow.

Both narrators are excellent. I really enjoyed their voices, even when they were talking for each other.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

One of my favorite books I've read of the year. This is the second in the series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. I know, because I realized this was book 2 after I got about halfway through and thought it seemed like this could be a series. I'll now read book 1 and expect it to be no less amazing.

This book has everything from two adults learning to communicate with one another, reconciliation, the spice! It's a scorcher. The way Tarah writes is brilliant. Like a painter, she includes every detail to immerse you into the story.

The narrators are fantastic as well. I love the smokiness of Wren's narrator and the deep tenor of Ellis' narrator. The only thing that would have made it any better is if it was true duet narration. The narrators did fine with the accents of the other characters but duet would have made it feel even more emersive.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🔥

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is out May 20, 2025. You can read book one now in advance of the release. It's called Savor It.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for early access to the audiobook.

I didn’t realize that this was a companion to Savor It. That might’ve helped me care about the characters a whole lot more than I did.

The premise sounded promising: a road trip, a small town romance, and a second chance at love after some personal growth. Unfortunately, the road trip wasn’t fun and didn’t add anything to the otherwise boring story about two people who didn’t know how to talk to each other. They seemed to be rekindling their relationship out of convenience and familiarity rather than out of any genuine connection. There was also a lot of info dumping about their pasts, which didn’t weave into the narrative in any compelling way. This just wasn’t for me.

I cried when I saw someone have a physical arc a few months ago so I was really excited to get approved for this.

It was everything I could have wanted and more. “My DNA is embedded in you” now lives rent free in my head.

Tarah Dewitt could write a phone book, and I would devour it. The pining, the humor, the romance, the town, the characters- all of it feeds my soul.
I loved returning to Spunes and diving into Wren and Ellis’ story. The amount of love these two have for each other through all seasons of life is beautiful. I love dual POV for second chance romance, and the audiobook was perfectly performed.

I’ve officially entered my second chance romance era, and I have no plans of leaving. This book tugged at my heartstrings in all the best (and slightly painful) ways.

The love between these two? Ughhhhh. Had me emotionally compromised. Even after all that time apart, their connection felt so real and raw, I couldn’t help but root for them.

Safe to say this author just skyrocketed to auto-buy status. Consider me obsessed.

(Was that a lil Co-Op cameo? I’m starting it next 👀)

3.5?? I was super excited about this one and it sadly fell flat for me. I did read the first book (Savor It) and really enjoyed that one, so I had high hopes for this one. Honestly, I really feel like you have to read the first one to get ANY information on any of the background characters as there was absolutely zero info on them here.

This was my first time reading a second chance romance and I just don’t think that’s a trope I really care for, this book was heavy on the miscommunication or just lack of communication and that bugged me.

I am a sucker for the whole writing letters but only one person knows trope (looking at you She Loves Me) so I ADORED that part, but then the middle back of the book lost me. I felt like they were too quick to bang and rushed through conversations just so they could smash.

Things I did like:
-the writing style. I really like how Tarah DeWitt brings humor into her books and how she can handle heavy topics in a way that feels really grounded
-the ending, it was so perfect and I did cry at how tender it was
-getting to hear more about Wrens mom and her background
-the parts (although brief) when they did have heart to hearts were really well written and I was emotionally invested I just wanted MORE
-the narrators were great! And really brought the story to life
-I love a man obsessed with his wife

Things I had minor beef with:
-how often they got handsy in public or outside (lol)


Overall, I had a good time and I look forward to (hopefully) reading more books about the Byrds and the wonderful town of Spunes, Oregon. (Which by the way is pronounced SPOONS which I’d didn’t realize until I listened to the audio lmao it makes the whole forks thing funnier which is the intent obviously I just struggle to pronounce words that I’ve only read lol). Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy, all opinions are my own :)

This was a sweet romance about a divorced couple that finds their way back together. It wasn't bad, I just didnt find myself attached to any of the characters. I DNFed the first book after about 100 pages, so that might be part of it. Not sure if it's the writing style or what but I just wasn't a huge fan. Definitely see why other people would love it! Just wasn't for me.

Hands down will be one of my favorite books of this year and top romance books ever. The audiobook was wonderful: Megan and Connor embodied Wren and Ellis so well. I laughed, cried, and got hot and bothered. It's just a wonderfully deep and loving story.

WOW. I absolutely loved this book!
From the very first page, I was completely drawn into this family’s story. The writing was beautiful—raw, heartfelt, and full of hope (okay, maybe a little unrealistic—who communicates this well? Kidding… but also, seriously!). The characters were so lovable, and I especially enjoyed the family dynamics. This wasn’t just a romance—it was a story about healing, forgiveness, and finding your way back to what truly matters. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend to anyone who loves a second-chance love story done right.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

"A beautifully written, emotionally charged second-chance romance that will tug at your heartstrings."

Tarah DeWitt has truly outdone herself with Left of Forever. This emotional, second-chance romance took me on a rollercoaster of feelings from start to finish. Wren and Ellis are a couple you can’t help but root for, even as they navigate the messiness of their past. Their story of love lost and potentially found again is poignant, raw, and full of that aching longing that makes second-chance romances so irresistible.

Wren and Ellis’ dynamic is filled with so much history, heartache, and undeniable chemistry. Watching them navigate their new relationship after years of separation felt incredibly real and relatable. Their road trip through the stunning California coast provided the perfect backdrop for their healing journey, and DeWitt’s descriptive writing made me feel like I was right there with them, soaking in the beauty and the tension.

The emotional depth in this book is what really stood out for me. Wren and Ellis are both flawed and broken, but their growth—individually and as a couple—was so rewarding to witness. The tension between them, both the push and pull of their past and the sparks that never quite faded, had me hooked. The steaminess between them was chef’s kiss—deliciously intense, but it was the emotional connection that truly made this romance shine.

I also really enjoyed consuming this as an audiobook—the narrators did a fantastic job bringing Wren and Ellis’ emotions to life. Their performances added so much depth to the story, making the already poignant moments even more impactful.

The only reason I’m not giving this a full five stars is that there were moments when the pacing felt a little slower than I would’ve liked. The buildup was slow, but given how emotionally charged the climax and resolution were, I can understand the intentional pacing.

All in all, Left of Forever is a heartfelt, steamy, and beautifully crafted story about love, forgiveness, and the possibility of finding forever when you least expect it. If you’re a fan of second-chance romance that’s filled with big emotions and sizzling chemistry, this one is absolutely for you!