Left of Forever
By: Tarah DeWitt
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release date: 5/20/2025

Ellis Byrd and Wren Byrd grew up together and ended up falling in love. They had their son Sam very young and started building a life together. They were the picture perfect family until they weren’t.

We meet Ellis and Wren when they are divorced and in their 30’s. They are living completely separate lives, or so they think. They both think about each other constantly but cant bring themselves to try again. The take Sam off to college and decide that it might be worth one more try, or at least working it all out, so they go on an extended road trip back home. They have such fun adventures together and learn so much about themselves, each other, and their relationship.

It was so beautiful watching them grow not only together but also apart as characters. I loved seeing their communication and a depiction of a not so perfect relationship in a book. I loved that no matter what they were always there for each other and were supportive and kind towards one another. Thank you so much Macmillan audio and Netgalley for this book!! And thank you Tarah DeWitt for giving us such beautiful and lovable characters!!

I loved this so much! As someone who is just getting into audiobooks, this was outstanding! The narrators were amazing but the male narrator really took the cake for me. I loved being able to hear and distinguish the emotions through their voices.

The story was also so beautiful. Second chance romance is one of my favorites and the author did a gorgeous job navigating and sharing their story in a way I’m sure a lot of readers can relate to so perfectly.

Excited to read more from this author.

Thank you so much for the early copy! I’m convinced this will be in the top 10 of my favorites for this year.

Read This Book If…you love a second chance romance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

Genre: romance
Series: Spunes, OR # 2
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 explicit scenes
Setting: small town in Oregon
POV: dual, 1st person, present tense
Tropes: second chance, secret pen pals, road trip, one bed

Audiobook Thoughts: This was dual narrated and I enjoyed both narrators! Their performance made for excellent storytelling.

My Thoughts:
Oops, second chance romance remains one of my top tropes!!! You just can’t beat the shared history between the main characters and this one was particularly stunning!

You’ve got high school sweethearts who got pregnant way too young, carried way too much baggage, and eventually gave up.

But the way both characters grew up during their time apart was beautiful! They both really put in the work and we love to see it.

I’ve loved everything Tarah has written and I especially enjoyed the cameo of one of her previous couples! I can’t wait to see what (and who) is next in Spunes! While this is the second book in the series, they are true standalones.

Memorable Quote: “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.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

Probably the best second chance romance I’ve read in a while.

Definitely reminded me why it’s important to date and talk to your spouse while you’re going through the chaos of raising the kids.

Wren & Ellis fell in love at a very young age and started a family very young at 17 & now years later they’re divorced & dropping off their son at collage. Will this one last trip rekindle what they had or will it be a chapter to close forever?


Slow start but once it gets going hand on because it’s good!

👩‍🍳 Second Chance
🚒 Small Town
👩‍🍳 Spicy
🚒 over 30+ characters
👩‍🍳 RoadTrip

This was everything I want in a second-chance romance—sexy, emotional, and achingly real. The writing was intentional, the character growth was so well-earned, and Wren and Ellis’s journey felt both heartbreaking and hopeful. The absolute adoration these two share for each other was evident in every page.

Their chemistry was amazing, but it was the raw, honest conversations and questions —and each of their moments of deep vulnerability—that made this book so so incredible. I also adored the Byrd family’s quiet (and sometimes very loud) support.

Every time Ellis cried I nearly lost it myself. He may very well now be in top 3 book husbands for me. I'm going to need a few business days to recover from their renewed vows.

Listening to the audiobook, Megan Wicks has such a unique, edgy voice that was absolutely perfect for Wren. Connor Crais is also *chef's kiss* every time. This was so so well done I need to go listen again, I just wish I could re-listen for the first time!

AND ONE MORE MOMENT FOR THE COVER OF THIS BOOK ARE WE KIDDING. I can't wait for my preorder to arrive so for the trophy shelf.

PS I was kind of a hater of Savor It but have loved everything else I read from Tarah DeWitt so now I'm questioning whether or not I was okay when I listened to it. Will be revisiting ASAP. 😂

Loved this second-chance romance set in Spunes! Wren & Ellis go from teen parents to exes trying to co-parent, but a sweet pen pal exchange rekindles old feelings. A road trip to drop off their son’s college stuff turns into a journey of healing, honesty, and rediscovered love. Sweet, emotional, and full of heart. Loved the cameo from Sage & Fisher—can’t wait for more from this family! Thanks to Mac

Thank you Tarah DeWitt, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley. There was NOTHING about this book that I didn't love. The characters were perfect, the story was beautiful, the family - by blood, marraige, and finding was perfect. The second chance, the 3rd act tease, the HEA... it was all just perfect. And Connor Crais and Megan Wicks did an amazing job with the narration. I will definitely recommend this one!

I loved this so much! I listened to the audiobook and it was so good, a great story! Love this second-chance romance with “older” characters. Highly recommend!

4.5 stars.
Goodness, I read my first Tarah DeWitt novel, and she delivered a well written and emotional story. The story of Wren and Ellis drew me in, and I didn't want to leave. Their love story made me swoon and smile. It felt authentic and relatable.

This second chance romance brings all the feels with their childhood history, letters, and road trip. The characters of Ellis and Wren are so loveable. Honestly, I loved all the characters in this universe. I literally couldn't stop reading this one.

I loved the dual narrator audio by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks. They brought this story to life with their voices. Do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook, the narration was top notch!

How did I sleep on Tarah DeWitt? I can't wait to read her entire backlog this summer. I would highly recommend Left of Forever especially the audio!

Shut UP this was so cute!! I loved this one a lot and it had some really well done tropes. Childhood best friends to lovers, second chance romance, roadtrip, and letters to name a few! Ellis was my fav, I just love the whole Byrd family!

I went into this one with super high hopes because I had recently finished Savor It which was definitely one of my fav books of this year. I just wanted more of Spunes!!! I will say, this books did not have nearly as much Spunes ambiance which I personally found a little bit of a bummer BUT I still enjoyed it a lot

The ending of this one was super super cute and had so many good quotes that pulled my heart strings. Like really connected back to the title of spending whats “left of forever” together like ugh stab me in the HEART

I’m excited to see if/when the next Spunes novel comes out, I’ll DEF be reading that one

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian Audio

I read and listened at the same time and it was a SUPERIOR reading experience. I think Tarah's writing shines beautifully on audio. She gets so deep into her characters headspace, spending long sections in their internal monologue and an audio narration fits that so well. This story is deeply emotional and to hear it brought to life was wonderful. I adore Wren and Ellis. They are hot and sweet and tender and special.

What an emotional ride this book was. This is one I’m going to wish I could read for the first time again. The writing is beautiful and creates connection with the reader right from the beginning. The story starts strong and follows through with perfect pace.

This story is second chance romance for Wren and Ellis. Childhood friends to lovers to young parents to divorce. After 5 years of divorce their son Sam is about to graduate and go to university. Ellis has been pining and missing Wren in his life, and plans to use the roadtrip of taking Sam to university to explore friendship and possibly rekindling the romance with Wren. This journey to finding each other again is not one to be missed, it’s the most beautiful ride. I loved both of these main characters so much.

The story shifts from past to present and back as needed and it’s done seamlessly. This book will have you emotional from the deep conversations, laughing from the banter, swooning over romance and spice.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ALC of the audiobook - it was absolutely everything. The story was already swoon-worthy on its own, but the narrators truly brought it to life—they captured every emotion, every moment of tension, and made the chemistry between the characters feel so real. It was like watching a movie in my head. I didn’t want it to end!

This book was SO good. Second chance done right, Left of Forever tells the story of Wren and Ellis Byrd, childhood sweethearts who are now divorced co-parents re-considering what may have been and could still be. The writing was bewitching, sumptuous, and sensual. I read and adored the first book in the Spunes series, Savor It (highly recommend!), but even if you haven't, these characters will captivate and charm you. The narrators did a beautiful job capturing the emotional depth of the writing, which made this a particularly enjoyable listen. Definitely check out Left of Forever for a sweet and spicy romance that tugs at the heart strings!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an ALC to review. All opinions are my own.

I finished this book in a day. The dual audio narration made this story feel vulnerable, engaging, and gets you feel connected to the characters and their relationship.

You can’t help but root for Ellis and Wren. Tarah DeWitt has accomplished something astonishing. She has written a romance that is perfectly balanced. It balances love and friendship, humor and banter with vulnerability, and tension, longing, PINING, and flirting with joy, reconciliation, and intimacy.

This book is for the hopeless romantic who believes in second chances and true, great loves. Ellis and Wren lost their way and ended up getting divorced. After 5 years apart maybe they’ll be ready to find their way back to each other.

Ellis Byrd is YEARNING and so down bad for his WIFE. He is patient and puts in the work to try and reconcile. I loved him going to therapy, not as a tactic, but because he knew he needed to get himself right before their potential second chance.

Wren is so brave and fierce. Opening herself up to a second chance and prioritizing herself again. They are destined for each other in every lifetime. I adore the epistolary element in this book, through letters, emails, and journal entries.

Tarah has written such a romantic and tender novel and I need you all to read it.
Please read Savor It first because if gives some context to the main family featured in this story.

This book almost destroyed me with its quotes. Here are just a couple I loved.

“I’ll love you for whatever we have left of forever”.

“ALL I KNOW IS THAT IF HEAVEN IS REAL AND I GOT THERE FIRST, ID HANG BACK IN THE WAITING ROOM AND SAVE YOU A SEAT”

Left of Forever is an outstanding contemporary romance following a divorced couple after their son leaves for college. This book was the perfect balance of emotional and humorous. The spicy scenes were full of steam, and I loved all of the family dynamics (which hopefully turn into future installments in the series). Definitely a must read if you like contemporary romance!

Narration performed by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks was 10/10.

I received an ARC and ALC from St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Back in Spunes, Oregon for a second chance romance.

Wren and Ellis were friends, turned high school sweethearts, turned teenage parents, then married parents, and finally divorced couple. They've been avoiding each other for years. But when a fate intercedes and gives them the opportunity to communicate anonymously (Ellis knowing, Wren not), they both start to long for their former relationship. Ellis for Wren specifically. Wren for the relationship she lost. Ellis plans a road trip for them- to take on the way home from dropping their son off at college. He hopes he can show Wren that he still loves her and that he wants a second chance.

I love the history and comfort between Wren and Ellis. I mean, they have been uncomfortable, but deep down, they know each other so well and compliment each other. Their journey felt realistic and you can't help but root for them

Connor Crais and Megan Wicks narrate the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

“𝓘 𝓰𝓻𝓮𝔀 𝓾𝓹 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝔂 𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮, 𝓼𝓸 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓶𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓽𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓲𝓼.”

Pretty sure Tarah just wrote the falling-back-in-love story I always wanted to see from my parents as a child of divorce, and I’m not gonna lie seeing the struggles from the perspective of the parents is WILD.

Wren reminds me so much of my mom, it’s insane. The lovingness toward other people, selflessness and nothing but the desire to do better and be better for her child and herself. She was an immediate favorite for me from that alone. That, on top of how actually FLIPPING HILARIOUS her inner dialogue is 🤌

The side characters are also A HOOT AND A HOLLER 😭🤣 “nice motorboating you” PUHLEASEEEEE LMFAO

And god 😍 a man who knows his big 3? Seriously?!?!?! GODDD (let’s not be confused how I mentioned my parents above, I clearly said it’s what I WANTED it to be and never compared the MMC to my dad. Far from my dad actually, but daddy he is 🫡 ) Ellis is a 83848393848393/10 stars.
I can’t wait to bother my friends until they pick up their copy and get rewarded with happy book buddies who love Wren and Ellis (and Sam) as much as I do.

If Savor It was the scrumptious meal, Left Of Forever is the decadent dessert! I am simply obsessed with Tarah DeWitt's writing!

There was a magnetic pull towards Wren and Ellis the whole time I read Savor It; I yearned to know their story and was desperate for them to get the HEA they deserved. Let me tell you, Left Of Forever more than exceeded any expectations I could have dreamt up!

I'm pretty sure Ellis's DNA speech altered me! He is book boyfriend gold! And Wren is a beautiful soul who guarded her wounded wing until she was finally able to sore once again.

I slowly melted into this book as the story subtly took hold of me. Before I knew it I was 80% deep, had already cried, and was on the verge of tears all over again - desperate for the ending, but not wanting it to finish. The way I bawled as this book came to its conclusion!!! I could not contain my happy tears as I bore witness to this redeeming love story and some very special moments for the characters of Spunes, Washington!

More thoughts:
-Indy will grow up with two of the very best female influences (and it would be so cool to see her story later in life)
-I am so happy for Fisher and Sage, and the whole damn town!

Megan Wicks is an audiobook narrator I didn't know I needed in my life! Her voice is rich, breathy and powerful - perfectly matching Wren's character! All I can say about Connor Crais is that I will indeed be seeking out more books by him! How does his voice conjure the cover image of Ellis every time I hear it? Perfect narrator choices!

Simply put: I was a gonner for this book! Left Of Forever gets all the stars encompassing campfire night!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

I really enjoyed Left of Forever. I couldn’t remember reading any books by this author so my expectations were low. I’m also not a huge fan of second chance romances, but I was in the mood for something new. When I say there were parts that had me so giddy, kicking my feet, and smiling on my commute home. Ugh I needed this.

Firstly, I did receive this as an audiobook and I was so happy with the narrators! They truly brought this story to life and their voices fit the characters perfectly! I would highly recommend this on audio if you have the opportunity!

Now for the plot, I actually really did fall in love with Wren and Ellis’ love story. I need a down bad MMC more than I need an iced coffee every morning. There are some aspects of the story that honestly didn’t follow through for me (letters written) but at the same time it wasn’t a huge deal. I think it gives more of a backstory or a way into their mind. I did love their banter and their time together on the road. They def had some crazy and funny things happen to them and some wtf moments (ice cream, chili peppers, eggplants). It was fun to read and it kept me wanting to root for them.

Will def read more from this author in the future.

Left of Forever by Tara DeWitt
4🌟🌟🌟🌟
3🌶🌶🌶

This second chance romance was so well written! This was my first read by Tara, and it didn't disappoint! The way the author wrote the dynamic between the two main characters is so relatable and believable that I could truly feel the emotions the characters were going through.

Our FMC is Wren. She and Ellis (our MMC) have been divorced for over 4 years. Wren works and is preparing to take over her mother's bakers while Ellis is a wildlife firefighter. While Ellis is fighting a fire out of state, he goes to look for some food among all of the support packages sent to the firefighters. There in the pile, he notices a pink pastry box, a very familiar pink pastry box! After grabbing it and enjoying the goodies inside, he reads a letter placed in the box by none other than Wren, his ex-wife. Instead of just keeping the letter, he decides to anonymously write her back, leading to a sweet letter exchange between the two, with only Ellis knowing who he is talking to.

Some time later, Wren and Ellis's son, Sam, is graduating high school and heading off to college. After they drop her off, Ellis proposes that him and Wren take a road trip back together to see "if they can still get along as friends." This leads on a beautiful adventure of finding lost (or not so lost) love, healing, humor, and angst slow burn that had me finishing this book in 1 day! I can't recommend this book enough, and I look forward to reading more by Tara!