Thank you to @macmillan.audio for providing me an early copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

What an absolutely beautiful book!

These two had already stolen my heart when Silas yelled, “She’s still a Byrd!” in 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘵, so yeah, you could says I was a wee bit excited when Tarah announced this book!

From these two saying goodbye to their son as they dropped him off at college, to all the open communication on their road trip, I was constantly feeling all the feels.

And the writing was just so beautiful. I highlighted so many passages throughout. Far too many to share here; I’ll let you experience them while reading. 🥰

And I LOVED how mature these two were when it came to opening up; it definitely brought us to some really deep places, and honestly, *communication* is something I will always eat up in a romance novel! 😍

Gah, I can’t get enough of Spunes and these characters, and…I wouldn’t mind going back again, if something sparks in Tarah’s mind! 👀

Audiobook notes: SO good! Both Connor Crais and Megan Wicks were fantastic at delivering all the humor and emotion. They definitely got me weeping at the end.

What this book is giving:
✅ Contemporary Romance
✅ Dual POV
✅ Second Chance
✅ Road Trip
✅ Letters
✅ “She’s still a Byrd!”

Tarah is easily one of the best romance writers we have in the game. Her couples are always so real and raw you can't help but fall head over heels for them. This is a flawless second chance romance and I'll forever be thinking about the Bryds. Audiobook was insanely well done. Loved it!

This book was a masterpiece. Tarah DeWitt is an artist. There was a constant, very real thread of emotional devastation sewn into the story from the very beginning with characters we already knew and very much loved from Savor It. But this book didn’t feel like a continuation as much as it just felt absolutely its own. The story truly built and built and built in the best, most real way.

And the narrators!!!! I loved the way Megan Wicks voice sounded - so smokey and lovely and perfectly embodied Wren. Connor Crais made Ellis sound strong and stern and was exactly what I would want Ellis Byrd to sound like. The way they brought these characters to life… the way they emoted and inflected their way throughout this story?! There couldn’t have been a more perfect pairing. The narrators poured themselves into this project and it shows.

I’m sure that this story could pierce through any heart open to reading it… but I really just sobbed my way through so much of this book. (And completely through the final chapters.) I quite honestly cannot recall a book that made me cry so much for such a prolonged amount of time?! I think I cried the entire last quarter of the book. I saw so much of myself in Wren and in this book.

SO much of this book reminded me of my husband and I. As a result, this book was equal parts beauty and devastation while feeling incredibly personal! It reminded me to look for the beauty that exists right alongside the pain. It reminded me that we are created & programmed to remember the bad, hurtful, scary stuff in order to survive. But that it’s just as important to our survival to recall those wonderful moments, too.

I laughed through so many Silas moments in this book that I can only pray we get another book that centers on him.

The hugest thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC copy of this book. And even BIGGER thank you to Tarah DeWitt for creating this miracle of a story and for sharing it. 🖤

This was everything I wished it would be and more. The summary pulled me in and then Wren & Ellis stole my entire heart.

A second chance romance with an already established couple (with a hint of best friend’s older brother??) is something I eat right up. There’s not enough of them. But this one is such a great addition to the trope.

This is my first Tarah DeWitt book and she’s gained herself a fan! This was well written, the pace made sense, and the relationship itself was realistic in the best of ways. Plus the spice?! 🔥 Not just good, but sexy, which I feel like some books miss.

I loved so many things, but just a ✨few✨ are:
• Spunes, OR (pronounced spoons)
• paper birds
• the mutual pining
• the entire Byrd family
• the cover art - like wow 🤩
• the audiobook narrators

This is a standalone, which I realized when I started it, in the Spunes series - which I’ll definitely be reading. Now I need to go back and read Sage and Fisher’s story! Excited for the other siblings books 📚

The Basics:
Wildland Firefighter//Bakery Owner
Second Chance Romance (childhood sweethearts, divorced)
MCs in their 30s
1st Person Dual POV
Standalone, Part of a Series
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC 🤍

I'd like to firstly thank MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this amazing ALC!

I absolutely LOVED this audiobook! I think that both Megan Wicks and Connor Crais did a fantastic job telling the love story between Wren and Ellis!

I love a good second-chance romance, but this one just hit so different and pulled at all of the heartstrings. Wren and Ellis have been in each other's lives since they were children. Wren and Ellis got pregnant when they were teens, and wanted to do the best thing that they saw fit for their family, and married young. Their marriage had many happy moments, but was also filled with loss and the separation that grief brings. I loved seeing these two come together to help their son move into his first college apartment and experience the road trip that they took on their trek back home.

This is actually my first ever book by Tarah DeWitt (I know, I know....this was book 2...oops!), and I can't wait to dive into more of her books! I actually own Savor It (book 1 in the Spunes series) and The Co-op, so it looks like I have some reading to do!

If you like these tropes, this book may be for you!
- Second-change Romance
- MCs in their 30's
- Firefighter MMC
- Forced Proximity
- All of the yearning!!
- Small Town
- Road Trip

This was my first Tarah DeWitt novel and I was instantly hooked with Ellis and Wren's story. I always enjoy an "older" couple featured in a romance novel, so I was expecting to devour this. Unfortunately, it kind of petered out for me.

I feel like the author tried to combine lots of romantic gestures (letter writing, vacation planning, etc.) for Ellis and Wren to experience, but it all felt a bit too much. The letter writing was adorable but faded away and seemed almost unnecessary by the end of the book. I understand needing sexual tension between characters that have missed each other for years, but Ellis and Wren felt more like horny teenagers instead of adults at times, which took away from their mature conversations.

I may give DeWitt another chance, especially if we get books for Silas and Micah. I think she is fantastic at writing witty banter and including real-life conflicts. I'd just like to see a bit more cohesiveness in her future books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

The audiobook itself was amazing! But while the story was great it just felt a little bit low stakes and I found myself underwhelmed.

I am the queen of second chance romance and this one just hit so different. Tarah is so great at writing emotional charged reads and men who are just DOWN BAD! Ellis is so gone over Wren, its not even funny. I loved spending time with these two characters and watching their love reignite.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the opportunity! I was lucky enough to get my hands on two arcs for this amazing book! Both digital and audio, for that I will forever be thankful. Following along while doing the audio felt so intimate almost like I was in the story myself.

I can’t even describe into actual words what this book meant to me while reading and now that I’m done. We got to meet Wren and Ellis in ‘Savor it’ and from the very beginning, I knew their story wasn’t finished. Truly what an amazing journey these two amazing characters took us thru. The love they both shared as not only lovers but as a family was so admirable. It just breaks my heart that I will never get to be a Byrd, long live the Byrd family. Can you tell my favorite trope is found family? Hehe, no but seriously if you love small towns, found family and second chance well then look no further because this is the book for you.

Obsessed is an understatement. This book made me cry in the prologue, so just prepare.

This is a beautifully written story about love, loss, and growth. If you haven’t read a book by Tarah Dewitt yet, you should really change that. I do strongly encourage reading “Savor It” prior to reading this.

This book felt like it spoke to me as someone who has been with their partner for 10+ years. The tension and yearning was SOOOOOO so so good. I was rooting for them harder than I have rooted for any other fictional couple before.

If you don’t enjoy second-chance romance, I dare you to read this. The audiobook was so well done. It is dual, but some aspects make it seem like it is done in duet. so good. So beautiful. I will be sending in my petition for Tarah to give the rest of the characters their own stories, too. So Tarah, if you are reading this....

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

I received an advanced listener copy of Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt from NetGalley, and I absolutely loved it! This book completely won me over, even though second chance romance isn’t usually my go-to trope.
The story follows Wren and Ellis, two people who share a deep and complicated history. They were high school sweethearts, were married for many years and share a son about to start college. While Ellis is away for a few weeks fighting forest fires he receives a letter and care package from an anonymous source. Wren thinks she's just sending a care package to unknown firefighters but Ellis knows it's her as soon as he sees the letter.
The letters become a turning point for him. Through her words, he realizes just how much he lost and how badly he wants to win her back. But before he even tries, he does the work on himself—going to therapy, learning to open up, and becoming the partner Wren truly deserves.
The emotional depth in this book is incredible. The longing, love, and vulnerability between Wren and Ellis is so well written, and it made their journey feel incredibly real. Ellis is now one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends—he’s thoughtful, tender, and genuinely grows throughout the story.
The narration was also top-notch. The narrators brought so much emotion and nuance to the story that it made listening to this audiobook a truly immersive experience.
Left of Forever is heartfelt, beautifully written, and emotionally rich. If you love strong character development, meaningful romance, and second chances done right, this book is a must-read (or listen!)

This is a second chance romance, and honestly, it just hit different. It felt so real, so raw, like you were right there with the characters going through all their stuff.

I was completely invested in Wren and Ellis and their story. Their journey back to each other was just beautiful to watch unfold. Seriously, their communication and honesty were refreshing, a breath of fresh air in the romance world!

Now, if you're thinking about picking this one up, grab the audiobook! Connor Crais and Megan Wicks absolutely nailed it with the dual narration. They brought out every single emotion – the love, the longing, all the feels and it just made the whole experience so much richer. Trust me on this one, you need to hear this story. Highly, highly recommend the audio!

4.5 stars

Thank youNetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this book. I voluntarily read and gave an honest review.

**Review: *Left of Forever* by Tarah DeWitt**
**Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

*Left of Forever* is a beautiful and emotionally resonant second-chance romance between Wren and Ellis, whose marriage ended five years earlier after they struggled to cope with a devastating loss. High school sweethearts, their lives changed forever when Wren became pregnant at just 17.

Years later, as their son heads off to university in another state, Wren agrees to a road trip with Ellis—an emotional journey that becomes a chance to explore whether there’s still something worth salvaging between them.

Tarah DeWitt handles this story with tenderness and depth, capturing the weight of grief, the complexity of forgiveness, and the slow, honest work of reconnection. Wren and Ellis aren’t just rekindling love—they’re rediscovering who they’ve become as individuals and as partners.

Themes of family, forgiveness, personal growth, enduring love, and friendship are beautifully woven throughout. I found this book moving, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful.

THIS WAS SO GOOD!!! Second chance romance at its finest. This book was emotional, heartfelt, fun, and romantic. I felt so much for these characters and felt like I was feeling their pain with them. Ellis and Wren were meant to be together in every lifetime. I loved how this book started with the cute little pen pal moment and REALLY built up to them admitting they still wanted each other back. The tension and the longing were so real. The banter and flirting was so cute and funny. I loved the trip part of this book, watching Wren and Ellis reconnect and work through their past. They are the king and queen of communication and I LOVED THEM for that. I loved getting moments with all of the Byrd family members and by the end my eyes were sweating! Such a heartfelt, emotional second chance romance that really makes you root for the characters. I believed from page one these two were meant to be and work through what tore them apart. The audio was amazing!! The narrators were so perfect for this story. Thank you to the publisher for the ALC!!

in a puddle of tears. i absolutely adore the byrd’s, and spunes, and tarah’s writing! the narrators for this were absolutely incredible and i loved wren & ellis so much.

Thank you @Macmillan.Audio and @NetGalley for this ALC, in exchange this is my honest review.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt and narrated by Megan Wicks and Conner Crais is a heartfelt, spicy, second chance romance that I loved listening to. Wren and Ellis started off as young love with a son at 17 and now find themselves in their 30s having loved and now grown apart and this is where our starry picks up. Wicks and Crais both narrate in a way that illustrates the heartache, yearning, and desires both Wren and Ellis hold deep and create a beautiful woven love story that has listeners swooning for their success.

Dewitt takes us back to small town Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) to explore Wren’s and Ellis’s love story that had seemingly already came to its end, and yet has so much more to be explored. Due to a break down of communication and harboring resentments Wren and Ellis divorced to live their separate lives, avoiding each other as much as possible while still co-parenting their son. After 5 years of divorce and a series of an events leading up to them driving their son to college Ellis and Wren roadtrip back home to see if they can rekindled their lost spark.

While on their way home Wren and Ellis start communicating and learning more about each other and themselves adding to their unfinished their love story. The slow burn of if they won’t they and Wern’s consistent self-doubt and reservations had me screaming for them to get together! I loved listening to their story unfurled and come to life through the wonderful narration and writing, laughing, swooning, and cheering along the way. Overall a 4/5 star listen. Buy or pre-order Left of Forever by May 19, 2025.

An unflinching second chance romance that focuses on the work one couple put in to build back what was lost. DeWitt is going to have fans of the genre weak in the knees and full-on swooning with this offering. And Hello!👋🏻 If you get the chance to listen to the audio 🎧 narrated by the talented Connor Crais and Megan Wicks I recommend checking it out. The duo elevated the level of emotion the characters conveyed and made them POP! 💥

Ellis and Wren Byrd became teen parents 👶🏻 and married young.(Her name being Wren Byrd had me laughing)🤣 They pair faced struggles and end up divorced in their 30's.💔 After years of successfully co-parenting their son, Ellis suggests that they take a road trip 🚗 on the way back from dropping him off at 📚 college together. The separation here lasted five years and what I liked about Ellis as the male lead is that he worked on himself in therapy. I felt like he was a caretaker by personality default and the situations life had tossed his way.❤️‍🩹 That is a double-edged sword, and I liked that he owned his issues and worked on himself regardless of where he stood with Wren. I found Wren to be relatable and charismatic. She was genuine, caring and showed depth. The writing style is accessible which conveys the yearning these characters feel in realistic manner. There are big emotions batted around and learning to communicate through yesterday's problems and today's challenges to fight for a future is no easy task. The pace remained steady throughout. The charming supporting characters will have fans begging to hear their stories as well!

There is plenty of steam 🔥in this one so be advised according to your personal preferences. Mature communication being at the heart of reconciliation made it impactful. The quirky characters bringing the banter made it fun!😊 The warm family vibes made it cozy. Feeling like a second chance might work out made it hopeful. 🤞

These characters were authentic I liked them flaws and all. I couldn't help but to hope for their happy ending.🥰

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the Advance Listening Copy. All opinions are my own.

This story is a second chance romance done right! Ellis and Wynn were teenage sweethearts and young parents, seemingly soul mates until they weren’t anymore. After a divorce they keep their distance but peacefully coexist to raise their son Sam. When it’s time to move Sam into college, Wynn and Ellis take a road trip that forces them to confront their past and their feelings.

Ellis was the star of this book for me. You have to love a MMC that owns his part in the end of his marriage and goes to therapy to work on himself. There were so many endearing parts of this story, and I loved how it alternated between in-person conversations and letters between Ellis and Wynn. The banter between them was very sweet, and that cooking class scene! I laughed out loud several times!

In the audio format, narrators Connor Crais and Megan Wicks did a beautiful job of bringing out all of the emotions in this story. They also described the abundant imagery and scenery in this book very well. Having dual narrators made the experience of listening to this book much more impactful because of the exchange of letters in the story; it really allowed the listener to experience the inner feelings of the characters.

My only complaint about this book is the amount of spice because there is a lot!! I found myself skimming past it by the end because I was more invested in the characters themselves than their bedroom activities and wanted to get back to their conversations. It started to take me out of the story after a while.

If you are not normally a fan of second chance romance, this one will change your mind! It’s a fun, spicy, road trip romance with some hilarious moments that I really enjoyed.

Where do I even begin.

This book is incredible. Jaw droppingly incredible. This is definitely my favorite Tarah Dewitt book thus far. I found the story to be insanely relatable and it was such an amazingly done second chance romance. I got to listen to the audiobook of this one and WOW.

Left of Forever gave us a slow burn and I enjoyed how the romance progressed. There's Wren and Ellis who were childhood best friends, fell in love, had a teenage pregnancy, got married before an ectopic pregnancy and fertility issues weighed on them to the point where they felt divorce was the only option. Both of these characters were relatable, well rounded and has such interesting personalities that captivated me. While they were convincing themselves to move on from the life they couldn't have-- they were still so clearly longing for one another.

Throughout the book, while they were rekindling their flame-- they were also digging into their past and it was an emotional rollercoaster and I cried happy and sad tears. There was such an insane sense of communication between Wren and Ellis and is was goals. I loved how open and honest they could be with each other regardless of how vulnerable they had to be. Plus, there was a lot of self growth and therapy for the characters and it was beautiful to hear their stories.

There was a superb balance with plenty of laughs, fun moments, banter and spice. It showed how relationships aren't always sunshine and rainbows and that it's normal. Love is a complicated yet beautiful thing were are fortunate enough to experience.

I highly HIGHLY recommend this book and cannot wait to get my trophy copy for my shelf.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, Tarah Dewitt and NetGalley for this beautiful book in exchange for my honest review
My review will be posted this week on Instagram and I will update my links then. Thank you.

Oh this book is all the feels.

"Left of Forever" by @authortarahdewitt is so perfectly written. That ending? Five. Glorious. Stars.

Why should Left of Forever be your next read (or listen—because the audiobook is absolute perfection)?
1. Second chance romance? Check. And the way she tells their back story really is all the feels.
2. Wren and Ellis will steal your heart instantly. And their chemistry🥵
3. An adventure with so many shenanigans.
4. So much growth, love, and downright loveliness.
5. Narrators Megan Wicks and Connor Cras bring this story to life in the best way.
6. The found family for Wren❤️
7. And if you haven’t read anything by Tarah yet, fix that immediately. Her books are a whole vibe.

Thank you for the ALC. It was a delight!