Wren and Ellis fell in love as kids, had their son Sam as teenagers, and got married. Now divorced and in their 30s, they're thrust together on a road trip to move Sam into college, debating if they should give their relationship one last chance.

I'm not usually a big second chance romance fan, but I loved the divorced/married couple scenario from Wren and Ellis. We got to see them unpack what went well and wrong years earlier, and saw Ellis' growth and commitment to being a better partner. I loved the dual POV (especially in the audio narration) and seeing what was going through their heads. I also liked seeing their families scheming a bit to nudge them back together.

I do wish we got a bit more of the flirty rekindling of their connection instead of immediately hooking up, but overall still enjoyed them finding their way back to each other.

It can be read standalone, but I suggest picking up Savor It because it's great and you'll have some context to the side characters. Looking forward to more from DeWitt and the crew in Spunes.

Thanks Macmillan Audio for the advance copy.

this book was probably one of the most romantic books i have ever read. the way this man just loves his wife was the most intoxicating thing in the world. the book follows ellis & wren as they take a little road trip together after dropping their son off at college. the trip is a final attempt to figure out if there’s anything salvageable from their relationship after being divorced for 5 years. i will say this now: ellis planning the trip may be my roman empire.

wren & ellis have truly been through so much together & watching them work through all the raw emotions that come with their many challenges as young parents gave a sense of catharsis i wasn’t expecting. i felt utter relief when they worked through their big emotions & each went through different revelations about their relationship. it was almost as if i had gone through the turbulence of their relationship with them & that is evidence of some truly incredible writing.

there’s something to be said about a man who cannot seem to articulate his big feelings finally just letting go & finding that breakthrough. watching ellis break down the mental barriers that were preventing him from telling wren exactly what he was feeling, when he felt it throughout their entire relationship was incredible. this book took the concept of writing things down to sort through them to the next level. hats off to the ‘you’ve got mail’ nod - it was *chefs kiss*

i’d be remiss if i didn’t mention all of the moments where parenthood was beautifully reflected. when they drop sam off at college, wren’s reflection of time slipping away while you look to the next phase was so real & raw. as a parent, this is one of the things that scares me most. “what am i going to miss if i look forward to what’s next” & then you blink and you kid is going to college. i’d be lying if i said that one didn’t absolutely wreck me.

overall, this book was poetic, romantic & will be one of my infinity star reads forever & ever. i HIGHLY recommend it,.

After reading Savor It and now Left of Forever, I can officially say I’m completely in love with the big, boisterous Byrd family! Tarah DeWitt writes the kinds of characters I crave in romance—flawed but full of heart, willing to do the work, and learning that love isn’t about being perfect, but about growing together.

Left of Forever follows Wren and Ellis Byrd, childhood sweethearts who married young, built a beautiful life—and then lost it. Now divorced and living separate lives in their hometown of Spunes, Oregon, they are brought back together when their son leaves for college. A spontaneous road trip offers them one final chance to see if the pieces of their love still fit... or if it's time to finally let go.

Second-chance romances can be tricky, but DeWitt nails it. The idea of soulmates is woven into Wren and Ellis’s story without ever feeling forced. Instead, it’s layered with family ties, self-discovery, acceptance, and the beautifully messy journey of figuring out who you are—and who you want to be—after life knocks you down. This is the kind of story that will linger in your heart long after the final page.

What I Loved:

The pacing is pitch-perfect. While Savor It had to slowly set the stage for the Byrd family series, Left of Forever jumps right in and never drags.

The writing is vivid and relatable. DeWitt has a gift for sneaking in lines that instantly make you feel the characters’ hearts—like describing emotions as a "Heinz57 bottle of emotion, upside down and shaken, waiting for the inevitable plop." It's these small moments that make the characters feel so real.

Wren is a standout heroine. She's whimsical and funny, but her depth and vulnerability shine through every scene. I adored her. (Also, "Wren Byrd" is a name that makes me smile every time.)

Ellis’s character arc is exceptional. His emotional growth—especially through therapy—is portrayed with such sensitivity and realism. He was already lovable, but his evolution into a true partner made him unforgettable.

The emotional layering through letters, flashbacks, and dialogue weaves past and present seamlessly, making Wren and Ellis’s journey feel even more poignant.

The Audiobook:
I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy of the audiobook, narrated by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks. They brought so much emotional depth to Wren and Ellis's story—their performance is phenomenal, and I highly recommend experiencing the book in audio format as well. Whether you read or listen, you can’t go wrong.

If you love:
▪️ Marriage in crisis
▪️ Second chances
▪️ Small-town settings
▪️ Found family
▪️ Foodie romances
▪️ Firefighter heroes
▪️ Road trip adventures

…then Left of Forever needs to be at the top of your TBR!

Content Warnings: Ectopic pregnancy, infertility


📆 Pub Date: May 20, 2025

I absolutely loved this book. When I read Savor It last year, I yearned for a story about Wren and Ellis, and this book delivered! Wren and Ellis grew up together, and they became parents to their son, Sam, when they were teenagers. They were married, and when their marriage fell apart, their feelings still lingered for each other.

When Sam is moving into college, Ellis proposes that he and Wren go on a road trip to see if they can rekindle their relationship. This story is emotional and raw, but it's also filled with so much love and intimacy. Wren thinks that Ellis didn't do enough to show that he cared, and he became complacent in their marriage. He shows her that he has changed by planning a road trip full of surprises for her.

I loved the dual POV, and each character's emotions were shining their layers of pain. Their love showed that there is always room for a second chance with the one you were meant to be with.

The narrators, Connor Crais and Megan Wicks, did a fantastic job of conveying all of the emotion of each character. When they read the letters between Wren and Ellis, it brought me to tears. I also really enjoyed Connor Crais when he did the Australian accents for the teachers at the cooking class. It was hilarious!

Such a great second chance romance! I didn’t realize Wren and Ellis were characters from Savor It before I started this book — and honestly, I wish I had read that one first. I think it would have made me even more invested in their story from the beginning.

Even without that background, I really enjoyed this story of two people finding their way back to each other after sending their son off to college. The dual first-person POV worked so well, letting you really see how their different experiences shaped who they became and where they stumbled along the way. It made their relationship feel very real and relatable.

Overall, this was a heartfelt and satisfying story that I would definitely recommend — especially if you read Savor It first!

Contemporary Romance
*second chance
*small town
*family dynamics (co-parenting and post divorce relationships)

ꨄ𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
♥︎𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬
ఌ𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞
♥︎𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧

✨𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈✨
"𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫" is a masterpiece that truly deserves an infinity of stars! It gripped me so completely that I couldn't tear my eyes away for even a moment. This is one of those stories I want to reread again and again. I had the chance to both read and listen to this story, and it was an experience like no other. 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐭’𝐬 beautiful writing paired with the incredible dual narration truly sets this apart for me. It's hard to imagine anyone not falling in love with this book; it is in a league of its own!

𝐀 little insight into the story: Wren and Ellis married young and grew apart but still carry a torch for each other that never truly fades. Co-parenting their son while keeping their distance only made it clearer that they are meant to be together. Their journey to rekindling their love was both emotional and passionate, and I couldn't get enough of it!

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 something so special about Wren and Ellis's second chance romance. Their history and chemistry go beyond mere words. It’s a mix of flirty banter, emotion, and intimacy that made me feel like I was intruding on their world. How can two characters be so absolutely perfect for each other? My heart raced as they navigated their way back to each other, and I cheered when they finally realized what we all knew deep down - they are meant to be together, like two halves of a whole.

🎧𝐓𝐡𝐞 icing on the cake was the dual narration by 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬 and 𝐌𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 truly brought these characters to life, infusing each moment with love and emotion that left me in awe of their talent.

𝐈𝐟 you enjoy emotional second chances with a cast of amazing characters that will make you giddy, don't hesitate to pick up this book!

Huge thanks to 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐭, 𝐒𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬, and 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 for providing me with an ARC/ALC. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ♾️⭐️’𝐬
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 𝟑🔥
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟓🎧🙌🏼

Hope.
Hope.
Hope.
Not only is this the beat of Wren’s heart, but it encompasses the entire feeling of this book. And Left of Forever is all about vibes. It’s a second chance romance between Wren and Ellis Byrd who have been divorced for five years, neither ever moving on with their lives since their separation. This is the kind of book you go into knowing it might rip your heart apart, but you’ll be so glad it did. The Byrd’s have never lost attraction for each other but a series of life altering struggles challenged their relationship enough to cause a rift of brokenness. There was no big betrayal to cause mistrust and so a glimmer of hope makes itself known through something as simple as Wren writing a letter that ends up in the hands of her ex-husband.

I loved that even though this was a second chance between a couple that had been married and birthed a child together, the emphasis was still on how they could reconnect emotionally and re-discover what it was/is that they enjoyed about one another. I’m all for grand gestures and Ellis definitely makes the first move at opening the door to reconciliation in the form of a birthday trip after moving their kid Sam into college. But it honestly takes both Wren and Ellis putting themselves out there and making themselves vulnerable and I loved how “in this together” the romance felt.

Intimacy is written gloriously, from the playful flirty nervousness to the tearful I Might Die If I Can’t Have You Right Now coupling. The way DeWitt writes memories into the physicality between Wren and Ellis is so beautiful and I felt it viscerally in the way their bodies remember and yet are learning each other anew. The sex becomes heightened because this is a couple fighting for each other, willing to show each other how much they are loved. And with no third act breakup(!), this romance felt like passing a test; the main characters put in all the hard work of studying and preparing and have aced their test with flying colors. Their reward? The ultimate HEA.

If you haven’t yet read Tarah DeWitt, you’re truly missing out. Each written word feels so intentional and perfect for expressing her characters’ feelings. This was definitely enhanced by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks’ performance. I instantly fell in love with both their voices. Megan’s is so smoky and gorgeously husky and Connor’s is the right amount of deep and gravelly that will make me want to return to this again and again. Definitely add them both to your favorite narrators because they nailed this performance. Thank you to my gifted copy from St. Martin’s Press and the ALC from Macmillan audio. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭🪭
Emotional vibes: 💥💥💥💥
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

Oh my my my Miss DeWitt, I see you! I went into this fairly blind but the second I realized it was second chance I was quite literally giddy. It's one of my favorite tropes when done right. There's just something about the history mixed with the yearning that really gets to me. And then add into it that it tends to have a lot of emotional depth and it usually is a pretty solid recipe for me. And this one knocked that recipe out of the park... that doesn't really make sense but you get what I mean hopefully. Wren and Ellis have some deeeeeep history together. Childhood friends turned lovers turned parents turned divorce... oof. I was so eager to dig through their history together and see where they fell apart and see how they climbed back to each other (hopefully right?). The writing in this was so good. Like SO good. I can't wait to reread it and annotate it because Tarah really had some knock out lines in there. My man Ellis loves big and hard and I think I might actually be totally in love with him. He also has the absolute hots for his wife, my lanta. This book was way steamier than I expected, I'm surprised the book didn't burst into flames (which is funny when you know what the book is about lol). Anyways, so so good. My only complaint is that I felt like they both flipped to being ready to be back together too quickly. But man I love their love. I already cannot wait to reread this.

Ellis & Wren 🧡

This audio was everything to me. I was slayed by the emotional depth, deep conversations and strong understanding of turmoil and feelings one had for the other.

A true testament of “if you love someone let it go, if it comes back to you , it’s yours forever.”

In this book they take a road trip together to see if there are any sparks left after dropping their son off at college across the country. They got pregnant as teens and Ellis also became the sole provider of his siblings at a young age - they really had many trials together when they were married and apart.

Staying in the small town they both grew up in of Spunes it can be quite tricky to avoid one another… which leads to awkward exits & Irish goodbyes to avoid meeting each others gaze.

Truly one of my favorite reads of this year so far and my top “second chance” romance book id recommend !!

T R O P E S
- 30+
- second chance
- divorced
- found family
- he’s only soft for her
- infertility rep *check tw*

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC & St. Martins for the opportunity to read the magic between these pages. Review is my own 🫶🏼

I rated this one 4.25 stars! It is the second interconnected standalone of the series, and it is a really enjoyable read. I will say I am happy that I read book one “Savor It” first because in that book I really fell in love with the Tara’s writing. In this one, I did not connect to the characters as much. However, I do think this is a beautiful and compelling story that makes you reflect on life and the nuances of love. Especially how love isn’t something that just comes to be or just goes away; it’s something you really have to work at every single day. I also think the story does a really good job of exploring “if he wanted to he would.”

So what’s this book about? This is a story of two people who were formerly married, and in their time apart they really have gotten to learn who they are and what they need out of life and grow as individuals. Because this book is dual point of view, you get to watch and learn with each character about where their marriage fell flat for each person and all the different nuances of what could go wrong in a marriage if you don’t put in the effort every single day. Even though I didn’t completely connect with these specific characters, I did enjoy watching them fall back in love.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review. This opportunity introduced me to a new auto-buy author!

ALC review • pub date 05.20.25
length: 9h 18min

Well this was a super sweet second chance romance about a divorced couple reconnecting five years later. Narrated by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks who did an absolute phenomenal job depicting the emotion and love of these two characters.

The side characters were a pretty big part of this book, and I felt a little lost not knowing anything about them. There is also talk of an ectopic pregnancy that hit a special place home for me 🥹 overall, I loved the story and I loved the characters and I was rooting for them the entire time.

I’ll definitely read more from this author! Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC.

#MacAudio2025

This was a very sweet story. I loved the beginning of it especially, with the letter writing. I almost wished that had been able to go on longer! But the roadtrip was sweet, and Ellis -- SWOOOOOON.
I will also say that this is one of the more 'real' second chance romances I have read. It's actually one of my most favorite tropes (I'm a SUCKER for nostalgia!) but in many cases I find that the reason for the split, and all that time apart, is probably something that in real life, should stand. Most of the time going back does not work. This one...was pretty realistic. Together young, fell apart with stressors from having a baby young and realizing they didn't exactly know who they were. That is one that might actually be able to work.

This was my first Tarah DeWitt. I was hesitant to request this one because of the amount of times it was detailed as 'super spicy'. That, for the record, was true lol. I am not a huge fan of crazy amounts of spice, but it was at least easy to tap past for the most part.

ON NARRATION: Both narrators, but especially the female, had this GRIT about them that I loved. It wouldn't honestly work for a lot of stories, but it worked well for this one!! I found myself pretty equally excited to hear from both of them in turn.

Thank you for providing me with this audio file in exchange for my review.

4.25/5.0

Sometimes, a book lands in my hands at precisely the right moment, and Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt felt meant for me. Wren and Ellis's story isn't just about falling back in love — it's about doing the messy, unglamorous work of healing, forgiving, and choosing each other again after life has worn them down. Their history is so deep and tangled, and watching them try to find a way back to each other felt like rooting for old friends who deserved more than just a second chance; they deserved a better opportunity.
Connor Crais and Megan Wicks brought Wren and Ellis to life so vividly that I felt like I was riding shotgun on every mile of that road trip right alongside them. Their performances captured all the cracks and tenderness between the characters—the hurt, the longing, the hope—in a way that made every beat of the story hit even harder.
I loved how the journey down the California coast wasn't just a change of scenery — it became a quiet, beautiful metaphor for everything they were trying to rebuild: trust, friendship, the tiny daily intimacies that once came so easily but now had to be earned. Tarah DeWitt writes their silences as powerfully as they write their conversations — sometimes, what Wren and Ellis don't say hits me harder than their biggest arguments. And when those old wounds cracked open again? It gutted me. It felt real, like no tidy apology could fix everything.
This story never pretends that love is enough all by itself — it shows how love has to be fought for, protected, and sometimes broken down to its bones before it can be truly whole again. It's tender without being sentimental, raw without losing hope. Wren and Ellis's journey back to each other is the kind of imperfect, earned love story that sticks with me long after the last page.

As a firefighter’s wife, I always have a soft spot for first responder romances, so maybe I’m a little biased going in! I was immediately hooked by the pen pal setup — the easy banter and connection through letters was so charming and fresh. Honestly, I wish that part had lasted way longer!

But about halfway through, I found myself wondering… what’s the point? The couple isn’t fighting, there’s no real tension or conflict between them, and while it’s sweet that they’re giving each other chances, the story started to feel flat.

By the 70% mark, I was forcing myself to keep going. It had such a promising start with all the right vibes, but unfortunately, it just fell short for me. They meet up, they get along, and… that’s kind of it. No real twists, no drama, not even much emotional payoff. I wanted more from it.

Overall, Left of Forever had a lot of heart and a beautiful beginning, but it needed stronger stakes to keep the momentum going.

This is a well-written book and readers who enjoy road trips with second-chance romance and miscommunication tropes will likely enjoy it. The main characters grew up together and had a baby as teenagers. They were married for many years, then divorced a few years before the book starts. The book is about them admitting they still love each other and finally talking about all the things they never talked about in their marriage, while roadtripping along the California coast. There is an epistolary section at the beginning, and there are dual POVs throughout for the two main characters.

Incredible. This book is everything to me and the audio makes it 100x better. The narrator’s are perfect! I feel like they captured wren and Ellis perfectly. I was so invested and it felt like I was reading this book for the first time even tho it’s my second time. I will definitely be purchasing the audiobook.

Left of Forever
Tarah DeWitt
Pub: 5/20/25
5☆

This time, they'll get it right

Second chance romance is by far one of my favorites and Wren and Ellis were absolute GOLD! This is one of the easiest 5☆’s I’ve given this year. DeWitt delivered on every single level with Left of Forever. It was emotional, steamy, and 1000% unputdownable. I got so wrapped up with these two and that beautiful Byrd family that I never wanted to leave. Literal perfection from beginning to end.

What I Loved;
🧡 Second Chance Romance
🧡 Small Town
🧡 Found Family
🧡 Firefighters
🧡 Road Trip
🧡 ALL The Feels

The narration of Connor Crais and Megan Wicks (she’s new to me and I need more a.s.a.p) was impeccably done. They brought this already swoony story to another level. If you’re an audio fan definitely give this one a listen. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy. This beauty is a must own.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook!

This book was incredible! It hit my heart in a deep way! I loved the dynamics of finding your way back to each other. The dialogue of honesty for what “went wrong” and the vulnerability of being open to reality that people change, that there’s always room for growth. I loved their raw love. The spice hit just right. I loved that they were “older” main characters, sending their son off to college, not mid 20s. As soon as I finished I wanted to reread it! It hit me in the gut, in a good way!

Wren and Ellis have loved each other forever—but after a divorce and years apart, a college drop-off road trip just might be their second chance.

This book had me tearing up from start to finish. I don’t usually go for second-chance romances, but this one was so real, emotional, and beautifully done. Wren and Ellis’s growth felt authentic, and their journey back to each other hit all the right notes.

It’s not just emotional though—there are fun, laugh-out-loud moments (hello, pepper incident), plus familiar faces from Savor It and a deeper dive into the Byrd family.

I don’t give five stars easily, but Left of Forever deserves every one. Heartfelt, emotional, and quietly powerful.

4.5 stars - I'm honestly still reeling from how much I enjoyed this book! I was hesitant for an "ex-marriage in crisis on a road trip", but the You've Got Mail vibes helped give it the reader a deeper glance into their situation. Grab the audiobook if possible and you won't be disappointed!

I also appreciate that there wasn't any pettiness between the families, and they all genuinely love each other since they have basically grown into a found family from a young age. This had plenty of hilarious moments, and a few steamy bits, but mostly I enjoyed the growth of the main characters, both separately and together.