Second-chance romances are timeless and irresistible, especially when they're done right. This book is emotionally layered and utterly romantic as it captures the ache of lost love and the fragile hope of finding your way back to it. Wren and Ellis Byrd have a lifetime of history between them. Childhood sweethearts turned teen parents, but growing up too fast and carrying the weight of adult responsibilities ultimately pulled them apart. Now in their thirties and divorced, they're leading separate lives, but they can't seem to shake the hold they have on each other.

Ellis proposes a spontaneous road trip home with Wren after they take their son Sam to college. It's meant to be a chance to reconnect, to find closure, maybe even to see if there's still a spark worth reigniting.
Wren and Ellis rediscovered pieces of themselves and each other buried under the weight of time, mistakes, and silence.

One of the most powerful aspects of the story is the use of raw, vulnerable, and utterly soul-baring moments. These moments of written truth carry emotional weight and offer deep insight into the characters' hearts in ways spoken words never could. Wren and Ellis can truly begin again.

This story is full of stomach butterflies, simmering tension, and the kind of pining that leaves you breathless. Wren and Ellis still love each other desperately, and watching them try to navigate old wounds and new beginnings feels like rooting for your favorite friends to find their way home.

The audio narration brings Wren and Ellis to life in a profoundly intimate way, as if you're eavesdropping on their most emotional inner thoughts. The narrators create chemistry that is palpable and unspoken longing. Their performances hit every beat like the awkward silence, the ache of old mistakes, and the quiet hope. The subtle vocal shifts and the emotional depth they bring make it one of those rare audiobooks that enhances the already beautiful writing.

You need to read this if you love a deeply romantic fiction that celebrates forgiveness and the enduring power of love.

Tropes:
• Second-chance romances
• One bed
• Stories about forgiveness and growth
• Emotional, slow-burn tension
• Unspoken truths

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the opportunity to review the audiobook.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

We return to the adorable Spunes, Oregon for another excellent romance. This time we follow Wren and Ellis as they may finally get their second chance at true love.

I absolutely adored this book. It is so angsty and romantic and heartwarming and heartbreaking. I love these characters and hate that it is over. Excellent on audio.

ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a beautiful story - I absolutely love Tarah Dewitt’s writing. I’m really starting to like the “marriage in trouble” trope (not to be confused with second chance trope which I don’t love). It was so clear in this story how much our main characters loved each other and I loved seeing them find their way back to each other. I liked the road trip setting!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

It was so nice to be back in Spunes, OR and reading Wren and Ellis's story. They were each other's first love, had a child young and divorced. The story starts with their son moving away for college and they have a road trip together.

There is so much to love about this book. I loved how well the letters were woven into the story and it was told in a duet style narration. The flash back to the past worked so well to see what happened to them.

The character growth of Ellis is one of the best I've seen. Miscommunication is one of my least favorite trope, I loved that this was the redemption of the story.

I loved seeing characters from Savor It play a role in the story. Connor Crais and Megan Wicks did a phenomenal job bringing out the angst and emotions.

Thank you @youhadmeathea @macmillan.audio for a copy of this.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for this audiobook ARC!

This book took me completely by surprise! I have always been familiar with Tarah DeWitt's books but honestly just never got around to reading them, but when this book came out, the cover and the hype around the book definitely caught my interest.

In the best way possible, I felt at times overwhelmed by the love that these two characters had for each other. I'm not usually a second chance romance girly, but PHEW I think I may be one now!! There's something so intimate about flirting with your ex, specifically your ex that you were childhood best friends with and eventually married. I think the way that Ellis and Wren *knew* how to push the right buttons and what made each other hot and bothered was so so fun to read.

I loved Ellis' character development, and especially loved how he changed for Wren, without doing it in a way that was in her face about it. It really showed his character as a man and I definitely swooned.

The one thing that I didn't love was I guess the part regarding Wren's letters to Ellis. I thought it would've had a bigger impact, and left me wanting a little more from that plot point. I expected a little more of a fight between the two from it, even though I did enjoy how the ending shaped out to be.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and think I'm going to do a backwards read of her books now! Definitely read this if your second chance romance girl, or even if not, give it a chance!

Audiobook review:
I absolutely LOVED the narration in this book. I'm 100% an audiobook girl, and I honestly would reccomend anyone who's interested in reading this book to either do it fully through audio or to listen and read side by side because I definitely think the audiobook contributed a good chunk as to why I enjoyed the story so much. The emotion that the narrators are able to portray is just so gut wrenching at times, but also left me blushing and kicking my feet! I don't know if the narrators were ever in the room together or if they know each other or WHAT but I really felt the chemistry shine when their characters were flirting with each other. I think sometimes duet audios can seem disconnected, but that was definitely not the case here. (also they both sound hot so like duh amazing)

This is an absolutely stunning book, emotional yet funny, with a spellbinding romance that keeps the reader engaged from the first page of Left of Forever.

From the moment we meet Wren and Ellis, it is clear that these two are still truly madly deeply in love with each other, from the expository exchanges to the forced proximity on the road trip. There is a bubbling tension that has the reader rooting for their unification.

The dual narration is simply stunning. Both narrators convey an emotional, heartfelt performance with a vocal range that only enhances DeWitt’s incredible pros. Conner and Megan have incredibly warm, rich voices that capture the listener. They breathed life into these characters and left me weeping as I experienced this love story. From the emotional confessions to the sensual moments both narrators blew me away.

I always tend to favor second chance romance, but I cannot tell you how much I loved the way Tarah set this one up. The character growth is perfection with characters that not only fight for each other, but fight to make themselves better for their partner. I loved the way they communicated and the way the spice was incorporated in a way that felt like a natural progression. Additionally, I really enjoyed the uneven changes in POV, I think it enriched the reader experience.

Wren and Ellis and captured me and I could not stop listening to their beautiful story. Hands-down, one of my favorite romances ever and definitely a top thbook of the year.

Full review on Instagram to come closer to pub day.

As their son is heading off to college, divorced couple Wren and Ellis realize that where their future lies may be with each other.

This was a good second chance romance, here's what I liked:

Wren and Ellis: I liked how the narration goes back and forth with them. This really helped give a fleshed out story. You can see quickly how they should really be with each other, but how they drifted apart. Seeing them come back together was really nice.

The family: I loved all of the side characters in this. They all worked really well together and helped push Wren and Ellis together.

The road trip: I love books that have the characters traveling around. The different places they go really help push them together. It was all really well thought out.

The narration: Megan Wicks and Connor Crais do a great job with this one. I loved both of their voices for the characters. Wicks gives Wren a great gravely voice that really got me into her character.

All in all, this was a great emotional romance.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook.

The idea of this second chance romance--of divorced exes trying to stay cordial in order to co-parent, who have to do a road trip to take their son to college and figure out whether they should give it one more shot on the drive back--was interesting enough for me to request this book. Unfortunately, there was something about the book that just didn't work for me. The female narrator was fine, but the male narrator's tone was irksome and didn't do much to spark energy into the narrative. Perhaps I'm just not the reader for this one.

Good lord Tarah… this was an amazing return to Spunes. I am a sucker for second chance romance and she delivered such a beautiful, emotional, and at times hilarious (ice cream scene, I’m looking at you) story. I really enjoyed Savor It but it bore the weight of world building for this adorable small town and Left of Forever didn’t have that responsibility. We went into the world already knowing at least some of their baggage and then we didn’t have to wait forever and a day for the remainder of their baggage to be unearthed. Wren and Ellis go on this almost gut wrenching journey and the pacing for it was simply perfect. Even though I was sad to reach the end I also felt satisfied like there was just enough story and resolution to keep me happy. I hope she continues working through the brothers next and giving them their HEA.

The audio on this book was perfect too, for Ellis you needed that strong masculinity and just enough vulnerability to feel for him especially during some of the flash back when he was getting in his own way. Wren needed a balance between heartbreak and strength and the female lead accomplished that too. Only thing I could nitpick on in the audio is the written Ellis in Wren’s chapters and vice versa were true duet but the spoken dialogue was not. I feel like they needed to commit one way or another, the inconsistency did take me out of the story a bit.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Such a satisfying romance. I loved getting to revisit Spunes, OR and the whole Byrd family. This is a second chance romance, but the author doesn’t make it easy. Wren and Ellis have to really put in the work to bring themselves together again. The narration is smooth and easy and somehow comforting, like I want them both to take turns reading me a bedtime story. Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy.

Absolutely love the newest title in the Spunes series. It was a beautiful story of first love finding each other again after years apart. DeWitt managed to execute weaving in the past to the present plot/story. The MCs are loveable and left me giddy at their angst and longing for each other.

I enjoyed this book so much! I think this is my favorite book by Tarah! The story follows Wren and Ellis, who fell in love when they were young, got married and started a family, but ultimately ended up growing apart. I loved the characters and they are so lovable and relatable yet very flawed. Both Wren and Ellis grew so much throughout the book, both individually and together. This is such an emotional book and Tarah’s writing is so raw and beautiful! There’s some heavy themes covered which the author handled with care and was balanced nicely with romance and tender moments. The narrators both did a fantastic job and brought the story to life.

Read if you like:
🪵second chance romance
🪵road trip
🪵dual POV
🪵small town vibes

5 Stars

High school sweethearts, teenage parents, exes who never stopped loving each other.

With humor, heat, and so much heart, Tarah DeWitt shines in a story about healing old wounds, finding your way back, and choosing love - again.

Left of Forever is the kind of book that grabs you by the heart on the very first page and doesn’t let go.

Wren and Ellis Byrd are two people who clearly never stopped loving each other, even after life pulled them apart. Watching them navigate old wounds, co-parenting, and the ache of "what could have been" was deeply emotional. (like, i cried ... a lot.) Every stolen glance, every word left unsaid (until it wasn’t) ... I felt it all.

If you love second-chance romances (or even if you don't usually), Left of Forever will absolutely wreck you in the best way. It's not just about falling back in love - it's about growing, forgiving, and learning to choose each other all over again.

I switched between the e-galley and audiobook & the audio just made me love this book even more!

Thank you to the powers that be for allowing me to be approved for an ALC of this book.

Tarah gets better and better with each release. She writes realistic characters and tackles heavy topics without the book feeling too heavy it’s no long enjoyable. I love a second chance romance, especially featuring a divorced couple..

The things I liked were the characters, the way they reconnected and going through the naming things that bothered them during the marriage so they wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes, the humor, and the setting. I loved that the letter reveal didn’t go the obvious route so wonderful wonderful decision made there..

Things that slightly took away.

The pacing. Although the letters and the setup at the beginning were enjoyable, I don’t know that they were needed/ or at least not for the length. I think it took a while to get to the road trip part and I’d rather it gotten there sooner so there could be more time dedicated to them after they decided to get back together (that part seemed a bit rushed to me) These things didn’t take away from my experience though, that’s just small things that would’ve bumped it up to a five star read for me.


Narrators did a spectacular job with this one. I adored their performance.

I would definitely recommend this one. It’s my favorite book from this author thus far.

Wow wow wow!! This book was incredible! Oof... everything about this just felt so real... the characters are relatable, the big family dynamics, how they interact, communicate, & and love each other... *ALL* the feels!
There are definitely heavy topics discussed in this book (CW: infertility, ectopic pregnancy), and even though they're prominent throughout, I felt like it was handled with care.

I've loved every Tarah DeWitt book I've read, but I think this one just took the top spot! It's the perfect read if you like small town, second chance, marriage in crisis, and forced proximity.

The audio was absolutely amazing! Megan Wicks & Connor Crais captured Wren & Ellis perfectly. They did a great job creating unique voices for each character, conveying emotion, and really had making you feel like you were in the story right along with the characters!
This is definitely an audiobook you don't want to miss!
Pub date: May 20, 2025
Thank you Macmillan Audio via NetGalley for the ALC 🫶🏻

It was so wonderful to be back in Spoons. Tarah DeWitt has given us another gem with Left of Forever, featuring Wren and Ellis Byrd. They divorced five years ago and co-parented their son, Sam, the best they could. But now's he's graduating high school and headed to college. They were teens when they got pregnant with him, and their entire adult lives have been about being his parents while also raising and looking after Ellis's siblings after the death of his parents. Now, they finally have the space and the time to examine what went wrong and if there's still enough love between them to try to salvage.

This was so real and so beautifully crafted. Ellis convinces Wren that after they drop Sam off at college, they should take a road trip, just the two of them. Separate room but plenty of time to talk and reconnect. The progression of their relationship from skepticism and distrust to cautious optimism to rekindled love was achingly realistic. They handled it like actual grown-ups, communicating even when it was hard or the truth hurt.

Connor Crais and Megan Wicks were perfectly cast as Ellis and Wren. I love Connor's deep timbre, with just the perfect amount of rasp, and Megan has a maturity to her voice that makes her FEEL like she's in her thirties. Their performances were *chefs kiss* perfection.

Plot, steam, narrators? All 10/10. No notes.

A massive thanks to MacMillan Audio for my ALC.

Soooooo good. I devoured this book and already want to reread it just to spend more time with these characters.

The dual narration absolutely made this story come alive—both voices were fantastic, but Duval’s point of view? Obsessed. There’s something about the way his chapters were written that hit deeper every time. Vulnerable, raw, and completely magnetic. I felt everything with him.

The emotional depth in this story was stunning. It had the perfect mix of heartache, healing, and hope, and the writing was so immersive I didn’t want to come up for air. The pacing was tight, the chemistry undeniable, and the character growth? Chef’s kiss.

This is one of those stories that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommend if you're craving something tender, unforgettable, and beautifully told.

🎧🎧🎧🎧/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
♥️ Second Chance
♥️ Childhood sweethearts
♥️ secret letters
Ellis is on a mission to get his wife back! After a 4-year split, Wren writes an anonymous letter to the fire department where Ellis happens to be stationed. He finds her letter, which gives him hope that maybe they aren’t over!

Wren, on the other hand, just wants to start over and forget about the past.

I truly loved this one. I received this book as an audiobook, read by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks. It was the chemistry between the readers that brought the characters to life; they worked so well together. It gave me butterflies to hear how much Ellis still loves Wren through Connor’s narration. I truly appreciated the playlist listed at the beginning of the audiobook; it helped set the tone.

4.25⭐️
I received this ARC as an audiobook, and the narrators brought this story to life! I loved Connor Crais and Megan Wicks as Ellis and Wren.

This was a solid romance read. The chemistry between the characters was written so well. The spicy scenes were spicy and emotional. You could feel the history of love and care between MMC and FMC. It was beautiful to see them find their way back to each other. I also loved the Bay Area references - especially the Shadowbrook restaurant in Capitola, CA. That cable car is real, and I loved that the author included real places.

That said, the conflict seemed nearly non-existent, and it didn't take Ellis that much to convince Wren to be with him again. You could tell she was already on her path back to him. I wish it had been more of a struggle so the payoff would have been sweeter. I also thought the flashback to firefighting was a random flashback. Maybe if it had been at the very beginning, it would have worked better than 2-3 chapters in.

Spicy rating: 3.5/5 🌶️ multiple open door scenes

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC/ALC REVIEW

Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt
5 STARS

Thank you St Martin’s Press for the free eARC of this book and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook!

SYNOPSIS: Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love as kids, had their son Sam when they were only teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. They were made for one another…until they fell apart. Now in their 30s and divorced, they reunite for a road trip after helping their son move into college. As they drive the California coast, old feelings resurface amid scenic stops and shared memories. But to rediscover what they once had, they must face their complicated past—and find the courage to say what matters most.

REVIEW: Summary: I LOVED it. There is just something about a second chance in a marriage that I just adore. Lovers finding each other again after the push and pull of life, kids, jobs? GIVE IT TO ME.

As soon as I read the line, “She’s still a Byrd” in Savor It, I KNEW I needed Wren and Ellis’s story. And, dear reader, I was not disappointed. Wren and Ellis are equally sweet/tender and steamy/spicy. Setting this “reunion” during a road trip was the perfect choice. Well done, Tarah!

Personally, I love a road trip story, because I feel like I’m tagging along with the characters as they explore new places. Another fun part was getting to know the other Bryd siblings. I’m very excited for their stories as well.

Connor Crais and Megan Wicks were so PERFECT for this audiobook. If you’re an audiobook lover like me, consider listening to this one!

I definitely recommend this book to my fellow romance readers. Left of Forever has solidified Tarah’s status as an auto-buy author for me.

Publisher: SMP, Macmillan Audio
Pub date: 5/20/25