Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan Audio for the ebook & audio review copies.

This book is second chance romance excellence. Actually, it’s just excellence, period. Left of Forever is emotional, it’s gritty, it’s heart wrenching. There’s moments of humor that you find when your entire life has been intertwined with someone else. It’s full of honesty, vulnerability, hope, and two grown adults who have been to hell and back emotionally realizing that their love story had more pages left to write.

I felt particularly close to this story in many realms, not the least of which being the life transition that comes with their kid graduating high school and all the bittersweet emotions and memories that come with it. There’s also very real discussions about grief and losing family members, as well as infertility and the ways it wears down relationships, so if these are tough topics, be mindful when reading because while they’re well written, the discussions are raw and frank.

The audiobook was flawlessly performed by Connor Crais and Megan Wicks - two narrators who captured Wren and Ellis’s rollercoaster journey back together exceptionally.

I love Wren and Ellis. I love all the Spunes gang. I love the book playlist. I love everything about this. Left of Forever is out today - add it to your TBR, borrow from the library, pick it up at the bookstore.

This book was so good
The character work, the plot, the spice was phenomenal
I was never bored and I want this pumped into my veins

Left of Forever wrecked me—in the best way. I went in expecting a beautifully written second-chance romance, but what I got was a soul-deep, emotionally layered story about love, loss, and the hard work of healing.

Wren and Ellis Byrd were once everything to each other—young love, teenage parents, passionate soulmates. But life broke them apart. Now, five years after their divorce, they’re navigating the tender, painful road back to each other. Their chemistry still sparks, but what really shines is the emotional growth and raw vulnerability they both bring to the page.

Tarah DeWitt doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of love. She dives in, giving us a romance that’s honest, heavy, and breathtaking. If you love second-chance stories that pack a punch and earn their HEA, Left of Forever is an absolute must-read.

Connor Crais and Megan Wicks did an amazing job bringing Wren and Ellis to life.

4.5 - Thank you so much to MacMillan Audio for the complimentary ALC!

This book is out now!

I knew I had wanted to read this since it is the 2nd book in the Spunes series and I really enjoyed Savor It last year. This book has been all over my bookstagram leading up to the publication date (today) and I finally told myself over the weekend that it was time to listen.

The book did not disappoint! I honestly had no clue what it was going to be about. And I certainly was not excepting the book to be SO emotional! The topics in this book hit me hard as someone who could not carry a child and had miscarriages. I definitely know the toll that it took on me emotionally and the struggles I felt within my marriage. So be prepared for discussions around that when you read.

I love a road trip romance! The forced proximity of it all brings so much tension and in this one the tension was high from the start! Since we got to read both of the perspective, we know that both parties were still interested in one another - Ellis more so. Ellis was still SO head over heels for his ex wife. He knew he had to try to woo her back. And it wasn't that Wren was not interested she just never thought that it was something he was interested in. But very early on, she learned that was not the case. I just love seeing them reconnect and there was just so much love there. Even when they were not together those 5 years, they raised their son and had a cordial relationship.

I did think the end wrapped up a little too quickly for me but other than that I thought this book was really good! I knocked out half of it in one afternoon because it just read so quick and was hard to stop listening to.

This book is told from dual POV and with the audio narration it is told in dual narration as well. There wasn't much where that was done but in the beginning there are letters that were written and each were narrated by the respected person. Connor Crais and Megan Wicks took on the roles as Wren and Ellis and I thought they both were fantastic. Connor has been growing on me as a male narrator and Megan is a new narrator to me and I would certainly listen to her again. Both brought the vulnerability and warmth to the characters.

Even though this is a 2nd book in a series, I felt that it was not necessary to read Savor It to enjoy this one. There are callbacks to the characters in Savor It but there is enough context within this one that you would be able to piece together things. I feel like I know who the third one could focus on and should there be a 3rd I will definitely be reading it!!!

Consider reading this one if you are looking for a spicy second chance road trip romance!

This book has so much heart, and beautifully captures a long-term love. As someone who has been with her partner for half of their lives, I can relate to the ups and downs of the main characters. A lot of their feelings and experiences felt honest and powerful. I found myself rooting for Ellis and “Byrd”. As for the audiobook, I liked that there were two different voices for the different POVs. Pacing was good, and the voices were clear and easy to understand even when I increased the speed to 1.75x. The voices also seemed to fit the characters well. Will likely recommend this audiobook (and book) to everybody I know!!!

Thank you YouHadMeAtHea for my #gifted ARC and thank you Macmillan Audio for my #gifted ALC of Left of Forever! #LeftofForever
#TarahDewitt #YouHadMeAtHEA #MacAudio2025

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐭
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟓★

Left of Forever is the second book in the Spunes, OR series by Tarah DeWitt. I would recommend reading Savor It first to get the best experience (and because Savor It is another 5★ read). This book was pure perfection! I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Tarah DeWitt, but this is my favorite! This book will definitely be in my top romance reads of the year!

Wren and Ellis fell in love young and had their son Sam when they were teenagers. They grew up together and were made for one another. But eventually, they fell apart. Now in their 30s and divorced, Wren is running a bakery and Ellis is a firefighter and the two are living their separate lives. With Sam heading off to college, the two decide to help him move in together, and Ellis Convinces Wren to take an extended road trip back to Spunes to see if they can give their relationship one last chance.

🧡Second Chance Romance
🧡Marriage in Crisis
🧡Small Town
🧡Firefighter x Baker
🧡Road Trip
🧡Found Family
🧡Letter Writing
🧡Open Door

Connor Crais and Megan Wicks were perfect for Wren and Ellis! I loved everything about these two and how they brought their characters to life. No notes. Just perfection! If you enjoy audiobooks, you will love this one!

Posted on Goodreads on May 20, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 20, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 20, 2025
**-will post on designated date

I didn't fully enjoy this book. I got to 30% and DNFed it because I was honestly boarded. And there were so many characters that it's difficult to keep everyone straight when reading audibly. This one just wasn't for me personally but I hope others who read it enjoy it more than I did.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt publishes today, May 20, 2025! You will not be disappointed if you pick this one up. A spicy, second-chance, small-town romance set in Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington). After dropping their son off at college, Wren and Ellis take a road trip back home together. This road trip becomes not only a physical journey but an emotional one as well, as they begin to reevaluate their divorce and the events that led up to it. The audio for this book is top-tier. The dual narration brings both characters to life, truly enhancing the story and pulling you into their journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really good! Romance books often feel cliche to me but this one was really unique. It was so fun to follow the story of two former lovers finding each other again. The narrators were awesome and I loved having both a female and male voice. I read the first book in the series to prepare for this one- but you honestly don't need to. There are some references to the first book, but it's not essential to the plot as it focuses on different characters. I thought this book was much better than the first. Recommend this book to anyone who enjoys second chance lovers, small town vibes and strong character development.

Left of Forever is a heartfelt, slow-burn second-chance romance that really pulls you in. Wren and Ellis have a long, complicated history—teenage love, a son, a marriage that didn’t last—but you can feel how much they still care about each other. What I loved most is how real their journey felt. They didn’t just magically fall back in love; they had to talk through the hard stuff, be honest, and actually grow. The book doesn’t shy away from the emotional messiness that built up between them, but it also shows how much they’re willing to fight for something better. You really root for them the whole way. The road trip setting adds a nice touch of nostalgia and hope, and by the end, you’re just hoping they finally get it right. It’s emotional, a little messy, and really beautiful.

There was nothing wrong with this story or audiobook, it just wasn’t for me. I really enjoyed the beginning, the second chance love, parents, forest firefighter, love notes. But then the second half of the book felt very different than the first. Sometimes books go from contemporary fiction/ love stories to all out spice and sex. I feel like it took away from their story for me and I almost DNFed… but was only 1.5 hrs from the end. Also, I don’t love dual narrators that read the other genders parts. Men doing women voices and visce versa aren’t the same. It’s a me thing.

These narrators absolutely killed it! Their voices brought these characters to life and made me fall in love with them and their story. I flew through this and loved every minute of it. Laugh out loud funny at parts and emotional at times too. The spice was fantastic and believable which I appreciate. This book might have got me back into romance after two months of nonstop thrillers…

One thing I loved about this book was the balance between heaviness and levity. It was a weighty story with a second chance romance that had a lot riding on it. It would be easy for it to feel like a lot for a romance, but I thought it was balanced nicely with some lighter and sillier aspects and moments. There were real issues discussed and the relationship between Wren and Ellis was so believable. I was rooting so hard for them, but their issues and past were a realistic obstacle. I believed this book, the story, the heart, the conflict. It was so well done. And the audio performance was great as well. I love when there are two narrators for a dual POV, and both of them were great!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

I loved every minute of thus audiobook!

Tara DeWitt I was not familiar with your pen game I need to go back and read all her books. Left of Forever is the perfect second chance romance for fans of the book. This is such a good read this about a divorced couple who go on a road trip after dropping their son off at college. Will they become friends ? Or will they fall in love again because let’s be honest they never really moved on. The yearning and tension in this book is immaculate.

Thank you St Martins press for the arc

This felt absolutely magical😭🤍 I laughed, cried, kicked my feet and everything in between!! Absolutely beautiful second chance romance. The audio narration is 10/10, highly recommend that format! This had the perfect balance of meaningful plot and “small town” vibes. The depth of conversations this couple had on their second chance journey held so much meaning for me. I’m obsessed with Ellis and Wren and getting to go on this journey with them hit my heart in a way I won’t forget!!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for this ALC🫶🏼


What to expect:
✨Second chance
✨(ex) marriage in crisis
✨Small town
✨Road trip
✨Firefighter x Baker

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 was another hit by Tarah DeWitt. I loved going back to Spunes for the rekindling of Wren & Ellis' relationship after the sneak peak in Savor It. This was dual POV and the audiobook narration was 10/10. The chapters had a good flow between characters and I could feel the emotions. Cried at the end from how beautiful the writing is.

Hoping that we get Silas' story as I am ready for my heart to be ripped out and masterfully put back together by Tarah's wonderful writing.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

All the feels with this story! Tarah DeWitt did a beautiful job captivating the emotions of a love you can’t quit. The story line of Wren and Ellis is so hopeful and emotional I was addicted from the beginning. Narrators Connor Crals and Megan Wicks did a beautiful job bringing the characters to life.

I look forward to reading more love stories from Spunes.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is a deeply emotional read that really hit me. The story dives into grief, love, and healing in a way that feels raw and real. The family dynamics are so strong and full of heart, and I felt instantly connected to every one of them. I haven’t read Savor It yet, the first in the series, but now I definitely will, and I’m excited to keep following this family as the series continues. Four stars for a moving, honest story that sticks with you.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Tarah DeWitt and her team for the ARC!

I absolutely LOVED loved LOVED the dual narration of this book!!! Added to my star-rating 100%! Also, I'm a PNW girlie, so every mention of Spunes and Forks completely got me (IYKYK!). This novel is for you if you love: second chance romance, deep emotional connection, spice (although I found it easy to fast-forward through the chapters (thank you audio version!), and more mature characters. This is my second Tarah DeWitt book and I'm definitely a fan. **I received a complimentary audio ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.