Tarah DeWitt's Savor It is a heartwarming, slow-burn romance that combines love, self-discovery, and the magic of good food. With lush descriptions, charming characters, and a poignant message about savoring life's moments, this book is perfect for fans of cozy romances with depth. Here's why it deserves a spot on your shelf!

Top 5 Reasons to Read Savor It:

1. A Unique Culinary Twist That Will Leave You Craving More: The setting and focus on food bring a sensory richness to the story. DeWitt's description of the art of cooking and its connection to emotions will have you craving delicious meals and heartfelt moments. The culinary elements are woven seamlessly into the narrative, enhancing the reading experience.

2. Lovable, Relatable Characters You'll Want to Befriend: Sage, the protagonist, is wonderfully complex—a mix of vulnerability, strength, and wit. Fisher, the love interest, is equally layered, bringing depth to their dynamic and making their romance feel authentic. Their personal growth and the challenges they face make them relatable and endearing.

3. A Beautiful Slow-Burn Romance: DeWitt takes time to develop Sage and Fisher's relationship, allowing readers to feel their chemistry grow. The payoff is sweet, emotional, and worth every page of buildup. The slow-burn nature of their romance adds to the anticipation and makes their eventual connection all the more satisfying.

4. Themes of Healing and Self-Love: This isn't just a romance—it's also a story about finding yourself after loss and learning to embrace joy again. The emotional journey is as rewarding as the romantic one. DeWitt handles these themes with sensitivity and depth, making the characters' growth feel genuine and impactful.

5. Cozy and Inviting Atmosphere That Will Make You Feel Right at Home: From the charming small-town setting to the warmth of shared meals, Savor It creates a comfortable world that's easy to lose yourself in. It's a perfect escape read that still feels grounded in reality. The detailed descriptions of the town and its inhabitants add to the book's charm and make it a delightful read.

Why Not 5 Stars?

As much as Savor It excels, a few minor flaws prevented it from being a perfect 5-star read. While the slow-burn romance is a highlight, the book's middle section feels stretched, with scenes that could have been condensed to maintain momentum. While Sage and Fisher shine, some side characters feel underdeveloped, serving more as plot devices than fully realized individuals. They need more depth and complexity to make them more engaging and integral to the story. Furthermore, the story follows some familiar romance beats, sometimes making it predictable. For instance, the resolution of specific conflicts or the direction of the romance may be anticipated by experienced romance readers. A few more surprises or subversions of the genre would have added an extra spark.

Final Thoughts:

Savor It is a cozy, heartfelt romance that encourages readers to slow down, savor life, and open themselves to love. With its emotional depth and charming atmosphere, Tarah DeWitt's novel is a delightful addition to contemporary romance. Despite its minor flaws, such as the slightly stretched middle section and the underdeveloped supporting characters, it's a satisfying and beautifully written story that will leave you warm and fuzzy.

I recommend it to Tessa Bailey and Abby Jimenez fans and anyone who loves food-themed romances with an emotional core.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

This one just wasn't it for me. I have read one other of Dewitt's book and enjoyed it but I just couldn't get into the characters & the setting. I am bummed but can understand why a ton of people love it.

This is the first book I've read from Tarah and I absolutely loved it. A bit moodier of a contemporary while still managing to feel lighthearted and not too heavy. The romance was very sweet, a slow burn from strangers to friends to lovers which I thought was paced perfectly. The small town and adorable farm animals played into the story perfectly. Also the somewhat forced proximity with Sage and Fisher's houses being quite close together which tied into the story and romance quite nicely. I also thought Tarah handled the grief the characters had extremely well, it was prominent in the way it deserved to be but didn't overpower the rest of the story. Along with the communication the characters had which I loved to see and thought was written quite well. Overall just really wonderful story that I thought was written extremely well. Also who doesn't love a grumpy x sunshine trop to top everything off!

I loved Sage and Fisher. They went together really well. Fisher’s niece, Indy, was adorable for a teenager.

The chemistry between Sage and Fisher was strong and believable. The partnership they agreed to could have only lead to something more.

I enjoyed Savor It and hope we see the characters again.

Summer won't last forever.
Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She's learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win―something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.
Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.
A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like..." -Goodreads

This was so sweet! Definitely ready to binge everything that Tarah Dewitt writes! I loved the romance, I loved the sweet characters, and the animals! 😍 Such a fun read!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Don't worry so much about the clouds that you miss the flowers at your feet.”

This was my first Tarah DeWitt book and it was a really cute and fast read. I am typically not a fan of small town romances (Fisher and I seem to have the same love / hate relationship with small towns) and I can’t say that this really changed my feelings on the trope. The book was cute, but in a “this is a general romance book” kind of cute. I really don’t know if this is a book i’ll be able to look back on as something memorable and that sticks with me.

Also I know that this is a romance between Sage and Fisher, but I do wish that we had gotten more on page interactions between Fisher and Indy. I was more invested in him becoming her guardian, and how they were learning to be just the two of them. They were struggling together, and it would have been nicer to see more of them on page. I feel like we just kept hearing how things were changing, but not really seeing it.

Tarah DeWitt has writing some of my favorite characters and books.

This one was great, but it is not my favorite.

I enjoyed the story building, the tension, and the romance.

I think there was a little extra thing that was missing for me, and I could not pin it down.

It was still such a great book, I enjoyed it from start to finish and the writing was fantastic as usual.

This is a really good and fairly quick read. I loved Sage and her small town, gardener, hobby farmer type vibes and Fisher and his New York, city, chef vibes and how they mixed so well together.
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This book definetely had some very funny moments...the robo vac moment was excellent!
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Both of these main characters had deep emotional stories of their past which really made the connection between them stronger. I loved that Fisher who was definetely the grumpy character, had no idea what he was doing raising his teenage niece but Sage, the sunshine character, was always right there to help him figure it out. Sage was also immediately open to helping him with the menu, the restaurant, anything he needed.
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Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it!

Savor It by Tarah DeWitt is a delightful blend of heartfelt emotion, humor, and romance. The novel follows Billie, a spirited woman with a passion for food and a knack for witty banter, and Blake, a stoic chef who prefers to keep his emotions tightly controlled. When they find themselves reluctantly working together, their undeniable chemistry ignites in a slow-burn romance that’s equal parts sweet and sizzling.

DeWitt’s writing shines with its clever dialogue and vivid descriptions of food, making the culinary setting almost as enticing as the love story. The characters are well-developed, with flaws and vulnerabilities that make their journey both relatable and deeply satisfying.

Perfect for readers who enjoy a combination of sharp humor, emotional depth, and a love story that feels both grounded and romantic, Savor It is a treat you’ll want to savor from start to finish.

I enjoyed this one while reading, but didn't find it memorable. I wish there was more depth to the relationship between Sage and Fisher, however, I did enjoy the witty banter between the two characters.

I can appreciate that both main characters had things from their past that they were working on while the chemistry between them blossomed. There is mention of grief and the death of a parent, which I know can be hard for some readers.

Tropes: Small town romance, neighbors to lovers, dual POVs, summertime romance, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine

hotter couple ever and I love them and I need them in my life. tarah is such a queen because she doesn't miss and I am obssesed with this cover and the couples and every characther she creates.
thank you tarah for sharing your brain with us

A story of love, loss, grief, found family, burn out, and what happens when you hide yourself away to prevent being hurt, Located in a small town, this book is quaint, steamy, and very sweet to read.

Savor It is a lovely fish out of water, small town romance that will leave your heart warm and full! Tarah DeWitt's writing has the perfect balance of charm and small town antics to leave you with a smile on your face while also taking you through so up and down emotions. DeWitt's writing is conversational and engaging, her world is sweet and idyllic and her characters are complicated and relatable. This next door neighbor, turned friends with benefits romances is a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday. The hero and heroine become the perfect balance and support of the other, they both easily fall in love but don't want to make the other have to compromise so it is really lovely to see this relationship grow and change and for any animosity to be taken out when decisions are made. These two show each other what it means to love and trust and watching them get their happily ever after is gratifying and beautiful! Do yourself a favor and pick up this lovely romance today!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love small town romances. I also love when good small town romance book is not just feel-good and steamy, but packs a good emotional punch. And this book did just that. I loved the connection between the two main characters and how natural it felt. Beyond that, I loved what this book represented about finding yourself and what truly matters

3/5 ⭐️

I have to say, this wasn’t my favourite. I went into with high hopes and it just didn’t hit the spot. I know that I struggled with it because it had too much description. There were so many long descriptions and it made me lose interest. There were definitely moments that were cute and that I enjoyed but overall I just couldn’t connect with it.

Tarah Dewitt will always be an insta buy author for me. I always connect with her characters. She writes the most beautiful heartfelt romances

This was a fun small town romance with opposites attract and friends with benefits. I found myself laughing out loud many times! I enjoyed the slow but spicy burn, the hot chef and the foodie vibes!

This book explores themes of grief, healing, self-discovery, burnout, and the complexities of relationships, touching on both family dynamics and love. While I appreciated the underlying messages and enjoyed the overall premise, I struggled to connect deeply with the characters or the story. The plot, which revolves around a festival, competition, and a slow-developing romance, felt repetitive, and the emotional depth I was hoping for was lacking. Although the book featured excellent communication between the leads, which helped avoid misunderstandings, the romantic connection didn’t quite resonate with me.
That said, the novel does offer a valuable lesson on savoring the present, appreciating life's small moments, and embracing change. While some elements fell short of their potential, I still found the book enjoyable overall, with its heartwarming lessons and some sweet scenes. It may not have been a perfect read for me, but it could certainly resonate differently with others.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc of Savor It by Tarah DeWitt.

This is a steamy, small-town contemporary romance set in fictional town of Spunes, Oregon. The story focuses on Sage and Fisher. Sage is working through a breakup and trying to rediscover herself, while Fisher, a famous chef, stumbles into town in search of focus after the devastating loss of his sister and the responsibility of raising his teenage niece. They form an unlikely alliance after a rocky first meeting.

I absolutely loved this book. The town and its people felt so real and welcoming. Sage and Fisher are both lovable characters with distinct personalities. The supporting cast—Sage’s family, the townsfolk, and especially her animals—creates a cozy, whimsical setting that you’ll wish existed in real life. I’m hoping for more books in the Spunes, Oregon universe.

I highly recommend this to fans of interconnected romance series and anyone who enjoys Tarah DeWitt’s other books!