I had a bit of a hard time being grabbed by this at first, despite the funny dialogue that started on page one. But after the first couple of chapters, something clicked, and I couldn’t put it down. I loved that the author had the two main characters lean into their emotions without making it overwhelming or too cheesy. It struck the balance of heartfelt and funny really well. I also loved the character development of the teen niece in this book, and I wish we had gotten to see her a bit more than we did. This was a really sweet book, and I hope this gets turned into a small-town romance series!

I enjoyed this book! Savor it was my first Tarah DeWitt and came highly recommended to me by a friend from bookstagram. I loved the quirky personality of the FMC Sage paired with the broody chef MMC FIsher. I will say that it felt like they fell in love fast and hard, which isn't my favorite trope because I tend not to find it super believable. I would have loved some more buildup in this book, but I enjoyed it overall. I loved that the focus was not only the romance between the MCs, but subplots also included the dynamics of the town, Fisher's emotional growth as well as his transition to being a father figure in his relationship with his niece, and the desire of Sage to do something just for herself for once. As a healthcare provider, I related with the latter on a deep level and found so much joy in watching Sage achieve her goals with Fisher's help as a main plot of the book unrelated to their romance. There were moments that I thought were too on the nose, but overall I enjoyed it. So much so that I even downloaded DeWitt's other book Funny Feelings to read shortly after! I would definitely recommend to friends.

This is a sweet, cozy, small town romance that ended up being a perfect read when I needed it. Fisher moves to a small Oregon town for the summer with his niece, to center himself and find a way to refresh his life. Sage has grown up in the small town and is learning how to accept herself after an emotionally exhausting relationship. There is not a lot of unnecessary angst in this book, which I appreciate. Instead this is a comforting and kind romance with just enough steaminess and drama to keep it interesting.

Beautiful story!! The small town, the characters, and that library!!! I live in a small town, but I didn't grow up here, or grow up in a small town. I love the feel. All of Sage's animals, and her garden. She is just a delightful character. I feel her so much. This story is definitely one to savor and let simmer in your soul!!

I was excited for this because I've seen so much praise for the author but I'm not sure what's going on here. I haven't read anything else by the author, so maybe her other books are similar and people don't care? But I had a lot of problems with this---primarily, the writing. This read to me like an early draft. The dialogue is stilted and there were so many unnecessary scene breaks that it was very disorienting. I felt no push forward or urgency to continue. I feel like this would be fine if I felt any chemistry between the main couple, but I didn't see it at all. I still think what bothered me most was how unreadable this was--I had to make myself go back to it---so really hoping there will be a revision before publication.

This book borders on perfect in so many ways it's almost unfair. It is the kind of book I truly love, where we get to just be a part of a beautiful and heartbreaking love story without unnecessary drama. My heart got to just exist with them and I feel very lucky that it has.
Spunes feels like a perfect little small town of our romcom dreams, but without too many quirky side characters taking over the narrative. The cranky old lady who hates the new restaurant states her complaints at the town meeting and then fades into the background. Even the 3 legged cat only takes over the story when it makes sense. We are always brought back to Sage and Fisher and their journey together.
Even the epilogue, which I often have problems with, was perfectly done. I'm not sure how to read something else after this; I'll still be savoring my time with Fisher and Sage and their beautiful story.

This was cute! There were a bunch of sweet moments and some spicy bits scattered in the second half. I liked both Sage and Fisher, though I liked Fisher more. I had a hard time becoming emotionally invested in them.

I usually enjoy a good slow burn, but I felt like the first half was a bit disjointed. I absolutely loved the second half! Sage and Fisher seemed to have a clear target and objectives and it kept the story on track. The first half was a lot of nothing happening.

One of my favorite scenes was when they go to the little shop and have fun with the banana robe and shirt! Also the dialogue is on point! I loved the banter and the puns! Indy was a good and complex supporting character. I loved seeing her relationship with Fisher mature and her interactions with the animals were great!

I guess I just didn’t really like Sage… It was definitely an entertaining story and I really wanted to love it but I just ended up liking it. I kind of wanted to have more of the menu tasting and more studying as well. I feel like the two main points of the synopsis were actually the subplots… would I recommend it probably… would I buy a copy no. I would not, not recommend it either.

This book was exactly what you would hope for from a Tara Dewitt novel. The setting is delightful, the characters charming, and the story has so much heart. Oh, and the puns were punning. If you've read her other work I think there is an expectation to feel all the things. I think for this story, it was almost like an emotional slow burn. For a short while, I actually wondered if I would get that same deep feeling I had come to expect, and then all of a sudden it hits all at once. Overwhelming and all-consuming. I was a wreck. I know I will be rereading this one before the pub date. Sage, Fisher, and Spunes, Oregon have my heart. I truly hope we get to visit again. There are so many characters I'd love to read about.

I plan to post a mini review on socials in January and then again leading up to publication.

I'm probably going to be the only one who thinks this but I thought this was a book born out of romance tropes the author thought would be a hit. I don't know, both the FMC and MMC just seemed incredibly one-dimensional to me. But I would love to give this author another go on a later date.

As a side note, when books begin with a curated playlist made by the author I know I probably won't like it because the author doesn't leave much room for interpretation in their characters and already have a set perception of them in their minds that the reader has to follow. And sometimes the songs they pick are very bad lmao.

Thanks @netgalley and @smpromance and @authortarahdewitt for the chance to read the swoony, Savor It. It releases on May 21, 2024.

Sage has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, OR (not to be confused with Forks, WA). She's in a rut after her long-term boyfriend dumps her and quickly gets engaged. Enter Fisher, a NYC-chef who is looking for a fresh start with his niece Indy. They are only supposed to be in Spunes for the summer, but the longer they get to know Sage and her family, the harder it is for them to return to their "normal" life. This book is full of amazing food, gorgeous scenery, and some seriously swoony and steamy scenes. I highly recommend it!

(Also, can we discuss how freaking beautiful the cover is??)

Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes: small town, only for the summer, grief, FWB

Somehow Tarah Dewitt can make you happy about crying.

The way she tell her stories and the life she breathes into her characters make them feel like your best friends. So when one of them is going through it, YOU feel like you’re going through it too.

But it also is amazing because that’s GOOD WRITING!
It’s the mark of an incredible storyteller, to be able to make you sob and then make you laugh!

A forever fav, and I will forever be a fan

I will no longer be reviewing this title as it is under the SMP strike. I hope to revisit it at a later date.

This was an ok book not really my favorite of the year but id definitely give the author another go.

I absolutely adored this book. It’s soft, sweet, and a really well done romance with a terrific obstacle for our couple to overcome. I also loved the setting. This was such a delightful read that I immediately went to get Tarah’s other books. Smart, funny, and steamy—the perfect trifecta.

I loved Savor It! This is a lovely story of two people figuring out what they want in life and from each other. DeWitt's prose was beautiful and pacing was wonderful. I am looking forward to more by her!

Wow! I absolutely adored this book - and I don't know what I thought I was going to get going into it, but I loved it so much more than I anticipated. This book is just so magical.
The story surrounds Sage & Fisher - Sage is a bubbly and adorable teacher, living in a coastal town in Oregon - a very small town that she's lived in her entire life and adores. She has a farm, with lots of misfit animals, gardens, and is super happy to live her life, even despite her boyfriend of five years breaking up with her and getting engaged quickly with someone else.

Fisher is just about the opposite. He's a big wig chef from NYC, until the death of his sister sends him into a dark place. In her absence he gains guardianship of his teenage niece, Indy. When Fisher loses a Michelin star he is sent for the summer with Indy to Sage's small town to help open a restaurant and create a menu there. Things aren't super easy when he gets there - so Sage and Fisher decide to make a pact. Sage will help Fisher's image in the town if he partners with her in the town yearly competition they have. In order to do that though, they end up needing to spend a lot of time together, which ends up being exactly what they both need.

Okay so here's why I loved this book - THE CHARACTERS - main and supportive characters. A swoony AND real romance. The town - which I just want to get lost in.

Here's the thing - I don't love a grumpy man in a book -it's just not something I love to read. So initially when I picked up the book I was a little hesitant. Fisher was just completely unhappy and there didn't seem to be a ton of things redeeming about him, but the way that DeWitt crafted him, his pain, and what he was going through, it felt so real. And Sage was just pure magic. She was smiles and rainbows, and tears when tears were called for. She was so full of life itself that it was fun to "be around her". This is a couple that I don't think anyone could root against.

I think it's a true talent to be able to create a world in a book that you don't want to leave. And that's how I felt when I read this book. I wanted to be pals with Sage, have a meal with Fisher and Indy (his niece), and live on her wild and adorable little farm.

Big, big thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC. This is such a treasure!

Savor It is a beautifully written romance with a very apt name - I wanted to savor every minute of reading it. This story focuses on our small town heroine, Sage, with a heart of gold as she navigates a friendship and more with a disgraced chef, Fisher, who moves to town temporarily with his niece. The sexual chemistry kept me turning the pages deep into the night. I just loved every part of it - it was like reading my first five star romance. Sigh. I would also be thrilled to return to the small town of Spunes and read romances featuring Sage’s brothers. Hint, hint, hint. Thank you #Netgally and #Macmillianusa for the ARC. The opinions are all mine.

I really enjoyed the story of Sage and Fisher. All my favorite tropes. Small town romance, just for the summer, descriptions of delicious food and finding yourself.

Sage- a small, coastal town, native meets Fisher, the summer renter next-door, who is there to help establish the new restaurant in town ( and some bonding with his niece, who he is now the sole guardian of ) they get more than they bargain for than just being neighborly and teammates for the end of summer canoe race.

There is good character development, great witty banter, and I was very pleased with many of the topics that the author addressed with great honesty. The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five was the pacing of the book. It was a bit all over the place. It was a bit hurried in some places, and then very in detailed and in depth in others - it didn’t feel cohesive throughout. Other than that, I really enjoyed it.

4-4.5 stars

"It's bee a privilege to fall in love with you Sage"

Sage (fmc)
Fisher (mmc)

My second book by Tarah and honestly, I need to keep on reading her books. Her books are well written and so touching as well. I really did love Sage and Fisher and this book. I hope you savor it as much as I did.

Sage has lived in a small town in Oregon (Spunes) her whole life, and from page one we are welcomed into her world. Enter Fisher, a handsome chef from New York City who is going to be living in Spunes for the summer. Fisher is Sage's neighbor for the summer, and so unforgettable summer adventure begins. I really liked Fisher and Sage's relationship and from their beginning their first encounter gave some sparks. Yes, this story is filled with love (summer love) , but I also loved that Fisher was able to find himself again. I liked getting into Sage's head, I really did like learning the depth of her thinking and I was happy that she found her HEA. I loved her heart and her animals were everything!! Towards the end I felt that it was a little rushed but overall I did really enjoyed this book.

I loved the side characters too! Indy was interesting, and I would love to read about her in the future if Tarah ever has plans. Oh my don't get me started on Ellis and Wren! I would love to one day read their story, I'm so intrigued. I feel that Tarah might give us something about them. I don't know why but I have a feeling and I hope so.

Solid 3.5 ⭐️ This is my first book by this author, and tbh it was really hard for me to get into the characters minds. I struggled quite a bit and even 50% of the way through I was wanting some more connection between the two main characters. At 75% of the way through is when they finallyyyy had a real connection imo.

There were some parts that were really sweet between Fisher and Sage and I loved Sage’s quirkiness and “Sage Advice” she was constantly giving Fisher about how to win over the small town.

I did love the character development between Fisher and his niece, Indy, and loved seeing them go to therapy and talk through their trauma of losing his sister and her mom.

Some quotes I enjoyed:

“The kid is as tall as I am but looks like he’s been put through a pasta maker to get that way.” Had me chuckling 🤣🤣

“To live by your own standards, and no one else’s. To be happy by your own measure.”

You’ll like this book if you like:
Close proximity
Friends to lovers
Summer romance
Trauma
Slow burn