As someone who is fairly new to Tarah DeWitt, I found just okay! There were a handful of great moments but there were more 'misses' that may be a "me" thing rather than the majority of readers who may pick this up.

The pros:
Love the imperfect characters! The flaws and all
The small town aspect - the meddlesome townies and noisy Bryd brothers
The banter! Laughed a few times between Sage and Fisher or with the Bryd brothers themselves
Fake dating x grumpy/sunshine


The cons:
Felt a disconnected to the character's which made it difficult to root for their relationship that resulted into their chemistry being a bit lack luster for me
Sage was a bit too quirky and out of pocket - her one-liners or puns during intimate or serious moments threw me out of scenes more often than offering comedic relief
A bit too much side plot and unnecessary info dumps on small town life/activities
Wanted a bit more Indy and Fisher! Those were my favorite parts of the novel

Definitely worth the read if you like small town romance, spice, and a bit more outside of the contemporary romance formula! Thank you @netgalley and St Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So, Tarah's first novel (Root bound) was one of my first romance novels to ever read and her writing always stands out for me. It's like visiting with an old friend. She writes such unique yet relatable characters and plots. And I swear I get such Taylor Swift song vibes when I read her books - this book reminded me of the song august and also probably evermore, two top tier songs in my opinion!

This story really stood out for me though since it's set on the Oregon coast (I like to believe she wrote this for me 😂), which is where we have lived for the past few years (the background photo here is of my local neighborhood beach area). The descriptive setting and small town vibes felt so eerily familiar and comforting, it was so fun to read. I also loved the female MC Sage and her hobby farm animals and garden, and really connected with her personally. And of course definitely enjoyed experiencing her and Fisher getting to know each other and fall in love. It's been a week since I finished this book so now I've lost all memory of the details, but I definitely recommend reading this when it comes out in May '24! ✨ It's my only pre-order for next year and I have no regrets!

If Tarah DeWitt writes it, I have found that I absolutely need to read it. This book was so perfectly beautiful and emotional with everything I needed to have. It had hard themes filled with laugh out loud moments that broke the tension, but never distracted from it as a whole. Amazingly quick and enjoyable read!

Tarah Dewitt has done it again. She writes all the flaws of an adult relationship and all the delights of one in a realistic manner. Slightly slow but that only enhanced the small town vibes. Overwhelmingly enjoyed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I got a widget of Savor It and loved the premise, so I immediately downloaded the ARC and couldn’t wait to dive in.

A grumpy/sunshine trope almost always works for me, and when fake dating is added, I’m all for it, so I really liked Sage and Fisher together. Even though the pacing of the story was slow at first, I loved the overall story. I didn’t know Tanya DeWitt before, but now I’ve read one of her books, I’m definitely going to watch out for her next releases.

Thanks so much, St. Martins Press, for the opportunity to read this romance!

First and foremost, I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for lending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

My first thoughts: wow, just wow. five beautiful stare and maybe even more. I am not sure if I am just a sucker for small town romances, or what, but this story BLEW me away.

We are introduced to a small-town named Spunes in Oregon, where we meet Sage Byrd. She lives on a farm with her misfit animals tending to them and her gardens. She prefers to live 'in the moment' more so than focusing on the future. Next, we meet Fisher, who is on a trip to Spunes where he is from New York and is a hot shot chef who is experiencing burnout along with a lot of other life's grievances, with his niece (who he raises), Indy, in tow. They nestle into the house neighboring Sage for the summer. There paths cross and eventually they realize they can help each other and the story goes on telling how they fall deeply in love with each other as time is ticking for Fisher to return back to New York in August.

I will admit, I have read a few of my fair share of small town love stories along with watching many Hallmark movies, but this one, this one hit me so hard and will forever stay in my mind, soul, and heart. Every character introduced (except Ian and Cassidy) hit me somewhere in my heart and I have never felt so apart of a town like I did in this story.

I will say, Tarah DeWitt, I cannot believe you made me cry almost three whole chapters before making me realize you were going to give them a happy ending!

First of all - this book has left me realizing I must be toxic because this book and the characters were so perfectly flawed and sweet and full of grace and I didn’t know how to handle it.

This story was REAL. It had real problems with real people living life in the most simple and fulfilling way. The friendships here were tangible and the relationship development was *chefs kiss*.

Sage and Fisher is what everyone’s relationship should look glike. Falling in love with them was a privilege to read. (See what I did there??)

This is the first book by Tarah DeWitt that I've read. I liked it! I enjoyed that there were side characters with relevance to the plot line, although they were introduced pretty fast so I had to stop at times to remind myself who they were (people vs animals?!). I *loved* that the MMC was a chef and that there was food dialogue throughout the story. It was fun to read about the food Fisher cooked, and it also gave his character a lot of depth without having to use words in the story to establish it. The chapter where Sage sits down at the kitchen table to watch her mans cook her breakfast? Yes, Chef!

For things I didn't like about the book: I felt like the pacing/plot was a bit slow for the first ~25% of the book and it was hard to get into at times. The HEA and epilogue also felt a little rushed at the end :'( I would have enjoyed more chapters developing life for Fisher and Indy once they relocated to a Small Town (TM) from the Big City (TM). Put simply, the people want more! :)

Overall, I feel like this was a cute and fun story. I enjoyed reading Savor It and am interested in reading other books by the author as well. TY Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Savor It by Tarah Dewitt is an utterly captivating read that had me hooked from the very first page. The enchanting town of Spunes and its delightful inhabitants stole my heart, leaving me with an insatiable desire to know more about their lives. Dewitt's writing effortlessly weaves together humor, heartache, and genuine emotion, taking readers on an unforgettable rollercoaster ride of laughter and tears. I couldn't put this book down, and upon reaching the end, I found myself yearning for a sequel to continue the journey with these beloved characters.

3.75-4/5

Thank you SO much for the advanced copy - Funny Feelings is 110% one of my favorite books, and I truly appreciated the opportunity to review Savor It before it hits shelves in May.

I’d give this 3.75 to 4 stars out of 5. It was slower to get into, but I was hooked just over halfway in. The puns, food references, and genuine personalities of Sage and Fisher made the story. I can also see a YA opportunity to explore Sam and Indy’s relationship or a spinoff for Wren.

This has been shared to my Goodreads.

Savor It felt like a gigantic warm hug. I don’t know any better way to describe it. ALL of the characters are so endearing and lovable. The setting of the book is one that I found myself wanting to sink back into whenever I had a free moment to spare. I also want to live in Sage’s sunroom forever. So much great banter, moments that made me cry, and just an overall lovely time. I love all of Tarah’s books so much.

I so appreciate the advanced copy of this book from NetGalley as well ♥️

This book was sooo good, and gave me all of the small town vibes. I devoured this one! It brings me back to a Gilmore girls vibe in the beginning with Sage and Fisher reminding me of Luke and Lorelei. The characters were so cozy, I laughed, I cried, I had butterflies in my stomach. The messages were there and true and powerful. The angst, the romance, everything was SO good with this book and I loved every minute of it! I will undoubtedly be reading this again later on!

4.5 Stars!
Anyone how knows me knows I love a good fake dating trope! Add in a small town and any kind of cooking/baking and I’m all in! **Yes, chef**😘 and she has a farm with adorable animals, YES PLEASE!
Tarah does such a good job with the banter and relationship building of these two! And the emotional growth these characters help each other through is beautiful. I love watching characters develop together and grow into their love! Definitely will be reading more from her!

While this book is packed with enjoyable rom-com tropes, I was surprised about how much didn't resonate with me. After the first few chapters, the story began to drag it. It wasn't until close to the halfway point that the plot even began to develop, which felt awkward and imbalanced. I didn't dislike this book, but it certainly wasn't a standout for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sage and Fisher had instant chemistry and I did enjoy this one. It dragged in the middle so I found myself trying to get through to the end. Overall I"m glad to have finished it but unfortunately it won't be one that sticks out for this genre.

what does Tarah put in her FMCs to make them so relatable?!

Her books, her characters, her towns, they all feel like home.

Savor It was no exception 🥹

Summer Won't Last Forever by Tarah DeWitt is a delightful rom-com that captures the essence of small-town charm and the complexities of love and healing.

The story follows Sage Byrd, a resilient coastal town resident navigating a post-breakup phase, and Fisher Lange, a former high-profile chef seeking redemption amidst personal loss. As their paths intertwine, a strategic partnership ensues, leading to unexpected romance and emotional growth.

DeWitt skillfully infuses the narrative with the spicy fun of summer, creating a heartwarming journey filled with relatable emotions and tender moments. With its engaging storyline and well-crafted characters, this d novel is a testament to the author's storytelling prowess and is sure to enthrall rom-com enthusiasts.

An absolute must read!

❤️Tropes❤️
Grumpy/sunshine
Fake dating
Small town romance
Single dad / guardian

These are some of my all-time favorite tropes and I am so happy to report that I was not let down!

Savor it had me laughing, smiling at the cuteness, and in my feelings when DeWitt tackled some more serious topics such as grievance and the darker side that can sometimes come with small towns.

I found some of the early parts of the book somewhat difficult to get through at times but as the relationship between the two main characters developed I truly became engulfed in the their story.
Sage and Fisher built a real foundation getting to know each other so when the summer got closer to ending, I really felt how desperate they were to cling to what they had and savor it while they could.

I also adored the messages the book held about finding home, yourself, and
having the courage to change your path.


**Thank you to Netgalley for providing ARC in exchange for an honest review **

Loved the grief representation, and the depth of each character. Bonus points for no miscommunication trope!!

This book took me by surprise. Reading it felt like taking a smalltown vacation that reminds you of true values - things like making the most of every day, forging your own path, and connecting with people. Sage Byrd is truly individual. She's unlike any other character I've read, and I aspire to be more like her - full of color and life, fragile but determined humanity, and goodness to give. I'm in love with Sage and Fisher together. The nostalgic, classic story of feeling lost and broken only to find yourself anew and healing in love is told again in a satisfying, heart-warming, smile-on-your-face-while-reading kind of way. I would highly recommend this book to lovers of smalltown romance, and to anyone who has even fleetingly dreamed of packing up and moving to the middle of nowhere to grow flowers and have baby goats (because let's be real who hasn't).