Ok, I'm rounding up from a 4.5, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sage and Fisher are 2 mature characters getting through their baggage together. They both have things to work through and are great together. I loved that there was actual communication between the two instead of the usual bumbling misunderstading. The side characters are mostly fleshed out well. I wouldn't mind more of Ellis and Wren. The story is well written and does what it should, it leaves you invested in these characters and wanting to know what comes next.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Savor It- that’s exactly what I did reading this. It was a relatively short but incredibly sweet story of navigating grief, re-prioritizing your life and what really matters to you, and finding love where you least expect it. Fisher and Sage’s relationship felt very organic, I thought they had great chemistry and fit together nicely. They were always honest with each other, apologized and immediately set the record straight if anything got misconstrued. The fake dating didn’t really go anywhere as they acted on their attraction for each other pretty quickly, making it a very real situation but I liked it that way.

I laughed, I cried, I swooned and ultimately had so much fun reading this. I am praying to Tarah DeWitt herself that she gives Ellis and Wren a second chance and let’s us read about it soon 🩷

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of Savor It in exchange for my honest review!

It took me a little longer to get into compared to Tarah’s previous books. I think the fake dating storyline got lost a bit so I would have liked another town scene where they played into it, and maybe more town/fake dating scenes in general.

I loved how healthy the communication was between Sage and Fisher, and how they slowly opened up about their pasts with each other. It was also heartwarming seeing Fisher and Indy’s relationship grow and start to heal.

The theme of grief was woven throughout the book and manifested in different ways in each character. Whether it was the loss of a parent, a sibling, or a relationship, it felt palpable through the pages.

Savor it releases May 21, 2024!

🌻 single guardian
🌻 small town
🌻 grumpy sunshine
🌻 fake dating
🌻 next door neighbors
🌻 opposites attract

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Tarah Dewitt for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed this book very much. It was a cozy friends to lovers romance with minimal spice. Definitely a slow burn! I enjoyed the healthy communication between the main characters, including Indy. At the farm animals were an added bonus!

Thank you Netgalley, St Martins Griffin and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Overall, this book was ok. It would make an ok TV movie minus the intimate scenes (not quite open door, maybe cracked a bit). I think the pacing was off. It was a really slow start and to9 a while for anything to build up, then the ending was rushed.

This book had potential but the execution wasn't the best. For some reason I felt like this book didn't had enough dialogue between the main couple, which is extremely weird. The plot wasn't going nowhere and there was an excessive amount of filler that could've been easily removed.

I always have the same problem with this author: the pacing is weird, she uses random words to make her writing seem "fancy" and "eloquent" but have these have no correlation with is really happening (it seems pretentious to me) and the worst one, her characters never have chemistry. Sage wasn't a likable FMC, she was too quirky for my taste and would say the most random out of pocked things (why would they talk about dead relatives after having sex???? Every single time). I don't know. This wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either.

This was so unbelievably beautiful. Tarah DeWitt has outdone herself with Savor It. The characters are so well written and throughly crafted with unique personalities. I’m still at a loss for proper words after finishing this. Fisher & Sage had amazing chemistry and none of the dialogue was cringey or felt “corny” at all. Overall, would 100% recommend to anyone and everyone.

With a soft, tender romance and a small town that is bursting with eccentric charm, this quiet love story slowly got under my skin in the best of ways. I've loved all three of DeWitt's previous books, so I was nervous that this wouldn't meet my very high expectations, but I shouldn't have worried. Her writing is fresh and distinct (as always), with an undercurrent of emotion weaving through the pages. I loved that this was so fun and genuinely funny, while also sneaking in moments of heart-wrenching angst. This couple knows from the start that their connection is meant to be a temporary one, so that adds a layer of tension to the bond that forms between them. It's got a great strangers to friends to lovers feel, with tons of chemistry and a fantastic cast of characters. The heroine is a delight, and I so appreciated that she found her partner in a man who is worthy of her time. My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough, but I have a feeling we'll be back in this small town before long. I loved it!

The story follows Sage, a woman who has found family in her small community. While others can't wait to get out of town, Sage has flourished here. When a sexy chef and his troublesome teenage niece move next door for the summer, Sage isn't sure what to think. Fisher is clearly a bit of a mess and trying to find himself again, while his niece is counting the days until they can return to the city. Though Fisher is attracted to Sage, he knows that starting something up is ill-advised at best. So the two form a tentative friendship that sometimes feels like more. As Sage and Fisher grow closer throughout the summer, their connection starts to feel deeper than anything temporary ought to be.

I tried to avoid all spoilers and go into this with fresh eyes, though I was already drawn in by my past love of DeWitt's work and that gorgeous cover. It took no time at all before I was feeling the attraction between these two, and I loved that everyone in the story felt unique and authentic. The small town vibes are immaculate, and I sincerely hope we're getting several of the other stories that are teased here. But I loved Sage and Fisher most of all, because they were absolutely perfect together. Sage has the lightness that Fisher needs in his life, and he was such an empowering presence for Sage. They were better together. I've never enjoyed a hero who is described as looking like a sexy pirate, but Fisher definitely stole my heart. Their story is just the right mix of soft, sexy, and sentimental, with as many playful, humorous moments as there are angsty and emotional ones. The spice certainly didn't hurt either, lol, and I felt the slow-burning attraction in a big way. I would've eaten up another 50-100 pages of their love story, but the shorter length made it easy to devour in a single day. It was everything I wanted and more.

Tarah DeWitt does it again. Quickly becoming her biggest fan. Imperfect characters but relatable and lovable! Sage and Fisher were such fun personalities.

I really liked this book but it was not a love. The storyline was nice and the characters were sweet and mostly interesting but there wasn’t enough something. I liked the spice level and enjoyed the build up. It felt like too many side characters that didn’t add to the story unless there will be more books. My kindle copy had some odd page layouts, which I’m sure will be fixed before release. Overall, I’m glad I read it and appreciate the ARC!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is one of the best books I’ve read in 2023. And that means a lot because 2023 is almost over. This is one of those books that feels low steaks but also touches on some sensitive subject matter in a very kind . Hands down Savor it by Tarah DeWitt will leave you giddy. A beautiful mix of romance, angst, amazing dialogue and a story that made me stay up until 6am to finish it. You will love all the characters, you will feel for them, and want them to be happy and you will most definitely cry.

Laugh out loud humor it will make you want to devour anything and everything by this author and still ask for more.
Honestly this story was so beautiful and written so well that I’m kind of dumbfounded that a book can make me feel this way. This story— and its message came to me at exactly the right moment in time and that’s why I love it so much, it’s not just romance but life lessons crafted throughout,

Sage felt like my friend, I wanted to know more about her and her relationships. She is so genuinely good that you wish people could be like her, she encapsulates the goodness around us, and those people are the most important. I wish for more stories in this world. All the characters felt fully formed that had their own lives that they were dealing with and the curious thing is I am interested in these background characters, and I hope that there will be more books in this world that focusses on those characters as well.

Please read this book. I will recommend this to everyone!

3.5 it was a cute book, obviously. i got a little bored with it though (just a me thing, nothing against the book.) nothing insanely special, but also not bad.

“A romantic comedy with spicy summer fun, small-town charm and Big Feelings.”

Read if you like:
🫶 Small town
🫶 Neighbors, Forced Proximity
🫶 Found Family
🫶 Fake Dating meets Summer Contest
🫶 Animals / Hobby Farm

Oh boy. I am smitten for Spunes, Orgeon. Easily one of my favorite romances to date, this gem had me laughing, smiling and whole heartedly charmed. This book was a cozy hug, with such heart that it brought tears to my eyes. The found family, side characters, cheeky farm animals, and the impeccable relationship development won me over from the very beginning. These characters found love in an unexpected summer, all while trying to find their purpose and overcome hard moments in their life. It was beautiful, and I’ll be pre-ordering a physical copy for my shelf.

Thank you NetGalley for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Throughout the book Sage and Fisher (as well as Wren, Indy, and Sam) are dealing with different kinds of grief, but are able to lean and open up to each other for help. Every character was amazing and played such a huge part in Sage and Theo's love story. I can't wait to see everyone again in the *possible* two other books in the series!?!

This story was so real and raw, but Tarah handled it with such great care, Fisher goes to therapy and there was amazing open communication between S + F throughout the entire book! This story is bound to make you blush, laugh, and cry your eyes out.

★ ★ ★ ★ //5
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Savor It

I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Do you love a book that:

💜 Small Town Romance
💜 Opposites Attrract
💜 Summer Time
💜 Fuzzy Feelings Feelings
💜Chef Vibe

THOUGHTS:

I thought that this sweet small town romance was perfection. I loved the fact that it had not too much and not too little spice, the characters were lovable and relatable in ways and I just adored them. This book gave me all of the feel good feels that I would expect it to and the plot/storyline was my favorite.

We have Fisher who moves to a small town after losing his job and he moves next door to the adorable Sage. I loved their dynamic and the chemistry that ended up building between these two. This book will have you swooning and giggling with the banter and back and forth with these two.

Please put this on your TBR, you will absolutely not be disappointed.

Dnf @ 38%

AAAAAA one of my most anticipated books and i ended up dnfing it :((( So sad that I don’t feel any chemistry between them at all. And also i find them annoying too sometimes lol

This was SO sweet and Fisher was equally as sweet and had me blushingggg. I love a small town romance where one person is originally against the idea of living in a small town and it not being enough but realizing it’s more than enough when the person/people you love are there. I also LOVED Sage’s character. Her doubts/insecurities were very real and relatable. When she talks about herself being a lot of “nots” and made sure Fisher knew that her being “too nice” did not mean she was weak?? Instantly fell in love with her.

Fisher and Sage’s chemistry was undeniable! I loved all the side characters and am really hoping we get to learn more about them (I need Ellis and Wren to be together). Based upon the description I had thought this was a fake dating book, it’s not and it’s better for it. I loved how honest both Sage and Fisher were about their feelings for each other and wanting to spend what little time they had with each other. I find with fake dating there’s more miscommunication in that each character is trying to hide that they’re actually falling - Fisher and Sage never did this and absolutely used their actions to back up their words. Loved this!

I loved savor it! Great character development, realistic relationships between all the characters and just enough humour.

I am hoping this will become a series since I am dying to read about a second chance romance for Wren!

Tarah Dewitt has a way of deftly balancing the three things romance novels need: humor, angst, and heart. If you’ve read Funny Feelings, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Dewitt’s 2024 book, Savor It, is another beautifully crafted novel.

When NYC Michelin-Star Chef Fisher Lange is sent to the small coastal Oregon town of Spunes, love is the last thing on his mind. After the death of his sister and a viral meltdown in front of a food critic, Fisher finds himself unemployed and attempting to parent his teenage niece. His mentor sends him to Spunes for the summer to get a new restaurant up and running with the promise of his old job back in the fall. His eccentric animal-adopting new neighbor, Sage, lost her parents when she was young and was raised by her older brothers. Early tragedy has shaped so much of her outlook, and she is committed to living a big life in the small moments. When the busybodies in this quirky small town attempt to block the restaurant, Sage and Fisher launch a fake-dating plan to win him favor with the townspeople and get her a partner for the annual town canoeing contest. As they grow closer, and Sage helps Fisher build a relationship with his niece, the fake begins to feel very, very real. But, as summer draws to a close and Fisher’s return to NYC draws near, things are bound to end in heartbreak.

This book has one of the best quirky small towns, so many fantastic family and friend characters that I need more details about, food as a love language, and SO MANY adorable animals. It also has thoughtful, tender, kind main characters in Sage and Fisher and an important message about how we define home, success, and love. PLUS, BABY GOATS AND MINI DONKEYS.

Many thanks to @netgalley, @stmartinpress, and @authortarahdewitt for an advanced copy of this charming book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. So often the formulaic small town romances are repetitive and trite, but Savor It felt like a comforting breath of fresh air. The small town trope is so cozy when done well, and I felt like it truly was executed nicely in this book. The story follows Fisher, a disgraced chef who is struggling with some personal demons, who travels to Spunes, Oregon with his niece in tow. He’s there to work on the opening of a new restaurant and gets off to a rocky start. Then he meets Sage, a lively and captivating local. Organically, the two begin to collide and collaborate (as partners in a race), and before long, feelings….