Member Reviews
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 ๐ฅน
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!
โค๏ธTropesโค๏ธ
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).
3.5 stars (the extra half star is for the writing)
Tarah DeWittโs โSavor Itโ is a quiet, gentle romance that explores whether we should we try and make our lives bigger, better and faster. Or do we savour what we have and lead a life on our terms?
Fisher Lange is a burnt out Michelin star winning (and losing) New York chef sent by his boss to Spunes, Oregon to oversee completion of her new restaurant. In tow is his teenage niece Indy. Both are in therapy and grieving the loss of Indy's mum/Fisher's sister, and, for Fisher, the loss of his award-winning career.
His new neighbour, Sage Byrd knows all too well about grief, having lost her parents young and was raised by her three older brothers. Sage is a people-pleaser, committed to Spunes and desperate to win the town's annual festival competition.
Tarah DeWitt has such a lovely way of writing their instant connection and banter, plus their observations about their growing relationship and how the other makes them feel. Through Fisher, Sage learns to not make herself smaller and to demand better for herself. while through Sage, Fisher learns to heal, and enjoy the present and live a life on your own terms instead of what others think. I also enjoyed the exploration between small towns and small mindedness. Yes small towns do have that, but there can still be community and connection.
However I think this book really dragged with unnecessary side characters and plots which didn't do much more than reinforce to the negatives of small-town life. I find myself wanting to skip over the same reptitive inner thoughts of both Fisher and Sage. The whole competition and the animals were superfluous and should've been removed. As a character I also found Sage a tad too much on the 'quirky t-shirts/sunshine/small towns are great girl'. (Also, for the love of god, you've only known each other a few weeks. I don't care if you're both 'clean' and she's on birth control, use a damn condom!)
Instead I'd have loved to see Fisher and Indy bond more, instead of a rushed scene at the end. I also find it annoying that in the thesis to show you don't need bigger or better and remaining in your small town if you're happy is okay, that there's still a slight sneer at city life=bad.
While I didn't quite connect with this book as others have, there's hints of this being a series with a second chance Ellis and Wren that I would be really curious to read.
Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
"Savor It" by Tarah DeWitt is a captivating novel that earns a solid 4-star rating from me. This story takes place in the charming coastal town of Spunes, Oregon, and it masterfully explores themes of love, loss, and the power of human connection.
The characters, especially Sage Byrd and Fisher Lange, are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journey. DeWitt's writing skillfully depicts the picturesque town of Spunes and its inhabitants, immersing the reader in its small-town charm.
The plot revolves around Sage and Fisher's strategic alliance, which evolves into a passionate romance, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The story is beautiful yet heart-wrenching, highlighting the fragility of time and the importance of seizing the moment.
This was my first Tarah Dewitt book and after finishing it I am going to be running to buy her other books! I was hooked from chapter one! This has become one of my favorite romance books! If you love small town romance and fake dating you will love Savor it!
The romance in this story was so good, lots of banter and tension, but it had so much more to it. I loved the character development you see and relationship building between Fischer (MMC) and his niece. There are some heavy topics in this book but Tarah Dewitt writes it all in such beautiful way. I found myself wanting to highlight so many quotes!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
I will be recommending it to everyone!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martinโs Press for an early copy of Savor It by Tarah DeWitt. This is the first book Iโve read by Tarah. Itโs a cute romance with Sage and Fisher and with reading longer books this was a nice pallet cleanse because this book is a nice length for a quick easy read. In the beginning, it took a little bit for me to get into the book but I think thatโs because I havenโt read a book by this author so I had to get used to writing but once I was into the book I just wanted to keep reading. Overall this book was a cute read and I might have to pick up another Tarah DeWitt book!!
If you enjoy:
-small town
-grumpy/sunshine
-fake dating
-grief/Healing
You will love this book
โ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐โ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐โ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐โ
Rating: 3.5/5 โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ๐ซ
Pub Date: 5/21/24
Thank you @netgalley and St Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first book by this author, and I enjoyed her writing for the most part. I loved that this book was based in my home state of Oregon, and the small town romance trope.
I did feel the connection between the main characters, but I did not feel invested in either one. They were just OK characters, nothing special or charming. There was however, the perfect amount of spice in this story without being over the top. Iโm all for open door scenes. ๐ถ๏ธ
The conclusion and ending felt very rushed, where the beginning was descriptive and built the foundation for or the characters and the plot.
Worth the read if you like small town romance, some spice, and HEA endings.
Fisher is struggling with his career after a meltdown so he spends the summer in Spunes where he meets Sage. Summer romance ensues.
I struggled through this one. So many things that seemed like they were major plot points were awkward and didn't flow: the competition, the ex, even the restaurant. The last 20% was really good but I found it hard to connect to the story for most of the book.
Net Galley ARC:
After being obsessed with Rootbound and the Co-Op I was really excited for this book, but it took me a long time to get into it. It was overall enjoyable, but just didnโt feel as well developed as Dewittโs other stories have been
*will post on @youhavetoreadthisnow closer to pub date*
SAVOR IT by Tarah Dewitt โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ This is was such a satisfying romance. I loved the main character Sage. She was smart, independent, kind, and felt confident in who she wanted to be. The characters had all experienced so much loss and it added so much depth to their relationships watching them grow and navigate their grief. There was no miscommunication trope and they were so honest and vulnerable with each other about what they were going through. If you want a romance that will make you laugh, cry, and warm your heart, this is the one!
Fishers life is in shambles and he is given a chance to start over by relocating to a small town for 3 months. Sage happens to live in the small town next to where Fisher will be living. Both of them need to prove themselves to this small town so they strike a deal with each other to win the towns summer competition!
Perfect if you like:
โขFake dating.
โขSmall town romance.
โขComplicated families.
Pub. Date: May 21, 2024
Rating: โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Spice: ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ๐ถ๏ธ
Mood: ๐ฎ๐ฉ
๐ช: 18, 20, 21, 24, 26, 31
โ ๏ธ: explicit language.
A quintessential small town romance that is easy to devour. There is great banter between Sage & Fisher, and thankfully it is dual POV so we really get to see into both of them, which I love. This one has a lot of puns and a lot of heart, and will be a perfect summer read for 2024. My only grievances with this one are that some of the plot points kind of got lost along the way, and there is one plot point that is pretty abrupt and doesn't really add anything to the story, in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for a an early copy of this very beautiful book. Sage and Fisher are each broken or healing and find themselves in forced proximity to each other but only for a summer. The writing made me laugh out loud. Each character is lovable in their own unique ways. There are a lot of characters introduced very quickly in the first few chapters, which threw me a little. Indy, Fisherโs niece of whom he is the guardian, is a bad ass and I would love to see a sequel about her.
Also there are lots of food refs and cute animals in this book which is a double win for me!!
Spiciness level on this book: ๐ถ๏ธ/5
I was a big fan of Funny Feelings so was happy to go on my second ride with Tarah DeWitt.
This book!!! Bravo to Tarah for having a 3rd act conflict that makes sense and is NECESSARY for the story - not just a check box item. This book is filled with heart, love, sadness and joy. The characters and relationships are just amazing (Indy and the goose?!). Iโll be thinking about this one for a long time to come
This book was so amazing! I have read one other book from this author but it had been awhile and I didn't remember much. But this one will definitely be a comfort read for me! Sage and Fisher were the perfect character to fall in love with. I do think the pacing was a little off at times, but I still loved this book.
I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
Sage and Fisher's story was cute! But there were definitely some issues with pacing and being able to connect with the MCs. It felt like the story definitely needed either another round with the Beta readers or an editor to help with the choppy story and really let this story shine.
I first discovered Tarah on Instagram and previously loved all her other books so when I got lucky enough to get this one I was sooo excited!
I loved the location of Spunes. I grew up in a small town. On a farm. With a bunch of animals, so reading this book really brought me home. ๐ญ
I loved Sage and Fisher so much! You can feel the chemistry come off the pages!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!