This book was cute! I enjoyed it alot! I loved getting both Sage and Fisher's perspectives throughout the story. At times i did feel like it was a tad long, and some parts could have been cut out. I would have liked to know more about Indy and her future with Sage and Fisher. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light hearted rom-com.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book, my first read from this author, and I ADORED it. It hit all the feels—I felt hope, I felt joy, I felt the heat and the tension, I laughed and I cried. And I just couldn’t get enough! The backstories of the two main characters, their families, Indy and her angst and dreams, the small town quirks, and just the pure dichotomy of the whole juxtaposition of expectation versus reality, misplaced assumptions, big city versus small town, and how being in the present while being stuck in the past can impact one’s soul. I loved Sage and her outlook on life. She was super relatable and such a mixture of pleasing people and standing her ground with just this effervescent joy and appreciation for what makes her happy, underpinned by insecurities from her past (and those layered in by her ex). Fisher and his grumpy/cinnamon roll duality was charming and caring, while also trying to cope with his past, his present, and what he really wants for his future, all while trying his best as a new caretaker. But I think my absolute favorite parts of this book were not only the moments of tension between Sage and Fisher, but the way that they spoke about and to each other. It was just so endearingly lovely and it made me, as the reader, yearn for that kind of love, understanding, and appreciation—all while not only building their partner up just as they are, but helping them heal and giving them purpose. Plus you could just FEEL the love. The way Sage observed Fisher when he was cooking for her you could just picture it and feel the same. And when the spice came, and oh the spice was chefs kiss, it wasn’t JUST the spice aspect—it was uniquely poignant in its representation of the love and luck and sense of urgency laced with pure joy and I just thought it was such a pleasure to read. Definitely highly recommend this one and will be reading more of their work!

“And I decided a long time ago that life being too short and too beyond my control meant that I’d let the small stuff feel big.”

This book was heartfelt and delicious! I am so impressed by the way DeWitt built this town and its people with so much detail and heart, I definitely felt like I knew Spunes well by the end of it.

Sage and Fisher deserve nothing but love and happiness forever and ever and ever. I love when authors let broken people mend and break over again because that’s what makes the characters feel even more alive, and the characters in Savor It were vibrant and real and flawed and lovable all the same. I wanted to stay in Spunes forever and find out where everyone’s stories lead.

This was a cute book, I did enjoy see the progress of sage and fishers story. I enjoy when authors add in more deeper topics to their story as I think it adds more depth to the story. I will say about halfway in the book I did start to get a little bit bored. The plot was a little hard to follow at times. Overall, I would rate this 3.5 ⭐️ thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press publishing for the ARC in return for an honest review♥️

I anticipated a lot from this, being a huge fan of "Funny Feelings" and "The Co-op" however, my expectations weren't met. I struggled to connect to the romantic plot because there's very little tension there. There's nothing keeping the characters apart and no reason why they can't simply be together, so there's not much story happening in that regard. I just wish there had been more depth throughout.


Thank you netgalley and publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I loved everything about this book. I loved how quirky the female main character was and how she marched to the best of her own drum. I thought the male main character was portrayed well as a grumpy chef. I the character development throughout the books was great, with each main character going through their own individual struggles. The competition element provided a gray way to add some comedy. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a romance with a chef and small town vibes.

Some fine-tuning of the voice here and there would be nice, but the story was beautiful and Sage and Fisher are both messy and beautiful and I love them. Loved the parts with Indy, and I’m crossing my fingers that we see more Spunes people in coming books??
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy!

Rating: 3/5
Warnings: workplace burn out, death of a parent
Steam: 3/5

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

~and this is a VERY honest opinion~

I'm giving Savor It a 3-star rating overall, breaking down to 2.5 stars for the initial 70% and 4 stars for the concluding 30%. And settle on 3 at the end of the day.

Part of me pains to say this because I was so excited for Savor It but I’ll be honest a large chunk of this book as painfully bad. A significant portion of the book was disappointingly choppy, leaving many loose ends that felt incomplete. I found myself frequently going back to reread sections, only to discover missing pieces or thoughts without a clear origin.

Here are my other qualms:

Despite the premise involving an MMC with guardianship over his niece, the actual depiction of their relationship was surprisingly minimal. More emphasis on Fisher building a connection with Indy or even exploring their past could have added depth to the narrative.

There were an overwhelming number of side characters, it’s like Stars Hallow exploded and I needed a map to know who was who. While I understand the intent of world-building for a potential series, it consumed a substantial amount of page time with minimal impact.

The storyline involving the two main characters preparing for a competition lacked cohesion, with references to two of them during a separate part of the competition left unexplored…where was our cooking competition and trivia portion?

On a positive note, there were some really sweet parts and I really loved the last bit. The foodie parts where excellent. And Wren and Ellis need a story, I’m more interested in them that I was Sage and Fisher.

I had pretty high expections of the author after Funny Feelings but I'm unsure if it was a fluke of perfection, as this one, fell short in several aspects.

This was a cute romance that dealt with loss, guardianship, and grief. It's my first book by the author, and it was a good small-town read with funny farm animals, a chef mmc, and a sweet fmc. The mmc Fisher was a well-known and talented chef but lost his job after a blowout with a food critic. He is the guardian of his niece and goes to Sage, the fmc small town, for a summer job. Sage and all her farm animals help Fisher get to know the town and help him find his love for cooking and creating food again. I loved how the relationship developed it was a slow burn, and the author spent a lot of time developing the main characters' relationship. I also loved the farm animals and the chef plot. The food was described in such a way that made me a little hungry lol. The beginning was a bit slow, and I wanted more from their relationship at times, but overall, this was a good read that I would recommend. Thank you to the publisher for this arc for an honest review.

Read if you like:
- Small-town romance
- Slow burn
- Angsty romance
- Guardianship
- Some steamy scenes
- Fake dating
- Opposites attract
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Next door neighbors

Thanks so much for the arc!

Sage Bryd lives in a small town in Oregon. Her next door neighbors rent out their house to a man a teen girl. The man turns out to be Fisher Lange. He’s temporarily living here to help a restaurant get off the ground, as he’s a chef.

This book was full of small town feels. Sage had all the animals- her brothers were the local police- there were nosey ladies- a charming library- town hall meetings. Of course the small town elders were not a fan of Fisher starting some new restaurant. This is when he must enlist the help of Sage to win them over. In the meantime she recruits him to be her partner in the town festival competition. They must train to row & cook something.

Throughout their journey of figuring out who they each are & their purpose they find peace in each other. Fisher is raising his difficult teenage niece (who also happens to be a big fan of Sage’s nephew). Watching Fisher and Sage fall in love was sweet. They have some hurdles to cross as Fisher is only here temporarily.

Sage gave me old-lady vibes. She lives in this old house and feeds all these animals. She wears corny “pun” filled t-shirts. She gardens & doesn’t seem to have a filter when she talks. I guess I struggled to relate to her. I didn’t love the random terrible migraine bit or the hospital emergency situation. They felt rushed and only placed in the story for a challenge. Also the word “savor” was used way too many times. This book gave Hallmark movie feels. It all seemed a bit unrealistic. I don’t think I’m the right audience for this. I love a good rom-com but this was too Hallmark for me.

4.5 Stars

Savor It was my first read by Tarah DeWitt, and I'll definitely be coming back for more. Summer romances with an "expiration date" are not usually my preferred trope for a rom-com, but Tarah hit every note with polish, even if the path to the characters' happily ever after was a little predictable.

Ultimately, what makes this book special is that it has a lot of heart. Sage and Fisher both feel like very fleshed out, real characters, struggling with similar feelings of grief in different ways. Many of their conversations together had me welling up with tears. The larger cast of characters also feel very well thought out. I really enjoyed Sage and Fisher's interactions with Sage's family and with Fisher's niece, Indy.

The things that made this not a full 5 stars for me are all subjective and matter of personal taste when it comes to tropes. I'd definitely recommend this heartwarming read to anyone who loves a good summer romance!

This was such a cozy love story and pretty emotional too! I really like this book. It was able to pull you in with both the romance and the characters themselves. I love it when the romance is just as intriguing as the character development. This was great!

"Savor It" by Tarah DeWitt is a delightful romcom that brings together two individuals grappling with personal challenges in the picturesque coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. Sage Byrd, a small-town girl with a love for her quirky hobby farm, and Fisher Lange, a former hotshot chef from New York City dealing with grief and a loss of passion for his craft, find themselves in proximity as neighbors for the summer.

The storyline, while entertaining and filled with fun and passionate twists, follows a predictable trajectory. As early as page three, the reader can foresee the inevitable romance blossoming between Sage and Fisher. The familiar small town versus big city lifestyle dynamic adds a charming backdrop to the narrative, akin to a spicy Hallmark movie translated into the written form.

Sage, having recently ended a five-year relationship with the town's golden boy, Ian, is in need of a win to prove her worth and shake off the pitying looks from her fellow townsfolk. The Festival of Spunes presents the perfect opportunity, and she requires a partner. Enter Fisher, a chef seeking redemption and a fresh start after losing his Michelin star and his love for cooking.

Their strategic alliance, born out of a deal to navigate town dynamics and win the festival, evolves into steamy rendezvous. As they work together to improve Fisher's image and overcome obstacles, emotional wounds begin to heal, and a genuine connection develops. The summer romance unfolds with a mix of spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and a dose of Big Feelings.

The characters, including the misfit animals on Sage's hobby farm, are entertaining and would undoubtedly be fun companions for a day on the farm. However, the overall predictability of the storyline might leave some readers craving a bit more complexity and surprise.

Despite the predictability, Tarah DeWitt skillfully weaves a tale that captures the essence of summer love and healing. "Savor It" is an enjoyable read, offering a cozy escape into a small-town world where love, laughter, and redemption unfold against the backdrop of the Festival of Spunes. If you're in the mood for a spicy romantic comedy with a touch of small-town charm, this novel is sure to hit the sweet spot.

Ummmmm… Hello. Tarah DeWitt has done it again. I’ve read her all books but Savor it tops the list.I always enjoy myself reading her books, but Sage and Fisher’s love story is so wonderfully tender.

At its core, it’s a story of deciding what life you want to live. Of making choices that leave you full and content. Of choosing people that do the same. Of ultimately constructing the reality that suits your fancy. And the characters did just that. It was a gift to peer into their lives.

Kooky Coastal small town vibes meets sexy chef. What more could you ask for?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Tarah DeWitt for creating this small town masterpiece , St.Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for the arc! I can guarantee people are going to be blow away.

Two individuals, each dealing with their own demons, get brought together in proximity (neighbors) for the summer & as predicted from page three of this story, they fall in love. The characters are entertaining & would definitely be fun to hang out with for a day on the farm, but overall, the storyline was incredibly predictable.
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt is pretty much a spicy Hallmark movie in the written form. Small town vs. big city lifestyle & all the fun, passionate twists along the way.
Thank you, #NetGalley, for the ARC & I do hope to read more Tarah DeWitt soon.

Synopsis
Fisher's job is moving him from a big city to a small town, where he meets Sage. Fisher is the single Uncle of his teenage niece after a family tragedy and is learning to navigate parenthood while juggling his career as a chef.

Sage, the bright-eyed, fabulous sunshine welcomes her new neighbor, Fisher and his niece, Indy. Fisher has been through a lot over the last several years, developing a tough exterior. That's until he meets Sage and starts taking her sage advice.

This was more of a Hallmark-level book than an HBO Max-level book.

I prefer not to reveal too many tropes, as requested by my followers.

My Opinion
This is a feel-good, sweet book about overcoming loss and leaning on a support system. I found the slow burn to be appropriate, but there were times that I felt the two main characters were best friends and not lovers. This was a great story, but I would love to read more spice between the characters to show they were more than just best friends.

I did find there were unnecessary chapters, creating filler. I prefer a story that is captivating with every word and during every chapter.

Overall, I will be recommending this book to my audience and recommend to others. However, I will not be re-reading this book, myself.

Rating
4/5 stars. I enjoyed the book and will recommend to my audience.
2/5 spicy pepper emojis. Few spicy scenes and were very brief.

Small town romance fans rejoice!!! Single caregiver fans take note! Let me introduce you to your next favourite romance with heart, a feast for the senses, and all of the small town feel-good-ness of Stars Hollow.

This book!!! Small town romance mixed with grief and life’s other many challenges. I laughed. I cried. One of the most relatable romances I’ve read. I loved Sage and Fisher’s story so much. Also, 🌶️🌶️🌶️.

3.5⭐️

This was a small town romance book that hit all the marks. The great chemistry between our FMC and MMC along with all the side characters. I loved all the animals too.

Also I want to see a book on Ellis and Wren ASAP!

3.5 stars rounded up.

I've read all of Tarah Dewitt's books (except her holiday one), and I think Savor It is her best yet. I loved the setting of a small town in coastal Oregon, and Sage was a super sunshiney heroine to out grumpy chef hero Fisher. This has found family, meddling brothers, fake dating, and lots of yummy cooking. Oh, and farm animals aplenty! Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC for my honest review.