This book is EVERYTHING I love in a romance book and more. The tension, the grumpyxsunshine trope, a quirky free-spirited FMC, an MMC who goes to therapy (WHAT!?), and a fun quirky small town that gives me all of the stars hollow gilmore girl vibes. I adored this book and was invested from the very first page.

This book is also so much more than fluffy romance, it explores topics of grief, and healing after a loss of a loved one. I love when books have so much more going on than just fluff. And trust me there are plenty of scenes with fluff and spice, I was reading this on the train and I could not stop myself from giggling to myself because the dynamic between Fisher and Sage is incredible. It is incredibly rare to read about two people who genuinely have such a healthy relationship and who know how to communicate their feelings well.

I also really loved the relationship between Fisher and his niece, Indy. It was so rocky in the beginning, but I loved seeing how they started to connect more and more and grew to understand each other as the story went on.

I also loved reading about Fisher and his experience with burn out. I have experienced burn out in my career, and I think this is another reason why I truly feel like this book means so much to me.

I will not stop talking about this book! This is one of those books that had me smiling to myself even after I finished reading the last page. I've been thinking about it since. I can't wait for the book to officially come out, so I can buy a physical copy!!!

Thank you so much NetGalley for sending me the arc! I think I may have just found my new favorite book!

Having been a HUGE fan of Tara’s previous indie book, Funny Feelings, I had high hopes for Savor It. Unfortunately, despite my adoration of the complex characters, potentially deep storylines, and teacher FMC/ chef MMC this one, overall, fell flat for me. I had a difficult time getting hooked and feeling connected to the characters when their stories were so surface level and breezed over so lightly. Initially, I felt like there was so much potential for powerful emotional depth it just wasn’t executed in a way that made it work. I noticed an abundance of sub plots that didn’t add to the story and only made it feel scattered. I wish there would have been more time spent on specific plot lines. I adore Tara’s writing and felt like this was much more of an editorial miss rather than a writing miss. I’m still eager to read more of her work and hope to see more of some of these characters in future books!

Another beautiful book by Tarah DeWitt. Sage and Fisher's love story feels real, like any of us could experience a love like theirs, and whether she meant to or not, the setting of Spunes, OR reminds me of a west-coast Stars Hollow with its own quirky traditions and characters. I love the threading DeWitt provides throughout - something at which she's wildly adept - with puns both said and/or worn (Sage's closet is filled with punny t-shirts!). Fisher's arc is the most dramatic given the grief he is learning to work through along with his newer role as a parent to his teenage niece, Indy. This is a captivating, emotional story of two people finding each other and recognizing their own worth to love and to be loved. Highly recommend!

These characters were so cozy and in love, I didn’t want this book to end. (GET IT?) this was my first @authortarahdewitt but will not be my last.

“He didn’t fix me, and I didn’t heal him, but we loved each other wholly.”

Savor It comes out May 21 and it’s absolutely delicious. Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eArc. No cover page pic means background Carlos to make it fun!

CW: death of parents (off page), teenage pregnancy, grief, three legged cat

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 (automatic 5⭐️ if it makes me cry)
🌶🌶🌶/5 (takes a minute but THEY GET THERE.

For some reason, this one took longer to hook me in than some of her other books, but I ended up having a great time reading it! There were a few things that I thought felt rushed or could have been done differently though:
* Some of the jokes/character descriptions fell extremely flat to me
* The jumps between POVs with chapters was sometimes a little jarring, there were some moments I just wanted to stay in one character's POV without switching
BUT all in all I do love a small town romance & I am hoping and praying we get to expand on and see more of Spunes, OR in the future!

This was my second book by author, Tarah DeWitt and I like her writing style.

This was just a solid standard feel-good small town romance - I enjoyed the characters (main and side-kicks) - in fact, I even found myself wanting more to the story for several of the sidekicks (Hello Wren and Ellis!)

3.6 rounded up!

Mark your calendars for May 21st, 2024! Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc of Savor It by Tarah DeWitt in exchange for an honest review!

i loved this book! i found Sage and Fisher to be two refreshingly enjoyable, well written & complex characters with a beautiful love story. i absolutely adored the backstory and depth that Tarah DeWitt provided both of their characters, how she let that play into how they view life and love. I enjoyed the small town aspect, it felt unique in its own right, and it added another layer of humor to the story. I absolutely loved Sage and Fisher together. their chemistry, dynamic, banter, and overall comparability was beautiful. I loved how they respected each other’s boundaries, were open & communicative, and helped each other heal. their love story was beautiful and emotional to me. i laughed, cried, and got all of the butterflies!! Absolutely loved this!!! Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc!!

This books was cute and witty! It had be laughing out loud and also crying. Such a heartwarming story that had the vibes of a lifetime movie. Nothing like a small town love story!

After reading this book I feel as if I’ve read it before. Which for me isn’t a good thing. It’s the second book I’ve read by the author and honestly felt very much like another version of the same thing. If you’re someone who likes very cookie cutter, copy and paste with a few things changed stories then this book is for you. As I’m not this book didn’t do it for me. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

though this review comes many months after first reading this glorious small-town romance, hardly a day has gone by where I haven't thought of sage, fisher and all the lovely souls of spunes, oregon. savor it is tarah's best work yet, a story that was infused with just the right amount of heart and soul. apologies for any of the not-so-subtle cooking references I may make in honor of chef fisher lange and the man he is.

4.5 ★

as an avid consumer of romance novels, certain books come around and remind me why I adore the genre so damn much. savor it lives on that tier of the ladder, where there is such depth and nuance to the characters that they truly feel alive, like friends you wish to comfort, people you'd do anything to know. while sage and fisher are imperfect, they're still hopeful and trying, aware of the risk they face when being vulnerable. it's no small thing to reveal all we are to someone, so it was magical to witness the connection they formed, and the way they were intentionally gentle with each other.

in 2023, savor it ended up being one of my favorite books of the year, a joyful experience from start to finish. and all these months later, its perfectly executed conclusion is something I still think about often. the full gambit of emotions was felt while reading the last 10 to 15 percent, and isn't that what we do this for, at the end of the day? the buzzing anticipation of the happy ending? the satisfaction of witnessing the characters we love being loved? I don't imagine it will ever grow old.

all the thanks in the world to tarah dewitt for this story.

There’s definitely some charm in this small town romance. But if you’re looking for a Tarah DeWitt novel that feels like a Tarah DeWitt novel don’t start with this one. I feel this story is sweet but needed more time to bake. The characters aren’t as endearing as they could be. The relationships feel kind of paint by numbers. The setting is really fun though & saved the book for me. Overall, it just didn’t stand out like her other books do for me. I’m still a fan & will be anticipating her next release. DeWitt’s a talented writer. Really can’t wait to see what she does next.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest, spoiler-free review!

Themes: Grief
Representation: Grief
Content Warnings: Grief (mentioned), sexual content
Spice: 3/5 🌶️

Premise: Sage Byrd needs someone to compete with her at the Festival of Spunes, especially because she broke up with her ex. Fisher Lange, meanwhile, needs a change of scenery after a workplace incident caused by his grief. When Fisher and Sage meet… will sparks fly?


Personal Comments


I read this book every day, which is not a good idea. After all, according to the title, I’m supposed to “Savor It.” However, even though I read it in pretty much one go… I enjoyed this book.

Although I found the beginning to be slightly confusing, I fell in love with the characters as I continued to read on. I loved how Sage was so comfortable being who she was without caring too much about what others thought or bringing others down for being “basic.” And I loved how much Fisher genuinely cares about those he loved, making an effort with his relationship with both Sage and his goddaughter.

Also, the scenery was just delightful! The “small-town” vibes were there without being overtly obnoxious, representing small-town America without playing too much into stereotypes. As a lover of nature and scenic things, the setting is pretty important for me in books, which is something Tarah DeWitt does well, in my opinion.

Finally, the book was a SLOW BURN. I ended up liking it because I prefer books where the author doesn’t rush too much into the romance and then adds a whole lot of unnecessary drama after. For me, I found that the first kiss and all the smut scenes were done well in this book. I am neutral towards smut. However, I do feel like some romance books have too much of it. And Savor It, I feel like doesn’t overload on the smut factor, which, in my eyes I liked.

Rating: 4/5


Characters


Sage Byrd: If you could use one word to describe Sage, it is “quirky.” Sage is a ball of sunshine. And again, Sage is the type of character who does what she loves without caring too much about what others think. However, she is also kind, offering to help out with the community when she can. She loves her hometown, being a teacher, and her farm of cute animals. However, Sage is also a character that grieves and struggles. For example, although her breakup is amicable, she still feels that people need to stop pitying her for that. Given her past, it is understandable why they do so. Overall, Sage’s story and character arc (without spoiling too much) revolves around her “gaining wins” and figuring out that she, too, deserves “a partner.” One criticism I have is that I wish there was more backstory to Sage’s past.

Fisher Lange: Fisher is kind of grumpy, no offence. However, given that at the beginning of the book he is forced to move away from his home to a small town that kind of reminds him of his grief, he has reason to be. Though he is grumpy and unhappy, he does his best to make light of his situation. He does his best to fulfill the task that his boss sent him to do. He does his best to form positive relationships with his goddaughter and Sage. Eventually, he changes and goes through a positive character arc. He realizes that maybe what has happened to him has led him to some good. Same as with Sage, I do wish I could’ve gotten a bit more backstory on Fisher.

Their Relationship: Sage and Fisher are pretty cute together, in my opinion. They balance each other out. Sage supports Fisher’s grief and helps him care for his goddaughter. Fisher reminds Sage that she is great and deserving of good things. They also have pretty good chemistry, which is shown through their interactions. Finally, their communication is amazing. In romance novels, characters tend to conceal things and/or react badly when another character tells them some important news. However, this is not the case with Sage and Fisher. There is no miscommunication trope and overall, they have a pretty healthy relationship.

Other Characters: Although Sage and Fisher’s story is front and center, the other characters are important as well. Fisher’s niece Indy is in an absolute mood and helps Fisher with his character development. Sage also has a pretty good relationship with her friends and family. Finally, the farm animals are adorable and are 100% important characters in this book! However, I’d say that sometimes, the amount of side characters can feel overwhelming, and I wish they were a bit more developed.


Rating: 4.5/5


Plot


Beginning: I’d say that for maybe the first two chapters, this book was a bit hard to get into. I felt like too many characters were introduced at once and I kept having to go back and reread just so I didn’t forget who was who. But after that, the story sucked me in, especially because the chapters focused on mainly Sage and Fisher. There were also a lot of hijinks and antics that occurred in the beginning that made me keep wanting to read it. So, rough start, but sucks you right in afterward.

Middle: Like with many books, the middle had its ups and downs. In my opinion, they were mostly positive. And perhaps some parts felt slow because I practically read this book in one sitting. But… who knows? Anyhow, more hijinks occur during the middle of the book. More sweet moments between the characters. As well as character growth. To me, the middle of the book can be described as a “nice, cozy hug” with a lot of nice moments. So if you want some fluff… then here you go!

End: The end of the book was nicely wrapped up. Both Sage and Fisher have big realizations and their character arc comes to an end. There is an epilogue and it’s very sweet and it’s just great to see them together. One thing I’d say is that I wanted a bit more out of the epilogue. But overall, it’s nicely wrapped up.

Rating: 4/5


Other


Format: The book is written in first-person present tense with alternating points of view between Sage and Fisher. The chapters are a medium-length. As I’ve said before, I don’t have a preference between past and present tense as well as first versus third person perspective. However, I think that the alternating first-person perspective allows you to understand the internal workings of the two MCs better as well as see how they view each other. And I think many romance books of today tend to be written in the first person with alternating perspectives. So… I think it’s fitting. But if that’s not your cup of tea… that’s alright.

Themes: Although the grief took more of a backseat, I think it was still well explored. I especially liked how positive and understanding the characters were towards the grief. And that attitude is refreshing to see.

Smut: In terms of smut, this book had multiple (three, I think) open-door smut scenes. However, the smut scenes tend to be fairly brief so I only rated it ⅗. I didn’t note which chapters but I’m pretty sure the smut happens around the last third-ish of the book so do what you will with this information.

Rating: 4/5


Final Rating


Personal Rating: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Formatting: 4/5
Final Rating: 4.1/5 (round to 4 stars)

Date Read: January 6th, 2024
Date Reviewed: January 7th, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"You once told me you thought you were a lot of nots," he says. "I want you to know that to me, you're everything. I love that you're full of terrible puns that you're not afraid to follow with profound wisdom." He thumbs my temple like he's caressing my mind. "You're all the shapes made perfectly to hold me, and you're all my favorite colors."

This was a delightful, fast read. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the FMC and MMC, though I think the relationship as a whole could have used more development.

I also thought that there would be more delving into Fisher's profession (chef) and what he was doing in the town in the first place. He was discovering more about what he wanted to do on a personal level, but the decision made toward the end of the book didn't really make sense to me.

There is a third act breakup, but I don't mind this type, where it's a mutual, loving break because of each other's circumstances instead of someone inevitably doing/saying something dumb. BUT the reasons here didn't really land for me. He says he needs to go back to his profession, but he constantly admitted he wasn't enjoying it anymore. He also said he had to go back for his niece, but she just had a thing about small towns, so I wasn't thrilled that she dictated what choices were made (please also keep in mind I'm not a parent so I don't have experience with people making decisions like this 😅)

But overall I enjoyed this one and look forward to more from TD.

ARC received from NetGalley

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I've read all of Tarah's books and Savor It was as lovely as the rest. She's the best at writing falling in love butterflies and feelings 🦋

The grief was heart wrenching, the banter was witty and flirty, Sage was awkwardly charming, and the small town folk were fucking bonkers in the best way. The guinea pig line made me bark out a laugh.

The ending was also perfect, top tier resolution and epilogue. For as much as I laughed, I also shed a tear or two (read: blubbered) 😅

I have a lot to learn from Sage about being happy with the here and now, it was exactly the type of character I needed to meet at this time in my life 🫶

If you like Tarah's other books, or a good small town romance with lots of quirk and adorable animals, you'll want to savor this read 😌

"Sagebyrd," he says, like bluebird or blackbird or like I'm some exotic, rare species he's just discovered and named. Just like that, it's officially the only nickname I've ever loved.

"Sweetheart, I'm finding when it comes to you, I don't know what I'm capable of, but I'm happy to test those limits."

"It's been a privilege to fall in love with you, Sage."

-small town romance town, single dad, friend to lovers, dual pov
-such a cute love story for Sage and Fisher 🧑‍🍳👩‍🌾🪿💐
-this is how you do a dual pov!! The library scene?! I ate it up 😭
-they had the best friendship that developed into something so lovely 🩷
-the small town vibes were everything and how amazing were all the characters 🥹
-will we be getting a second chance romance for Ellis and Wren?? 👀
-thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

4.3⭐️

2.5 ⭐️

I'm really sad that this one didn't work for me. I've read one of Tarah's other romances, which I really enjoyed, and based off the cover and synopsis I thought this would be a hit. The pacing was very sporadic, the plot lines completely fell flat for me, and I just did not connect to any of the characters. Multiple times while reading I thought "I SHOULD swoon over that", but then really just felt nothing at all LOL. Sage was quirky but it felt really surface level, and we could've gone so much deeper into Fisher's trauma and subsequent growth. Three plot points came up in the very beginning - the ex, the trivia/race, and the restaurant - but I felt no significant build up/conflict/resolution for any of these. There were so many people we met from the town that I couldn't keep track of and some character attributes that I didn't feel added anything to the story. There was a lot of filler, some random scenes that didn't connect to the direction of the plot, and I ended up pretty bored by the ending. Sad that it was a miss!

Ahhh! Tarah is a romantic genius and I loved this book so much. I loved the grumpy/sunshine vibes, and the way that she made this book make me contemplate so much about life. I truly love Tarah as an author and cannot recommend her enough for those who love romance and emotionally deep books. The depth of the characters was so well done, I felt like I knew them as my closest friends. I could relate on so many levels to both of them, and it made me feel like the book was speaking to me personally. I loved it and I cannot wait for her future work!

I loved this book. Loved it! Sage and Fisher were fantastic characters that I found myself needing to know more about.

The very beginning of the story had me slightly confused and ready to toss my phone out the window—the characters talk about something without truly explaining what they’re talking about, and it made me want to not care. But I’m so glad I pushed through that initial confusion because the rest of the story was fantastic.

I loved Sage—her big heart and her horrible puns. I loved her menagerie of pets and felt seen in every one of her hurts and fears.

I loved Fisher, too—loved seeing him own himself up, not just to Spunes and Sage, but to the whole world.

This story was great and I couldn’t put it down. A definite five stars!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2/5 stars.

Honestly, I probably should've DNF'd this one. I really tried to get into this book but I just couldn't do it. When the mc's first meet it's very instalove-y but then... just, nothing happens. They had very little chemistry after that and it felt like they barely even interacted. Almost nothing happens for the entirety of the first half pf this book and I found myself trying to pick through the hundred half-developed plot points trying to figure out what was actually important. For example, it seemed like a main plot point was going to be Fisher consulting on the new restaurant but that was barely in the book.

I could tell that the characters were supposed to be complex but they felt so one dimensional. It was like the only personality trait they were given was their problems and it was just so hard to connect to them. This was an issue I had with the book as a whole - it felt so shallow, like I was being told things were happening but not shown. Every time something almost interesting happened the book would jump forward several days.

There were also plot points that felt like they were either abandoned early on or thrown in at random.
Early in the book they make a big deal about the fmc using outdated vocabulary but then that never comes up again. And then, close to the end of the book, the fmc has a migraine and its mentioned that this is something that shes been dealing with since a child but its only brought up in that one scene, never before and never again (it was also a very lackluster scene so... not really worth it)

All in all this book just did not do it for me. I felt like it fell so flat and I was always waiting for something to happen but it never did

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC

This is everything I needed in a book and more. I found Tarah DeWitt’s books last year and when I saw I got an ARC of her latest, I was so excited! The way that Tarah writes characters and settings is unbelievable. I am immersed in the world wholeheartedly, I want to live in Spunes and be friends with all the characters! Sage and Fisher are my favorite, the way they communicate and love each other is amazing. Sage and her ways of loving herself and the simple joys in life make me want to go out and buy fun punny tshirts and robes! Fisher and his ability to cook, and the way he carries all his new creations he’s so excited about to Sage’s house! Fisher wanting to be the best he can be for Indy, everything about this book is swoon worthy. I’m just grateful even the animals get a HEA and no longer have to be depressed! Tarah is an auto buy and auto read author and will forever be recommended to anyone who needs a great book! Thank you again for the ARC! ALL THE STARS!!!