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).

3.5 stars (the extra half star is for the writing)

Tarah DeWitt’s ‘Savor It’ 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. Martin’s Press for an early copy of Savor It by Tarah DeWitt. This is the first book I’ve read by Tarah. It’s 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 that’s because I haven’t 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

“𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞—𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞—𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞”

Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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. I’m all for open door scenes. 🌶️

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.