It’s been a long, long time since I read a book and then immediately wanted to binge anything the author has ever written, but that was case with Savor It by Tarah DeWitt. Savor It is a romance that is somehow cozy while at the same time raw and almost heart breaking, like a punch to the gut, but also the warmest hug.

Sage and Fisher are absolutely everything to me and never ever did I expect to be crying so much over a teenager and her goose. I think what I loved so much about this story is how real and grounded everything felt. There was such sweet and fluffy love, but also the heavy and consuming emotions that come with life. Sage and Fletcher stand as strong on their own as individuals as they do as a couple. Their romance doesn’t define their characters, it only adds even more depth to such interesting people.

This book reminded me exactly what I love in romances. There were so many moments that had me literally kicking my feet while reading - I laughed out loud and I cried and I never wanted it to end. DeWitt’s voice feels so genuine and authentic that as a reader it was so easy to connect to the world that it was almost like this was written just for me, and that is the best feeling a reader can have.

Summer won’t last forever, but my love for this story and these characters sure will.

blushing, giggling, kicking my feet - YES CHEF!! 5/5 stars and if I could give it any more I would.

It pains me to give a book that Tarah Dewitt wrote 2 stars. The reality is, I forced myself to read it instead of DNFing. The premise of big city love interest coming to small town and falls in love and has to decide whether to stay or go is quite popular right now, and unfortunately SAVOR IT (the phrase is repeated numerous times so it loses it's effect) doesn't bring anything new to the trope. Compared to FUNNY FEELINGS and THE CO-OP, the characters are uninspiring and lack chemistry with each other. Plot lacked conflict. Character development was mediocre. Writing didn't blow me away. All the animals and too many side characters were used to propel the story forward and instead it felt hokey. I was more interested in Wren and Ellis's story, which means book 2 in the series is on it's way and I hope Tarah returns to her FUNNY FEELINGS roots where she truly captured the reader in a profound love story with a lot of heart.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

this just ripped my heart to shreds and sewed it back up after stuffing like a hundred more pounds of love into my already exploding heart like a build a bear.

ok so now that’s out of the way, there are a handful of things that i absolutely madly love in romance books: single parenting/guardianship, small towns, chefs!!, and as much as the angst hurts my heart so bad… right person wrong time (it just hurts so GOOD!) and savor it has ALL OF IT!!!!! this book absolutely SMASHED any sort of expectations i had going in. so far exceeded every single one you can’t even see a sliver of my expectations looking back bc they’re just so far gone. that’s how absolutely perfect this was.

it reminded me a lot of book lovers in the soul-crushing sick to my stomach they are so deeply in love but cannot stay together because they both have separate responsibilities and hopes and dreams that land them in separate places way. and even though i am WEAK! and FRAGILE! and cannot handle emotional pain most of the times, this was absolute perfection. and those ONE LINERS!!!! so many one liners!!!! felt like repeatedly getting punched in the gut (but in a good way i promise.)

sage and fisher were the most enjoyable characters and INDY!! god she MADE this whole story!!! fisher (and indy’s) growth was so heartwarming to watch, as separates and also their guardian-child relationship together!! genuinely so special to watch! and of course! sage and fisher!! something about their story just felt so genuine and real. the buildup of their chemistry was so well done and SO natural?? like idk how else to explain it if just felt so realistic and i couldn’t get enough of it!! their shift from bantery grumpy x sunshine neighbors to two people who wanted to know everything about eachother and spend all their time together was sooooo swoony!!!! and SUE ME! i like when there’s a looveeee when a book has a little crisis and one lover interest steps up to support and take care of the other like eep!!! so many butterflies!!

just don’t have enough words to express how much i loved this and how special and heartwarming it was. one of my most favorite love stories i think!!

Sage thrives in her small town, but when her ex gets engaged, she needs a new start, Fisher was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. Fisher moves next door to Sage for a summer sabbatical, and there are sparks from day 1. However, both are grieving and need to heal. If you like romance, flowers, chefs, and farm animals, you will love this book!

♾️💛 for Sage and Fisher

This book had all the right feelings and emotions wrapped up in a pretty lil book decorated with the most gorgeous cover, and from page one until the end I didn't want to let go. I found myself trying to savor it, so I read this over a span of a few days.

There were SO MANY THINGS I loved about this book.

Let's start with Sage: I was asked a QOTD about who the character of my current read is and if I would be friends with them. I had to say, "Mine is Sage from Tarah DeWitt's next book Savor It, and I truly love her. She's learning to be proud of herself and I could cheer her on for sure! Plus, she loves fiercely and we all need more people in our lives like that!" From her Sage Advice to be encouragement to be present in the moment, she draws every single person she interacts with into her orbit. I also love that she feels so deeply, and I think it makes us all feel more deeply towards her. I found myself in her emotions so often, there would be tears in my eyes, because I just felt so much for her and her life story, everything her character was feeling, the way she took in all the stray animals and wanted to grow beautiful things in her garden. Sage was a beautiful and poetic character that I can't wait to meet again one day soon.

Now, Fisher: Top tier book boyfriend but also SO MUCH MORE. He's an uncle-daddy, and a hot one at that. He's a former-but-trying-to-be-one-again chef, who has lost his way with food and special moments, because his grief and something unnamed is consuming his thoughts. He's having a hard time raising his teenage niece, largely because he's so disconnected from everything around him. Sage Advice and her moments of being present here help him get back to himself, and then help him become so much more. He connects with his niece. He reflects and decides when therapy might help (which is so hot, might I add). When he creates, he lets that joy seep from within him and out into the world in a way that was lost on him before. The community of Spunes (which I will get to in a moment) draws him out and makes him think about other people. And then there's the way he falls in love with Sage, in every single moment that they spend together and allllll the moments they are apart.

SPUNES, OR - NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH FORKS, WA
I almost died. I loved this community from the first introduction. They are in each other's business and they want to support one another. They keep their people. Not only did Indy and Fisher need Sage, but they also needed this town that felt like a warm hug (after a little bit of an icy welcome - they keep their people, and therefore, they protect themselves from the outsiders who come in every summer just to leave again).

Other things I loved:
- Indy & Gary (the goose?)
- gopher hunting
- the LIBRARY SCENES
- Wren's scones
- the summer festival
- the meetings in the meadow and sunroom and kitchen
- when Fisher SEES Sage having a migraine and takes such good care of her (as someone who has frequent migraines and lives with a spouse who helps a little, it was super affirming to see a partner who knows what the other person needs - and it has encouraged me to have my own conversations with my spouse about this subject)
- the use of therapy in a positive light
- the emotions of a teenager who lost their mom and the sibling who was left to care for them (Tarah does a fantastic job of showing Indy and Fisher going through these emotions, sometimes in a crazy tantrum way and sometimes in a mature way that shows they're both growing)
- Sam + Indy + the trunk's horn
- all of Sage's animals and their unique names and characteristics (the cast was pretty small, but the animals, they added a whole community to Sage's life)

Infinity stars from me. This will likely be on my 2023 favorites list AND my 2024 favorites list, I liked it that much. Out in May 2024! Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. These are my honest (and lovely) thoughts.

5/5 star read!
Single Guardian
Small Town Romance
Grief Handling
‘Yes Chef’

Thanks to NetGalley and Tarah for allowing us early access to read this, all thoughts are our own!!
Fisher arrives in Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) with a bruised ego and his niece Indy in tow. To regain his status as an esteemed chef in New York, he’s tasked with curating a menu for the new monstrosity of a restaurant that is being built in Spunes. His new neighbor Sage Byrd can see all the signs of defeat and exhaustion in his eyes and begins her journey in handing out her Sage advice on all things Spunes, Indy, and even his new menu. To convince the secluded town that this new restaurant won’t be a bad thing, Sage and Fisher hatch a plan to fake a relationship to get Fisher in good graces with the town and to show how strong Sage is after her last relationship.

I love Sage Byrd. She was strong, kind, and she knew exactly who she wanted to be. She was so used to the “too nice” adjective that was used to describe her and knew that it was often used synonymously as a bad thing and she ran with it. She cared about her town, she enjoyed being the one who helped others. Plus, her described style of clothes are so funky and fun to me. Fisher was just trying to do good by Indy and I love him for that. What I loved most was that he communicated. He knew what worked for him and even leaned on Sage when he didn’t know what worked. I lived near Forks as a teen so I felt so hard for Indy and knew just how she felt as someone who didn’t want to be trapped by the small-town life. I just loved everyone’s growth and how they were able to blend their lives together so seamlessly.

This was a swoony, big city guy/small town girl romance. I loved the tongue in cheekiness of this. I loved this book. Sage and Fisher are my new favorite romance couple. They are just delightful.

What a charming small town romance! We meet Fisher, a famous chef, who is sent to a small town to arrange the opening of a new restaurant. It's met with a few obstacles from the local community and he ends up coming up with a plan to fake date his neighbor to better his connections in the small town and help her win the annual town contest.

Who doesn't love a fake dating trope? I find this one can be a little tricky to pull off, especially in contemporary romances, however I found this one to believable and it worked. Sage and Fisher developed a genuine friendship before beginning to fake date.

I instantly loved Sage but I felt it took a little longer to warm up to Fisher and really "get" him, but once I did I really liked him. He and Sage had great chemistry, and I particularly loved their banter.

I really loved the side characters, particularly Sage's brothers and her friend, Wren. The town also had an interesting history and it was a fun subplot!

This book is great for anyone who loves fake dating, small town settings, found family, and lots of animals with big personalities!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for review*

I have read all of Tarah DeWitt's books so far! I love her writing style and the stories she tells. This story is about Sage, who lives in a small town named Spunes. A New York City chef (Fisher) moves to town to get his life together with his niece Indy. These two strike a deal to ultimately benefit them both. This turns into a small town romance after they soon realize they have feelings for each other. Though they know that their time together is short, as Fisher and Indy will be returning to New York.

Will their love survive?

This is an amazing strangers to lovers story. I absolutely fell in love with all of the characters in this story and felt that I related well with Sage.

From the cover to the storyline itself, this book was gorgeous. This was an ARC copy, so this book will be available to everyone on May 21st!
This was my first book by Tarah DeWitt and it will not be my last, her writing was so beautiful.
This story follows Sage and Fisher, both of whom are working on their mental health and have dealt with grief in their lives. Trust me when I say that you will feel their emotions through this story. The grief representation in this book was so well done. You witness the characters learn about what they want and need in their lives.
If you’re a fan of books with animals, then you’ll love to know that Sage has tons of animals on her property. As well as gorgeous gardens of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. The scene was set perfectly for this book.
This story also has many unique side characters who each add their own charm to the book.
I think my favorite part though was the banter between Sage and Fisher, they were so funny together and truly brought out the best in each other.
I definitely think you should all add this to your TBR for next year!

Read If You Like:
🪿small town romance
🪿slow burn
🪿next-door neighbors
🪿single guardian MMC
🪿grief representation

I loved Sage and Fisher's story. This book was so good. It had everything you'd want in a small town romance. It was tender, funny and had moments that tugged at your heart. The side characters were good too. Definitely recommend.

What a wonderful book! I am not much of a crier when it comes to romance novels. But this book touched me. Fisher and Sage are just so real. The grief that they share. Old and newer grief (off page previous to book). It made them compelling and complex. The third act breakup happened for a valid reason. Which is really what broke me. I was right there with them. And didn’t know how they would get to there HEA. (Spoiler they do). I read an ARC so there were typos that I am sure will be fixed). But I can’t wait to read more by this talented author. Kudos Tara DeWitt.

This was my first Tarah Dewitt book, and I need to read her others immediately.

This book had me wanting to up and leave to a small town, and take in a ton of misfit farm animals!!

The love story between Sage and Fisher reiterated why I love reading romance. I was laughing out loud at times at their interactions, and all of the sweet puns! There were messages in the monologues that were super relatable and real. The story didn’t feel forced, and I found myself breezing through the pages because I couldn’t get enough. This book was the whole package for me, and my emotions were everywhere. I’m hoping we get more of the Byrd family in the future!!

Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

✨Savor It by Tarah DeWitt✨

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” she says.
That fate is cruel and wonderful. That I am already so twisted up in this maze and don’t want it to wash away. “That you’re very, very beautiful, Sage.” Her color heightens, and it only emphasizes the point.

Sage Byrd & Fisher Lange. She loves animals and carries her heart in her fist. He is a Michelin-starred chef who is visiting the small town of Spunes, Oregon from NYC while raising his teenaged niece, Indy. This story is full of sweet moments, tender moments, and spicy moments. The scene in the library?! YES, CHEF! Savor It will leave you wanting more of Spunes, Oregon and its delightful characters.

🛶 Small town romance
🛶 Dual POV
🛶 Rescue animals
🛶 Compulsive robe buying
🛶 Teacher x chef
🛶 Puns
🛶 Canoe lessons
🛶 Oregon

“I think your laugh could maybe defibrillate me.”

This was certainly a fun, heartfelt, and enjoyable read. While the primary trope was a fake relationship, it also leaned heavily on the found family trope.

Sage was a sweet, and lovable FMC. She was a true ray of sunshine, always on the ready to help someone in need, and basically housing all of the animals and flowers that she possibly could (and more) in her home.

Fisher was an interesting MMC. I wasn't sure how to feel about him at first, but he drew me in around 30%. Once you learned about his background and what he was hoping to accomplish, you knew that there was so much more to him than what was on the surface.

Sage and Fisher started off as a little off-kilter and messy, but once they figured out how they could help each other out, they developed the sort of camaraderie that neither of them had seen coming. But, what was truly remarkable about them was how once they finally realized their feelings for each other, they didn't hesitate to admit them to the other, despite the fact that their time together was ending.

The plot ended up being somewhat predictable, however, it was a lot more realistic than you would've expected from the onset of the story. And this is what made it relatable and truly enjoyable.

3.9 ⭐️

I typically accept only occasional contemporary romance slander but I need you to know that Tarah DeWitt has grown so much as an author and there will be none of that here. Fisher and Sage smacked me across the face with their imperfect situationship and like a heat wave in the Anthropocene, thawed my ice cold heart. I am a puddle of a woman.

It’s 5 stars.

Renowned chef Fisher Lange and his niece take a sabbatical in the quiet coastal town of Spunes, unaware that their lives are about to be forever changed by the charming town and their next-door neighbor, Sage Byrd.

Despite their limited time together during the fleeting summer, Sage and Fisher find themselves unable to deny their attraction. As they spend time healing and finding solace in each other's company, emotions begin to surface.

✨Thoughts✨
This book reminded me of everything I adore about small-town romance. Tarah DeWitt's writing is like a warm, cozy hug capable of stirring every emotion.

One of the aspects I loved about this book was the exceptional maturity displayed by both Sage and Fisher. Their evolving friendship, which blossomed into something much deeper, was a true delight to witness. It was a beautiful connection. And let's not forget about the farm animals and the townspeople that add to the overall charm of the story.

There is an undeniable magic in small-town romances. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to those who enjoy stories about newfound family and friends-turned-lovers.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of “Savor It”.

I’ve never read anything by this author prior to this book, but I think I will definitely go looking for more of her books. This book was well written and the characters felt very real. Their emotions, flaws, etc all felt very real. I felt very happy with the ending and very pleased overall. Definitely would recommend.

4.5 stars
Dual POV, fake dating, small town setting.

Fisher is a chef from the city & Sage has a farm and garden in a small town. Also, can we talk about the cover art??! STUNNING!

Sage lives in small town, Nebraska. The story starts when a chef moves in next door with his niece for the summer. He’s been sent to open a new restaurant in town and clashes with some of the nosy locals.

Soon, we find out that the town hosts an annual tournament that includes a boat race as well as trivia. Sage’s ex (who got with her friend: rude!) wins every year. Sage has been studying up and really wants to win this year.

Fake dating starts around the 50% mark: he needs to get in the good graces of the town so construction can resume on the restaurant & she needs a partner for the town competition. Real feelings follow. <3

Many laughs:
A goose bonds to Fisher’s niece, there’s a town busybody, and a three legged cat.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

Tarah DeWitt is an auto-buy for me. I have read every single thing she has published and have not been disappointed. She has a way of creating characters who are flawed, but they feel like real people. They are not perfect, but you are still rooting for them nonetheless. She also has the ability to incorporate laugh-out-loud moments. The banter between her characters is always so fun.

One of the things I like about Tarah’s writing is how she builds the main character’s relationship. To some it might feel slow but it does feel real. I also love that she doesn’t rely on common romance tropes like miscommunication. The couple just has to deal with real life and not some type of forced romance trope.

I loved the setting of this story. A summer romance in a small town. I think many people can connect with the feeling of wanting summer to last forever, but knowing that there is a real end date. The town of Spunes is also so fun and there are a lot of quirky, unique side characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.