I judged a book by its cover, and boy did this book live up to the beautiful ombre pinks and purples.

📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: Savor It by Tarah Dewitt

📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Small town romance, opposites attract, only for the summer, all of the feels, chef vibes.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Fisher is banished to a small town in Oregon after losing his job and his Michelin star, doomed to consult on a new restaurant in a small town. While he struggles with his new normal, and his relationship with his niece, who is in his care, he can’t help, but get to know his quirky neighbor, Sage.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: This book is everything I hoped it would be.

Tara DeWitt has a way of writing these intensely relatable romances. While I may not be able to identify directly with the same things that Sage and Fisher are going through, there’s lessons in their journey about growing and appreciating the life you’re given.

But that is all an undercurrent, swallowed up in a beautiful romance that cracks your heart right out of your chest. I love a story where two characters legitimately can’t help but love each other. Fisher and Sage are helpless against the pull to one another, and it was so great to be back and Tarah Dewitt’s world of tension and feeling.

And if you know me, I would be remiss not mentioning the fact that I’m always searching for a good chef romance... A book where the food becomes part of the romance, and Tara, DeWitt nailed it with nods to some of my favorite kitchen-inspired shows and movies.

I can tell you I’m legitimately JUMPING for this book when it hits shelves, and it will be an immediate reread - the ultimate honor I could bestow. It’s just THAT good.

📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲… It hasn’t been announced yet, but if Tara DeWitt doesn’t give us more books for the rest of the Byrd family, I will quite literally riot.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

<b> a perfect title for a perfect book </b>

From the moment I picked this book up, I was immersed in the cozy, small town of Spunes, Oregon. I genuinely feel like this book is the equivalent of that one sweater you always end up putting on because it is just comfier than the other 35 you own. I am not sure whether it is the coastal PNW scenery or the lovable background characters of this small town, but it felt so endlessly comforting and I finished this and immediately wanted to dive back in.

Don't tell Farley or Meyer, but Sage and Fisher might have nudged them out of my favorite of Tarah's couples. These two just have such a tangible chemistry and an understanding of one another that their story just hit differently.

Sage is such a wonderful representation of being unapologetically who you are, loving big, and following your joy. I came out of this book really wanting to take parts of her with me, to aspire to be like her. Then we have Fisher... this man is so so so hot. I adored how lost and closed off he was when we first met him, and then as he found comfort and healing, he blossomed into a sensitive, loving man.

As always, Tarah gives us such incredible duality in the humor and the more serious topics. The comedic moments had me giggling and laughing out loud, while the depictions of deeper themes such as grief and career burnout were incredibly honest and handled with such care.

Another 5-star read that I can't wait to dive back into and experience all over again.

Tarah DeWitt has done it again! After reading Funny Feelings, Rootbound, and now Savor it, Tarah has officially cemented herself on my list of autobuy authors. The way she is able to create romance stories with so much depth is truly special. There were many parts in this book that spoke to my soul and I already can't wait to reread it! Although both characters carry a lot of baggage and trauma, it was truly refreshing to see how open and communicative they were with one another. They were both grieving different things, in different ways, and yet were able to come together so beautifully in times of need. I cried, I laughed, I SQUEALED. This was everything I needed and more and I can't wait for more people to read it.

The super short blurb: Fisher Lange's life is slowly falling apart. When he is forced to move to Spunes, Oregon, he meets Sage Byrd, the local "golden girl". Together they hatch a plan to help each other. What starts off as a simple deal, quickly grows into something so much more.

Releasing May 21, 2024. You will absolutely love this if you like:
- Small town romance
- Dual POV
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Forced proximity
- Single guardian
- Fake dating

"Summer won't last forever"

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah DeWitt & St. Martin's Griffin for the ability to read this an eARC of Savor it. What a breath of fresh air! This is a story about Sage & Fisher, a couple who coincidentally meet when Fisher is tasked to take on the opening of a new restaurant in the small town of Spunes, Oregon, strike up a friendship, and happen to fall in love. Sage is a high school teacher who is passionately living her life while professional chef Fisher is facing burnout, challenges navigating custody of his niece & trying to find the spark in his life. I absolutely adored this book! It truly felt like I was experiencing the gentle sunrise of a beautiful day.

This is my first Tarah DeWitt book and I just adored how Sage and Fisher's relationship felt so organic. Their pacing & relationship progression was perfect and (I'm making a big assumption here) she seemed to really set the small town and side characters (e.g., potential future lead characters) without overshadowing the current book. I am pretty sure I smiled throughout the entire read as there are no major conflicts and the challenges faced are done so in a mature and healthy way. This is a perfect book for someone who is looking for a rollercoaster-free romance that still gives you butterflies.

I really hope this book turns into a series as I'm now invested in the other characters/siblings!

I absolutely adore this book. I love small town romances but big city girl and small town boy gets old after awhile so I'm glad this was the opposite. I love Sage so much. Her love for the little things, for animals, and for the world around her. Fisher was such a sweetheart and really was trying his best. I love when characters actually work through their problems. And no miscommunication!!! Usually romance books almost always give in to the miscommunication trope and it gets so annoying when you know what's going to happen in the last 50 pages. I was actually scared for a second that this book was going to end on a sad note but I was happy to see the happy ending for this. I love the message of this book basically being to stop and smell the roses.

Unfortunately I had to dnf this book. I just felt like the plot was going nowhere. The two main characters didn’t really have great chemistry either.

thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Savor It by Tarah DeWitt.

THIS BOOK IS TOO FREAKING GOOD!! This book will always hold a special place in my heart since it was my first ever ARC but also because it is such an amazing book! These characters and this place have such a special place in my heart. Even though this book was a mere 300 pages, I felt like it was fleshed out so well! The small town setting was perfect with its quirky characters and the PNW charm. I also liked the history lessons about Spunes as a town and the significance of August as a month for the town. I’m hoping this book is the first in a series, as I could see all of the Byrd siblings getting their happily ever after (I see a second chance romance in the cards for Elias and Wren!) I liked Indy’s character and felt her relationship with Fischer was wonderful, but maybe it could have been fleshed out more. I liked the idea of single guardianship, it was a unique spin on single dad. Overall, I loved this book and can’t wait until more readers have this book in their hands.

OKAY, this book was EVERYTHING. I SOBBED in the best way! I am a sucker for small town romances, and Spunes is truly perfect. I am so happy we get more books in this setting (COUGH.WRENANDELLISPLZ.COUGH).

Sage and Fisher's love story was so natural and easy. I loved reading about the simplicity of their every day life - from trips to the library to going down to O'Doyle's (the town's one stop shop). Their relationship was so tender, and I absolutely adored how supportive they were of one another.

I also am completely obsessed with Indy and Gary the goose. It was SO SWEET and the perfect little addition to the story.

This was the first book I've read by Tarah DeWitt, but it certainly won't be the last. I am ready to devour her backlist!

love isn’t even strong enough if a word to explain what i feel about this book. the adoration i feel for tarah bleeds right into this absolutely phenomenal book that made me feel every single emotion ever. like she put her whole tarussy in this mfer i swear 😭

tarah has never written a character that i don’t love with everything in me. sage byrd is my literal spirit animal. i want to be her and i want to be her best friend. she’s such a ray of sunshine and love and she’s also human just like the rest of us and it’s so refreshing & fisher is an angel. i simply cannot fathom somebody not adoring this man. he’s so strong and such an incredible guy who’s just doing the best he can and working through his stuff and i will protect him at all costs.

this book is small town, pure love and magic while showing that just because something might have some charm doesn’t mean there’s not dark sides to people and places. this was just simply so well done that i really refuse to hear anything bad about it. i will have this book and these characters etched into my soul forever 🥺

& the byrd brothers have my by the throat i love their crazy asses

Savor It by Tarah DeWitt follows Sage Byrd, who has lived in her hometown her entire life. She loves her small world filled with farm animals, her friends, and family. The annual summer festival holds a competition that Sage desperately wants to win, but she needs a partner. Then Fisher Lange, a Michelin-Star chef, moves into the rental house next door with his niece, Indy, of whom he is now the guardian. Fisher was sent to the small town to consult on a restaurant opening, but quickly clashes with the townspeople. Sage and Fisher quickly make a deal: Sage helps Fisher with the townspeople, if Fisher becomes her partner for the competition. But with all the time spent together, friendship quickly evolves into something more and both of them soon realize that the summer won’t last forever. 

This might be one of the Tarah’s best works. The real, beautiful emotion throughout the book was so enjoyable to experience. I loved Sage’s joy and Fisher’s grumpiness. Yes, it’s classic grumpy-sunshine, but there is a whole lot more depth to their characters. Their slow burn was fantastic, and it was great to see such a healthy relationship. This books has my giggling, swooning, but also in tears with so much emotion. Throughout the story, we touch on important topics like grief and healing, as well as seeing a new guardian grow into his new role and relationship with his niece. Tarah writes characters who are real, flawed, and growing just like the rest of us - and the stories she creates are truly enjoyable. 

I can’t wait to return to Spunes for future stories (at least I hope based on what was hinted!!)

Savor It comes out on May 21, 2024!

Star Rating: ️ ️ ️ ️4.25 / ️5
Spice Rating: 2.5 / 5
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Tara DeWitt was a new to me author and I seriously loved her writing! I highlighted so many beautiful quotes from this book. I loved how well DeWitt portrayed trauma and grief for our two main characters and how they help each other grow throughout the book.

I also loved Sage's relationship with her brothers! In so many romance books, when the FMC has older brother(s) it becomes a huge ordeal with them being massively overprotective and borderline harassing the MMC's or trying to control what the FMC does with their life. This book was not like that at all, and it was such a breath of fresh air. As Sage said herself, her brothers care about her but they aren't misogynists and they recognize that she can make her own decisions. The overprotective brother trope is so tired, and I love how this author struck the perfect balance of having loving, protective, and loyal brothers without making them all complete jerks.

This was a really beautiful book and some of the lessons really hit home. I was tearing up throughout a lot of the story.

My first Tara DeWitt book, but definitely won't be my last! I've already downloaded another one of her books to read next.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC and introducing me to a new author!

This was a new to me author!

This made me laugh, tear up, and was a beautiful story! I want to read the author backlist!

How can you not like a book that has rescued animals ❤️❤️

Will recommend the author and the writing style us amazing!

an achingly sweet and earnest little love story…
a hallmark movie if it was actually funny, sexy, and had immensely complicated characters.

I’ll continue to read whatever Tarah writes, her mind is a delightful thing.

This is my first Tarah Dewitt book and I really enjoyed it. I love her writing style and the characters. Good read overall.

3.5

i liked it! wasn’t my favorite or anything, but i enjoyed the characters. small town stuff i’m usually a fan of, and this one’s done well. i don’t have much else to say, it was kind of middle-of-the-road, but i did appreciate the pacing of the third act.

#netgalley

Not Tarah Dewitt having me SOBBING on a Monday evening.

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

Savor It is such a tender, cozy love story that is very much on par with Tarah Dewitt's previous releases. Sage & Fisher are fast friends-to-lovers and I just loved LOVED getting to read their story. The small-town vibes were perfect and Fisher was giving Carmy from The Bear (iykyk). I loved this so much. I know that Tarah Dewitt has not yet ventured into the interconnected standalones business, but I NEED more Spunes, Oregon, especially in the form of an Ellis & Wren story asap.

"Love is this. Love is breathing. A sweet, deep, aching relief."

If you're considering picking up Savor It next May, I cannot recommend it enough. Plus, Tarah Dewitt's backlist is a trove of beautiful, heartwarming romances that deserve your love & attention. Here's to Fisher & Sage on their HEA.

This is the first book by Tara DeWitt that I have read. *Me running to store to purchase her previoius books*. I could not put this down. I read until all hours of the night to finish. I held my breath, I cried, I laughed. I ran through the gamut of emotions. Tarah DeWitt just has a way with words. I am thankful I was able to read this in advance. Thank you to Netgalley and publisher.

“You’re all the shapes made perfectly to hold me, and you’re all my favorite colors.”

Sage and Fisher. He’s a burnt-out chef that’s struggling to connect with his teenage niece that he’s now a guardian to. His boss sends him on a summer long sabbatical to a small, coastal town where he meets his temporary neighbor, Sage.

This book was pretty deep — lots of talk about grief and losing loved ones, as well as losing passion for something you loved to do. It did take me awhile to finish but overall it was still a good book!

🪿🛶READ IF YOU LIKE🛶🪿:
- dual POV
- grumpy x sunshine
- he’s a burnt-out chef & single guardian
- close proximity
- temporary next door neighbors
- punny tops & robes
- small, coastal town
- annual summer competition: trivia, cooking contest & canoe race
- gary the goose

cw: death of loved one, car accident, grief, bodily injury, career burn out, mention of divorce

Thank you @smpromance and @netgalley for the advanced copy! Savor It is available on May 21, 2024!

"Savor It" by Tarah DeWitt is a delightful romcom that serves up a perfect blend of spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and heartwarming moments. Set in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon, the novel introduces us to Sage Byrd, a resilient and relatable protagonist navigating the challenges of a post-breakup life. The story takes an engaging twist when Sage, in need of a win after her ex's sudden engagement, enters into a strategic alliance with Fisher Lange, a former hotshot chef from New York City grappling with loss and redemption.

The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, becomes the backdrop for this charming tale as Sage and Fisher team up as unlikely partners. DeWitt skillfully weaves together their individual struggles, creating a narrative that is both heartwarming and humorous. The author's portrayal of Spunes and its quirky inhabitants adds a layer of small-town charm that enhances the overall reading experience.

The dynamic between Sage and Fisher is a highlight of the novel, and the progression of their relationship from a strategic alliance to steamy rendezvous is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The characters are well-developed, each carrying their own emotional baggage, and the journey of healing and self-discovery is beautifully depicted.

The thematic elements of redemption, healing, and the fleeting nature of time add depth to the story, making it more than just a lighthearted romance. DeWitt's writing style is engaging, filled with humor, and captures the essence of summer romance. The pacing is well-balanced, keeping readers invested in the evolving relationship between the characters.

"Savor It" stands out as Tarah DeWitt's best work yet, offering a perfect summer escape with its mix of romance, humor, and poignant moments. The novel is a testament to the author's ability to create relatable characters and weave them into a storyline that is both entertaining and emotionally satisfying. If you're looking for a feel-good romcom with a touch of spice, "Savor It" is a highly recommended read that will leave you with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.