This book definitely had some pitfalls. The first being that the hook was clearly advertised as the two leads having a deal with one another (to help her win a town contest and for him to gain favor within the town) yet this wasn't really introduced until 50% through the story. The first half contained a lot of extra back story, build up, and things that took away from the draw of the story, making the overall pacing also feel off.

The second pitfall was the fact a lot of the stuff that happened throughout the book outside of the main relationship seemed to be tossed in with not a lot of care to aiding along the romance. It was just extra words. Extra things.

I liked the relationship though. Sage and Fisher fit together and I wanted more of their relationship. The tension and their growth.

Tarah continues to give me unrealistic expectations for men because Fisher is flawed and aware AND goes to therapy?! A self aware and intuitive king?! I saw so much of myself in Sage, just trying to be enough without rocking the boat and never taking too much for herself. I love the growing up with only brothers angle and hoping to expand on that and also Ellis and Wren’s past if there’s a future book. But most importantly, I could feel Fisher and Sage falling in love. It was palpable and so evident and everything I love about a romance. It just felt real. Adding in Indy and her teenage angst was a bonus. Overall, Tarah knocked it out of the park (again,) made me laugh and cry and really feel a connection with every character, Martha included. (Ian still sucks tho) I cannot wait to see what comes next from her.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Unlike the title, I did not in fact savor this book. Finished it in under 48 hours however I did spread it out over two nights so I tried lmao...

I want to say so much more (aka quote every other word Fisher said) but I don't think I'm aloud to do that until the book comes out (May 21st, 2024 MARK UR CALENDAR!!!). Just know that when I say this is one of Tarah's best books I mean it (Funny Feelings is still #1 for me, but this is a close second) I didn't think Ms. Dewitt could get me to fall in love with a man named Fisher 💀 but she did.

The Canoe scene. THE LIBRARY. The meadow. The pushing each other to be the best/finding one's passion. Just about everything in this book was literally pure perfection. I will provide my updated thoughts after a reread in a couple weeks just to see if the book is as good as I remember.

I absolutely devoured this book. I wanted to take it slow and SAVOR IT! But this book had me hooked from the very beginning. Sage was such a fun character with her puns and weird robes and Fisher seemed so stodgy at first but Sage just made him melt. Such a wholesome love story.

Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She's learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win—something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.

Fisher Lange 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. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around. A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like.

.The banter between Sage and Fisher had me snorting out loud sometimes. Heartwarming small town romance with two people who are lost, and in the process of finding themselves, they also find each other. Both these characters felt so real, and you will savor every bit of this adorable grumpy-sunshine romance!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Favorite Romance novel of the year! This is stars hollow in a book format. I have been really disappointed with romance novels recently and this one felt refreshingly different and hopeful! The main characters were easy to fall in love with and I loved the small town in Oregon!! So many good quotes in this book! Loved the theme of enjoying the present and standing true in yourself .Comes out 2024!

5 ⭐️!!! Tarah Dewitt has recently become a must read author for me. I read Funny Feelings and absolutely loved it so when I saw this available I jumped at the opportunity to read it early! It did not disappoint! Tarah Dewitt writes the most relatable, flawed, real characters. Sage and Fisher were completely lovable and when you throw in a duck love story with a teen???!!! Are you kidding me??!! I cried, I laughed, I ate it up. I highly recommend this to any readers who love small town romances, character development, and/or steamy slow burns!

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

This was excellent! It was such a fun romantic comedy that hit on tough issues like grief and growth effortlessly and with respect and joy. Sage and Fischer were fantastic characters and were written with refreshing tenderness and vulnerability. I really enjoyed their journey together - the tension was ::chef’s kiss::, the spice was perfection and the third act break felt true to character. 10/10 recommend their brand of love!

The additional friends and family were also wonderful. I hope Wren gets her own story! Special shout out to Gary too - iykyk.

All in all, I loved this book. Tarah Dewitt knows how to tell a story you can’t put down until the very end.

I was beyond excited to receive an eARC of Savor It by Tarah Dewitt and I subsequently devoured it. Savor It is a small-town romance set in Spunes, Oregon and focuses on Sage a local high school teacher and Fisher who has come to Spunes for the summer and is staying in the house next door to Sage with his niece, Indy. This book had banter, puns and some imperfect (but very loveable) characters who worked through their struggles and vulnerabilities in such a mature way making me root for them throughout the book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and the author for an eARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review. Will definitely be rereading when this book is released on May 21, 2024.

This may be my new fave of Tarah Dewitt’s books! I loved Spunes and Fisher and Sage just made me feel all the feelings! Even with the tough subjects covered it was just such a feel good book!

DNF at 35%

This was my first Tarah DeWitt book. I was so excited to read it, since I’ve heard so many great things about Funny Feelings! However, from the first chapter I knew it wasn’t going to be the book for me.

The first chapter was a lot of what felt to be incoherent thoughts, and it didn’t make a lot of sense. The difference between the Sage chapters and the Fisher chapters made the book feel like it was written by two completely different people.

This book felt like it was written with the thesaurus tool open on Word, looking for a word that would make the reader think the characters were smart. When in fact, it made the book feel really clunky and made me feel incredibly dumb. I had to look up words from the second page and almost every couple of pages after. It was incredibly distracting and it felt very pretentious. If you’re looking for a book that reads like a classic in a bad way, this is the book for you.

There were so many page breaks that were incredibly unnecessary and frustrating. There would be a page break, and the book would pick up 5-30 minutes later. At that point, there’s no need for a break.

There were also a couple comments about a teenager that really bothered me. “sentient pen*s with a car” and “…looks like he’s been through a pasta maker to get that way. Lanky, thin, skinny wrists and sharp elbows-probably in some state of nicotine addiction.” These comments are being said by an adult. This is extremely disturbing and problematic. I could not imagine ever saying these things about a child.

I was not enjoying this book, so I decided to stop reading at 35%. Thanks to Netgalley for providing this ARC.

I completely devoured this book in a day! Oh my goodness! I am so OBSESSED I cannot wait to buy a physical copy!! This is the best romance I’ve read in such a long time! It was such a wonderful journey and I saw myself in both of them! I loved watching them grow together and learn to communicate and open up to each other!

Savor It is a touching small-town romance told in alternating first-person POVs by the MMC (Fisher Lange) and MFC (Sage Byrd). Fisher is in Spunes, Ore., for the summer with his niece, Indy. Fisher was a rapidly rising chef in Manhattan until his life started falling apart. His professional success has left him feeling empty, disengaged and unsure of his what he wants from his career. Then, his sister Freya, a single mother, is killed in an accident, leaving Indy orphaned. He and Indy leave New York for Spunes after Fisher gets into an altercation with a food critic while eating at another restaurant. His boss sends him to Oregon until things cool off and charges him with coordinating the build out of new restaurant in Spunes as well as developing a menu.

The house that Fisher rents in Spunes is the property next door to Sage’s home, and Sage manages it as a favor to the owners when they are out of town. She’s a high school teacher, who was raised primarily by three older brothers after losing her parents and has lived in Spunes her entire life. Her five-year relationship with Ian Carver, son of the mayor and a police officer, ended about a year ago. After the break-up, Ian started dating one of Sage’s friends and the couple are now engaged.

Both Fisher and Sage have suffered some serious losses and as their relationship grows from neighbors to friends to lovers, they learn how to help each other to heal their wounds and find a way forward. Although Sage is definitely the sunnier personality, both Fisher and Sage find the strength to trust each other and open up about painful aspects of their pasts. This communication helps them to build a supportive relationship where they can be there for their partner.

Although there are some serious challenges for the couple, the story also contains a lot of lighter interactions and fun banter to balance out the tone. Another strength of the book is the interesting cast of secondary characters. Fisher’s efforts to be a better, more involved guardian for his teen-aged niece are especially nicely handled.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC.

DNF at 30%

I really loved funny feelings and was excited to pick this book up, but from the first chapter, it felt like it was written by a different author.

The book felt like it was written with a thesaurus in hand, I was googling words from the second page. It was just distracting from the story, and felt pretentious.

There were so many page breaks and often in spots that were completely unnecessary, with not even a jump in time.

The comments that really bugged me were made from Fisher about a teenage character. Mainly this line: “Lanky, thin, skinny wrists and sharp elbows - probably in some state of nicotine addiction”. This feels very inappropriate.

I was not having a good time so decided to stop reading at 30%. Thanks to Netgalley for providing this ARC.

Thank you so much for the ARC! Tarah DeWitt is one of my favorite romance authors, and this book absolutely hits. Funny Feelings is one of my favorite romances of all time, and the only reason I knocked a star off is I didn't quite connect to these characters and the build-up of their relationship like I did with Farley and Meyer, and there were a few things that didn't quite have the payoff I wanted — this is me saying I wanted MORE GOOSE. Still, once I was in Sage and Fisher's romance, I was IN IT. The library scene??? Top notch. Fisher and Sage are really cute together, and I found myself rooting for them once their romance really takes off. If you've enjoyed Tarah DeWitt's other books and like strong but complicated and a little messy main characters with your romance, definitely pick this one up.

This book was simply incredible. Imperfect characters working through their struggles, helping each other and the small town at large, being vulnerable, the puns. One of my favorite books of the year!

I wanted to slow down and savor this entire book, but couldn’t slow myself down. Sage and Fisher are so imperfectly real, and I love Tarah for it because it helped me see myself in both of them. I laughed out loud, I cried, and I love them all - even Indy and her many moods. If only Spunes was real, I’d be on my way already!

My only piece of feedback to adjust, during the scene when Fisher is washing dishes and Sage is talking to him, he mentions her biting her bottom lip and he almost slips and drops the dish. When he talks about her lip there's a typo and it says "When she chews her bottom slip one of the plates almost slips" it should say lip. I don't have a page number because I read on my kindle, but it's 49% through, and the location on my kindle says 2004.

I can't wait for whatever Tarah writes next. Her characters are so well done and the worlds she's able to create suck me in immediately.

A quirky teacher/hobby farm owner/nail polish aficionado (Sage) and a moody chef (Fisher) meet cute and spend a summer learning more about themselves and each other as they fall in love. The only problem is that Fisher is only in Sage’s hometown for a couple of months….

This is a cute story and Sage and Fisher have great chemistry. The plot of fancy big city man comes to small town and initially clashes with the townspeople gives off some Hallmark vibes (though with much more steam).

I enjoyed the read and would have enjoyed it more if Sage had a clearer or more consistent characterization. I didn’t really feel like I got to know her. Even so, Sage and Fisher are easy to root for as a couple. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

I SAVORed every moment of this book! Haha see what I did there?! It never felt too rushed and enjoyed the fluidity of each scene. This reminded me of my favorite genre, early 2000’s rom coms, and it did not disappoint!

Hooked, in the first few pages and by the time I knew it, the Sage and Fisher love story was coming to a close and I did NOT want it to end! Thank you Tarah DeWitt for a masterful piece!

I acquired this book free of charge, but I feel obligated to financial compensate the author for bringing me out of the nastiest fantasy book hangover with this sweet small town romance.

even if you're not a fan of certain romance tropes, I promise you tarah dewitt will sell you on them. she's quickly turning into an auto-read author for me.

✦ 4 stars

arc kindly provided by St. Martin's Press
release date: May 21 2024