That was another beautiful book! Probably my new favorite actually with Funny Feelings a close second. It was sweet and spicy. The characters were wonderful with their own flaws and completely loveable.

This was my first Tarah DeWitt novel and I loved it. The writing was engaging and sucked me in immediately. I finished it in one sitting. The town was charming, the people were vibrant and had depth, and the love story was beautiful. I will definitely be reading all of Tarah’s backlist now.

Savor It by T. Dewitt, published by St. Martin's Press, is a full length, stand alone romance novel.
Sage and Fisher's journey is a beautiful one. A mix between warmth, love, sweet romance, but also with some dark elements.
This one's a winner for sure.

This book was so good that it changed something in me. The central theme was finding joy in the present moment, conveyed through the love story of two extraordinary main characters. I both laughed out loud and cried during their journey. As says the title, I finished the book with the biggest smile on my face and wanting to savor life a little more. I cannot recommend this book enough and will definitely reread in the future. The writing transports you and will definitely make you feel all the feels, as Tarah does in all her books.

You’ll find yourself rooting for these characters in this funny yet poignant story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

If there is one word to describe this book it would be longing. Some romances are frothy, fun, and lighthearted. And some romances are infused with heart, melancholy, and painful and beautiful emotions. Savor It is definitely of the latter camp.

Fisher Lange is a Michelin-starred chef from NYC who has seen his career explode after an ugly run-in with a critic. Burnt out and looking to find the magic (and career) he's lost, his former boss sends him across the country to Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) with his niece, Indy.

Sage Byrd is Spunes' biggest champion. A high school teacher, amateur florist, and hobby farm owner, she's reeling from the disintegration of a long-time relationship with a man who's quickly moved on with her best friend. Sage is a people pleaser, but she owns it. She can't see her value but wishes others would.

The two connect as next-door neighbors, eventually entering into a fake (but barely for a week) relationship to help Fisher bring his new restaurant online.

However, the fake dating trope isn't really the focus here. The story is ultimately about healing. For Fisher, it's figuring out what his career means to him and whether he wants the accolades he's chased this whole time. For his niece, Indy, it's figuring out how to grapple with the anger and grief she feels from losing her mom. Sage has to figure out her worth and hope others see it as well. This kind of emotional writing is what Dewitt does well, and I think I see a lot of parallels in the book to Rootbound.

While I know that the fake dating/ quid-pro-quo relationship (Sage gives Fisher capital in town, Fisher gives Sage a partner for a yearly competition) storyline moves some of the early action in this book and that tropes are the currency of contemporary romance, I ultimately don't think it was necessary here. Both Sage and Fisher had pretty immediate chemistry and I'm not sure they were ever "fake" to begin with (maybe the author wouldn't even classify the relationship that way) and it's abandoned quickly.

* Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! *

Well, Savor It by Tarah DeWitt hits all the beats for a romance story with the added attraction of spice thrown in, but unfortunately I did not find it all that compelling of a read. Most of the time I was trying to keep up with the cast of characters in this small town. Who are they and why are they in this story? I felt like I was listening to someone telling me a lot of stuff about their friends and other people I don't know. FMC Sage is the local HS teacher but also running some kind of a rescue farm along with a lot of gardening. Apparently it takes her no time at all to manage all of this. FMC Fisher has lost one of his Michelin stars and although I can understand grief sidelining his career path it's harder to believe one month in a small town with the chick next door would finish him off.

I don't know but this story did not work for me. Thank you Tarah DeWitt, NetGalley and St Martin's for the ARC in exchange for a review.

This book was like drinking hot cocoa on a cozy evening in front of a fire. I was lucky enough to get a chance to read an ARC and I’m so grateful. It was a true delight. The characters will have you enamored from the first page. Sage and Fisher are a couple you want to root for and the menagerie of animals only make the story more endearing. I loved getting to know Sage as a truly empathetic woman with a few scars and heart as big as her small town. Fisher was a wonderful male lead who has his own scars but has the ability to see through his past mistakes, trust in therapy and his love for his family and Sage to do what’s right for each. I just really adored this book and am so happy to have another amazing Tarah DeWitt novel to enjoy.

Another wonderful book by Tarah Dewitt! Funny Feelings still remains my favorite, but the love Sage and Fisher share is so beautiful. I’m excited for Spunes 2!

Loved this small town romance! It was so good, heartwarming, and fun to read! Sage and Fisher’s story is like all of the good things in a Hallmark movie put together. Definitely recommend this book!!

I’m sorry but are you actually kidding me with this, Tarah?! You have ripped my heart out, served it to me on a silver platter, and had me saying “thank you” at the end. I thought it could not love anymore more than Farley and Meyer but I have never been more happy to be wrong. Mr. Darcy crossing the meadow at twilight with food he’s made?? Goes to therapy to better himself and improve his relationship with his niece?? And let’s not even start with the whole “I just have a lot more nice things I’d like to say to you right now…” line. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “Yes, Chef.”

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

"Something tells me I couldn't have you pegged in a decade, let alone a few days, Sage. But even I can tell that you're vast."

Savor It is a trail mix of slow burn romance, witty humor, and musings that can be too close to home they either hurt you or heal you or both (see author's content warnings)—all of which begs to be savored, what with Tarah's prose and buttery smooth transition from romance to comedy to drama. It makes for a comfy, low-stakes read that still manages to pack a subtle punch from time to time. Lest I forget, kudos to Tarah for the writing choice of making the MMC, Fisher, a chef. You know, men who do physical labor. Bonus points if they're a parent or guardian. Tarah just gets it and I need her to write more of them.

So far, Funny Feelings still is Tarah's best work for me but this placed a close second. That leaves Rootbound to be the only book in the TDLU that I haven't picked up yet.

Thanks to Tarah Dewitt, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️

This was a classic Tarah Dewitt book. It was heartwarming and funny. This book is a small town, single guardian romance. Dual POV and a slow burn. I loved the banter between Sage and Fisher and while I'm not a huge fan of a 3rd act breakup, I thought how this played out made sense!

I also see that the author said there will be a Spunes 2 book, so I'm interested in seeing who it'll follow!

went into this one with high expectations after reading Funny Feelings and loving it. while i loved sage's outlook on life and her gardening and farming, i didn't fully connect with the small town life in this one. i felt like i knew where the entire book was headed, and i like a romance with more of a twist. still a cute, enjoyable read!

It's like a Hallmark movie in a book. Everything is set in a quaint small town where everyone knows each other. The main characters complement each other so well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, 🌶️🌶️

Small town
Single guardian

TARAH DOES IT AGAIN! I’ve loved everything I have read from her but this book just hit differently. The love she put into this book & characters is so evident

This book was so cute + cozy and good and all the hard topics addressed with such care! Prepare to swoon and laugh so much!
a summer ✨vibes✨ book!

These characters quickly stole my heart! && also so relatable. Creating characters who have so much baggage, past trauma, & find a way openly communicate with one another. & yet despite their past still remain positive & so lovable. The book starts off deep into these characters struggles + hard topics sprinkled with laughter. Fischer our MMC and chef struggling with burnout navigating “parenthood” for the first time to his teenage niece who is also going through so much! Their relationship developed so much from beginning to end and I’m getting all teary eyed especially thinking about the journal 🥹🥹

Our FMC , Sage who I adore so much and such a relatable character. Still finding out who she is (which by the way Tarah did an incredible job writing about self love and a journey to loving and finding yourself). Sage and Fischers relationship was such a joy to read, they paired together so well. Recognizing that they both had baggage they needed to work through and knowing they couldn’t fix one another but worked to heal themselves, communicating so effectively to one another and finding a way to love one another just the way they were. The witty banter and always finding a way to see the light even in the darkest times!

&& all the animals 🥹🥹🥹

I’m so excited for more in the little small town!!

Thank you so much NetGalley & Tarah for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book will tug at your heartstrings as Sage and Fisher figure out who they are and how they can't live without each other. I really enjoyed this book and will be sure to check out others by Tarah Dewitt!

Tarah DeWitt has done it again. This is my second book I've read from her and just like with Funny Feelings, the end is what gets me... that last chapter was absolute PERFECTION

The relationship between Sage and Fisher was so fun - their banter was so good, dare I say similar to Lorelei and Luke from Gilmore Girls? There was so much tension between them, they actually communicated how they were feeling, and their cute little moments between the two of them were precious. He rediscovered his love of cooking because of her and she realized it's okay to prioritize herself because of him. They fit so well together.

I wish there was more of Sage and Wren's friendship! Female friendships are always so important in books for me and I wanted to see more of the two of them. I also would've liked for more Sage & Indy bonding since they both no longer have parents; it's an interesting dynamic between the two of them that I wish was explored just a little more.

Overall, I had a wonderful time reading it and I will 100% continue to read the rest of Tarah DeWitt's books

Thank you NetGalley and Tarah for this ARC.
Greetings from Spunes, Oregon.

Consider this book savored. Devoured. One course was not enough. I will be making a quarterly reservation with Fisher and Sage. They are *chef kiss*. Tarah had me kicking my legs and screaming to myself, laughing out loud (the puns!), crying (over a goose!), and figuring out if we can build a sunroom.

Savor It is my new favorite small town romance, and my favorite story yet from Tarah. I can’t wait for all her existing fans to read it, and for all the new readers to meet Tarah through Savor It.

Reasons to read:
Small town romance
Sage loves pirates (smut). Fisher looks like Will Turner, but is a chef.
Sage has 3 brothers (TARAH - please give us a Byrd Brothers series!)
You love sunrooms or ever wondered why you need a house with one.
Hand flexing (I see you Pride and Prejudice/Bridgerton lovers, and give you: Fisher.)
Fear of robot vacuums taking over the world.
Library makeouts.
Want to hear how Tarah describes being alone vs. lonely through her FMC.
Vulnerability from both MCs.

A chef and his niece move from NYC to a small town along the Oregon coast for a much needed summer reset and to assist with opening a restaurant. Fisher enlists the help of his next door neighbor, Sage, when trouble with the restaurant results a schedule delay. In return, Sage asks Fisher to be her partner in the canoe race for the town’s annual festival at the end of summer. Sparks fly as Fisher and Sage get to know one other. They both know their fling will conclude at the end of the summer when Fisher and his niece, Indy, moved home to NYC. Sage and Fisher choose to live in the moment and savor it until the end.

This small town romance has a full cast of characters complete with a girl next door, an unwelcome outsider, a sassy teen, a golden boy ex-boyfriend, meddling townspeople, and heartwarming quirky animals. Tarah has a way of making an impact with the small details that immerse the reader into a scene. She adds depth by describing something so ordinary in a beautiful way that is true and honest. She continues to bring laugh out loud wit and charm to the story, as she has in previous novels. The last 20% of the book totally consumed me. The reason I held back from five stars is because it took me a few chapters to be captured by the story.

This book is special because the world is so much more than the FMC and MMC relationship. It’s also about the depth of the relationships each have/had with family, and following a journey of self-discovery and healing. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a romance read.