This romance has plenty of banter, but also quite a bit of characters realizing they need to do better. As Sage and Fisher move from fake-dating, friends with benefits, to realizing that they have caught feelings, they both also know that their time limit doesn't have any wiggle room. I loved how Fisher made Indy his priority above himself, even though it hurt. Sage's commitment to being herself, yet learning to let herself live a bigger life was admirable. My very favorite moment, though, was when Indy made a change of heart at the end. This was a perfect road trip listen.

Beautiful, hilarious, quirky, slightly spicy yet balanced with very moving moments, Savor It is a story of love and loss, burnouts and the journey to self-discovery and recovery. And oh my, what a treat this was! A feast for the eyes and food for the soul. I will be savor -ing this book for a long time to come. Of course, you can see what I did there – and if you are a lover of puns both silly and witty, you will love this book as much as I have because this is full of them!

I really wanted to love this book, but it definitely wasn’t for me. I ended up DNFing around 20%. I found myself not connecting to the story, the characters, or the romance. It had all the things I love in a book, small town summer romance, friends to lovers, slow burn. It just didn’t work for me. I know others loved this book, so I recommend checking their thoughts on it as well!

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

I really enjoyed this book. A definite read with good characters and a good plot. The character development was good also! Add to your tbr!

Very sweet love story. I enjoyed these characters. There were some heavier themes that kept me interested in learning more and rooting for love to win!

tarah dewitt has done it again - but honestly, who is surprised?! this book is pure happiness and comfort wrapped in one and I could not stop smiling throughout. something about it was just so heartfelt and it radiated through the entire plot and characters too!

bringing all of the small-town magic and charm, this book will make you fall in love with the town of spunes (yes that's really the name!) and the people and places in it. when fisher moves to spunes from the big apple, he knows it is going to be a big adjustment. all he wants to do is hide from the nosy townspeople who are knocking at his door and refind his way into his career while simultaneously traversing guardianship of his niece indy. however, his neighbor sage manages to break through his resistance, a high school teacher on summer break who loves all things animals and flowers and small town. the banter between these two was incredible as always and seeing them connect so immediately was my favorite thing.

the romance was incredible and so so heartwarming. the pure love that radiated between the two was unmistakable and genuinely made me so emotional, even eliciting a few tears at the end. but even the side characters were so wonderful: wren, ellis, micah, indy and even the animals just absolutely made this story for me. this story was so special and I will be raving about this for months to come (aka READ IT!!)

This was like a Hallmark movie- guy moves to small town by force and falls in love with the quirky neighbor girl. I honestly loved Sage and all her misfit animals. Her overthinking was very relatable. I also liked Fisher and how he took on being his niece, Indy's guardian. There was a large cast of side characters all living in the small town Spunes. But there was just something missing for me. It could have been a case of me reading this book at the wrong time, but at this point I don't think the story will stick with me.

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

Rating: 4.25/5

- Small town
- Grumpy (him) x sunshine (her)
- Chef x teacher
- Single guardian
- Summer romance
- Neighbours
- Dual POV
- Narrated by Karissa Vacker & Zachary Webber

Premise: Fisher moves to small-town Oregon for the summer with his teenage niece to consult on a new restaurant and falls for his sunshine neighbour, Sage.

What I loved about Savor It:
- Tarah's writing! It's simultaneously witty, sweet, and poignant.
- The banter between Fisher and Sage. "Sarcasm doesn't suit you." "Really? Damn. Cranky and condescending works on you." 😂
- Also, the relationship between Fisher and Sage. It was so tender yet hot, and I adored how they saw and understood each other. "I just keep digging in, and now I'm drowning in you, Sage."
The story has so many complex layers. While on the surface, it's a romance, it's also about dealing with grief. Finding joy in the small things. Being alone but not lonely. Being a mess and trying anyway, even if that means reinventing yourself.
- The whimsical small town of Spunes. It's giving Stars Hollow vibes, but make it PNW. I'm so glad this isn't the end of our time here.
- The audiobook! Karissa and Zachary nailed the characters, making me love the book even more.

While this didn't give me that overwhelming 5-star feeling, I still had a great time listening, and I would recommend it if you're looking for a summer romance.

Sage Byrd loves her small town, small world in Spunes, Oregon. She has a great relationship with everyone in town and when her 5 year relationship ends, everyone feels sorry for her. Especially when this ex-boyfriend gets engaged within a year. Fisher Lange was a hot chef in NYC that is in town for the summer rehabbing his reputation and helping open a new restaurant. The two strike up a deal: Sage will help him build rapport with the locals while Fisher pretends to date Sage so everyone will stop feeling sorry for her.

This book had a lot of potential to be really cute! Unfortunately I didn’t get captivated in the story and the characters didn’t really draw me in. I didn’t dislike the book, but I also didn’t love it. It’s a solid 3 star book that I’m sure some people will love, it just wasn’t for me!

This book was simply fantastic! I have read Tarah's work before but have since ordered pretty much all of her books in hopes I will feel everything I felt in this one again in a different setting. I loved her prose. The banter between the two MCs. I loved the way that Sage thought. I loved the sage advice she gave, and just her overall perspective on life. I found myself feeling uplifted while reading this one. I don't know if I would call Fisher grumpy but more just broken. The man has been through some trauma and without dealing with it things tend to happen. Seeing him slowly open up to Sage was magical. Their chemistry and connection felt so natural. This was a slow build and burn in my eyes. I also loved the raw honesty and how vulnerable they were with each other while navigating the time they had together.

Fisher's life has officially fallen apart. He has lost a Michelin star. Now has custody of his niece who is a teenager going through the grief of her mom AKA his sister's passing. He is being moved on assignment literally across the country to a small town (which he has qualms with) to help with the concept of a new restaurant when the entire idea of cooking makes his brain fail. He has lost his inspiration. He is swimming in failure and grief. All of this changes the first night he arrives at his rental when he meets his new next door neighbor Sage. Sage who adopts all of the animals in the town that people give away. Sage who has different color toes every time he sees her as well as a ring on every finger. Sage who doesn't seem intimidated by his walls in the least. Sage who he finds he can't stop thinking about now because of how she makes him want to talk about things he doesn't talk about. Sage who wears punny shirts and gives wonderful advice. Sage who has now asked him to participate in a race for the community. Sage who has helped him find his inspiration and who he looks forward to cooking for now and watching her experience his inventions. The same Sage who is doesn't want to leave at the end of the summer, but he failed his niece once and doesn't have it in him to do it again.

Sage is doing well in her life. It is summer break, and she is looking forward to doing the things that she does which consist of gardening, taking care of her bajillion animals, possibly getting some more animals to take care of and figuring out who she will compete with for the town contest. What she was not planning on doing...falling in love with her next door neighbor who is only in town for the summer? But here we are. Fisher dropped into her life unexpected, and she has found herself pulled to him time and time again. She finds herself wanting to make his frowns turn upside down. She wants to help him out of the hole that he has found himself in. So she opens her arms and heart to him. She has three brothers, she knows how to navigate a man who has a short attention span. She starts showing Fisher all of the things that she lives for. She starts seeing him smile and get his inspiration for the best food she has ever tasted in her life. She thinks she may have read their feelings towards each other wrong but then she realizes she was right and now she is on a cliff wondering when she started falling. The one thing she keeps telling herself is that this is all worth it for the experience and love she is feeling. But will she feel differently when their time is up? Will they be able to make things work? Will she be forever changed?

GAHHHH this story yall! I LOVED LOVED ALL of the characters. The animals added some flavor. But I have one thing to ask- PRETTY PLEASE GIVE WREN AND ELLIS THEIR SECOND CHANCE!!! Don't leave us hanging. There is so much there to unpack- I found myself wanting so much more. I would love a dive into all of her brothers actually. But back to Sage and Fisher they were wonderful. I loved reading their journey and how I found myself crying in the end from happiness and sadness somehow at the same time. I can't recommend this book enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately I have not been able to get through this book. It's a bummer, as I've tried several times at this point, but something about it just isn't working well for me right now. I can't quite peg if it's the MC or the writing style, maybe it's a combination of both, but it's like pulling teeth when I read it. I am really interested in the story there is to tell, especially after seeing other reviews, but I think maybe this isn't just the time for me to read it.

Sage lives in a coastal town, Spunes, Oregon. She loves her small town. She has a five year relationship with her boyfriend Ian. When her boyfriend becomes engaged to someone else, she decides she needs to something so town people and friends will stop feeling sorry for her and to “put Ian in his place.” The town has a Festival of Spunes which has a competition. Sage decides to enter that but she has to find a partner to enter it. Chef Fisher Lange has loss his love of cooking when his sister died. He is now responsible for his niece Indy. Fisher has been sent to Spunes for a much needed sabbatical and to consult on a restaurant opening. The town people don’t like him when he clashes with them besides giving Sage a kiss. What did Fisher do? Sage and Fisher strike a deal. Fisher will be Sage’s partner in the competition. Will they win? Their pact ends up turning into romance. Will Ian be sorry for getting engaged to that girl?

It’s a fun,romcom filled with slight spicy, quirky and humorous. It’s the perfect summer read. I enjoy Sage’s behavior through the story.

✨️ ARC Review ✨️

Earlier today I finished reading "Savor It" by Tarah Dewitt. This is the first book I read by her so I had no idea what to expect. "Savor It" tells us the story of Sage, a teacher and animal lover that lives in the small town of Spunes and Fisher, a Michelin starred chef from New York that is trying to find his way back to the kitchen. Because of recent events, Fisher is given the job of supervising the opening of a new restaurant in Sage's hometown.

When Sage and Fisher meet, there's a spark. The now neighbors for the summer keep finding ways to meet and soon, Sage decides Fisher needs her help to get to know the town. Soon, they can't help but accept their mutual attaction and act on it despite the clock ticking away their time together and Fisher's inminent return to his New York life hanging above them like a bomb ready to drop.

With that very short and spoiler free summary, let's get on to my thoughts. I loved the way the author described the scenery and how the whole town was painted through her words. I love the characters and their quirks. The geese were always funny to read about, and the puns were genious. This is a rather slow read and it touches upon some difficult topics like grief, but overall, it's really good. I loved that it was dual POV and had very distinct voices for the characters, and the spice was VERY spicy.

If you want a relaxing, comfort, summer book, this is it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I. Am. In. Love.

I heard so much hype for this book and I’m thrilled to say it lives up to it. It kept me up entirely too late writing, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for many of these characters.

Savor It is a grumpy/sunshine/small town romance with a ton of heart. Sage and Fisher come together in a fake dating agreement that is one of my favorite tropes. They both need a win, and they team up to get one. Fisher, Sage, and Indy have experienced so much loss and heartbreak, and the way it is handled in the story felt very realistic. Serious moments are handled exceptionally well, while offering a delightful amount of puns and pop culture to make it a fund and delightful read. Savor It is a story of love, loss, and burnouts that lead to a journey of self-discovery and recovery. I loved the sweet and cozy vibes in this one.

Tarah Dewitt can do no wrong for me! I saw this was a summer romance on the Oregon coast and I was SOLD. I absolutely loved Sage and Fisher, both of them had amazing character depth and development. Sage with her garden and animals is really living my dream and I did not want this book to end to be honest.

“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵?”

Savor It follows the love story between long-haired, city-boy, Fisher; and small-town, wears-her-heart-on-her-sleeve, Sage. It has some of my fave tropes — namely fake-dating, small-town — with notes on grief and family.

“𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵.”

I adored this!! It’s my first by Dewitt and I’m wanting to drop everything to read more by her! I loved how she wrote their love story — it was realistic, raw. I loved how she depicted their inner thoughts, I loved the therapy rep, I loved their banter, I loved the supporting cast, and I loved that the ending wasn’t just an HEA (iykyk). TEARS WERE SHED. I loved this!! I’m hoping it becomes a series with Wren and Ellis’s story next!! Highly recommend!

“𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Ps. This is spicy 🌶️ open-door!

This sweet romance captured my heart from the start. The small-town setting (in Oregon! Love books set in the PNW!), the grumpy/sunshine and faking dating romance, the community - it was all fantastic.

Sage and Fisher had the perfect slow-burn romance. I really liked how their relationship evolved around who they already were as individuals. While both had things in their life they wanted to approach differently, they already saw each other as the wonderful humans they were. Every time one of them felt truly seen by the other, I wanted to kick my feet and yell “kiss! kiss!”

Speaking of kissing, Savor It is also deliciously spicy! The slow burn pays off big time with this one! If spicy romances aren’t your thing, I’d still recommend picking this up. Easy enough to skim the steamy scenes and you don’t want to miss the rest of this sweet story!

DeWitt wrote the heavier parts in a way that was so lovely and compassionate, especially Sage’s experience dealing with the effects of grief as an adult vs. teenage Indy’s experience. Both of the main characters were wading through some pretty tough waters and I really appreciated the way the author balanced their hard days with the light funny ones.

Give this one a read! Emotional, heartfelt, romcoms are basically the best! You’ll definitely want to savor this one. 😉

Also! One other thing I loved about this book was DeWitt’s note in the beginning with potentially triggering material. I’m so here for authors doing this now!! It’s such a kindness to readers.

3.5 ⭐️

This has been a very cute story. I quite liked the main character couple, and also Fisher's niece. The latter two have wounds that needed to heal and Sage and this place helped make that happen. It's a book that reads in one sitting but things that got in the way made it take me a long time to finish it

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.