I couldn’t help but be charmed by Tarah DeWitt’s latest romance Savor It, my first book by the author. If Carmen from The Bear found himself deposited into a Hallmark movie, this might be the result. Delightful, entertaining, and irresistibly sweet, I had fun relaxing into this one.

Lately I’ve found myself hyper critical of romances, unable to be swayed by the comforting predictability, and Savor It could have ended up with the same fate. But try as I might, I couldn’t resist falling into this one. I adored Sage, all her ridiculous animals, and Fisher, even with the stereotypical I-may-look-like-a-bad-boy-but-really-I-have-a-heart-of-gold persona. Circumstances and dialogue that could have easily produced eye rolls were endearing in DeWitt’s capable hands. And once again, predictability became comforting again.

I liked that we learn about each of Sage’s and Fisher’s difficult backstories in this dual POV romance, but they don’t weigh down the characters, they provide substance and emotion as they move forward. It was also refreshing that our couple communicates. I definitely needed that in a romance after reading several based around lack of communication.

And what a concept. A romance with…. ROMANCE! From sexy canoe rides to intense stargazing to simply preparing a meal together, the chemistry between our couple leapt off the page. It’s an open door romance, but not overly descriptive, if you prefer your romances to leave more to the imagination.

There were also a plethora of engaging side characters, with perfect set-ups for more books, I hope, in the same world.

For me, the setting is almost as important as the characters in my romances, and the quaint small-town-farm in Oregon with all the animals, flowers, and food charmed my socks off!

Savor It was deliciously indulgent and I will happily pick up more books by Tarah DeWitt!

Savor It is a small town romance set in the town of Spunes, Oregon. Sage has lived in Spunes her entire life. She's a teacher spending her summer taking care of her animals and her flowers, finding happiness in the small things in life. She feels as though something might be missing, though, especially after her ex quickly got engaged to his new girlfriend. Fisher is a chef on the brink of losing everything. He has custody of his niece after the death of his sister and he's sent to Spunes to work on opening a new restaurant for his boss after losing a Michelin star in New York City. Despite their differences, Fisher and Sage are drawn to each other, but Fisher is supposed to return to the city at the end of the summer, ending their romance before it has even had a chance to begin. This was a very sweet romance. I really enjoyed the cast of characters in the town and how they all interacted with the two main characters. The dialogue was a bit over the top at times, but it fit with the characterization of Sage and Fisher. It will appeal to those who enjoy small town romances and books about food.

still over here thinking about fisher and sage

it's beautiful.
they're messy but perfect.
i sobbed like a baby (shocker).
it's quirky.
it makes you think about life and grief and what you do with those emotions that sometimes feels too big and too much.

tarah's writing really shines in savor it. it's poetic and real. on the surface, it's two people trying to find themselves, but it goes so much deeper than that. it's finding your purpose and your passion. it's letting people in who lift you up and push you to be the best version of yourself. it's finding the good in the little things and savoring the joys around you. it's giving you the grace to feel everything while not always having your shit together.

thank you tarah for writing the stories we all want to read. thank you for giving us characters that we relate to and want to be. and thank you for giving us fisher lange... you know the line we all won't stop thinking about (and it has nothing to do with the history book 🤭)

Love love love! Tarah will forever be an auto-buy author for me. I loved how kitschy Spunes was and how Sage and Fisher's relationship developed, not only with each other but also with Fisher's niece.

I read Rootbound, also by Tarah DeWitt, last year and really liked that one. However, Savor It is a three star from me. This book was sweet, but I just didn’t feel any connection to the characters. I didn’t feel that urge to pick it up and continue their story. Good, but not great.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, here I am, two weeks late on a review and feeling terrible about it. You know what isn't terrible though ? This book!

Hallmark vibe town, free spirited main female lead with a heart of gold and an entire crew of misplaced animals (we're talking 3 legged cats, donkeys, a horse, and birds), and a swanky chef turned burnt out new 'parent' male lead.

This was easy to digest, with some minor drama and a whole lot of swoony moments that will make your heart skip a beat. Putting a timeline or conditions on any small town romance is bound to lead to heartbreak - anyone who's ever seen a romcom can agree to that - and this was no different.

My only complaints were that I felt the romance came on a bit too strong too soon, and the big 'dramatic' conflict was kind of easily forgotten in its quick resolve.

BUT I DIGRESS. With just enough spice without being outright smutty, I was still thoroughly entertained. I also love a HEA that doesn't end in pregnancy or marriage... sometimes it's nice to just read characters having a good time where they are without forcing it further for the sake of the story.

3 stars for this one

Definitely recommend for a beach read this summer, and luckily for you it's already available for purchase!

Thank you NetGalley and StMartins Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review !

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

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was wonderful!

What a joy it was to be back inside the pages in between the words of Tarah Dewitt!!! This book felt like a warm hug and SO Tarah with the perfect blend of witty banter and comedy! I loved everything about it. Sage and Fisher my little perfectly imperfect babies!! The build up of their relationship was perfect which I enjoyed! I found myself being able to relate to Sage with finding happiness even in the little things and being content with that. This story tugged on my heartstrings and yet it was still so fun and written so well!! The side characters were great especially Indy, Gary and ALL the farm animals haha! Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention “The Bear” vibes that shined here for me haha I love a man who cooks. Yes chef!!🤭this is a new fav for sure I loveeedd!!!

i’m submitting the reviews for books by you that I already have, but I will never request another one. In October one of your employees made a horribly racist statement and you have chosen to do nothing about it. People have continuously asked you to say that you don’t stand with what the employee said, and you refuse to. This is not someone who I want to promote ever because you are sending the wrong message. These reviews will not be posted on social media because you don’t deserve the promotion. By not speaking out you are also not preventing your followers from stalking and harassing people who are participating in the boycott. Your silence speaks volumes. I hope that all of your authors move to other publishers because you are standing with a genocide. You are also currently saying that you support black women in black history month but you have ignored their concerns for months and shown them no support.

Watch this video for more information https://www.tiktok.com/@vivafalastinleen/video/7288407369313307947?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7211704101519296042

.

I loved Tarah DeWitt’s Funny Feelings and Co-Op and was excited that she was coming out with something new and had to read it.

Fake dating is becoming one of my favorite tropes. Sage needs Fisher to help her around her farm and to help her win the town's annual competition. Fisher needs Sage to make him look good to the town. His former boss is opening a new restaurant in town and offers him his job back in New York, but she needs him to make sure things are going well first.

This isn't an enemies to lovers, but there is so much banter. Banter is a love language, so any time it's included in a romance, I eat it up!
Although this book is funny, it's emotional at times too. It demonstrates how different people deal with grief, at different stages, and heal.

I loved these characters. Sage knows who she is, accepts herself, and does what makes her happy. Fisher is her perfect compliment. And an MMC that can cook? Yes, Chef! I loved all the side characters too and can't wait to visit Spunes (pronounced Spoons) again. Also, as much as I loved the MCs romance, I have to say that the love story between Gary and Indy may have been my favorite sub plot. IYKYK

Overall, I loved it. I will continue to read Tarah's books. They're funny, sexy, and hit you right in the feels at the perfect times.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

I absolute loved this one! This is my first from this author, and I can promise it wont be my last. Sage lives in small town Spunes, Oregon on the outskirts with a collection of unwanted animals and a beautiful garden. Fisher, a Michelin starred NYC chef moves in next door with his niece for the summer. A friendship begins to forge, and a deal is struck up. You see where this is going? Except, there is so much more to this novel. The way the characters overcome grief and hardships in their lives and focus on small joys. The way the town rallies around their people. Just everything about this book I absolutely loved. I am here for the slow burn, small town romance. Can we get a series where the brothers all find their happiness? Maybe an Ellis and Wren second chance?

Bottom Line: Read it!

**I received an ARC from Netgalley for free and am leaving my review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.**

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. This was very mid for me. I was expecting events in the book to happen quicker than they did and more romance and more drama. This was a very low key book. It was good enough for me to finish it and be satisfied but not enough for me to recommend. Fine is really the best word I can use to describe this. 2.5 stars

This was such a fun, adorable read! I think the quirky small-town trope is now my new favourite. Like who doesn't want to own a hobby farm in a quaint little picturesque place like Spunes??

Highly entertaining and oh so charming, this book would make a fantastic Hallmark movie.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Savor It" is a very fitting title for this book because I literally wanted to savor every single bit of this while reading! I enjoyed this book soooo much and I truly didn't want this story to end.

This was an incredibly sweet romance and it brought physical tears to my eyes. I also love a good fake dating trope and Tarah DeWitt executed it perfectly! Sage was the sweetest person on this planet and her personality made me smile so much while reading. Fisher was just the right amount of grumpy and I loved how protective he was of his niece. Sage and Fisher's chemistry was great and it felt so natural!

Definitely read this if you enjoy:
- Small-town romance
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Single-parent romance
- Fake dating

The last few chapters of this book may have ruined me (in a good way), but I cannot get over how much I loved this book!! This was my first experience with this author, but I would definitely read more of their work after having such an amazing reading experience with Savor It!

This was an interesting story. I really loved the two leads. the chemistry between them was good and tension filled. If you enjoy small town, you will love the vibes this book has. The pacing was a bit off at times, but overall, a good time. I also thought this would make a perfect summer read.

I enjoyed this smoothly written quick read. Fisher Lange is a highly respected and notable chef who has gone through a series of crises. His sister, a single mother of a teen, died abruptly leaving him as Indy’s guardian. Then after a terrible review of the restaurant at which he worked, the restaurant lost a Michelin Star--and as a result Fisher lost his job. As a way of working his way back in his boss’s favor, Fisher agreed to move to the small resort town of Spunes Oregon to help plan and design a new restaurant. So even through bad experiences in small towns gave Fisher a negative attitude going into the venture, he and Indy rented a house for the summer and headed off for some healing time away.

Sage Byrd takes a different path toward her own healing. After an abrupt ending to a 5 year relationship, Sage throws herself into her hobby farm: flowers grown for commercial use, rescued animals in need of a loving home, and her friends in Spunes. Her challenge comes when the annual town festival approaches and she realizes that for the first time in years she doesn’t have a partner. She finds one in her new summer neighbor, Fisher Lange.

In the end, the festival does not take up much space in the plot. The book is about the slow building of a relationship between Fisher and Sage as they both overcome the hurt of the past. For me, the first half of the book was thoroughly captivating. The rest of the book fell short.

For those looking for a nice, quick summer read, SAVOR IT might be just the thing. I appreciate NetGalley offering me a chance to read this book with the hope for my honest review.

#SavorIt:⁣
⁣
Thank you @smpromance @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my gifted copies!⁣
⁣
“Courage is a muscle. You strengthen it with use.”⁣
⁣
I can’t believe I’m doing this, but I’m giving a third act breakup a pass right now. I don’t know who I am anymore, but take it as you will. This was such a fun, warm hug, small town, farming romance that I’m not over it. ⁣
⁣
I really liked the characters in this book. Sage and all her puns (I need that snail shirt btw) is like a dose of serotonin to my soul. Fisher was so interesting and really had me wanting a starred dinner like yesterday. They were so authentic, I just couldn’t get over them. ⁣
⁣
The audio was audioing. I loved in audio and highly recommend. You may have to turn it down during the steamy parts. (It’s very steamy. In the library, y’all gotta be kidding me) but the dual POV and narration was absolutely phenomenal.⁣
⁣
I did not expect to love this book as much as I did, but here I am loving Savor It. ⁣
⁣
Out now.⁣
⁣
QOTD: What’s a book that took you by surprise? Can be good or bad surprise.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC of this book. I struggled to get into the story - I had to pick it up multiple times before I could complete the book. Overall, I enjoyed the quirky small town setting with unique residents who know everything about each other. I wasn’t overly impressed with Sage and Fisher’s chemistry but did enjoy that they each had their own pasts they were grappling with. Having said that, you can figure out pretty early on what obstacle they are going to have to overcome if they want to make things work. It was a very quick read once I was invested in the story and I loved that there was no ridiculous miscommunication. I would recommend picking this one up if you enjoy contemporary romance with adult characters who can openly share how they are feeling. 3.75/5 stars rounded up.

THIS BOOK.

Sage and Fisher are easily the sweetest, most real couple in this small town romance. Sage has her issues. She’s got big brothers would raised her when their parents died. She has a love for animals she never lets go of. Fisher has a lot going on in his life, too. He’s a caregiver/guardian of his niece. He has a need for change with his chef job and he enjoys moving to the small town after he meets his landlord, Sage.

These 2 are kooky for each other and also their intimacy is next level because they complete each other. They meet at probably the wrong time but it ends up being right.

The books vibes are all cozy and the right kind of vibes I always get from Tarah!

Savor It is a lovely story of loss and redemption by Tarah DeWitt. Sage Byrd was a child when her mother died and a preteen when her dad passed. Raised be eldest brother Ellis, now a firefighter, and two other brothers, Silas and Micah, Sage has fought to become an independent, respected woman. For a while it seemed she had come into her own and was no longer looked upon as the poor little orphan. Then, when she and her boyfriend of 5 years, town police officer Ian Carver, break up and he is quickly engaged to another she begins to feel the pity all over again.

An accomplished teacher, hobby farmer, and animal rescuer, Sage also watches over her neighbor’s home and helps with their vacation rentals of it. When new summer tenants arrive from New York City late one evening, Fisher Lange and his niece and ward Indy, unload and fall into bed only to be disturbed in the middle of the night by a seeming intruder. With a 911 call and a slow approach down the stairs with a baseball bat, Fisher finds an unexpected surprise followed by the arrival of two firefighters, Sage’s brothers, and a deputy, her ex. As they are questioning Fisher and Indy and doing their reports, Sage arrives trying to find her three legged cat, Legoless, who has a habit of coming into this house through a dog door.

As Fisher is not being accepted by the town since he is there to consult on a new restaurant the townsfolk consider an eyesore and Sage is tired of being pitied, they bond together to help each other and Sage also wants to help Indy, with whom she can so well relate. But how will things evolve as these two work together?

This is a well written and thoughtful story of people dealing with losses and disappointments. It is also a novel about finding one’s people as well as their individual redemption leading to futures they would never have dreamed. The characters are carefully constructed and the oceanside setting is well described. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!