This was only my second book by Tarah and I can honestly say that I am a fan! I adored this book and I really wanted to Savor It (see what I did there?!?!)

Sage lives in the small quirky town of Spunes Oregon, she lives on a farm of misfit animals and a garden where she spends most of her time. She has just come out of a 5 year relationship with the town golden-boy who almost immediately got engaged to someone else. She has been feeling a little lost, and in need of a win for herself.

Fisher has arrived in Spunes with his niece, who he has recently taken custody of. Fisher is a big time chef from New York City, after the death of his sister and a few professional setbacks he is in Spunes to recover and get his life back on track. He moves into the rental house next door to Sage.

Sage and Fisher develop a friendship pretty quickly and I loved it. Sage helps Fisher navigate the townspeople, he's trying to open a restaurant for his boss in town and they are not happy about it. Fisher becomes Sage's partner in a canoe race, that is a big deal every summer. They are both aware that there is a time limit on any relationship but that doesn't stop them from getting close.

I loved the romance between Sage and Fisher, it was so much deeper than just mutual attraction. They really talked about things, they really truly become friends and lovers. There was so much adult communication and I loved every moment of it. I love the relationship between Fisher and his niece, Indy. They really had to work through their grief and learn to trust each other and that was a beautiful part of this story. I also loved Indy's relationship with Sage, Sage understood losing a parent at a young age and she was really able to be there for Indy and help Fisher navigate that part of the relationship.

I loved Sage's brothers and I am really really hoping this becomes a series and we get stories for all of the brothers. They love their sister and take care of her, but they are also kind of a mess in the best way. I loved the townspeople of Spunes, I really wanted to live in this story, I wanted to hang out on Sage's farm and go to the library in town and meet all of the quirky people.

Thank you to Netgalley, and Tarah Dewitt for the arc of this book. Savor It is out on Tuesday and you should absolutely add it to your TBR!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martins Griffin for the advanced copies of this book.

This is easily going to be one of my top reads of the year. I loved most everything about it and regret not reading it sooner.

What a beautiful story of grief (off-page, referenced on-page), healing from grief, and loving during this process. A story of finding yourself, your place in the world, and following what you want and not what others expect of you.

This book had me laughing, crying, and absolutely swooning.

Karissa Vacker and Zachary Webber were an all-star cast and absolutely the best pair to do the narration justice. I will listen to anything they do in the future!

Read if you like:
🛶Competitions
🛶Healing after Grief
🛶Finding Your Place
🛶Single Guardian
🛶Puns
🛶Chef MC
🛶You, With a View by Jessica Joyce

I usually love small town romance and the fake dating trope, but this book felt kind of meh to me. It was slow and I had a hard time getting through it. I didn’t feel connected to the characters, but I did like them. Their communication was great and the conversation surrounding grief and healing was well done. While this wasn’t my cup of tea, I know a lot of people will love this one so I would still recommend it! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First person, dual POV
overall: 3.5 ⭐️
Tropes: small town, grumpy x sunshine, found family, third act break up

This was my first Tarah Dewitt *gasp* but it won’t be my last. I’ve had others on my TBR for a while now, but finally pulled the trigger on this one thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.
This was a quick read with lots of heart. Very light and cozy. I’m not saying this as a bad thing at all, but this is a wonderful palate cleanser if you are looking for one. It’s nothing ground breaking, if I’m being honest. Which, again, is not a bad thing!
It’s not overly angsty, aside from a third act breakup which is totally warranted to add a little extra something to this story.
You do get a lot of internal monologues which wavered my attention a smidge every once in a while, so be prepared for that. I can find myself skimming when there’s too much inner monologues happening, but I was still invested when the conversations picked back up again.
Overall, I do recommend if you are looking for something wholesome, almost like a warm hug. These characters are full of so much life and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting our mains, Sage & Fisher. We love a good grumpy x sunshine trope. But the supporting characters were great additions.

Boy, did I ever savor this fantastic story about a small town (not-so-) golden girl and a slightly broken hot shot chef. Their banter and chemistry were absolutely delightful, and the side characters were endearing and not the least bit annoying (which I find is often the case in books about small towns). The dialogue, romance, and imagery were all top notch, and while some serious subjects were broached, there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments too. I’ve been a fan of Tarah Dewitt since Rootbound and will continue to eagerly read everything she writes!

4.5 ⭐️

That being said, damn this was goood. Fisher & Sage had me giggling and kicking my feet so hard. I really took my time reading this, savoring it, if you will, because I just didn’t want it to end. 🤭

Fisher is a 3 time Michelin Star chef who is having a tough time getting his mojo back after losing his sister and becoming responsible for his niece, Indy. His boss helps him out and sends them on a summer sabbatical to the small town of Spunes, Oregon where they meet the girl next door, Sage, and all her cute animals. The small town rumors start immediately so Fisher & Sage decide to use them to their advantage. While training for the annual festival competitions and opening up the new restaurant in town, they attempt keep things causal for the summer.

The town was towning, the puns were punning, and the vibes were vibing!

Tarah DeWitt does it again! Her books are always the perfect blend of tender and aching, sexy and fun. Savor It is no exception! I will truly *never* recover from that ending!!🥲

I saw so much of myself in both Fisher and Sage. They were both so vulnerable with each other from the beginning—even though they knew their summer together couldn’t last forever. (See what I did there🤭)
And while their love story is beautiful and I’ll think of them often, I think this book mostly serves as a reminder to endlessly pursue whatever will make YOU happy. What makes you light up on the inside. What makes your life feel purposeful. Big or small.

Read if you like:
+ found family
+ small town festivals
+ “sweetheart”
+ summer fling 🤝🏻 mutual beneficial arrangement
+ bird puns
+ canoeing
+ food (yes, chef!)
+ side characters !!!

Synposis:
Fisher has had a rough few years, his sister died, he got fired from his chef job, and he’s trying to figure out how to raise his niece dealing with the lost of her mom.

His boss gives him a second chance to get his career back by moving to Spunes, Oregon and helping her get a new restaurant opened after running into issues with the citizens of the small town.

Fisher instantly finds himself in need of help from Sage. And throughout the summer they work together on the changes they both need.

In the end of the summer, they are in love with each other but Fisher has to go back to NY because the thinks that what is best for his niece but in the end will it be? What will happen with Sage? You’ll have to read Savor It to find out.

Full disclosure I think I’m in a reading slump. I’ve read 4-5 slow burn books so they’re becoming just blah for me.

Savor It was ok. Not great but like I said my reading mood might be a huge key into that feeling.

I loved the characters and side characters. They were all great and lovable. My favorite were definitely Sage’s animals. They were a ragtag bunch and super lovable.

The plot was cute and very fitting for a small town romance.

My favorite part of the whole thing was the ending. It made me love Fisher even more and want to give him a hug and tell him he’s doing a great job.

Savor It is a great fit for anyone who loves small town romances and quirky animals. Also, if you love a feel good story this one is for you.

Thanks Netgalley and Griffin for a copy of Savor It in exchange of an honest review.

This is a cute romance story that takes place in a small town! A chef named Fisher gets reassigned to a small town in Oregon to set up a new restaurant where he meets his neighbour Sage! It is a slow burn romance between Fisher and Sage, and I loved their banter. Plus I really appreciated the dual POV to get perspectives from both main characters. I really adored all of the characters (including the animals) and the small town setting. There are lots of cute and fun moments that had me giggling! The only thing I will say is that there was a big build up for this competition, and then it felt really rushed and anti-climatic. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this one, and it was just such a fun read!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review 🫡

Going to start this by saying I think I got to a point that I was just bitch eating crackers. I liked it enough to see it through to the end but I have a slew of gripes so buckle up!

Whomp whomp waaahhhh 😫
The setup and premise were soooooo good but overall this ain’t it. I’m sorry. I will be over here on unpopular opinion island, party of one.

Meddling small town?
Force proximity?
Fake dating?

The makings of something great and then it all fell apart. There was absolutely no point to them fake dating. They went in public ONE time. The small meddling town quickly became an after thought. Like all of a sudden it just didn’t exist. It’s like she forgot what she set up at the beginning of the book and just started fresh half way through but stuck with the competition to keep them together.

Around 75% everything started to be written in hindsight like she was trying to scoot the plot along but why couldn’t we just be in the moment for those things and have the dialogue? I’m so confused by that writing choice.

And when we did finally have an in the moment conversation the amount of internal dialogue was craaaaazzzyyyy. Like between each sentence there was anywhere from several paragraphs to PAGES of internal dialogue. Imagine that in real life. I’m just picturing someone staring off into space while I wait for them to respond to me after every sentence. ???!!!

This is my very last gripe 😭😂 there should be a case study on how well they have their shit figured out internally but outwardly can’t get their shit together. During their long internal monologues they really have it figured out. They are A+ students in therapy, so tell me why when it comes time to act suddenly they have the emotional range of a tree in a field? It was like two different people internally and externally. It was very odd.

Anyways. Loved the puns and all the animals. I hope Ellis and Wren get a second chance at some point but I dont think I will be in the stands to see it.

I am such a sucker for small town swoony romances and Tarah Dewitt nailed it with this one.  
Sage and Fisher were just so stinkin 'cute with their grumpy/sunshine vibes.  Fisher with his grumpy pirate vibe and Sage was pure joy.  This was definitely a slow burn but their communication skills were screaming "healthy relationship".  
The character growth between Fisher and his niece was also so so sweet.  I loved to see them work together to heal and become stronger together.  So many wonderful life lessons thrown in.  
Read If You Like:Small Town RomanceFake DatingGrumpy/SunshineSingle Dad (Guardian)Grief & Healing
With an overall theme of finding joy in the present moment - I think many readers will enjoy this one.  Out Now - Pick it up TODAY!!

5✨ this is a new top favourite that is burrowed into my chest and deep in my soul and i will never get over it. i was already in love with what this could have been, knowing nothing, and it was so much better.

i love how sage just barges in like an uncaring badass but also how she shyly blushes over her shoulder. i love her advanced vocabulary. it’s so bookish. she was such a stunning character. she had so much personality that just shown in everything about her. from her nail colours, to her robes, to her puns, to her borderline useless but entertaining facts, to her understanding and compassion. she really was so spectacular and i applaud her for everything she did and everything she was. i also read this over the course of a week cause i had an 11 day long migraine so i couldn’t read for extended periods of time. then sage got a migraine and i felt validated and fisher took care of her and where is my fisher to take care of me? that’s all i’m asking.

i love fisher’s anxious nervousness. why is he so cute. he calls her freckles constellations of fireworks and suddenly i wanna be covered in freckles with a man who wants to connect my dots. y’know? i really loved the representation of anxiety and fear of failure and insecurities. it was so well done. and especially in a man. bravo. he’s just so pure of heart and figuring shit out and trying to get himself back to a version that he understands and respects and i have so much respect for that. he’s so soft and pliable when it comes to sage. he’ll quite literally do anything for her without even a second thought. he’ll take her training and her fun history facts, so long as it means he gets to sit with her and look at her. and the things this man says. they will make you swoon and sweat at the same time. i adore him.

their wanting and desire is so palpable. it hurt me that they felt they couldn’t be enough and/or worthy of the other. particularly when they’re so hopelessly, unstoppably gone for each and they barely even realize it. i was drooling over them the whole time. they are absolutely perfection and must be protected at all costs and i adore them with my entire heart and soul. they understand each other on this innate, soul deep level. they try and they open up and they are raw and understanding and hopeful and just so incredibly beautiful together and apart. they are so perfectly meant to be. they are soulmates in the purest form and the way they came together was just the most beautiful thing ever. it was a privilege to watch them fall hopelessly in love with one another. she’s his sagebyrd.

the rift between indy and fisher made me so sad and i just wanted to see it fixed and their relationship healed and whole. they’ve been through so much and they truly deserve it.
i love seeing them be more okay together.

this book is the epitome of a small town romance. with all its quirks and curiosities and simple way of life. it’s a book that shows you the absolute value in loving and being loved, as is, for all that you are, in the small and simple ways that mean the world. it’s the appreciation of a sunrise. the beauty of sunshine after rainy days. it’s their love and laughter running in the rain to get to the other side and smiling the whole way through. it’s a reminder that life isn’t the big moments and accomplishments but all the simple little things and the beauty found in them. it’s all about who, not what. this story will stay with me for all my days, i know it.

”She’s so cute it’s downright offensive.”

“Something about this pattern of Sage repeatedly finding me in vulnerable positions has cracked me, I think.”

“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.”

“I wonder how she burrows into me this quickly, into my head and into other vital parts, and I can’t help but wonder how the hell I can affect her like this, too.”

“Hiding from me?”
“Just knew you’d find me.”
[…]
‘We both can’t seem to stop finding one another.’

“I think your laugh could maybe defibrillate me.”

“It’s been a privilege to fall in love with you, Sage.”

“HAVE YOU EVER COOKED A GOOSE?!”

• strangers to lovers
• neighbours
• forced proximity
• teammates
• grumpy x sunshine
• small town
• fake dating (ish)
• he falls first
• single guardian

thank you so much tarah & netgalley for the arc! it was an honour to get to read this 🫶🏼

If you are a sucker for stories about 1) two people who desperately need a win in life finding one in each other, 2) small towns and farm animals, and 3) hot chefs, then congratulations, Savor It is for you! (And me. This is very much for me.)

The book follows Sage Byrd, a much-loved high school teacher in a small town nestled in the Pacific Northwest whose golden boy ex is now engaged to one of her friends, and Fisher Lange, a hotshot chef who recently lost his sister – and a Michelin star. In need of inspiration and a fresh start, he and his niece move from New York City and next door to Sage when his boss sends him there to create a menu for a new restaurant.

And y'all. Fisher. Is. So Hot.

There's banter, there's tension, there's A Scene at A Library that will make you scream out loud twice, and oh my God, this book, just, delivers all of the emotions. It does have angsty moments and there are some deeply emotional scenes, but the pay-off is ultimately worth it. If you're in need of a great contemporary romance that is rooted in realism, but also offers a very swoony escape, definitely pick up Savor It.

4.5 Stars

This book... These characters... I understand why people love this book. It was a beautiful story written so well. The characters while fun and lighthearted also have such deep backstories and it's all woven together in a fantastic story.

The only reason this book isn't five stars is because it was a little slow to start, for me. I will say, that once it picked up, I was invested in this story and its characters, and I struggled to put it down. I loved the atmosphere of this book and the quirky little town it was set in. I loved all the side characters (some of which I'm really hoping get their own story), and I loved Fisher and Sage.

I loved how their relationship developed over the course of the book and I absolutely loved how they loved each other. I really appreciated that neither of these characters were viewed as being perfect, but that they were still perfect as they were (I hope that makes sense). I loved seeing Fisher and Indy's relationship grow over the course of the book, and I loved the realness of the struggles Fisher faced in raising his niece.

Overall this was a fantastic book, one I know I will revisit in the future. This is also an author I very much look forward to reading more from. I would definitely recommend this one if you like the following.

✔️ Single Dad/Guardian
✔️ Neighbors
✔️ Just for the Summer
✔️ He Takes Care of Her
✔️ Small Town
✔️ First Person Dual POV

I think a lot of romance readers will love this. A small town, a lovable local, and a struggling chef in town for the summer seems like a recipe for a successful romance.
I don’t really understand why I didn’t enjoy this more, but something fell flat for me. I think maybe I just didn’t vibe with either main character together. I liked them as people, I just feel like the spark wasn’t there. There were sections I liked and areas the book explored that I was happy to see, but it just wasn’t as enjoyable as I’d expected.
Even though I didn’t love this one, it has a lot of rave reviews, so I’d recommend checking it out and deciding for yourself!

This was such a cute romance novel to read. Sage and Fisher are an adorable couple. I loved that their quirkiness meshed so well. I adored when Fisher would say "sage advice". It was adorable. I felt that this was a slow burn for a good chunk of the book but that makes it even better when the characters address their feelings. I also thought that Indy's interactions with the Goose were so stinking cute. Tarah is a genius by capitalizing on the obsession with Chefs that is going on thanks to the Bear. Fisher gets to rediscover his love for food and cooking while using it to communicate how he feels. I also loved the small-town vibe and how it was done. Not all books that involve a Small Town pull off making you feel that you are reading something that is happening in a small town, but this one does. And as a book lover, reading their interactions in the library was swoon-worthy. I highly recommend this read. The author does a great job of making the character's struggles known and being a part of the journey was a beautiful thing.

Tarah writes the cosiest small-town romances, and this was no exception. It took me a little while to get into as I was coming off the worst book slump, but I was hooked by the end and sobbing by 90%.

Fisher and Sage have my whole heart. They are actual perfection together, navigating their relationship with such maturity it was refreshing to see two MC's acting like grown-ups.

I loved the town and the side characters (some further development would be great - I can see potential spin off's for so many of them - I would die for a second chance romance for Wren and Ellis!

Thank you Tarah DeWitt, NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC!

A beautiful small town romance between a woman who is sunshine personified and a grumpy hot chef who is grieving and soul searching.

Sage & Fisher are two very different people with different backgrounds but what both have in common is knowing loss of loved ones. How they have reacted to it, is however, different. There is a connection between them from the first meeting, they become friends first and then something more. Though friends with benefits is not my preferred trope, what I loved about this book was how both these characters support each other in their journey of self discovery.

The central theme of the book or rather the takeaway is how life is fleeting, we are burdened about a hundred things like career and relationships, but we should always take every opportunity to savor life, find happiness in basic things, and that it’s never too late to change the course of your life if the current path doesn’t make you happy anymore, and it’s ok to choose simpler life goals.

Yes there is fake dating involved, which turns spicy pretty soon but the underlying love story is a slow burn. Also, what is lovely is the small town vibes, the quirky townspeople, a farm full of adopted animals especially a goose in love with a human, a town festival which involves a competition.

Another important trope of the book is a single guardian. Fisher is the guardian to his teenage niece and we see their relationship dynamics evolve over the course of the story. The only thing that didn’t work for me, was probably the festival event itself. Personally I could not visualise the maze thing, sometimes felt lost with those details probably because I am not exposed to such activities.

I had a great time with these characters and would recommend for sure. Thanks to @netgalley & @stmartins for the e-arc of this book.

Will be posting on my bookstagram ( <a href=“https://www.instagram.com/booklover_swii”>booklover_swii</a> ) on 21st May 2024.

First, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this wonderful book by Tarah DeWitt. I could not have loved Sage and Fisher more! Fisher, the grumpy, lost Chef with a teenage niece to raise, sent on a time-out from life to figure out the mess he's made of everything. And Sage, the quirky girl nextdoor with a small farm of goofy animals, that was dumped by her longtime love, and raised by her 3 big brothers after losing both of their parents at a young age. As the two become friends and try to help each other get through the trials they're facing, they eventually become so much more. They lean on each other as friends and lovers as they discover what they want from the next stages of their lives. Spunes, OR is a town that I would visit in a heartbeat, and Indy and Sam and Wren, and all of the loving, silly side characters are what make this story shine. It may hurt a little along the way, but the journey Fisher and Sage go through is 100% worth the read!

One character is career-driven, the other is laid-back in a small town. Their two worlds collide and sparks fly in this heartwarming, hallmark story.

“Savor it” will have readers rooting for Sage and Fisher as we watch their story unfold before our eyes. It will also bring about the need for patience as well.

Tarah Dewitt created a wonderful little world and I hope we get to see more of Spunes someday.

Thank you NetGalley, Griffin, and Tarah Dewitt for this ARC and happy publishing week!