I absolutely LOVED this dual POV, small town, summer romance that had fake dating, a grumpy neighbor chef, Fisher licking his wounds after getting fired and losing a Michelin star and who is still grieving over the death of his sister while also struggling as a guardian for his teenage niece and reluctantly falling for his farmer neighbor Sage.

Steamy, with a charming cast of secondary characters and a fun town challenge that has Sage and Fisher teaming up to help each other out. What was supposed to be a summer fling quickly turns real as things come to a head when Fisher and his niece return to the city at the end of the season.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! This is a new fav from a fav indie turned trad published author and I can't wait to have a finished copy of this beautiful book to showcase on my shelf!

I did not slowly savor this book, I absolutely devoured it in one sitting! I loved Fisher and Sage and their banter! I love the broody teen, Indy, and all the side characters in town were hilarious.

Thank you so much St Martin’s Press, Tarah DeWitt and NetGalley for the arc! I enjoyed this story throughly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read this one! What an exquisitely beautiful story this was!

I absolutely swooned reading this heartfelt rom-com from Tarah DeWitt. Aside from a sweet (and occasionally spicy) summer romance, this one also delves into some really heavy emotions, such as loss of a loved one (past & not on page) and legit career burnout. As someone who has struggled with both, but most recently career burnout, this one really hit home. I loved that instead of just having a magical solution to the realities of burnout, this book really covers that it’s a gradual and long-term recovery and that sometimes, focusing on what actually brings you joy instead of what you think should bring you joy can have the most profound impact on your life.

A perfect 5 stars from me.

I had an extremely hard time getting into this book & staying committed to it. While the storyline is cute, I feel like the pacing is too slow. I found myself skimming through a majority of the book
📖
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I absolutely would. Why? Because even though Savor It wasn’t for me, I believe other readers will thoroughly enjoy Tarah DeWitt’s Savor It.
📖
Please don’t let my review of Savor It detract from the story or deter you from giving it a chance. You may enjoy this story more than I did.
📖
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read Savor It in advance. I look forward to Tarah DeWitt’s new stories in the future.

STORY LIKES
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
rounded

RECOMMEND
💳 yes

EDITED REVIEW: I'm interested to see if the audio version of this story will keep me engaged in the story.



Disclaimer: I never rate lower than 3 stars as retailers such as Amazon ding the author; especially for independent authors.

This one was so good that I read it in one sitting. This is my first book by this author. I can’t wait to read more from her. The well developed characters had solid goals, and the conflict in this story kept me reading all day. Sage could be one of my favorite heroines. This book was well written with all the feels—sadness, happiness and love. I loved the depth of the story and can’t wait to read this again. Huge thanks to St. Martin’s press and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

This was such an awesome romance that I devoured in one day! A small-town romance with two broken characters who begin as the ultimate grumpy/sunshine pair and who evolve into two vulnerable people trying very hard to be the best they can be. Fisher Lange is practically banished to Spunes, Oregon after his high profile and highly successful career as a Michelin star chef in NY went up in flames. Angry, grieving and lost he drags his niece – who is also angry, grieving and lost to spend the summer to try to rectify the damage he has caused to his career.
His temporary next-door neighbor, Sage is hiding from the town’s pity as her five-year relationship has ended with the local town cop, Ian, and he is already engaged to one of her friends. Sage is looking to let the town, know she’s okay and one way to do that would be to make a great showing in the town’s annual summer competition…if only she had a partner.
Sage and Fisher quickly realize they can help each other out!
What they don’t expect is how exactly they will end up helping each other out! At first glance, Fisher is your intimidating, strong, roguish male until he so openly shows his vulnerabilities to Sage. Sage is bubbles and sunshine until she shares the hurts and fears she hiding behind that cover. Fisher’s niece, Indy is exactly what you would expect from a teen who has her life turned upside down.
Tarah DeWitt has hit it out of the park with a romance that gives you big emotions, just the right amount of spice and characters that will warm your heart! I especially loved the Sage advice left by Sage’s mother with an emphasis on living and appreciating the present and the journey.

This the first book I’ve read of Tarah Dewitt and it won’t be my last. I loved the small Oregon town and Sage, the main character. It was just such a feel good book that had me highlighting multiple passages. It is on my list for one of my favorite books of the year! Sage is this girl who has been through so much in her life but she lives her life in the now because of the loss she’s endured. She has a passion for life and it shows in so many different ways throughout the book. Fisher is a man who is trying to find his way after some career set backs and becoming his nieces guardian. Sage enters Fishers life in a very funny way and Fisher comes back into his own after being around Sage. I can’t think of anything I would change it was just perfect! Thank you so much to the St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!!

A small-town girl and city boy are not the most likely neighbors- let alone friends, but Sage & Fisher quickly become an unlikely duo when Fisher moves in next door to Sage for a temporary consulting job. As Fisher navigates raising his niece and building up his cooking confidence, Sage is navigating small-town gossip. Filled with farm animals, fake dating, and real feelings this book has so many fun tropes that keep the reader engaged. The story was lighthearted and enjoyable to read, but I do wish there was more interactions with Fisher & his niece!

Oh my, I loved this book! This book felt like a gut punch at times, but also like the warmest hug you’ve ever received. It is warm, cozy, and happy without straying away from the hard stuff too.

Writing characters that have so much baggage, and trauma in their lives but that yet still communicate openly, love honestly, and find themselves alongside each other is just something magical.

Be prepared to find yourself laughing, but also crying through this book. As someone who lost their sister in a car accident, I related so much to Fisher and the way he was learning to live through it. Not only Fisher, but sweet, young Indy grieving her mother at such a young age and trying to navigate the world.

Fisher and Sage’s healthly relationship will have you sucked in so quickly and will keep you turning the pages all the way through. It was truly *chef’s kiss*!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I want to start by thanking NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC. I loved every minute of this, and I'm STARVING for more. Fake dating AND friends with benefits in a small town, where have you been all my life?

I loved Sage. Her passion for life was contagious, and it made me want to be like her when I grow up. There is nothing in life that is too small to be appreciated, and she said that with her whole chest.

Fisher looks like a hot pirate. I repeat for the people in the back, THIS MAN LOOKS LIKE A HOT PIRATE. If a man has a mustache, earrings, and is 6"5', sage girly, i get it. Aside from that, I really loved that I could identify with his character and his struggles. Dealing with burnout while working in a field that is your life's passion is something that I think a lot of people struggle with, me included. This was such a beautiful and respectful way for it to be portrayed.

With both characters having suffered tremendous loss in their lives, this was a really heartwarming way for them to explore their grief and learning to have the courage to live a life that you want in spite of what everyone else has to say about it.

This is my first read from this author, and I'm already in love. The way I will be hitting purchase so fast when Wren and Ellis' story is coming out. I need it.

I had a love and dislike relationship with the book “Savor It” for one reason, Sage, the female main character (FMC)was a total mirror of myself. She is a teacher, who loves to grow flowers and owns a hobby farm in a small town. Aside from the hobby farm, which is a dream of mine, that is me. She helps manage a rental house near her farm and meets Fisher, a struggling chef, and his niece. She helps him with the locals as he sets up his boss’ restaurant and he agrees to be her festival partner and fake boyfriend to help her get over seeing her ex with his new fiancé.

This book was really well written and I loved all the characters. The chemistry and relationship built by Sage and Fisher was so lovely and tender but it always felt temporary as he was only there for the summer which wrecked me. The life lessons and “Sage advice” she would give was so good but also heart wrenching and the book got me in the feels more than once. If you like being challenged to think about life, love and loss this is the book for you. I had to take some pauses while reading this to collect myself and my emotions but I ended up liking it in the end despite the main conflict which is not one of my favourite tropes.

This was the second book I’ve tried by this author and unfortunately I think I just have trouble connecting with her writing style. I was a little confused at some points which lead me to having a hard time getting into the story. The premise is really cute, I just think this one wasn’t for me. If you are a fan of quirky small town romance, you might enjoy this!

A slow burn romance that incorporated found family. Recommend if you’re looking for something different.

I just finished and thought it was so sweet! 🫶 I love the characters, the romance, the animals, and the small town vibes! Tarah DeWitt has a way of creating stories with so much heart, you can’t help but fall in love as you read. I swooned so much. There's also so much Sage advice that I truly feel I grew as a person while reading this book. Go pre-order now! 🤩

4.25. I ADORED this book... the last 25% in particular! The first bit read like a really good romance novel, but the last quarter read a bit more contemporary fiction... there were real life issues in this book and the characters handled it very maturely. I also felt like I was reading about older more mature characters, which was refreshing. I LOVED so much of this book. I loved the setting, the garden, sport, and animal aspects to this book. The FMC was perfect, but I also loved the MMC. I loved the side characters as well. There was spice, but not overly graphic long scenes, although there were quite a few back to back. I believed in their chemistry and while, at first, I was worried it was just physical, the author really honed in on the love and levity of their relationship toward the end. I am REALLY going to miss these characters. I feel like they will stick with me, and in a romance, I find that rare.

(Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Griffin for an ARC of this book. These opinions are my own).

This was such a great book! I loved Sage and Fisher and how complex and real they were. It was so heartwarming to see them fall in love 🥺

My favourite thing about this book is how gentle Sage and Fisher were with each other. Grief was a big part of both their lives, and while Sage has had more time to process everything and find a way to live with it, Fisher is still struggling. Adding to that being his niece’s guardian and some doubts about his career, he is definitely not in the best place at the beginning of the book. When he meets Sage, his quirky neighbour who wears her heart on her sleeve, he is charmed and can’t stay away.
I really enjoyed how mature they both were, how well they communicated and how honest they were with each other. They met at just the right time and were exactly what each other needed. The chemistry between them was immediately clear and even though they knew anything that happens will only be temporary, they quickly fell in love and it was beautiful to witness that.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance with lovely characters, adorable animals and great character growth, check this one out.

This was my first time reading Tarah DeWitt and I loved this book. The story was engaging and while there was angst, it was angst with a purpose and hope. The characters were trying to find their way instead of just whining about their problems.

The setting of the small town in Oregon was wonderful and I loved the library. The secondary characters were a lot of fun. The romance was lovely and better yet, realistic. I will be looking at other books by Ms. DeWitt.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin, and Tarah DeWitt for the eARC.

I really wanted to love this one, especially after seeing so many great things about it. However, it just wasn't for me. The pacing was off, some of the wording was unclear, and the plot didn't make sense. It felt like there was a lot of missing context in the beginning with who the characters were. I got halfway through the book, and the main plot point of the festival still hadn't been introduced. I felt no connection to either of the main characters, and the female main character acted very cringey at times for me. It just wasn't for me, unfortunately.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Tarah DeWitt and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC, all opinions are my own.
Savor It is a stunning story of a small town romance with honesty, big and raw feelings, humor, farms, animals, caring for a child, and so much more. This story was so beautiful, I actually found myself taking my time to read it so I could savor it myself! When a big time chef has to make some life changes and move to a small town while caring for his niece, there are so many big feelings to have and wonderful people to meet. This story is full of small town love and humor, growing romance, great back stories from both main characters, a wonderful dual POV, and such caring and real people. Tarah DeWitt wrote such a beautiful story with all of the raw honesty between the characters that really added something special to this story. I really loved how much this story was real, without characters hiding their thoughts from one another. I highly recommend to all romance readers!

I really enjoyed Tarah DeWitt's small-town romance, "Savor It". Fisher and Sage each know they are imperfect and are (mostly) okay with that. They approach their romance with a practicality that makes sense for two adults with established lives, even as the reader knows it is going to burn them both in the end. The slow burn worked for me, and the open door love scenes were somehow more sensual than spicy. I did feel like Fisher was more telling his emotions than showing them at times, and I wanted Sage to be a bit more assertive, but most of their story was lovely. I do wish I had seen a bit more of the other residents in town - I felt like they were sketched out but not fully filled in. I felt much the same about Indy and her backstory. Much of it felt incomplete, perhaps because of the fragmented way it was presented. I like DeWitt's writing style quite a bit and would certainly pick up another book by her.

3.5 stars rounded to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own.