Fisher has experienced quite a lot of change recently from losing his Michelin star, getting fired, and taking guardianship of his niece. What’s moving to a small town for the summer to consult on a restaurant opening after all that? As it turns out, the townspeople are not particularly interested in change and oppose the restaurant at every chance. Fisher teams up with his neighbor Sage, who is tired of the town pitying her after her ex-boyfriend quickly got engaged to one of her former friends, for a mutually beneficial fake dating situation. How long will fake dating stay fake?

What I loved:
-sense of found family
-all the animals
-cooking scenes
-fake dating
-seeing the relationship between Fisher and his niece grow

This was such a sweet and heartwarming read. Sage and Fisher are both such caring and loveable characters and I loved seeing Indy get the family dynamic that she deserves!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s for the advanced reading copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. The first chapter was honestly confusing to me and from there, it never really picked up. I was bored throughout the whole novel and found myself skimming throughout. Sage and Fisher’s relationship felt rushed and I didn’t see any connection tbh. I also wish Indy and her relationship with Fisher was more involved in the story. Come to think of it, I feel like the most of the subplots were either unnecessary or just not fleshed out well. To top it all off, there were unnecessary page breaks and some of the chapters ended in a weird place imo. I definitely want to give this author another try bc I heard great things about Funny Feelings, but this one just wasn’t for me!

Where do I begin? Sage and Fisher is so inspiring. I love that they both find it in themselves to help each other in more ways than one with making it so effortless. A man from a big city working through his career changes while trying to navigate how to parent and a small town woman living life to the fullest with all her animals, I mean what more is there to love. Thank you Tarah DeWitt for making this story so swoon worthy. If anyone is debating on reading it or adding it to their TBR, honestly just read it!

Your mileage may vary with this book, but it was 3 stars for me. The book had a very slow start — in the first 20% the MCs only had two brief interactions. The plot didn’t really start picking up until around 55%, which is a lot of world building for a contemporary romance. Once it did pick up, the romance was sweet. Honestly, I was much more invested in Wren and Ellis’ relationship than I was in Sage and Fisher’s. So if they get their own book, I’ll read that one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!

I enjoyed another of Tarah DeWitt's novels and was excited to dive into this one too! It did not disappoint. If you're looking for a small town romance full of unique characters (and animals) this could be the one for you. I love Tarah's writing and following this couple navigate their own issues as well as grow together was such an enjoyable read. The banter made me chuckle and the steam was the perfect amount to me. Such a great read for the beach or a weekend away!

I requested this book on a whim and hoped I'd be swept up in a small town romance, but it fell flat for me.

The first chapter had potential to hook me, but I didn't have a solid grasp enough on the characters to find their joke funny, or the suggestive construction of the new building's construction to be alarming. My thought was...it's a building under construction, of course it might look awkward, but for it to be suggestive? I had no idea what to picture.

Then Fischer wasn't a character I found myself attached to either. I sympathize for his situation, but I didn't actually feel the emotions. He just told them. And is POV felt really forced to me, I'm not sure why.

I have many books on my list that need to get read and others that I want to read, so this was sadly a DNF for me at 20%. I see potential for it, but I can't stick with it in light of everything with a certainty it'll pay off.

I wanted to love this one, because it has many elements I typically love in my romcoms: dual POV, fake dating, small town, opposites attract...but it fell short for me. I enjoyed it enough, but I didn't love it. There was a lack of chemistry between the MCs that just didn't work unfortunately. I feel like some storylines could've been explored more, fleshed out to make them more interesting and more vital to the story. I liked it, but I wouldn't reccomend it necessarily. Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

New addition to my favorites shelf: Savor It. I have read this book twice now already, and I think I might have loved it more the second time around, if that is possible.
Both Sage and Fisher are fantastic. I love their character arcs, they both have things at stake: Fisher has his career and the responsibility of his niece Indy, while Sage wants to be seen for who she is, and not through the "too nice" tag that everyone sticks to her. Added to that is the undeniable attraction between Fisher and Sage, and the date limit set to their relationship, as Fisher is meant to be in Spunes only for the summer.
Tarah's writing is gorgeous and eloquent. She sets the scenes in such a beautiful way that I kept expecting to turn the page and find a picture of the ongoing segment.
And the banter: subdued until you hear yourself chuckling, or clutching your chest when that heart-felt one hits. The absolute witticism of the characters had me taking a pause at times to marvel at the pen of Miss DeWitt.
I don't remember the last time I really took my time with a book. I am usually trying to get to the HEA as fast as I can. This experience though, was different, and I really loved it (is this how books are meant to be read?).
Savor It will make a wonderful read for all seasons. Add to your TBR!

This is an ARC and all opinions are my own.

Savor It was my first book by Tara DeWitt and it certainly won’t be my last. It was impossible not to fall for Sage and Fisher plus Indy and the menagerie of animals. There was an effortless between Sage and Fisher and as much as they tried to keep themselves from getting in too deep they just couldn’t. They brought out the best in each other and found happiness even when they knew it could lead to heartbreak.

I’m definitely moving Tara DeWitt’s previous books further up my tbr list now for sure!
Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

Wow, what an amazing book! I'm totally blown away by how beautiful it is! This contemporary romance is like a treasure trove of heartwarming moments and really great writing that will really resonate with your soul. I laughed, I cried tears of sadness and happiness—it's that emotionally impactful! This story is pure swoon material! Dive into its rich exploration of love's complexities, the profound effects of loss, dealing with career challenges, and the unpredictable twists life throws at you. I appreciate the gentle reminder to cherish every joyful moment even when it isn't all sunshine and rainbows. DeWitt's skill at weaving together these themes so precisely, respectfully, and empathetically is truly remarkable! I savored every page and will highly recommend this masterpiece!

This was a fun, small town romance book filled with a cute romance and lots of fun animals. I enjoyed the main characters and their relationship, and thought the small town vibes were really cute! Both Sage and Fisher had issues from their past that they had to deal with, and I loved seeing them work together to move on and heal. They also had some fantastic tension throughout the book, and I loved their fake dating leads to exploring what we can, while we can relationship. And lets not talk about that quote near the end. That one actually gutted me!

I did find the story to be really slow moving though. It felt like a lot of exposition and it took a long time before it felt like anything happened with the plot, both between the characters and with any events. We had the set up for this competition, but then didn’t actually have much happening with it. Same with the restaurant. It felt like things were talked ABOUT but never actually had much screen time. I personally would have liked a little more action within the plot itself.

3.5/5 Stars

Due to the St. Martin's Press boycott, I will not be publicly sharing my review until further notice.

A very mid book for me..

What I Liked:

- I liked Sage and her menagerie of animals. Sage’s heart is so big and I adore her.
- Fisher: man, do I love me a chef MMC. Fisher’s trials and tribulations were so relatable.
- Indy: love me a sullen, sarcastic kid in a book

What didn’t work for me:

- Sage & Fisher were lacking the chemistry that I was looking for. I wanted some tension filled moments while their friendship was growing.
- I love the characters in small town romances, sometimes the quirky townspeople are the best part. I wanted more of the town.
- Some parts were a little boring and dragged

5 stars!!!

This was incredible — a heartwarming fake dating/fwb romance set in a small town, with the backdrop of summer, community, and a festival/competition. Everything about this was lovely — from the FMC and MMC together, the tension and build up, the romance! I was swooning by the end of this, absolutely head over heels for Fisher. I loved the resolution and how everything was brought back together at the end. Each character (including the animals!) had so much personality that I was going to burst in to tears over a goose. A goose!!

There is so much I can say about what I loved about the details and plot of this book, but instead of spoiling everything I'll just say read it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest review!

thank you to netgalley & st martin’s griffin for this arc !!!
for starters, i’ve loved other tarah dewitt novels so going in, my expectations were high. unfortunately, i didn’t feel as an intense connection or passion with the main couple compared to her past works. so much of the story felt like everything was working so well in favor of the main characters. i’m not even one to like a miscommunication trope or anything, but there were no high stakes. even the third act break up fell flat/seemed a little lazy to me. don’t get me wrong, this is a perfectly fine read. it just didn’t land like i was expecting. on a more positive note, i liked the overall message of soaking up life’s moments!

This one got me.
I truly feel this is one of the best romances I've read so far in 2024. Definitely a top new release romance that I've read.
This is the first book I've read by Tarah DeWitt and I can't wait to read more from her! Her writing hit all the right spots throughout this story and really stuck the landing!
When reading romance over the last few months, I've struggled with feeling like I wasn't finding books that really took the time to develop not only the main characters, but their non-sexual relationship with each other. I've recently found the jump to physicality challenging, leaving me wishing and wanting for more substance. Fortunately, Savor It has come along and proven just how fantastic a romance can be when it provides a solid base for its romantic storyline by creating a true non-physical bond between the lead characters.
I adore the female and male main characters in this story separately and together. They're not perfect, but they find a way to bring out the best in each other, learn deeply about each other, and then deliver some absolutely amazing sexy scenes!
I am not a fan of third act conflicts/break-ups, often finding that a ridiculous plot point is put into play just to sabotage the romantic relationship the book is building and add drama when it isn't needed or necessary. Occasional the third act conflict is done right and elevates the story, which I feel DeWitt delivers in Savor It. The circumstances make sense. It's incredibly realistic. It genuinely guts you as a reader, which is what should happen if you care for the characters and their relationship. And then DeWitt finds a way to pull everything back together again in a sweet and endearing way.
The focus of this story really is on the development of the central couple and their current individual struggles, but the glimpses we get into side characters and towns folk have me begging for DeWitt to turn this book into a series! I'd love to spend more time in Spunes, Oregon with these fun and funny characters!
Please give Savor It a read! You're in for a treat of a romance if you do!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

The way Tarah Dewitt handles burnout and grief in this book I would give it a million stars if I could. Fisher and his niece come to the small town of Spunes, Oregon to get a reset after a turbulent few months, neither of them liking the typical vibes of small towns. But their neighbor Sage Byrd see's all the hurt both of them have been through and spends the summer trying to see Spunes is unlike any place they've been before. Fisher and Sage agree to help one another and the tension between them builds and builds until they agree on a summer fling. Heartbreakingly real, while being laugh out loud funny at the same time, you absolutely need this book in your life.


Dual POV, Spicy, Small Town, Opposite Attract, Single Guardian, Found Family, Neighbors, Slow Burn

I really struggled to get into this. The beginning for the book was almost confusing it I felt like I was missing something. I couldn’t connect with the characters and it felt kind of disjointed.

Sometimes you just know when a book is not going to be for you. Unfortunately, that was the case with Savor It. Right from the beginning, there was something choppy and disjointed about the writing. I could not connect with the characters. And then the F bombs began. That was the last straw for me. I did a search and discovered over 70 F-bombs and over 40 SH- words. That was not the impression I got from the blurb or the other reviews. So a big no from me.

I have been waiting to review this book because how do I review something so wonderful? How do I put into words how this felt like a warm, comforting hug? How I felt so seen, and understood, and loved within this book? You know that feeling of being cold, finding some source of heat or the sun, and finally, feeling that warmth in your bones after a long winter? That's this book.

I started reading this book on a flight, and I think an incredible testament to how much I loved this book is the fact that I couldn't stop reading at all for anything. I read as we landed, I read on my layover, this book got me to stop mindlessly scrolling through tiktok for goodness sake! I highlighted so much because I couldn't not make notes throughout this book. And it's one of those books that when you go back to read your annotations that you just get sucked back into the story.

I think one of the things that grabbed me about this story was how raw and honest it felt. Like, yes, obviously, we're going to get a HEA; it is a romance, after all. But all of these characters and their struggles felt so real to me. And it was so refreshing to hear them actually talk about their troubles and work through them. These characters had flaws, and no situation was perfect, it was so humanizing and hopeful at the same time. It makes me emotional to even think about it, but that's when a book is really amazing for me, when it makes you feel.

I know I've just been going on about the vibes and how I feel about this book and nothing about what the book is about at all, but it is an absolute delight, I promise. I can't recommend it enough, it's going to be a perfect summer read!

An awesome sweet fun romantic love story with passion,angst and romance.
Love the characters they just fit together.
Just a sweet read.
Voluntarily reviewed,.