Pick up SAVOR IT for:

City boy & Farm girl
Small town shenanigans
Fake dating scheme
Soul bearing talks
Rescue animals
Beach bonfire vibes


Fisher and Sage meet when their lives have upended themselves. Its a special kind of relationship, in that, they're both been broken down by past trauma and current expectations, and yet every moment they are together they make an effort to choose joy.

Regrettably, I was not invested in their story until way past the 50% mark. The pace of the book felt like episodic moments and lacked a strong through line. There were detours to introduce a number of townspeople that had little to no impact on the story at all. And the small town hijinks didn't feel like it offered anything significant to character growth.

The strongest theme in SAVOR IT is the idea of home, comfort, and being settled in your own life. Shake off expectations and be in the moment. That happy moment will be a memory, but right then and there it's your life. We're not promised tomorrow but we can soak up the goodness of life - even the unexpectedness of falling in love, today.

This book may be a miss for me, but you should add this to your shelf if you're looking for a cozy summer night read. Or if, like me, you turn into that Leonard DiCaprio pointing meme when you spot the Twilight references.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martins Press for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sage Byrd!!!!!!! I love you!!!!!!! This was so good. I am obsessed with Spunes, and sages entire farm she has. Like if you were to take my “dream life” pinterest board and put it in book form, it’d be this town and sages life and everyone in it. Fisher was sooooooooo hot and I loved him, but SAGE!!!!!!!!!! I have the fattest crush on her oh my god. She was just so fun and cutie and everything she said I was like “yeah you’re soooooo right” and I just adored her and her safe haven of animals. Probably one of my favorite fmcs I’ve ever read about.

I loved having a the guardianship element to this, but I wish we got to see more of Indy and fisher like becoming closer. Andddddddd I sort of wish we got more from the race?? idk maybe i just built that up too much in my brain and it felt like slower to me bc of that????? !!!!!!!!!!but REGARDLESS!!!!!!!! I enjoyed this so so much and the ending had me so 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

And ily netgalley for the arc mwah

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

I am sobbing. Ok, wow. I loved this so much. Small town romance is one of my favourite tropes ever and this book delivered. I just wanted to pack up and move there myself. What a fun and wholesome read.

I’m so glad I was given the chance to read this. Thank you so much NetGalley and Tarah Dewitt for the ARC💕

This book was a charming small town romance, with the perfect balance of swoony banter, emotional depth, spice, lighthearted fun, and puns galore.

Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington - loved this! 🤣) is a place I wish I could visit! I loved Sage's little farm. The animals were adorable and hilarious, especially Gary the goose. I think my favorite relationship was him and Indy!

I also liked how Fisher was portrayed. Sage acknowledges that he's not perfect, but he knows that and works to be better. Flawed characters like that are so much more genuine! His background paired well with hers and I loved how they were able to grow together.

Their strangers to friends with benefits to lovers relationship also progressed perfectly with the perfect amount of angst, yearning, and love.

Overall, I liked it a lot! I am a huge fan of Funny Feelings, so I'm super grateful I was able to get an ARC through Netgalley! Thank you!

I’m sad this one didn’t work for me. I just truly couldn’t bring myself to care about anything going on. I didn’t care about the charters or their hometown fair or the death of their loved ones. I can’t even pinpoint why I was so indifferent about them, but I couldn’t be done with this one fast enough. That’s not to say that I won’t read more from this author in the future, though!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah Dewitt, and St. Martin’s Press for sending an e arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book and was captivated from the very beginning. Sage and Fisher’s story heartwarming and so beautifully written. I laughed, cried a little, and giggled at so many swoon-worthy moments. I loved Sage as a character along with her quotes and puns. Her mother’s quotes written in the journal were some of my favourite parts. This one in particular, “Life’s short. Go to the library. Live a million different stories and see a million different places in one. You might not have control over some things, but you can always foster your imagination.”

Go pick this one up on May 21st. You won’t regret it🫶🏻

5/5 ⭐️

"You just gotta row your own damn boat."

Wow, ok, I was not expecting this to be a 5/5 book but here we are. This is Dewitt's best book by far and I loved it. The town was so sweet and felt lived in and we really got to know all the characters in a way that felt genuine.

I am obsessed with Fisher. I really connected with his character and his journey. I'm also a sucker for a chef MMC and his confidence was just perfection in this.

"Even though it takes you in circles that don't lead anywhere in particular. Even if it can't really go somewhere in the end. Once you accept the impermanence of it, you give yourself permission to enjoy it now."

"Just because you do everything right, even if you know you deserve it, doesn't mean that it will all be perfect in the end. Just because you accomplish a dream doesn't mean it'll make you happy forever. Sometimes wonderful people get sick, and sometimes people who were terrible to you have everything go according to plan."

"Even feeling how I do now, I would do it all again for the privilege of loving him, of being loved by him. He didn't fix me, and I didn't heal him, but we loved each other wholly."

Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah Dewitt and St. Martin's Press for my early access to this.

Sage is living a good life in Spunes, Oregon and enjoys small town living. She is a huge animal lover and rescues several during the story. All of her animals are a bit special (misfits) but it's one big happy family. Sage is getting over a 5 year relationship and her ex has announced his engagement to another woman.
Fisher has recently gained custody of his niece, Indy, after his sister passes away unexpectedly. Fisher is dealing with grief and trying to figure out how to raise a teenager. He is a chef and sadly his restaurant in New York he has worked at loses a star in a review. His boss makes the call to send him to Spunes for the summer to create a menu for the new restaurant that will open and for him and Indy to get away for a bit while they adjust to a new normal.
Fisher is hitting roadblocks for the new restaurant when he meets Sage, the quirky, beautiful, neighbor who loves to garden with the wild pet crew. Talk about opposites attract energy! The slow burn begins and Sage offers to help him get the town's people's approval if he will join the annual summer race with her as her partner.
Fisher is rowing with Sage to practice for the competition and Sage is happily being Fisher's taste tester for the menu. Neither can deny the attraction any longer and agree to let things happen and flow, but at the end of the 9 weeks they go back to life as it was. Sometimes that's easier said than done. Can they really go back to their old lives without each other? How will Indy take it all? The way those answers are revealed make this a total page turner!
If you love romance, hearts that heal, new beginnings, and see the humor in this thing we call life....this book is perfect for you!

The PERFECT summer read. You will want to pack up and move to the very charming small town that is Spunes. This is a truly lovely romance.

He doesn't fix her and she doesn't heal him, but they love each other wholly. - "He didn't fix me, and I didn't heal him, but we loved each other wholly."

The banter was perfect and actually funny, but what was truly special was the way Fisher and Sage could always be honest with each other. The communication between them was so special.

This book has a bit of everything aside from the romance - grief, humour, family relationships, and a bunch of silly animals. The cast of diverse characters had me reading not only for the main characters but also for all of the small-town charmers.

The epilogue was so different from other books where it is the main couple getting married or engaged, here we get to see everyone in Spunes gathering for a different (happy) reason. This was a sweet surprise!

Read if you like:
- grumpy x sunshine
- small town romance
- farm animals
- next door neighbours
- dual POV
- HEA

oh my god i loved this book.

i have not felt this much over a book in so long. it made me laugh, it made me giddy, it made me cry. my heart was broken and mended all at once. sage and fisher were everything and i am so so glad i had the privilege of reading this book.

tarah dewitt truly popped off with this one. put her heart and soul and sage and marionberries into it.

thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a fun and wholesome small-town romance from Tarah DeWitt!! Sage and Fisher are such a lovely couple and I saw so much of myself in both of them. Sage loves her little town of Spunes, Oregon and the little joys of everyday life, but she’s tired of people pitying her after her ex-boyfriend gets engaged. Fisher is a disgraced Michelin star chef looking to get his fire back and raise his niece, Indy. The two come together over a summer of great food and a local competition and figure out to heal each other’s wounds and savor each moment with each other.
💓“Whenever you think too little of the world, try to remember that somewhere, something, or someone is always waiting to be known.”
💓“He didn’t fix me, and I didn’t heal him, but we loved each other wholly.”
I loved watching their relationship grow and it felt so real! I also loved all the animals and Indy was such a sweet character. The writing got a little choppy at times and I found myself missing information and having to go back and reread sections with the POV changes to make sure I wasn’t missing things, but overall, I really enjoyed the story and how vivid and adorable it was.

3.5 stars rounded up! I enjoyed this one! The characters were likable, the setting was excellent, and I loved the strangers to friends to lovers. I thought that was done super well. Fisher was such a sweet mmc and he was so good to Sage. Ugh he was such a sweetheart. I really loved Sage but I couldn’t connect to her. I wanted to know more about her as a person, etc. She totally got me being an animal lover though 🫶🏼

While I enjoyed their romance, I felt like it was missing something! There was so much description and inner dialogue/thoughts from each MC but not enough actual dialogue between the two. I found that really took me out of the story and had me losing interest from time to time. I also really would’ve loved to see more of Fisher’s job and why he was in Spunes to begin with. I feel like that kind of dropped off once he got there and I really would’ve liked more of that added to the story. Same with him being Indy’s guardian! I honestly just wanted more.

Overall, a really sweet summer romance that had me swooning but just missing a few things for me personally.

This might be my favorite book of the year, so far. I am completely blown away by how much I absolutely loved this book. I could relate so much to Sage, but also with Fisher. These two were so sweet with each other and so gentle with the others heart. I laughed and I cried and I will never forget my time in Spunes. I cannot convey correctly all the feelings this book brought out in me. This deserves all the stars. I can’t wait to have the physical book in my hands!

This was such an adorable, refreshing romance novel! I absolutely loved Sage, the quintessential small town girl. She lives on a farm with some very interesting animals, is a high school teacher, raised by her brothers, and sees the good in absolutely everything.

Fisher is a world renowned Michelin star chef, fresh off being fired while simultaneously trying to raise his 15 year old niece. He moves to Oregon for the summer to “help” his old boss set up a restaurant and get out of New York City. He needs inspiration. He needs rest. What he finds is his next door neighbor Sage, a town to fall in love with, and maybe even a new dream.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. The witty banter and fun animal antics made me laugh. Many of the characters made me feel like I was reading Gilmore Girls -but make it romance.

Thank you Tara DeWitt and St Martin’s Griffin for the advanced copy of this novel out in May.

I had to DNF because the pity party was getting on my nerves.

Also the language in this was odd. I didn’t understand her euphemisms half the time.

I’m sure this book is good for someone but not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah Dewitt, and the publisher for granting access to this book. My review is an honest reflection of my thoughts and feelings.

4.25/5

There were two things that carried throughout the book that I held on to with both hands: savoring it and the permission to be everything you are. Savor it made my nips nervous (IYKYK), my taste buds tingle, and my heart happy. The love story between Sage and Fisher, Sage and Spunes, Indy and the animals, and every other character kept me entirely present the entire time. I NEEEEEED a Spunes collection, right now.

I'm rating this less than 5 stars for one main reason....the last 20% felt like a montage. DeWitt took us into rich detail of the first couple weeks of Fisher and Indy adjusting to their new home and how Sage and Fisher start to develop a relationship. Once they're finally in a relationship, we get a montage of moments and a lot of Sage's internal monologue and are not given the same emotional depth on the page and in conversation as the reader has become accustomed to. We're not pulled back into the rich interactions until Indy and Fisher have their last confrontation, and even that gets cut short to be a summary.

There were so many phenomenal moments and lines in this book surrounding grief, burnout, growth, and love that will stick with me for a long time. For everyone who has ever been too much and still felt like not enough, who wanted to be known and considered, and who try to strengthen their courage muscle every day, I hope you read and enjoy this book.

Thank you to the author and publisher for my copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This cover is quite possibly the most gorgeous cover I’ve seen in a long time. It’s as beautiful as a special edition cover. I also love this author and fell in love with Fisher and Sage. The small town charm and sweeping views of the PNW permeate the pages of this fake dating that isn’t so fake romance.

Synopsis:

“Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She's learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win—something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like...Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Setting—I have yet to visit the PNW in my life and yet I feel like I was made for it. I loved this setting so much. I loved the small town aspect and all the animals. It was so charming.

The Banter—I think the banter is the best part of this book. It was next level good. I found myself smirking and snorting and could hear the characters’ voices so clearly in my head. I look forward to more in this universe!

The Chemistry—Ohhhh I sure did love the chemistry between these characters. Fisher and Sage were adorable and I really loved their connection.

What Didn’t Work:

First Act Pacing—It took me a little bit to get into this book. I think the first act was a little slow but I’m glad I stuck through it because the end had me in a puddle.

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Content Warnings:

death of a parent/sibling, grief, fire/fire accident

Tarah Dewitt has quickly become an auto-buy author for me! She does not miss, and this book did not disappoint my very eager expectations. Her characters are relatable and endear themselves to you right off the bat.

Thanks so much for the arc, I will definitely be buying a copy when it is released! 🎉

5 stars! Absolutely obsessed with this adorable rom-com and will be trying to find Tarah Dewitt's backlist immediately as a next step. Truly, it's so hard to find rom-coms that have a balance of romance, comedic relief, and REAL SUBJECT MATTER. The topics covered in his book beyond the fluff were deep and real, and truly relatable. Also, the intimacy between Sage and Fisher was written beautifully. I cried multiple times in this book.

Thanks so much for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars. I thoroughly enjoy DeWitt's ability to make out of the box characters. The small quirks she gives them make them stand out from many of the other romance novels out there. Both Sage and Fisher were incredibly likeable and felt like real people, unfortunately I just didn't believe the spark between them so it kept me from getting fully engrossed in the story. Bonus points for writing in an angsty teenager who added to the story rather than being nothing more than a plot point. I wish we had more scenes between Indy and Fisher and gotten an inside look at their struggles as a newly formed family.