This is the perfect book for summer!! This book takes place over the course of a summer in the Pacific Northwest. The tropes are perfectly executed- small town romance, grumpy/sunshine, single “dad”. The chemistry between the main characters is excellent and the supporting characters are lovable and interesting. This book is sweet, funny, and sad in all the right ways. Absolutely adored it!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this stellar ARC!

Savor It felt like a taste of Summer again. The reminder of warmer days and all the waves you go through before the leaves start to fall once more. Sage and Fisher develop a fun dynamic during their short time together. It was ease reading their connection grow effortlessly with such vulnerability, honesty, and emotion.

It was so heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time.
Though they're both going through so much emotional healing seeing them do it together was awe-inspiring. It's not every day you see an emotionally healthy communication but it was one of my favorite highlights of the book right up there with the animals.

This story was so sweet and swoon worthy with the most perfect, jaw dropping spice *chefs kiss* 😉

Between her brothers, her best friend, her ex, the roomba, and all the animals there were plenty of laugh out loud moments. With that as the back drop, I loved how Sage & Fisher developed a genuine friendship at the basis of their relationship. They were so supportive of each other going after whatever it is they wanted, even if it meant a third act break up.

“It’s been a privilege to fall in love with you” might be my new Roman Empire.

4.5/5

Fisher Lange feels like he’s drowning. He’s lost his position as head chef at a Michelin starred restaurant, his guardianship over his niece is mediocre at best, and he can’t think past the spiraling in his head. When his old boss offers him the position of curating a menu for her new restaurant, he jumps at the chance. But when he arrives in the small coastal town of Spunes, Oregon, he can’t help but wonder what he’s gotten himself into.

Sage Byrd has lived in Spunes her whole life and she needs a change. After being dumped last year by the towns golden boy, Sage would do anything to quit having everyone look at her *that way*. When her neighbors home is leased for the summer, Sage is pleasantly surprised to find that she enjoys her new summer neighbor. Fisher Lange looks like he could use the assistance of an insider, and Sage knows she could really use some new gossip floating around about her.

So she proposes a fake, summertime fling to Fisher in the hopes that their alliance will help both of them. Its too bad that it feels so right when they’re with each other, and that the shared kiss in the library was volcanic. Fisher is leaving at the end of the summer, and Sage knows that she can’t follow.

-Dual POV
-Summer romance
-Small town
-Themes of grief and loss (off page)
-Three legged cat

Guys. GUYS. This was such a good romance. The timeline of summer always adds a little spice to things, and as a reader you can’t help but wonder how the HEA is going to happen. This book did not disappoint. I was so attached to Fisher, Sage, and the town of Spunes by the end. The growth of each character was beautiful and the way Dewitt handled themes of grief, loss, and self-doubt were perfection. I can’t wait for everyone to read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. As always, opinions and words are my own.

okay so all of my friends have been telling me to read Tarah and THIS DID NOT MISS. OMG I cannot believe how much I loved this book.so much and going to go read her backlist now. this town, sage and fisher, and everything was pure magic. I connected so much to her writing and it had me all emotional while reading. perfection.

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Spice: 1/5🌶️

Summary: Sage is a big personality in a small town and her last relationship ended because he always wanted her to be smaller. When big city chef, Fisher, comes to town to try and reignite his passion for cooking, they settle into a temporary romance that starts to feel like once in a lifetime.

Thoughts: This book was so beautiful in the way that it was so simple. It was such a relatable story and I just loved how it was paced.

It felt like I was strolling through the story and I’m usually the type that needs to race through a book. I would have loved a teeny tiny bit of angst somewhere but also appreciated that I didn’t have to endure any frustrating moments.

The characters were absolutely wonderful, so mature and insightful. The banter between all of them was so well done and I just loved the small town setting. This was such a well rounded book and I feel like I’m walking away with life lessons.

[Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.]
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I'm typically a fast reader but I couldn't bring myself to speed through this one. Just like Sage and Fisher, I didn't want Summer to end. This is such a sweet story and the latter quarter of the book gave me a ton of feelings. The whole thing felt like a hug.

The characters just creep into your heart. Sage with her menagerie of animals who needed a home and Fisher trying to find his footing as he raises his niece, Indy. Both are two people who have experienced loss/trauma and are learning self-acceptance and finding their happiness.

They walk into things knowing that there's an expiration date, yet Sage and Fisher love fully and are so encouraging of one another (and helpful!). They know how to communicate with each other!! It's so easy to root for them.

The small town setting is perfect. Sometimes in books, small towns can focus on the 'nosy' townspeople. Spunes does have nosy residents, but as a whole the town is filled with people who care about and are protective of each other.

I have never highlighted so many passages in a book before. I never want to forget any of it. 

Perfect if you love:
Small town romance
Summer romance
GrumpyxSunshine
Fake dating
Slow burn
Single parent/guardian
Dual POV

This book was very fun to read and I enjoyed the setting so much, it was cozy and comforting and I really loved how it took place in a small, sort of weird town in the middle of no where. The romance was very sweet and wholesome, and I think this book is great for anyone looking for a new contemporary romance that is equally yearnful and entertaining.

I loved this book! It was so sweet and heartwarming. I loved Sage and Fisher. The small town charm and quirky characters (even the town meeting) reminded me of Gilmore Girls. The farm, the animals, the library. I just loved it all.

Fisher, as a character grappling with grief was so well done and I loved the (Yes, Chef) food and restaurant aspect of the story.

Sage, I related to her in so many ways, and I loved her personality and the way she loved and serviced everyone around her.

Overall, I loved this!

Savor It by Tarah Dewitt

Sweet, swoony, sexy and full of small town charm!

4.5/5⭐️

•My Thoughts•
I loved this one! Our MMC, Fisher had such depth and I loved his growth through out the book. He was the typical grumpy, career focused chef and life kept throwing him curve balls. I enjoyed his relationship with his niece and actually wished for a bit more of that dynamic. Sage! I loved Sage - she was quirky and kind but definitely not a push over. The banter was fabulous, the small town vibes were immaculate (complete with a grumpy busy body and nosy neighbors), and the overall message of not letting others define your success was beautiful. I loved how honest our MCs were with each other and how there wasn’t a single miscommunication insight. There was plenty of burn and tension and these characters just felt so real! Definitely recommend this one and now I need to go read more of Tarah’s backlist!

Thank you to @netgalley and Tarah Dewitt for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first Tarah DeWitt book and it was an ARC!!!! I see why people love her books so much because I fell in loveeee with Sage & Fisher, their backstories, the storyline, just about everything honestly. I gave this a 4.5!

If you love romances with chefs or teachers, this is for you!

Sage is a small town teacher, the sweetest soul, lover of animals, adventurous, funny, witty, overall a beautiful person. She is an overthinker, she needs to be comforted and reassured when things feel out of control or pressuring. Even while dealing with grief and the bumps in life, she rises above and doesn’t falter in doing what she wants and knows is best for her.

Fisher is a big city chef, dealing with his own grief while also feeling the pressure from work and raising his pre-teen/teen niece. Handsome, tall, a bit broody but still funny and thoughtful. He is the rule follower. Staying true to his chef ways, he needs something to follow and sometimes needs to loosen up. Fisher uses up his time in this small town—Spunes, Oregon—to find himself, his passion, his patience once again.

Sage & Fisher are two individuals that on the outside don’t fit together. They’re pretty much opposites in so many senses yet their time as neighbors, friends (with benefits 😜), fake boyfriend/girlfriend, etc bring them together so beautifully. She is the fun-spirited but anxious piece while he is the rule-following, perfectionist. They balance each other, bringing out the best in one another. In my opinion this is a story of opposites attract so well written!

These two characters, although literally fictional, are so real. They are dealing with challenges just like us, which is something to keep in mind. If you want to read something really fictional and nowhere near relatable then this is not for you. But if you love this, like I do, you’ll love Sage & Fisher and Tarah DeWitt for this beautiful book.

One of my fave quotes: “Nothing’s for certain, except that I certainly fucking love you.”

Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC!!! <3

This was... lovely. The Tarah DeWitt I know and love, truly. The chemistry, the banter, the pain, the longing, the teenage angst-- I was into all of it. I really felt relationship development between Fisher and Sage processed so naturally and the slow burn didn't feel slow at all, it felt RIGHT! I loved that when feelings started to change and evolve, they communicated and stayed on the same page. We may not have enjoyed the page while it was happening, but it resolved itself quickly and was so satisfying, imo. I really want to see more from this universe! Cant wait to read what else DeWitt has in store for us.

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

I loved this book! I fell in love from the first page of Sage and her best friend Wren talking. I couldn’t put it down. Then you add in Fisher and Indy, an uncle/niece situation, with Fisher being the guardian. Of course we add in all the animals, the small town, the food, puns, and just all around love. I loved Fisher and Sage together from the start. I was rooting for them. I cried when they told deep stories, I laughed along with them too. They had a bond that couldn’t be broken. They all have went through hard times. Both losing people close to them. They both deserved happiness and I’m so glad they found it with each other.

This was a fun quirky read. It has a great summer fling element to it that I loved! I found that the relationship and character development wasn't quite enough for me to feel attached to the characters enough to cheer them on through the relationship progression. Because of this, the spicy scenes felt more cringy to my instead of swoon worthy. It felt more like I was being told a story instead of invited along for the experience, if that makes sense?

You'll like this book if you like:
Small Town Romance
Summer Flings
Lighthearted Stories
Quirky Characters

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Spoiler Free Arc Review: 5 ⭐️

Michelin star chef, Fisher, is in trouble with his career. His mentor relocates him from NYC to small town Oregon to craft the menu for her new restaurant. The house he’s renting shares a field with friendly neighbor Sage. The unlikely pair become friends and help each other grow into the best versions of themselves.

Wow. Although this book started out slow, it really picked up. The characters were beautifully written and deep. The last 20% of the book was so emotional, I was incredibly invested. Outside of Fisher and Sage, all of the side characters were intriguing as well. I would love to see a follow up second chance romance for Wren and Ellis.

Actually such a beautiful book about two broken people finding peace and love in their imperfections. A lot more emotional and moving than I was expecting, but would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a rom com with a deeper meaning!!

This was such a wholesome, sweet and heartwarming story.

This was such a wholesome, sweet and heartwarming story.

I think Sage is one of my favorite main characters I’ve ever read about. She’s so authentic and her personality is magnetic. I love how she’s living her best life. Shes a literal plant and animal mom just being the best version of herself. Along comes Fisher with his niece both in an era of healing and self re-discovery. I LOVE that she’s not trying to fix him or Indy but simply allows them into the little life she’s created and lets them just BE.

The development of their relationship was organic and wholesome, from neighbors to friends to lovers. It starts off slow but once it gets to those sweet, intimate scenes, it’s so worth it!

I had so much fun reading about all the crazy, sweet animals alongside with the cute small town and people.

Overall, I thought this was a very sweet, cozy and laid back summer read, perfect to take on a relaxing summer vacation.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC!

Beautiful, hilarious, quirky, slightly spicy yet balanced with very moving moments, Savor It is a story of love and loss, burnouts and the journey to self-discovery and recovery. And oh my, what a treat this was! A feast for the eyes and food for the soul. I will be savoring this book for a long time to come. Of course, you can see what I did there – and if you are a lover of puns both silly and witty, you will love this book as much as I have because this is full of them!

This is the first book I’ve read by Tarah DeWitt and it has to be the best contemporary romance I’ve read in a while. DeWitt’s writing is so charming, and much like the way she describes hugs “It’s agony. It’s bliss” – the book’s warmth radiated and its pages enfolded me through the delightful and heartfelt moments. It kept me thoroughly engaged, so much so that by the end of this book even I fell in love with the town! The story had a good structure, decent pacing, and I loved that there was an Epilogue as some books leave this out and I live for it – yes please tell me what happens next!

The amount of humour got me grinning ear-to-ear, particularly the circumstances in which Sage and Fisher meet.
There are the endless jokes and puns to be found. I also greatly appreciated the film and tv show references, the best of all being LOTR – naming her three-legged cat Legoless and the description of Sage crawling around like Gollum? Genius! My favourite trilogy mentioned in a book? As if I couldn’t love it even more!

I love Sage. Her kindness, wisdom, optimism but also her self-consciousness make her a very realistic person. "All heart, full force, and making every moment matter." I love all her animal friends too, if I had the room and my asthma wouldn’t affect me, I would also be taking in animals who do not have a home.
Fisher is chef’s kiss. Literally! He is the greenest of green flags. Bonus that he cooks, of course. Always an attractive trait. I love how in tune he is with his feelings and when he finally opens up to people it makes it all the more worthwhile. He is so observant, noticing every little thing about Sage, and I love the way he looks out for and looks after her.

Indeed, I like the mature approach the DeWitt has to writing Sage and Fisher, aka 30-something-year-olds: their communication is perfect! The way they take accountability if they are ever being distant or offhand towards the other is admirable. Communication is key in any relationship and they are always trying to communicate their feelings despite how awkward it may sound or how rejected it may be. Personally, I absolutely loved the approach here and I beg more authors to do this!
Some really serious moments are handled realistically and exceptionally well. There is the loss of Freya for Fisher and Indy, and Sage and her brothers lose their parents at a young age, and this book explores how loss affects them differently.

The only thing I was hoping to see more of Fisher cooking in his actual working environment, seeing him properly find his passion again.

Savor It by Tarah DeWitt immerses readers in the enchanting small-town world of Spunes, Oregon, where the delightful romance between Fisher and Sage unfolds amidst quirky characters and heartwarming moments. Fisher's grumpy yet endearing demeanor perfectly complements Sage's vibrant outlook on life, creating a dynamic duo that readers can't help but root for. Their slow-burn love story is beautifully woven with themes of grief, healing, and the importance of communication, making for a captivating and emotionally resonant read. DeWitt's writing shines as she brings the charming town and its inhabitants to life, crafting a narrative that is both whimsical and heartfelt. From the delightful banter between Fisher and Sage to the genuine connections they form with the supporting cast, Savor It is a book that leaves a lasting impression, reminding readers to savor life's simple pleasures and cherish the moments that matter most.

Another hit for Tarah DeWitt! This is the perfect summer read. Sweet and heartwarming with a very cozy vibe

Sage and Fisher are at very different points in their lives. Sage is in the small town she grew up in, but with her relationship ending and her ex moving on incredibly quickly, she decides that she will win the town's summer competition, but she can't do it alone. Enter Fisher, who was a Michelin starred chef in New York City, until his sister's death affects his life enough where his boss makes him take a break. Ending up in Spunes with his niece, Sage takes him under her arm to benefit the both of them - Sage so the town can see her in a different light, and for Fisher to discover his focus and purpose again. While it evolves into more, will the end of the summer be the end of whatever Sage and Fisher have going?

This was an easy read. I dove into it, and it fulfilled the lighthearted criteria in my opinion! While it does have the death of a sibling off page (and in the past), that theme does drive a decent amount of the book (as it significantly impacts Fisher's life as well as his niece's). I think I would have liked to learn a little bit more about Fisher and Sage, as they took some time to learn about and get to know each other, and I think I would have been curious to learn more about them together.