Member Reviews
in savor it, we travel to spunes oregon a small town you wish you be a part of. in spunes, we meet sage byrd, a small town girl who homes misfit animals on her hobby farm (i mean how can you not love her). traveling all the way from nyc is fisher lange, a chef who just recently lost his job and has taken custody of his teenage niece. these two form an unlikely friendship that turns into a steamy summer romance.
when i tell you i savored this book (haha get it), i truly did. sage and fisher went through so much growth, as people in relationships and as people on their own. their communication was amazing and it felt refreshing to read a romance where the main characters communicate their every need. savor it is definitely going to be one of the best summer reads this year!
Thank you so much for this arc, I received the audiobook version, and the narrators were amazing.
This book had me in a chokehold hold I couldn't stop listening to this book. It was funny and heartwarming, the main characters were so lovable. I picked this because I'm a sucker for a good small-town romance, so if you like small-town romances this book is for you I promise you. Fisher was an amazing main character he had me kicking and giggling, and listening to him try to navigate parenting his teenage niece was hilarious. I absolutely loved Sage she's living my dream life with her farm, animals, and hot next-door neighbor.
This had the small town romance, cutesy vibes, and heartfelt moments of a Hallmark movie, but with some added spice. I adored Sage as an FMC! She was the perfect blend of strong and soft in womanhood, and was so layered she felt real, it was impossible not to root for her. Fisher was great for her as well, and their relationship felt so refreshing in its honesty. The side characters were a nice touch, especially the niece and the wide range of animals. This was a fun, sweet read! And the audio narration was done fantastically on both parts. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.
on the surface it’s a funny, quirky small town romance about a hot chef and a sunshiney girl as they enter into a mutually beneficial arrangement for the summer. but underneath it’s so much more. it’s about finding your home in the people you love rather than a place. it’s about finding your way back to yourself when you’ve somehow lost it over the years. it’s about being completely satisfied and confident with who you are and where you’re going in life. it’s about savoring the good things in life, even when there’s a chance you might not get to keep them forever.
tarah's books always feel like a simultaneous punch to the gut and best hug you've ever received. this story is so cozy yet never shies away from the hard stuff. the town is magical, the characters (even the side ones!) will pull you in so quickly. they are so real and raw and so dang lovable. you will laugh and cry and probably (definitely) feel hot and bothered.
the narrators were so perfectly cast for this book, Karissa Vacker captured Sage’s sweet, whimsical side along with her quick wit and humor. Zachary Webber never fails to deliver a complicated man. He nailed Fisher’s internal debates and stubbornness but also his desire to do and be better. Listening to these characters fall in love was such a treat!
This was an adorable romance filled with all of the best elements of a contemporary romance. A quaint small town set in the Pacific Northwest is the backdrop for this grumpy/sunshine, friends to lovers romance. Is it filled with many of the usual elements that we see in this kind of story? Yes! Did I know where the story was going ? Also Yes. Did I care? Absolutely not!! Between the great dialogue and banter and the chemistry between the main characters I still found it entertaining and I enjoyed it. It is told from dual POVs which helped move the story along and the narration for the audiobook also alternated between two narrators that did an amazing job. Great beach read, or quick pick me up if you need a little happiness. Did I mention that there are cute animals? There are and they are ridiculously cute!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
4 ⭐️
I had a good time with this! I highly recommend the audiobook. It’s narrated by Zachary Webber (who is my all time favorite) & Karissa Vacker. They both do such a beautiful job bringing this story to life. I really enjoyed following these characters. Fisher & Sage had the best chemistry! I was rooting for them the entire time! Fisher trying his best to take care of his niece was a super sweet side plot. I’m a sucker for a small town setting and this one was perfect. I’ll definitely read more from this author.
"Savor It" by Tarah Dewitt takes readers on a flavorful journey through the charming coastal town of Spunes, Oregon, where protagonist Sage Byrd navigates the ups and downs of life after a breakup. With her small farm and quirky animal companions, Sage finds solace in her familiar surroundings. However, when her ex, Ian, moves on quickly, Sage seeks redemption and a chance to prove herself during the town's annual Festival of Spunes.
Enter Fisher Lange, a former hotshot chef from New York City, who finds himself in Spunes with his niece Indy, seeking solace and a fresh start after personal tragedy. As Sage and Fisher form an unlikely alliance to navigate the challenges they face, sparks fly, and rumors abound, leading to a steamy romance that neither saw coming.
Dewitt's narrative is filled with heartwarming moments, sizzling chemistry, and the picturesque backdrop of a small coastal town. The dynamic between Sage and Fisher is both tender and passionate, as they heal emotional wounds and savor the fleeting moments of summer.
While the story follows a familiar rom-com formula, Dewitt injects it with her signature blend of humor, warmth, and emotional depth. The inclusion of Sage's misfit animals adds a delightful touch of whimsy to the narrative, while Fisher's journey of redemption adds depth to the romance.
Overall, "Savor It" is a delightful summer read, brimming with small-town charm, spicy romance, and big emotions. Dewitt's latest offering is sure to leave readers craving more and earns a solid 4/5 stars, especially for fans who appreciate a well-crafted romance with a side of goose.
This book was a complete delight to listen to. I was playing it during any free listening time I had because I was so attached to Sage and Fisher’s story. I loved the small town setting and how it had such different meanings for Sage, Fisher, and Indy. I adored Sage as a character because she knew who she was without anyone else’s influence. She was comfortable in her own skin and town, but was still so very open to the newcomers. Fisher and Indy both clearly had a lot of work to do on themselves, which was completely understandable due to their shared grief. I loved all the quirky animals, Sage’s brothers, and some of the interesting towns people. This was a really fun romance, even though it handled the topics of grief and belonging. Chemistry between Sage and Fisher was so palpable and their Romance usually came alive as the story progressed. The conclusion felt a tiny disjointed and abrupt at some point and I felt like it could’ve been done better. However, still thoroughly enjoyed the story, the romance, and the aspects of found family. 4.75⭐️, 2.25🌶
This book was chefs kiss! It very funny and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. I didn’t want to read any other book just this one. It also gave me Gilmore Girl vibes with the small town and town meeting! I loved the farm atmosphere and place by the water.
I loved Funny Feelings and I’ve been waiting for another one of Tarah’s books to hit like that one! This one was it! 😍🔥
This was such a cute and cozy contemporary romance. It felt like getting a warm hug ☺️ Spunes made me feel like it was the west coast version of Stars Hollow and I want to visit this fictional place.
I really enjoyed the characters. Sage and Fisher both had complicated pasts and despite that they were able to open up to each and be that person they would be able to lean on. I loved how Sage was unapologetically herself and Fisher was always trying to do right by his niece (Indy) even though he felt like he was screwing it up. Did I mention he’s a chef?! Because that’s hot! Oh and he has his ears pierced, double hot 🥵
I do feel like the last few chapters were a bit rushed but they made me tear up nonetheless. This was my first book by Tarah Dewitt and I’m happy to say I will continue to read her stories! Also shout to the narrators Zachary Webber and Kariss Vacker who made the characters come alive.
**Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan audio for my first ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
Now this is a book that everyone should savor! I was completely hooked the moment I heard both Zachary and Karissa voices. Zachary and Karissa are a match made in audiobook heaven. Their voices complement each other in both their tone and cadence while embodying the characters Sage and Fisher. One of the reasons I was so engrossed in this story was because of these two amazing narrators.
This story is funny at the right points but carries enough emotional context to keep it from being a superficial love story. The emotions that this author emits through this story truly touches every part of my heart and soul. I cheered for Sage and Fisher in how they grew as individuals and adored how they grew together to form a beautiful friendship and relationship. I felt the ups and downs of this story and truly felt my heart rejoice and break.
This is such a beautiful story and it snuck up on me so unexpectedly. This was my first book by this author and if her other books have as much heart and soul as this one, she will have a forever fan in this reader.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC
😍😍😍 this book was swoon worthy! I listened on audio and while I preferred the female narrator, they were both great. The male narrator's voice for Sage, the MFC wasn't my fave but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️ open door scenes This is a true romance and while it does have some spicy scenes, they are not the main focus of the book. You get a lot of character development, great dialogue, and some off the charts chemistry.
Fisher has been in a rut since his sister passed away. He is a Michelin star chef that is falling apart and in a last ditch effort to save his career, his boss sent him to a small town to help get a new restaurant off the ground.
Sage has been in the same town her whole life. She can't resist stray animals and has amassed a small farm of them. She loves flowers and dreams of having her own floral business someday. (It doesn't get much cuter than Sage and Fisher, right?)
When Fisher rents the place next door to Sage for a few months, they agree to help each other out. She will help Fisher get in with the locals and he will help her with a local competition she really wants to win.
It's all up from there. 😍 Definitely add it to your list of romance must reads for 2024!
Thank you to MacMillan audio for an ALC to enjoy. I devoured this book and didn't want to stop reading!
This is my first Tarah DeWitt novel and I CANNOT WAIT to head back to my TBR list and tackle more.
A summer fling that is so much more…my heart aches for the passion and the lightness to the relationship between Sage and Fisher. Small town girl meets a big city chef with a life turned upside down. The details of each character, the town, their every emotion seeped into me while listening. I loved everything about Sage and Fisher. As the summer grows and their relationship evolves I found myself smiling while listening and just genuinely happy.
And the readers/narrators…BRAVO! When I heard their voices I could completely picture these characters just as Tarah had described. Karissa Vacker and Zachary Webber truly made the characters come to life.
I am a sucker for a big city person going to a small town to try to get their life together - especially if it’s a hot chef that gives pirate vibes!!
I found both MCs to be adorable and complex individuals. They both have had trials in their lifetimes but still were able to make jokes (their banter was incredible!!). I found them to be good counterparts to the other and I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The spice was also…. wewww 🥵️
I do also loved that their town is called Spunes (not to be confused with Forks, WA). I sure do love a Twilight reference 🤣
This was my first book by Tarah Dewitt but am definitely going to look into more after this one!! Do you have a favorite book of hers? If so comment below!
Summary: Sage has lived in her small hometown all her life, and absolutely loves the life she has created. Despite her love for her town, she's tired of all the pity after her 5-year relationship ends with the town's golden boy and then suddenly gets engaged. Sage desperately wants a win and what better place than with the town's annual summer competition? But who can be her partner? Enter Fisher, a hotshot chef from New York City. He and his niece move from the city to Spunes, Oregon to hopefully save Fisher's career. As Sage and Fisher get to know one another, they strike up a bargain: Sage will help Fisher's image with the townspeople and Fisher will be Sage's partner for the competition. It'll be just for the summer, but time is moving much faster than they anticipated.
Thoughts: This was such a fun summer book!! Fisher certainly wasn't expecting to even like the small town where he and his niece moved to, but as their summer continued, he realized how nice it was to live in a small town again. Sage was such a fun character and a rock for Fisher as he navigated being the guardian of his niece. I loved her heart of gold for people and animals, along with her competitive spirit. It was nice to hear Fisher's thoughts to see him changing as the summer continued. Sage broke through both his and Indy's hard exteriors by just showing she cared and how to care for her animals.
I really enjoyed the audio version of this book. I always love dual narration when there is more than one POV, and this one did not disappoint. Karissa Vacker and Zachary Webber did a wonderful job bringing all the fun characters to life in this story. I found extra chores to do around the house just so I could keep listening!!
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the #gifted audio of this book.
This is a spicy romance that focuses on small town uncle meeting gorgeous neighbor. The amount of chemistry the two characters had and how well developed they were was impressive. I found that the book was endearing, and I loved to follow their story. I personally like things a bit less spicy, but it was still very enjoyable. I also really liked the idea of having an uncle situation instead of the traditional single dad. Adding to that the small-town vibes made it really great summer read. The audio actors did an amazing job and I think they brought the character to life.
Thank you @macmillan.audio for sending me this gifted audio to listen to and review!
#MacAudio2024
I love a good rom-com and one that dives a little deeper but still can make you laugh out loud! This was just that!
Another great summer vibes read. Also includes opposites attract, small town vibes, grief and loss, friends with benefits, and just the right amount of spice.
The description and fill of this small town really got me in this one! I loved all the feels and characters depicted. Fisher, Sage, and Indy have been through it and experienced some heartbreaking stuff. Unexpected neighbors turned into exactly what they all needed. Each one striving for better things and being truly happy with life not knowing what they thought they wanted was far from what they actually needed. The self discovery and realization was captivating and heartwarming. Not to mention the humor and parenting moments had me cracking up! I highly recommend this one!
Also this audio! Narrated by Karissa Vacker; Zachary Webber. TOP NOTCH! The personalities shined through!
To me, Savor It is the kind of book that makes its way into your heart and never leaves. As soon as I finished, I wanted to pick it back up and start reading all over again.
📱🎧 read on kindle + audio (arc)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
💭 overall thoughts:
I love the way Tarah writes, the way she describes everything is just so beautiful. I adored this lovely story - it made me laugh, swoon, and tore my heart out and put it back together.
Fisher needs the support of Sage’s small town on a project, and she needs a partner for a summer competition (against her ex and his new fiancee). They team up (with a little fake, soon to be real dating), and it quickly heats up between them.
Sage & Fisher (and Indy!) have stolen my heart.
“It’s been a privilege to fall in love with you, Sage.”
Sage is just the kindest human, and deserves all the good things in the world.
Fisher is grieving the loss of his sister, and still figuring out his new life path raising his teenage niece (Indy).
🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Karissa Vacker + Zachary Webber did a phenomenal job bringing Sage & Fisher (and all the side characters) to life.
This narration added so much to the story for me.
tropes + topics:
🤍 single guardian
👨🍳 chef mmc
👩🏫 teacher + farmer fmc
🏠 neighbors
🥸 fake dating
🌳 small town
💞 dual 1st person pov
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for advanced copies. All opinions are my own.
This audiobook was amazing. So heartfelt and emotional. The narrators were cast perfectly.
It was so believable and put me through all of the emotions.
I will be recommend this book to everyone!
Savor It by Tarah Dewitt
Narrators: Karissa Vacker; Zachary Webber
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 5/21
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for my free copy and to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook.
There’s something about Tarah Dewitt’s writing that I just adore. I have read and loved all of her books so far, and I’m excited to add Savor It to that list.
Sage Byrd has lived in the tiny town of Spunes, Oregon her entire life. When her five year relationship ends and her ex finds a new someone right away, Sage really needs a win. Who knew it would come in the form of Fisher Lange, a former chef from New York who’s in Spunes to help his boss open up a new restaurant. The townspeople aren’t too excited about this, which is causing problems for Fisher, who is just trying to get some semblance of his life back after the death of his sister. He’s now the guardian of his teenage niece, and he feels like he’s failing.
Sage and Fisher have a hilarious meet-cute involving a robot vacuum and an accidental 911 call. What follows is a heartwarming and hilarious story that had me laughing out loud and crying at times. These two couldn’t be more perfect together, and I loved their grumpy/sunshine dynamic.
DeWitt skillfully navigates the complexities of grief, redemption, and the healing power of love in this small-town romance. The chemistry between Sage and Fisher leaps off the pages, and the steam is just the right amount and adds to the story. This book is filled with relatable characters, misfit animals, and a fun festival that becomes the perfect excuse for Sage and Fisher to spend time together.
I went back and forth between my ecopy and the audiobook, and Karissa Vacker and Zachary Webber did an amazing job (as always) of bringing these characters to life.
This highly anticipated rom-com surpassed my expectations, cementing Tarah DeWitt's place as one of my favorite romance authors. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and the perfect balance of emotional depth and lighthearted moments, this was an easy five stars for me.
Read if you like:
*summer romance
*animals
*small town
*slow burn
*dual POV
*open door steam