A romance novel with the second chance trope in the same world as Tarah Dewitt's previous book Savor It. Wren and Ellis had one of the rare unbelievable romances where childhood sweethearts live happily ever after...but sadly trauma and past hurt shattered the love story they were living. Now divorced 4 years, the two end up on an unbelievable road trip that might bring them back into each other's arms...you will never see ice cream the same again.

This book is flawless. Truly. Tarah is truly poetic with her words and her scenarios are so outrageously funny, I just can't!

I will be praising this book for whatever is left of forever!

3.25 Stars --I am a huge Tarah DeWitt fan and was so excited to be approved for an ARC for her new book about the town of Spunes.

The protagonists in this book are introduced in Savor It as divorced parents who are friends of the couple in that book. This story is about them taking a roadtrip after they drop their son off in college and deciding if they want to be together. This means that a lot of the book is fairly intelligent conversations about what went wrong in their relationship and all of the hard things they've been through. I think it was well done and very sweet, but it wasn't fun. And that's probably a compliment to DeWitt--I've been on trips like that, and they have not been fun. (In contrast, in another one of her books the protagonists have to compete in a competition together, and one of them is a chef who is new to town, and that just gives a lot more room for silliness.)

The challenge here is that I read romances for fun and while I thought this book was effective., I did not enjoy it as much as the other 4 books I have read by DeWitt. Overall, it felt higher stakes and less lighthearted. The protagonists are both very earnest and seem like lovely people, but there wasn't anything about either of them that was quirky or particularly funny. Since they end up away from their friends and family for a lot of the book, and they aren't that funny, there just wasn't much of an opportunity for humor. There's also a lot of focus on fertility struggles, which is a heavy topic,

All in all, it just doesn't feel like there's room for quirky mishaps in the way that a second chance romance where the couple aren't coparents can have. That's not a bad thing, but this is a more serious vibe than the other books you've read by this author!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance review copy.

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this one! I LOVE Tarah DeWitt books and I was so thrilled to read this one! I am a huge fan of second chance romance, so the premise of this one sounded like it would be five stars for me. I devoured this book as quickly as possible and I truly loved every second of it. It is now my favorite Tarah DeWitt book and possibly one of my favorite romances of all time. She really outdid herself with this one and the emotion and heart behind the story really shone through beautifully! If you love romance book. I would say this is almost a guaranteed five star. It is a second chance romance for the ages, with the perfect amount of spice and emotions and a backstory that was as devasting as it was beautiful. See below for a synopsis!

Synopsis:
Wren and Ellis fell in love as kids and became parents as teenagers. They beat the odds and had a long lasting marriage until life circumstances caused them to drift apart and they eventually divorced. Their lives are still so enmeshed, though, and even five years later, they are constantly in each other's lives. When their son graduates from high school, they agree to take a trip together to take him to college. On the way home, they explore what getting back together could look like and remember all of the reasons they loved each other in the first place.

Wren and Ellis Byrd seemed to have it all - they found each other young, became parents and married young. But life wasn't easy and their marriage fell apart. Now, five years after their divorce, their son is headed off to college and Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended trip home with him. As they travel the beautiful California coast, old wounds resurface, feelings rekindle, and they're left wondering if there's anything left of their forever.

Thoughts  This book is raw, romantic, and full of heart. It's angsty and full of yearning but hopeful. If you found your person when you were young, you'll feel this one in your bones. 

Now that they're older and a little removed from the heartache, Wren and Ellis are able to communicate and finally face everything. They confront the ugly parts of their relationship, but they also appreciate the good moments, too. There's a level of intimacy that only happens after being part of each other's lives for so long. 

It won't take long for you to fall in love with them, too.

I have to say, I was a little on the fence about reading this one only because l'm not a huge fan of second chance romance in general and divorce made me even more hesitant. However, ! kept being draw back to this one (maybe the adorable cover?) and when I saw it on Netgalley decided to go for it. And omg I am SO glad I did.
This book.. it was so sweet. The communication was communicatin. The feelings were out there and on the line (not that the beginning didn't have angst bc it did.. the good kind). The tenderness was hitting SO hard. I would recommend this to anyone but maybe especially married people. Which I just didn't expect. The journey of them talking about their marriage, what went wrong, what went right. It was a little idealistic but romance books are that way. So no docked points for that here. I loved watching them work through the unresolved feelings and the harbored love they still had for each other.
Highly highly recommend this book. I loved it so much. Low drama. Lots of comfort. Some laughs. Just. Yes. All around yes.
Thank you so much to Tara DeWitt and St. Martins Press for the ARC of this phenomenal book!

This was good! I’m normally not a fan of second chance after divorce, and it took me until about 30% to connect with the story, but once I did it was very hard to put down. it’s very well written, the dynamic and banter between the MC’s was perfection, and the communication so refreshing! I’ve been a fan of Tarah DeWitt since Rootbound, so I was SO excited to be able to read an early copy of LOF. Highly recommend!

oh the byrds, how i love you so much. this book was everything i wanted and more.

a second chance romance will always do it for me, and this one had it all. the yearning. the hope. the love. every emotion was so raw, i felt it deep in my bones. i have been waiting for wren and ellis’s story since i first read savor it, and this did not disappoint. their journey wrecked me in the best way possible.

i physically ached and cried for them. my heart shattered then slowly pieced itself back together with every page. it was beautiful. it was painful. it was everything. i loved every second, and i already need to reread it.

There's something special about a second chance romance where the MCs are older. Wren and Ellis grew apart and manage to grow back together in a way that felt authentic to the ups and downs of a long term relationship. From the first lucky chance reconnection via a pink bakery box to whatever is left of forever, the story felt incredibly real. Silas' speech literally made me sob, in all the best ways. Seeing Wren and Ellis through his eyes was the cherry on the sundae of a perfect, swoony (and hot!) read.

I'm not ready to leave Spunes... Thank god there's two more books. (Right...? Right.....? I'm begging...) I've loved Dewitt ever since I picked up Funny Feelings thanks to another authors recommendation, about out to Ivy Fairbanks, and I loved it so much I immediately applied for an ARC of Savor it, and now here I am, reviewing my ARC of Left of Forever. I knew I needed Wren and Ellis's story the second Ellis said "She's still a Byrd" in Savor It. Dewitt does not disappoint. I've read a few second chance romances this year already, and she and Hannah Bonham Young are currently the front runners for my favorites. Obviously both stories are very different, but they both have a special place in my heart. I think I may love Ellis and Wren even more than I love Fisher and Sage, if that's possible.

This book has me crying on multiple occasions, and I loved how open and honest Ellis was with Wren about his feelings. We love a man who goes to therapy. It also stands to be said that I adored any and every interaction with Silas present, and the setup leading to Micah's definite eventual book, though I'm hoping for a Silas book next. I would've appreciated more pov Ellis chapters as I felt this wasn't simply a singular narrative book. It isn't to say Ellis didn't have any chapters, but it felt like we were hearing Wren's voice and inner monologue than anything and it would've been refreshing to see more from Ellis.

“we have whatever’s left of forever, you and me”

oh this book was EVERYTHING!! i’ve been so excited for this one because second chance with divorce is not a trope i see often and this DELIVERED!! ever since the “she’s still a byrd” line in savor it i’ve been craving ellis and wren’s story so bad and i loved watching their journey and how they find their way back to each other AHHHH. going from “i grew up with my great love, so i think maybe my heart took shape around his” to them basically being strangers after their divorce was BRUTAL tbh, but watching them both grow (ellis going to therapy!!) and acknowledge what they both did wrong ahh i’m so obsessed with them and from start to finish their story was done so much justice fr

also ofc have to mention the byrds + fisher (+ sam and indy) because the cast of this series is EVERYTHING!!! i love how they all see ellis and wren as people who had such a big role in raising them but the found family overall is just my favorite thing ever!!! also sage and fisher’s proposal scene GAH + fisher being thrown into the water hehe i love the byrds sm!!!

overall this was such a beautiful second chance love story that i highly recommend to everyone, and thank you so much to netgalley for the arc!!

This story was so beautiful. I almost hesitated to read this as I don’t usually read about characters in their thirties, but I implore anyone of any age to read this story.

It’s written so beautifully, and captures so many elements of real life and real love.

Thank you to Tarah for this beautiful story and unforgettable characters.

Though Funny Feelings will always have my heart, this may be my new next-favorite Tarah DeWitt romance — and definitely my new favorite second-chance romance, period. The people aren't ready!

Wren and Ellis are a fantastic example of a couple who have seen some life, been broken by it, and still manage to find their way back together. As (slightly) older romance protagonists, they work through their problems in mature ways and work on their communication where it needs repairing (what a breath of fresh air in this genre). At the same time, I though the reasons for them growing apart and divorcing in the first place were entirely realistic, and made it that much better to follow their journey years later. This was like getting to see further down the line in a first-love kind of story, where you know the couple is meant to be together, but sometimes life gets in the way. All the more satisfying to read about Ellis and Wren fighting their way back to each other. Loved it immensely — Left of Forever should be the romance of the summer.

This was such a cute second chance romance! I loved Savor It and was excited to go back to Spunes and the Byrd family, and this did not disappoint. Most of the plot takes place on a road trip, but we still get to see the hometown characters plenty of times. I loved the way Wren and Ellis talked through their past and what went wrong, and the way he was pining for her and trying not to mess things up the whole time. And can we have a moment for Sam the most perfect child? I’m pretty sure this will be a favorite romance of the year, do yourself a favor and pick this up when it’s out! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

I have been gnawing at the bars of my enclosure waiting to get my hands on this book since I finished the last page of Savor It…approximately 455 days ago. I’m talking checking NetGalley morning and night, having post notifications on for all of Tarah’s social medias (which meant having Instagram notifications on in general, which I am highly against), and just utter manifesting it falling into my hands. I knew Wren and Ellis would wreck me in the most perfect way possible, and boy was I right. You can feel the hurt and longing through the pages and experience the mending of the relationship as the book develops. It was a little sad that we didn’t get much Sam in this but I do know we got crumbs of the future couples to come in the series so I will take that as a win.

I do think this would rank just below Savor It for me only because I feel like the world of Spunes added so much character to that first book and this one took place mainly outside of that. If Savor It was a 6 star to me, this can still be a (rounded) 5. 4.75 stars from me :)

Thank you Tarah (for being an author), NetGalley, and St. Martins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tarah DeWitt said she never intended to write an interconnected Spunes series, but Ellis and Wren’s story demanded to be told—and now I get it. Individually, they are both such rich, fully realized characters—unique, memorable, and utterly endearing. But together—UGH. Together, they are an explosion of longing, desperation, empathy, and so much passion.

Nobody builds tension like Tarah DeWitt. Wren and Ellis put in the hard and necessary work to find their way back to each other after five years of divorce and a lifetime of love that never faded. The intention and care they showed in working through their past absolutely wrecked me. It was raw, emotional, and profoundly moving. Not once did I question their love—it felt real in a way that settled deep in my bones.

And Tarah’s writing style is actually flawless. It’s the perfect mix of sharp wit and deep emotion. She doesn’t just tell a story—she PULLS you into it, making you feel every stolen glance, every unspoken word, every aching bit of longing. The dialogue flows effortlessly, with moments of subtle humor that had me smiling without even realizing it. It felt less like I was reading this book and more like I was living inside it.

I fear I may have read my favorite book of 2025 only two months into the year. Sheer perfection, 11/10, not a single note because it was everything I wanted and more.

It's fine. I only sobbed twice. 😭😭🖤💥

But really though - if you like second chance romances - you're going to love this. It's so heartwrenching and exactly what I wanted it to be.

I'M HERE FOR THE LATE 30's ROMANCES MM'KAY?!

There's just too much to love about Wren and Ellis (and they seem like they have THE sweetest origin story??)!! I loved their story so much and I'm normally never a fan of looking back!

**Thank you to St.Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy! You can pick up Left of Forever on March 20, 2025.

Tarah DeWitt never fails to make me feel all the feelings with these gut-wrenching, hope-ridden romances. I absolutely devoured Savor It last year, and I was overjoyed to have a chance to read Left of Forever early this year. And it did not disappoint.

I immediately clocked Wren and Ellis in Savor It as a couple needing their own love story told, and I ate UP this second chance romance. What really struck me about this story is how present we are with Wren and Ellis's pain as much as their love. The truest, most devastating forms of love cut as much as they heal, because the person holding the knife is someone you trust above all others. And watching Wren and Ellis build that trust again was beautiful.

I loved the pen pal storyline (though I wish the reveal at the end had been handled a bit better), because we see Ellis finally start to open up and acknowledge his feelings for Wren. When they take the road trip over the summer, each date was romantic as hell and full of delicious tension and yearning.

But my only complaint is that so much of Ellis's character growth occurs off-page. He goes to therapy for several months to work on his communication skills and ability to open up, so when we (and Wren) meet him several months later, he feels like a much different MMC. More self-actualized and self-aware, open and vulnerable, and very much the opposite of the rough and gruff older brother who was thrust into a fatherly role too early in life. I would've liked to witness his transformation more alongside Wren, but as it is, I loved seeing them work through past issues together to form a new future.

And the spice? Let's just say I didn't know Wren and Ellis (and Tarah DeWitt) had it in them. Some truly jaw-dropping scenes in the best way and slipped in so innocuously (though I could've done without the whole pepper burn dick thing).

Safe to say if you loved Savor It or love a good rekindled love/second chance romance a la The Parent Trap, this is the book for you!

This was such an amazing read and I knew it would be but it still exceeded all my expectations. DeWitt has a way of bringing forth every emotion and writing those hard hitting topics. I’m usually not a second chance romance kind of reader but the snippets DeWitt released on social had me so excited to get my hands on this book and as impossible as it may seem, I like this one even better than Funny Feelings.

The communication and dynamic in this book was so healthy! There was no manipulation or secrets, these characters were so clear on what they wanted from this trip and each other and it was so refreshing to see a book focus on the love and the heartbreak without adding unnecessary drama. I laughed and cried through every page and I can’t wait to get my hands on the final published version.

Oh, this book. I laughed, shed a tear and swooned from the first page to the last. In this book, Tarah DeWitt weaved a beautiful second-chance romance, which had a wonderful balance of both emotional and lighthearted moments, starting from the tension between Ellis and Wren when we first meet them, to the way they found their way back to each other in the end. The storyline is simple - a little road trip after dropping their son off at college - but that's okay because with a second-chance romance, we're here for the emotions and the pining, the fights and the healing... which Tarah delivered in spades.

Special mention goes to the most lovable side characters (hello Byrd family!) that are clearly rooting for the couple alongside us, and the most bizarre cooking class disaster I've ever read. I admittedly and unfortunately don't remember much of Savor It (I should do a re-read but by no means was it necessary to have read that in order to enjoy this one), and Tarah's books have kind of been a bit of a hit-or-miss for me personally, but after this? I'm a convert. Sign me up for all of Tarah's books from now on. This is her best work yet.

Love love love! I love a rekindled live story! I can’t wait to read everything else you write! You have become a must read author for me!