Ellis Byrd has entered the chat yall!! This man! This book! This story. I knew this book was going to be amazing and pull on every one of my heartstrings when Ellis called out "She's still a Byrd." in Savor It. I was beyond ecstatic when we got confirmation that Tarah was in fact going down the rabbit hole of Ellis and Wren. Yall these two were legit soulmates. I LOVED getting to know both of them more. I know in some books like this we will get a dual timeline so we can get a feel for what happened- why they didn't work. I realllly liked that Tarah didn't do that. Instead she took us on a journey of hope for these two. Because they were both still so in love with each other, but they had also hurt each other. We got glimpses of what had happened, but instead of sitting in that it was more like can we move on from this and move on together? I absolutely LOVED getting the dual POVs. Yall Ellis was a man possessed. He wanted the love of his life back. He wanted a better version of what they used to have together. And Wren was so strong. She was so scared to hope. As she said "Hope is cruel in its persistence. It's a tease." She had endured so much at such a young age and though things didn't work then, they both wanted to see if they could try again.

Wren thought she was prepared for her son to move to college, but she was beyond not prepared. She has been in this emotional roller coaster since the fall when she found out her ex (who she may or may not still love) has moved on. He is dating. So she can date- right? But why does that feel so wrong? Like a limb is missing. And then there is Sam leaving. So when Ellis (her ex) approaches her about seeing if they could work. He suggests going on a road trip together to see if there is still anything between them. She is dumbfounded. She wants to hope so bad that there could still be something. But when they broke last time, it didn't just affect him and her. There were ripples. Still she decides- yes they can go on a road trip together to see. She wants to see if they will have anything in common without Sam. They have been in such a weird limbo since the divorce- will it be awkward? Will she regret it? The truth is though she is immediately at peace in his presence. She is in shock that he wants to actually talk through their stuff and that he is being transparent. She is not surprised that her body wants to remember. SHE wants to remember. She feels free with how they slowly start to unravel their past to realize that they are far from over. They are at the precipice of a new beginning. The question is if she is ready to jump with both feet in.

Ellis has been living in the shadows for the past few years. He had it all. The woman of his dreams. The family. And then life happened. He was only 18 when they got pregnant. And then he somehow became the man of the house for his brothers and sister too. It was too much for kids that young to take on, but they did the best they could. What Ellis has realized recently though is that he misses that. He wants the little things. He wants Wren back. And when Ellis gets an idea in his head- he goes for it. So he does some soul searching and decides to ask Wren to go on a road trip with him. 7 days and nights together to explore if there could still be an us. He decides he is done hiding. He is going to lay it all out on the table. He is ecstatic when he realizes how much she wants this too. How much he has to be the one to pump the brakes. They are doing things RIGHT this time. For the right reasons. And even when the hard stuff comes up it feels freeing. Like they are truly becoming one. Because she has always been his and he has always been hers. He is just hoping she is ready for forever again.

I finished the last 75% of this book in one sitting. I could not stand it any longer to not know how these two found each other again. I really loved the way that both of them recognized they had been through SO much and learned what they could do differently together. Ellis was unbelievably romantic and sweet. He was like a different person with Wren. And I loved watching Wren just let her walls down for the one person who helped her put them up. I haven't read a second chance involving a marriage yet but this one has set the bar for me. The chemistry between them was beyond flammable. Tarah stepped up her spice game in this one! The ice cream scene is all I am saying- IYKYK!! I am secretly hoping we will get more stories about the Byrds- fingers crossed!! I want to see Silas and Micah fall too :)

Here are some of my favorite quotes from this one:

"Ellis is the kind of handsome that you absorb in pieces before you notice something new and get the thrill of starting all over again. Even looking as rough as he does now, he is devastating."

"Life can be a bully sometimes. And a bully doesn't care if you're already having a rough time."

"I'm just saying. My DNA mixed with yours, and it altered your very bones, Byrd."

"New beginnings are best when you get to pick and choose what you carry over from the old."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I can't recommend this one OR anything by Tarah enough. Happy reading :)

Do you ever finish a book and just start crying because it was that good? Same here. Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt completely wrecked me—in the best possible way.

Second chance romance? That trope owns me every single time. And Wren and Ellis’s story? It’s that kind of love that’s tender, aching, and soul-deep. The raw emotion, the heartbreak, the vulnerability—it’s all there, and it’s absolutely stunning.

But it’s not just the love story that hits hard. Tarah DeWitt’s writing in this book? Her best yet. She manages to weave in heavier themes with such care and compassion, and it’s truly something special. She gives space for grief and healing while still letting the romance shine.

And let’s talk about the heat for a second—because this one brings it. The emotional intimacy and physical chemistry between Wren and Ellis are off the charts. Seriously, they had me blushing, swooning, and clutching my pillow.

This book is full of heartache and healing, of love that lingers and refuses to let go. It’s an absolute must-read and a guaranteed reread.

😭💔 Do you ever finish a book and immediately start crying because it was just that good?? SAME. And Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt completely wrecked me—in the best possible way. 🥹✨

Second chance romance? Yeah, that trope owns me. Every. Single. Time. And Wren and Ellis’s story? It’s tender, aching, soul-deep kind of love. The raw emotion, the heartbreak, the vulnerability—it’s all there, and it’s absolutely stunning. 💞

But it’s not just the love story that hits hard. Tarah DeWitt’s writing in this book? Her best yet. Hands down. The way she weaves in heavier themes with so much care and compassion is truly something special. 🤍 She gives space for grief and healing while still letting the romance shine.

Oh, and let’s talk about the heat for a sec 🔥—because yeah, this one brings the steam. The emotional intimacy and physical chemistry are off the charts. Like...Wren and Ellis had me blushing, swooning, and softly screaming into my pillow. 😮‍💨💫

This book is full of heartache and healing, of love that lingers and refuses to let go. It’s an absolute must-read and a guaranteed reread. I already miss these characters and want to dive right back in. 🥲💕

I have loved everything Tarah has published and this is no different. I am obsessed with the worlds she allows us to inhabit while we sink into the pages of her books.

Tarah Dewitt nails the marriage in crisis (or rather divorced second chance?). Ellis & Wren's story intrigued me since meeting them in Savor It & this roadtrip reconnection that takes the reader through their long history, fears & intense yearning for one another is one that gave me so many emotions. This story feels so raw & real as two people who have been intertwined for most of their lives & have deep love for one another find their way back to each other.

From the beginning, it seems that fate intervened a few years after their divorce and Ellis is on a mission to get his wife back. The saying is good things come to those who wait & Ellis is a patient man. He uses their son's college move to plan a road trip to get Wren back & the feelings Wren has tried to deny herself, with hope being the biggest one, starts to come to the surface. Wren & Ellis's trip allows them to remember their past and see how each other has changed. It's such a beautifully written story filled with humor, hope, and incredible love. The honest & stripped bare conversations they have are so emotionally charged that I couldn't help but have a heavy heart at times but the beauty is that they do find their HEA.

I hope we get to visit Spunes again as we do see much more of Ellis's brothers who I would love to read their stories. Micah & Silas are great supporting characters, along with Sage (from Savor It). The strong family aspect is wonderful & just adds another layer to Ellis & Wren's story.

💖 Second Chance
💋 Divorced Couple
🚗 Road Trip
🫶 Childhood Lovers
🏡 Small Town
✌🏻 Dual POV

I will read anything Tarah Dewitt writes.

Left of Forever is a beautiful story about two people who had to grow up too young and who were not properly equipped to handle all of the curve balls life throws at them. What I loved about this story is that it does not rely on the typical romance tropes. There’s no third act breakup. There is no miscommunication. It’s just about two people who are in love finding their way back to each other. And how to do they do that? By taking a road trip back home after dropping their son off at college.

The book doesn’t shy away from the heavy topics either. In fact, a lot of the book is dealing with these topics and addressing them head on instead of sweeping them under the rug like the did when they were younger. The whole book is about growth, and acceptable and forgiveness.

It was also fun to be back in Spunes for this book. Normally I am not a fan of romance series that are all connected but this one works. Most of the book takes place away from Spunes and the characters in Savor It. However, it was fun to see Sage and Fisher occasionally.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Everything that Tarah Dewitt writes is absolutely pure magic. Left of Forever is a beautiful, emotional, Gut wrenching second chance romance. Wren + Ellis’ story is relatable, no matter your relationship status. This will go down as one of my favorite books of 2025. Tarah Dewitt is an author to watch, the world is going to love this book.

I’m not the biggest fan of a second chance romance, especially with a divorced couple, but this one blew me out of the water. I loved Wren and Ellis desperately and together from the very beginning and I am a huge sucker for a lil pen pal situation as well (so cute!)

I think this is Tarah DeWitt’s best work yet and I would 100% recommend it to anyone who asks 🥹💞

Tarah Dewitt brings us back to Sprunes, Oregan in this second chance romance where we follow Wren and Ellis on their journey to a second chance at their love! They have been divorced for five years and have an 18 year old son, Sam who just recently graduated high school. The two find themselves pulled together by family to celebrate their son and to give their relationship another try.
If you love a MMC who is completely head over heels for the FMC this is a must read. It definitely gave me, "Parent Trap" vibes in the sense that they were on a vineyard and some fun loving family members have a little hand in making things happen.....a one bed trope perhaps!
Communication is a relevant theme of this book even when it's hard. I loved watching Wren and Ellis heal themselves and their relationship. This will be a great read for the summer it is lighthearted but also not afraid to face the hard stuff in love and relationships that is all so relatable in the real world and to see it take place in a romance book was the cherry on top. I highly recommend this book ! I want more of her writing and hope we can get more of Sprunes and the Byrd family in the future!
A five star read with all of the spice and stars

Left of Forever is second chance romance perfection!

Wren and Ellis Byrd have loved each other since they were kids. They had their son when they were teenagers. They were literally made for each other! Until everything fell apart. But 5 years after their separation, there are still unresolved feeling between them. They decide that after dropping their son Sam off at college, they will take a road trip home together to see if there still might be a chance for them.

Read this one if you love:
-second chance romance
-small town
-forced proximity
-found family
-lots of banter
-spice

Left of Forever is an emotional romance filled with angst, tension and chemistry. Both characters are just so relatable. You will root for them every step of the way! Their story will make you laugh but also make you cry. And all the Byrd family shenanigans is completely hysterical! I absolutely loved Ellis and Wren’s story. I highly recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an opportunity to read an arc of Left of Forever in exchange for my honest review.

A beautifully written, heartfelt second chance romance following two people who fell deeply in love at a young age. Life's challenges have torn them apart, but a road trip in close quarters may be just what they need to reignite the spark that has quietly smoldered between them all along despite their five year divorce.

This book was heart warming, authentic, and real. It felt like a story that anyone could experience - while not everyone will connect with every detail, the nuance of the characters made it easy to find something to relate to. Wren and Ellis were so incredibly likeable that you couldn’t help but root for them from the very first page.

I highlighted so many lines that I loved but I’ll just share my top quotes:

❣️I grew up with my great love, so I think maybe my heart took shape around his.

❣️ My chest is an empty, barren cavern without her. My heart took shape around hers, too, and it will never go back.

❣️ I’ve always wished for more of her independence, but maybe that’s impossible when you find your other half before you’ve got a fully developed frontal lobe.

❣️All I know is that if I found out heaven was real and got there first? I’d hang back in the waiting room and save you a seat.

A huge thank you to St Martin’s Press, Netgalley and the author for this copy💓

A million freaking stars to this book! This was so beautiful - raw and real - just an emotional banger of a read. It was so easy to get invested in Wren and Ellis—I loved them both so much as individuals and I couldn’t wait to see how their second chance would play out. And my oh my was it a ride. I swooned for all the romantic moments, and I laughed as well as cried - the vulnerability displayed by both of them, but especially Ellis really worked for me. And then the ending? Oof, so many tears. What a masterpiece.

“Sometimes love lingers just out of reach, not because it’s gone, but because we’re not ready to hold it yet.”

Left of Forever is soft and aching in the best kind of way. Tarah DeWitt writes with that rare blend of quiet tenderness and emotional weight, where every chapter feels like it’s pulling something loose in your chest. This one leans more introspective than her usual romcoms but still has that signature DeWitt charm. Full of small, meaningful moments and characters who feel like they’re living just off the page.

Wren and Ellis? Their connection is slow burn perfection. The kind that simmers with years of shared history, unspoken things, and the kind of grief that reshapes people. Teenage sweethearts, a life built too young, and the kind of love that waits. Patiently. Stubbornly. Even when it shouldn’t have to. It’s a story about timing. About how sometimes love lingers just out of reach, not because it’s not there, but because people aren’t ready to hold it yet.

There’s depth here. Grief and healing and the long, messy road in between. But it’s not heavy for the sake of being heavy. It’s hopeful. Raw. Earnest. The writing is lyrical without trying too hard to be poetic. Just honest. And the way DeWitt handles the emotional weight of their story? So gentle it sneaks up on you.

If you’re looking for something full of yearning, quiet beauty, and a love story that feels earned, not rushed, Left of Forever delivers. It’s not a romcom. It’s not supposed to be. It’s something quieter. Something that stays with you. One of those stories that doesn’t need loud declarations to hit hard.

It just knows what it’s doing.

Special thanks to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was so refreshing! Most romances I read are usually typical story lines...boy meets girl...they fall in love...third act conflict...then boom, story ends and everyone is happy.

Left of Forever was not that book! The main characters are divorced and after many years, find that they still love eachother and go on a mission to rekindle their love. So many emotional truths come out and the story was written so beautifully and realistically.

Please go pre-order this book! It comes out on May 20, 2025 ❤️

The emotions and genuine love of Left of Forever hooked me from the beginning. What a heartfelt tale of two people finding their way back to each other, feeling the love between them but scared of a second heartbreak! Add in the backdrop of a California and Oregon road trip, and I’m done. I just loved it.

Years back, Wren and Ellis found themselves as teenage parents and devoted themselves to their son, Sam, and family. But somewhere along the line, their relationship broke and they divorced, though the feelings never died completely. Now, with Sam going off to college, Ellis knows he wants Wren back and sees a chance to do things right. His idea? A road trip after they drop Sam off, a full week to have those hard conversations and make it work this time.

I adored Ellis and Wren, these lovely, caring, beautiful souls. Left of Forever is so character and relationship-driven—the full focus is on this couple and how they’re working their way back together. Sometimes that can be tough, but it really worked because of how beautifully the relationship built back up, the many deep and sometimes gut-wrenching conversations, the love you can truly feel in these pages. They are so invested in seeing if this can work, they both want it to work, they’re both scared, they both know they’re each other’s one true love. But will they be able to put everything back together or is all the past hurt too much to overcome?

tarah's best book yet!! i'm a sucker for a second chance romance but then she had to go and have them WRITE EACH OTHER LETTERS??? shatter my heart into a million pieces & then put it right back together. i was invested from page one and the chemistry was mmmm... i hope we get micah's book hehe

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an early look at another Tarah DeWitt delight 💖

We had gotten a peek at Wren and Ellis in Savor It but Left of Forever was their shining moment. I appreciated, even in the previous book, how they remained amicable even if it was only for Sam’s sake.

Even with their marriage burnout there was yearning which is highlighted here. It was refreshing to see all cards on the table to see if the relationship was something worth saving or letting go.

No spoilers here but it’s so worth the read and I ✨recommend✨ it. It’s out on 5/20/25 so be sure to put a calendar reminder!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. This was a 4.5 for me but rounding up to 5.

Left of Forever brings us back to Spunes, this time to follow the story of Sage’s older brother Ellis and his ex-wife, Wren, who is also best friends with Sage and her brothers, as they navigate the new dynamics of their relationship when their son goes off to college. This book spans the emotional gambit from absurd hilarity at times to heartfelt, tearjerking family moments. There’s also the added bonus of seeing more of Sage and Fisher’s romance from the previous book continued, and cameos of characters from some of DeWitt’s other books outside of Spunes.

Second-chance romances can be hit or miss for me, but DeWitt gives them such a beautiful and heartbreakingly relatable journey. Ellis and Wren are soulmates who fell in love as teenagers and had to grow up too quickly and marry too young when they became pregnant. The reasons for their divorce are explored more as the story progresses, and are very realistic for two people who married young and grew up too fast.

I appreciated that their initial separation wasn’t driven by insurmountable differences that one person would have to sacrifice to overcome, like small town vs big city, or wants children vs wants to be childless. It was all just normal things that can drive people apart if left unaddressed.

Wren is hilarious, kind, thoughtful, and so relatable. One of the first lines we’re introduced to her with is “I had all day to dick around and I over-dicked it”, which made me audibly snort from how much I feel that in my soul some days.

Ellis is a caretaker and a protector, who has to learn to share the burdens he carries and let other people in. He realizes he needs to grow and takes steps on his own to do that, going to therapy and trying to open up more, and it was refreshing how much self-improvement was driven by him and not by making the FMC the sole reason or person responsible.

Bonus points for no third-act breakup, these two have been through enough already.

THIS. THIS IS ROMANCE. 🤌🏼
Tarah’s best book to date, no questions asked.
She truly outdid herself with this one.

I absolutely loved being back in Spunes, Oregon. We got to meet these characters in Savor It and I loved seeing the other side characters and their story. It also seems like she could be setting up for more books in this series and I would absolutely love it.

Wren & Ellis are so special. There was no toxicity in site. This is the type of “marriage in crisis” and second chance romance that I absolutely love. They are just two people who deserve love and deserve to be loved by one another. They DESERVE that second shot together. Truly the sweetest souls.

THE LETTERS 😩😭
The meddling characters
The planned roadtrip
The origami birds 🥹
The smallest moments that mean SO DAMN MUCH!
FREAKING SWOON!!!!

“I grew up with my great love, so I think maybe my heart took shape around his.”

“With that pile of golden hair and all your golden skin in the sun. I thought I missed your baking … That was nothing. I was starving to be near you again.”

“She’s kissing me. I’m home.”

“Wren, I can still taste you in my mustache. I can’t think of a single person on the planet to be jealous of right now.”

tropes:
♥ second chance
♥ childhood friends to lovers
♥ divorced couple
♥ they have a kid in college

wren and ellis fell in love when they didn’t even know what it meant, later on they had a kid together and got married ! but they also got a divorce and decide to co-parent sam together in their own ways.

now sam is going to college and ellis comes up with a trip idea, a road trip with his ex wife because what if they’re meant to be together but weren’t seeing the signs?

i’m all here for second chance but this one is barely a 4 star read, the plot idea was really good but it felt lacking in lots of places especially how fast they realized they were still in love with each other.

the road trip was funny, i’m glad i read this book but what do you mean you only recognized her handwriting because of her middle and maiden name?? and what do you mean it took you one year to realize it was him only because you saw the letters with his stuff?? this is what annoyed me the most, they know each other since they were toddlers and okay they’re divorced but your handwriting sticks to you for forever like???

regardless gotta love the byrd family !!!!

thank you netgalley, st martin press and tarah dewitt for the arc in exchange for an honest review !