LOVED THIS!!! Tarah can do no wrong. Such a cute story - second chance romance and forced proximity all for their son. I was a little worried going into it since I read sooo many stories with road trips recently that they gave me the ick, but this wasn’t nearly as involved with the road trip as to the focus on their love itself. It was perfect!!! Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my digital ARC!

I was in the right place at the right time and was able to download an advanced copy of Tarah's new book on NetGalley. It did not disappoint!

I don't usually read second-chance romances, but this one was done really well. The characters were unique, likable, and had great chemistry. I like how it was a standalone book but in the same universe as Savor It which I read last year and really enjoyed. It gave the story more depth and complexity.

I'm giving this book four stars. Despite the fact that I enjoyed the storyline and always like Tarah's writing, the main plot of the book didn't really start until about 40% in and then it felt a bit rushed to me. The spice was also a bitttt too spicy for my liking, but that's just a personal preference.

Overall, my second favorite TD book! (just behind Funny Feelings)

An easy 5 stars for this incredible book. This book follows Ellis and Wren, a former couple who grew up together, had a child young, got married, and then separated. This is a perfectly executed second chance romance: yearning and pining, love letters, self-reflection, more yearning, and a roadtrip to try again. I feel like I can't say that this book is about them falling back IN love, because whether they realized it or not, their silent love shined through even when they were apart. One thing I loved about this book was the balancing act of getting to experience the sweetness and tenderness of their relationship, while also witnessing the emotional strife and effort the two of them were willing to put in to not only get back together, but to also understand each other more and move forward communicating rather than falling into comfort. I cared deeply for these characters and while we got a small scope of their lives together, by the end of the book I felt like these two were my old friends. While I think I enjoyed this book even more because I read Savor It very recently, I think people will fall in love with Wren and Ellis' story regardless if they've read any of DeWitt's other work (though i HIGHLY recommended going through her backlist). I also loved the humor in this book, it was the perfect mix of laugh out loud banter and heart-wrenching emotions. Ellis and Wren have a very special story and I just know people will love them!!

*4.5 stars !!

I received an ARC from NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first Tarah DeWitt and it will not be the last! Left of Forever is a second chance romance between divorced parents that take a short trip together to see if their love is worth holding onto after all.

Oh I ate this book UPPPP. This was a story that was both fun and emotional and I couldn't put it down! I really loved the use of flashbacks in this story. I think not only was it a good way to give some context early on, but it was also used throughout to walk us through moments that each character is still tied to emotionally which helped me to feel connected to them. The flirtation and tension...oh it was TOO good !!! So many moments had me GIGGLING. Although I will say their physical connection was relied on a bit heavily at times and I would've wanted even more emotional moments to replace that, but also totally understandable that they wanna jump each other's bones after being married for so long. I mean if I had someone that looked like Ellis...Wren girl I totally get it.

I also appreciated the way infertility was discussed and the open communication about all the things they were holding back over the years. But honestly my favourite part was the trip. It was super fun and sexy and sweet. Lots of memorable moments and the pepper situation was funny and honestly quite creative lol I won't look at ice cream the same way I fear.

I just really bought into the love they have for one another, and it was a delight to read from start to finish (especially the very last line...I could actually cry lol)

Beautiful, wonderful characters, spice that was crazy hot while also being plot-relevant, and I cried happy tears? What more could you want? I love when a book makes me feel the relationships between the characters as deeply as this did. Phenomenal.

Thank you to Tarah DeWitt and NetGalley for the ARC! I will be picking up more of Tarah’s books ASAP.

Wren and Ellis have known each other since childhood, they became high school sweethearts and parents at a very young age. Due to the strain of regular life as parents, couples and jobs, they divorced. However in a peculiar turn of events Wren begins a pen pal relationship with a male person, who unbeknownst to her is her ex husband, Ellis. Ellis realizes that he doesn't quite know his ex wife as much as he thought he did. And with their soon to be college aged son preparing to leave to college, Wren and Ellis must be true to themselves and listen to what they both want.

This story is a wonderful romance tale, unlike your typical boy meets girl romance, this story goes beyond that. I really enjoyed the characters and the way that they develop throughout the story. I felt that a lot of the topics that were brought up throughout the book are relatable to everyday people. I will recommend this book to all my friends.

I knew from the first chapter that this was going to be a 5 star book for me!! It is a story about second chances, growing as a person, and figuring out how to be happy. It shows you that sometimes relationships need some time apart to really see the beauty in it.

This story follows Ellis Byrd. He is father to Sam, ex husband to Wren, and a parental figure to all of his siblings growing up. On top of all of that he is a fire fighter. He takes on the job of caretaker to everyone and anyone in his life.

Now we have Wren Byrd. She is mother to Sam, ex wife to Ellis, and best friends with all of the Byrd siblings. She is trying to get into the swing of things of being single again and find what makes her happy.

Ellis and Wren were childhood lovers to soulmates until they ultimately grew apart. Now that their son is graduating high school they find themselves in the situation of sending him off together. Both of them still have feelings for each other but is that enough?? Only time on a trip will tell them

This is easily the best romance I've read this year. My god. The yearning. The heartbreak. Left of Forever is a second chance romance revolving around two mid-thirties divorcée's who had to grow apart in order to find their way back to each other. Wren and Ellis go from childhood friends to first loves to teenaged pregnancy survivors to divorced and trying to move on to pen-pals and finally back to lovers. This book feels like if 'Everywhere, Everything' by Noah Kahan came to life and stabbed you in the gut then stitched you back together. I started crying about 13% of the way into this book and it just did not stop. It went from just a few tears here and there to like literally having to rehydrate because I'm sobbing over the Byrd's and their kid and their family life. Left of Forever is a beautiful representation of love persevering through the toughest things that life can throw at you and being stronger for it. I hope Tarah DeWitt has more stories for the the Byrd family because I will be seated.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC of Left of Forever in exchange for my honest review.

Slow burn & second chance romance rolled into one? Yes, please!

Sometimes life doesn't go the way you've planned. Sometimes it turns out event better than you imagined. Through Wren & Ellis' story, Tarah shows how difficult and messy marriage can truly be. But she also shows how to look for the good in those messy moments.

Thanks NetGalley & St.Martin’s press for the arc!

Tarah DeWitt is always an instant read author for me and this book did not disappoint! I loved the characters' banter and their tension was perfection. It was truly beautiful to watch their journey to rekindling their relationship. I found the letters to be so sweet and I loved that component of the book. I was sad that they ended, but thought that the flow into her journaling was perfect! Tarah has a way of beautifully crafting thoughts and feelings. She articulates them to a point where I often think, "wow, I've felt that before and never knew how to describe it until now." I wish I could reread every book she's ever written for the first time again, just to experience the joy and giddiness (amongst the heartbreak that still ensues), that they all give me.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

How can I put into words how much I love this book? It completely changed my brain chemistry, I will never be the same now. Wren and Ellis have my entire heart and I’m just so grateful to have been able to read their story because… what a story it was. I’m actually obsessed with this book and I will revisit this often.

This book was particularly poignant for me as a second-time mom in the newborn trenches. It is a book about the inevitable of change in relationships, and how they may grow or wilt depending on how we tend to them. It was a reminder that it is always worth it to be vulnerable with your people, and it’s never too late to let them in.
Thank you Tarah for writing characters who feel real and to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Sixty annotations later and I’m not sure how to adequately express how beautiful and brilliant this book is. Tarah DeWitt has a style of writing that cracks open your chest, squeezes your heart, and then masterfully sews it back together again. She made me cry about a scone. A SCONE I SAY.

From the moment Ellis passionately claims that Wren is “still a Byrd” in Savor It, I was sitting on my hands in anticipation of Left of Forever. In simple terms, it explores the entirety of their relationship and how they navigate a road back to each other. There are scones, spicy peppers, a cable car, and the promise of liver and onions. And while all of those things together sound like a hodge podge of items, they all lead to passages that have palpable pain, love, and laughter.

Between Ellis’ quiet determination and Wren’s introspectiveness and honesty, you just root for them deep in your bones. Their relationship broke down for reasons that I think everyone can relate to. Being able to witness them put it back together again was emotional and joyful. All other books I read this year will be compared to this one.

Thank you for this ARC! I’m obsessed with these characters!
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt had me kicking and screaming (in the best way) the whole time, rooting for these two to just figure it out already! It’s a story about love, healing, and the messy, beautiful process of finding your way back to what truly matters. The characters are so real—flawed, funny, and full of chemistry—and their journey is packed with witty banter, emotional gut punches, and moments that made my heart ache in the best way. DeWitt perfectly balances humor and heartbreak, making this the kind of romance that stays with you long after the last page.

Part way through reading Savor It, I knew I'd be chomping at the bit for Wren and Ellis's story. Second chance romance can be so hard to buy into, but I was invested before the book was even published! Wren and Ellis have such a beautiful history and are still so in tune with each other. It was scrumptious tension with a dose of "he falls first" that you don't normally get with second chances. Such a good read and 100000% recommend.

This book was a sweet second chance romance! I loved how willing Ellis was to grow and be the man that Wren was asking him to be. There trip was so cute and I loved how intentional Ellis was throughout the book.

Unfortunately a lot of this book didn’t work for me personally. I found the pacing to be very off and kept wanting to see more of the past so I could truly understand why Wren and Ellis got divorced in the first place. After hardly talking for FIVE whole years they both decide that they are still in love with the other person, and after some awkward banter and three days of vacation together they’re immediately hooking up. I really just wanted more emotional connection and less spice.

Overall this was a fine romance, just not a favorite!

I adore Tarah Dewitt’s books! This was as emotional as you would expect from a second chance romance about a divorced couple. However , it was also pretty funny! There were plenty of light moments to go along with the heavy emotional ones. Definitely would recommend it. I would suggest that you read Savor It first but it’s not necessary to understand the book.

I have a love hate relationship with second chance romance, but this book does it right!

Wren and Ellis both took their time apart to really work on themselves and identify and heal from their issues so that they can give their relationship a second chance. I enjoyed watching them rekindle their relationship and work through their issues.

This was my first second chance romance with a married couple and I’m so happy it was this book. I was smiling, cheering, and crying for Wren and Ellis throughout the entire book. This is one that I know will resonate with so many people that are in the same walk of life. I’m excited for others to feel the same way I felt when reading Left of Forever. This author has just become an automatic buy author for me after this one.

This book was incredible!! Tears were shed and laughs were had! I will forever recommend this book!!