There’s been a few times in life I wish I had more than 5 stars to give, and at least three of them were with Tarah Dewitt’s books. Left of Forever was another perfect love story about imperfect people, and I’ll never get over Ellis and Wren’s story.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Spunes character series (TBD on the official name!). Book 2.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Second chance, angst fest, roadtrip, one bed.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Wren and Ellis have spent the last four years reeling from their divorce. But with their son off to college, Ellis asks for one final week together - getaway on their way home from dropping him off - to see if they can work it out, or find the ultimate closure.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I’d hate to say this is my favorite book from Tarah Dewitt’s, but it’s definitely up there.

There’s just something about the way she writes - it’s like she’s in my heart and writing down all of the romantic stuff I want to see. A man who is a complete simp? He’s so down bad he can’t function without loving his (ex)wife? When you know the ending but still get nervous they won’t pull it together because the tension is pulled so tight? Yeah, that’s all my jam.

Left of Forever is one of the top second-chance romances I’ve read. There’s something so devastating about losing your soul mate, and reading the dual POV of how both Wren and Ellis felt… whew.

And listen, I dare you to read the last 10% of this book and tell me it’s not the most swoony thing you’ve ever laid eyes on.

Tarah Dewitt will continue to be a one-click author for me. This time, she’s going to be a multi-click… because I’m going to reread this, then buy the paperback so I can leave it under my pillow and have sweet, romantic dreams.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

♾️ ⭐️

I was lucky enough to receive this ARC and devoured this book in less than a day. From reading Savor It I had been so excited for a Wren and Ellis story. Maybe I personally related to it because I also married young and had some similar struggles. The complicated feelings and responsibilities they faced were so real and refreshing to find in a romance book. I’ve never read a second chance like this! I laughed and cried a lot but I see this being in my comfort book rotation 🥰

This was perfection. I don't normally read second chance romance but I could not resist Tarah's beautiful writing. This was so well written and well done. It was one of the best second chance romances I have ever read. I highly recommend this and Tarah DeWitt as an author.

Second chance romances are my favorite and Left of Forever was my most anticipated read of 2025. I was beyond ecstatic to be approved for the arc. I loved Ellis’s character and what he was willing to do to get his wife back. Wren on the other hand took me more than half the book to warm up to. I just didn’t care for her POV. I wanted to shake her! Regardless, I still really adored this romance and would definitely read more from Tarah DeWitt in the future!

The first thing I have to mention is that the cover of this book is absolutely stunning — it's a true work of art.

The story itself is cozy, heartwarming, and deeply emotional. While I'm usually not a fan of second-chance romances, this one hit all the right places. Ellis and Wren's relationship was built on love, but it faced immense strain after a traumatic experience related to pregnancy. Their lack of communication, combined with their fear of hurting each other, led to their separation, but the love never faded.

After 5 years of separation (they still did co-parenting) Ellis decides he wants his wife back no matter the cost — it made my heart ache in the best possible way when i was reading his POV and his words about Wren. He suggests a short trip for the two of them to reconnect, work through their issues, and see if they could have a future together again.


I found myself captivated by Ellis and Wren. Their journey was both heartbreaking and fun, and it felt so cozy.
It's an incredible love, the way Ellis loves Wren is just every girl's dream. Their letters and vows absolutely brought me to tears — the depth of their connection is unparalleled.

The Byrd family is hilarious. Silas and Micah!! I need their books, asap. I can only imagine the stories that could come from their characters.

Another huge plus: the setting of Oregon. The small town atmosphere, paired with the Oregon’s nature - chefs kiss.

This book was a beautiful journey of love, loss, and redemption. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a heartwarming, emotional read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Tarah DeWitt for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was beautiful - beyond that, it was transformative. An easy five stars. I devoured it within 48 hours, and it has sat with me since.

Left of Forever, the story of Ellis and Wren Byrd, describes the difficulties of young love as it changes and becomes familiar, through years of parenthood, and to the feeling when it falls apart. Reminiscent of Hannah Bonam Young's Out of the Woods, this book is truly a testament to how much hard work goes into loving someone, but what a privilege it is to create a lasting dynamic where two people choose each other again and again. Unlike Out of the Woods, this book added the dynamic of having a teenage son going off to college, which added another dynamic layer that played a huge role in the relationship shift between Ellis and Wren from a failed marriage to a story of redemption, forgiveness, and moving forward together.

I loved Ellis and Wren in Savor It, and I was thrilled this was the next book in the series. It was wonderful to read them as more flushed out characters, and reading about them peeling themselves raw - their pure vulnerability - as they work to come back together was so heartfelt. The subsequent books with any Byrd siblings are going to be well worth the wait.

Tropes include: Second chance romance, road trip, small town, marriage in crisis, found family, single parents

"We have whatever's left of forever, you and me."

Oh, how I love a good second chance! This book was everything to me. I definitely enjoyed Left of forever more than Savor it, but if I need to be completely honest, I had no doubts: I've been dying to know Ellis and Wren's story since book one, and Tarah did NOT disappoint me.

This book was so sweet and funny and I loved it from the very beginning (I have a big soft spot for letters inserted in books, sorry not sorry!). Seeing Ellis and Wren cautiously reconnect, afraid of ruining everything a second time and losing each other forever, was priceless and warmed my heart. I also loved the little vacation they went on together, although, I have to admit that I loved Spunes even more: I'm a sucker for all the small town vibes!

Sage and Fisher as secondary characters made me giggle and tear up more than once (especially at the end... iykyk!) and I adored Silas and Micah. Is it too early to kindly ask for their books too? I don't know if they're planned, but I'm really hoping I will be able to read their story someday. And why not, Sam and Indy's as well!

5 ⭐

This book had me kicking, crying, and laughing—and staying up way too late because I just couldn’t put it down. Tarah DeWitt masterfully captures the complexities of love, loss, and second chances in this beautifully written romance.

Told in dual POV, Left of Forever follows Wren and Ellis as they navigate the butterflies (and heartbreak) of dating your ex-husband. The story dives into the realities of infertility, the toll it takes on a relationship—the unspoken struggles, the emotional weight, and the devastating feeling of having no control over your own body.

Left of Forever doesn’t shy away from the messy, raw truths of marriage and rekindled love, making this book feel incredibly authentic and deeply moving.

One of my favourite aspects of the novel was the way Wren and Ellis communicated through letters and Wren’s journal. There was something so intimate and aching about the way their words carried emotions they couldn’t always say out loud. It added an extra layer of depth to their connection, making their love story feel even more powerful.

If you love second-chance romance, emotional depth, and writing that will leave you wrecked in the best way, Left of Forever is a must-read. I absolutely adored it!

Been dying to read this story ever since I saw the MCs in book 1, Savor It, and damn this hit and exceeded all my expectations 😭 the angst and the pining and the slow-burn were so cathartic to read. I loved the communication between them, the vulnerable talks and the banter between was so well done!

... So, can we hope for a Silas book and a Micah book, or ..??

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

ellis and wren single-handedly reviving my belief in soulmates. from friends-to-lovers-to-divorcees-to-sad exes-to-lovers. the epitome of "you are my person. if not you, then no one else. if this is life is not for us, then i'll wait until the next" energy.

my ship tag for them is "if you're a byrd, i'm a byrd." ellis, the awkward cinnamon roll mmc, burdened by the weight of growing up to soon but an Authentic wife-man through and through. wren, the funniest fmc, deserves the world really and her beau is gonna give it to her. i adored them and their journey of communicating and taking another chance on each other. they are each other's greatest love - the chemistry, the longing, the banter, and the comfort proved it so well.

i love that there was no dual timeline and the author utilized letters and brief flashbacks for context. it was a fresh way of connecting to the present but letting the reader spend time with who wren and ellis are right now. i've filed this under romances i love.

i'll never see ice cream the same way again - i didn't even know you could do that. all this time we thought potatoes were the most versatile of foods, but ice cream was right there who would have thought!

thank you so much St.Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review an eARC!

I've been waiting for this book since we first met Ellis and Wren in Savor It. Tarah DeWitt takes you on their journey without telling the whole story through flashbacks. You get to fall in love with them while they remember why they fell in love with each other in the first place, and rediscover each other. Sometimes small town series can get bogged down with trying to revisit all the characters you've met before, so I like the way this story doesn't all take place in Spunes (while giving you just enough of the town to keep it charming). Adored this one from start to finish!

✨ARC Review✨
I am normally not the biggest fan of a second-chance romance, but this story just completely turned my opinion around. I felt every emotion while I read Wren and Ellis’s story. I love Tarah’s writing style, and I truly think this is her best work yet. She handles some heavier themes so graciously too. Also loved seeing characters from her other books pop up too. Thanks so much to Tarah, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC!
4.5⭐️

A small town second chance romance that pulls on your heartstrings.
Marriage is never perfect and sometimes the struggles of marriage can feel overwhelming at times. And this book made those points beautifully. I found myself reflecting about my own marriage and getting emotional about our story. This was a beautiful story that was well told with great character development. It was realistic. So much so that my heart as aching for the main characters and their trails. I highly recommend reading this book!

4.5 stars.

Every since I originally read about Ellis and Wren "Still a Byrd" Byrd I have been so excited for their story and BOY did this not disappoint.

I am obsessed with this book. It makes me want to get married, get divorced, then force a second chance romance on my ex spouse a la ellis y wren. Your honor, I love them.

When these two fell in love as kids, had a kid in their teens, built a beautiful life together, then separated, they could never have expected to try and make it work again. As they are getting ready to drop their son off at college Ellis suggests he and Wren take a bit of an extended road trip after moving him in to celebrate the occasion and to maybe see if they could make a relationship between them work again. AND BOY DOES IT WORK.

I love a dual POV book and this was no exception. Wren and Ellis are both chomping at the bit for one another but they are both understandably scared to try and make this work because they have already dealt with the worst case scenario (losing each other). Swoony and tender, this was such a perfect love story. I keep thinking I dislike second-chance romances but books like this keep proving me wrong.

I loved how they tackled their issues head-on & didn't let either person shrug off what had bothered them about the other person or what a breaking point was for them the last go around. I am so in love with and obsessed with this book, I can't wait to get a physical copy to force lend to all my friends.

A massive thank you to St Martin's Press & NetGalley for giving an eARC so I could experience these mustached hunk and blonde maned beauty in all their glory.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley foe the early chance to read and review “Left of Forever.”

Readers first were introduced to Wren and Ellis as important side characters in”Savor It” (FYI - you don't need to read Savor It to enjoye Left of Forever, but you definitely should because it is fantastic!) . As soon as I finished, I felt I needed to know more about Wren and Ellis and where there love took a wrong turn. This was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads and it did not disappoint. The love, longing, and tenderness between the characters came through every page. I loved how they communicated with each other, both about things they hadn’t discussed in the past but also about what they needed from each other going forward. I loved every minute of Wren’s and Ellis’ journey, both spiritual and actual, and I highly recommend this book. I have already pre-ordered the audio and can’t wait to listen to that when it releases. 5 stars.

PS. I feel like I need to hear more from Silas and Micah and would love to visit Spunes again!

The Byrd’s must be protected at all costs!! This story felt so unique and mature. A new take on getting a second chance. Something so much deeper. I loved reading about Ellis and Wren finding their way back to one another!

Left of Forever is a stand-alone sequel to Tarah DeWitt's Savor It. Do you need to read Savor It before you read this? No. But Savor It is so good, you'd only be hurting yourself. A second chance romance, Wren and Ellis Byrd have been divorced for five years when Ellis and Wren decide to see if their love is worth rekindling. I'm not usually a big fan of second chance, but Tarah DeWitt did it brilliantly, using shorter journal entries to reveal Wren and Ellis's past instead of doing a double timeline - which I loved.
I devoured this book. Ellis is a gooey cinnamon roll of a MMC who made me swoon. The banter? Perfect. The love story? Mouth watering. The pacing? Fast. Did I stay up until 4am to finish this book? Absolutely.
Bonus: There's a totally cute Co-Op cameo that warmed my heart.
4.25/5⭐️

4.5 stars, rounded up.

This would have been a 5 star read, but the spice was more prevalent and less easy to skip than I prefer.

I really enjoyed this book!

Wren and Ellis Byrd have been divorced for five years, but their lives have remained entangled because of their coparenting duties and shared community connections. Unable to escape one another, both Wren and Ellis have tried and failed to move on. When their son Sam gets into his dream college, the three of them pack up vehicles to drive him to school hours away. Ellis proposes a getaway for himself and Wren on the way back to their hometown after dropping Sam off at school. Along the way, Wren and Ellis rehash what went wrong in their relationship and address all the issues they couldn't fix the first time around.

I read a lot of romance books, and this was a standout for how romantic it was. This second-chance romance starts from a place of deep mutual pining. The main characters know each other and are involved in each others lives in numerous ways, which allows for a very deep emotional romance.

This book gave me butterflies and all the feels, and I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

DeWitt captured my attention immediately with her words and a well-crafted story. I enjoyed each bit of this book! I don't normally re-read books, but this is one I plan to! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a cute and light and fun second-chance romance. This was my first Tarah Dewitt book and I’ll be picking another up after this! Ellis and Wren were thrown together and forced to grow up far too young, and have been on eggshells around each other since. The cast of side characters was interesting, and I loved the addition of Kirby at the perfect moments. Watching Wren and Ellis realize they both still loved each other without even understanding, to having it come out when they finally let go and opened up was magical. And I loved the road trip idea so much, it made it extra fun! Super cute read!