This was such a beautiful story! Loved every single second of it and Ellis and Wren finding their happy ever after, again, was done with such hope and love.

Absolutely obsessed.

When I first started I wasn't sure if a rekindled marriage story was the kind of second-chance romance I would enjoy, especially when Ellis and Wren were divorced for as long as they were. But I think Tarah DeWitt does a good job of helping the two characters find their way back to each other (probably because she got married very young as well). I think I would've wanted their reconciliation to take longer and for them to need to take things slow even when they get home but I understand that that doesn't really make for a compelling book. Still, I enjoyed this more than Savor It and was excited to see more Wren and Ellis.

I don't know if Tarah has plans for more Byrd family books but I'd love to read ones for Micah and Silas too. I've really enjoyed what I've seen of them and would love to spend more time in Spunes. I'd also like more Indy. I liked seeing the seeds of her reaching out to Wren but her story fell away once again.

I struggle with the second-chance-romance trope. But... BUT... if every second-chance-romance was like this, it would be one of my favourites. Many second-chance-romance books ask the reader to forgive a lot of very poor past behaviour, some that may be deemed unforgivable. The grovelling needs to match or surpass the level of previous behaviour, and that balance is one that can easily tip in the wrong direction. In this book, it is done to perfection. The previous behaviour (of both parties) is that which many, if not all, folks in long term relationships can relate to - complacency, lack of communication, and not facing the hardships head on. Since it was so relatable, it was even more moving to watch the relationship rekindle and see the growth in both parties. I'm sure we can all see aspects of both main characters in ourselves and those around us.

The secondary characters continue to shine, and I can't wait to see what comes next for all of them. Tarah Dewitt continues to immerse the reader in the settings—I feel like Spunes is a real town with real folks whom I could casually visit during tourism season. The little descriptions of mannerisms bring us closer to the characters, making everything feel that much more *real*. As a reader, you are bouncing between laughs and giggles, also tears brimming in your eyes.

This has easily made it to my 2025 Favorites list, and I can't wait to see everyone gush over it! It is the perfect spring/summer read, for taking with you on a camping trip or enjoying by the pool or at the beach.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I felt sooo lucky to get approved for this ARC and this book blew past all of my very high expectations! I was so excited to read about Ellis and Wren from when we first met them in Savor It, but I was interested to see how their love story would play out since this is a relatively difficult relationship to explore. Tarah Dewitt blew it out of the park. I adored getting to know Wren and Ellis and they had the most tender love story of all. I loved getting to return to Spunes & I loved being in both character's heads and hearing how both of them were experiencing their trip. I think their communication was so realistic and natural. Beautiful, beautiful book!

The perfect level of spice! It was a sweet story, and I loved seeing more of the Byrds in this companion book. The pining is everything!! Maybe it's because I'm slow but the timeline confused me a bit - I was confused on when certain things happened when they were divorced.

This was phenomenal! Loved every minute of it. So heart wrenching and full of love and happiness. This was such a great read. The characters were great, very fleshed out. Great story. Great plot. Loved it so much! 4.5 stars

5 ⭐️ 3🌶️
Contemporary Romance
Second in a series
Tropes: second chance, one bed, epistolary parts

Oh god, this book made me feel all of the feels. Not that I should be surprised coming from a Tarah DeWitt book. Pretty sure I cried multiple times.

I’m not normally a huge second chance romance fan but damn this book was good. You get duel POV and glimpses of their past. Some of it’s funny but it’s also so emotional. The characters are incredible. Both the main characters and the side characters. Can’t wait to read more about the Bryd family!

Oh my, I've been a long time Tarah fan with Rootbound being my favorite book, but Left of Forever has surpassed that for me and is cemented itself to my core being. I can't recall ever reading a second chance marriage - where they are divorced and find their way back to eachother. Marriages have so much history, especially one that goes back to falling in love at seventeen, that the second chance just hits differently that makes this story just achingly beautiful.

Ellis and Wren are in their 30's and have been divorced for five years, and now, their son who they had at age 17 is off to college out of state, Ellis suggests they move him in together, with road tripping it of just the two of them back home, where they reconnect along the way.

This story doesn't leave out anything and gets to the happy, hurtful, and healing parts of their relationship. I absolutely loved it and will be thinking about this for a long long time.

A very thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and You Had Me at HEA for an eARC of this amazing book!

What an epic love story. I’m so invested in this family. So real, so relatable.

I really liked Savor It and was immediately drawn to Ellis and Wren. I’m so happy to have gotten their story.

Ellis; our reserved… “Superman” eldest brother. Always taking care of everyone first. So much so that his marriage took a backseat until it’s over (for years). — 5 years later, a letter reminds him that his feelings haven’t gone anywhere for his ex-wife. He comes up with a plan to revive it.

Wren; our quirky baker and supportive best friend. Who not only played mother to many but got pregnant as a teenager with her first (and only) love. Now that their son is going off to college and their family has their own lives, maybe a road trip will bring them back together for good.

The ending had me in tears. Happy ones.

HANDS DOWN the BEST second chance romance I’ve ever read. This story was stamped onto my soul.

“My DNA mixed with yours, and it altered your very bones, Byrd.”

“I’ll save you a seat, Byrd.”

Thank you SO, SO, SO, SO much to St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC of Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt. My favorite romance book of this month, this year, potentially forever. I felt every wound I have ever had—emotional and physical—stitch myself together with each page I turned of this book. I am whole again. I am broken forever because this is over. I have never, in my life, been left so happy and so emotionally devastated all at once. Tarah DeWitt is a genius and I am absolutely devastated that I cannot read this book for the first time again.

I loved Wren and Ellis in Savor It, and Tarah's unique humor and heartwrenching turns of phrase caught me by complete surprise then, but it wasn't until this book that I realized her mind was absolutely heaven sent. This book is beautiful in so many ways. The small town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington of course) is its own sentient being, and it's like it is written in every single character, whether they are at the forefront of the story like Wren and Ellis and Sage and Fisher are, or if they are boisterous and hilarious side characters like Micah, Silas, Indy, and Sam are. Even Athena and Venus are characters I can picture so vividly, and that is just a testament to Tarah's writing. Small town romances are all the rage these days, but I don't think I understood what it truly meant for a small town romance book to feel like HOME until this one. What a glorious feat of a novel.

This story follows Wren and Ellis on a path of healing after a divorce, trying to salvage what's left of their forever. My God, Wren and Ellis. I will have to bury myself with a copy of Left of Forever so that my soul can be put at rest when I die, because Wren and Ellis's journey was so painfully honest and so ardently authentic that I think they may have ruined romance for me forever. The absolute devotion these two had for each other and Tarah used every single word to her advantage to encapsulate the love and commitment they felt for one another. I would not change a single thing about this book. Seldom do I say books are masterpieces, but I want this one etched into the wrinkles of my brain. I do not know what to do with myself. The plot was perfect, the pacing was perfect, the conflicts were perfect, the way Wren and Ellis never stopped loving each other but we saw them put the work to come back together was perfect. Second chance romances between divorced parents should be done more, but I do not know if they will do it as much of a justice as Tarah did.

Wow.
This is why I eat up second chance romance. Because it’s a romance book, they’re obviously going to end up together, but for me a good second chance romance means they work for it. And Wren and Ellis worked for it. They found the bravery it took to bare the hidden parts of their souls to each other and stood facing each other in the storms of honesty and did not look away. This was exactly what I wanted as soon as Ellis uttered “she’s still a Byrd.”

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wanted so badly to love this book more, but unfortunately it just wasn’t meant more me. I really did like her writing, however, the characters just didn’t click for me. I didn’t feel any attachment to either which made it difficult to fully immerse myself into their story.

♾️

I don’t know how to put my thoughts in to words at the moment, but let me just say wow. This has secured a spot in my top 5 books ever, and i will truly think about this book every single day. Wren and Ellis deserve all the happiness in the world, and I will support this fictional couple until the day that I die.

This was absolute perfection, and I am already considering reading again.

I honestly don’t have the words to say just how much I loved this book. Second chance romance and road trips are some of my favorite tropes and man oh man did Tarah just nail them both with this story. From the prologue to the epilogue, I was IN 👏🏼 VEST 👏🏼 ED 👏🏼 I can’t explain it but I was ready to cry at any moment (and somehow didn’t thank goodness), but Wren and Ellis have absolutely earned themselves a place amongst my all time fave couples. The letters, the horses, the family support? I’m so in love with the Byrd family and Spunes. I 1000000% will be rereading this book often because it’s truly just that special.

RATING: 4.25/5 STARS

Tarah DeWitt has never failed me... this book was exactly what I wanted from a second-chance romance. Loved the chemistry between Ellis and Wren, road trip vibes, small town setting, and family element to this story.

I read this in March but already think it’s going to be one of my top books of 2025 🥺

This book just felt REAL. I loved everything about it - the character development, the yearning, the road trip setting, the emotion. There are so many raw moments of heartbreak and connection, high tension, perfect banter.

Wren and Ellis are in their early 30s, dropping their son off at college. This is a beautiful story where we get to see them work on themselves individually and reconnect after their divorce. And guess what? They actually put in the work! They communicate their needs and genuinely listen to each other’s feelings.

I thought Tarah’s writing flowed wonderfully and every scene felt important. I don’t think there was a time where I wasn’t giggling, crying or had butterflies 🦋 SO MANY BUTTERFLIES!! Both from swoon worthy moments and the anticipation of what comes next. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, rooting for Wren and Ellis.

Read if you like:
❤️‍🩹 second chance
🗺️ childhood friends to lovers
❤️‍🩹 small town
🗺️ road trip
❤️‍🩹 found family

Thank you to the publisher for the e-arc!

I received an ARC of this book. I really love reading anything by Tarah DeWitt and this was no exception. I love being in the world of Spunes and the depth of her writing. Second chance isn't my favorite trope but I found this one to still be a good, quality read. If you like her other books, you will feel warm and fuzzy reading this one, too!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging, unique, and tackled several heavy topics with care and ease.

Only a few things prevented this from being a five star read for me. (Spoilers ahead.) This was my first book by this author, and although this isn’t part of a series (as far as I know), it felt at times like I was missing backstory or details. My other main issue was the pacing. It felt very slow and drawn out at the beginning and then rushed toward the end. The reasons why they divorced were valid, and then the reunion seemed sudden. Five years apart and then a few days together fixed everything? It would have felt more realistic to me if they’d had more reconciliation moments before the road trip or after. Or if more moments from that five year gap were shown. I also thought it was odd how long it took Ellis to tell Wren about the letters. That was portrayed as the main reason he decided to plan the road trip, and he could have just told her that was the case from the start?

"Thank you for kissing me tonight."

"Thank god it wasn't rocky road or something, am I right?"

This is my second Tarah DeWitt book but easily my favorite of hers! I never had a moment where I felt like the book was dragging. I appreciate how realistic and relatable the characters are while the storyline is so unique. I'm not normally one for second chances but the way this was written has definitely made me change my mind!

The setting is perfect, the characters show awesome growth throughout the book and the rest of the Byrd family quickly stole my heart! The writing style adds so much more depth as it goes from past to present. It makes the story flow seamlessly as you're getting to know and understand the characters. While it talks about heavy topics at times, I still had a ton of moments laughing out loud and swooning (some at the same time!)

Wren has dynamic character traits and is an amazing mom and friend. Ellis' emotional growth and openness throughout the book made him the ideal MMC. The romantic lines and thoughts would have any girl swooning!

Overall, if you like relatable characters and storylines and want to witness two of the most ideal MCs fall in love again (while falling in love with the Byrd family) you HAVE to give this book a try! And did I mention, he's a firefighter?

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

A huge thank you to Tara and NetGalley for letting me read Left of Forever with an ARC. Left of Forever comes out May 20, 2025!

This one was such a beautiful second chance romance. I love Tarah DeWitt's characters and this one was so refreshing to read. It is obvious from the start that both Ellis and Wren have love for one another and have never been able to move on. Ellis decides he wants to earn Wren's love back with one final chance as they move their son into college.

The trip they take is full of heart, love, and reconnection while also battling the anxiety of "what if we fail". I felt that this was handled very well and it was such an enjoyable thing to read. Looking forward to the next, whatever DeWitt decides that will be!

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