Woooooow. Loved it. 😍
I loved the trope- divorced, second chance. This may have been the best “second chance” book I’ve read. It was done so tastefully… maybe a little far fetched but I didn’t care. I felt myself rooting for them. This author really pulled at my heartstrings… it’s like she knew what I wanted to see happen and put it on paper.

The last 10-15% of this book was so emotional I cried. There were also several steamy and romantic scenes, I made sure I was alone while reading this. Can’t say much more, just 5 ⭐️ all around.

I loved this book! Tarah Dewitt is one of my auto buy authors and she didn’t disappoint with this book. I enjoyed reading Savor It so was excited to get to see mentions of characters from that book. Wren and Ellis had great chemistry and seeing the work through their marriage was relatable and also heart warming. I want to read it again!

From the second we meet Wren "she's still a Byrd" Byrd and Ellis in Savor It, I knew I'd love their story. Fans of emotion vulnerability and second chances, this one is for you. We love a man who cries and goes to therapy. 🥹

The premise of this one is that Wren and Ellis have been divorced for five years and despite trying to move on (we see Wren have a bad date or two), they just can't. They begin to tentatively make their way back towards each other in such a gentle and respectful way initially that had me screaming JUST KISS HIM!!!

These are characters who know how to love and understand each other (and love each other 🌶️) but who are getting back to a place where the can relearn how to talk to each other during a chosen forced proximity trip after dropping their son off at college.

It's very special and I'm so grateful to Tarah, Netgalley and St Martin's to have snagged this arc on "read now" on netgalley!! Okay see ya gonna go cry some more

A second chance romance following Wren and Ellis from Savor It on roadtrip after dropping their son off at college. The first one-third of the book sets the stage by providing us with information about where Wren and Ellis are now and provides us with a reconnection point for them. The last two-thirds follows them on their road trip back to Spunes after dropping their son off at college. Generally, I enjoyed this story and was happy to be back with these characters in Spunes (and on the road)! I find second chance romances to be the hardest sells as you need to provide us with a reason that the characters aren't together that doesn't make one of them irredeemable. DeWitt does strikes this balance nicely and I found the reason they broke-up plausible and relatable without either party being "at fault." Most of my issues with the book are problems that I tend to have with all second chance romances. Since this book does not use dual timelines, it relies on the narrators recounting to us memories of their relationship to provide us with context as to why they broke up. This can lead to the author telling rather than showing us why these characters love each other. However, I do think that the use of Wren's journal served as a nice mechanism to give readers information, while still serving to move the plot forward. These characters have a lot of history and chemistry that sets up a beautiful second chance love story. I only wish that we saw a little more of that in the present, rather than relying on stories from the past to show us how in love they are.

ARC REVIEW ✨

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

“This time, they’ll get it right.”

Rating: 5⭐️
Genre: Romance
Yes, no, or maybe: 100% YES

Read if you like:
-second chance romance
-emotional reads
-road trips (physical and emotional)
-“it was always you”

WOW!! This book is 10/10! Highly recommend! Amazing! Beautiful! Poetic! I don’t think I can say enough good things about Ms. DeWitt. I loved everything about Wren and Ellis’ second chance at love. The story as a whole is completely character driven and focused. This one is for the hopeless romantics ♥️

Wren and Ellis had been in love since they were children. They went through a lot of tough times, having a baby as teens, his parents passing away, and Wren having a serious medical emergency (just to name a few). Life beat them down and in the end, life won. But!!! 5 years later!!! They go on a road trip to drop their son off at college and see if either had fully closed the door on their relationship. Is there hope???

Ellis is swoon worthy. Wren is strong and witty. I loved everything about their emotional trip into the past and seeing if there could be a future or if there were too many hurts. Their love is a once in a life time love story. The writing is just beautiful. I was so invested in seeing their HEA.

Favorite quotes: (there were too many)

“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.”

“If you won’t have me back anymore, then I’ll find you in the next life. You are the only thing that makes me believe in that.”

You NEED to preorder Left of Forever! You won’t regret it.

Oh, my heart, 4.5 stars. I absolutely loved Ellis and Wren's story. This book felt like it was written with such care for the characters and for the audience. Ellis and Wren were both so emotionally vulnerable throughout the book and they did an amazing job communicating their raw feelings with each other without the intention of manipulation or malice. I love a book with emotionally intelligent characters. They were both great main characters and I couldn't help but root for them, individually, as parents, and as a couple. Tarah DeWitt did an awesome job building in an added layer of complexity with Wren being so entwined with the Byrd family. Silas's speech at the end was probably one of the sweetest things I've ever read.

If you are looking for a heartwarming second chance romance story with a little bit of spice, you need to read this. This has been my favorite Tarah DeWitt book so far, well done!

Which one of the Byrd siblings is up next?!?! I hope it's Silas.

Format: ebook

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc!

First, a massive thank you to NetGalley for inviting me back to Spunes (not to be confused with Forks) and allowing me to devour this arc. I knew from the moment I met Wren and Ellis in Savor It, that I needed to know their history and I needed their happily ever after. I am so beyond grateful that I was able to be one of the first to tear up over their beautiful second chance romance.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (If I could give this more than five stars I would.)
Spice : 🌶️🌶️

I couldn’t honestly tell you what I loved most about this book, because I loved EVERY SINGLE WORD. Though, I could list just a few things that made my heart flutter. The yearning. The longing. The aquarium. The small touches. The journal entries. The “nothing we haven’t done before” challenge. The little CO-OP easter egg with Deacon & LaRynn!!! The peppered doodle. The family dynamic. (I would give anything to be a part or even just know a family like the Byrds) Oddly enough, even the miscommunication and how they both still wanted to hold one another after five long years but didn’t think the other wanted the same had my heart galloping.

& Ellis. This man had me in a heart-wrenching chokehold. His love for Wren was fiercer than any I’ve ever read & the fact that he acknowledged that his inability to communicate or show Wren how he felt was a big part of their failed marriage was refreshing. He knew that he had to work on himself before he even attempted to work on winning back the love of his life and he did it all and then some.

Ahh, I just can’t. This book was everything I needed. Tarah has quickly become my favorite auto-buy author and I’m fairly certain this book altered my brain chemistry. I CANNOT WAIT for the audiobook so I can replay it as much as I replay Savor It.

Also, I know Tarah said she originally had no plans to revisit Spunes, but I hope the potential for Silas’ story and even Sam speak to her as much as Ellis & Wren’s did. I would give anything for a full Spunes series & I mean anything!!!

Cue the waterworks, I couldn’t help but shed a few happy tears. This was the absolute sweetest second chance! Wren and Ellis FOREVER!!

We all wanted more of Wren and Ellis in Savor It and I am so happy to say their story did not disappoint. We get to see how they hurt each other in the past, but also how they had continued to long for each other after they got divorced. How they were truly meant for each other, and had to learn how to communicate, and how to fight for each other.

There was so many sweet swoony moments that gave me butterflies, but also plenty of humor. I mean the onions and the ice cream….. We can probably all stand to learn a little something from their relationship. And can we talk about the Byrd family for one minute. They are the best! It was fun to read more about all the siblings and see Sage and Fischer again. I really hope we get more books from them!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tarah Dewitt for the absolute pleasure of reading this book that has altered my very DNA. What a gift.

I thought I knew what it meant to yearn for something, but then I met Ellis and Wren Byrd. They gave it a whole new meaning. My heart was in tatters more times than I could count at how deeply and earnestly they wanted each other - scars and all - even when they didn’t feel like they should or could. I also found myself giddily kicking me feet and smiling at just how GOOD these two are together - the banter, the flirting, the hand written letters, the intimacy, all of it was nothing short of perfection.

I knew from the minute Ellis demanded that “She’s still a Byrd” in Savor It that I needed his story with Wren, but I didn’t know how much I also truly needed it for me.

As a mom deep in the trenches of trying to balance marriage and motherhood with babies and toddlers and life pulling me in a million directions, reading about Wren and Ellis falling apart gave me the motivational kick in the ass I sometimes need to remember that communication is important, and that the good times are worth remembering more than the bad. That love isn’t enough if you aren’t brave enough to fight for it and put in the work, but it’s work worth doing. I’ll be sure to do that more now.

Tarah Dewitt writes characters that are so fully fleshed out that they feel like your lifelong friends, and then she splits them open and lets you see all the broken ugly bits inside that make them even more real.

I already can’t wait to go back to Spunes. Mostly because I’m now fully obsessed with and invested in both Silas and Micah, but also because I want to revisit my friends Sage, Fisher, Ellis, and Wren.

Second chance romance is my favorite trope and ugh I loved Wren and Ellis so much. I was already interested in their story after reading Savor It and was thrilled to find out they were getting their own book. I loved the way the book was set up and the story itself was beautiful. It’s hard to put into words how much I enjoyed reading this book and how it felt to see Wren and Ellis find their way back to each other. Beautiful.

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 nave 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 and
@authortarahdewitt! 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 a captivating and beautifully crafted love story that will tug at your heartstrings. The emotional depth and raw vulnerability between the two main characters make this a truly exceptional second-chance romance. I was particularly drawn to how their relationship evolved and how they navigated the delicate balance of mending past wounds while also discovering new firsts with each other.

What I found especially moving was the respectful way in which both characters fought for their love, acknowledging the mistakes of the past while choosing to rediscover and grow together. Their journey of rekindling the sparks of their initial connection was incredibly touching, as they learned to love each other all over again with a sense of curiosity and admiration.

Left of Forever is a must-read. If you enjoyed The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce, you will definitely appreciate this novel. It offers a heartfelt and fulfilling experience that resonates long after you've turned the final page.

I've read a couple of DeWitt's earlier books and they weren't for me, so I wasn't planning on reading <i>Left of Forever</i>, but I'm so glad I did!

The beginning was a tad confusing to follow but once we're totally in the present, it started coming together for me. Ellis and Wren approach their potential second chance romance with openness and honesty and it was so lovely seeing them find their way together again.

I always say I'm not a fan of second chance romance, but then a book like this comes along and I give it a shot and I"m so happy I did. I liked the first book, "Savor It" and I was excited to read this one but I think I like this one even more! Also, the cover of this book is stunning. I love the fact that these characters are a bit older and have experienced life a bit and I think it gives them so much more depth and makes them relatable. You can tell they have so much love for one another and even though they are both willing to give it a second chance, it isn't easy and they must both admit faults and weaknesses before they can be together again. Also, the spicy scenes were delightfully naughty and had me giggling out loud. Needless to say, I think this book is wonderfully done and I think it's going to resonate with many readers. 4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment in Savor It when Ellis declares that Wren is still a Byrd in the middle of a Spunes town meeting, I knew life would be incomplete without their second chance romance story - and boy, did Tarah DeWitt deliver. She has such an incredible way of weaving stories and characters that will have you laughing, crying, and gleefully kicking your feet all in the span of a single chapter.

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

Wren and Ellis’s journey is real and raw, and is especially personal to someone who has had the incredible fortune of meeting the love of her life at such a young age. Tarah described it perfectly that so often life is the villain and that holding onto the happy is work. Left of Forever was every bit a five star read and will be one that I come back to again and again.

So come May 20th grab a copy of Left of Forever, a box (or two) of tissues, and some scones, and enjoy your time in Spunes (… not to be confused with Forks, Washington).

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don’t think I’ve had a book burrow itself so deep in my soul until this one. I was crying by the playlist so I knew this book was going to bring me to my knees. Like many others who read Savor It, Ellis SNATCHED my heart out of my body when he said “She’s still a Byrd” and I was NEVER the same since!!! Getting to dive in to Wren and Ellis’ story was such a beautiful, heartbreaking, and HOT time. To me, these type of books are always so hard hitting when you’re married. And Tarah made sure to make me feel every single emotion with such force that it solidified why she is an auto-buy/auto-read author for me. But also the duality of this woman because I now giggle to myself when I open my freezer and see vanilla ice cream. I only took as long as I did to finish this book because I just kept highlighting and highlighting in my kindle. There were too many parts that just hit me in the center of my chest. I honestly cannot recommend book enough!! All the stars, all the origami birds, all of what’s left of forever!!!

A second chance romance after a divorced couple realize they still may be in love. Wren, a baker, and Ellis, a firefighter, have lived in the same circle after getting divorced 5 years ago. After sending their son off to college, Ellis convinces Wren to go on a road trip as he tries to win her back.
While this book seemed good, it wasn't quite for me. I expected a slow burn, second chance romance, but it moved a lot quicker. The start was slow throught the letters and secret pining, but then it steamrolled full steam ahead. There was a significant amount of spice in this one. I loved the first half of the book, but the second half I kind of got bored with and just wanted over, especially with all the spice scenes popping up. I wish it took longer to get to that point.
the characters were fun, but I loved the side characters more.
While this book wasn't for me, I know most people will love it and should definitely give it a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC! All thoughts and feelings are my own.

This book was so beautifully written and thought provoking. Tackling issues like infertility and complacency in a marriage is no easy job but Tarah did this beautifully. I will admit I didn’t really see that we were supposed to root for Ellis in the beginning. Early on in his POV you can see how down bad he is for Wren. His POV is drenched in pining and fond memories. However, in Wren’s POV you see her heartache and lines like “but like hell am I going to spend it torturing myself with him.” I feel as though maybe I was inherently protective of Wren. I heard her struggles and saw how she viewed the ending of their previous marriage and how they were basically “reduced to single syllables and stilted silences.” I saw her pain with still needing to coparent with this man she still loved but he had given up years before their marriage ended. And you can tell by all her descriptors that she was so saddened and ultimately changed by her fertility struggles. And we think he just didn’t get it. And then now that their child is old and she’s accepted it, he’s somehow wanting her back in his life? Makes me frustrated for her. I’m glad we get a scene where Silas sort of calls Ellis out for this.

It isn’t until about 30% that we get to see something in her POV that hints she would be interested in diving into perhaps fixing their relationship. The book starts where she’s reading self help books and decides to journal their relationship to have some closure. That first chapter had a lot going on and I had to read it three times honestly. But I see it did lay the groundwork for the rest of the book and their journey to resolve their issues /miscommunication.

I love how honest they are with each other this time over. She’s able to ask him point blank questions and he answers honestly. There’s one “secret” he keeps from her but they still resolve it really maturely. There’s so much open communication. And because they’ve been apart for 5 years they’ve probably been able to work through a lot of their shit on their own, and even Ellis with therapy. I loved the communication. Loooooved.
I loved how much Ellis refers to her as Byrd. And how she’s always been a Byrd despite the divorce. I love their descriptors of each other. I love his origami birds. Saving you a seat. I love the relationship with the siblings. They’re such meddlers. Her honest conversations about her mother and her upbringing. There’s so much beauty in this book. The tension was so good. His jaw tics. The calf squeeze. Their conversations about sex were so good. She could give him all her insecurities and also be honest about how she’s been with people since him. Him changing her DNA! Literally I have like all of this book highlighted. It was seriously so beautifully written. So much of this was just so well written. And so funny too!! Their whole winery experience had me cackling.

✨He shrugs. "I fucking miss you." I miss you, too sounds glib. You have been missing from me is more accurate. There's a void where you lived in me.

✨“Smells ... smells were the worst for me," he murmurs, chin grazing my ponytail. "They hang on the longest, and you can't see them coming, so there's no way to avoid them.”

✨Some people look more like animals than people to me, and I swear to god this one's a ferret. I might be approaching drunk.

5⭐️4🌶️
*Thank you Tarah and NetGalley for this beautiful ARC*

3.5 stars! The beginning/first half was really off for me for some reason I could not get into it. The set up for rekindling their relationship was so strange in my opinion BUT once the intention for reconnecting between wren and Ellis was there it really took off! The chemistry and the dialogue was SO good. I will never look at ice cream the same again 😛 (it erased my butcher and blackbird ice cream trauma and for that I’m thankful lmao). Really loves both of these characters and they were both so deserving of left of forever happiness with each other!

TARAH DEWITT I LOVE YOU!!!! Historically, I do not like second chance romances. ESPECIALLY when kids are involved. That is not the case here whatsoever - Tarah is winning me over!!! Wren and Ellis are maybe perfect, except they're so far from it, which makes it even more perfect. My brain is a jumbled mess of love and adoration for this book I can't even properly put into words how much I loved it. Thank you to NetGalley for the eArc!