4 ⭐️

I loveeee a good second chance and I thought this was executed so well. I’m loving the surge of romances about younger couples finding their way back to each other after a number of years. These characters are also written very well and they were enjoyable to read about & route for them! Definitely recommend for a fun, quick romance. Thank you St. Martin’s Griffin for the advanced copy!

I was a little hesitant going into this since it's a second-chance romance—especially one involving a married/divorced couple—but Tarah DeWitt handled it beautifully. While we don’t necessarily get past POV scenes, the memories and journal entries scattered throughout paint a strong picture of Wren and Ellis falling in love for the first time—which I’ve found is something often lacking in second-chance romances. We’re not just expected to believe these two people were once in love (and still are); we can see it in their actions and feel it in their inner thoughts.

I did find it hard to relate exactly to some of Wren’s inner dialogue on being a parent and watching your child grow up, purely because I’m in a different stage of life, but I still appreciated it from the broader perspective of adjusting to big life changes and figuring things out when a major driving force in your life shifts. DeWitt did a great job taking a situation that won’t apply to everyone and making it feel more universally relatable.

The only reason this wasn’t a five-star read for me is that I wish Wren/Ellis had more than a week to reconcile and that they had deeper conversations about their past and their grievances before jumping into bed together. I found it a little hard to believe that after years of marital issues and five years of divorce and avoidance, it only took a few days for them to fully get back together. Not that it couldn’t happen—they clearly still love each other—but I’m always rooting for the slow burn. Even when things come to a head around the 80% mark and Wren finally shares what she believed to be their biggest problem, I felt that they didn’t really address it fully—before Ellis can respond or they have a real conversation about it, Wren is confessing her love and jumping his bones. So while I enjoyed their journey, I just wanted a bit more resolution to their marital issues before they jumped to physical intimacy.

Overall, I really enjoyed the writing and Wren/Ellis’ story—definitely one of the best second-chance romances I’ve read. (Also, loved the cute cameo from LaRynn and Deacon!!) And I’m really hoping we get books for Micah and Silas!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration.

I enjoyed this book, it was cute and felt warm and inviting. I found the premise interesting, if a bit unbelievable.. but what romance trope isn't a little unbelievable?? Reading about Ellis and Wren fall out of love and then back in love was a pleasure.

ARC from netgalley.

5 stars
-
TW: Infertility, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury
-
"She's kissing me. I'm home."

My heart is so full of these two. Left of Forever follows Wren and Ellis Byrd who fell in love as kids, got married, had a child together, and eventually divorced. Although the two of them have worked to be amazing co-parents to their son, Sam. They've lost that friendly connection that they had formed over the years. When Sam gets accepted into college in another town, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended trip back to Spunes and see if they can give their love story another shot.

I love everyone in this book, I love the Byrd family so much. If you haven't read Savor It I would recommend it first, although this can be read as a standalone, you get even more of the Byrd family (who are hilarious). As a sucker for a second-chance romance, I love it even more when the other characters are rooting for a reunion. There are moments where Wren describes how young they all were while raising Sam, the Byrd family were practically all kids while trying to raise one as a unit. These moments had me sobbing, seeing how the dynamic never fully changed over time.

The character development is perfection, Wren is witty but doesn't shy away from what she needs from Ellis to make this work. Ellis is someone you can't help but love, also we love someone who is pro-therapy. This is possibly Tarah's best work, her words are crafted to bring this beautiful story on paper to life.

Also, this is SO hot. There's just something different about being with someone who knows your body.
-
I would like to thank St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, Tarah DeWitt, and NetGalley for a copy of Left of Forever in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts and opinions formulated in this review are my own. Left of Forever is scheduled to publish on May 20th, 2025, you can pre-order your copy today.

An amazing, emotional second chance!! I love a second chance where we dive right in! Sometimes it can feel like I don’t have enough of a backstory or understanding of the couple but I had none of that here. I absolutely adored that we started with them exchanging letters, where Wren doesn’t know she’s writing to Ellis. It was such a fun way to get to know them each more. Their journey separately and as a couple was so emotional and heartwarming. When we find out the reasoning for Ellis’ planning of the road trip!!!! I was melted into a puddle

SHE’S STILL A BYRD

I have been a huge Tarah DeWitt fan since I first read Rootbound and I’ve loved all of her books since. She just has such a special way of writing that makes you feel like you’re in the story with all of the wonderful characters she creates. She puts their feelings on paper in a way that makes readers really understand them, almost as if you’re experiencing those feelings right along side the characters. Of course, Left of Forever was no different than Tarah’s previous books and was an easy five star read for me.

LoF had great pacing and the character development was top notch throughout this book. I loved getting to see a glimpse into Ellis & Wren’s past and how their love developed, changed, and matured over time. It was nice to see some real intentional communication between the main characters and watch them work together to get the happy ever after that they both so desperately wanted, with the perfect amount of spice sprinkled in.

I also loved the town of Spunes, OR (not to be confused with Forks, WA) and the supporting cast of characters. The more I read, the more I wished I could actually visit that sweet little town.

This book was full of little bits of pure magic, while remaining relatable, which is hard to find in romance books. I can’t wait to read about the rest of the Byrd family!

Tarah DeWitt has done it again. Left of Forever is a second-chance romance that hits every emotional beat flawlessly—funny, gut-wrenching, and oh-so-swoony. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after you turn the last page.

From the moment we step back into Spunes, it’s like reuniting with old friends. The Byrds are as chaotic and loveable as ever, and their presence makes Wren and Ellis’ story feel even richer. Wren is a beautifully complex heroine—strong yet vulnerable, holding onto past wounds while trying to carve out a future. And Ellis? Oh, Ellis. A man who loves deeply, carries his own burdens, and proves that some connections are impossible to sever. Their chemistry is undeniable, their history tangled with pain and longing, and watching them navigate their way back to each other is both heart-wrenching and deeply satisfying.

Beyond the romance, this book is packed with humor, steam, and the kind of emotional depth that makes DeWitt’s writing so special. It’s a story about forgiveness, about finding your way back to the person who has always felt like home.

This might just be the year for top-tier second-chance romances, and I am absolutely here for it. Put Left of Forever at the top of your TBR—when it releases in May, you’re going to want to drop everything for this one!!

I’m a huge fan of Tarah’s writing and this book did not disappoint. I sobbed, I laughed, I swooned. I loved Savor It so I was thrilled to revisit Spunes. There was enough Sage and Fisher to satisfy. Here’s hoping we get books for all the Byrds. Tarah has a way of writing perfectly imperfect characters you fall in love with and Wren and Ellis did not fall short.

The YEARNING, omg, and the letter writing. I’m not typically one for second chance romance, but the way these two found their way back to one another made me so happy.

I am such a pushover for the trope of saving a relationship and this did not disappoint whatsoever. The characters were so gosh darn lovable that I wanted to smoosh them into a big hug. The author’s writing style really gripped me from the beginning this was such a pleasure to read I can’t wait to see how the rest of the series goes!

I absolutely adored this book! Ellis and Wren had such a beautiful story and I loved watching them come back together after never being able to truly part.

The love from the Byrd family and acknowledgement of how Wren was just as fundamental in their upbringing as Ellis was beautiful. I am rarely moved to tears by a book, but this one got me. I also laughed like crazy at Silas and Micah’s antics and the cooking class scene had me cackling.

This book truly does it all!

Wren and Ellis Bryd started their lives together from a very early age. Having a kid as a teenager was never their plan but they put their all into being the best parents they could be. They were soulmates until they broke apart. Their souls are still woven together though and they can both feel it. Will they find their way back to each other without repeating their past?

I loved this one! There was so much vulnerability and emotion in watching Wren and Ellis fight to get back together. Their second chance love story was so inspiring and these characters showed so much growth. I loved that they began communicating so openly with each other and addressed all the hard parts of their story instead of brushing them under the rug. They were truly meant to be together and I loved seeing their journey unfold!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC!
4.5/5 Stars

Thank you Tarah Dewitt for ripping my heart into pieces and then putting it back together again WREN AND ELLIS I LOVE YOUR LOVE. Perfect heartbreaking wonderful sweet vulnerable lovely story. I need to read more of her books if this is the outcome; I loved the story, the characters and the writing. Can’t wait to read more

Ellis and wren are childhood lovers with lives that have been intertwined since the start. After having a baby young and letting life get the best of them we get a beautiful second chance love story. This book was full of so much angst, love, and all the emotions. I cannot wait to hear the audio version and get my hands on a physical copy. I love the Byrds. 🩵

Un libro interesante de segundas oportunidades y descubrimientos. Me gustó bastante la historia a pesar de que no soy muy fan de las segundas oportunidades. Ellis es un amor de persona! Pero a pesar de sus defectos es un personaje perfecto (demasiado perfecto)
Hubo varios detalles que no son muy creíbles:
#1: Wren y Ellis se escribieron cartas sin reconocer la letra del otro.
#2: Se divorciaron sin una razón real y sin comunicarse realmente al respecto. (Pero yo qué sé? Nunca he estado casada)
#3: Se dan cuenta que siguen enamorados por arte de magia, realmente no tienen gran conversación.
Pero también hay ciertas partes que me hicieron llorar y reír mucho, como las frases que dice Ellis son bellísimas, o cierta parte donde hay nieve.
En general me gustó y lo recomiendo, pero no es mi favorito de la autora.

First off I thought the MMC on the front of the cover looked like Pedro Pascal and I was like SIGN ME UP. “Left of Forever” didn’t disappoint. While I’m normally not a fan of the second chance or later in life trope this book had both and it was great

It was good to be back in the small town of Spunes, Oregon. Wren and Ellis have been divorced for 5 years, but haven't been able to fully move on from each other. After dropping their son Sam off at college, Ellis talks Wren into taking a road trip on their way back to see if they can rekindle the relationship they once had. Their banter had me laughing, but it was also nice to see the emotional side of them as they shared their feelings with each other about what happened with their relationship in the past. It did seem like they got back together a little too quickly for it to be realistic after 5 years of basically no contact, but overall it was a sweet love story that I enjoyed!

Spiciness: 3/5 🌶️

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

3.5 rounded up!

A second chance romance where he still calls his ex wife by his last name even though they’ve been divorced for 5 years.. Yes, thank you.

The quotes in this book hit hard being a wife and mom myself, I don’t usually highlight but this had some really touching topics that made me think. Some of the things the mmc would say had me swooning but other times they just felt too forceful and kind of cringey. The second half of this book felt like they got back together too easily and quickly. If it was longer and more slowly paced it would have felt more believable and real in my opinion! But the yearning from his side was there and I ate it up.

Left of Forever was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it absolutely delivered. After glimpsing Wren and Ellis in Savor It, I was already invested in their dynamic—the tension, the history, the way they still felt tethered despite everything. Seeing their full story play out was everything I hoped for, and as always, Tarah DeWitt didn’t just meet expectations—she exceeded them.

Second-chance romance is my favorite trope, and this book nails every element that makes it work. Wren and Ellis’s history isn’t just referenced—it’s felt in every glance, every hesitation, every quiet moment that crackles with unspoken words. They didn’t just break up; they unraveled, yet their lives remained deeply entwined, co-parenting their son while carrying the weight of everything unsaid. From tense bakery encounters to a road trip packed with unresolved feelings, every scene holds that perfect push-pull of longing and hurt.

This isn’t just a small-town romance with a baker and a firefighter—it’s a deeply emotional story about love that never really left. Their role in raising Sam and Ellis’s younger siblings adds another layer, making their second chance feel all the more earned. The intimacy is masterfully paced, brimming with slow-burning tension, lingering touches, and all the quiet moments that hit just as hard as the steamy ones.

I already want to reread this book, but I need a moment to recover emotionally first. Left of Forever is stunning, heartfelt, and unforgettable. Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC!

Sexy second chance story that will make you feel all the feels. Divorced couple Ellis and Wren head off on a chaotic road trip and realize they still love each other along the way. Great pacing, perfect banter, lusty edging and humour break up the heartache.

I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I laughed some more.

Tarah has a way with leaving me speechless after reading her stories. She approaches the heavy topics with grace so they don’t feel as heavy. And it never fails, I always see parts of myself in her characters.

Left of Forever was no exception.