Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this eARC. I read this book in one sitting. If you are looking for a story that is going to grip you from the beginning and drag you along for the ride, fully invested, this is it.

I often struggle with second-chance romance, thinking that it can leave everything a little too bruised for a ready I can truly enjoy. But Ellis and Wren are each characters you are cheering for alone, and even more so together. Meeting them originally in Savor It, I knew theirs was a story I was going to give a try.

Tarah has managed to write such emotion here, interspersed with a lot of humor, and spice, and the most enjoyable other family members as well. This was a very easy 5 stars. (Here's hoping for a Micah story next??)

4⭐️
"I grew up with my great love, so I think maybe my heart took shape around his."

My god this was adorable. I have been SO exited to read this one, from the moment I finished Savor It, and Wren and Ellis did not miss. A VERY well done second-chance romance

My stance on the second-chance trope is that the author has to get you invested in the relationship and show us how good the couple was. If we're only ever told that these people use to be together, it doesn't feel the same. TD used short memories and recollections and letters written between Ellis and Wren to give us an understanding of their marriage. We get to see how they got together as teenagers, how they were childhood friends, and the ups and downs of being husband and wife and raising Sam. And gotta say, it worked really well. The tension between them was so good! I could really understand the complicated feelings they had for each other, and how they were ultimately underlined with love, despite their divorce.

Why only four stars than? Honestly the pen-pal letter situation, which sort of started Ellis's road to bettering himself and trying to win Wren back, felt a little superfluous. I think it's meant to be like fate, Wren writing a letter anonymously and sending it out to fire fighter aid groups and having it end up in Ellis's hands. But it sort of just felt highly unrealistic? Like she writes this letter and sends it to Colorado, and Ellis just happens to receive it? And then when this thread was picked back up later and felt like it was going to matter, it was acknowledged and resolved in like a single page

I think my other hang-up was the speed at which Wren and Ellis reconciled. Their marriage had been on a downward slope with both parties too caught up in their heads to fight for each other anymore. So they divorced and spent the next FIVE YEARS basically doing everything possible to avoid each other, despite co-parenting a son. They spent holidays together and always acted cordial around Sam, but never spent any time alone together or talked about anything other than Sam. Then they spend a season separately realizing that they're not quite as over each other than they thought. Ellis proposes a week-long road trip, and they IMMEDIATELY reconnected as partners and best friends? Like I get they know each other on a soul-deep level and had been friends since they were five, but still. Five years is a long time to go with minimum contact, but they're instantly comfortable together again. It just felt like they went from divorced and looking for closure to 100% back together at the speed of light. I know we were told about the reasons for their marriage ending, but it sort of felt like, damn why the hell did you guys even divorce in the first place?!

I enjoyed getting to go back to Spunes and I'm really hoping TD takes us back! Honestly both Micah and Silas felt like they were getting set up for their own book, but I also would love to see more of Sam

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I never read Savor It when I got the ARC for this book which I had heard was SO anticipated. After devouring it in just four days, I can absolutely understand why. Ellis and Wren’s love story is so raw and honest, and beautifully depicts the way life and time can ravage a relationship, while also highlighting the ways in which we continue to choose our person again and again - in all every lifetime.

“Holding on to happy takes work”
This book was such a realistic view on marriage and how even with great love it is work. It was a beautiful second chance love story about a love that life just got in the way of. The communication and the way they talked about their feelings 🙌🏻. Highly recommend.

I think I’ve met my yearly quota in February of romance books that absolutely wreck me? Like can I REST?

This was beautiful. I’m so glad I also ordered Savour It because Tarah does no wrong in my eyes. I typically don’t like second chance romance but this was so well done- I need to know WHY things didn’t work and for them to dig into that meat. This was like the opposite of a miscommunication trope and I loved everything about it.

I also made a Pinterest board already for Micah who was mentioned like four times and I need an intervention.

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for letting me throw every arc to the wind to jump straight to this one. I appreciate you.

We finally got the backstory (and the future story) about Wren and Ellis, while also getting more of Wren’s found family with the rest of the Byrd’s! In terms of a timeline, this one overlapped with Sage and Fisher’s book, “Savor It.” Wren is a delight of a character - dynamic and bold and bright, and someone I’d genuinely want to be friends with! Most of the character development was found in Ellis who seemed to come back to life as he got closer to Wren.

As much as I love Wren and Ellis and their second chance romance, my biggest hang-up with this book is that Tarah Dewitt seemed to be going down one path with having them write letters to each other anonymously, and then she pivoted and had the roadtrip be the catalyst for their reuniting. It seemed like two separate stories, and the former didn’t really add anything to what ended up happening. So, long story short: the characters were wonderful but the plot could’ve been better.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Tarah DeWitt for the early access copy of Left of Forever.

Left of Forever was my most anticipated read of 2025 and surpassed my expectations. After reading Savor It, I hoped to read Wren and Ellis’ story. There was something left untethered with how it was left in Savor It.

Left of Forever tells the history and growth of Ellis and Wren. The love and reality of how difficult life can be and how it can throw even the most solid of relationships. It shows the necessity of communication and vulnerability. Wren and Ellis are the depiction of what it’s like to have your love woven to another. I cannot express how real this story felt.

Reading Left of Forever felt like being home. The intricacies of the story blending with the timelines and story arcs of Savor It made Left of Forever feel more like being welcomed into the Byrd’s family. I will reread these stories any time I need a sense of family. Thank you Tarah DeWitt for creating this beautiful space. I cannot wait to read Silas and Micha’s stories.

5 ✨

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for my ARC.

I absolutely absolutely absolutely loved this. Is it a beautiful, heartfelt, delicious second chance love story. It was also a delight to be back with the Byrd family and I am dying for (at least) two more (Micah! Silas! Please!!!).

The slow burn. The 🌶️. The letters!

There isn’t much to say because this book is perfection and I think Tarah DeWitt is so wildly talented. The end.

I squealed when I got this book through NetGalley. I have been looking forward to this book since the scene in Savor It when Ellis Byrd reminded everyone in town that Wren was still a Byrd. I could not wait to see how their second chance love story would unfold, so much so that I had to pause a new release book that I had been eagerly waiting for just to go back to the town of Spunes. This love story crushed me and exceeded my hopes. I loved the format of letters and journaling, getting to see glimpses of their past and observe their growth now. The whole book was perfect and definitely a five star read for me. I’m begging for all the Byrd siblings to get their own book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

4.5 stars. We’re back in Spunes!! After meeting the Byrd family in Savor It, I was elated to find that our time with them was not over. Ellis and Wren were immediate standouts, it was obvious there was more story to tell, and that is further confirmed by the author in the beginning. “She’s still a Byrd” had me SQUEALING in Savor It. Thank god we’re back. While the author states that you don’t need to read Savor It before Left of Forever, I demand that you do. Me, who's opinion is not at all more important than the literal author. Mostly because Savor It is beautiful and you should read it regardless, but also that’s where the angst starts between Wren and Ellis. Who doesn’t love angst??

Tarah DeWitt taps into that same electric chemistry we saw between Sage and Fischer, but with a deeper history and existing love between Wren and Ellis. Both parties were involved in the ending of their marriage, and after years apart we’re all wondering if anything has changed. Wren and Ellis, both together and individually, do a lot of self-reflecting in this book. It’s healthy, it hurts, and it’s full of mutual respect. DeWitt’s ability to tap into very real and raw emotion always leaves me with an ache in my heart. I truly hope this isn’t the last we see of the Byrd family. Give Silas his own book, PLEASE!

This book was everything I wanted and more. I devoured it in less than 24 hours. Plan to read again and again!

I absolutely loved Savor It and this book felt like a super second book in that world! My only hold up was the amount of letter writing and journaling involved where the contents were driving the storytelling - it felt like there was a lot of telling instead of action/showing. But I am really excited for the author to stay in this world for bools for the other brothers!! And anyone who loves second chance romance will be so happy with this one!

10/10 no complaints. This is perfection. Tarah’s best work yet. Emotional, sexy YET beautiful. Top read of all.

Wren and Ellis have been divorced for five years. They have done their very best to avoid each other and move on despite how intertwined their lives are. Their son is going to college and they go on a road trip to celebrate their accomplishment and see if they should try again.
This book is a beautiful example of meeting the right person too young and having to fight everything life throws at you to stay together until you find your way back. It's emotional and hilarious. It's sexy and uplifting. Its everything you want from a romance. I love the books that show you not only the falling in love but the hard parts after and that is a very real look at the hardest parts that are worth fighting for.

Before I even get into the story… can we talk about the cover? It’s chefs kiss. I want to frame it.

As for Wren and Ellis, they did not disappoint. Their love story is full of beautiful raw moments and the only thing you want to do is root for them. I honestly devoured this book in 24 hours because I NEEDED to know how they came back together.

I absolutely loved how this book had some common tropes like second chance and one-bed, but boy, did it feel unique in the plot and events that happened (i’m talking about the ice cream scene 😉)

Honestly, I’m obsessed with any Tarah writes and this book is no different. I’m hoping we have more Sprunes stories coming our way (fingers crossed for Micah and Silas 🤞🏻)

2.5 🌶️/5


Thank you to Tarah Dewitt and St Martins Press for this ARC!

I love going back into the world of Spunes!
The story of Wren and Ellis was one I’ve been intrigued since Savor It. The structure and style of storytelling was very unique. I liked that past actions weren’t glossed over and that you could still have a redemption arc.

I cried happy tears in this book. Tarah understands life and relationship so well because the amount of dimension these characters have and insight is amazing.

I love everything she writes! Highly recommend.

The most beautiful testament to love and second chances. Wren and Ellis were special in Savor It and you knew their story was going to be amazing- but I think this even outdid my expectations. Tarah has really created something special with the Byrds and I hope we can stick around Spunes for more.

➸ 4.5 stars

“I’ll love you for everything left of forever, in every lifetime we get.”

𓍢⊹ ࣪ thank you to netgalley, the publishers, and tarah dewitt for the advanced readers copy!!

oh gosh i don’t even know where to start!! i loved this book so so much! savor it was one of my first ever arcs, and i love that book so so so much! from first meeting wren and ellis, i immediately wanted a book about them and their story, now here it is and i got the opportunity to read an early copy of it! i cannot tell you how excited i was for this and i can’t believe i actually read this and just thinking about this book again is making me emotional!!

from first opening the ebook i was hit with an AMAZING playlist with so many of my favorite songs that absolutely WRECK me!! i blank stared at the wall for like five minutes just KNOWING this book was going to hurt (and oh did it hurt) tarah dewitt knows how to make book playlists fr!!!

this story immediately gripped me from the very beginning. it was so emotionally beautiful in a way i can’t even describe. this is one of the best second chance romance i’ve ever read. ellis and wren will forever have a place in my heart. i love angst and yearning in a book, and this one DELIVERED. the amount of pining and yearning oh god it was too good! the emotion paired with amazing humor and a beautiful atmospheric setting made me feel like i was transported into this story! the romance between wren and ellis was so utterly beautiful and oh was the tension hot and through the freaking roof!! every time ellis said “baby” i literally freaked out, screamed, giggled and kicked my feet… screamed some more… (!!!!!!)

i love these characters soso much (have i said that already? probably! but i can’t say it enough!) I LOVE THE BYRDS!!!!! <3

i wish i could include all my favorite quotes, but then i’d practically be copy and pasting the entire book onto this review (im not kidding, i have hundreds of kindle highlights…)

i loved being back in this world again, especially having lots of sage and fisher scenes (the ending… iykyk!!!! i was crying happy tears!!!!) and indy and her goose? OH I LOVED i was literally cheesing every time they appeared!!!

is it selfish of me to want two more books in this world with silas and micah? i need more of these lovely brothers!!!! i can’t get enough of this world and i would read about this characters forever!

anyways!!! i loved this book. i love these characters. i love this world. tarah dewitt is easily one of my favorite romance authors and i can’t wait for everyone to read this book!!!! :)

may or may not have teared up multiple times reading the last 20% on the couch with a glass of rosé 😭

The second chance trope is one of my favorites when done well and omfg this was done absolutely BEAUTIFULLY!!! Hands down my favorite Tarah book I’ve ever read and I can’t wait to add this to my bookshelf later this year 🥹

Thank you so much to netgalley and the author for the arc!!!

I laughed, I cried, I swooned!! Their love story will be one I think about for a long time moving forward. I think all anyone wants is to feel like their partner puts effort and intention into their thoughts, words and actions. I sincerely hope we get more of the Byrd siblings in Tarahs next books!!