I gotta be completely honest Tarah Dewitt books have been hits or misses for me. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Funny Feelings and I found Savor It to be cute, but just ok. But y’all Left of Forever is by far the best book Tarah has ever written. And I’m saying that as someone who isn’t the biggest fan of second chance romance novels. But Ellis and Wrens story was so heartbreakingly beautiful that I know it will leave a lasting impression on me for years to come.

Slight disclaimer this book is a spin off. I don’t believe Goodreads has it listed as a series. But Left of Forever picks up immediately after the events of Savor It. Please read Savor It before reading Left of Forever. I promise you’ll be thanking me later.

Left of Forever follows Wren & Ellis childhood sweethearts who got married young due to a teen pregnancy. Flash forward to today they are divorced for 5 years and sending their baby boy Sam off to college. After dropping him off, Wren & Ellis decide to go on a roadtrip to see if they can rekindle and repair their relationship. Even if they cannot they are both hopeful for some closure on past hurts.

Like I mentioned I am not normally a second chance romance girlie. Especially if they are previously divorced. However, after I was introduced to them in Savor It. I knew there was something special about them and I just wanted to know more. Tarah did not disappoint. Reading Ellis & Wrens story was everything I wanted it to be and more. Tarah left me hanging onto every word. I could feel every hurt and longing that Wren & Ellis endured. Those two have been through so much, and watching them build back to each other is inspiring and earth shattering.

I seriously cannot recommend this book enough. Please check out this book when it releases May 2025. Lastly big Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an earc in exchange for an honest review.

Tarah writes such soulfully touching, deeply connected characters. You cannot help but fall in love with them every single time.
Wren and Ellis were a testament that the saying 'if you love something let it go, if it's meant to be it'll come back' and back did it come.

It was exploring the difficulties that happen AFTER the blissful romances, and fighting to make your way out of the monotony of life and find your way back to that love.

Their story was beautiful.

I would be remiss in admitting, that their story gave me hope but did not make me cry as all her others have - however I DID cry. The true stars to me in this story, are (unshocking to anyone who knows me) Major and Kelpie and the surprise of Hope. Soon as I saw Major and Kelpie on page in part 3 I cried the entire rest of the book. Thank you to Tarah for the TW months ago that they are in this book but are not harmed or im not entirely sure I could have read this in peace.

Anyway, I can't recommend Tarah's books more - I can't wait for more to read, and thank you for letting and trusting me to read this early copy. <3

This was such a beautiful emotional journey of forgiveness, love, acceptance and letting go. I sobbed as I read, feeling everything those two beautiful broken people felt. I can’t imagine meeting your soulmate so young, having baby at 18, building a life and then lose the connection and separate. My heart was aching. When they decided to go on trip, after dropping their son to college, I was rooting for them. I loved the part when they talked about things they didn’t like about each other and finally tackled the hard issues. Communication at its best! Highly recommend this book to anyone, but friendly warning: have tissues ready!

This is a great read if you like second chance romances and small-town settings. It's cozy, humorous, and with a dash of angst. Ultimately, the writing wasn't my jam, but I can see a large audience for this book.

I loved this just as much as I loved Savor It. I will read everything this woman writes. I love her prose, the steam, the character development. I love it all. Spectacular give me 14 of them.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is an emotionally charged, beautifully written second chance romance that tugs at every heartstring. Wren and Ellis’s journey is messy, deeply felt, and achingly realistic, making it impossible not to root for them as they navigate love, heartbreak, and the possibility of starting over.

From the start, DeWitt crafts an intimate and poignant love story between two people who were meant to be—but life, youth, and circumstance got in the way. Wren, now a bakery owner, and Ellis, a dedicated firefighter, have built lives apart after their teenage love led to marriage, parenthood, and eventually, divorce. Yet, despite years of separation, their connection remains undeniable, simmering beneath every glance, every shared moment, and every lingering regret.

What sets this book apart is how real it feels. DeWitt doesn’t shy away from the complexities of love and healing. There’s angst, nostalgia, and unresolved tension, but also humor and warmth. The road trip element adds a layer of forced proximity that makes their slow-burning reconnection even more delicious. And when I say steam, I mean steam! The chemistry between Wren and Ellis is undeniable, and DeWitt balances it perfectly with raw, emotional depth.

At its core, Left of Forever is about learning to communicate, confronting the past, and deciding if love is worth the risk one more time. The addition of heartfelt letters woven into the story only deepens the emotional impact, making this a must read for anyone who loves romance with both spice and substance.

If you love second chance romances that are as sweet and swoony as they are soul stirring, this one belongs on your shelf. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah DeWitt, and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book.

Stunning second-chance romance. So much history and angst. I loved the main character’s families. I really appreciated the MMC realizing what he wanted and going for it and actually communicating! Absolutely loved this.

I enjoyed Tarah’s first novel set in Spunes, “Savor It”, but this one? “Left of Forever” has stolen my heart. I loved this!

Perfect for fans of:
*** Second chance romance
*** High school love
*** Dual POV
*** Romantic steamy chemistry
*** Strong Family bonds
*** Joint parenting after divorce

Wren and Ellis married and had their son Sam at a young age. Despite all the love they had, they called it quits after 10 years. We catch up with them 5 years later, where its clear that each of them is still holding onto the once in a lifetime love they had. Will they be able to find their way back to each other, or realize they need to move on?

The pure and unfiltered romance of this story was beautiful. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved how realistic their journey was. This might be one of my favorite second chance romance novels. I can’t wait to order a copy of my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

last year i was lucky enough to receive the arc for savor it and i am not exaggerating when i say i have been AGONIZING over wanting and needing wren and ellis’ book. i was immediately obsessed with them and their story, in a letter from tarah before the start of this book she says “wren and ellis jumped out at me so viscerally” and that is exactly how i felt about them during my time reading sage and fishers story, while i was obsessed with them and had the best time reading their book i was yearning for these Byrds.

i am to my core a massive slut for second chance romances ESPECIALLY when they are already divorced or its a marriage in crisis, so i think it was pretty safe to assume i was going to devour this (which i did). this book will without a doubt be a top 3 read for me this year (it would solidly be #1 right this moment if i hadn’t read ATYD a few weeks ago… so #2 by just a smidge it is).

this book had me in a chokehold from start to finish, the way you could just feel the yearning and how much the wanted/needed each other like no other it felt so ridiculously palpable to me 😩

there is quite literally so much i want to squeal and yap about but i am going to force myself to shut up right now because everyone deserves to read this with the experience of not knowing what youre gonna get. its hot, its passionate, its emotionally painful, its P E R F E C T

This book is a like a gospel to young, everlasting love. There’s something so unique about loving someone like this (speaking from experience), while you grow up beside them. TD captures it beautifully, allowing the reader to feel the tender connection between Wren and Ellis in soooo many ways. I enjoyed the author’s choice of reliving our character’s memories through letters and journaling instead of going the traditional flashback route. I didn’t need to read through that much of Wren and Ellis’ past to feel how interwoven they were in the present, and that’s a true testament to the author for her character development and beautiful writing. This book made me fall deeper in love with the Byrds (the whole fam!) I hope we get to see more of them soon!!!

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

Fair warning, this book made me want to get pregnant at 17 and married and divorced by 33 just to reconnect with my ex-husband. I don’t know what Tarah puts in her books, but holy hell was this good! I was hooked from the prologue and deeply attached to Wren and Ellis 5 minutes after starting their story.

I’m always hesitant to read a second chance romance because I hate conflict and only want the cute falling in love story, but I loved the way Wren and Ellis reconnected and did the work. There was no argument or miscommunication for the sake of it, it was just a masterclass in communication and unconditional love.

💕Second chance
❤️‍🩹Divorced couple
🚗Forced proximity (roadtrip)
💘Childhood friends to lovers to divorced to lovers

Tarah DeWitt does it again, folks. Left of Forever is everything I wanted—a stunning, emotional, second-chance romance that hurts in the best way before putting your heart back together. If you love childhood-friends-to-lovers, exes who never stopped loving each other, and a good ol’ messy, angsty road to reconciliation, then this book is for you.

Let’s talk about Wren and Ellis Byrd. These two have been through everything together—first loves, marriage, heartbreak, divorce—but no matter how many years pass, it’s never really over between them. Their love has always been deep, raw, and real, but life (and circumstances) tore them apart. After five years of keeping things civil for their son Sam, Ellis finally decides it’s time to do something. His idea? One last road trip together as they send Sam off to college. And let me tell you—this road trip is a journey in every possible way.

This book is packed with so much emotion. The regret. The longing. The love that never really faded. Seeing Wren and Ellis navigate their history, their heartbreak, and the years of feelings buried between them? I FELT EVERYTHING. There’s mutual respect, there’s messy communication, there’s yearning (oh my god, the yearning), and there are moments so full of love it actually hurts. And when all those unspoken words and unresolved feelings finally boil over? Yeah. I was a goner.

And let’s not even get started on the spice because whew. Tarah said let’s make this the hottest one yet, and she did not lie. The intimacy between Wren and Ellis? Mental, emotional, spiritual, chemical. Ellis’ POV during those moments? Yeah, I was gnawing on my Kindle. (Pleasure dom king, hello???)

Beyond the romance, Tarah does what she does best—building a world so rich and real you don’t want to leave. The Byrd family, the small-town charm of Spunes, the friendships and relationships that feel so lived-in—I was envious knowing these characters aren’t real.

The pacing? Perfect. The writing? Breathtaking. The emotional depth? Gut-wrenching in the best way. I laughed, I cried, I sweated (👀), and I fell in love with Wren and Ellis over and over again. This is second-chance romance done right.

Honestly? I already want to re-read it. And when the audiobook drops? Prepare to be sick of me.

✨ What to Expect:
💍 Marriage Reconciliation
💔 Divorced Couple
📖 Childhood Friends to Lovers to Strangers to Lovers
🚗 Chaotic Road Trip
👨‍👩‍👦 Co-Parenting + They Have a Teenager
🌲 Small Town Romance
🔥 Angsty, Emotional, and Ridiculously Sexy

A once-in-a-lifetime love, rediscovered. Don’t miss this one.

I was very hesitant to read this second chance romance, but I ate this book up. I read it in less than a day and I felt all of the emotions. This is second chance romance done so well. I loved how we got both POVs and the mutual pining was perfect. I normally cannot stand the miscommunication trope but all I felt was sadness that it took these two so long to figure it out.

This is one of my top 2025 books for sure.

4.5/5 ⭐️

When I read “Savor It” last year, I hoped that Tarah would give Wren and Ellis a chance and write a book about them. Side characters in a love story about someone else’s, and they already had me yearning for a story about their love. And I was right to be waiting for this one.

There is something about a second-chance romance that speaks to me more than any other trope can. I admire characters who take a chance to heal and are able to flip the sad part of their stories into the absolutely best one. A love so all-consuming, mate-like, and fearless – this is how I would describe Wren and Ellis’s story.

Ellis is the perfect MMC, a man so down bad for Wren that I cried every single time he opened his mouth. His love confessions could easily be some of the most beautiful words I have ever read.

With all that in mind, I kind of hoped Wren would be a bit more yearning for Ellis from the beginning. She just kind of hopped on this trip down memory lane, but I wasn’t 100% convinced that she was as in love with him as she claimed. This is just a tweak, but I have to cut 0.5 stars for that, as this thought wouldn’t leave my brain for the entirety of this book.

One last thing worth mentioning is the incredible found-not-found family trope that is done so excellently here. I am excited for the next books to come, already so in love with Silas and Micah. Spectacular – give me 14 of them right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In the introduction to the story, the author writes that she never planned on writing a second book in Spunes, but Ellis and Wren just demanded her attention when they appeared in her earlier book, Savor It. And wow, am I glad they were so demanding to share their story with us all. I adored the characters. They were both so gone for each other, but had been so hurt and so lost in their marriage because of the challenges of life. There were a lot of assumptions between the two that had an impact on their relationship, but it never felt like the author was using miscommunication for the sake of a trope. It was heartbreaking, raw and honest, but so sweet and passionate.

And that's the reason I love reading books by Tarah DeWitt; every single one of them has been so realistic, you feel like you know the characters. They, and their stories, are fully realized. You can't help but get lost in the story. She's done this so well in other books, but it is masterfully executed in Left of Forever. This is, hands down, my favorite book by Tarah DeWitt so far.

Thank you to the author, Tarah DeWitt, and the publisher, St. Martin's Press/St, Martin's Griffin, for an advanced copy of this book.

I devoured this book. Heartbreak, to growth and healing. Never have I felt that two characters were so meant to be together and I rooted for them the whole way.

‘Left of Forever’ is a magical, heartwarming, funny and HOT(!!!) read.

This was my first read of Tarah’s, and wow was it ever PERFECT!!! Childhood friends-to-lovers, second chance, forced proximity, and found family galore.

I haven’t always been the biggest fan of a second chance romance, but this one was executed so perfectly. Wren and Ellis’ clumsy reconnections were constantly tugging at my heartstrings. The LONGING!!! The TENSION!!! The HOPE!!!

I am obsessed with their small town in Oregon, and the California roadtrip made for such a dreamy setting!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the review.

I’m a big fan of Tarah Dewitt and Left of Forever not only became my #1 book of hers but maybe my favorite romance of all time. It was sweet, tender, steamy, and REAL. I laughed. I cried. 5 stars.

Left of Forever is the ultimate second-chance romance (my favorite!). Ellis and Wren (or Byrd as he calls her) have been through it. Fell in love super young, had a kid when they were still basically kids, were parental figures to his siblings at the same time. They fell apart, divorced, and have been apart for five years but their lives and families are completely intertwined. Wren has tried to move in, dating people and no one ever makes her feel the way Ellis did and she wonders if she’ll ever get a second chance to be with someone. Ellis has realized he wants her back but has no idea if she feels the same way because she certainly doesn’t act it, keeping her distance and trying to keep things perfectly polite for the sake of their son, Sam, and mutual family/friends. When Sam gets in to his dream school in California, Ellis talks her into moving Sam down together and then taking a trip together afterwards to spend time together away from the pressures of their daily lives and figure out what went wrong between them and if they could ever be together again.

Omg, Ellis, (cue sigh). He’s kind of a dream guy. He knows that he lost the best thing that ever happened to him, messed up by not appreciating her and is actively trying to be better for her. He plans a trip with various stops that seem random initially but ultimately come full circle because they parallel things she’s always wanted to do. Wren is cautious, not sure if they can get past all the things that broke them but ultimately she really really wants to be with Ellis and there’s a lot of love still between these two (as well as some meddling family members who don’t at all buy that this is really the “friend” trip that they’ve billed it as).

I absolutely loved Ellis and Wren plus Tarah DeWitt is a Northern California native so the places that appear in the book are so familiar to me and that made it extra fun. A definite preorder must!

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin via Netgalley for this ARC.

I have been PINING for this book since Savor It came out (maybe as much as Ellis has been pining for Wren?) and Tarah DeWitt DID NOT DISAPPOINT. This was everything I love in a second chance romance:

-Flashbacks (but not written as a true dual timeline)
-TENDERNESS, gah the tenderness!
-Character growth, individually and in relationship
-Vulnerability
-The giddiness of old love that's new again when the brush of a fingertip feels like straight up sparks

There were so many beautiful lines in this one too:

"I'm dying to reach over and squeeze his hand, to thread my fingers with his so we might celebrate the best thing we ever did together." SOBBING (as a parent).

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

"God, I would have died for this man, once. Now we're reduced to single syllables and stilted silences." CRUSHED!!

Add this to your TBR immediately folks!