I feel like this book will live in my mind forever. I just finished it and I’m sitting here bawling tears of happiness but of something so much more.

This book is heartbreaking, funny, hopeful, sentimental and full of so much love. Love between Ellis and Wren, obviously. But also this amazing love of family that runs so deep through this book. The characters and their individual stories are so well crafted and all fit into an incredible work of art. The descriptions of places and things and people are so vivid you can see them, smell them and just be in each moment of this book.

Left of Forever is emotional and sad at times, but the payoff is utter bliss. This is honestly one of the best books I have ever read.

3.75⭐️

thank you to netgalley and st martins press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

i LOVED savor it and was really excited when the author announced wren and ellis’s book. admittedly second chances romances aren’t a favorite genre of mine, i feel most books don’t give enough time to the reasons and backstory to the couple separating and then them getting back together feels really fast. i felt that a lot in this story and just couldn’t get emotionally connected to the characters. i will say i got the warm fuzzy feelings more in the last few pages of the book. i would still recommend it because i think the reasons i don’t enjoy it as much are a me problem not the book.

recommend? yes.

Left of Forever you will always be famous to me!!! Tarah Dewitt is an auto-buy author for me now, I absolutely devoured this book! I finished it and wanted to dive back in and reread immediately.

After absolutely loving Savor It I was desperate to dive into Left of Forever which focuses on the brother and (ex) sister in law of Sage Byrd. Wren and Ellis were friends since childhood, got pregnant at 17, married young, and divorced not long after. Their relationship is stilted and awkward and exists only as polite exchanges in front of their son, Sam. They still feel like there is a part of themselves missing but are terrified to admit it to themselves let alone each other.

This book is a beautiful journey of two people who have known each other their entire lives and what it takes for them to come back to each other, in any capacity. Their marriage was imperfect and messy and so realistic. Tarah did an amazing job of showing how much work these two had to do to rebuild what broke them and how they could make their connection even stronger for the future. They both wanted to be sure that they wouldn’t fail this second chance before taking that final step. Their love story was written so beautifully and I enjoyed every single page. I truly hope that the other two Byrd brothers receive their own book because Tarah creates magic in Spunes, Oregon.


“I miss you, too sounds glib. You have been missing from me is more accurate. There’s a void where you lived in my soul”

I’ve never had the pleasure of reading a novel by Tarah DeWitt and I can honestly say that I will continue to read novels by them. Tarah DeWitt has a gift for crafting stories that are deeply emotional yet effortlessly charming, and Left of Forever is no exception. This novel is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and healing, wrapped in the kind of slow-burn romance that lingers long after the final page. Rarely do I find myself in the pages of novels lately and to say that I was able to put myself in the characters shoes in an understatement.

At its heart, Left of Forever is about two people trying to find their way back to themselves while navigating the complexities of grief and love. DeWitt’s characters are layered and authentic, their struggles raw and relatable. The romance is beautifully developed—filled with aching tension, tender moments, and the kind of emotional depth that makes every interaction meaningful.

DeWitt’s prose is both lyrical and grounded, effortlessly pulling the reader into a world that feels lived-in and real. Her dialogue is sharp, her humor well-placed, and her ability to balance heartbreak with hope is truly remarkable. Fans of contemporary romance that leans into deep emotional themes will find themselves captivated by this story. I know I was!

Perfect for readers who love character-driven romance with strong emotional stakes, Left of Forever cements Tarah DeWitt as a must-read author for me! Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

First things first. Why the hell do I think of a young Tom Selleck every time I see the cover of this damn book?! It literally took everything in me to remind myself that this couple was not in fact in their 60s!!!

Wren and Ellis have always known each other. They grew up as little kids together, got pregnant before their front lobes were fully formed, and were happily married for a while before they called it quits.

Now, their child (Sam) is off to college, which sparks all new emotions and Ellis is determined to fight tooth and nail at getting Wren back.

To be honest, this story took some time for me to get into, much like her previous books (I don’t know why, I cannot pinpoint anything specific?!). But. Ultimately, it was a sweet love story that I really did enjoy!

So many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Tarah DeWitt herself for this eARC.

Tarah DeWitt puts CRACK in all of her books and I am an addict! So swoony, emotional, hysterical and everything you would want from a second chance romance! Once I met Wren and Ellis in Savor It, I was dying for their story. This book is top of my list for all time favorites!! IF YOU WANT A MAN WHO IS DOWN BAD, READ THIS BOOK!

ARC Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

Left of Forever is an achingly beautiful exploration of love, loss, and the messy, imperfect reality of marriage. Tarah DeWitt captures the raw emotions of two people who have weathered life’s storms together—sometimes holding on, sometimes drifting apart—and the heartbreaking, hopeful journey of learning to love each other again.

This story isn’t about the spark of something new; it’s about the hard, necessary work of rebuilding something that’s been broken. The characters felt painfully real in their flaws, their missteps, and their desperate longing to find their way back to each other. DeWitt’s writing is deeply emotional, weaving in moments of tenderness, frustration, and quiet resilience that hit straight to the heart.

Love—especially the kind that has been tested—doesn’t come easy, and DeWitt doesn’t shy away from that reality. If you’ve ever believed in the beauty of second chances, in the quiet strength of choosing love even when it’s hard, this book will stay with you long after the last page.

Wren and Ellis’s story was so heart achingly was so beautifully written.

A romance novel with the second chance trope in the same world as Tarah Dewitt's previous book Savor It. Wren and Ellis had one of the rare unbelievable romances where childhood sweethearts live happily ever after...but sadly trauma and past hurt shattered the love story they were living. Now divorced 4 years, the two end up on an unbelievable road trip that might bring them back into each other's arms...you will never see ice cream the same again.

This book is flawless. Truly. Tarah is truly poetic with her words and her scenarios are so outrageously funny, I just can't!

I will be praising this book for whatever is left of forever!

3.25 Stars --I am a huge Tarah DeWitt fan and was so excited to be approved for an ARC for her new book about the town of Spunes.

The protagonists in this book are introduced in Savor It as divorced parents who are friends of the couple in that book. This story is about them taking a roadtrip after they drop their son off in college and deciding if they want to be together. This means that a lot of the book is fairly intelligent conversations about what went wrong in their relationship and all of the hard things they've been through. I think it was well done and very sweet, but it wasn't fun. And that's probably a compliment to DeWitt--I've been on trips like that, and they have not been fun. (In contrast, in another one of her books the protagonists have to compete in a competition together, and one of them is a chef who is new to town, and that just gives a lot more room for silliness.)

The challenge here is that I read romances for fun and while I thought this book was effective., I did not enjoy it as much as the other 4 books I have read by DeWitt. Overall, it felt higher stakes and less lighthearted. The protagonists are both very earnest and seem like lovely people, but there wasn't anything about either of them that was quirky or particularly funny. Since they end up away from their friends and family for a lot of the book, and they aren't that funny, there just wasn't much of an opportunity for humor. There's also a lot of focus on fertility struggles, which is a heavy topic,

All in all, it just doesn't feel like there's room for quirky mishaps in the way that a second chance romance where the couple aren't coparents can have. That's not a bad thing, but this is a more serious vibe than the other books you've read by this author!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance review copy.

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this one! I LOVE Tarah DeWitt books and I was so thrilled to read this one! I am a huge fan of second chance romance, so the premise of this one sounded like it would be five stars for me. I devoured this book as quickly as possible and I truly loved every second of it. It is now my favorite Tarah DeWitt book and possibly one of my favorite romances of all time. She really outdid herself with this one and the emotion and heart behind the story really shone through beautifully! If you love romance book. I would say this is almost a guaranteed five star. It is a second chance romance for the ages, with the perfect amount of spice and emotions and a backstory that was as devasting as it was beautiful. See below for a synopsis!

Synopsis:
Wren and Ellis fell in love as kids and became parents as teenagers. They beat the odds and had a long lasting marriage until life circumstances caused them to drift apart and they eventually divorced. Their lives are still so enmeshed, though, and even five years later, they are constantly in each other's lives. When their son graduates from high school, they agree to take a trip together to take him to college. On the way home, they explore what getting back together could look like and remember all of the reasons they loved each other in the first place.

Wren and Ellis Byrd seemed to have it all - they found each other young, became parents and married young. But life wasn't easy and their marriage fell apart. Now, five years after their divorce, their son is headed off to college and Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended trip home with him. As they travel the beautiful California coast, old wounds resurface, feelings rekindle, and they're left wondering if there's anything left of their forever.

Thoughts  This book is raw, romantic, and full of heart. It's angsty and full of yearning but hopeful. If you found your person when you were young, you'll feel this one in your bones. 

Now that they're older and a little removed from the heartache, Wren and Ellis are able to communicate and finally face everything. They confront the ugly parts of their relationship, but they also appreciate the good moments, too. There's a level of intimacy that only happens after being part of each other's lives for so long. 

It won't take long for you to fall in love with them, too.

I have to say, I was a little on the fence about reading this one only because l'm not a huge fan of second chance romance in general and divorce made me even more hesitant. However, ! kept being draw back to this one (maybe the adorable cover?) and when I saw it on Netgalley decided to go for it. And omg I am SO glad I did.
This book.. it was so sweet. The communication was communicatin. The feelings were out there and on the line (not that the beginning didn't have angst bc it did.. the good kind). The tenderness was hitting SO hard. I would recommend this to anyone but maybe especially married people. Which I just didn't expect. The journey of them talking about their marriage, what went wrong, what went right. It was a little idealistic but romance books are that way. So no docked points for that here. I loved watching them work through the unresolved feelings and the harbored love they still had for each other.
Highly highly recommend this book. I loved it so much. Low drama. Lots of comfort. Some laughs. Just. Yes. All around yes.
Thank you so much to Tara DeWitt and St. Martins Press for the ARC of this phenomenal book!

This was good! I’m normally not a fan of second chance after divorce, and it took me until about 30% to connect with the story, but once I did it was very hard to put down. it’s very well written, the dynamic and banter between the MC’s was perfection, and the communication so refreshing! I’ve been a fan of Tarah DeWitt since Rootbound, so I was SO excited to be able to read an early copy of LOF. Highly recommend!

oh the byrds, how i love you so much. this book was everything i wanted and more.

a second chance romance will always do it for me, and this one had it all. the yearning. the hope. the love. every emotion was so raw, i felt it deep in my bones. i have been waiting for wren and ellis’s story since i first read savor it, and this did not disappoint. their journey wrecked me in the best way possible.

i physically ached and cried for them. my heart shattered then slowly pieced itself back together with every page. it was beautiful. it was painful. it was everything. i loved every second, and i already need to reread it.

There's something special about a second chance romance where the MCs are older. Wren and Ellis grew apart and manage to grow back together in a way that felt authentic to the ups and downs of a long term relationship. From the first lucky chance reconnection via a pink bakery box to whatever is left of forever, the story felt incredibly real. Silas' speech literally made me sob, in all the best ways. Seeing Wren and Ellis through his eyes was the cherry on the sundae of a perfect, swoony (and hot!) read.

I'm not ready to leave Spunes... Thank god there's two more books. (Right...? Right.....? I'm begging...) I've loved Dewitt ever since I picked up Funny Feelings thanks to another authors recommendation, about out to Ivy Fairbanks, and I loved it so much I immediately applied for an ARC of Savor it, and now here I am, reviewing my ARC of Left of Forever. I knew I needed Wren and Ellis's story the second Ellis said "She's still a Byrd" in Savor It. Dewitt does not disappoint. I've read a few second chance romances this year already, and she and Hannah Bonham Young are currently the front runners for my favorites. Obviously both stories are very different, but they both have a special place in my heart. I think I may love Ellis and Wren even more than I love Fisher and Sage, if that's possible.

This book has me crying on multiple occasions, and I loved how open and honest Ellis was with Wren about his feelings. We love a man who goes to therapy. It also stands to be said that I adored any and every interaction with Silas present, and the setup leading to Micah's definite eventual book, though I'm hoping for a Silas book next. I would've appreciated more pov Ellis chapters as I felt this wasn't simply a singular narrative book. It isn't to say Ellis didn't have any chapters, but it felt like we were hearing Wren's voice and inner monologue than anything and it would've been refreshing to see more from Ellis.

“we have whatever’s left of forever, you and me”

oh this book was EVERYTHING!! i’ve been so excited for this one because second chance with divorce is not a trope i see often and this DELIVERED!! ever since the “she’s still a byrd” line in savor it i’ve been craving ellis and wren’s story so bad and i loved watching their journey and how they find their way back to each other AHHHH. going from “i grew up with my great love, so i think maybe my heart took shape around his” to them basically being strangers after their divorce was BRUTAL tbh, but watching them both grow (ellis going to therapy!!) and acknowledge what they both did wrong ahh i’m so obsessed with them and from start to finish their story was done so much justice fr

also ofc have to mention the byrds + fisher (+ sam and indy) because the cast of this series is EVERYTHING!!! i love how they all see ellis and wren as people who had such a big role in raising them but the found family overall is just my favorite thing ever!!! also sage and fisher’s proposal scene GAH + fisher being thrown into the water hehe i love the byrds sm!!!

overall this was such a beautiful second chance love story that i highly recommend to everyone, and thank you so much to netgalley for the arc!!

This story was so beautiful. I almost hesitated to read this as I don’t usually read about characters in their thirties, but I implore anyone of any age to read this story.

It’s written so beautifully, and captures so many elements of real life and real love.

Thank you to Tarah for this beautiful story and unforgettable characters.

Though Funny Feelings will always have my heart, this may be my new next-favorite Tarah DeWitt romance — and definitely my new favorite second-chance romance, period. The people aren't ready!

Wren and Ellis are a fantastic example of a couple who have seen some life, been broken by it, and still manage to find their way back together. As (slightly) older romance protagonists, they work through their problems in mature ways and work on their communication where it needs repairing (what a breath of fresh air in this genre). At the same time, I though the reasons for them growing apart and divorcing in the first place were entirely realistic, and made it that much better to follow their journey years later. This was like getting to see further down the line in a first-love kind of story, where you know the couple is meant to be together, but sometimes life gets in the way. All the more satisfying to read about Ellis and Wren fighting their way back to each other. Loved it immensely — Left of Forever should be the romance of the summer.

This was such a cute second chance romance! I loved Savor It and was excited to go back to Spunes and the Byrd family, and this did not disappoint. Most of the plot takes place on a road trip, but we still get to see the hometown characters plenty of times. I loved the way Wren and Ellis talked through their past and what went wrong, and the way he was pining for her and trying not to mess things up the whole time. And can we have a moment for Sam the most perfect child? I’m pretty sure this will be a favorite romance of the year, do yourself a favor and pick this up when it’s out! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!