Well, I’ve got a new book to feature on my top reads of 2025 list. I’ve also now got a new favourite Tarah DeWitt book! This is Tarah’s best book yet, in my opinion, and is knocking Savor It off that top spot. These characters, this storyline, the emotion, the humour, everything! Perfect.

We follow Wren and Ellis who were childhood friends to teenage lovers and young parents (at 17&18). They had grow up together so quickly. Then life takes a turn and their marriage doesn’t survive. Their son is now moving out to college and they decide to take a road trip together after dropping him off, to finally talk about everything that happened and how they felt, both then and now.

These characters felt so real at times. Their struggles were real. Their ways of dealing with it were real. Tarah really brought to life how lost you can get in a marriage but also, at its core, how you’re together for a reason and that reason is love. Some of their truths, and declarations were just so beautiful.

I was utterly absorbed. My heart was in this journey with them, and I immediately want to read it again. I can’t wait to return to this series for the next instalment of the Byrd siblings.

Thank you so much for the gifted e-arc and the opportunity to rate and review this book ahead of its release on 20th May.

Everyone needs to read this!!

An enjoyable read eventually but if first felt a bit all over the place unfortunately. It would have been really great to have more snippets of their relationship before the breakdown so I felt more invested in them as a couple. We don't find out for ages what ended up being the breaking point and then it felt really lackluster because if only they had a had an honest chat with eachother it could have all been avoided! They also seemed to get back together really fast with very little effort however there were things in the mix I did resonate with and which felt like honest and raw emotions/feelings so I appreciated that!

Side note - not sure what happened with the Kindle version I read but there seemed to be some sentences that just stopped abruptly so I'm not sure I got the whole picture in some parts!

To nobody’s surprise, least of all mine, this book was incredible. Each word carried so much of the love, and also the desperation between Wren and Ellis. Tarah has managed to put words together in a way you would never think of, but somehow makes complete sense and immediately resonate with you. It’s an earth shattering love story of a tragic wound that finally gets its chance to heal. It’s painful and slow, carried by Wren and Ellis’ wish to make things better but deep fear of making them worse. Would you choose to forever remain in an uncomfortable in-between, divorced but not over your ex, or do you reopen an old wound that hasn’t fully healed in the hope of making it better, and risk bleeding out in the process?

5 ⭐️♾️

ALL THE FEELS 😭😭

Thank you, thank you endlessly to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for the arc, I’m forever indebted that I was fortunate enough to receive an advance reader’s copy of one of my most anticipated reads of 2025!🧡

“She’s still a Byrd” I know I don’t speak for myself when I say that ever since Ellis Byrd shouted this in the town hall meeting in Savor It, have been so curious, borderline feral for Ellis and Wren.

If Savor It hadn’t solidified for me that Tarah is an auto-buy author me, then Left of Forever most certainly did.

I was barely 100 pages into this, and I was already emotional, literally on the verge of tears because there’s just something so profound and beautiful with the way that Tarah tells a story, and the way she navigated Wren and Ellis’s relationship with such delicacy and tenderness, it was truly remarkable and a testament to her as an author. I’m literally in all of the way she pens words onto paper and tells such a compelling story.

It was so raw and authentic, and from the moment that I picked this up, I couldn’t put it down because I was so invested from the moment of their opening chapters.

You really get insight to both of their journeys, how their divorce and the breakdown of their marriage really affected them and still affects them, almost five years on. Both of them are emotionally intelligent and can realise where they went wrong, how they could’ve done better to support each other, and naturally are still scared to allow themselves to have that second chance of happiness, which is buried under a mountain of hurt and anguish.

Honestly, this was such a perfect, angst, second chance romance, and I loved every moment of it.

Tropes

Second chance
Divorced couple
Forced proximity
Small town
Mutual pining
A man who YEARNS
Road trip
Angst and yearning for dayyss

Oh, this was good. Anyone who’s read Savor It would surely see that there’s a story lurking there for Wren and Ellis, and the author delivers it in style here. This pair are forced to grow up when very young and the way they then grow apart is painfully relatable - as is the excruciating awkwardness of their post-divorce existence when their lives are still so entwined. But when sheer coincidence gives Ellis an unexpected insight into Wren’s state of mind, he makes it his mission to engineer them one more try and what follows is part road trip with a wonderfully described backdrop, part heart wrenching examination of their marriage, and part deliciously slow-burn romance. Throw in emotional growth, yearning, banter, funny moments and an excellent supporting cast (loving, meddlesome and light relief in equal measure), and this book left me with a big smile on my face. Highly recommended.

This book was such a breath of fresh air. It’s not often you find a love story that explores what happens after the happily ever after, and Tarah DeWitt absolutely nailed it. She dives deep into the messy, complicated parts of long term love through Wren and Ellis, childhood sweethearts who’ve weathered life together but have slowly drifted apart.

Their journey really hit me. It shows how love can quietly fade when you stop tending to it, and how that distance doesn’t just affect you and your partner, it can ripple out to your whole family. I loved how real their struggles felt, especially the quiet moments of disconnection that can build silently over time without either of you even noticing.

What truly got me was their son and their tight-knit family. Their role in helping them find their way back to each other was so beautifully done. There’s something really powerful about seeing love through a child’s eyes, and that of siblings as well, and it added so much warmth and hope to their story. I’m not going to lie, I teared up twice while reading out loud passages to my husband.

DeWitt’s writing is heartfelt, honest, and just so authentic. Left of Forever is a gorgeous reminder that love isn’t a finish line, it’s something you have to keep choosing, keep fighting for, even when it’s hard. I adored this book and can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Wow wow wow! I absolutely loved this book! It was absolutely fantastic. A beautiful romance! Loved the characters! Will definitely be reading more from this author!

My first book by tarah and what a mistake to have left it so long because wow!! Perfect!! I love a second chance romance and this one did not disappoint! Loved the road trip plot and all the characters, wren and Ellis forever tbh.

Left of Forever is a beautifully written romance full of heart, angst, and slow-burn yearning. Wren and Ellis’s journey felt raw and real, with a road trip backdrop that added charm and emotional depth. Their reconnection was honest and earned, making the ending feel perfectly satisfying. A tender, hopeful story. Tarah DeWitt has my heart!

Thank you @LittleBrownBookGroup_UK and @netgalley for an opportunity to read an arc copy of this book.

I went into this one excited-it's a second-chance romance, which is a trope I usually love and while there were definitely beautiful moments, it took a while for me to really get into it.

The first half felt slow, and I struggled to connect with the characters early on. But I'm glad I stuck with it, because once the emotional layers started to unfold, Wren and Ellis's story became more grounded and heartfelt. Their conversations felt raw and honest-two people carrying years of history, hurt, and unresolved love.

Tarah DeWitt's writing is thoughtful and often poetic, and I appreciated the mature, introspective take on what it really means to rebuild something that once fell apart.

The road trip added real weight to the story—it gave them space to talk, to sit in silence, to remember, and to reflect.

Thank you to Piaktus ( little brown books ) via NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for a honest review - it was an honour to be able to read this amazing book

I honestly enjoyed this a lot - a mutual of mine on insta & here said it was like out of the woods but better and I agree. In every aspect that out of the woods failed to get right this book did - I dnfed out of the woods.

I binged this book within 24 hours

This book has traumatic situations happen in the past ( off page ) like wren the fmc having a ectopic pregnancy in the past .

- this book has :
•no 3rd act Breakup
• a really fun road trip ( where the main part of the story happens )
• dual pov
• communication - and them actually talking things out

Now I didn’t like savor it at all when I Read it last year ( it wasn’t for me ) - and then I read root bound and disliked it too) but then I did read funny feelings & loved it and I feel that this book was one I loved & enjoyed

The romance was perfect - them getting to kinda know each other again + them actually talking about the things that went wrong / what each other them did wrong & fixing it/ owning up to it . I feel like it helped that they both got a divorce in the past because it meant they got time to grow as people & be their own people without each other - before they ofc grew back together . I feel like this was a perfect second chance romance as there was not resentment towards each other - no “ I hate xyz now” but just two people who realised “wait I still love xyz” and figuring things out.

Honestly, I absolutely loved Elias and how much he loved WREN. You could just tell even before they went on that road trip that how much he loved her . His view of her in his pov was perfect the same as him in hers + the emotion that was in this book - the emotion you could feel within this book - through this couple was just everything I needed and more

- the road trip was seriously a fun thing to read about especially with them actually communicating willingly with each other with the whole “ no pressure we don’t have to end up dating by the end of this” situation.

I choose to believe that these 2 after this one week continue to grow closer & communicate even more - this time without having to raise a kid this time considering they originally got married young as they were teen parents . I also choose to believe these two truly are meant to be together .

The ending was perfect !!

Wren and Ellis, childhood sweethearts turned divorced co-parents, take a road trip together after their son leaves for college. As they travel the California coast, old feelings resurface and they’re forced to confront the past—and whether they have a future together

This was okay overall. I think I preferred the first book, but I enjoyed the family dynamic and was intrigued by the set-up for Silas and Micah’s stories. The combination of letter writing, journal entries, and long internal monologues started to feel like overkill. I probably would have preferred flashbacks to show their past relationship, rather than having it described through journal entries. The trip could have taken up more of the book too. It felt like they got back together, had one or two conversations about their feelings, and then everything was suddenly resolved a bit too quickly

TARAH! TARAH WHEN I FIND YOU THIS. This book destroyed me. ALTERED MY BRAIN CHEMISTRY?!? I’m never getting over Ellis & wren. They had my heart from when he said she’s still a Byrd. I was SAT.

Tarah captured that rare feeling over being known and the pain that comes when it’s not enough. The mark it leaves on your soul. Second chance romances will always have a place in my heart because how beautiful to think of all the love that comes with forgiveness. How many times someone will say that hurt but we’re going to work through this. To meet you at the precipice of never and change it to forever. IM CRYING AGAIN.

this is a masterpiece! This book is 6 stars! And I can’t wait to have my physical copy.

Ellis. Orion. Byrd.
This is an absolutely beautiful second chance romance. It’s equal parts hopeful and devastating; one minute I was sobbing, the next I was giggling and kicking my feet. The very real issues that Wren and Ellis faced were not overdone, nor were they resolved too quickly. There was so much tension, Tarah is queen of the slow burn, and angst, and the pining, OH THE PINING. It’s so well written, both funny and heartbreaking in equal measure.
I loved being back in Spunes, and getting to see the Byrd family again, I can’t wait for Silas and Micah’s stories. And I’m hoping we’ll maybe get a Sam and Indy story, even if it’s a novella.
A very easy 5 stars for me, and would definitely recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Savour It and fell in love with this cast of characters. When DeWitt announced a second book in the series, I was all over it. Like a rash. I knew I needed it in my life.

Ellis and Wren were just everything together. I’d say the first half of the book dragged a little with the letters and realising they still wanted each other. I felt like that could have been shortened so we could get more time with them together. That was the part of the book that I devoured and rushed through. I couldn’t get enough.

We follow them on a road trip and a journey back to each other. This book had me swooning, chucking and laughing out loud. It also made me cry which isn’t an easy feat. It is just such a simple and pure love written between these two and it felt so life like. Normally I can’t deal with a second chance romance, but this was done perfectly.

I’m also so happy we got to see Sage and Fisher again, with the rest of the Byrd family making appearances. My biggest hope is that we get a story for Micah and Silas because I need them something silly.

"I'll love you for everything left of forever, in every life time we get."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Left of Forever is a powerful expression of love, loss, and the enduring ties that bind us.

Wren and Ellis — childhood sweethearts turned teenage parents — are now divorced in their thirties.
Wren runs the local bakery.
Ellis is a firefighter.
Wren’s trying to move on… but five years later, she still can’t shake him out of her mind.
Ellis isn’t over her either — and when he comes across a letter, hope flickers back to him.
One road trip.
One week.
One last chance to find their way back to each other.
"You were never just a chapter. You were the whole story."
No amount of words could describe how much I loved this book—I flew through it, savoring every word and page. Wren and Ellis’s journey was beautifully written. The spicy scenes weren’t cringey; instead, they added emotional and intimate depth, making us truly feel how much they missed and loved each other.
"Five years later, and my heart still looks for you in every room "
Themes of longing, emotional growth, vulnerability, healing, family bonds, parenthood, and intimacy are woven throughout.
"Sometimes love doesn't die, it just waits."
This might just be my favorite book of the year. Highly recommend—I loved it so much.
Xoxo😘

4.75 stars - arc review. This is a perfect second chance romance, lighthearted, emotional. It was everything. I was so excited when it was announced we would get a story for Ellis and Wren because the snippets of them in savor it were too good. The road trip aspect and the letters were brilliant. I really hope we get stories for Silas and Micah as well I love them both.

Thanks Netgalley for the arc.
I rarely go for second change romances but I really really enjoyed this book.

Wren and Ellis have been each other’s other half since the age of 5 to 28, got married too young, had a baby at seventeen. However, Wren they have now been divorced for 5 years.

They run in the same social circles, live in a small town, and don’t want to hurt their son.
However, a road trip after their son’s college move-in to find closure might rekindle the ember between them.

Wren is very self-aware and the writing is at times on the nose. I loved her unapologetic humour and the rapid-fire stream of consciousness unraveling.

<b>I’m a Heinz 57 bottle of emotion, upside down and shaken, waiting for the inevitable plop.
</b>
There are flashbacks between past and present which makes you feel rooted in their relationship.

Expect:
Dual-pov
Letter writing
Road trip
Camping
One-bed

<b>I am so scared to fail to the point that it prevents me from acting, let alone taking a risk, or it makes me try to control everything that poses a potential risk around me. I’ve been living and loving in half-measures for years. Living my life in pencil, because I don’t think I can get shit right the first time. Maybe because I think it’ll save me some pain.</b>

I do believe in the romance and love between these characters. They worked at it.

I have to admit to being frustrated by how much it is obvious they both want the relationship, but keep misreading the other person or holding back. It got to the point where it felt too contrived.

I also wanted more of the small town vibe which we get teasings of. I admit, I did not read Savour It which is technically book one of the interconnected standalones.

I would advise reading that first: not only does this book obviously spoil a lot, I felt I had missed a lot of shared past between the characters and the found family feel.
Perhaps this would have been four🌟 if that were the case.

Trigger warning for infertility.

Arc gifted by publisher.

What to expect:
Second Chance
Divorced MCs
Yearning
Firefighter x Baker
Road Trip
All The Emotions
I Choose You

Every dang time this woman writes a book, it hits me right in the feels, and Left of Forever is no different. I have been obsessed with Ellis and Wren’s story since I met them in Savour It and was beyond excited to know they were getting their own magical, emotional, and redeeming story.

Left of Forever is an emotional ride. It’s a second-chance romance between a divorced couple who’ve spent the past five years trying to co-parent their son while also trying not to be too close to each other. Let me tell you now that their story is beautiful but also painful, it is an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you in a mess of joy and sadness, mixed in with some bittersweet yearning and tears streaming down your face. But gosh if it isn’t worth it. Watching Ellis and Wren get the love story they deserve was beautiful and I tell you now I want to see books for the rest of the Byrds!