An emotional, spicy, second-chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Tarah DeWitt.

This time, they’ll get it right.

Wren and Ellis Byrd fell in love as kids, had their son Sam when they were only teenagers, and built a life together in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. They were made for one another…until they fell apart.

Now divorced and in their 30s, Wren runs the bakery in town, while Ellis works as a firefighter. They live separate lives, though they are hardly off each other’s minds.

When Sam gets accepted into college and the pair help him move in together, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended road trip back to Spunes with him to see if they can give their relationship one last chance. Amid the gorgeous scenery of the California coastline, dreamy destinations, and a great deal of long-yearned-for proximity, Wren starts to think it just might be possible. But the two still have to contend with their tumultuous past in order to move forward. And when spoken words fail, sometimes the written word must bridge the gap.

Will they make the most of what’s left of forever? Or will they let each other go for good?

Brimming with big feelings and packed with steam, Left of Forever is bestseller Tarah DeWitt at the top of her game.

I know I’ve said this many times before, but romance novels are really hit or miss for me. And I’m happy to say that this one hit the right notes.

I’m not a fan of cutesy rom-com tropes. I mean, they’re enjoyable enough here and there, but they get old after a while and have started to feel very one-note. What I liked about this book was that it was just an honest story focusing on two people who loved hard when they were young, drifted apart, got divorced, and are now learning to find their way back to one another.

Wren and Ellis were childhood sweethearts. They had their son Sam as teenagers and built a life together in a small Oregon coastal town. She runs the local bakery. He’s a firefighter. They were made for each other. Or so it seemed. But as they matured, they grew apart, and now they’re divorced and in their thirties, living separate lives but still very much on each other’s minds.

When Sam gets accepted into college, Wren and Ellis drive him together to help him move in. It’s awkward. It’s emotional. And on the way back, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended road trip home instead of flying. One last chance to see if they can maybe learn to love each other again.

I loved watching these two fall back in love. It didn’t feel rushed or forced. It felt earned. They’re not the same people they were when they first got together. They’ve both changed and they’ve both had time to think about what went wrong. Watching them rediscover each other, not as the teenagers they used to be but as the adults they’ve become, was incredibly satisfying.

What I appreciated most is how honest the book feels. DeWitt doesn’t pretend their problems are easy to fix. She shows you the way life got in their way. And she also shows you what brings them back together. The shared history. The love that never really went away. The realization that some people are worth fighting for. I believed their feelings. I understood why they fell apart. I understood why they wanted to try again. And just like their friends and family in the book, I was rooting for them the entire time.

There’s also a really lovely thread throughout the book about written words bridging the gap when spoken words fail. Wren and Ellis have a hard time saying what they really mean out loud. But when they write to each other, the truth comes out. It’s a beautiful touch, and it adds depth to who they are and how they find their way back to one another.

The book is also packed with steam. If you’re looking for a romance with heat, this delivers. Usually I’m not a fan of super spicy books because the book often feels like it was written specifically for the sex scenes, but that wasn’t the case here. The intimacy feels connected to their emotional journey. It’s part of how they reconnect, and it makes sense for their story.

This book is about second chances. It’s about whether two people who used to love each other but grew apart can find their way back. If you’re not into that kind of story, this might not be for you. But if you love a good reconciliation romance, if you’re drawn to stories about people who grew up together and are trying to figure out if they can grow old together too, this is going to hit.

I enjoyed this one so much that I immediately went and ordered two more of DeWitt’s books. I also preordered the next book in this series. I know it’s early, but I think the author may have found a new fan.

If you’re tired of formulaic rom-coms and want something with more emotional depth, pick this up. And if you’ve ever wondered whether first loves can become forever loves, this book will make you believe it’s possible.

Book Club/Book Box:

Reading Challenge(s):