| Title | : | Savor It |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1250329426 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781250329424 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 |
| Publication | : | Expected publication May 21, 2024 |
Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She's learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win―something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.
Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.
A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like...
Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.
Savor It Reviews
-
hi me again with an unofficial blurb to say i want to move inside this book. Like pack my backs and *move* to Spunes (to clarify the only other fictional small town I'd move to would be Forks). Anyways, Tarah's writing is outrageously witty and this book is flirty and fun and beautiful and the fact that its title is SAVOR IT is in truth so smutty because of [redacted] and [redacted] so I'll be smirking to myself every time I see you adding this to your tbrs until release day. After that, we can smirk together. Also, did I say Fisher IS A CHEF? Like a proper, Michelin star chef who will kiss you against a library shelf to make your ex jealous and go d*wn on you in a sunroom. Oops. Anyways, he's also the kind of lost you want to find, and the kind of hurt you want to nurse back to happiness :) Kay, thanks for coming to one more episode of elena, unhinged. love you bye.
-
4.25 stars
“I…I think I keep my world small so I don’t feel insignificant in it.”
This was so freakin sweet. It got that warm cozy noisy small town charm and ahh I savored it!! I was so hesitant in the beginning because Tarah Dewitt is a new to me author, but her writing appeared to be so good. It’s fun, flirty, and warm.
Fisher and Sage were amazing together! I loved their banter and the way they communicate so much. Sage felt like a nice best friend who lights up every place she enters. She doesn’t always feel okay, but she’s still full of charm. Simply, your small town next door girl. Fisher was so sweet and charming. I loved being inside his head and seeing him struggle with being in a new town, struggle with dealing with his niece, with being without a job, and struggle with his feelings towards Sage. I loved them both so much.
I want this to become a series. I need a book about each one of her brothers. I see potential there!! This was lighthearted, emotional, and swoony. I loved it. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
Huge Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing this copy. -
𝚂𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛 𝙸𝚝 𝚋𝚢 𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚑 𝙳𝚎𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚝
When I saw the author of Funny Feelings had a new book coming out I was ecstatic!!! She couldn’t have picked a better book title because I swear you will want to SAVOR every chapter and moment in this book. You aren’t just getting a romance novel you are getting so much more 💜 The atmosphere of this small town had me wanting to literally jump inside this book. It’s seriously so unfair I can’t be transported and live my happy, merry life there forever 🤭😭
Brief Summary: Sage has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington 🤭) her entire life. She's learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town's inhabitants. She had a serious relationship that ended a year ago and she hates running into him everywhere in the small town. Fisher who just got custody of his niece is a big time chef from NY coming to Spunes to get life back on track and open a restaurant in the town. He is renting the house next to Sage and they become very acquainted.
Tropes & What to Expect
🪻small town romance
🪻opposites attract
🪻hello next door neighbor
🪻friends with benefits
🪻summer romance
🪻Dual POV
🪻flirty and playful banter
🪻HEA
Sage is one of my favorite FMCs. She is such a treasure. She’s funny, strong, kind, spunky, and just a genuine soul. I WANT to be her best friend 🥹 Fisher is struggling in his role as a new caregiver to his nice and is grieving his sister’s death. Our MMC is not afraid to talk openly about out his feelings or express emotions. He takes care of Sage and looks out for her which melted my heart. Every strong, independent woman needs a man to cater to her wants and needs.
They actually communicate and help each other through their issues. There is no miscommunication and the characters actually ACT👏🏼 THEIR 👏🏼 AGE 👏🏼 I’m so tired of reading about 30-40 year olds acting like babies 🙄
Spice Level
2/5 🌶️
There are explicit scenes but you aren’t going to see any explicit wording. I LOVED the aftercare scene 🫠
Overall thoughts: I feel I’ve said the word “love” a million times but oh well I LOVED this book 🩷 The writing is fun and humorous. If you want to feel like you just vacationed to a small beach town with the most wonderful tight knit community Read this book ☺️ It’s already got me planning a trip to a sleepy beach town 🌊☀️
Thank you Netgallery and Tarah Dewitt for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
Oh, boy! I loved this book so much, and I enjoyed every second of it!
Fisher and Sage, a duo that's just irresistibly adorable. Fisher's grumpy pirate vibe perfectly complements Sage's absolute joy for the little things in life. In this slow-burn love story, their communication is just chef's kiss — a testament to the beauty of a healthy relationship that keeps you turning the pages. And let's not forget Fisher's heartwarming relationship with his niece, witnessing their healing and growth together. Life lessons are seamlessly woven into the narrative, making this book a delightful package.
This gem of a book offers everything you could wish for: A+ side characters, swoony romance, and yes, tiny goats! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC; mark your calendars for May 21st if you're a fan of small-town romance, single dads (guardians), grumpy/sunshine dynamics, fake dating, and themes of grief and healing.
Enter Sage Byrd, the vivacious and eccentric female lead who breathes life into every moment. Her ability to find beauty in the ordinary is truly inspiring. On the other side, Fisher, equally lovable in his own way, tenderly navigates his relationship with Sage and works hard to be a good parent to his teenage niece.
But it's not just about the main characters; the supporting cast turns a small town into a home. The setting of Spunes, Oregon, is so enchanting that you'll find yourself wishing it were real. Tarah's writing skillfully blends romance with anxiety, grief, and acceptance, creating an enjoyable and emotionally resonant read.
Fisher and Sage are characters you'll fall in love with — Fisher, the hot, sad boy with trauma and an earring, and Sage, the girl-next-door with heartbreak and childhood loss. Their interactions, from heartfelt to spicy, showcase a deep connection that unfolds beautifully.
Tarah DeWitt's writing is pure magic, reaching into the reader's psyche and bringing forth thoughts often left unexplored. "Savor It" is a testament to her brilliance, offering a lighthearted and swoony read that tugs at your heartstrings. The banter, tension, humor, small-town charm, and diverse characters make it a memorable experience.
From Sage and Fisher's delightful banter to the dual POV, Sage's brothers, the humor, Fisher's charm, and the small-town atmosphere reminiscent of Stars Hollow, every element is finely crafted. Even the ending is a beautiful conclusion that stays true to the characters.
Though the pacing caught me off guard at times, it's a minor hiccup in a book that otherwise deserves all the stars. Tarah DeWitt has yet again delivered a story that pulls you into a world you won't want to leave, with characters you'll want as friends — or maybe even want to be.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/ St. Martin's Griffin for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter -
“Life’s short. Go to the library. Live a million different stories and see a million different places in one. You might not have control over some things, but you can always foster your imagination.”
╰┈➤ thank you to netgalley for the arc ♡
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ ➸ 4 ✩ ࣪ ⋆ 𓂃
This is such a perfect small town romance!! It gave all the summer vibes and really had me wishing I lived in a small town by the beach with a neighbor next door for me to fall in love with. THE PERFECT SUMMER READ!! You’ll certainly find something to take by the end of this book :)
This book had a bit of everything; romance, humor, grief, family relationships, and amazing characters!! Everything fit together so well and this story was so well written and lovely! I would also love to see another book in this world with the other characters!!
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ ➸ sage byrd
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓.”
"𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐈'𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥," "𝐈... 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐨 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭.”
EEEE I LOVED SAGE!! She’s such a sweet and caring person and she deserves all the happiness in the world!! I loved her humor and personality (especially her many pun shirts cause those were hilarious) and also just her MIND! She just felt so REAL to read about and her thoughts and mindset really had me feeling all these emotions.
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ ➸ fisher lange
“𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑴𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚. 𝑷𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝑰 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓.”
I love complex characters and fisher is one that isn’t perfect. Struggling with many things from the past and present and taking on the role of caring for his niece he sure had a lot going on. I loved his personal development and well and development with his relationship with his niece.
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ ➸ sage & fisher
“𝐈 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥.”
“𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥.” “𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆.”
“𝑾𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.”
“𝐇𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐱 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲.”
“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐬.” “𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.”
THESE TWO FOUND EACH OTHER AND ARE PERFECT TOGETHER!! They understand and see each other so well! I loved how they always communicated with each other and there was never any problems with saying how they feel to each other! Their banter also made me laugh and they had me contados smiling at my kindle from joy and happiness! I’m so happy they ended up at the same place and meeting and finding a home in each other!! I love them with all my heart <3
𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ ➸ more quotes :)
╰┈➤ “𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓?”
╰┈➤ “𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆 𝒌��𝒆𝒑 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑰'𝒎 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇, 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏��𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔. 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒈𝒐. 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍, 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒈𝒐 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒆.”
╰┈➤ “𝑴𝒚 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕, 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍, 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕.”
-
“𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡.”
“𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐭𝐨𝐨. 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞.” -
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
"You once told me you thought you were a lot of nots," he says. "I want you to know that to me, you're everything. I love that you're full of terrible puns that you're not afraid to follow with profound wisdom." He thumbs my temple like he's caressing my mind. "You're all the shapes made perfectly to hold me, and you're all my favorite colors."
This was a delightful, fast read. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the FMC and MMC, though I think the relationship as a whole could have used more development.
I also thought that there would be more delving into Fisher's profession (chef) and what he was doing in the town in the first place. He was discovering more about what he wanted to do on a personal level, but the decision made toward the end of the book didn't really make sense to me.
There is a third act breakup, but I don't mind this type, where it's a mutual, loving break because of each other's circumstances instead of someone inevitably doing/saying something dumb. BUT the reasons here didn't really land for me. He says he needs to go back to his profession, but he constantly admitted he wasn't enjoying it anymore. He also said he had to go back for his niece, but she just had a thing about small towns, so I wasn't thrilled that she dictated what choices were made (please also keep in mind I'm not a parent so I don't have experience with people making decisions like this 😅)
But overall I enjoyed this one and look forward to more from TD. -
⭐️ This was so stinking cute!!!! ⭐️
"You once told me you thought you were a lot of nots. I want you to know that to me, you're everything."
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Pacific Northwest setting
✨ small town romance
✨ he’s a big city chef struggling with burnout
✨ she’s a small town teacher who finds happiness in the smallest things
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ instant attraction
✨ friends to lovers
✨ slow burn
✨ fake dating
✨ adorable banter
✨ 2/5 🌶️
✨ third act breakup (mutual and mature, but no less sad)
✨ HEA
✨ single parent (to orphaned niece)
✨ adorable farm animals
✨ Gilmore Girls / Stars Hollow small town vibes (nosey neighbors, town hall meetings)
✨ dual POV
✨ TW: grief, loss of loved one (past), career burnout, bodily injury (off-page)
My Thoughts:
I just finished and thought it was so sweet! 🫶 I love the characters, the romance, the animals, and the small town vibes! Tarah DeWitt has a way of creating stories with so much heart, you can’t help but fall in love as you read. I swooned so much. There's also so much Sage advice that I truly feel I grew as a person while reading this book. Go pre-order now! 🤩
PS: I REALLY hope this gets turned into a series because I NEED Wren and Ellis to have a second chance romance, and I'd love to see all the brothers find love as well!!! 🫶
Full review to come closer to the release date (05/21/24).
Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC and Tarah DeWitt for providing a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
Favorite Quotes:
*Potential Spoilers - Read at your own risk*
If something takes a village, the people of Spunes almost always find a way to function as one.
_______
"I don't think we can base our success entirely on someone else's opinion."
_______
"Something tells me I couldn't have you pegged in a decade, let alone a few days, Sage. But even I can tell that you're vast."
_______
"I think sometimes some people make us different versions of ourselves, whether we mean to let them or not."
_______
Even disheveled and dirty with a ladle in his hand, he makes me want to twirl my hair and giggle like a moron.
_______
"Whenever you think too little of the world, try to remember that somewhere, something, or someone is always waiting to be known."
_______
She moves closer and gathers me into a hug. It's misery. It's agony. It's bliss.
_______
"Hiding from me?"
"Just knew you'd find me."
"I did find you."
We both can't seem to stop finding one another.
_______
"Don't worry so much about the clouds that you miss the flowers at your feet. Flowers might fade, but I think I'll enjoy them while they're here."
_______
Love is this. Love is breathing. A sweet, deep, aching relief. And it's somehow even more disorienting.
_______
"It's been a privilege to fall in love with you, Sage."
_______
"Live by your own standards and no one else's . . . be happy by your own measure."
_______
"Sometimes courage is just quietly trying again."
_______
"You once told me you thought you were a lot of nots. I want you to know that to me, you're everything. . . You're all the shapes made perfectly to hold me, and you're all my favorite colors. . . You're definitely my favorite flavor."
_______ -
Anytime a book can make me cry - I know it's a 5-star read for me. I feel like when you read so many books; it takes a lot to find a connection with new characters. But I loved every moment of Sage specifically. She's the kind of character that makes you want to make new friends in a world where adult friendships are hard to find... and nurture, for that matter!
THOUGHTS:
- Small Towns: There's a lot of commentary in Savor It about the beauty/harsh sides of small towns, and basically every second of it I agreed with. Some small towns can be really great ... but some are notoriously bad. Sometimes I dream of moving out west because I imagine small towns there are nicer? Idk. That's the setting of this sweet romance, and I want to be part of Sage's (and Bella from Twilight's) worlds!
- Romantic Flings: I could never have just a short romantic fling with someone I actually respected. My fragile little heart would never recover because I knew I would fall in love!!
- Animal Lovers & Passionate People: The other major reason I loved this book? It is quite literally my dream to have a big garden, a massive flower patch, and a bunch of rescue animals. I even have the giant German shepherd, similar to her dog Sable!!
NOTES:
- 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 - Not necessarily for the wildness - more just frequency. Very good!
- I will probably buy a physical copy of this because I loved it so much!
**Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 ||
More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤 -
tarah's books always feel like a simultaneous punch to the gut and best hug you've ever received. this story is so cozy yet never shies away from the hard stuff. the town is magical, the characters (even the side ones!) will pull you in so quickly. they are so real and raw and so dang lovable. you will laugh and cry and probably (definitely) feel hot and bothered. i just love love stories written by tarah dewitt 😭
-
You should know it's the 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡𝙤 ✨😌
- ~ -
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘵 follows Fisher - a highly accomplished, yet recently unemployed chef escaping the hustle of New York and his kitchen to Spunes, a small town in nowhere Oregon, with his niece as they both grieve her mother.
Sage Byrd has spent her whole life in the same town and she's content but why does it feel like s̶̶o̶̶̶m̶e̶̶o̶̶n̶̶e̶ something's still missing?
As the two confide about their grievances and nurture each other's strengths, a love flows that might just bring their smiles back.
- ~ -
Sage and Fisher's story made me nostalgic for a life I haven't lived and a town I've not visited. I applaud the author for creating a town so filled with love and antics I wish I could live there.
I hope we can all find a love as calming as theirs and a million more.
And I know for a fact that Ellis and Wren's story is coming soon and I can barely sit straight because I just know I'll be all up in the feels <3
- ~ -
3.94 / 5✩
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯. -
it's been a privilege to fall in love with you.
though this review comes many months after first reading this glorious small-town romance, hardly a day has gone by where I haven't thought of sage, fisher and all the lovely souls of spunes, oregon. savor it is tarah's best work yet, a story that was infused with just the right amount of heart and soul. apologies for any of the not-so-subtle cooking references I may make in honor of chef fisher lange and the man he is.
4.5 ★
as an avid consumer of romance novels, certain books come around and remind me why I adore the genre so damn much. savor it lives on that tier of the ladder, where there is such depth and nuance to the characters that they truly feel alive, like friends you wish to comfort, people you'd do anything to know. while sage and fisher are imperfect, they're still hopeful and trying, aware of the risk they face when being vulnerable. it's no small thing to reveal all we are to someone, so it was magical to witness the connection they formed, and the way they were intentionally gentle with each other.
in 2023, savor it ended up being one of my favorite books of the year, a joyful experience from start to finish. and all these months later, its perfectly executed conclusion is something I still think about often. the full gambit of emotions was felt while reading the last 10 to 15 percent, and isn't that what we do this for, at the end of the day? the buzzing anticipation of the happy ending? the satisfaction of witnessing the characters we love being loved? I don't imagine it could ever grow old.
all the thanks in the world to tarah dewitt for this story. -
Romances help pick up my mood because it gives me great comfort knowing that all will be well in the end.
Even so, I’ve been reading less and less romcoms lately because the journeys to the HEA became too similar, characters have the same traits and their love stories end up being indistinguishable from others. With the exception of a few authors, it kind of feels I read them all.
Hence comes Tarah DeWitt, her characters and their love stories, that always make me fall back in love with romance.
Sage and Fisher might appear to be the classic sunshine grumpy pair, but they are vaste. I adored to see them picking up their pieces and grow, to open up their hearts and savor the moments.
I can’t wait to be back to Spruce and read Gronk and the remaining Byrds HEA.
P.S: I’ll share a more detailed review upon Savor it release in May 2024 -
I'll post a more coherent review for this when I reread it but Sage and Fisher are absolutely everything to me and this is Tarah's best book yet (NO ONE TELL FARLEY AND MEYER I SAID THAT)
-
He didn’t fix me, and I didn’t heal him, but we loved each other wholly.
…
“But you know what the bravest thing of all is? The most extraordinary thing?” I let out a relieving breath I feel to my very soul, because I also know the truth in what I’m saying. “To live by your own standards and no one else’s. To be happy by your own measure.”
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an ARC of Savor It in exchange for an honest review.
Sage has lived in the setting of a West Coast Hallmark movie all her life. She’s a teacher and lives on a farm with all the animals. She dated the town’s golden boy Ian for five years, but he dumped her a year ago and is now engaged to her former friend Cassidy. She’s not unhappy exactly—she’s got her brothers and a town she loves—but she’s just so tired of being pitied or overlooked. Fisher is in town for the summer to consult on a new restaurant. A Michelin-starred chef, his life has been on a downward spiral for years, and this job could be his last chance to restart his career. More importantly, he’ll have the chance to rebuild his relationship with his niece Indy, who’s still grieving her mother’s death. Suddenly neighbors, Sage and Fisher soon realize that she can help him cut through the red tape for the restaurant and that he can help her win The Festival of Spunes and finally get the town to see she’s over Ian. But there’s nothing fake about the feelings behind their fake dating relationship, so what will happen when the summer ends and Fisher goes back to New York?
At times, Savor It hits all the beats you’d expect in a small town romcom. The seemingly brooding big city boy meets the quirky and utterly charming small town girl. There are run-ins with her brothers, suspicious townspeople that are often quite funny, and a scene-stealing goose named Gary. And, of course, the fake dating predictably leads to real feelings and some spicy times. But this book has a surprising emotional depth to it because the relationship between Sage and Fisher is often secondary. Sage has a lot of grief she’s working through, sure, but watching Fisher try to regain Indy’s trust and be the parent she needs was really moving.
Savor It is an above average romcom, funny and moving in equal parts. Recommended. -
I luv this one. Deeply touching with a summer romance that became so much more. Both main characters are awesome! The second half clinched the rating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story is a deeply touching summer romance that became so much more as you delved into the book. Page after page the slow-building friendship and growing romance developed in a fun and beautiful way.
DeWitt created characters that were complex and so real. Dealing with past hurts and yet growing through it too. I love how the main characters connected and teamed up for healing and growth through humor and a bit of craziness. Fun farm animals, interesting secondary characters, and a family worth it all.
The second half clinched the rating. These two grew together in such a subtle way with an intensity that takes your breath away. It carried from the hot scenes to their emotional connection. The heat was as intense as their love.
Savor It is a fun, flirty, and deliciously hot work that will beg you to read it over and over.
~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review -
https://amidlifewife.com/savor-it-by-... -
This book had potential but the execution wasn't the best. For some reason I felt like this book didn't had enough dialogue between the main couple, which is extremely weird. The plot wasn't going nowhere and there was an excessive amount of filler that could've been easily removed.
I always have the same problem with this author: the pacing is weird, she uses random words to make her writing seem "fancy" and "eloquent" but these have no correlation with what is really happening (it seems pretentious to me) and the worst one, her characters never have chemistry. Sage wasn't a likable FMC, she was too quirky for my taste and she would say the most random out of pocked things (why would they talk about dead relatives after having sex???? Every single time). I don't know. This wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either. -
this is the best Tarah Dewitt book I have read.
-
4.5⭐️
Savor It is a wonderful small-town story that will live with me for a while. I LOVEEE small-town romances because the little details within the setting contribute so much to the story, and this was no exception! I've read nearly all of Tarah's books, but this one felt so raw and realistic. These characters jump off the page at you and are so extremely loveable.
Sage is one of those fmcs that you read and want to become best friends with, I would do anything to join her on her little farm and help her take care of her various rescue animals. Her character truly stuck out to me, Tarah did a wonderful job developing her struggles and how they affect her. Fisher was everything that you could ever wish for! A chef with a troubled past just barely holding it together for his niece whom he has legal guardianship of. I loved reading about his character and how he developed, he was everything to sage and sage was everything to him. These two characters bring life to each other's lives and that is so beautiful to witness. The way they can relate but also provide advice and guidance to each other was wonderful.
As mentioned before, I love the small town and the antics that come with it. This story has so many interesting characters and dynamics I would love to see more of. I loved reading about Indy, I wanted to see more & more of her character but I loved how Fisher and Indy's relationship grew and blossomed anew. I NEED a book about Wren and Ellis, with their troubled marriage (please)!
Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and these characters are just so loveable. I love Tarah's writing and how she creates her characters, but these felt like a warm hug. I can't wait to see what she creates next!
Thank you so much Netgalley for this arc! -
im so confused rn, why do i have this as read and three stars?? ive never heard of this
-
4.25 ☆
Where to start with this one? Tarah DeWitt's 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘵 is full of heart and easily the best work she has done yet. From our main characters, Sage and Fisher, who are unapologetically human and smitten with one another, to the fun town of Spunes, Oregon - I. am. obsessed.
Tarah does something so magical with all of the characters she creates. Sage and Fisher, along with Indy, Wren, Sam, etc., are no different. She makes them feel so tangible; they are flawed, funny, and all at the same time, incredibly relatable and sincere. Sage and Fisher are both trying to make sense of their life while dealing with their own two versions of grief, and while its confusing and at times very frustrating, they lean on each other - finding moments of clarity, peace, and love with one another. Its incredibly tender the way they care for each other and Tarah does an exceptional job at showing that to us in her writing. Getting both POVs was a gift.
I know in my heart that the next book in this series will be amazing, if not more, especially with what was previewed. 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘵 will be hands down be a fan favorite next year; there's no question about it. -
TLDR: I devoured this and cannot wait to reread over and over again. Mark your calendars for 5/21.
This is one of the best romances I have read. I love all of the author’s books and this book just further proves that Tarah DeWitt is a master of her craft. The way she seamlessly combines deep, emotional moments with lighter, comedic ones is spectacular.
From the first couple chapters I could tell that Sage and Fisher’s journey would be a beautiful one. They both are struggling to figure out their identity and purpose. I saw myself in both of them but particularly Sage. I love how they both grow and learn how to open up to each other. Their love story is so tender but also has amazing tension. And the spicy scenes!!!! Soooo good. 🫠
I don’t always laugh out loud while reading but this book had me cackling. I would not classify it as a rom com at ALL but there are so many hysterical moments and tons of witty banter.
I also adored the small town aspect of this book. Can I please move to Spruce, Oregon??
*more detailed review/favorite quotes to come closer to release day* -
This is Tarah’s best work yet. I’ll post a more thorough review once this book has reached more readers, but my god. It’s phenomenal.
-
Check out this beautiful romance cover!
Savor It releases May 21, 2024
Fisher Lange, chef who has lost his way and no longer finds joy cooking gets temporarily reassigned to a small town in Oregon to set up a new up and coming restaurant. While there he meets Sage, the eccentric neighbor. Together with his niece they learn how to start over and sometimes the path you thought you needed to be on can be completely wrong.
This has a few spicy scenes and I would definitely classify as a slow burn. I loved the city of Spunes and now I want more follow up stories from other residents. Especially Indy! The one thing that I wish wasn’t so rushed was the competition. I wish that part didn’t feel so rushed and anticlimactic. Other than that I enjoyed it.
Great romance read! Spice level 🌶️🌶️
Thank you to Net Galley, Tarah DeWitt, and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy for an honest review. -
I will have something coherent to say about this closer to release but in the meantime I’m crying real tears this book is SO GOOD
-
4.25 - 4.5 ⭐️
A beautiful character driven story about reinventing yourself + realizing what truly matters. There’s something so beautiful about meeting characters when they aren’t at the best & slowly learning to LIVE and enjoy life again.
Burnt out chef Fisher finds himself moving to Sprunes Oregon along side his niece who he recently become guardian of. Fisher finds himself neighbors with the local golden girl Sage. Let me tell you I absolutely adored her quirky self. A lover of animals + gardening! My girl Sage is living her best life. I loved that Sage was happy with her life as it was. I think the older I get the more I realize it’s the little things that matter.
Throughout the summer the two join forces to work together, and my favorite part of this was how much they both just needed each other! It was truly beautiful to see Fisher and Sage fall into each other. It felt inevitable and organic. The setting of this book was perfect. Small town coastal vibes will always be my favorite. -
5⭐️
3🌶️
Like a Hallmark movie with fantastic spice. It had all of the makings of a perfect romance; small-town, boy rents the house next door for an entire summer, a fake-relationship to make an ex jealous, a friends-with-benefits arrangement gone wrong, and two individuals worthy of love (seriously, I loved Sage and Fisher!). This was my first read from Tarah Dewitt and I will definitely be reading more from her.
📚Thank you NetGalley and Tarah Dewitt for the ARC of Savor It. -
I judged a book by its cover, and boy did this book live up to the beautiful ombre pinks and purples.
📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: Savor It by Tarah Dewitt
📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Small town romance, opposites attract, only for the summer, all of the feels, chef vibes.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Fisher is banished to a small town in Oregon after losing his job and his Michelin star, doomed to consult on a new restaurant in a small town. While he struggles with his new normal, and his relationship with his niece, who is in his care, he can’t help, but get to know his quirky neighbor, Sage.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: This book is everything I hoped it would be.
Tara DeWitt has a way of writing these intensely relatable romances. While I may not be able to identify directly with the same things that Sage and Fisher are going through, there’s lessons in their journey about growing and appreciating the life you’re given.
But that is all an undercurrent, swallowed up in a beautiful romance that cracks your heart right out of your chest. I love a story where two characters legitimately can’t help but love each other. Fisher and Sage are helpless against the pull to one another, and it was so great to be back and Tarah Dewitt’s world of tension and feeling.
And if you know me, I would be remiss not mentioning the fact that I’m always searching for a good chef romance... A book where the food becomes part of the romance, and Tara, DeWitt nailed it with nods to some of my favorite kitchen-inspired shows and movies.
I can tell you I’m legitimately JUMPING for this book when it hits shelves, and it will be an immediate reread - the ultimate honor I could bestow. It’s just THAT good.
📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲… It hasn’t been announced yet, but if Tara DeWitt doesn’t give us more books for the rest of the Byrd family, I will quite literally riot.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. -
Tarah DeWitt NEVER disappoints. 🙌🏼
This may be my new favorite?? Maybe tied with Farley & Meyer. I laughed, I cried, I smiled so much throughout this book. Fisher and Sage were just perfect. I adored them so much. They complimented each other so well 🥹🥹🥹
Full, more detailed review possibly when this gets officially released in May or I can gather my thoughts without spoiling. Thanks to NetGalley for the early download! 🫶🏻 -
4⭐️I appreciate the ARC. I enjoyed Sage and Fisher’s story. Their love towards one another was palpable. The character building was great. I love reading books that touch deeper topics. Makes the story more relatable.
-
I savored every chapter of Tarah’s new romance. What a sweet love story with a gorgeous cast of characters, human and animal alike.
