| Title | : | Sterne, die im Sommer Tanzen |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 3426447037 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9783426447031 |
| Language | : | German |
| Format Type | : | Kindle , Hardcover , Paperback , Audiobook & More |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | First published 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.
Sterne, die im Sommer Tanzen Reviews
-
1.75!
DNF@70%
It's just so frustrating when a book that you're anticipating turns out to be so bad that you cant even finish it?? I rarely dnf books. In fact this is my third dnf of the year. The worst part is it wasn't even that bog of a book!! It was just 280 pages and I was supposed to breeze past it. The writing was terrible and I wasn't expecting that because I really enjoyed it in the co-o. Here, it was very shallow and my eyes were literally zoning out and if that wasn't bad enough, they would automatically skim and I would have to read that page again but it just became tedious and not worth it.
The character were not the best either. I wanted to like there story, it was becoming something cute but it had the same problem that I faced with her other work 'The Co-Op' but on a larger scale, I just was not able to connect with the characters. They were going on with their lives and I couldn't even be bothered by them because I was too busy trying to fight the horrendous writing. So, I was not able to enjoy Sage and Fisher's arc. It's sad because the tropes were really fun and I cant really talk about the romance because I was only able to enjoy bits of it until hell came tumbling down.
Overall, very disappointed. I felt like this would THE summer romance book but it was my fault to have high expectations :(Let's see how far Roxy can go 🤭(not far enough)
____
This better be as good as the cover!
•Buddy reading with Roxy (yes we have one pending already) -
LOL Out here on outlier island again.
Sigh. This started out really cute but there was nothing exciting or gripping. It was honestly really bland.
Predictable, flavorless, boring, cookie cutter, I'm out. DNF @71%
❥・ Small Town
❥・ Summer Romance
❥・Slow Burn
❥・ Friends to Lovers
❥・Dual POV
✨ Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Tarah Dewitt for the complementary advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review. ✨ -
4 ⭐️ 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:
This book has officially put me back in my small town romance era. 🫶 And if you love heartfelt stories with charming small towns, genuine characters, and a sweet and spicy summer romance, Savor It will be your latest obsession.
What I loved:
Tarah Dewitt did an amazing job creating the adorable PNW town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington lol). From my experience, most contemporary romances tend to select a setting that already exists or if it doesn't, one is created but only described in vague terms. But that's not the case here. From the descriptions of the buildings to the quirky townies to the rich history, it felt like an honest-to-god real town that I could one day visit.
It's apparent that this story was written from the heart because everything about it feels so real. Similar to how the town feels like it's a real place in the world, the characters also feel incredibly real. Fisher, Sage, and Indy have experienced so much loss and heartbreak, and the way they handle and work through it all is very realistic. Even the events that take place throughout the story seemed plausible. Nothing about Savor It felt contrived, and that was extremely refreshing. This is what I love most about Tarah Dewitt's writing, is that she has a way of bringing everything to life.
I appreciated the way grief was handled. Losing a loved one is never easy, no matter how long ago it happened. And while the story centers mostly on Fisher's (and Indy's) healing journey, we're also able to see what it looks like to have lived with loss for many years through Sage's POV. The way Sage is able to understand and support Fisher was beautiful. Everyone needs to have someone like Sage in their life to lighten up their life during a dark time.
The romance was slow growing but so sweet. From the moment they meet, there is an instant attraction, but due to Fisher's grief/messy life and Sage's wariness of a summer fling, they focus on developing a friendship based on vulnerability and reliability. Fisher finds someone who can relate his grief and helps him through it with unconditional understanding and love. While Sage finds someone who loves AND appreciates her for exactly who she is - quirks and all - especially those funky robes and punny tees.
Some other thoughts:
The pacing was a little off in the beginning and towards the end. The first 30% was slow moving, which I'm not too bothered by because the story was being set up. But the last 20% was a whirlwind with a few time jumps and many random moments that read like a montage. It felt a bit rushed because we spent the first 80% of the book really diving deep into these characters and their emotions with a few small subplots sprinkled in. But by the end, when these subplots needed to get wrapped up, they're all done at once and without spending much time on them. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if the race and the restaurant opening both played bigger roles at the end, considering the race is what brings Sage and Fisher to work together, and the restaurant is why Fisher is in Spunes in the first place. Every loose end was tied up but I think those two subplots could have had a bit more time dedicated to them.
Overall, Savor It is a wonderful rom-com and the perfect book for the summer. Tarah DeWitt has a way of creating stories with so much heart, you can’t help but fall in love as you read. You'll swoon and maybe even cry, but ultimately, you'll have a great time visiting the town of Spunes. There's also so much Sage advice that I truly feel I grew as a person while reading this book. 🤩
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!!! 🫶
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."
_______ -
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. -
Beautiful, hilarious, quirky, slightly spicy yet balanced with very moving moments, Savor It is a story of love and loss, burnouts and the journey to self-discovery and recovery. And oh my, what a treat this was! A feast for the eyes and food for the soul. I will be savor-ing this book for a long time to come. Of course, you can see what I did there – and if you are a lover of puns both silly and witty, you will love this book as much as I have because this is full of them!
“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...You’re all the shapes made perfectly to hold me, and you’re all my favorite colors.”
[ Contains some spoilers]
PLOT SUMMARY
Sage Byrd small-town girl (teacher) living in her not-quite-so-lonely world with her rescued animals, three firemen brothers, and best friend Wren, gets a new neighbour: one Fisher Langue, former Michelin star chef now fired and looking after his 15-year-old niece Indy after his sister died in a car accident. Reassigned to the country to set up a new restaurant with a second chance, Fisher lacks the passion he used to have for cooking and strives to find it again.
Sage’s ex-boyfriend of five years Ian is recently engaged so she feels like a loser whom everyone pities. She wants to win the canoe competition at the Summer festival this year to prove her own worth (and Ian keeps winning it every year) but she needs a partner for it. Fisher has some problems with the project being delayed, and he requires an insider to know how to appease the townspeople to get it back up and running. Circumstances ensue wherein they decide to pretend to date, solving their problems yet causing more as they navigate their way through the real feelings they harbour for each other.
This present-tense dual POV rom-com is from the perspectives of Sage and Fisher.
OVERALL OPINIONS
<< Positives >>
ㅤ writing
This is the first book I’ve read by Tarah DeWitt and it has to be the best contemporary romance I’ve read in a while. DeWitt’s writing is so charming, and much like the way she describes hugs “It’s agony. It��s bliss” – the book’s warmth radiated and its pages enfolded me through the delightful and heartfelt moments. It kept me thoroughly engaged, so much so that by the end of this book even I fell in love with the town! The story had a good structure, decent pacing, and I loved that there was an Epilogue as some books leave this out and I live for it – yes please tell me what happens next!
The amount of humour got me grinning ear-to-ear, particularly the circumstances in which Sage and Fisher meet.
🠚 There are the endless jokes and puns to be found from the name of the town Spunes not to be mistaken for Forks in Washington, the “sage advice” when talking about Sage’s infinite amount of wisdom, her surname Byrd being akin to “bird”, when someone’s been “pun-etrated” when saying too many puns.
🠚 I also greatly appreciated the film and tv show references, such as Gossip Girl, Bridgerton, Twilight and best of all Lord of the Rings – naming her three-legged cat Legoless and the description of Sage crawling around like Gollum? Genius! My favourite trilogy mentioned in a book? As if I couldn’t love it even more!
🠚 Also, THE WAY FISHER CALLS SAGE “ SWEETHEART” AHHH!
ㅤ mature approach
🠚 We need to talk about the maturity of Sage and Fisher, namely the mature approach the DeWitt has to writing 30-something-year-olds: their communication is perfect! The way they take accountability if they are ever being distant or offhand towards the other is admirable. Communication is key in any relationship and they are always trying to communicate their feelings despite how awkward it may sound or how rejected it may be.
I have read a lot of books with the grumpy x sunshine trope and they hone in on the grumpy side by having arguments or “I can’t stand this person but I am fake dating them”. What I liked about this book is we don’t get that the same. Here, they do not mind fake dating. Fisher I believe is more reserved than grumpy to begin with, grumpy nonetheless, but Sage’s jokes and positive outlook change him for the better.
Personally, I absolutely loved the approach here and I beg more authors to do this!
🠚 Some really serious moments are handled realistically and exceptionally well, especially the loss of Freya for Fisher and Indy. The way especially Fisher and Indy’s dynamic goes from the typical father-figure unable to control or relate or talk to his rebellious teenage ward to finally him opening up and wishing he had been there more for his sister and niece to Indy finding it in her to forgive him to finally connecting over their loss, allow each other grieve and share memories.
🠚 Sage and her brothers lose their parents at a young age, which explores how loss affects them differently. Sage’s oldest brother Ellias is described as having to “become a man too young, who has carried the weight of the world since he was thirteen”, which really emphasises how he has grown up far too fast too soon because of the loss, stepping up to a parental role himself and helping to look after Sage, Silas and Micah.
<< Negatives >>
🠚 The only thing I was hoping to see more of Fisher cooking in his actual working environment, seeing him properly find his passion again.
🠚 Also, the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous but – where was her pink dress in the story? I was living for the pinky-purple colour scheme on the front haha!
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Sage꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I don’t think I’ve ever related more to a character than Sage. Indeed, I am Sage, Sage is me. Well, sans the tons of rings on her fingers and many ear piercings haha but in just a lot of other ways! Her kindness, wisdom, optimism but also her self-consciousness make her a very realistic person. "All heart, full force, and making every moment matter." I love all her animal friends too, if I had the room and my asthma wouldn’t affect me, I would also be taking in animals who do not have a home.
*⁀➷ Favourite quotes
• "I would love to find a person of my own, but I refuse to let not having a partner preclude me from enjoying my life. It’d just be nice to share it with someone who appreciates and loves me as is." – same gurl!
• "I suppose I’ve never been good at stifling my curious side, and maybe I never will be." – relatable!
• "he makes me want to twirl my hair and giggle like a moron."
• "The fact of the matter is that I don’t have it in me to maintain some sort of detached, cool reserve. I never have."
• "I’ve spent so much of my life observing others, trying to learn the things I was missing, trying to make myself significant to them, but this man who has known me a month has made himself feel crucial to me"
• "Sometimes courage is just quietly trying again"
-ˋˏ ꒰ Fisher꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ Chef’s kiss. Literally! Fisher is the greenest of green flags. Bonus that he cooks, of course. Always an attractive trait. I love how in tune he is with his feelings and when he finally opens up to people it makes it all the more worthwhile. He is so observant, noticing every little thing about Sage, and I love how he looks out for and looks after her when she gets her migraine. He is your very VERY ideal man.
*⁀➷ Favourite quotes
• "I’m a chef that can’t cook, I finally admit to myself. Or doesn’t want to, at least."
• "I think therapy might be making me more in tune with other people’s emotions instead of helping me sort out my own." – not been to therapy but I do this too!
• "She was comforting me, and I refuse to misread this or risk taking advantage of her." – green flag! GREEN FLAG!!!
• “Sweetheart, I’m finding when it comes to you, I don’t know what I’m capable of, but I’m happy to test those limits.”
-ˋˏ ꒰ Sage’s friends and brothers꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I love them all dearly! All of them care about and want to support Sage and it is so wholesome!
🠚 Everyone should have a Wren in their life. I have a friend just like Wren, and we will tease each other about our type of guys whenever so this part was very relatable as I’ve had this exact same conversation with her:
• “Isn’t that, like, your very exact dream man?”
My head falls back, and my shoulders droop. “You promised you’d stop using that information against me.”
OTHER FAV QUOTES
• "Cue the spaghetti western ocarina. I chime in before either woman calls for a showdown at high noon."
• "How perfectly cliché. The ball of sunshine, wholesome girl next door… She’s so cute it’s downright offensive."
• “I am made of nothing logical right now, only hormones and a lust-filled haze."
• " he’s perfect. No, it’s worse because he’s imperfect and honest about it and he’s deserving of so much love. This is wonderfully terrible for me."
• “I’ve been paying attention,” he says, shrugging like it’s the easiest thing in the world to him
• “It’s been a privilege to fall in love with you, Sage,”
• "I thought being with Fisher would be like cut flowers in a vase. Something lovely I let in, even knowing it couldn’t last forever. The problem is, I messed up and planted him here in all my places."
• "She’s the woman who has taught me to let go of so much so that I can wish and dream for more. I plan to savor every bit of it."
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I am honoured to have been selected as an ARC reader for this book, and I’d like to thank Tarah DeWitt, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way. -
˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙ 3 / 5 ★ ˙⋆ ༶ .⁺ ˖
This was a very cute and enjoyable read 🌷
➴ Small town 🍃
➴ Summer vibes 🏝
➴ Summer love☀️
➴ Farm setting 🐶🐱🐴
➴ Slow burn 💗
➴ Friends with benefits 🙈
➴ Healthy relationship 🥰
➴ Good communication 😌
➴ Family/ Friendships Bonds 💕
➴ A stunning cover 💖💜
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
❥ Main Characters 🌻 ˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹𝓢𝓪𝓰𝓮 💐
She was a bomb of sunshine and flowers☀️ I completely adored her personality and all the beautiful values she had. She was a true believer in the importance of enjoying every single moment of life no matter what others could think, and I couldn’t agree more✨ she had a ton of animals, and I loved every single one of them. It made me want to have my own haha.
𝓕𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓻 🫐
A chef struggling with burnout, grief, and adaptation to new responsibilities. I liked his character who portrayed a very realistic one where he was struggling with his dream job but realizing that he wasn’t enjoying it anymore, nor did it make him happy. It was a complex process for him to find new things that made him happy, deal with his grief, try to improve his relationship with his niece, and be open to receiving love.
❥ My thoughts 💭 ˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹
➳ it took me a few chapters to “connect” at least a little bit with this book and to be able to continue with my reading. Maybe is a me-thing, idk. I tend to struggle with the first chapters and there are very few books that captivate me from the beginning. So... yeah
➳ this book tells us a story about grief, healing, self-discovery, burnout, family/friendship relationships, and love. I did enjoy my time reading this book after the first chapters and all the aspects mentioned, but I couldn’t truly connect with any of it, not even with the characters. I think the book lacked good dialogue and depth of the characters/plot. Like, it was all mentioned, but it was just… there. Nothing wow happened. Just the same things over and over about a festival, competition, some slow connection between them that I couldn’t feel, etc. But the aspects that really matter weren’t deepened, and I really wanted to be able to connect with this book and see the personal growth and development of characters. I wanted to feel that romance more. There were so many tropes that I love that had so much potential to be delivered in a better way. Also, I felt that the ending was a little bit rushed😭
➳ the communication in this book? *chef kiss* 🛐 we finally have a couple who can communicate all their feelings, emotions, and thoughts to prevent misunderstandings or conflicts✨
➳ this book leaves us with a very beautiful lesson: Savor it, savor everything. Enjoy the little things and joy of life. Enjoy all the details about everything, no matter how minimal they may seem. Enjoy the present and appreciate the moment and everyone around you. Enjoy your time alone- it’s not a bad thing. Learn to let go of wanting to control everything and savor that freedom. Try to accept that it is okay to change your mind about the things you like and want to do with your life and just enjoy the new opportunities. We don’t know what the future holds or what could happen tomorrow. So, let’s try to enjoy and appreciate a little bit more the present moments and just savor all of it💗😌
Anyways, despite the critics I just mentioned, I must accept that I did have a nice time reading this book🌷 I didn’t like some things, but it didn’t bother me to the point where it was unbearable. Nothing like that. Actually, it had some cute scenes, and I loved the lessons this book taught us. So, allow yourself to read it because we may have different perspectives about it, and just savor the moment💫
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˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷 ·˚ pre-read ˚ · ˖ I'm back in my romance era🥰💗 I just got approved for this arc, so I’m really excited about it💜💜 andd have you seen this cover? it's gorgeous 🛐✨
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and thank you NetGalley, for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review! <3 -
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. -
“You once told me you thought you were a lot of nots. 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. You're all the shapes made perfectly to hold me, and you're all my favourite colours.”
2.75 stars ⭐️
╰⪼ Plot
The story follows sage Sage, who has lived in Spunes, Oregon her entire life. She's independent woman, who loves animals, her farm and is a big part of the local community. Fisher is a known chef from New York, who's change of circumstances in both his workplace and his personal life, lead him to the small town of Spunes, looking for inspiration and stability for his niece, Indy.
Tropes
╰⪼ Grumpy x sunshine
╰⪼ Fake dating
╰⪼ Wounded Hero
╰⪼ Strong Heroine
╰⪼ Small Town
╰⪼ Hot neighbour
╰⪼ Guardian Ward Romance
╰⪼ Chef MMC x small town teacher
╰⪼ Open door spice
╰⪼ Dual POV
╰⪼ Thoughts
“Sometimes courage is just quietly trying again.”
I was really torn on how to rate this one, but I ultimately ended up rating the way I did because it took me several weeks to read such a short book. I usually love small town romances and their cozy vibe, but this didn't deliver enough to sustain me and keep my attention.
I did enjoy some aspects of this book, it touches on grief and navigating through adversity. I love added substance to my romance books so the exploration of Fisher's grief added to my experience, however, it would have been delved into deeper. The romance definitely had some sweet moments and the spice was tasteful.
This mainly fell short for me as I struggled to connect to Fisher and this was largely character driven. I easily preferred Sage over Fisher, she was much more interesting, fun and quirky character. Fisher really needed to be focusing on his own self development and his niece.
The writing style also detracted from my enjoyment. It pulled me out of the story because there was a lot of unnecessary detail or dialogue that didn't add much value and the pace moved very slow. The third act event didn't help things for me either considering the short length of the book. I found the direction predictable.
You might enjoy this one, if you are in the mood for a lightheaded fluffy rom-com.
💌 Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for sending me an 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.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review! -
on the surface it’s a hilarious, quirky small town romance about a hot chef and a sunshiney girl as they enter into a mutually beneficial arrangement for the summer. but underneath it’s so much more. it’s about finding your home in the people you love rather than a place. it’s about finding your way back to yourself when you’ve somehow lost it over the years. it’s about being completely satisfied and confident with who you are and where you’re going in life. it’s about savoring the good things in life, even when there’s a chance you might not get to keep them forever. it’s simple, quiet, all consuming love.
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 😭 -
✩ 4.25 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Temporary Neighbors
➼ Single Dad/Guardian
➼ Just For The Summer
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Opposites Attract
➼ Fake Dating
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Small Town Romance
➼ Dual POV
My toxic trait is believing that if I move to a small town this will happen to me. 🤷🏼♀️😄
I loved this! At face value this is a pretty standard romance, but for whatever reason, it really worked for me. The story of the “big city girl” coming to a small town and finding love has been done to death, so it was fun to have the roles reversed this time around. I believe the author intended both characters to share the role of “main character” equally, but in my opinion the male MC’s character voice was a little stronger which made him feel like the true MC of this story. Whether or not it was what the author intended, it gave this story an edge and made it stand out to me when compared to other romance reads. I could have done without the pirate earrings, but other than that I don’t really have complaints. This was just as cute as I hoped it would be. Definitely recommend!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Obsessed with this cover! I guess the princess color palette is just as effective on grown up girls. 😅
✨✨✨🌸💖🎀💗🩰👸🏼💟🦄💜🍇🟣✨✨✨ -
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.
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DNF at 60%
i tried i REALLLY tried to like this but more than half way done and i saw no plot? no chemistry i dont even think the MCs met more than twice lol -
“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 ����𝐭.”
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 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑰'𝒎 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒐𝒌𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 ���𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇, 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏, 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.” -
3⭐️
This is exactly what I needed when I needed it! It was so cute, it was so wholesome, and just the perfect fluffy read.
When I first started this book, I'll be honest, I was so confused. 😭 It just started in an odd place and threw you right into the deep end without much explanation or information. That aside, when you keep reading, this story was just so adorable.
The chemistry between Sage and Fisher was pretty good, however I did find it lacking in some areas. There were times when you could cut the tension with a knife and there were others where it just didn't hit the same. Some parts were pretty slow, but I enjoyed them nonetheless. There were so many moments in this book that just hit so close to home. This book is huge on, "be in the present and don't worry so much about the future." I think this book was such a good reminder of how positive you can make life by just focusing on the now.
This was a pretty standard rom-com, but it definitely delivered on being light and fluffy. There were some moments in here that were deep, but overall, this was such a good summer read. I could just imagine taking this with me to the beach and reading in the sun. The vibes definitely delivered!!
MY FAVORITE SCENES AND QUOTES
"Whenever you think too little of the world, try to remember that somewhere, something, or someone is always waiting to be known."
"Don't worry so much about the clouds that you miss the flowers at your feet."
"It's too late for me. I've been too far dug. Just love me until then, anyway, please."
It's like the cruelest tease of the life we might've had, if our paths had found a way to converge. Instead, I know this loop is coming to an end, and I have to find a way to appreciate it for the beautiful maze it's been.
She's the woman who has taught me to let go of so much so that I can wish and dream for me.
I plan to savor every bit of it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I need something light and fluffy to break up the heavier reads and I just recently got this!! I'm going in blind so if this traumatizes me...it's my own fault 🥹 -
my first tarah dewitt book! everyone cheered
this was a cutesy small town romance with your typical everything. EVERYTHING. it was quick to get me out of a reading slump but she brought nothing new to the table. so, i mean, loved that i knew what to expect but?
also the WRITING. something about it just did not jive with me. there were paragraphs upon paragraphs of things that were so irrelevant. sometimes during dialogue, characters were speaking just to speak. it was really boring and pulled me out A LOT so i started skimming those long ass monologues and it helped -
Now available! (21.5.24)
A cute, sexy and charming small town romance
Fisher and his niece move from the city to a small town after he loses his Michelin star. Sage is his quirky, animal loving neighbour who he gets to know 😉
I'm a big fan of
Tarah Dewitt, and loved
Funny Feelings,
The Co-op: A Novel and
Rootbound. I also adored the short story
Christmas Presents, so jumped at the opportunity to read an arc of her latest offering!
I didn't love it as much as her other books (particularly funny feelings) but I did really enjoy it!
I guess this took me a while to warm up to the story, and you felt there was a lot going on, particularly with the festival storyline, which didn't interest me.
However, this wholesome story had such a cosy heartwarming feeling to it, I couldn't help being drawn in.
I love Tarah's writing, her puns and jokes, her descriptions of small towns (both good and bad!) and the way she writes the cosy relationships between family and friends. I enjoyed the dynamic between Sage and her brothers, the friendship between Sage and Wren, her best friend, and the ups and downs with Fisher and his teenage niece, Indy.
I loved Sage and all of her adopted animals! I loved that even though Fisher had a lot of stuff to deal with, he was trying to grapple with it in a mature way. Speaking of maturity, these guys were in their thirties, and actually acted like it 🙌 Great communication and no misunderstandings ❤️
Alongside grief and burnout, there was an underlying message of love and hope in this story. There are quite a few sex scenes, they're not that explicit but are open door.
I hope this turns out to be a series because I want to hear about Wren and Ellis!
Read if you like
B.K. Borison.
🛶🛶🛶🛶
Many thanks to NetGalley UK and Little Brown Book Group for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
My reviews for
Tarah Dewitt's other books:
Funny Feelings
The Co-op
Rootbound
Christmas Presents -
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 🖤 -
4.5 stars
IM SORRYYYY SHE ATEEEE THANK YOU TARAH DEWITT I FEEL ALIVEEEEE
mans said “i love you, please bring me home” and i’m supposed to behave properly after reading that?? yeah NO -
This small-town romance was appealing for sure!
Sage Byrd is a teacher who is off during the summer. She owns a farm where she keeps the animals she has rescued. She enjoys gardening and loves her town life. She doesn't see herself leaving the town of Spunes, Oregon anytime soon. Even though, her ex-boyfriend of five years is already engaged to another local.
Fisher Lange lost his sister and the desire to work as a Chef. He was given custody of his niece Indy but they are not getting along well. He is mourning his sister and the loss of his career after his restaurant lost a Michelin star. He is in Spunes to oversee the construction of his boss's new restaurant and to create a menu for it.
Sparks ignite when Fisher rents the farm next to Sage and they meet. Can they enjoy a summer romance while knowing that their time is limited? Sage knows Fisher has to return to NYC where he and Indy have a life together.
I enjoyed Savor It. Both characters were likable especially Sage with all her animals. She was smart and sweet. I love how well they communicated without misunderstandings or acting childish. Also, I wish I could have tasted all the wonderful things Fisher cooked or thought about cooking. They all sounded great.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Griffin via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It |
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3.5 Stars
I found the book to be an enjoyable read. The grumpy versus sunshine trope added a charming and lighthearted element to the story, making it entertaining. The culinary component was a nice addition too. However, I felt that the novel didn't offer anything particularly groundbreaking within the genre. Nevertheless, it was still a pleasant read, and I would recommend it to fans of this kind of story.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah DeWitt, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.*** -
This had no right to be this cute!!
-
4 stars
I love a good small town romance and Tarah Dewitt gives us a great one with Savor It. I loved the sweet and cozy vibes in this one.
Sage and Fisher meet when Fisher and his niece Indy move in next door temporarily. Fisher is a chef who has traveled cross country after a hiccup in his work life to start up a new restaurant. Sage is a teacher who owns her own farm and is living her best small town life.
I love a good opposites attract romance and seeing these two fall for one another made me smile so big. It was delightful, charming, and I adored it. -
Savor It is a small-town summer romance following Sage, a woman content to spend her summer caring for her farm animals and garden, and Fisher the renowned chef who moves in next door to her for the season after losing his job and becoming a full-time guardian to his teenage niece. When the two meet after a little mishap involving a vacuum, Fisher agrees to help Sage out as her partner for the town's festival competition if she helps improve his image with the locals. While the two grow close as they train for the event, they find themselves in limbo as they want to explore their connection but know Fisher is only there for the summer.
I loved this sweet and summery rom-com so much; the writing, characters, and romance all came together to paint such a tender and passionate story. Fisher and Sage were absolutely beautiful together, I loved how Sage was so supportive and there for Fisher to work through his issues, never pushing but always encouraging. The way Fisher was so enamored with Sage was adorable, it was so obvious that he was just completely smitten with her and the way she thought of the world. I loved how the two came together and while the slow burn absolutely burned heavy, the romance was all around light and airy while touching on deep topics.
Read If You Like:
🌷City Boy x Small Town Girl🌷
🌷All The Farm Animals🌷
🌷Care Taking Scene🌷
🌷Summer Festivities🌷
🌷Help Me Make My Ex Jealous🌷
🌷Opposites Attract🌷
🌷Forced Proximity🌷
🌷Coastal Small Town🌷
🌷Friends W Benefits🌷 -
5 STAR READ ⭐️
*After reading this three times DEF A 5 STARRR READ**
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.
* I also did RR ON AUDIO + 1000% RECOMMEND! ZACHARY WEBBER + KARISSA VACKER KILLED THIS NARRATION SO SO GOOD!!!*
THINGS I LOVE:
- MEET CUTE ( I love that Fisher is the one who finds himself in a compromising situation)
- Small Town Coastal Vibes
- Golden Summer Girl
- GARYYYY
- The intimacy scenes add to the connection between Fisher + Sage
- Indy and Sam
- The library -
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt 🪿
A new book to add to the all time favorite list. Gosh, I loved this book so much. I read it in less than 24 hours and it probably would have been a read in one sitting book if I didn't need to sleep. There's so much to love here... the setting, the characters, the animals, the story, the relatability. I was immediately in the story and didn't want to leave.
Sage lives in the small town of Spunes, Oregon with her collection of misfit animals and her garden. Content in her life and ready to help welcome the renters who will be living in her neighbors home for the summer. She meets Fisher and his niece Indy the night they move in after a little (hilairous) mishap. They are drawn to each other at the start but kind of hover around the other. That's until Sage sneakily inserts herself into their lives by asking Indy and Fisher to help around her farm. As days pass, they both realize they will do anything and find any reason they can to spend time together. But there's a time limit to their time together.
The range of emotions I went through from this book! I'm not a crier in books, but this had me tearing up multiple times. Not because it is sad necesarily, but because I really related to and took to heart some of the things Sage and Fisher discussed. Sage indicating that while her life may not be "big and grand" to some people's standards, that doesn't matter because she's happy. It's making me do a bit of reflecting on my life.
The romance between them was so special. They way they communicated with each other and wanted to take care of each other. They were fully obsesed with one another and I loved it so much. The innuendos throughout the book were hilarious. These two were teasing and tempting each other without intention. They knew that there was a time limit to things but agreed to give in anyway, taking the time they had because it wasn't worth spending the time apart. Some of the moments between them I won't stop thinking about anytime soon.
⛰️ small town
🤍 single guardian
🏠 neighbors
🪿 lots of animals
❤️🔥 slow-ish burn
👏🏼 communication
🥰 he takes care of her when she's sick
dual POV
5/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️ -
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 ★ (x2)
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.
update: the audiobook is also incredible. -
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. -
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
