#tarah dewitt

[bigdreamsandwildthings]

The essentials 🩷

[jeevesreads]

15 Soft and Tender Romance Books

There are times when I’m in the mood for a tension-filled, unpredictable reading experience, and then there are times when I’m in the mood for something warm and cozy, feel good and uplifting. That doesn’t mean these soft and tender romances don’t tackle tough subjects, it just means they navigate them in ways that bring a flutter to your heart. A soft and tender love story wraps the reader up in…

[jessread-s]

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

✩🌅🔨Review:

DeWitt nails it with this steamy second chance romance!

“The Co-Op” follows LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds, a decade after their summer fling, when they’re thrust back together and have to figure out how repair the dilapidated Santa Cuz building their grandmothers left them. LaRynn has the money, but in order to access her trust, she has to be married. Deacon has the construction expertise, but lacks the funds. They strike up a deal to marry for however long it takes fix up the property, collect a profit, and cut ties. But it’s all easier said than done when sparks reignite. 

This is just one of those books that makes you feel and feel deeply. LaRynn and Deacon’s renovation of their home, themselves, and their relationship is beautiful, emotional, and messy. I think the mess is what I love most about this book. Both characters are flawed in their own ways because they are brought up by parents whose marriages were irreparable and lacked love. It is for that reason that LaRynn and Deacon struggle to communicate, especially with each other. The dual timelines and perspectives highlight how this struggle resulted in the failure of their first relationship when they were younger. 

The restoration of their grandmothers’ home forces them to form a partnership where they are more open, honest, and trusting to build a better foundation on. I was rooting for them as they worked through their grief, miscommunications, and slowly let down their walls! Their romantic relationship is definitely slow to burn, but the payoff is profound, which just goes to show that some trials and tribulations are worth enduring! 

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[betterthanthemovies]

books read in 2024:

out on a limb - hannah bonam-young

keeping 13 - chloe walsh

picking daisies on sundays - liana cincotti

done and dusted - lyla sage

flawless - elsie silver

funny feelings - tarah dewitt

call it what you want - brigid kemmerer

a love letter to whiskey - kandi steiner

once upon a broken heart - stephanie garber

mile high - liz tomforde

night shift - annie crown

heartless - elsie silver

afterglow effect - alecia gabrielle

too wrong to be right - melonie johnson

just go with it - madison wright

powerless - elsie silver

just friends - tiffany pitcock

magnolia parks - jessa hastings

twisted love - ana huang

the duet - hailey gardiner

love redesigned - lauren asher

happily never after - lynn painter

camp let you go - kristen lucero

more than just us - allie otoski

the infinity between us - n.s. perkins

older - jennifer hartmann

wild love - elsie silver

diving in - bianca miller

funny story - emily henry

the seven year slip - ashley poston

the rule book - sarah adams

next of kin - hannah bonam-young

twice shy - sarah hogle

rewrite our story - kat singleton

the truth & lies duet - c.w. farnsworth

just for the summer - abby jimenez

the deal - elle kennedy

the cruel prince - holly black

the consequences of falling - liliana rose hastings

the summer of perfect mistakes - cynthia st. aubin

the right move - liz tomforde

the summer of broken rules - k.l. walther

this summer will be different - carley fortune

catch the sun - jennifer hartmann

every last word - tamara ireland stone

like i never said - c.w. farnsworth

a thousand broken pieces - tillie cole

caught up - liz tomforde

the art of breathing - cali melle

she followed the moon back to herself - amanda lovelace

the cinnamon bun book store - laurie gilmore

where time stands still - n.s. perkins

the irish goodbye - amy ewing

blue sisters - coco mellors

all too well - corinne michaels

forget me not - alyson derrick

when we were friends - jane green

i fell in love with hope - lancali

the housemaid - freida mcfadden

the perfect marriage - jeneva rose

daisy haites - jessa hastings

dead poets society - nancy h. kleinbaum

summer on dune road - rachel cullen

can't help falling in love - sophie sullivan

by the book - c.a. steinhaus

pageboy - elliot page

caraval - stephanie garber

red - annie cardi

hooked - emily mcintire

maine characters - hannah orenstein

firefly lane - kristin hannah

dear ava - ilsa madden-mills

the perks of being a wallflower - stephen chbosky

whispers of deception - liliana rose hastings

cruel summer - maisey yates

friends to lovers - sally blakely

radio silence - alice oseman

call it what you want - alissa derogatis

keeping 13 - chloe walsh (reread)

a wish for us - tillie cole

an irish summer - alexandra paige

this song is (not) for you - laura nowlin

my december darling - lauren asher

reading goal: 84/50

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: Summer won't last forever.

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.

Review:

A Michelin star chef who not only got fired but is dealing with the grief of losing his sister, being the new godparent to his niece, and trying to find his love for cooking again finds something even more when he moves to a little town to work over the summer, the love of his life. Fischer Lange was a famous chef in New York City, he had three Michelin stars... but then began to lose his love of cooking and when his sister died in an accident leaving him to become the guardian to her daughter, he falls even more out of sorts. Fischer doesn't now the first thing about parenting a teen who is grieving just as much as him, he can barely fix himself, how is he suppose to look after his niece? When his boss offers him a second chance only if he helps consult for her upcoming restaurant that has been dealing with clashes with the locals, this is his chance to get a fresh summer start with his niece and try and find his passion for cooking again. Then he meets Sage Byrd, a free spirited, sweet, and intelligent woman who has him falling for her. Sage grew up in the coastal town of Spines, Oregan and adores her town, what she does not adore is the fact that everyone knows everyone and when her 5 year relationship with the town's golden boy ends... she just wants everyone in town to stop pitying her. With the annual Festival of Spunes coming up, she is determined to win it but needs a partner... and who better than her very hot new neighbor. From going out on errands, to learning to cook, and fake dating... Fischer and Sage begin to fall for one another and see that they are the perfect pair, the only issue is that he was never meant to stay past the summer. Can they make a relationship work against all odds and has Fischer finally found the home he's been looking for all along? This was an absolutely charming and amazing small town summer romance read. I absolutely adored Fischer and Sage together so much and they both were such great protagonists for the story. They were both dealing with a lot of their own grief, pains, and they both grew throughout the book. I adored their romance but most of all I adored all their bonding and the bonding with Fischer's niece as well as with all of Sage's farm animals. This book was an absolute delight and I can't wait to read the next one!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[jcpdiesel21]

The last two books that I've read had playlists included that are also on Spotify. I don't know how long this trend has been active, but I really like it. It's a fun way to keep the characters and their worlds alive long after I've finished reading.

[lightsbookreviews]

The Co-op, Tarah Dewitt

[b-andherbooks]

when the romance book mustache fulfills the promise of the premise

[pipperoni32-blog]

The Co-op

by Tarah DeWitt / 3.5 stars

The mood and characters in this book and Savor It could not be more different. My first look at Tarah DeWitt, in Savor It, was pure indulgence and lovely. Gentle, beautiful openness, falling into each other and such softness. On the other hand, The Co-op is conflict, snark, sharp edges and high fences.

Going into this, already having fell in love with Sage and Fisher from Tarah's other book, I wasn't quite ready for LaRynn. She's prickly, combative, and boy does she have some walls built up. She's not easy to love, and while Deacon might be, their relationship definitely needs some work.

Connected by their grandmothers, who fell in love later in life, Deacon and LaRynn met a few times throughout high school. There was an attraction, but also a lot of red flags. One summer, they start up a casual thing that leads to unrequited love and heartbreak, and then LaRynn does everything she can to avoid Deacon, including not visiting "the Grands" as often as she'd like.

Following their deaths, the Grands have left their property to Deacon and LaRynn, though it needs a lot of love and repair. The two agree that they can't leave the house like it is, and they'll repair it. First, the biggest obstacle is money - something LaRynn should have plenty of, except her father has added a condition to her trust fund; she can't access it until she marries.

Unaffected, Deacon puts forward the idea that they get married, fix the house, then sell it and go their separate ways. They can put up with each other for that long, certainly. Except everything the other does gets under their skin, and there's too much history for them to start over. Can they make it through this project without coming unglued?

I really like the way their second attempt at a relationship develops. There are a lot of obstacles, and while communication doesn't come easy, it is there and I feel like there's never a huge miscommunication aspect. While these characters weren't my favorite, I did root for them, and will definitely be reading future Tarah DeWitt books as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for bringing this one to my attention and giving me the ARC! This book is also available through Kindle Unlimited, for those who subscribe to it. :D

[guide-to-galaxy]

Top 5 (books I’m thankful for in 2024) Tuesday

While we don’t do Thanksgiving, I know what it’s about from Adams Family Values, so I think that’s enough? But let’s carry on! As usually, thanks so much to Meeghan Reads for the prompt! 📚🚀📚 Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews (GR/SG) – As alluring as it is unsettling, award-winning author CG Drews’ debut YA psychological horror will leave readers breathless and hesitant to venture deeper…

[thebooklovebot]

Review: Savor It by Tarah DeWitt

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. PUBLISHER: St. Martin’s Griffin PUBLICATION DATE: May 21st, 2024. GENRE: Romance / Contemporary Romance A big thank you to the publisher for my advance copy! Sage, a small-town girl in Spunes, Oregon, seeks redemption after a breakup by entering the Festival of Spunes with a plan involving Fisher, a New York chef on a summer sabbatical. As their strategic alliance…

[shxpeshifterr]

[jeevesreads]

Best of October 2024

Look, was it a good reading month for me overall? No, I’ve been doomscrolling and nearing a slump for weeks. Pre-election dread will do that, lol. However, there were a few books that were so compelling that they were able to keep my focus even when the odds were stacked against them. And all three of this month’s picks are by new-to-me authors – a win if I’ve ever seen one! I’ve got three new…

[blueysbookshelf]

2024: Book 27 - The Co-op

The Co-op by Tarah Dewitt My rating: 5 of 5 stars I keep trying to think of what I want to say about LaRynn and Deacon…but I can't…I can't come up with anything because there just aren't words to express how beautifully fun, heartfelt and touching this book was. Between this book and Funny Feelings, I am a Tarah Dewitt lover for life…everything she writes is golden for me and that's that on that. Read this. You'll love it. I use the CAWPILE Review method for my reviews (see explanation here), just to keep me honest and help me understand what exactly I liked/didn't like. My ratings are below. Characters: 9/10 Atmosphere/Setting: 8/10 Writing: 10/10 Plot: 9/10 Intrigue: 9/10 Logic/Relationships: 9/10 Enjoyment: 9/10 Total rating 63/70 divided by 7 = 9 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 🌶️ View all my reviews

[jessread-s]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

✩🪿🛶Review:

DeWitt’s latest release is the perfect recipe for an emotion-packed rom-com!

“Savor It” follows Sage Byrd—a social studies teacher who has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon her entire life—and Fisher Lange—a Michelin-starred chef grieving the loss of his sister and navigating his rocky relationship with his teenage niece Indy. After a memorable middle of the night first meeting, Sage and Fisher agree to help each other achieve their goals just for the summer. Soon their partnership gets passionate, but they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like...

I have a special place in my heart for Sage and Fisher. Both are going through tough times. That make them feel real and relatable. I love Sage for how funny, strong, and kind she is. She prioritizes herself and the happiness she finds in the small things in life. I connected with Fisher and his efforts to reignite his passion. His relationship with Indy is incredibly endearing and I was pleased to see them grow closer as the story progressed. Sage and Fisher are very layered and that is why both of their points-of-view were equally compelling to me. I truly tried to savor each chapter.

Sage and Fisher’s relationship is so complex and I love how it developed. I especially admired how they didn’t try to fix or heal each other, but instead talked through their struggles and acknowledged their imperfections in an effort to better understand one another. In being vulnerable and honest, they were able to love each other fully and their love felt more authentic to me as a reader as a result.

Not only did I fall in love with the characters, but I fell in love with the small town of Spunes, Oregon. Even though there were many brief appearances by locals, I still felt like I knew all of the residents because DeWitt gives them each distinctive personalities. She also does such a great job acquainting the reader with important places that transport you to her fictional setting.

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[catedwrites]

Savor It

Savor It is a warm hug of a romance novel that I didn’t know I wanted or needed. If a book could smell, it would smell like summer—warm grass, sea salt, and the smoke of someone grilling. The characters are well-rounded and felt mostly true-to-life, and Fisher and Sage’s relationship also felt mostly the same. I’m not quite sure what’s holding this back from being a 5-star read, but nevertheless, I heartily recommend this one. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.