A review by katemc7
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was simply fantastic! I have read Tarah's work before but have since ordered pretty much all of her books in hopes I will feel everything I felt in this one again in a different setting. I loved her prose. The banter between the two MCs. I loved the way that Sage thought. I loved the sage advice she gave, and just her overall perspective on life. I found myself feeling uplifted while reading this one. I don't know if I would call Fisher grumpy but more just broken. The man has been through some trauma and without dealing with it things tend to happen. Seeing him slowly open up to Sage was magical. Their chemistry and connection felt so natural. This was a slow build and burn in my eyes. I also loved the raw honesty and how vulnerable they were with each other while navigating the time they had together. 

Fisher's life has officially fallen apart. He has lost a Michelin star. Now has custody of his niece who is a teenager going through the grief of her mom AKA his sister's passing. He is being moved on assignment literally across the country to a small town (which he has qualms with) to help with the concept of a new restaurant when the entire idea of cooking makes his brain fail. He has lost his inspiration. He is swimming in failure and grief. All of this changes the first night he arrives at his rental when he meets his new next door neighbor Sage. Sage who adopts all of the animals in the town that people give away. Sage who has different color toes every time he sees her as well as a ring on every finger. Sage who doesn't seem intimidated by his walls in the least. Sage who he finds he can't stop thinking about now because of how she makes him want to talk about things he doesn't talk about. Sage who wears punny shirts and gives wonderful advice. Sage who has now asked him to participate in a race for the community. Sage who has helped him find his inspiration and who he looks forward to cooking for now and watching her experience his inventions. The same Sage who is doesn't want to leave at the end of the summer, but he failed his niece once and doesn't have it in him to do it again. 

Sage is doing well in her life. It is summer break, and she is looking forward to doing the things that she does which consist of gardening, taking care of her bajillion animals, possibly getting some more animals to take care of and figuring out who she will compete with for the town contest. What she was not planning on doing...falling in love with her next door neighbor who is only in town for the summer? But here we are. Fisher dropped into her life unexpected, and she has found herself pulled to him time and time again. She finds herself wanting to make his frowns turn upside down. She wants to help him out of the hole that he has found himself in. So she opens her arms and heart to him. She has three brothers, she knows how to navigate a man who has a short attention span. She starts showing Fisher all of the things that she lives for. She starts seeing him smile and get his inspiration for the best food she has ever tasted in her life. She thinks she may have read their feelings towards each other wrong but then she realizes she was right and now she is on a cliff wondering when she started falling. The one thing she keeps telling herself is that this is all worth it for the experience and love she is feeling. But will she feel differently when their time is up? Will they be able to make things work? Will she be forever changed? 

GAHHHH this story yall! I LOVED LOVED ALL of the characters. The animals added some flavor. But I have one thing to ask- PRETTY PLEASE GIVE WREN AND ELLIS THEIR SECOND CHANCE!!! Don't leave us hanging. There is so much there to unpack- I found myself wanting so much more. I would love a dive into all of her brothers actually. But back to Sage and Fisher they were wonderful. I loved reading their journey and how I found myself crying in the end from happiness and sadness somehow at the same time. I can't recommend this book enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!