Some romance novels go way beyond just cute love stories. There are those books that tug on your heart strings, deliver gut wrenching stories that explore friendship, grief, healing and more—and Tarah DeWitt does just that. Known for writing emotional, character-driven love stories that balance humor with deeper moments, there’s a reason that DeWitt has quickly become a favorite among romance readers. From swoony slow burns to complicated relationships and second chances, we’re breaking down all of her current reads, so you know exactly which ones to add to your TBR (spoiler alert: the answer is all of them).

The Spunes Series

Savor It

Sage Byrd has spent her entire life in the small coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. Unfortunately, the town is a little too small, and when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex suddenly gets engaged, she feels the sudden need to convince everyone that she’s more than okay (while also putting Ian in his place, naturally). She decides to enter the Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition with the help of Fisher Lange, a hotshot chef who recently moved to Spunes after losing his Michelin star along with his love for cooking. After the townspeople threaten his chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage sparks dating rumors, this strategic alliance might be exactly what they both need. But as their pact quickly heats up and emotional wounds are healed, the two are forced to savor their time together before the summer ends.

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Left of Forever

Wren and Ellis Byrd thought that their love was going to last forever. After falling in love as kids and having their son Sam as teenagers, they never expected to be here… in their 30s and divorced. Wren runs the bakery in town and Ellis works as a firefighter–their lives completely separate. But when it’s time to move Sam into college, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended road-trip back to Spunes to see if they can get reignite the spark that they once had. Amid the gorgeous California coastline, Wren starts to think it just might be possible, which begs the question. Can the past be left behind or are their old wounds to deep?

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Lost and Found

Bea always wanted to be a mom, but the last thing she expected was to have to lose her best friend to make that happen. Armed with nothing but her best friend’s eggs and a bucket list, everything in her life feels unstable. In desperate need of a place to stay, she turns to Silas, a longtime friend and firefighter who is trying to come to terms with the aftermath of an accident that has left him cautious and vulnerable. The two think nothing of their new arrangements at first. But as they spent more time together, a new beginning is born from the ashes of the past, and they find that, together, they can face anything life throws at them.

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More Tarah DeWitt

The Co-op

After a combative yet hot summer fling when they were teens, LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds thought that they would never see each other again. But when their grandmothers left them with shared ownership of a dilapidated Santa Cruz building a decade later, the two are thrust back together and forced to pick up the pieces. LaRynn has the money to make it happen—the only problem is she has to be married to access her trust. Deacon, on the other hand, has the construction experience, but lacks the funds. The two agree to marry for however long it takes to fix up the property, make a profit, and never see each other again. However, as the two get closer, they learn to cooperate as a team.

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Funny Feelings

Farley Jones is a standup comedian who loves nothing more than the rush of telling the perfect joke in front of a revved-up audience… except her hot older manager and single dad Meyer Harrigan. He might be grumpy and protective of his daughter Hazel, but he will do anything to make Farley’s dreams come true. She’s been keeping her feelings for him hidden for the sake of keeping their friendship, but when the biggest opportunity of her career comes along and forces the two to fake-date in order to stir up publicity, it doesn’t take long for the feelings to bubble to the surface.

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