One Old, One New - Tarah Dewitt

One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Tarah Dewitt.

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Savor It by Tarah Dewitt
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on May 21, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

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.

Fisher was a newcomer to Spunes and trying to get past some road blocks to get his new restaurant opened. Sage wanted to beat her local golden boy ex in the annual town competition but needed a partner. In hopes of accomplishing both tasks, they banded together, but would they be able to keep their growing feelings at bay?

This book was so fun and sweet! It started with such a comic bang, and Dewitt did a great job keeping those laughs coming. The humor was something that really shined. Almost every interaction with Sage's brothers was mayhem (even when it shouldn't be), and there was this one scene with Sage and some animals that needed a home. And the animals! I adored their antics. Like I said, lots of fun.

I also adored Sage and Fisher. They were too adorable together. This was a grumpy-sunshine pairing that won my heart. Sage's last relationship was pretty toxic. Fisher was everything her ex wasn't. He was supportive and didn't mock the things she loved. He championed her dreams and just treated her properly. It was the love Sage deserved.

Fisher had a LOT going on in his life. This was his second chance to prove himself to his boss, as well as to his niece. He had crashed and burned in New York, losing his job, and feeling a bit lost. There was something about Spunes that revived him. His food muse returned and he was making some inroads with his niece. A lot of this was due to the friendship (and more) he was building with Sage.

As much as Fisher was thriving in Spunes, he still didn't trust small towns due to his past experience. But this town was a special place for Sage, orphaned at a young age, she was raised by her three brothers with some help from many of the town's residents. There were so many people who supported her and continued to support her. It was all very heartwarming, as was the case in the way the folks of the Spunes also grew to embrace Fisher.

In my heart, I would love more books set in this town. First of all, I loved EVERYONE and the town really was a lovely place. But mostly, I want to see Sage's brother and bestie reconcile. In my heart they belong together.

Overall, I absolutely LOVED this book. It made me laugh, cry, and swoon while also touching my heart.

*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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Funny Feeling by Tarah Dewitt
Published on May 1, 2022
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

When falling in love is the punchline…

Farley Jones is a loud, chaotic, and hilariously clever standup comedian on the way to stardom. The only thing she loves more than the rush of telling jokes in front of a revved-up audience is her hot older manager Meyer, though he doesn’t have a clue. Keeping her feelings hidden from him is agony (a tragedy, even―in lieu of flowers, please send cash...) but Meyer has been Farley’s closest and most treasured friend, not to mention vital to the trajectory of her career. She can’t risk ruining their relationship by telling him how she truly feels. After all, who else would have the patience to put up with a hot mess like her?

A former standup star himself, single father Meyer Harrigan left the stage years ago in order to focus on raising his deaf daughter Hazel. Farley has been everything to them since she came into their lives three years ago, and despite his grumpiness, his protectiveness over Hazel, and his disdain for public attention, Meyer will do anything to make her standup dreams come true.

When the biggest opportunity of Farley’s career comes along and forces the pair to fake-date in order to stir up publicity, it doesn't take long for their act to bring all those other funny feelings out into the open. Like most matters of the heart, it quickly begins to feel like anything but a joke.

Touching on the creative spirit and all that comes with sharing that gift, Tarah DeWitt's Funny Feelings is a swoony story about friendship, love, and looking for the laugh in life.

I bought this book back in 2022 with the best intentions, but like most of the books I purchase, it was sitting unread. Then, I got an ARC of Savor It and fell in love with Dewitt's humor and storytelling. I am glad something motivated me to read Funny Feelings because it was a delight.

This book featured comics, so you know it was packed with laughs, but there was so much more to the story. When Farley stumbled into that bar, her and Meyer's lives changed for the better. They developed a deep friendship and served as a support system for each other. While Meyer helped Farley navigate her career, she lent a hand with his daughter, Hazel. These three of them made such a great team and truly shared something special. I absolutely LOVED their dynamic, and Hazel being such a great kid was a total bonus.

Farley was firmly embedded in Meyer and Hazel's lives, and this was one thing that kept Meyer from acting on his feelings for her. For years, these two tiptoed around their mutual attraction UNTIL they embarked on a fauxmance. I didn't really buy into the reason for the fake dating, but I loved watching them grow closer and closer, the sparks flying, and them FINALLY acting on their feelings. It was so important to me that Farley be with a man who believed in her and lifted her up because her father did neither, and she deserved better.

I know there's a lot of social commentary about women in comedy that people will enjoy, but this was all about the characters and their relationships for me. What can I say, it made me happy to see two people, who clearly belonged to each other, actually get together.

Overall, Funny Feelings delivered on both the funny and the feelings, and I cannot wait to read more from Dewitt.

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