by Tarah DeWitt
Part of Spunes, OR
First published 2025
Wren and Ellis Byrd once had everything. They fell in love as children in Spunes, Oregon, became teenage parents to their son Sam, and built what seemed like a perfect life together. Now they're divorced and in their thirties. Wren runs the local bakery while Ellis fights fires. They share custody but live entirely separate lives. When Sam gets into college, both parents drive him to campus together. Ellis sees an opportunity. He convinces Wren to take the long way home, turning their return trip into an extended journey down the California coast. The road trip becomes a test. Can two people who once knew each other completely find their way back? Wren starts to believe they might have a real second chance. But their painful history still stands between them. Some conversations require more than spoken words. They must decide whether to fight for what remains of their forever or finally let each other go.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary, adult, adult-fiction, contemporary-romance
Vibes: bittersweet, emotional, hopeful, intimate, introspective
Tropes: exes-to-lovers, forced-proximity, second-chance-romance
Setting: Spunes, Oregon, California coast
Period: 21st-century
336 pages · Paperback · St. Martin's Griffin