3.5 ⭐️ Forced Proximity, Fake Marriage, Second Chance Romance. I love Tarah DeWitt’s writing and really enjoyed the banter between LaRynn and Deacon. This has all the elements I love in the romance genre and gives “Sweet Home Alabama” vibes mixed with a home renovation project.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the eARC of The Co-Op by Tarah DeWitt in exchange for my honest review.

4

Tarah DeWitt's The Co-op is a second-chance romance that makes you feel things with slow-burning, mutual pining and fun banter. Our two main characters, LaRynn and Deacon, met as teens when they visited their grandmothers (who were a couple). They spent a summer as teens falling in love, but all summers come to an end, and theirs ended in heartbreak. Now, the two are forced back together to renovate their grandmothers' home to sell. Throughout their cohabitation/renovation, the two let their insecurities get in the way, and a good amount of miscommunication occurs. However, I think DeWitt blends this perfectly with a slow-burning/mutual pining.

The way LaRynn and Deacon's flaws were written makes them more relatable- because although the flaws created the story conflict, it also made them feel real.

I enjoyed this read. It took me a little while to really get into it, but in the second half, I devoured it quickly.

Tropes:
Second Chance Romance
Marriage of Convenience
Slow burn
Forced Proximity
Grumpy FMC/ Sunshine MMC

The Co-op has a lot going for it—small-town charm, a nostalgic second-chance romance, and witty banter that makes the pages fly. Tarah DeWitt has a fun, engaging writing style, and I appreciated the emotional depth she gave the characters, especially as they navigated old wounds and new beginnings.

I really enjoyed the concept of exes being thrown back together to renovate a property—plenty of opportunity for tension and sparks! There were definitely moments that made me smile and even a few that tugged at my heart.

That said, while I liked the story, I didn’t fully love it. Some parts felt a bit slow or overly familiar, and I struggled to connect with the romance at times. Still, fans of second-chance tropes and small-town settings will likely find a lot to enjoy here.

Overall, a solid and sweet read—it just didn’t leave a lasting impression for me personally.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my DRC!

⭐️: 5
🌶️: 4

🏡 second chance
🛠️ forced proximity
🏡 marriage of convenience
🛠️ dual timelines and POV
🏡 banter

Tarah is an auto-buy author for me, so I honestly don’t know what took me so long to crack this one open. What I do know is that I certainly should have read it sooner, because it was an easy 5 star read for me. Savor It was my favorite book of 2023 and this right here just might be my favorite book of 2025.

This dual-POV story follows LaRynn and Deacon as they navigate first love in their youth and come to terms with past mistakes as adults. Their playful banter and grumpy/sunshine dynamic create sparkling chemistry—both inside and outside the bedroom. If you love second-chance romances with plenty of spice, this one’s a must-read!

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️= open door, multiple scenes, descriptive

♥︎ Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Tarah DeWitt for the ARC of The Co-Op!

The Co-op was my first attempt of reading a Tarah Dewitt novel. I struggled to get started on multiple occasions. After ready the Spunes novels, I came back to this one. Her storylines tend to be similar and her writing has improved. This was not my favorite, but I’m happy I gave it a chance.

This book is definitely for fans of second chance romance.

LaRynn and Deacon have a history…and neither of them are interested in going back. Circumstances bring them back together and they must work together and through their shared history to complete the renovation of a newly, inherited house.

While I thought the story was cute, it didn't resonate with me as much as Tarah DeWitt's other books. I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for selecting me for this ARC.

I love Tarah DeWitts writing! So much so I got myself a physical copy and another of her books! Great romance book. Definitely check it out!

This book is a charming, slow-burn romance with plenty of humor, heart, and emotional depth. Two exes are forced to renovate a property together to claim their inheritance and what starts as tension-fueled banter gradually unfolds into vulnerability, growth, and rekindled connection.

DeWitt's dialogue sparkles with wit, and her characters are layered and endearing, even in their flaws. The setting—equal parts cozy and chaotic—adds to the book’s warm, small-town feel. While I think the plot leans into classic rom-com tropes, the author's fresh voice and emotionally grounded storytelling make The Co-op feel both familiar and new to me.

Overall, it's a heartfelt and entertaining read perfect for fans of contemporary romance.

The Co‑op is a beautifully messy, heartfelt second‑chance romance that had me hooked from the first page. LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds are the kind of characters who feel so real that you can almost hear their banter in the room. Years after a teenage fling ended badly, fate—and a joint inheritance—forces them back into each other’s orbit. What starts as a begrudging partnership to renovate a rundown property quickly turns into something more complicated, especially when a marriage of convenience is added to the mix.

What I loved most was how Tarah DeWitt balanced humor, vulnerability, and slow‑burn tension. The chemistry between LaRynn and Deacon is electric, but it’s their emotional journey—learning to communicate, confronting old wounds, and letting go of resentment—that makes their romance feel so satisfying. The dual timelines were done beautifully, giving just enough past to make the present hit harder.

The pacing is smooth, the writing sharp and witty, and there’s no forced third‑act breakup, which I appreciated. The heat level is definitely there, but it’s matched by genuine tenderness and moments that made me laugh out loud. The renovation backdrop was more than just a setting—it mirrored the rebuilding of trust and love between them.

This is one of those romances that leaves you smiling long after you turn the last page. It’s charming, steamy, and emotionally resonant, and it reminded me why I love a good second‑chance story.

Rating: ★★★★★

One of the best contemporary writers out there! The story had such great pacing & kept me turning the pages!

The Co-Op by Tarah Dewitt

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such a fun second chance romance! I loved the story development and character growth! They simply were so at odds with each other at the start for past hurt, but they were able to connect and heal. Enjoyed the banter and tension!

I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving an honest review.

This book was just okay.
I felt like it was unbearably long at times.
It mostly centered on the two main characters not being able to properly communicate with some spicy scenes thrown in.
Also, the mc kept mentioning the fmc's long throat 😂.
It was a cute story, but it was a little hard to keep pushing through.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the Queen Tarah Dewitt herself for the opportunity to review this eARC!

She is definitely one of my new favorites! This story was so cute!

LaRynn and Deacon were gold together. I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers – though it’s probably more like rivals to lovers. Second chance romances are quickly growing on me. But you give me forced proximity? Say less. Sign me up. Inject it into my veins, please and thank you. This book delivered on all those fronts and I loved it.

The history and tension between LaRynn and Deacon was so good. I enjoyed the snippets from when they were younger. And the tension between them as adult? I kind of loved the Deacon sort of digs a hole until LaRynn just snaps at him, and then the remorse and light groveling? I’m very easily pleased, not going to lie.

4.5⭐️
This book got me right in the heart. I was completely pulled into Deacon and LaRynn’s story from the start. It’s emotional, raw, messy, funny, and deeply romantic—everything I want in a second chance romance.

LaRynn was such a layered, complex character. Her tough exterior, her need to feel safe, the way she hides her softness—it all made so much sense once we understood what she’s been through. I saw so much of myself in her, especially the parts she tries hardest to hide. And Deacon? He might just be one of my favorite male leads. He’s sharp, stubborn, and intense—but the way he sees LaRynn and chooses her, every time, was beautiful.

Their chemistry was unreal. The tension, the banter, the constant button-pushing… and when things finally boil over? 🔥 Let’s just say, Tarah DeWitt knows how to write intimacy that’s both steamy and emotional. The kind that lingers.

But beyond the spice and swoon, what stuck with me most was the emotional honesty. They don’t fall back together easily—it’s a journey. There’s pain, accountability, growth, and this mutual willingness to show up for each other, flaws and all. That made their love feel so earned.

The only reason I held back from giving it a full 5 stars is because it took me a little bit to settle into LaRynn’s voice. But once I understood her, I was all in. And the epilogue? One of the most satisfying I’ve read in a while. It gave me the closure I didn’t know I needed.

This book had heart, heat, healing, and humor. If you love character-driven romances with all the tension and all the feelings—this one’s for you. 🫶

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!💕💕

I liked this book – I didn't love it, I think I didn't really connect with the characters, and they felt a bit too immature for my preference.

Good palette cleanser book, and a quick read.

3.25 stars

I'll be honest I didn't really care for the first over half of the book. I just didn't see the chemistry or them together at all. I saw it a bit more in the before chapters but not fully. I did enjoy it more towards the end when everything was out in the open and things pick up a bit. It just could have had so much more of the connection to pull you in.

I'd never read Tarah Dewitt before, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I really enjoyed the banter between the two main characters. I'd say the spice level was high for what I typically prefer. I still really thought it was a cute second chance love story that I enjoyed reading!

3.5 stars

This was fun at times but it isn't my favorite Tarah DeWitt. It's cool to see the miscommunication trope play out way after the fact -- I appreciated the unique take. I also love how LaRynn and Deacon's lives intertwined through their "grands". All the characterizations were specific and well-developed, though I did have to keep reminding myself they weren't in their thirties.

Unfortunately the plot drags at times. I skimmed parts just to keep the momentum up. And it took too long for LaRynn and Deacon to sort their stuff out. I liked that there was no third-act break up but being strung along for so long got old and repetitive.

I'd probably recommend this but it wouldn't make the top of my list.

<i>Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Griffin, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Loved this book!! The banter was hilarious. The chemistry actually felt real and the story was original.