The most messy imperfect characters made the perfect book.

Imagine the dumpster fire of renovating a house with an ex who you hate while also grieving your dead grandma. Should be chaos, and it was, but done perfectly so.

I have never seen a more true representation of an enneagram 8 than LaRynn Lavigne. That girl is scary until those walls get broken down. I want to forcibly hug her (because I know she would never allow it otherwise). Deacon I want to keep him in my pocket to protect him at all costs.

Their chemistry was so tension filled and angsty. The blurred lines of love and hate were depicted so well in this book. Their inevitable irritation with eachother while simultaneously being obsessed. Their stubborn and pettiness had me loling more often than not.

The shared Grands grief was believable and heartfelt. Made me want to give my grandmother a big ole hug.

Couldn’t have asked for a better improvement to an already well loved favorite of mine.

Read if you like:
🌊Northern California coast
🛠️Home renovations
✌🏻2nd chance romance
🤬Enemies to lovers
🏐Beach volleyball
🐈‍⬛Black cat FMC
🏠Forced proximity
🥵Slow burn

The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt is a terrific story about two people who meet as teenagers, have a steamy Summer fling which ends when the Summer does. They move on, grow into adults, and are thrown back together under sad circumstances when they inherit a home their Grandmothers owned. Oh, and it seems that Summer fling was never really forgotten, by either of them.

I was engaged in this story right from the beginning. Both LaRynn and Deacon were interesting characters with many layers. Their emotions ran deep and strong. I really enjoyed watching them interact and peel those layers away, bit by bit. Their back and forth banter was at times cringey and at other times laugh-out-loud funny. LaRynn was stronger than she knew and could come on pretty tough, but that stemmed mostly from her upbringing. She really was smart and sweet and simply wanted to be seen. Deacon was incredibly attractive, accommodating to a fault and desperate to prove he was good, capable and deserving. I adored all his vulnerabilities. These two really were the perfect match. Everyone seemed to see that, except for them!

The evolution of their relationship was captivating and charming. The story flows back and forth from future to past and back to the future again. Honestly, it works for this story, but it is my least favorite way to read, so I'm dropping a star on this review. That being said, for me this was a completely enjoyable read that I highly recommend to all. I loved it!

Tarah DeWitt is a heartstring virtuoso. She knows just how to build up to a moment, to wield her words for maximum impact. The Co-op transforms two very common, beloved tropes - second chance romance and marriage of convenience - into opportunities for the characters to heal. Deacon and LaRynn need this second chance to repair what they did to each other as teens, and they need their marriage, their partnership, to repair what each of their broken families did to them as individuals.

If you're looking for a blue-collar book boyfriend, Deacon is your man. Smooth lines, rough hands and a whisper of an east-coast accent..Tarah likes to make us swoon! The way he saw straight through LaRynn's walls (figuratively, since lack of actual walls is a thing in this book) and called her on it made me actually yell out loud.

First things first: this cover is just PERFECT!!! I am so in love with this cover ad this book that I can't express well enough how I loved the plot and the main characthers.

This book has, as well, the best tropes you can find in a romance book.

And the chemistry between them? SO GOOD!!

Please, please read this one!

I love Tarah Dewitt’s writing. Her characters are real and poignant. They bring real life struggles and make them palatable.

This was such a cute book, I loved every minute of it, the romance was to die for and cant wait to read more by Tarah!

This book was perfect when I first read it and this new revamped version is even more perfect. Deacon and LaRynn are truly the definition of quiet love. Tarah Dewitt did such a careful and poignant job of showing the history and back stories of each these characters, how everything they went through was a step they were taking towards each other. Showing how the person you love will love each part of you even the parts you think are dark and shameful. I just feel so connected to LaRynn’s character and how she uses little snipes and remarks as a defense mechanism to keep people from getting to close in fear that they will leave her. Also her desire to just be happy and living a quiet life that fulfills her. This is truly one of my favorite books of all time!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book follows Deacon and LaRynn who used to know eachother but haven’t seen each other in years. Now they are married in order to get access to money to be able to fix a house that they both inherited.

This book was so beautifully perfect and truly broke my heart and put it back together. I loved the main characters so much and felt for them so much.

They both deal with feelings of being inadequate. How much it effects your life and how different people deal with this really rang true to me.

There is something unique and breathtaking about Tarah’s writing and her characters that has me in a choke hold.

Read if you love
• Marriage of convenience
• Second chance romance
• Emotional reads

#bookstagram #tarahdewitt #kindleunlimited #romancereads

The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt is a heartwarming and engaging contemporary romance that beautifully blends humor, emotion, and charm. DeWitt's storytelling prowess shines through in this delightful tale of love, community, and second chances.

The story revolves around two protagonists who find themselves unexpectedly thrown together in a co-op living situation. Their initial interactions are filled with witty banter and playful antagonism, making their journey from reluctant roommates to something more all the more enjoyable. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and DeWitt does an excellent job of developing their relationship in a way that feels natural and deeply satisfying.

The supporting cast adds depth and richness to the narrative, bringing the co-op community to life with their unique personalities and contributions to the story. The dynamics within the co-op are both entertaining and heartwarming, highlighting themes of friendship, collaboration, and the importance of finding one's tribe.

DeWitt's writing is crisp and engaging, with well-paced storytelling that keeps readers invested from start to finish. The balance of humor and emotional depth ensures that the book is not only a fun read but also one that resonates on a deeper level.

Overall, The Co-op is a delightful and uplifting romance that will leave readers with a smile on their faces. Tarah DeWitt has crafted a charming and memorable story that celebrates love, community, and the beauty of unexpected connections.

This was a very nice second chance romance with humor and great supporting characters.

A lot of emotions built up over how things ended the first time, plus more at the surface because of the loss of their grandmothers. I cried several times because those emotions were very well written.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. It appears this book was previously published with a different cover but the new version will come out November 12, 2024.

Despite the beautiful cover, there isn't a lot of depth to this second chance romance. LaRynn and Deacon had a short summer fling while teenagers, and the synopsis notes this is nothing to build a foundation on- however, that's exactly what this love story tried to form their foundation on.
As a reader, time would have been better spent watching an HGTV home reno episode, and I'm rarely one to promote television over a book.

I have read this in the past and wanted the chance to read it again. I absolutely love this story. Tarah’s writing is almost perfect to me and I absolutely devour everything she has written and will continue to do so! Larynn and Deacon are two of my favorite love interests!!

Dragged me through hell and back and I was thankful for it by the time I finished. Never been prouder of fictional people.

The Co-Op

4.25 ⭐️

Tarah Dewitt might be one of my new fav indie authors! She writes such great adult romances that are full of good characters, growth and unique takes on tropes.

The Co-Op is dual perspective from Deacon and LaRynn, both who knew each other years ago but haven’t kept up. I loved watching them improve their home while stuck in a fake relationship. There isn’t a third act breakup, and I loved that. The epilogue was perfect!

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

The Co-op by Tarah Dewitt is about LaRynn and Deacon who reunite a decade after their summer fling to fix up the house their grandmothers lived in so they could sell it for profit…. But first, they have to get married.

I thought this book was a good, quick, and easy read! Deacon and LaRynn are both flawed, but good characters who you want to root for. Both are struggling to work past their family traumas, which I thought made each of them deeper as characters.

However, with that being said, I didn’t love how everything went down with LaRynn’s family. While her family traumas made her a deeper character, I just didn’t love the way that plot developed through the book.

The reason for my 3.5/5 is because tension through the first like, 70% of this book was great, but once the characters started to get together it went from 0-100 and I just didn’t love that. They just immediately went from not working out.. to working out? And I don’t know, something about it felt a little off to me.

But like I said, the tension was great and I loved the banter between the two characters. I liked this book and would suggest it!!

I read my first Tarah DeWitt novel this year and loved it! I’m still working through the backlist, but was so happy for NetGalley and St Martins to grant me this early access to The Co-Op. I loved it.

Whatever Tarah DeWitt writes is an automatic 5-star read for me. I loved this book so much. It was funny, heartbreaking, swoony, and just overall perfect. I really enjoyed a lot of the pop cultural references, there weren't too many that it gave me the ick. They were very subtle. The only complaint I have is that it was too short! After Deacon proposed to LaRynn, I was shocked to see that that was the last chapter and we're already 10 years forward into the epilogue. I was waiting for the last shoe to drop...everything felt so easy and lovely during the last 30% of the book. That's why I was so shocked that it was the final chapter. But that's not necessarily a bad thing! I was just so used when reading a romance novel, there's always a last minute conflict and there wasn't any in 'The Co-op.' Sometimes all we need is a good, easy, romance story. And this was it. I loved every minute of reading this. I cried too much in the epilogue.

Book Review:
5 ⭐️’s

Below is my review for the original book, and after reading the new version I am even more smitten by this universe and these characters. The sheer amount of heart in this story just left my heart fully wrung out.

Tarah DeWitt hits it out of the park again with this incredible story that is so much more than enemies to lovers and a cute cover.

Apparently second chance romance is my thing now cos I can’t get enough of it. But I’m learning that it takes an incredible author to do this type of plot well, and The Co-Op delivers spectacularly. I’m floored by how much we get in so little and how flawlessly that is executed in Tarah’s writing. It takes zero effort for you to understand the character of LaRynn and Deacon and to be a part of their motivations and personalities. Getting to watch these two earn one another’s love and learn to love themselves was a fluid and enjoyable journey - and I have to make sure I mention the sheer amount of humor we get through the whole process!

This book is emotional and moody but hilarious and fun. It’s seamless in its storytelling and flawless in everything it delivers.

What you can expect:
• marriage of convenience
• enemies to lovers
• second chance romance
• forced proximity
• slow burn
• no third act breakup
• rooting for their romance
• hi-jinx and pranks
• binge-able reading
• a few tears at the end

Did I fall in love with Tarah’s writing after reading Funny Feelings? Yes. Was it worth staying around for The Co-Op? Without a doubt. Will I ever leave her side again? No. She’s stuck with me as a reader forever.

[5/5 ★★★★★] “But look at us, LaRynn. We’ve had to do so much shit backwards. We had to fall back in love while tackling a renovation and some demons. If we can do that, we can do anything.”

A fake marriage, forced proximity, second chances—this book had everything for me to love it, and it exceeded all my expectations. I fell in love with this story back in 2022 when I first read it, and now, marking my third consecutive year reading it, it still makes me feel like that very first night 🧡

I loved it so much, and it resonated with me in so many more ways than I thought it would 🧡 The author beautifully developed the relationship between these characters. After nearly a decade since their chaotic summer together, LaRynn and Deacon have many pent-up feelings and conflicts to resolve in order to move forward and re-learn to trust each other. The way it all unfolds is wonderful—it doesn't happen overnight; the protagonists struggle to reach that point, but they fight for it, and it feels so real it hurts.

I connected deeply with both characters. They both grew up in homes where much was expected of them, yet the rewards were minimal. They have insecurities about not feeling good enough or seeing their dreams as distant. Tarah DeWitt did something incredible in explaining these intrusive feelings and thoughts.

And the epilogue??? TARAH DEWITT I LOVE YOU 🙏🏼🧡 It was beautiful and perfect for them. This book definitely goes on my list of favorites and best reads of the year.

The Co-op centers on Deacon and LaRynn, whose grandmas were married and owned a home in Santa Cruz. The two had an intense fling when they were 19 and 20 but did not part on good terms. Now years later, they jointly inherited the place owned by their grands and they need to fix it up so that they can rent it out or sell it. To do that, they need to get married so LaRynn can access the funds in her trust. I love the premise of this book - I think it’s such a fun and creative concept and I can truly imagine Tarah cackling to herself as she put them through this.

If you want a TLDR review then I’ll just say this - if you like to laugh, to feel pesky emotions, and romance, then go preorder/put your Libby hold in now because this checks all the boxes for a perfect romcom. I cackled, I cried, and I kicked my feet. I can’t stop thinking about it and even though I have so many books I want to read, I keep thinking, okay so should I just re-read this though?

First and foremost, this book is FUN with signature Tarah humor that will have you doing the lizard chuckle meme again and again. Deacon and LaRynn are such little brats to each other but never in a toxic way that makes you not like them or root for them to be together. They just like driving each other crazy. They are also very clearly cosmically intended for one another and watching them figure that out and show each other that they value the other is such a treat. This is a second chance romance, my favorite trope, because something about reigniting old flames just hits different. And it’s second chance at its best. It is angsty yet tender. The banter, tension, and chemistry between these two is chef’s kiss. Now this is super funny but if you think you’re getting out of there without shedding a couple of tears, I regret to inform you that, no, you likely will cry a little bit because both characters are dealing with their own grief, trauma, and insecurities and have to work through that as they fix up this house together. Because such is life! (Iykyk)

If you enjoyed the og of this book, you’re going to love the renovated. And honestly, if for whatever reason you didn’t enjoy the og, there’s a very good chance that you’ll love the renovated. I personally wasn’t really sure how Tarah could improve upon the og but she said “girl, hold my beer” and here we are.

The (renovated) Co-op fills in holes in the foundation of the story that you weren’t aware were there because they were under the house and didn’t impact your day to day. We get more backstory of how Deacon and LaRynn fell in love the first time and what went wrong. Also there are some tweaks with side characters that further ground the story in ways that click into place better. Everything I loved about the og is still in there (looking at you in particular good vibrations, “it meant something,” camp laundry room, “show me where it hurts,” etc.) but there’s so much more now. The tension! The mutual pining! The angst! Ugh, I just cannot say enough good things.

One of my favorite books of all time.

Thank you to TD, SMP, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.