this was such a fun read, i couldnt put it down once i started! I love how it was light hearted but we also got these amazing in depth characters. marriage of convenience is one of my favorites and this one was done so well! the second chance aspect of this one was done so well and i just love these two's story! this was my first book by tarah but i will definitely be reading more in the future

LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds had difficult family lives growing up. They were often dropped at their grandmother’s in Santa Cruz, CA for summers. Their individual grandmothers found each other later in life and were married. After both of them pass a few months apart, Larynn and Deacon find themselves joint owners of their rundown building. They both bring a lot of personal baggage to their current situation including as teens being romantically involved. Deacon has construction skills but no money to fix up the property. She has a trust fund that can help but she can’t access it till she is married. A bargain is struck to get married, renovate, sell and split the proceeds.

Her characters are a little broken and I connected emotionally to them. I got my typical annoyance at his childish nickname for her. But I love that every chapter is important. I like that instead of telling about their relationship over summers there are flashback chapters showing how they came together. One small criticism I had of a previous book by the author was that too much was going on. In this book almost every chapter is focused on them. Them as teens, the current renovation, them discussing their family situations and relationships. And I love that there wasn’t a last act breakup. I don’t always need an epilogue a decade out but here it fits perfectly.

This seemingly was published previously in 2022 and I am happy to see it getting a new release. Read this If you enjoy second chance romances, with messy family situations, mixed with some spice (on page, not overly descriptive).

I absolutely loved "The Co-op" by Tarah DeWitt! The story of LaRynn and Deacon is beautifully written, filled with emotional depth and engaging characters. The unique marriage-of-convenience plot kept me hooked from start to finish. Watching them navigate their past and rebuild not only the house but also their relationship was so fun and sweet. Tarah DeWitt's writing, as always, is both heartfelt and steamy, making this a perfect blend of romance and redemption. We are so lucky to be alive at the same time as her!! Highly recommend!

So, I thought this book was cute, the chemistry between the characters wasn't bad, but I couldn't staaand the fmc. The mmc also wasn't that great. I love an enemies-to-lovers trope, but they just seemed to completely hate each other for a good chunk of the book. I'm also already not a fan of the miscommunication trope and this just proved it for me. They don't know how to communicate and they act like kids, which honestly didn't make it too enjoyable. They're constantly picking fights with each other instead of talking.

The story was also just okay imo - it's a second-chance romance with forced proximity and a marriage of convenience trope, and it seemed the author was just doing a lot all at once.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.

I don't know what I expected to get into with this book but I was stunned and hooked from the beginning.

The Co-Op is a gripping tale of two teens who fell out of love and then topple right back into it as adults. The baggage and trauma they were handed that ruined them years ago follows them into adulthood, but when they finally start sharing some of the weight, they become more entwined with one another than before.

If you're looking for a book that's light and funny, this one probably isn't for you. While there is levity between the pages, I was left feeling wrecked at some points and then completely patched together by the end. The Co-Op is a definite must-read.

I love a forced proximity situation and this one was pretty fun. The addition of the marriage of convenience and their past was also good. I enjoyed the characters and their relationship.

5 STARS!

"The Co-op" by Tarah DeWitt is one of my favorite books. I didn't think it could get any better, but it did! I loved being back with LaRynn and Deacon again, falling in love with their romance and their story for a second time just like they did. Their disdain for one another based on their complicated past morphs into something accepting, gentle, and lovely by the book's end. These are two of my favorite characters ever written. They are not perfect. They are messy, complicated, and engaging, but they are willing to work on their problems. This book is in-depth, intimate, realistic, raw, sexy, spicy, filled with banter, filled with grief and grieving, full of laughter and tears. DeWitt is one of my favorite authors, and she really digs deep at the core of grief, love, living, and acceptance over a methodically paced period of time. I am still in love with this book and this story. I highly recommend reading it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah DeWitt, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

The Co-Op by Tarah DeWitt is a heartfelt journey of love, growth, and healing that beautifully intertwines a second-chance romance with a dual timeline that adds so much depth to the story. The way the narrative shifts between past and present gives readers bits and pieces of LaRynn and Deacon's history, allowing us to slowly uncover how they fell in love the first time—and how they're destined to fall in love all over again.

Watching LaRynn and Deacon fall for each other twice was such a delight. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the push-and-pull of their relationship keeps you invested in their story. Tarah DeWitt masterfully balances sweet, spicy, and emotional moments, making this book a rollercoaster of feelings.

What really sets The Co-Op apart is how it touches on important themes like grief, learning disabilities, deep-rooted fears, and family issues. These elements add layers to the characters and make their journey even more impactful. LaRynn and Deacon’s personal struggles and growth are just as compelling as their love story, making this a truly well-rounded and satisfying read.

If you’re looking for a romance that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon, The Co-Op is a must-read. It’s a testament to love’s ability to endure and heal, even in the face of life’s biggest challenges.

Thanks to St Martins Press and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

I am a big fan of DeWitt's novels, and this one was no exception. LaRynn and Deacon are so fun and moody and wonderful in this marriage of convenience lovers to enemies to lovers romance that has so much heart. Brought together by their grandmothers, forced to marry to keep some real estate, these two can banter and drive each other batty in the best ways. DeWitt is a must read for me at this point.

This was such a fun read!!!

It was a little bit slow in the beginning but once it picked up I flew through it!

Sexy, sassy, and so fun!

Def recommend for romance fans!!

4/5

This is my 3rd Tarah Dewitt book. I adored this book. I’m a sucker for second chances and I loved everything about this one, from the grans’ story to working through the damage parents choices had done to them.

Tarah has such a way of writing about feelings, love and grieving. Having to work through one’s emotions is so hard on its own, but having the right words to understand what you’re feeling is so important. Through her writing, she’s able to have you relate to the characters.

The banter is always excellent! I look forward to her next release!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this ARC!!

Read if you like:
💋Enemies to Lovers
💋Forced Proximity
💋Opposites Attract
💋Slow Burn
💋Roommates or Shared Living Space

*The Co-op* by Tarah DeWitt is a delightful, charming rom-com that checks all the right boxes for fans of slow-burn romances and witty banter. The story centers around two protagonists who start off as reluctant roommates in a shared co-op situation, and as they navigate their differences and forced proximity, sparks fly in all the best ways.

DeWitt excels at creating relatable, multi-dimensional characters. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is executed brilliantly, with the tension between the characters building gradually, making their eventual connection all the more satisfying. Their chemistry is undeniable, and while the romance is slow to develop, it feels all the more rewarding as the characters slowly open up to each other and themselves.

The pacing is perfect, with just the right balance of humor, conflict, and emotional depth. The setting of the co-op, with its close quarters and communal living, offers the perfect backdrop for the opposites-attract trope to shine. Watching the characters learn to navigate each other's quirks and differences adds both humor and heart to the story.

*The Co-op* also has a surprising amount of emotional depth, with moments of vulnerability and personal growth woven seamlessly into the romance. As the protagonists confront their own pasts and struggles, their journey of self-discovery and healing is just as compelling as their growing love story.

Tarah DeWitt has crafted a feel-good, heartwarming read with *The Co-op*, offering a mix of lighthearted fun and touching moments. If you’re a fan of romantic comedies with emotional depth, relatable characters, and a swoon-worthy slow burn, this book is sure to leave you smiling.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my gifted ARC!

I adored the original Co-Op while at the same time, I felt it was ordinary in a way where it wasn't too exciting but perfect? Rewriting made it the 5 stars it originally deserved!

This was my first Tarah DeWitt and I'll be reading more by her!! Set in a seaside California town, two ex lovers are reunited after their grandmother's deaths to renovate their grandmother's home together. It's a forced proximity, enemies to lovers, second chance romance with tons of banter, and wit. I will say I did not connect with the FMC as she was selfish and blatantly rude to the MMC to the point of it being a bit like "okay we get it." Overall this was enjoyable and like I said I'll be reading more.

I adored this book. Deacon and LaRynn have a chemistry that time could not erase. What a great premise for a second chance romance. This book was a little slow at first but you could feel their angst right from the beginning. Once they decided to stop being idiots and facing their past did everything really fall into place. I love Sal and the connection to their grans. A sexy, angsty, great second chance romance. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author for letting me read this book.

Teenage lovers turned enemies, LaRynn and Deacon are thrust together again when their grandmothers (who were married to one another) pass away and leave their house to the pair. It's fallen into some disrepair, and they must fix it up if they want to sell it. Thanks to their teenage romance falling apart, along with plenty of other childhood baggage, LaRynn and Deacon bring lots of anger, tension, and general hatred to the renovation.

At first, I had no real interest in the two getting back together thanks to their vitriol--it didn't even seem like it would be possible, honestly. The story does get better with time, as they cool down and get used to one another again. However, there's nothing like mixing passionate, angry love with the highs and lows of home renovation drama. And there's certainly a lot of fierce love and sexual tension here--and spice, too! (So much spice.)

I have to admit I found their (romantic) relationship a little weird since their grandmothers were married, even if it happened when they were in their teens. But I did love the lesbian grandma angle-so cute.

The story is told mainly in present day between LaRynn and Deacon, but we do flash back to the past, so we can see what tore the two of them apart. It's a little more anti-climatic than it's all made out to be. There are so many feelings and pent-up emotions from these teenage years, which manifest into a lot of passion as adults. However, you can't help but think that a little communication--either then, or now--would have made all of this easier (and a lot less dramatic).

LaRynn and Deacon wind up getting married so LaRynn can access her trust fund, allowing them to pay for some renovations for the house. The whole "fake marriage" concept gets very glossed over, with no one seeming to really care about being deceived. There's also a lack of closure with some business ideas of LaRynn's, too. There's a great epilogue, but I wish it had tied up the threads of the plot more.

This is a very passionate story, with two strong-willed main characters, a fun beachy setting, and lots of drama. It's all a bit much at times, but it's a cute romance overall.

There were a lot of things that I loved about this book. The setting! The trope (forced proximity, marriage of convenience, second chance)! And I thought it was very refreshing having a tall, strong female main character. She is also kind of mean but she owns it; and she's not really mean, but she can be moody and snarky, etc. For all of the good things about it, I still found that it dragged a bit in some parts for me and I can't even articulate why which is not helpful. However, it was an enjoyable read and the plot was thorough; you can tell the author put some real thought into it and tried to make it creative which I think readers will appreciate. Tarah DeWitt continues to be an author that I will pick up as I have been continuously impressed by her work.

I absolutely LOVED this book! Tarah is becoming a go to author for me as both this and Savor It were five star reads for me. There is just something about the way she develops her characters. They are all going through intense situations which is life. But Tarah has such a beautiful way of following that grief and helping these characters recognize that they are in fact grieving and how to help them heal largely by opening up and letting people in. These two characters were no different. Deacon is going on my book boyfriend list because OMG. The way that this man thinks about Larry AKA LaRynn. The way that he recognizes how amazing she is. The way that he isn't afraid of her strength but instead likes to poke at her. It was fascinating to watch these two fall back in love and HARD. Larry was a such an intense character. She was so strong and fiercely protective of the people she let in but she didn't let anybody in. She has only known love as the broken relationship that was her parents. So reading about her and Deacon when they were 18 and 20 was so relatable- trying to be too cool and act like she didn't care when it reality she cared too much. The way that Tarah had these two characters evolve together through a home renovation was EVERYTHING! I mean I don't know about you guys but I know that a home reno is stressful as all get out and yet somehow it brought these two together.

LaRynn is finally acknowledging that she needs to do the right thing. She has been ignoring his calls. Him being Deacon the man who broke her back in the day. The man who she hasn't spoken to really since then. But the one who keeps calling about the house that is now theirs. Yes that's right- since their grandmas were married they both deeded the house to them. And it apparently is falling apart. She hasn't seen the man in forever but she knows she can handle it until she really really can't. I mean how can he look better now than he did. And then when they realize how much money things will be- they do the unthinkable. They get married because that's how LaRynn gains access to her trust. And so here she finds herself married to the man that broke her heart all those years ago. How does he seem so ingratiated into this small town where everyone seems to know him. And here is LaRynn the woman who didn't even come back when her grandma died. The one who has been running because she knows that acknowledging those feelings will just break her. But OMG this house that is now hers and Deacon's is a trainwreck. I mean there aren't even doors. There are notes reminding her of when she can and can't use things at the same time. And during all of this there is this energy between them. She can't help but love the way he refers to her as his wife. She can't help but think that maybe she misinterpreted what happened between them all those years ago. But she is leaving after all of this- right? But then they come clean about how they felt and what actually happened and it's like this weight has been lifted. They are going to be friends and work through this. They are going to get it all done. But who are they kidding there is no way this energy between them is just friends. And when they finally figure it out- it's explosive and unstoppable.

Deacon can't believe he has had to resolve to threatening to sure LaRynn in order to get her attention. What happened to them? How did they go from being what they were to where they are now which is not exactly enemies but almost like they just never were. And yet Deacon can't seem to shake her. So when she finally shows up and they come up with the idea of marriage to gain access to her trust he says yes. Partly because of the money but also because part of him likes this idea of them working out. But now they have to live together in this hellhole all while faking a relationship. They get into a rhythm and it's like the chemistry they used to have has been amplified. The way she looks at him makes him feel things. The way he has to work for a smile makes him feel accomplished. But there is this underlying current of what transpired. How they broke each other. When they finally get it out in the open it is a relief. They are going to be friends. Deacon is terrified to give her his heart again even though he knows she already has it. But who was he kidding- he can't let her go. He can't let her be with someone else. Not when she is already his. They may have had a rocky start but now he knows that she is his endgame. He just has to get her caught up.

This was just such a wonderful read! I felt the angst tenfold. Their banter was amazing. The mutual pining but being terrified of letting the other in. I was on the edge of my seat wondering when they were finally going to give in while also wondering what had happened between them. Reading about both of their heartbreaks and how they both seen love play out helped me understand where they were at mentally. The chemistry between these two was off the charts! I HATED waiting until like 75% before things really happened but don't you worry Tarah gave us some breadcrumbs. I can't recommend this one enough!!

I want to thank NetGalley and Tarah for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The Co-op was my first Tara DeWitt novel and I will be reading more of her books. I loved the way she weaved Deacon and LaRynn's backstory together. This was a satisfying slow burn.

This book was not for me, I found both the main characters to be quite irritating and immature. Like please just talk!!!