[Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.]

This was my first time with this author and this seemed like an intriguing book about an arranged marriage with a second chance trope.

LaRynn is a bit hard to read throughout the book though I do understand she is meant to be at a point. There are moments where she's making great progress but still falls back (though without mention of doing it) but that's my perspective on it.

Deacon is - absolutely one of those types where chaotically he's an interesting individual. Like I couldn't tell if I liked him or annoyed - he drove me crazy (not necessarily in a bad way. Just frustrating.)

Sal and Deacon's mother where I couldn't stop laughing.

Fun, easy to read book that left me interested in reading more from the author.

My Rating: 3.75 (rounded up)

LaRynn and Deacon are old foes. They had a short summer fling when they were teens. LaRynn thought it was more until Deacon squashed that. From then on, LaRynn declared Deacon an enemy.

Fast forward a decade later when LaRynn is summoned to her and Deacon’s late grandmothers’ home to fix the dilapidated building. Deacon has been fixing it but has run out of money. LaRynn has a trust but to access it, she needs to be married. They strike a deal: marry for fund access and after the building is fixed, sever ties to each other.

But emotions run high as do their tempers. They push and pull until they realize that maybe that long ago summer fling started something they don’t want to end.

First off, I am a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope. And then add in some second chance romance? That is gold. I loved the chemistry between the two. I thought the forced proximity definitely worked here and loved the beach vibes.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC.

Not my favorite DeWitt book. Second chance romance is one of my least favorite tropes, usually because I think there's a good reason for the original breakup and not enough work has been done between the old and new relationship to warrant a reconnection, lololll. So this one was already on my side-eye, and unfortunately it felt right being there. Adults not communicating drives me absolutely nuts and that was definitely the case here for most of their relationship, esp when their teenage relationship woes could have been cleared up with one conversation. There were however multiple funny parts, which TD is great at doing, and some good banter thrown in here and there.

Overall, not the best... but def not the worst.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was excited about receiving this eARC as I have loved so many works by this author. Recognizing this was a return to a previously published work from her, I am glad this wasn’t my first foray into Tarah Dewitt’s novels. Unfortunately, I never really felt the chemistry between the two characters and many times I found I wasn’t genuinely rooting for them to make it in the end. Somewhat lacklustre for me unfortunately.

3.5 stars!
A HGTV-style renovation meets marriage of convenience.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt is a cute story!

LaRynn and Deacon must work through their complicated past in order to move forward. Their feelings are complex and hearts have been broken.

It is a sweet story. A second chance at love. Love the epilogue. 😍

3.5 rounded to 4.

This book was super cute! It started off a little slow, but once the story picked up, I really liked it.

Really loved her writing. Good flow throughout the story! Love and life are very clear and well written. Enjoyed thoroughly.

This was such a sweet read.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between the main characters.

The rival/hate/to love relationship had me so excited. I love the way this author writes relationships.

And the spice was spicing. I just adore her books and love reading all of them.

okay so, this book? absolute romcom gold. the forced proximity, the slow burn, the ridiculous amount of tension?? perfection. tarah dewitt really said “let’s take two stubborn, emotionally constipated people and make them fix up a house together” and honestly, thank you for that. the banter is hilarious, the chemistry is fire, and somehow there’s also a lot of heart in between all the snark.

A heartwarming and refreshingly unique take on romance, forced proximity, and second chances. There is humor and emotional depth throughout the pages. The characters truly shine, with their quirks, flaws and layered personalities.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What I loved about this story was the journey the couple went on. Yes, it was a bit of enemies to lovers, but really it was a second-chance and two people figuring out what they really wanted in life and love. I liked that the story infused the past with their present as that added some depth and intrigue to the story as they went through the twists and turns of figuring things out - both relationships and some renovation work. Also, I love a couple with good banter, and that was very much Deacon and LaRynn. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this one!

“Be my wife. Stay my wife .”


THATS ALL

4 stars!!! Very amazing

Loved the audiobook. Loved their banter. The characters were amazing. Definitely recommend Tarah books

This was not my favorite Tarah DeWitt book, I will continue to pick up her books as there have been many great reads!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have to say I struggled with LaRynn during the first half of this book. Part of me understands why she feels the way she does, but the other part wonders why she wants to be almost angry at anyone that wants to get closer to her. She was kind of unreasonably mean to the Deacon at times for no real reason. I do feel like she eventually turned it all around once she let her guard down. Deacon wasn’t much better but he figured himself out much quicker. I was wondering a little why they even liked each other at all. I did really enjoy the last bit of the book though.

WHY DID I PUT THIS OFF FOR SO LONG??? It took me a long time to get into this, but once I got past the first two or three chapters, I was hooked and finished it in less than 24 hours. It wasn't easy to put this down and I was looking forward to reading it in every spare second that I had!

I often struggle to like second-chance romance stories, but I loved how LaRynn and Deacon’s story was done. I especially liked seeing their growth, communication, and vulnerability to overcome the issues that affected their relationship when they were teenagers.

I LIVE FOR MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE in any way, shape, or form. Unfortunately, The Co-Op is missing something when it comes to a marriage of convenience story and what I love about that trope. I can’t quite put my finger on what's missing, but it fell a bit flat in that area that I typically obsess over.

Despite it falling flat there, the TENSION between LaRynn and Deacon was off the charts, immaculate, palpable, and I ate up every scrap that Tarah gives us in their story. I think that Tarah also did an amazing job with the throwback scenes and POVs, sometimes I don’t love how dependent second-chance romances can be on those past scenes, but this was done REALLY well. The throwbacks were really cute, helpful for the story and most importantly, really helped with the character development for both LaRynn and Deacon, and did a fantastic job building that tension!

I liked the portrayal of LaRynn’s relationship (or lack thereof) with her mom, and her vulnerability in being honest.

Overall, I enjoyed this read and will be starting Savor It ASAP, and can’t wait for Left of Forever and meeting Tarah in SLC next month!!!!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC <3.

Unfortunately this book fell flat for me. I was so bored and couldn't connect to the story. I have liked other books by this author and will continue to read her books going forward.

I was so excited when Tarah announced she was re-releasing The Co-Op with new updates and edits. When I first read this story two years ago, I liked it but was really bummed that I didn't love it because I could feel this story had the potential to be something great. And WOW did this new version hit all of my marks

When Deacon and LaRynn are forced to reconnect after a decade of not speaking to renovate their grandmothers' house, they are forced to face all of the heartbreak and emotions they left unsolved. Like all of Tarah's previous characters, LaRynn and Deacon are beautifully flawed, messy, and most importantly, human. They feel like fully fleshed out beings that could easily pass you on the street or even be your best friend. Their banter is laugh out loud, kick your feet funny and their love story is complex and filled with tension that has been waiting to burst for years. But it's their care and determination to fight for what they've built together that truly makes their happily ever after feel meant to be and deserved

A sizzling second-chance romance with forced proximity, a marriage-of-convenience twist, and a renovation project? Sign me up!

LaRynn and Deacon’s chemistry was off the charts from the very first page. Their past summer fling may have been short-lived, but their lingering resentment (and undeniable attraction) made for some fantastic tension. Watching them go from reluctant co-owners to begrudging partners—and eventually something more—was so satisfying.

I loved the construction/renovation backdrop. It wasn’t just about fixing up a building; it was about tearing down emotional walls, too. The forced intimacy of their arrangement made for plenty of fun, bickering, and some seriously steamy moments. And while the marriage-for-money trope can sometimes feel contrived, it worked really well here, adding just the right amount of stakes to their relationship.

My only small gripe was that both LaRynn and Deacon were a little too stubborn at times, dragging out their emotional journey more than necessary. But when the walls (literal and figurative) started coming down, the payoff was worth it.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Larynn and Deacon. Their grandmothers were married to each other. Larynn and Deacon would go see their grandmothers over the summer and see each other. They started dating in high school. When Larynn went to college she didn’t visit as much. When both of the grandmothers had passed they left their house to Larynn and Deacon. Larynn came back to help Deacon fix the house. They fell in love.