I kinda sorta loved this book! I'm always interested in a marriage of convenience and this was the best kind because there was also forced proximity! They were forced to live in this house together which really exacerbated every grievance they had with each other. Plus, it amped up the romantic parts times 100.

Deacon and LaRynn's relationship was complicated. They had a lot of history to overcome between each other on top of all the family trauma they were dealing with, both present and past. It took a minute for them both to open up and actually have "the" conversation about what happened with them in the past and how to move on from it, but I think the timing was right. Any quicker, and it would have felt like things were not fully being examined.

Along these lines, because there are a few relationships we're exploring (Deacon and LaRynn's romantic one, and the one they each have with their family members), the story is never boring. Our two MCs are renovating the house so that's part of the story, and the other half is their relationships. The plot was a great balance of both and very well-paced. I was never bored or wishing one thing would hurry along. We also get a few chapters from what Deacon and LaRynn's relationship looked like in the past which is really interesting.

The epilogue absolutely sent me over the edge. It was perfect and a great model for how all epilogues should be written.

I would have loved to have seen more of Elyse and Jensen. And even June. They were there, but not super fleshed out as side characters. But Elyse and Jensen were important to the story. I wouldn't have minded seeing more of them or having them more involved in Deacon and LaRynn's love story.

Overall, I loved this book! I would have stayed with Deacon and LaRynn another 300 pages. They had a beautiful evolution to their relationship and I couldn't have asked for a better romance novel.

I had a hard time getting into this book. There was so much anger and distrust between the main characters. I love a good second chance romance, but I don't think I've read one with so many negative feelings between the main characters to be resolved. They find a way to come back together with fireworks! It's a very spicy read, coupled with the challenges of a house remodel and difficult family relationships. Overall an emotional read- I wanted to connect more with the main characters, but for some reason this one didn't resonate as much with me as DeWitt's Savor It! It is definitely worth the read, however!

I Loved the Story of being somewhat friends in the beginning, yes they didn't have a traditional start since their Grandparents were the couple. But it was still a great beginning that had a not so happy middle. Learning to cohabiting because the grands leave you a Home was beautiful, what I loved even more was the Location "Santa Cruz, CA" since I live 40 minutes south of SC this Fictional book made me want to travel and Look for their home! Like What!! I Loved it so Much!

House renovations. A messy past between two individuals that cross paths because their grandmother's are married to each other. Miscommunication. Oh, and marriage of financial convenience? Win win win!!!

LaRynn Lavigne drives her cute little tush to Santa Cruz on a random day, after realizing she's hit rock bottom with her questionable life and decides to pay a visit to the haven she used to find peace in. It obviously doesn't go well because she is face to face with Deacon Leeds, the man that LaRynn now co-owns a home with. Besides trying to figure out how they'll get out of renovation debt and what to do with their "grands" home, Deacon and LaRynn have some unresolved business they want to forget about but can't. There's banter, arguments, make-up scenarios (So good!) and years of emotional catchup they must get to. Guess what ends up being front and center as their first real task checked off in the impending to-do list? All wrong answers are accepted!

This book was so so good. The perfect romcom to get into after reading a string of dark and moody reads for sure! I found the beginning to be very slow moving but after getting through that hump, this story had my full attention. LaRynn and Deacon both had some heavy emotional baggage tied to them and getting to see how they tackled their issues was heartwarming and satisfying to read about. LaRynn grew on me and I loved her for standing up for herself and not pushing things away. Deacon was a sweetheart. He definitely made me think of those golden retriever MMC's in those Netflix romcom movies.

This book provided great laughs, endearing moments and all the good stuff you want in a feel good romance. I'm so glad I finally got to reading this one!


Special thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing a digital reviewer's copy in exchange for my honest opinions of this book!

Tarah DeWitt has delivered the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers masterpiece I didn’t know I was craving. The Co-op is packed with banter, tension, and so much heart I could barely handle it. It’s the kind of book that grabs you by the feels and doesn’t let go until you’re grinning like an idiot at the final page.

Here’s the setup: two childhood frenemies, LaRynn and Deacon, are forced to come together to renovate a property they’ve both inherited. Cue the sarcasm, unresolved feelings, and (you guessed it) a healthy dose of how can we hate each other when the chemistry is THIS strong?!

LaRynn is funny, independent, and just the right amount of snarky. Deacon? Don’t even get me started. Grumpy, broody, but also the kind of guy who’ll steal your heart when you least expect it. Watching these two go from sparring with words to sparking with emotions? CHEF’S KISS.

What makes The Co-op hit so hard is the emotional depth woven into all the witty banter. The story beautifully balances laugh-out-loud moments with heartfelt themes of family, forgiveness, and finding your home in another person. And the renovation project? It’s the perfect metaphor for rebuilding relationships (and tearing down walls—literally and figuratively).

BUT a couple of things didn’t quite hit for me. The pacing in some parts felt a little uneven—there were moments where the slow burn dragged just a bit too long, and I caught myself wishing the story would move forward faster. Also, while I LOVED the chemistry between LaRynn and Deacon, some of their conflicts felt repetitive, almost like we were circling the same issue without resolution.

That said, The Co-op still had me laughing, swooning, and hugging the book by the end.

Would I recommend? Absolutely. It’s perfect for fans of:
✨ Slow-burn tension so thick you can cut it with a saw.
✨ Enemies-to-lovers with A+ banter.
✨ A story that makes you laugh one second and tear up the next.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC!

#Bookstagram #TheCoOp #TarahDeWitt #SlowBurnGoals #EnemiesToLovers #FeelGoodRomance #AllTheHeartEyes

I was so looking forward to this book because I loved Savor It but this book didn't hit the same way.
I didn't totally hate it but just didn't live up to my expectations.

This was a good book. LaRynn was a little too much at times for me, I wish she would have opened up sooner. Deacon was a good MMC, but it took me a second to get a feel for his character. There was a lot of sex, and I found myself skimming the pages to get back to the plot, but that's a me issue, and the author even warned there would be sex. There was just a lot (for me, personally). A couple of lolls in the story also left me bored.

But I recognize this is all a me thing, so give it a read!

The Co-Op was a second chance adult romance, mixed with marriage of convenience and forced proximity. The characters stood out and were easy to love, the story took us through an emotional path in a slow and steady way, and the ending was fabulous! If you’re looking for an adult romance to spend your time with, add this one to your tbr.
Maybe if I show her she can count on me to have her back, she’ll open up and have mine, too. Maybe I’m an absolute sucker and I’ll get left at the end of this a lot more broken.

I adored LaRynn from the prologue. She shared the most mortifying moments of her life with us, including ones I’m terrified of, and it made me click with her right away. Headed back to her grandma’s house, LaRynn was going to help restore it with a man that made her heart pound for many reasons. There was so much hurt and resentment between the two of them. And they had so much work through, emotionally and physically.
I wish he smelled like stale beer or something that’d make my lip curl. Instead, he smells like some sort of whiskey. Smoke from a campfire with something sweet and dark and him. Intoxicating on his own.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice a low, grating rumble that tugs at something deep inside me. Fuck him for that, too. For having so much pull over me, for making me feel so out of control.

Deacon was my favorite. From the reason why he called her Larry, to his ability to work through his thoughts, I loved him. Especially since he seemed to have all the patience in the world for her. While I adored LaRynn, she kept her walls up higher. Was so protective of her thoughts. So, I was thankful for moments when Deacon could vocalize things she couldn’t. And stated that they needed to talk. LaRynn just had to get there, and so while the miscommunication trope went on for longer in this book then I thought it would, I was so happy when they finally let it all out.
I told him I wouldn’t need anything. I promised, in fact.
But I like him. I like him so much it hurts.

Mixed in this story were moments from their past. I loved how seamlessly it was woven into the present. And those times allowed us to see a bigger picture of the two of them. But past and present, there was always a lot of sexual tension between them. Those times caused moments that will leave you smiling, laughing or sighing out loud. It was impossible not to feel everything they felt.
“It meant something,” grinds deeply out of him, sending shivers up my arms and heat to my ears.

With jealousy, messing with each other, embarrassment, hurt, friendship and love laced through the pages, this story was written so beautifully. It was so quotable too and I highlighted a couple hundred passages and lines lol. I especially loved the my wife moments, sigh. This was my second book by Tara DeWitt and I can’t wait to read the rest of them!
The more it looks like a completed house, the more I realize how much we’ve been making it our home this entire time. With our messes and our music. All the memories from our past with our grandmothers, and the ones we’ve made together.

The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt is a heartwarming and cleverly crafted rom-com that tackles themes of community, love, and personal growth. With witty dialogue, endearing characters, and a charming setting, DeWitt creates a feel-good story that’s both funny and heartfelt. A delightful read for anyone who loves a slow-burn romance with a lot of heart!

Three words. Marriage of convenience. One of my favorite tropes for all the right reasons and Tara nailed this one! The tension was delicious and I loved both of these main characters! Forced proximity will never get old. Loved this one!

Tarah DeWitt's “The Co-op” is a slow-burn, marriage-of-convenience romance about a woman starting over and her childhood ex-boyfriend as they renovate their grandmother’s house.

Twenty-six-year-old LaRynn Cecilia Lavigne is down on her luck. Growing up in the shadow of her parents' tumultuous marriage, LaRynn often found herself spending summers and many Christmases at her grandmother CeCe’s house in Santa Cruz, California. After CeCe’s passing—the woman LaRynn loved more than anyone else in the world—LaRynn was consumed by grief. She dropped out of law school and lost job after job, unable to find a way forward.

Her father, who had always been distant, cuts off her trust fund and repossesses her car—a vehicle that, ironically, is still in his name. Then, LaRynn receives an unexpected phone call from her childhood ex-boyfriend, Deacon Leeds, who threatens to sue her unless she comes to Santa Cruz to help fix up her grandmother’s house.

After months of crashing on friends’ couches, LaRynn sells the few belongings she has left, buys a used Honda Accord, and embarks on her reluctant journey to Santa Cruz.

Over a decade ago, CeCe met Helena, Deacon’s grandmother, who was her next-door neighbor. The two became close, eventually marrying and knocking down the walls separating their units to combine them into one home. Deacon began spending his summers with them while his parents traveled with his brother for baseball tournaments. LaRynn, however, immediately resented Deacon for taking up her grandmother’s time and for sitting in her seat at the dining table. Things only worsened when Deacon started calling her “Larry.”
When LaRynn turns nineteen, she decides to turn her relationship with Deacon into a physical one, using him to explore intimacy. The two spend as much time together as they can, but in secret—claiming they’re out shopping or staying with other people. LaRynn tells herself she’s not supposed to develop feelings, but when she admits she loves Deacon, he coldly responds, “It’s just sex, LaRynn.” The situation reaches its breaking point when her father catches them in the act.

Seven years later, Deacon, now twenty-seven, hasn’t seen LaRynn since they ended things. He’s been struggling to juggle working at the campgrounds, a property he owns with his brother and mother, and fixing up the dilapidated house his grandmother left him. When LaRynn informs him that her trust fund has been cut off and she’s broke, she reveals that the only way to access the money is if she’s married. In an effort to help both himself and her, Deacon agrees to a marriage of convenience. They plan to marry long enough for LaRynn to access her trust, repair the house, and then they will sell or rent out the house. However, living under the same roof becomes tense as they’ve never fully addressed their past hurt and unresolved feelings.

DeWitt’s use of metaphors—comparing the renovation of the house to the restoration of their relationship—is brilliant. As they tear down the literal walls of the house, LaRynn begins to tear down her emotional walls, opening up to Deacon. As the house is renovated, so too is their relationship, as they have the tough, long-overdue conversations. Told through dual timelines and alternating points of view, the novel is less about finding new romance and more about rediscovering that the love between them was never truly lost—it was always there, waiting to be restored.

One of the frustrating aspects of the novel is its repetitiveness and the characters’ lack of communication skills. The characters are in their late twenties, yet they consistently keep their feelings to themselves, which only creates more tension in their household. LaRynn, in particular, has suffered emotional damage and has internalized much of her pain. However, despite this, I found her character hard to like. She is rough around the edges, much like the cactus she is metaphorically compared to in the novel, and this makes it difficult to fully root for her and her "happily ever after." At times, she comes across as a brat—someone who throws tantrums when life doesn't go as she wants.

That said, I did appreciate the moments of her growth, particularly when she learns to communicate her needs, especially with her mother. Unfortunately, there is a noticeable gap in the novel when it comes to LaRynn’s relationship—or lack thereof—with her father. He is barely present in the story, appearing only to explain how she is penniless and carless. This lack of development regarding her father leaves an emotional void that feels like an unfinished part of her character arc.

I requested this off of NetGalley because it sounded like something I would really enjoy, but I ended up so bored reading it.

LaRynn and Deacon had a summer fling when they were young, telling themselves it was just physical and nothing more. Fast forward and they both share a house that belonged to their grandparents, who have passed away. In order to access the funds to renovate the house, they get married, agreeing that they will divorce when the renovations are done.

Second chance romance is often a favorite of mine, but only when I care about the characters. This one felt a bit choppy, physical scenes taking over with some character development haphazardly thrown in. I didn’t really have time to develop any feelings about the two of them, and by the 67% mark, I didn’t even care about the ending or their relationship.

I wanted to like this one, but it just wasn’t for me.

This was so adorable!!! I LOVE this author and this book was just as cute but meaningful as her other books. Highly highly recommend!

this was sweet. i actually quite enjoy the subgenre of renovation romance and i did not reread the blurb before i picked this up yesterday so that was a nice surprise! i liked the angst between the two main characters, though i found the dual timeline a bit jerky.
i didn’t love larynn to start, but she did grow on me. i really enjoyed watching both larynn and deacon start to trust one another and open up as their relationship developed - this was probably the highlight for me.

I feel like this storyline had a lot of potential but ultimately the book fell flat for me. I never fully connected to the characters and it was all just very ok.

The Co-op is a second chance, enemies to lovers romance. Both the attraction and the antagonism between LaRynn and Deacon practically crackles off the page. As teens, they both started off thinking the worst of each other, yet they couldn't stay away from each other, resulting in an intense but short-lived summer fling that ended rather badly. Because neither of them was mature enough to initiate a straight and open conversation, ten years later, the antagonism has gotten the upper hand.

At the start of the book, they are forced into close proximity, living together in their grandmothers' shared house, which desperately needs major renovations if they are to have any hope of selling it for a decent price. Of course, the antagonism boils over. The problem is that they need each other to succeed. Deacon has construction knowledge but no money, while LaRynn has a trust fund that can fund the reno, but she can only access it if she gets married. Their shared goal provides the impetus for them to finally stop picking at each other long enough to start working together as a team. From there, the attraction bubbles right up once again.

Both Deacon and LaRynn were flawed but sympathetic characters who honestly didn't know what a normal relationship looked like. LaRynn was pretty unlikable for the first half of the book, although she had good reasons for acting the way she did, while Deacon tended to just jump in and judge her without bothering to get the facts. I wanted to yell at both of them a few times, but I was also totally rooting for them as they struggled to form a mature connection with each other.

My biggest niggle with the book was that I felt there were too many flashbacks to their prior relationship, but in general I'm not a fan of flashbacks so not surprising I wasn't wild about them here. Otherwise I would recommend the book. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

I ADORED this book. The chemistry between Deacon and LaRynn was off the charts. And Deacon was SO dreamy. The second chance, the forced proximity. I had so much fun. The spice was spicing! Love love love this!

What a fun read! Many thanks to the publisher and to netgalley! I keep seeing that this is the mix of beach read and you deserve each other and I sort of agree... It was hard to root for LaRynn and Deacon whose communication difficulties are the whole plot. A marriage of convenience second chance trope seems right up my alley. It was hard to believe that these characters were adults and felt like they were teenagers. The plot sounded great but didn't really work for me.

LaRynn and Deacon had a short but fraught fling as teens, then years later are left a falling down, fire-damaged building by their grandmothers. She has the money to renovate in a trust that requires her to be married to access funds, and he has the expertise to complete the project. They decide to marry and move into the building long enough to rebuild and recoup their investment, and while they rebuild the house they also work through their own issues resulting from their parents' marriages, their difficult childhoods, and painful misunderstandings from their teen years. Balances popular genre tropes (second chance, dual timeline, marriage of convenience, fake relationship, forced proximity) with enough emotional depth from the main characters' genuine pain and loss to make the story feel real and grounded.
I will recommend to fans of Tessa Bailey, especially the Hot & Hammered trilogy that centers stories around home renovations. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital review copy.

✨ Marriage of Convenience
✨ Second Chance
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Hate to Love
✨ Home Renovation

Okay, I absolutely loved this spicy second chance, marriage of convenience home reno romance! The characters are perfectly imperfect and real. I laughed, I teared up (crying is hard for me), and just got all up in my feels. I was rooting for LaRynn and Deacon right from the beginning and thoroughly enjoyed their hot and heavy early 20s situationship to their begrudgingly re-ignited love in their late 20s. I also enjoyed the side characters and would love an Elyse and Jensen book!

There are some heavy themes of parental abandonment and grief over beloved grandparents’ deaths. These themes greatly influenced the main characters and honestly made them more complex and real.

This was my first Tarah Dewitt book and I absolutely need to read more by her! Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy! ❤️