3.5/5 stars

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reading copy!

This book was sooo cute from the start, and kept my attention throughout (honestly kind of rare for romance). LaRynn and Deacon were both very sweet and had great chemistry, making this a believable romance. Based on other reviews and the description, I expected this book to be pretty smutty, it was more romance with a few spicy scenes in my opinion -- not an issue at all just different than I expected! The spicy scenes were well done and didn't seem weird or awkward at all. While I did enjoy this book overall, nothing stood out to be as super special or memorable. The characters, plot and romance were solid, but nothing above and beyond. Would recommend if you're looking for a romance with good balance between sweet and spicy!

crying!!!!!!! because somehow tarah made this book and this story even more perfect than it already was!!! every single page is gold!!! i love so much that we got the before chapters in this updated version— it made me feel that much closer to larynn and deacon! and it made the tension in each of their interactions even more tangible! i felt immediately wrapped up in their easy chemistry and their top tier banter! and who they are at their core deeply resonates with me! so much of this story brought me to literal tears— the intimate scenes, the “fuck it” moment, the love declarations, when they finally address their past, their inner monologues when they’re finally honest with themselves, all of it!!! so many tears! i just love larynn and deacon soooo much it hurts!!!! 😭
no critiques, no notes, not a single flaw— this book is sooo sooo good i want to immediately turn back to page one and live it again! my heart is so full it could burst! 🥹

Rating: 5/5 stars

Tarah DeWitt has done it again; she wrote another book that had me unable to put it down. If you're looking for a finish in one day romance, this is the one.

LaRynn and Deacon's chemistry is sizzling. In the "Before" scenes, and in the present day, there's just something palpable between these characters. The banter adds a comedic dynamic, and their other relationships--familial and friend--add so much depth to this story. The vulnerability each shows, slowly, in little snippets, only deepens the obvious physical connection between them. I loved the dual POV in this one, because there's a real longing and respect and sense of care coming from each character for the other that you get from each perspective.

A great example of this is Deacon's internal monologue over the pillows, and how he reflects back on his own parents before responding to LaRynn's actions feels like such a moment of growth for him, but also for their relationship. But what DeWitt does so excellently is to then have the same conversation backslide a bit. Sort of a one step forward, one and a half steps back. There's still unresolved hurt between these characters, the reality is more complex. This makes the story feel real without it coming across as gratuitous conflict.

I just loved this book. More than once while reading it I had thoughts like "I want to keep this book forever and read it again and again" and then felt really happy when I realized I can do exactly that. Tarah DeWitt books just have that affect on me.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Arc Review

4 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love Tarah Dewitt her books are always such fun reads

I really enjoyed this wholesome and sweet second chance, romance about Deacon and LaRynn.
I loved watching each of them grow on their own and then as a couple. Even when they were bickering and butting heads.

Let’s not forget about the connection LaRynn had with her late grandmother, that was so cute! 🥹

If you’re looking for a force proximity, marriage of convenience, second chance, romance, with some spice and a HEA, then this book is for you! (As always, check your trigger warnings)

"I am learning how good it feels to be honest instead of easy"

I AM A PUDDLE. It's always been you is one of the most underrated tropes I fear. They met at 15, had a summer fling at 19, now it's been 7 years and they are reunited once again, this time while having to work on a construction project for a building that means a lot to the both of them. In order to get the funds to do so they, they need to get married (dun dun dun).

LaRynn is me, I am LaRynn. And Deacon? I was in love with him as soon as I found out he looks like Dansbae Swanson.

From about the 25% mark, I could not put this book down. The banter is insanely well down & overall exactly the feel good story I needed in ATM.

I loved this book! I was in a little bit of a book slump and took forever to finish this book, but i always wanted to know what was going on with Deacon and LaRynn. This story has me laughing and crying. It's relatable, falling in love during a renovation... you see the lows and the highs! I can't wait to meet this author one day and tell her thank you for the amazing stories!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!

this was just as good as it was the first time around. i’ve never read a tarah dewitt book i didn’t love. they’re always so full of heart and humor, emotion and spice. larynn & deacon’s story might be my favorite of all the stories she’s written. 🧡

This is now my second Tarah DeWitt book that just absolutely wrecked my brain in the best way possible. I don't know what she puts in her writing but I am now addicted.

This book has always been in the back of my mind on my endless TBR but I kept putting it off. It lived on my Kindle Unlimited for over a year, just waiting for its time in the sun. I was this close to picking it up earlier this year, but then Tarah announced that this book was being rereleased under SMP with over 30k in rewrites, so I held off until I could get my grubby little hands on a new release copy earlier this fall.

The Co-Op follows Deacon and LaRynn, two people that used to be in love with each other when they were teens who have now been brought together to rebuild the home they've inherited from their late grandmothers. In need of an influx of cash to afford the repairs, the two strike up a marriage of convenience despite the fact that they drive each other insane. But slowly the forced proximity and unresolved angst after all these years allows for these two to try a second chance at the romance that destroyed them so long ago.

There is so much angst in the best kind of way. These two feel so so strongly about the other in a way that pulls so deeply at your heart. What I love too is that LaRynn is considered an unlikeable character, but I fell absolutely in love with her. I love female characters with prickly, jagged edges and the boys who love them for it. There's so many moments of soft and lovely romance that warms your heart, but Tarah really balances them with the dual timeline of angst and strife that these two go through as teenagers.

I'm always hesitant to read second chance romances, but this book is definitely one to convince me to be a fan of this trope. I had a fantastic time and definitely can't wait to see what others think of it.

3.5 ⭐️

Deacon + LaRynn bring quite a bit to this second chance romance. This is a slow burn, in my opinion, but you get bits and pieces of some romance along the way.

Deacon + LaRynn have a marriage of convenience but because of their past, this marriage is a little more drama filled than others.

They are renovating a home together after their grandmothers left it to them, unexpectedly and their only choice is to fix it up, to rent it out. While they’re “newly weds” and learning to budget.

There were some funny parts to it, some spice throughout but more towards the end, as well as grief, healing and closure.

It is LGBTQIA+ friendly, which I loved. There is also mention of dyslexia and it just felt like an inclusive book.

The first half was a little lacking for me, but the romance at the end with the grief and closure was really nice. I also really enjoyed the epilogue wrap up!

This book comes out today, 11/12/24! Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the read :)

I am a sucker for enemies to lovers and did both the kindle and audio version! Love and it was a great feel good read!

The first Tarah Dewitt book I read was Savor it and I loved it! I was so excited to read this one next and it didn’t disappoint.
Tarah is so good at creating characters who are so easy to fall in love with (Deacon I’m looking at you) and whose chemistry and banter is off the charts. I didn’t like LaRynn much in the beginning but she grew on me.
Second chance romance, forced proximity, and marriage of convenience, what more could a girl ask for?!
I was giggling and kicking my feet but also there were some parts that had me feeling a little emotional.
I’m excited to read some more Tarah Dewitt books!
Happy reading!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. I had a difficult time getting into it and ended up speed reading through the last half of the book. Overall it just fell flat for me.

This renovated edition brings a whole new viewpoint to Deacon and LaRynn’s story.

I loved the original story, but I think I loved this more. We got different points of view, bonus content, but the same story about uncovering the things that build character in ourselves and how life and partnership is a never ending project.

I liked the subtle changes and the restructuring of the timeline, I felt like it flowed through the story better.

I highly recommend giving it a second chance 😉

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for granting me an ARC copy of this new edition.

3.5/4⭐️
Was kinda torn with this book, there was a lot I loved about it and some things I didn’t. I really loved the complexity of both LaRynn and Deacon’s characters and enjoyed the time jumps showing their current situation and back to the summer they spent together. Something was just missing for me, I didn’t feel that attached to the story and got bored at some points. I did really love the ending though it was so sweet and I love the storyline of the ‘Grands’ 🥹

The Co-Op is a book about love and restoration . It is a marriage of convince between LaRynn and Deacon to both achieve their goals but then things get messy when sparks fly.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. The characters were fun and the second chance romance was done really well. I miss the characters already and their motivations made so much sense which built amazing tension. If you love romance books, this is one you shouldn’t miss. I can’t wait to pick up her next book!

I didn’t realize this was a “republish” I devoured Savor It by her and since they had similar covers I thought it was the next one. But I am a huge fan of the recover. This was fun not my favorite of the year or month but it was a solid 3 stars. LaRynn the FMC, is quite the character and honestly annoyed more than not in this book haha. But Deacon and her were so cute together it made up for it. They acted like adults and that part was refreshing. I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

Rounded up from 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Co-op was my first Tara Dewitt book, and I can see why so many people have raved about her books!

I enjoyed a lot of the tropes in this book - dislike to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity, and marriage of convenience being at the top of my mind. But, I enjoyed the emotional work that the characters did as they repaired the house they inherited and the unintended emotional damage they inflicted on each other when they were younger.

While miscommunication isn’t my favorite, I appreciated that they worked on their issues and seemed to come to a good resolution for them. Plus, no third act breakup based on miscommunication is always a plus!

If you’re looking for a romance where there’s humor mixed with working through trauma mixed with imperfect characters who don’t have their stuff together, this is the book for you! I enjoyed reading it.

This was my first book by Tarah DeWitt and I loved every second of it! She’s been on my radar for a while and I’m glad to have finally had the chance to read something by her.

i don’t mind your mess.

larynn and deacon have embedded themselves in my heart! i love a second chance romance and this one is getting added to a list of my favorites. deacon and larynn were so hurt by one another when they were younger. but now, as they’ve gotten older and as their frontal lobes developed more, you see all the ways they are trying to remedy the mistakes of the past. i love the way we see each of them pining after the other, but holding back for fear because it made room for them to be vulnerable and honest. and we get a love confession that had me tearing up! (and also kicking my feet and screaming!!) but my absolute most favourite part is that both of these characters are so messy and raw!

larynn is my girl! she might appear difficult to love to some, but from the beginning, i knew i wanted to be more like her when i grow up. she has a tough exterior but the softest and gooiest insides. i related all too well to her worries and insecurities. every thought she had that her mess would be too much had an ache in my chest and tears in my eyes. i related far too much, it’s like tarah went into my brain and plucked every thought from my mind. and deacon! the way that he was ready to fall at larynn’s feet had me clutching my heart! he so readily accepted that he hurt larynn just as much as she hurt him. and he put in work to change their relationship. and he was just so good to everyone in his life.

these characters were real and they were messy. and they got into the deep messy parts of their lives to find one another in happier and healthy spaces. this book was funny and it was tender. everything i know to expect from a tarah book!