DeWitt nails it with this steamy second chance romance!

“The Co-Op” follows LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds, a decade after their summer fling, when they’re thrust back together and have to figure out how repair the dilapidated Santa Cuz building their grandmothers left them. LaRynn has the money, but in order to access her trust, she has to be married. Deacon has the construction expertise, but lacks the funds. They strike up a deal to marry for however long it takes fix up the property, collect a profit, and cut ties. But it’s all easier said than done when sparks reignite.

This is just one of those books that makes you feel and feel deeply. LaRynn and Deacon’s renovation of their home, themselves, and their relationship is beautiful, emotional, and messy. I think the mess is what I love most about this book. Both characters are flawed in their own ways because they are brought up by parents whose marriages were irreparable and lacked love. It is for that reason that LaRynn and Deacon struggle to communicate, especially with each other. The dual timelines and perspectives highlight how this struggle resulted in the failure of their first relationship when they were younger.

The restoration of their grandmothers’ home forces them to form a partnership where they are more open, honest, and trusting to build a better foundation on. I was rooting for them as they worked through their grief, miscommunications, and slowly let down their walls! Their romantic relationship is definitely slow to burn, but the payoff is profound, which just goes to show that some trials and tribulations are worth enduring!

I read this whenever it was independently published and loved it, so I was excited to see that it was being traditionally published with additional chapters. This was so good and worth the reread. I will read anything by Tarah!

3 Stars The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt is a second chance, marriage of convenience, forced proximity romance for those who love a good slow burn!

A decade after a short-lived summer fling that ended in heartbreak, LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds are left shared ownership over a run-down Santa Cruz house by their late grandmothers. Deacon has the construction expertise to fix up the place, but not enough cash. LaRynn has the trust fund, but needs to fulfill one stipulation to access the money: get married. Agreeing to a marriage of convenience so they can fix up the house and sell it, splitting the profit, LaRynn and Deacon butt heads at every turn, both over the house and living together. Despite their constant arguing, the feelings from all those summers ago reemerge and neither can help the pull of attraction and longing they feel for each other. Will they be able to fix up not only the house, but their relationship as well?

I was excited to read this one with its new cover, especially after seeing it go viral on Bookstagram a couple years ago while it was still on Kindle Unlimited. Sadly, it didn’t fully live up to my expectations. Though I understood the hardships that the FMC had been through in her childhood, I didn’t find her particularly likable as an adult. The past and present conflicts between the MCs can be boiled down to miscommunication (or lack thereof), which is one of my least favorite tropes and so frustrating as a reader. Everything could have been easily solved if they just talked to each other like adults and explained how they were feeling and how those feelings influenced their actions. It’s still a sweet read, but wouldn’t be my first recommendation for lovers of any of the aforementioned tropes.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Deacon and LaRynn each had me giggling at times, but I do think they were perfect for each other. The banter between these two was really good. Although they had me laughing, they both had emotions that they were holding in stemming back from their past time together.

LaRynn was a strong FMC, however, there were times where I felt like she was a little mean and not in a cute, fun way. Deacon could be a sweetheart too, but like LaRynn, I felt like at times he could be mean as well. Honestly, once they started breaking down each others wall and started to fully understand the feelings they were holding back, the anger started to make more sense. I kind of like that because it made their characters feel more real. However, at times, it did feel a little childish.

I enjoyed the flow and timeline of this book. Although they were angry with each other the majority of the time, they did still had love for one another and I can see that progress throughout the book. I did enjoy the dual timeline because it gave us insights into why they were how they were as adults. I loved that there was an epilogue.

Thank you Tarah DeWitt and NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this one SO MUCH!! LaRynn and Deacon were so cute and I LOVED their banter and how their relationship developed GAH I miss them already and I'm such a sucker for second chance and this one was done so well hehe!! I'm just obsessed with them tbh I'm so in love with this book and characters sm! Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc!!

4.5 ⭐️s rounded!

Y’all, I cannot begin to express how emotional I am over this. Second chance, marriage if convenience, found(ish?) family, small town, and excellent banter? Yes PLEASE!!

Deacon & LaRynn’s relationship is explored in a dual timeline, dual POV novel that highlights their ups and downs as they inherit their grandmothers (plural!) home and…. get married? Their dynamic is absolutely delectable from start to finish.

Thank you to Tarah DeWitt & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. Do yourself a favour and pick this up on pub day (aka tomorrow!!!)

I really enjoyed this book. It's giving HGTV meets the Odd Couple meets a Marriage of Convenience, and you have a clever and entertaining read.

I absolutely loved the Dual POV, especially in a story like this, where both characters are so important to it.

The Co-op also features time jumps to tell the story, which is a favorite of mine in storytelling like this!

There were so many things that were so beautiful about this book it’s hard to pick just one. Tarah DeWitt is a magician in the way that she forces the reader to feel physically pulled into her stories and feel the same frustrations, joy and brother that her fictional characters do.

I absolutely love a marriage of convenience, and especially appreciate the humor required to fix up an old house with your husband. Such a joy to read this book and thank you to Tarah and the publishing team for the ARC of this beautiful new edition!

I'm really sad that I disliked this book so much because I loved Savor It, but it's one of those books that wouldn't have even been a book if the characters had just grown up, sat down and had a conversation about their past. The lack of communication was off the charts, and instead we were given childish antics and bratty behavior. The fun home reno aspect was barely even part of the plot which was another let down. I remember thinking how mature and thoughtful Savor It was, and my brain just can't apprehend that this is by the same author.

The Co-op is a sweet and steamy tale of young heartbreak and second chances.

LaRynn and Deacon had one steamy summer eight years ago, before he broke her heart. They haven't talked much since, but when their grandmothers passed and left the home they shared to LaRynn and Deacon, the pair must figure out how to manage the renovation of the property together. Deacon is skilled with construction, but lacks the funds. LaRynn has a trust fund, but to access it, she needs to be married. A marriage of convenience later, and the pair is in business. But living with a former flame is not easy, and the pair wonder if they can rekindle what they had before. Will they get a second chance to find out, or is it time to let the fire die out and finally go their separate ways?

This is my second book by Tarah DeWitt, and it did not disappoint. The writing is so easy to get into, and the story is so deeply emotional and satisfying. I love that we get the dual POV from LaRynn and Deacon - I really enjoy seeing both sides of their story. I struggled a bit connecting to LaRynn, but her character is unique and trying to find herself. I love the second chance romance in this book - the pair had a whirlwind relationship when they were younger, but they have both grown and matured, and need to learn how to communicate their needs and feelings. The spark is there, but neither is ready to let it burn again, which makes for a lot of steamy tension. The forced proximity of the home renovation project adds another dimension to the slow burn romance. I really enjoyed the parallel plot of rebuilding their relationship while they rebuilt the home, it was a nice way to give structure to the romance. I also really enjoyed the chapters from the past timeline that helped show the relationship of LaRynn and Deacon in the past, and how they got to where they are today. There is a lot going on in this book, and at times it seemed like a bit too many tropes in one book, but overall it was an easy and enjoyable read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is truly one of my favorite Tarah DeWitt books yet! I knew going in just by seeing the cover that I was going to love this story and as it went on it only confirmed that!

Whenever Tarah writes a story, she packs it with such complex and incredible characters who bring very real life and relatable situations to the table. Plus, her banter is always so spot on and hilarious.

I thought that this story was so unique and lovable. I’m a sucker for second chance romance and marriage of convenience so this was absolute perfection.

The Co-Op is just so messy & hot & REAL - I loved it.

⭐️: 5/5
🌶️: open door, several descriptive scenes

💭 overall thoughts:
This one had a bit of a slow start for me, and then I fell so in love with LaRynn & Deacon!

I think what took me some time to get into was understanding LaRynn’s character, her motives in her behaviours and reactions.

LaRynn is a strong woman & also deeply hurt, having been rejected by the two people who are meant to love you the most (her parents). She’s also been made to feel that asking for any kind of help is weakness, and Deacon’s love language is definitely acts of service.

They had so many challenges to overcome, and a past (together and apart) that left them with baggage.
I loved how they found their way to loving each other, finally freely.

read if you love:
🥈 second chance/dual timeline
🛠 home renovations + temporary roommates
❤️‍🔥 loathe to love
💍 marriage of convenience
🔗 forced proximity
💞 dual 1st person pov

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

2.25/5 ⭐️

✨️ Forced Proximity
✨️ Fake Marriage
✨️ Second Chance Romance
✨️ Friends to Lovers

The FMC acts like a child for the whole first half. I got pretty annoyed and bored with the story in general and found myself skimming the latter half of the book. The couple was boring, and the declarations of love were so overly cheesy. It really only gets 2 stars because I finished it. The desire to DNF was strong at times, though.

Beach volleyball and golden retriever best friends? Yes, please! This book is a split timeline second chance romance (two tropes I often struggle with), with the comedy and stress of forced proximity and home renovation thrown in! I have enjoyed Tarah Dewitt’s books in the past, but to be honest this one resonated less with me. The split timeline dragged for me, although the reveal surprised me with its depth and complexity. I enjoyed the characters and the setting, but couldn’t get fully engaged. Still an enjoyable read!

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - August 27, 2024
Publication Date - November 12, 2024

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @authortarahdewitt, @stmartinspress and @netgalley!

The cover is what drew me to The Co-op at first and the synopsis is what sealed the deal! I love a good HGTV show and while they are fun to watch, I’m talking to you Property Brothers @propertybrothers, I have always thought it would be nice to see some romance with the renos. This book did not disappoint! Second chance is not usually one of my go-to tropes for romance but I really enjoyed it in The Co-op and it made me open to reading more second chance romances! It was giving romcom vibes with so many laugh out loud, "what could go wrong, does go wrong" moments, but also some sweet and tender moments. There is lots of banter, which I loved. I also really enjoyed seeing character growth, especially with the dual POV and dual timeline. Bonus, there’s a playlist included to enhance the reading experience!

If you like home renos, marriage of convenience, spice and heavier topics, you should give The Co-op a try!

Get excited to read The Co-op, available tomorrow, November 12! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

Thank you so much to Tarah Dewitt and St. Martens Press for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book. I love Deacon and LaRynns banter first and foremost. Their back and forth is top tier. Tarah has a talent for peeling back layers of her character bit by bit and by the end I am always blubbery mess. Bravo Tarah. I can see why this book is your favorite so far.

I went into this book pretty blind and having never read this author before. I can fully and truly say I was more than pleasantly surprised. I very much enjoyed this book! Deacon and LaRynn had some of the best tension I have read in a while. I loved seeing LaRynn’s growth and development over the course of the book as well as Deacon’s. I can happily say this will not be the last Tarah DeWitt book I read.

Tropes:
Marriage of convenience ✔️
Second chance ✔️
Forced proximity ✔️
It’s always been you ✔️
Shared grief ✔️ (check tw if need be)

Thank you to NetGalley for this electronic arc in exchange for an honest review.

Filled with humor and depth, The Co-Op is more than just a romance about building walls and tearing them down. DeWitt highlights the growth of her characters as they learn to work together, not just in the house but also in their relationship, uncovering both past wounds and potential for a future together. This is a refreshing take on rebuilding and rediscovering love, perfect for fans of second-chance romances and slow-burn attractions. I love everything Tarah writes and I am so happy this has made it way into trad pub

Arc received from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own. I have the indie copy and I have purchased the trad copy. BUY THIS

4.5 stars
Tarah’s best yet!! I dont typically like dual timelines but the flashbacks really added to the story and didn’t drag on. The first few chapters felt a little choppy but then it picked up and moved quickly! I loved these angsty, imperfect characters.

When they were teenagers, LaRynn and Deacon had a summer romance. The summers were spent with their married grandmothers, CeCe and Helena. In their wills, CeCe and Helena bequeathed their house to LaRynn and Deacon. The house is currently deteriorating and needs to be significantly improved in order to sell. Despite being a contractor, Deacon does not have the funds to make the necessary repairs. LaRynn cannot access the money until she gets married, although it is in a trust. Convenience leads them into a marriage, but soon they discover that their old feelings are returning.

Tropes:
- second chance romance
- close proximity
- marriage of convenience
- flashbacks
- “my wife”
- home renovations
- no third act breakup
- dual POV

The story was cute. However, at times, particularly during the romance, the pacing was a little slow. Additionally, there is a lack of communication between the two MCs, which at times was very frustrating. I also had a hard time making any personal connections to the story. If any of these tropes are something you connect with, you may enjoy this one!