I feel it unfair to rate this book as I did not realize how much sex was involved upon requesting this book. It was only when I read the trigger warnings in the beginning of the book that this was made apparent. I’m not into spicy romance books but the plot of this book was very cute. If you don’t mind the spice check it out. My rating does not take into account the spicy elements.

It’s easy to write a 3 star romance. But this book tackles all the hard messy stuff of so many tropes and it’s so well done. Having been through a second chance romance I could relate immensely. DeWitt did a fabulous job creating this adorable community and a relationship I was cheering for the entire time. The miscommunication trope isn’t fluffy and the spice doesn’t overshadow the grief and the life lessons, but it’s definitely there and it’s GOOD. LOVE LOVE LOVED.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I fell in love with Tarah DeWitt after reading Savor It this summer, and when I found out she was re-releasing The Co-Op, I was so excited to read it!

This is a story of second chance romance, done right. It’s normally not a trope I enjoy, but I couldn’t help but route for these two as they navigated the messy reality of being adults with past trauma and real life struggles.

My favorite part of the story was how realistic their struggles were. I felt like I could relate or empathize with them easily. I really appreciated how Tarah wrote them as flawed, they rarely handled conflict well, especially in the beginning and something about it just made me fall for these characters quickly.

Beyond that, tension was sizzling, the banter was so silly and enjoyable, and the side story of why these two were brought together again was so sweet 🥹 the character growth was also such a great part of the story. The perfect balance of wanting to do things “right”, while also teasing and taunting each other, yet fighting their natural chemistry 😏 that slow burn is always the fun part, right?

The ending and epilogue were just right. Nothing too dramatic, but still enough of a little twist that made my heart so happy ♥️

At first I was worried the main characters being enemies was going to get to me. It seemed like it could have been annoying but once the story got going I actually enjoyed the dynamic between them. I also loved Sally’s character and the subtle impact she had on the story. Overall, a great read and I look forward to reading more by Tarah Dewitt!

LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds inherit a run-down building from their respective grandmothers. The caveat? They had a brief romance ten years ago.
LaRynn has just decided to deviate from her law school path and her displeased father has cut her off leaving her penniless except for a trust fund. The trust fund can only be accessed if she is married. She and Deacon decide to combine her funds and his construction talent even though they simply cannot stand each other.

With a home with no walls, they soon learn that living with each other has to come with some rules. Before long, LaRynn and Deacon begin to understand who they are now and if they are truly meant to be together.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I actually ended up enjoying this book. It took me some time to get into it but once I did, I couldn’t put it down.

It was frustrating at first because I wanted to know the reason why they broke up in the first place. I wanted to know their trauma, how terrible their upbringings were. What shaped them into who they are now.

It was also frustrating because they weren’t really good at communicating with one another. They were always beating around the bush, but you could tell that they cared in some way.

I loved that LaRynn was a hard ass but had a soft side to her that she didn’t know how to express. I loved how Deacon would pull back on the sarcasm and let LaRynn know how much he appreciated the gesture. Lol what I didn’t like was the fighting that happened right after that.

But regardless of the fighting and miscommunication, I ended up liking their story. Especially when they did get better at communicating once it hit like the 75% mark of the book. I think that’s what I loved the most. Rarely in slow burn books do we get to see how the main characters future will unfold and I loved that we got a glimpse of it with this book.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc for my honest review.

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ THIS!!! i’m quite literally kicking myself for not reading this sooner because it was sooo dang good!

‘the co-op’ had everything i love in a romcom - the banter was top tier! it was such a fun, cute, & quick read, i had such a hard time putting it down!

larynn & deacon are definitely one of my fav book couples now 😍 i love them together so much!

i adored the little epilogue also, getting a glimpse into their future and how their relationship panned out is everything i needed!

thank you so much tarah, st.martin’s press, & netgalley for the arc of ‘the co-op’ 🤍

What a blast this was to read. The banter, the tension, the angst of it all. But also. the love. It’s second chance done right and in between the fighting you could truly feel the love the characters had for each other.
I really enjoyed reading this and giggled and kicked my feet through much of it. Definitely would recommend this to anyone wanting rom com vibes and a good time.

THE CO-OP by Tarah DeWitt was a perfect read for this week.

Usually I have no objection to third act breakups, but not right now. This was a lovely second chance romance, with two people who hurt each other when they were younger forced to work (and live!) together in a marriage of convenience while they renovate the house they inherited. They gradually open up to each other, learn patience with each other, fall in love with each other. And they don't break up! It was exactly what I needed.

This was not one of my favorites from Tarah.

I had a hard time connecting with the characters and really investing in their love story. As always I loved the banter that she includes in her book. The ending felt a little rushed and felt like more time could’ve been spent on that than the build up in the first half.

Typically I enjoy a duel time line but I didn’t necessarily feel that the chapters in the past added anything to the story and could’ve just been included in the present day.

I’m a sucker for a strong grandparent relationship so I didn’t love that portion.

Overall it was a good easy romance with good banter but just not a favorite by Tarah. Bonus points for the playlist

This book is so full of emotion and wonderful characters. I was a little worried when I realized it was a second-chance romance since that's a trope I don't usually enjoy, but this book was so good! It had the right amount of humor, tension, spice, and emotion. Both of the main characters really go through it in the story but manage to be there for each other, even before they forgave each other for their past. Also, their elderly next-door neighbor added some needed jokes throughout the story and was by far my favorite character. This is a wonderful story and a very enjoyable read!

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have not read many books by this author, but The Co-op truly surprised me! This felt like a true enemies to lovers romance story and the banter between the MMC and FMC kept me giggling the entire time.

I don’t normally love books that go back and forth between timelines, but I do think Tarah handled that very well, and I was excited for every chapter I read, past or present!

Both of these characters felt very raw and real (especially LaRynn) and while I can’t say I necessarily related to their stories, I definitely felt empathetic towards them regarding certain personal struggles.

This was overall a very sweet book and I’m so glad I was able to read it!

This book is too slow-paced for me. It didn’t hold my interest. I’m sure others will enjoy it.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

The writing consists of sharp dialogue and relatable characters that keep you invested in their journey. The chemistry between Jamie and Theo is electric, and their witty banter adds both humor and tension to their evolving relationship. DeWitt skillfully tackles themes of forgiveness, personal growth, and second chances, all while delivering an enjoyable, feel-good romance. The Co-Op is an absolute gem for fans of enemies-to-lovers stories, with a perfect balance of sweetness and steam.

Brought together as teens when their grandmas married, LaRynn & Deacon have a summer fling that ends in tears, regret, & anger.

Years later, they inherit their grandmas’ house & decide to renovate & sell. The problem is money & LaRynn just happens to have a trust fund that she can access if she gets married 😏

Enter angst, tension, forced proximity & plenty of walks down memory lane.

When the story was focused on the couple, the house, their growth…it was good. I was interested & I wanted it to keep going. But the side stories were too numerous & scattered. I started to skim over those parts to get back to the main plot.

I do give two thumbs up for the Epilogue ❤️

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC opportunity!

In my opinion this book was just okay, it was kinda hard to get into but over all it was a cute read. I loved the house revamp idea but the romance was just kind flat to me. Kinda underwhelming. It wasn’t the worst but it wasn’t the best lol

I definitely enjoyed The Co-Op and loved the character development. I feel they were complex characters with a lot of emotional depth and the tension between them was so much fun to devour. I will say, however, that J found the story lagged a bit at times for me. Overall, though, I’m a huge fan of Tara DeWitt!

I read The Co-Op as an ARC from Net Galley - thank you Net Galley.

Thanks to Netgallery and St Martin's Press for the e-ARC of The Co-Op.

Read if you like:
- Marriage of convenience
- Forced proximity
- Second chance

I need to be completely honest, I didn't enjoy this one bit. Sure, there are cute moments, and the mmc, Deacon was sweet at times, but trying to read a book where the fmc is not likable (IMO) was hard. The whole premise had potential, and had the opportunity to create tension that imo was severely lacking. IDK maybe it's a me problem but I just didn't feel the chemistry. and their immaturity made it hard for me to believe their relationship. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I had no problem with the writing, and I think it can be loved by many when it comes out!

LaRynn and Deacon are tasked with fixing up their recently deceased grandmother's run down house, that was left to both of them. The problem? LaRynn and Deacon have a bit of history. From childhood friends, to lovers, to strangers; now they have to see each other for the first time in a decade. Mix in the dilemma that they need funds in order to fix up the house which will only be possibly if LaRynn accesses her trust fund. But, in order to do so, she must be married. Deacon has the experience to fix up the house, but not the funds to do so. Together they come to agreement to get married so that LaRynn can access her trust fund and they can fix the property together. But, it quickly becomes much more than just that.
Review:
The Co-op was a super cute second chance and marriage of convenience romance. I loved the tension and angst between LaRynn and Deacon. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes so I always tend to love romances that include second chance and friends to lovers. The bickering and enemies vibes at the beginning helped to build that tension and banter between the characters. I loved their history and how they often talked about their grandmothers romance and their families histories.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah DeWitt, and St. Martins Press for this ARC of The Co-op in exchange for an honest review. The Co-op republishes on 11/12!

4.25
LaRynn and Deacon have a messy past, but when their grandmothers leave them their house in need of repairs, they
decide to pool their money and partner together to fix it up.
I really enjoyed both main characters. I loved the bits on their past, and their tension was excellent. And the epilogue was the cherry on top.
Aside from the lack of communication from these 2…This was exactly what I was hoping for when I read the synopsis.
The second chance romance trope is not typically my favorite, but I really enjoyed this one

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's for the chance to read early!