This book is sweet, cute, and heartfelt as well! When LaRynn’s grandmother passes away, she leaves half her ownership of a building to her. LaRynn’s grandmother was married to Helene, who left her half ownership of their building to her grandson, Deacon Leeds. Deacon and LaRynn had a summer fling when they were younger, but he broke her heart and they stopped liking each other. The co-op is in shambles and now Deacon needs LaRynn there to either pitch in and help, or sell it. She doesn’t have any money currently, but can get her trust fund… if she gets married. So they agree to get married for however long it takes to fix the building. But how is this going to work if they hate each other?

This was such a great read. I’ve read a few renovation romances but this has to be one of the better ones that I’ve read. I liked the characters; I thought that LaRynn’s change of being kind of grumpy to becoming more sunshine was great, but also well explained that it was easy to understand why she was grumpy. Deacon was really trying his best, and he was sweet. I recently read a book that I didn’t like, where everything felt forced, and this was quite the opposite. These two were perfect for each other. Nothing felt forced, and I was smiling along reading about these two.

I really loved the little stories of the grandmothers. There was a lot of sentimental moments in this book which really made the book special.

Romance lovers are going to love this book!!!

This rating is for the new renovated edition! ~
(Thank you to the author, NetGalley & St. Martins press for the ARC)

This was the first book by Tarah Dewitt I’ve read and I really enjoyed her writing style!

I thought the story was cute. But it was a bit slow pace at certain parts, especially with the romance. There’s also miscommunication between the two MC’s which was a bit frustrating at times.

Overall- I’d recommend this one, just wouldn’t say it’s my favorite.

Tarah DeWitt always makes me laugh and makes me cry. She writes moving and beautiful stories with imperfect characters. I loved this book so much. The pacing is the only thing that was hard for me. I loved the dual timelines and the dual POVs.

ARC REVIEW: The Co-Op by Tarah Dewitt

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Co-Op is a dual POV second chance romance between LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds, who meet in their teens when their grandmas get married. They spend a summer engaged in a steamy fling that ends abruptly right before LaRynn leaves for college. LaRynn and Deacon are forced to reunite years later, once their grandmas have both passed away - having left their home to the pair in their will. LaRynn and Deacon decide to work together to repair the aging home but their forced proximity brings up old wounds and white-hot sexual tension.

I loved this story! Tarah Dewitt has an uncanny ability to convey deep human emotions in her writing and at the same time, imbue humor and light into the plot. It’s realistic in the way that we often cope with humor despite the depth of circumstances we face in life. I related to both Deacon and LaRynn’s internal struggles with feeling like they aren’t good enough and parental trauma. Also the epilogue had no right to be so adorably perfect 🥹

The Co-Op releases November 12th 2024!

The Co-Op introduces us to Deacon and LaRynn, who find themselves unexpectedly thrown back into each other’s lives when they inherit their grandmothers’ home. Their grandmothers, who were married, often brought the two together as teens, leading to a brief romance between Deacon and LaRynn. Now, years later, they must not only renovate the house but also marry in order for LaRynn to claim her inheritance. As they tackle the renovation, they also rebuild their relationship, blending angst and romance in a memorable second-chance love story.

While the story may feel a bit slow in the middle and the time shift disrupts the flow at times, the journey to their happily-ever-after is both heartfelt and sizzling. Dewitt’s beautifully written scenes remind me of Kate Clayborn’s style, particularly in how the characters learn from past mistakes and develop open communication. This is a touching, layered romance that combines nostalgia, growth, and just the right amount of spice.

I desperately wanted to like this one more than I did! I adore Tarah and her other books, but something about this one just didn’t do it for me, The dual POVs on the dual timelines felt a little jarring at times. I felt like we got a lot of character development and redemption for Deacon, but that wasn’t as evident with LaRynn. The story felt somewhat disjointed, even though I LOVED their banter and the ending.

Thank you Tarah DeWitt and NetGalley for this eARC.

#marriageofconvenience
#enemiestolovers
#secondchanceromance

LaRynn and Deacon reconnect over rebuilding and remodelling 'the grands' home. I loved the banter between Deacon and 'Larry'. There were for sure swoon worthy moments that I will not spoil here :)
I am not the biggest fan of the 'this could all be solved in one short convo' troupe, and I felt that in this book.
3/5 Stars

Tarah is such a feel good author for me. Just like her past books I found myself kicking my feet and giggling. I’ve said it before and I’ll day it again marriage of convenience is always a yes for me. I am not a second chance person but it works in this one.

As a fan of the forced proximity trope, I have to say I loved this book. It was so charming read, and I didn't want it to end. It is such a quick read, and I finished it in one sitting. I saw another reviewer describe this as "if beach read and you deserve each other had a love child" and that's truly the best way anyone COULD describe it. The characters were sweet and I loved them all. This was a five star read. It was my first by Tarah DeWitt, but I will be looking forward to more in the future.

I really loved this book. The banter was adorable and Deacon was such a refreshing character. LaRynn was a certified badass and I love that they were able to work through their trauma together. It was a fun read for sure, and I’m super thankful for NetGalley for the Arc!

I liked this book, but didn't love it. It did keep me entertained throughout most of the book. A fun second chance romance with a marriage of convenience.
I didn't like the fact that they had such a hard time communicating their feelings in the beginning, but when they were finally honest with each other I really started to enjoy their characters and appreciate their growth.
While I did grow to like both of their characters more, Larynn was not my favorite. Who spends that much on a pillow?! I understand she grew up with money and didn't have to think of the price of items, but she's in her 30's now and has been struggling financially for sometime. I feel like she should have been more financially literate than she was. Her character was honestly so frustrating sometimes. I did enjoy Deacon's character for the most part and LOVED when he called her "Lar."
I thought the ending was sweet though and overall I had a nice time reading this.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

This book. I am unwell.

“I want it all, LaRynn. You’re a fine friend and everything, but I can’t take having less than all of it with you,” he says, and I feel every word thump under my skin.

I urge you to give this book a chance. LaRynn is prickly and it may take you a while to get it but wow, l loved them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author Tarah DeWitt for the advanced reading copy, all my opinions are my own.

The Co-Op was my third book by Tarah DeWitt this year and I can emphatically say that she is now an auto-buy author for me. This story was a bright spot in a dark time for me. Deacon and LaRynn made me laugh and cry in equal measure, but most of all they gave me hope. 

These two broken-hearted kids were able to find their way back to each other as adults in the midst of a home renovation. It was the perfect backdrop for Deacon and LaRynn to work out their past issues and the close proximity created a level of tension that I could not get enough of. I am a big fan of the marriage of convenience trope and I loved how this one played out.

These characters are flawed and relatable in a way that had me fully invested in them as individuals and as a couple. The conflict happens earlier in the story and paves the way for Deaon and LaRynn to overcome their insecurities together in an extremely satisfying way. 

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book.

This was cute. I liked the young adult lovers, turned enemies, turned friends and lovers again. I thought it was well done. I really liked the two points of view - today and in the past. It made you feel as if you really got to know the characters. The chemistry and banter was incredibly well done. My only complaint was that it was way too slow of a burn. I felt like the book dragged on way too much. I am all for a slow burn, but this was just too slow. I struggled to pick-up the book for the first half, even though I wanted to know what happened with the characters, I was just kind of bored. The second half I read in an afternoon though. LaRynn and Deacon inherited their grandmothers' dilapidated building. In order to rehab it, they get married to access LaRynn's trust fund. They quickly learn that they have to move on from the past in order to find a future. Overall a cute read!
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Marriage of convenience, forced proximity, AND second chance romance??

This book was very good! The characters were very lovable and had so much depth to them!

I didn't love the dual timelines because those are sometimes hard for me to follow and I'll forget if I'm reading the past or present, but that is completely a me problem. The other thing that I didn't love was, the beginning of the book felt slow and I feel like the story didn't start to really pick up until about 40% into it.

Overall, a very good story and pretty easy read! If you enjoy Emily Henry books, you'll enjoy this one! This book is getting traditionally published and rereleasing under St. Martin's Press on November 12th, 2024!

Thank you netgalley and St. Martin's press for gifting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good DIY home renovation story, so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately for me, this was just okay. The backstory of LaRynn and Deacon felt off, and didn't make entire sense for me, especially since they're basically cousins in a sort of way? This seemed to be a big missing piece for me. The flashbacks were okay, but they didn't help me connect to the characters any more or understand their motivations any better. The romance was mostly lust, and overall I didn't feel any true tension build between them. Perhaps the dual POV made it a bit too choppy. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

The Co-op
Tarah DeWitt
Pub 11/12
4☆

They say love and construction don't mix.
By that logic, hate and construction may as well be condemned.

DeWitt does it again! I absolutely adored LaRynn and Deacon’s story. It was not only a fun story about home renovation, it was also a heartwarming story about also relationship “renovation”. It was a wonderful mix of humor and heart and done so perfectly without the dreaded miscommunication or a third act breakup! Book by book my love for Tarah’s writing (and her covers omg 😍) grows exponentially and I cannot wait for more.


What I adored:
🪚 Slow Burn
🪚 Enemies To Lovers
🪚 Second Chance
🪚 Marriage of Convenience
🪚 Home Renovation
🪚 Forced Proximity

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Co-op is a beautifully layered romance about more than restoring a home. It delves into the emotional renovation in relationships, especially when two people have walls built from past heartbreak and ultimately misunderstanding one another. While the setup sounds like a lighthearted romcom, this book takes a deeper, more intense dive into the complexities of trust, vulnerability, and the slow work of unlearning self-protective habits.

DeWitt’s signature style of creating complex, messy characters shines here as LaRynn and Deacon grapple with their own insecurities and the patterns that keep them at a distance from others—and each other…one choosing to charm and keep people “close” while the other pushes them away as quickly as possible.

This book probably isn’t for you if you shy away from miscommunication or tension; The Co-op thrives on it, presenting the realistic frustrations and incremental progress of two people slowly learning to communicate honestly. Both LaRynn and Deacon are frustratingly relatable, especially in the way they guard themselves against disappointment and rejection. Their conflict might feel like a lot to navigate, but DeWitt’s careful pacing and thoughtful insights make their journey towards understanding feel genuine.

DeWitt doesn’t hold back on heavier themes either, so if you have experienced parental neglect or emotional distance, this book could hit particularly close to home. I strongly recommend reading the content warnings and author’s note to gauge your readiness for the story’s emotional depth.

Overall, while The Co-op was a challenging read at times, it was equally rewarding. DeWitt’s ability to craft characters who are real, raw, and in need of understanding is one of the best things about her work, and it shines through here. This isn’t easy for me to give a star rating to, but if you’re looking for a heartfelt, authentic love story that embraces the beauty of imperfection, The Co-op is worth every page.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. My apologies for not getting to it before publication day.
This book took me awhile to read and get in to. But once I really got into it and started getting to know the characters I enjoyed it! The main characters and their friends were relatable and made me think of my friend group. I wished we could have gotten more on the "Grands" story, and I loved that they were mentioned and talked about throughout the book.
I would recommend this book to my friends and family.

I have reached a point where I'm just gonna go ahead and pre-order whatever DeWitt writes next.

This love story about LaRynn and Deacon, two teens who fell into one another as teens then broke just as swiftly, grabs your heart from the start and doesn't let go.

The way she weaves the passions and stumblings of youth with the weight of a lifetime's baggage and how these two people find ways to process their past and shift those weights to be able to become what they could be together is moving and relatably awkward/uncomfortable, sweet and steamy, entertaining and unputdownable.

Highly, highly recommend.

For fans of:
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
Homebound by Meredith Trapp
A Proposal They Can't Refuse by Natalie Caña