MF
Dual POV
Second chance
Slow burn

Rating: 3/5 - I enjoyed this book but it isn't one that I will reread
🌶️: 1/5 - there were a couple explicit intimate scenes

TLDR: I feel like I had to wait until 60% through this book to get the Tara DeWitt magic. Was it worth it? Yes, yes it was.

The beginning of this book was rough. The main characters were annoyingly immature and I thought I might not get through if the characters didn't grow up quickly. It didn't happen quickly but it got there and I am glad I powered through. The last half of this book had all the delicious tension and emotion that I associate with Tara DeWitt.

Ultimately, I wouldn't recommend this as a first Tara DeWitt read but I would say that anyone who already loves her stuff should give this a go.

Thank you to the author, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of this book, I don’t like miscommunication tropes. Among a lot of other things in this book.. continually rolling my eyes I wish I DNF it!

The romance went perfectly with the renovation plot. Tarah’s writing is beautiful a d makes you fully feel submersed into the setting. Will read anything she writes

This book was a pretty good romance. One of the better ones of 2024. Generic but most just did not do it for me. I liked both main characters but I really enjoyed our mmc

This was my first book by Tara!

I am a sucker for a second chance romance! Deacon and LaRynn have a past, a past they thought they had moved past from. But when they come face to face again, old feeling resurface… and that’s where things start to get interesting!!!

Loved this second chance so much, the tension had me giggling nonstop!!!

5⭐️

If Tarah writes it, I’m reading it. I truly think LaRynn and Deacon will be one of my favorite couples of all time. I’ve definitely never related to a character more than I’ve related to LaRynn. She was everything to me.

Tarah always seems to write books that hook me from the beginning and just keeps me. Soul characters and books that leave me thinking about them for days, weeks and months later.

I loved the dynamic between Deacon and LaRynn. The progression of their relationship. I loved seeing the little snippets of the “past” that we got. I loved that Deacon accepted LaRynn for exactly who she was. And seeing LaRynn being content and happy where she was. Truly I just can’t say enough about them.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the e arc.

LaRynn and Deacon shared one summer fling as teens, before they went their separate ways. Now a decade later, in the wake of their grandmothers both passing, they find themselves co-owners of a beach house that’s falling apart faster than their lives. They need to fix it up as quickly as possible. Deacon has the skills, and LaRynn has the money in her trust fund…provided she’s married. They agree to get married long enough to fix up and sell the house. Through the trials and tribulations of home renovation, they find they may already have everything they want.

This was such a charming read, y’all. I was laughing, crying, and everything in between. The small town beach setting was idyllic, and the cast of characters was excellent. I loved Cece and Helena’s story being woven in, and the development of LaRynn and Deacon’s relationship was the perfect mix of fluffy and realistic. This book was just what I needed.

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

This was such a sweet introduction to the author for me! I love a good dual pov & the spicy romance between the FMC and MMC did NOT disappoint!!
I am not the biggest fan of miscommunication tropes so that definitely influenced my rating here, but I loved the complexities of the lead characters, even though sometimes they had me feeling a bit frustrated. This was a good, fun read for me & I looooooved the epilogue!!

*thank you NetGalley for sending me this arc!*

This was my first introduction to Tarah DeWitt and it was a marriage of convenience romance. I really liked this one. The main characters were so interesting and I loved the complexities to them and their romance.

This was a light, enjoyable contemporary romance, but there were moments when it didn’t fully click for me. I’m not sure if it was the pacing or the plot, but while I did enjoy the witty banter between Deacon and Laryn, it felt like Deacon was the one really driving the story, rather than Laryn. I would’ve loved to see more of the grandmas, and the epilogue at the end was a nice touch—such a great way to wrap things up!

I absolutely loved this book! Thank you to the author and publisher for the early read. I might have been late with my review, but this book truly made me smile.

I have to admit that I am a big fan of dual point-of-view stories and am a sucker for a heartfelt declaration of love. Deacon definitely earned all the stickers and points for his character. This was a wonderful introduction to Ms. Dewitt's work.

In short, a chance opportunity brings former couple LaRynn and Deacon back together. However, their marriage isn't based on the right reasons; it evolves into something deeper. Along the way, they face challenges and confront their past to determine if this relationship can become a lifelong commitment.

I look forward to reading more of Tara's work.

"The Co-op" was the perfect story of a heat and second chance unlikley romance. I couldn't put this book down and really enjoyed it!

Tarah never misses. The heat between deacon and LaRynn would burn their house down (if it didn’t mean so much to them both)

The co-op was such a fun second chance romance, forced proximity, marriage of convenience tropes. These two bickered so much like old married couples 🤣 it was nice to see them communicate and understand where the other was coming from. Overall a solid read and I can’t wait to pick up more of this author’s books!

The Co-Op by Tara DeWitt is a swoony, banter-filled romance with a side of home renovation chaos. It follows LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Manchester, ex-flings turned reluctant business partners after they somehow end up co-owning a rundown house. LaRynn has big plans to turn it into a charming bed and breakfast, while Deacon, a contractor with a grudge (and annoyingly good looks), just wants to flip it and move on.

Cue forced proximity, unresolved tension, and plenty of sarcastic jabs as they’re stuck working together. But beneath all the bickering is some serious chemistry, and as walls start coming down—both literal and emotional—they realize their past isn’t as over as they thought.

It’s a fun, steamy, slow-burn read with all the good stuff: witty enemies-to-lovers energy, forced teamwork, and just the right amount of emotional depth to hit you in the feels. If you love a good home reno romance with plenty of sparks, this one’s for you!

Tropes
-Enemies to lovers
-Fake relationship
-Forced proximity
-Second chance romance
-Grumpy x sunshine
-One bed-ish

I will admit it took a minute for the plot to pick up as it was pretty slow in the beginning, but overall a cute marriage of convenience romance. The characters weee a bit annoying at times but overall pretty likeable in the end. I liked their development as I feel it was paced nicely and not too quick. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

I read the original indie version of this book a couple years ago, so I went into this book already knowing the plot. Yet, when I was rereading this version I was completely blown away.! I loved this version so much!!

This was my first experience reading something by this author. I found it to be a heartwarming, slow-burn romance that blends the tension of a second-chance love story with the satisfying metaphor of renovation—both literal and emotional. LaRynn and Deacon are strong leads whose chemistry crackles from the very first page, despite their shared history and lingering resentment from a teenage fling gone wrong.

The forced proximity trope along with the added twist of a marriage of convenience paves the way for a story with high-stakes and one that is hilariously complicated. LaRynn’s sharp wit and determination clash perfectly with Deacon’s gruff charm and stubborn pride, making for dynamic, tension-filled interactions that had me smiling and swooning throughout the story.

As LaRynn and Deacon strip down layers of old plaster and patch up broken foundations, they’re also forced to confront their vulnerabilities, regrets, and most importantly, the possibility of real love. The story is both steamy and heartfelt, and genuinely funny in all the right places.

In conclusion, the story is about more than just fixing up a building; it’s about the messy, imperfect work of rebuilding trust, and facing your fears. A delightful, emotionally rich read that will leave you with a full heart and a warm feeling long after turning the last page.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press and am voluntarily leaving my review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Overall, a cute book! Always a fan of pining and second chance romances. I feel like there wasn't as much of a spark between the characters as I would've liked. Honestly I liked the chemistry in the flashbacks more than in present time. The FMC, LaRynn, could be grating at times and I really wanted to shake her and yell, "Learn to communicate, darn you!"

I’m a new fan of Tara DeWitt, but am loving everything from her so far! I enjoyed the alternating timelines. Overall this book made me swoon a bit!