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!

It wasn’t my all-time favorite, but it definitely kept me entertained and engaged! While I found the FMC frustrating at first, she grew on me by the end, and I appreciated her development. Once everything was laid out between her and the MMC, their relationship became genuinely sweet, and I couldn’t help but root for them. A solid, enjoyable read overall!

This book was unfortunately not for me. It was too slow of a start, and I didn't enjoy the past timeline. I wanted to be more settled in the present timeline before the past one started. I've enjoyed the other books I've read by Tarah DeWitt, so I'm still excited to read her next book.

[3.5 stars]

As I’ve come to expect from Tarah Dewitt’s books, this one was filled with a humorous, heart touching romance. But after Savor It, this one missed the mark for me though I still enjoyed it. The characters’ past failed relationship just didn’t hit as hard for me and neither did the reasoning for why it failed. It read like they’d been 16 year olds in high school when both were adults, though 19 and 20. Still. I thought there’d be this whole revelation of something big that happened their last night but there really isn’t. They basically just made assumptions and NEVER TALKED IT OUT. Weak plot point.

But the romance in the current timeline I highly enjoyed. Rynn and Deacon really don’t like each other and their forced proximity marriage of convenience led to some hilarious and gross situations 😂. Their banter and seduction games were entertaining but the underlying pining was the real star. They both have deep issues to work through and they dismantle them slowly and rebuild their love while they work on the house. Themes of grief, loss, and mental health were also prevalent.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC.

Tarah is a new favorite of mine. Everything she writes, I devour. She does such a good job at writing REAL characters that have depth and make me want to care about them! Absolute banger!

Book Review: The Co-op by Tarah DeWitt

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A marriage of convenience meets second-chance romance in this fun, steamy, and laugh-out-loud read from Tarah DeWitt.

Larynn and Deacon inherit a fixer-upper from their late grandmothers, but there’s a catch - Larynn can only access the trust fund needed for renovations if she’s married. Despite their complicated past, the two strike a deal and tie the knot, leading to a hilarious, tension-filled arrangement full of sarcastic pet names, unresolved feelings, and passive-aggressive antics (including switching the toilet paper orientation just to annoy each other).

DeWitt blends humor and chemistry effortlessly, with plenty of standout moments - from a sex shop fiasco to an unfortunate tennis accident that leaves Larynn with a bloody nose. Flashbacks to their first summer together add an extra layer of nostalgia, making their rekindled relationship even more entertaining. While both have complicated family dynamics, they bond over their shared desire to restore the house (which, like their relationship, is in serious need of work).

Fans of Codi Hall will love DeWitt’s clever character names, classic rock references, and the balance of romance, comedy, and just the right amount of steam. With major What Happens in Vegas and Sweet Home Alabama vibes, The Co-op is perfect for readers who enjoy playful banter, forced proximity, and a little chaos in their love stories. The epilogue, set years later, wraps things up in a satisfying and heartwarming way.

This was my first book by Tarah DeWitt, thanks to NetGalley, and I had a great time with it! If you’re looking for a lighthearted, trope-filled romance with humor and spice, this one’s worth picking up.

The Co-Op was a book I was looking forward to reading, as I loved the independent published version years ago. However; on my second read, I found the point of view switches confusing and wanted more clarity at the beginning of what happened to lead to miscommunication. Both main characters seemed to be in an emotional, petty fight that I had no interest of being involved in. Thus, I "did not finish" this at 30% however; I have enjoyed other Tarah DeWitt novels and will continue to read her works.

Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. I loved Savor It so I was excited for more by DeWitt! But I just couldn’t buy into this romance. There wasn’t anything really wrong with it, but it was fine and forgettable and I didn’t look forward to reading it at any time