While I did enjoy the story, I think Tara’s chemistry is a little too spicy and lusty for my taste. I’m not sure I would continue to read her work. But the jury is still out

Thank you so much for this arc!
Note: this review is about the new and updated version of the book. Since I haven't read the original one, I can't tell you the exact differences, but I've heard that there's more to the characters' backstories, more angst and more spice now.

The Co-op perfectly balances humour, romance, and those heartfelt moments that make you want to keep reading late into the night. If you’re like me and you're also into second chance and slow-burn love stories with plenty of banter and small-town charm, this one’s for you.

LaRynn and Deacon's chemistry was spot-on and I loved watching their relationship unfold. The flashbacks into the summers of their teenage years were great and kept me reading because I was curious about what happened to them. I loved that the renovation project was at the heart of the story. It showed that the book isn’t just about fixing up a building, it’s about the characters rebuilding their lives and relationships. This rebuilding was written beautifully and I liked how well the characters communicated and opened up about the past once they were ready.

I also really enjoyed the small-town setting—it felt cosy and familiar, like you’re part of the community too (I'm a sucker for small-town romance if you can't tell 😂). The friendships and family dynamics added so much depth to the story, making it more than just a romance.

Overall, The Co-op is a feel-good and heartwarming read that left me smiling. Tarah Dewitt has done an amazing job with this book, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a well-rounded romance with a lot of heart.

Thank you NetGalley and Tarah for the ARC opportunity!

Honestly, the first half of this book didnt have my attention. I felt like the characters didnt make sense together and the conflict felt so forced.

But the second half redeemed it for me. Once they got over themselves and started working together, it was very good. I felt like the chemistry came in and really turned it around.

I did feel like we didn’t really get enough of the characters back story. I wouldve loved more details from when they were kids, like flashbacks, or even more of their grandmas connections, etc.

When I saw that the great Tarah was rereleasing The Co-Op, I knew this was my moment to dive innnnnn!

This was peak enemies to lovers lol and with the added complexity of making it second chance had me coming back and back again.

LaRynn and Deacon have known each other for a long time when their grandmas got together. LaRynn would spend her summers with them and one of those summers, these two crazy teens have a summer fling 👀 that doesn’t end in the best way.

Fast forward some years and their grandmas have left them both their ‘in need of some love’ building.

The best part? In order for LaRynn to get her trust fund to repair this building that means so much to her? She has to be marrriieddddd 🙌🏻 one of my favourite tropes!

Add in some amazing tension and added layers for complex family dynamics and you’ve got such a great read.

Keep your eye on the shops for November when this hits the shelves 🤍

If Tarah DeWitt has no fans, it means I am dead. I had a chance to read this when it was indie published and really enjoyed it then, but the additions to this release have blossomed me enjoying it, to me loving it. The different take on a second chance romance had me screaming so many times (in excitement and giddiness) and then near sobbing at the flashbacks and heartache.
The flawed characters were such a great balance of needing to work through the trauma and personalities, but then with their blatant attraction to one another and actually (eventually) willing to work together (and falling back in love) was sheer chefs kiss.

i enjoyed this! the book was a very cute romance and i had fun reading! this is my first book by the author and i will be back to check out some more!

A marriage of construction💍🔨

This is a second-chance romance about LaRynn and Deacon, who once had a flirty fling that ended poorly. Now, they're forced to confront the literal walls of the property and the emotional ones they've built over the years. What starts as a reluctant partnership (marriage) of convenience to secure the funds and expertise needed—turns into a slow exploration of love, trust, and teamwork. It's the perfect blend of humor and heart that makes The Co-op a cute read!

So good! I love the banter between Deacon and LaRynn. Watching their love story unfold was amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I was a little skeptical when I saw this was a rewrite, but then I read some original reviews that were good- so I guess the rewrite only could have made it better, right? I never read the original, so I can’t comment on that, but I did love this version!

Second chance romance is also not usually my favourite as I am a petty queen who holds grudges like nobody’s business- it’s just not relatable to me. Yet, this story worked for me. I loved the black cat/golden retriever energy, the marriage of convenience, the home renos. It’s like if Love It or List It also had sexual tension and spicy scenes (maybe it does and I’m watching the wrong one).

This book also deals with grief, the death of family members (off page) and shitty parents. Thank you for the opportunity to read!

I LOVE Tarah Dewitt’s writing but this particular book wasn’t my favorite. The plot was very much based upon miscommunication which I can only handle in very small doses or not at all. It just felt like the two main characters could have handled things with more maturity and a conversation. I also don’t love the “hate to love you” kind of base for a love story as it can feel a little toxic for me. I love a good slow burn, but this one took way too long for them to get together even for me! Overall, I was happy with how she wrapped up the story but not my favorite.

This was such a cute fun romcom type novel! I thought the setting was interesting and the characters were funny and had great banter. It was a pretty easy read and I enjoyed it a lot. Will be adding to our library and recommending 100%!

I enjoyed this book and found myself wanting to know how it would end. I had high hopes for this story because I enjoyed Savor It soooo much. I found that this story did fall a lot flat for me, and I think it was due to the dialogue. I wanted LaRynn and Deacon to have a more mature relationship and for the dialogue to feel less childish.

In solidarity with the ongoing St. Martin's Press boycott, I've decided to withhold my review of this book. By choosing not to review, I'm adding my voice to those advocating for fair treatment and support for the reader community. I hope that by doing so, we can encourage positive change within the industry.

I loved this one so hard. one thing i really love is that there is no drama and no third act breakup. I am also the biggest sucker for a second chance and this one really hit the spot. I cannot wait to read more by Tarah- this will not be the last book I read of hers! highly recommend!!!

Unfortunately THE CO-OP is a DNF at 70%, which is saying a lot considering I recently gave Tarah DeWitt's novel SAVOR IT 5 full mind-blowing stars. I couldn't get behind the relationship. Wisdom was chasing these characters, but they were running faster. SMH.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Ich habe von der Liebesgeschichte ein frisches Buch um eine zweite Chance erwartet. Frisch ist der Liebesroman auch wirklich, für mich funktioniert hat er trotzdem nicht.

Vom ersten Kapitel an haben mich die Geschehnisse eher verwirrt als gut unterhalten. Das hat sich leider auch im Verlauf der ersten zehn Kapitel nicht verändert. Zu viele kleine Details, Entwicklungen und Verhaltensweisen fühlten sich für mich nicht stimmig an.

Auch bin ich leider weder mit dem Schreibstil noch mit den Hauptcharakteren warm geworden.

Darauf aufbauend habe ich beschlossen das Buch nicht zu beenden. Die Chemie zwischen der Geschichte und mir hat schlicht nicht gepasst.

Keine Bewertung, da abgebrochen.

Für wen?

Wer Liebesromane rund um zweite Chancen mag, für den könnte das Buch ein frisches und gutes Leseerlebnis bieten.

Schaut unbedingt in die Leseprobe rein und achtet darauf, ob ihr zu den Geschehnissen einen guten Zugang finden könnt.

After the death of their grand mothers, LaRynn and Deacon inherit of their house in Santa Cruz. They were in love when their were teenagers but can't stand each other now. They have to work together on the house, but don't have money. So they get married to access LaRynn's trust fond.
I was expected much more from this book. I loved Tarah Dewitt's other books so much. The renovation of the house take to much space in the book. I would have loved to hear about the grand mothers more. And I found that the past was not really related to what's happening in the present.

I'm a sucker for second chance, slow-burn romance and this book caught my attention right away. My favorite moments were the past chapters - I loved reading about how everything started, their hesitation to allow themselves to feel more than just being friends with benefits. The *adults toy store* scene and the laundry room interruption were my absolute favorite scenes. I really enjoyed this book and my heart broke for their young selves and the way they interpreted everything they weren't telling each other. I loved the ending and the home they built together.

I'm giving this 4 stars because it did feel like it was longer than it needed to be, I wish we would've gotten more between Larry and her Dad, Sal waiting to step in at the end felt a little pointless and should've just happened earlier in the book, and I wanted more of the past after the sirens went off on Dec's birthday.

*Couldn't add review to Amazon - book not released yet.

LaRynn and Deacon have a summer fling as teenagers that ends badly. Ten years later, their grandmothers leave them a home that they must work together to renovate. The catch? To fund the renovation they need to access LaRynn’s trust… and the trust stipulates that she must be married. These two exes quickly learn what it means to work as a team as the walls start coming down (literally and figuratively).

I give this book 3.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Overall, I did enjoy the book but the story just felt really scattered and disjointed at times.

LaRynn and Deacon were two hot messes at the beginning of this book. I initially struggled to get a grasp on their personalities and motivations - at times they seemed immature and childish, and other times we would get glimpses into the two broken people hiding underneath.

As the story progressed, the writing and characterization got better and it kept me interested enough to keep reading. I loved the vulnerability that emerged between them in the end as they started to address their past traumas, and the story tied up with a nice HEA.

While I don’t think this is the author’s strongest book, I still had a good time reading it but probably wouldn’t recommend it to others.

Discovered this book when it was self-pub and I loved it! I love it just as much now too. I do think there's a big plothole 3/4 of the way into the book, but I've ignored worse things in other books, The main female character & main male character have so much history and so much trauma from childhood. My only gripe is that the back-and-forth/ past and present approach makes it hard to keep track sometimes, so I had to remind myself if it's past or current times. Oh also one last thing, they almost get caught doing it and just go about their lives afterward, I think it should've been more awkward or something.