🔨 grumpy fmc working at a cafe
🌊 sunny handyman mmc
🔨 so much pining and tension
🌊 marriage of convenience
🔨 forced proximity
🌊 second chance
🔨 “my wife”
🌊 dancing in the kitchen

★★★★★♾️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book is so seriously, stunningly gorgeous, it’s insane. I have had the hardest time trying to put my love for this one into words, and it’s taken a few weeks for me to finally pen my review.

I’m SUCH a sucker for stories about beautiful, sad, imperfect, sometimes quite sh*tty, h*rny, real people, and gosh The Co-op is a shining example of this weirdly specific category.

LaRynn and Deacon are far from perfect and have hurt each other deeply. But by the hands of fate—or their sweet departed grandmothers—they are back in the same orbit, dancing around one another while attempting to ignore the confusing swirl of Big Feelings™️. Because while they haven’t seen each other in years, they both still love and hate the other. The question is, can they rebuild what they once had? And will they survive renovating their shared townhouse as they attempt to figure that out?

You need this phenomenal book in your life. Read it, cry, highlight basically every single line, cry some more, probably. I don’t know, that might just be me.

This book means so much to me and will forever have a little piece of my heart. Tarah writes with a rhythmic grace, and every line is so poignant, lyrical, and tender. I wish I could carve her words onto my soul—but a tattoo might have to suffice.

5 stars!

Oh I loved this book. I've loved the others I have read by this author but this might be my favorite. I loved the dual timeline and dual POV. I loved seeing how they both grew from their first attempt at a relationship to now. And I loved how clearly the two cared for each other throughout but their own baggage confused things. Sure, if they just had a real conversation when they were younger, things probably would have happened differently but they were YOUNG. And both of their feelings made sense given their childhood. LaRynn (honestly I love a boyish nickname for a girl, I'd go by Larry), sure she was a tad unlikeable but I LOVE HER, my codependent girlie. And even when he was being an ass, Deacon was never cruel and still did very sweet things. Did I say I loved this?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I tried reading one of her books before, and I struggled with her writing style. This one was much better! I enjoyed the characters and witty dialogue!

Definitely the most unique reading experience I've ever had. It's been nearly two years since I picked up the original indie edition of this book, which was my first by DeWitt, and fell in love with LaRynn and Deacon through their interesting and complicated journey back to each other. I was overjoyed to discover that upon being picked up by a traditional publisher, DeWitt had renovated the tale complete with expanded scenes and bonus content, so it was fascinating to go into this with the story I knew already in my brain but with changes made as well as new content to discover. These modifications and additions elevate an already great story, akin to enhancing a pretty diamond ring with a polish and extra gems to make it more beautiful. While flashbacks were sparse and not entirely necessary in the previous version, the added portions from the past do such a wonderful job of filling in details I didn't realize I was craving and shedding light on everything that happened during the fateful summer when LaRynn and Deacon had a fling that turned into more but it all went wrong, and they nicely contrast with the tense marriage of convenience situation for access to money to fix up their shared inherited property. There is a new spicy scene late in the book that keeps readers from getting too antsy about forward progress with this pairing in present day and also eases the massive amount of sexual tension so an important conversation can finally occur. My biggest quibble the first time around was that there wasn't enough of the secondary characters, and even this has been tweaked in a positive way without taking anything away from LaRynn and Deacon. What a pleasure it was to experience this couple's tale all over again with further dimension, and they'll forever hold a special place in my heart.

LaRynn and Deacon used to date back when they were eighteen, and the relationship ended in heartbreak. Many years later, they both inherited their grandparent’s house and are now forced to see each other again in this house that needs major renovations. This book is a slow burn and includes second chance romance and marriage for convenience (to access a trust fund for home repairs).

I loved the idea of the book, but honestly, it was sooo slow and boring. I easily learned this author writes in a style I do not enjoy and was way too descriptive (about the most unnecessary subjects) for my liking. This book showed the perspective of both LaRynn and Deacon and was told from a past and present timeline (but never fully explained what happened in the past). I was actually enjoying the ending quite a bit, but it seemed too rushed for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

LaRynn and Deacon had a short summer fling at 19 that went up in spectacular flames. Now 8 years later, they have inherited a house together that needs major improvements. Deacon can handle the renovations, but they’ll need access to LaRynn’s trust fund for the cash. Problem one? LaRynn must be married to get her money. Problem two? They can’t stand each other. Problem three? They’re forced to live together in a construction zone where the only walls separating them are the emotional ones they’ve erected and reinforced year after year. Can they learn to work together or will their investment flop?

I thought The Co-op was going to be right up my alley. Second chance romance, marriage of convenience meets home renovation forced proximity? Check check double check! The reality was it was so heavy on the miscommunication and light on the renovation details that I had a very hard time enjoying most of the book. LaRynn is so angry (rightfully so) that she’s downright evil towards Deacon (inexcusable). The last 25% of the book managed to bring me around a little bit (no third act break up will do that for me) but ultimately I can only recommend The Co-op if you enjoy stories where hurt people hurt people and then magically they end up with a happily ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. #TheCo-op #NetGalley #BookReview

First, I love Tarah DeWitt; I would read anything like her! The rivals to lovers with forced proximity was too good! The tension between the 2 main characters had me kicking my feet the entire time. While this wasn't my favorite book of hers, this is a second-chance romance about two people who have a teenage fling. It really did something for me! Then their romance was rekindled; I flew through the book!

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress , and @authortarahdewitt for the advanced readers copy.
#thecoop #stmartinspress #netgalley #arcreader #advancesreadercopy

4⭐️s Enemies to lovers with forced proximity and a deal to work together. That called for a fun read. Coming November 12th.

LaRynn and Deacon can’t let go of that one summer fling and how it ended. When their grandmothers leave them the dilapidated Santa Cruz building, they have no choice but to work together. LaRynn has the money and Deacon has the construction experience. Oh, and they had to get married. In order to for LaRynn to get the money to fix everything, she has to marry. They agree to this bargain in order to fix everything. Now they will have to work together and confront past demons. As they literally build walls, can they build a good foundation for their fake marriage to turn real?

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress , and @authortarahdewitt for the advanced readers copy.
#thecoop #stmartinspress #netgalley #arcreader #advancesreadercopy

If Tarah DeWitt writes it, I’m going to read it. I liked this book, but I have to admit it was not my favorite of hers. There was nothing wrong with this book, but there is nothing that really stood out for me. I went in expecting more. I din’t love the FMC so that could have been the reason the book didn’t do it for me. I will continue to read DeWitt, but this one just missed the mark.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

I've tried one book by Tarah Dewitt before, and I didn't like it very much. Now I've read this one, and I didn't like it very much either. This definitely had a different vibe than the last one I read, and I can't explain why—it just felt different.
The beginning was a bit rough and, judging on the first 20%, I was not looking forward to the rest. As the romance progressed, I found myself enjoying it a lot more. This is a second-chance romance about two people who shared a summer fling when they were teenagers that ended with the heroine hurt. When their romance is rekindled, I flew through the book because I felt they were the driving force in the plot.
I still didn't love the book by any means. I don't think Tarah Dewitt's writing is for me based on how I felt about the two books I've read from her. Life is too short to read books you just feel meh about.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advanced arc of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

This is my first Tarah DeWitt book - and I was so excited to get approved for it. I've heard nothing but good things about her writing, so this was my opportunity to get a sneak peek at her new book. Unfortunately, I think I may have hyped her up too much in my head because this book wasn't it for me.

I wasn't a fan of either of the MC's - I thought they both acted EXTREMELY immature. While they both have reasons to feel the way they feel, they're not children anymore, and it's time to stop blaming Mommy/Daddy/your childhood for your current behaviors. It's time to be grown ups, have tough conversations, and maybe seek some therapy - both individual, as a couple, and LaRynn with her mom.

There were definitely parts of the book that made me happy inside which is the only reason this book isn't getting a lower rating. I'm not a fan of dual timelines, so there's that. Just wasn't the writing I was looking for, but I'm definitely not writing this author off yet. I've still got Funny Feelings to read, and I'm excited for that.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Tarah DeWitt for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I LOVED this book! Deacon and LaRynne are everything. This book was so well written and truly took you on the best maturing and growth journey with both characters, and illustrated so well that communication and swallowing pride is so essential to have mature, solid relationships. I will definitely be recommending this book!

Absolute Excellence from this author. So many layers for the characters in this story. You get to see them grow and overcome their demons. Hilarious and heart wrenching moments abound. Slow burn, Steamy, HEA and everyone wins in the end. I absolutely loved this novel. 5 stars!

I loved my first Tarah DeWitt book so was super excited to read this one. Unfortunately it didn't quite hit for me like the other one did.

You have two people who hurt each other as teens, forced to live through a home reno together in a home they inherited from their grandmothers (who were married to each other,) marrying for convenience to access her trust to finance the reno. Lovers to enemies to lovers again would normally be my jam, but the maturity level here was sorely lacking for me. Both of these people are in their 30's but they act like they are stuck at 19 and 20. Both characters are dealing with family dynamics that have left them feeling less than or not belonging and this trauma just bleeds all over everything for half the book.

It was rather slow until about 50% in when they finally started trying to work through their issues and work together. Strangely there was no 3rd act conflict, like with most romances, to test our characters. There was much mention of the heroine's dad and how he caught them when they were younger and how he was the one to put stipulations on her trust and I kept waiting for him to enter, because why wouldn't he? No one questioned their marriage at all, which was kind of bizarre. The dad is obviously one of the biggest villains from her past but it was like a build up that never happened. Just a really strange formula for a romance. The scenes between past and present didn't always flow well, so that was confusing at times.

I don't know, it just didn't work great for me and likely won't be very memorable. I will give this author another chance as I did really enjoy the other book I read by her (Savor It, I think it was.)

I’d round this book up to 3.5 stars. It was an easy read and I love the tropes and that there was the hones for what was needed to have a fun read. The character fees were fine. What bumped the rating down for me was that I feel the beginning was so slow it took me a long while to actually get into the story.

What a glow up this book received! If you read the indie version like myself, don’t think this is the same story. This story has so much more LaRynn and Deacon and their history told in “before” chapters that gives deeper insight and emotional connection to their second chance marriage of convenience story. I really enjoyed everything about this book and thought it was well rounded and beautiful.

Things you can find:
• Forced proximity while renovating a house
• Oldies music that fits the scene
• Second chance with flashbacks
• Beach town funsies
• Emotional conversations

Thank you NetGalley and St. Marins Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for my review!

I had the OCD compulsion to actually read this book before it’s published, since I’ve sat on it from NetGalley for so long.

Fake marriage and home renovations between two exes. Dual-timeline with them as teens and now 7 years later. Boring AF. Sorry, just dull. Didn’t care about them back then, didn’t care about them now. So much bullshit to skim through. Surface-level crap. Keep it.

I suppose it’s harmless, some might think it’s fine… you deserve better than fine.

Feeling so fortunate that I was given the opportunity to review Tarah DeWitt’s The Co-Op in advance because it truly was utterly delightful. The banter between LaRynn and Deacon? Top tier - had me cackling. The smut? Not as detailed as other romance books but still full of toe-curling tension. The reconciliation? Honestly, I was waiting for their “omg I’m in love with you” moment since the first few pages and it did NOT disappoint.

The only tricky thing about this book is the time jumping because sometimes it’s not ultra clear 🤷🏻‍♀️ but I’m so glad we were given dual POV because I’m not sure I could’ve lived without knowing what was going through Deacon’s mind.

This is a classic contemporary romance, balancing moments of stress with heartwarming sweetness, and mixing steam with adorable charm. It started slow for me, and LaRynn, the main character, wasn’t initially likable. She felt too messy, impulsive, and over-the-top in a way that didn’t seem real. As the story progressed, she grew on me. The alternating perspectives between her and the male lead helped me appreciate her more, especially as a character who doesn’t fit the mold of someone who has it all together except for the perfect man. Instead, she’s got baggage, and the story takes the time to unpack it, making their relationship feel more believable. I loved that it wasn’t a whirlwind romance. They don’t fall in love in a weekend, it’s a gradual build of trust. Overall, it’s a relaxing read, with just the right amount of drama.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Griffin for early access to the paperback version.

I haven't read a book by Tarah DeWitt before this one, but I regret waiting this long! I loved this version of rivals-to-lovers, second chance, and marriage of convenience. LaRynn and Deacon have a tumultuous history, and the baster banter because of it. Reading them slowly came to love and trust each other gave way to some of the sweetest moments.