Unfortunately this book was not a good fit for me, and I ended up not finishing. I found the writing in this book to be very chaotic - something would be happening, and then the character would go off on a tangent in their mind, and then another, and then circle back to reality and what was happening. It felt like there were SO MANY thoughts, all the time, and I just wanted to follow the storyline! It didn't help that some chapters were marked as in the past, but others were not, and the same two characters were involved in both timelines....it was way harder than it needed to be to figure out what timeline we were talking about. Overall, this book had potential but was executed poorly.

the characters in this really felt fleshed out to me, like i knew them personally and i could relate and really understand them. second chance with a dual timeline is one of my fave things! there’s just something about reading the present and also learning about the past at the same time that keeps things interesting for me! i couldn’t put this book down! thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this one! The characters were well developed and flawed in the best and most human way. Found myself wanting the story to keep going! If you’re looking for a beautiful read that’s still fun and makes you lose yourself in the story this is it!

This was so cute! I had seen this book everywhere and finally got around to reading it. It’s a quick read with likeable characters.

4.5 stars!

LaRynn Lavigne felt love and support in only one place, with her grandma CeCe. Spending summers and holidays with CeCe was the balm she needed to heal the parts of her that were emotionally damaged by her parents. CeCe fell in love with Helena and they married. Enter Deacon Leeds into her safe space. The two circled around each other in the beginning. He found her snobby and aloof; she thought he was irritating. But one summer they explore more together and he rejects her. Now they're back at the grandmothers' home trying to fix it up. Told in dual POV, this story alternates between before and present. We get to see the history between the two as well as how that history has tainted their present interactions. While I was quite frustrated with LaRynn in the beginning (get over yourself, girl), I soon realized that her demeanor and personality were a front to protect what little she felt she had. If she didn't engage, didn't open up, she was less likely to be hurt. Their marriage of convenience to get her trust fund may have been a means to an end, but they got more than they bargained for in the end. Finally revealing everything that happened to her and learning how to trust Deacon was what LaRynn needed to love with her whole heart. They both had things weighing heavily on them, but with communication and support they were able to let it all out and finally love each other wholeheartedly.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

dnf at 44 percent.. I fear this book is going to put me in a slump and we cant have that! i dont like past and preset time line its really not for me. Also if the main characters would communicate they be back togehter in the first 30 percent of the book

Definately would recommend this book. I ate it up. i love me a good enemies to lovers. It was a little slow to start but picked up and I finished it fairly quickly.

This book has so much potential! The story sucked me in, I found its take on the fake relationship/ forced proximity tropes to be fresh and effective. The metaphor of LaRynn and Deacon rehabbing their grandmothers’ house is very apt for their second chance relationship. The memories and characters are vivid and the story compelling. I always wanted to keep reading and see what would happen. I particularly loved LaRynn’s journey to overcome the emotional trauma of her childhood. It was incredibly moving to watch her find the strength to be honest with her mother. Unusually for a romance, The Co-op is honest about the truth that “ hurt people hurt people,” because of their negative beliefs about themselves and the world, what they’ve come to expect , and the dysfunctional but adaptive way they’ve learned to relate to others. The empathy alongside accountability for this aspect of LaRynn in the story is nuanced in a way you don’t see often. Also the intimate scenes were excellent, so hot. Deacon is a lovely complement to LaRynn, so giving when she hasn’t ever had anyone care for her unconditionally.

But I had trouble with many craft aspects of this novel. Sometimes the interiority of the characters felt stilted and unrealistic, especially during the flashbacks to their teen years. In spite of the dual pov structure, LaRynn and Deacon’s narration wasn’t distinct, their voices were similar and I’d have to check the pronouns to be sure which pov I was in. There were also several moments that felt weren’t there to serve the plot or build character, but rather to be able to include a romance trope. (For example, Deacon nailing her in the face with the volleyball and then fainting at the sight of the blood read this way to me). And, at several points, Deacon either read LaRynn’s mind or perfectly crystallized a complex relationship dynamic in ways that read like shortcuts.

And yet still there are these hints of greatness that make me excited to read what Tarah DeWitt writes next! She excels at encapsulating the way love can exist in tiny observations about the other person. She also understands that attention seeking dynamic that signifies love or hurt lie beneath the hostility . Finally If there’s one quote that sums up what I loved about the The Co-Op, it’s this: “I’d begun to believe that trying was its own love language.” I definitely recommend it to romance lovers ! I’d rate it 3.5 stars but I’ll round up to 4

Hands down one of my all time favorite Tarah DeWitt books! I love this book with my entire heart. LaRynn and Deacon touched parts of my heart and soul that i didn’t even know existed. It wasn’t just the laugh out loud moments that had me in my feels, no it was the emotional depth that went into these two characters. I could feel everything they were feeling and i was rooting for them the entire time.

This was another fun romance from Tarah DeWitt. I think that this pulled off the marriage of convenience trope in a way that was believable. I did find some of the resentments that the characters held on to from their time together as teenagers to be super frustrating, but in the end the author got me to root for them.

It did take me a little bit to get into, but after I got about a third of the way into the story, it really hooked me.

** I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I could not finish this book. I honestly read it as a buddy read and none of us could. I know there are people will love this book, but I didn't connect to the plot or the characters.

I've listened to the original version of this book twice on audio and enjoyed it, BUT this updated/revised story is everything! I am a sucker for hilarious banter, plus when you can feel the chemistry between the characters through the pages, it makes the reading experience so much better. I highly recommend this new version of Deacon and LaRynn's story.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Tarah, and this was no exception - incredibly well done, steamy goodness - just the right amount of steam, too. This is perfect.

Thank you to Tarah DeWitt, St. Martin’s, and NetGalley for an ARC of The Co-op. All opinions are my own.

The Co-op combined the lightheartedness of forced proximity between two people who hated each other with the hard topics like grief and personal growth really well. I think all the topics were handled respectfully and clearly had been thought through.

My one issue was that I wish there had been some discussion of attending therapy by both of the MCs, together and separately, to discuss their past trauma and learn healthy ways to grow together. There were just so many moments of both characters being snippy and using really hurtful jabs toward each other, and I would have liked to know they’d be learning healthy coping skills.

I hadn’t read this book as an indie so came into it purely from this version, so cannot speak to any changes it went through.

POV: dual first

You can expect: marriage of convenience, home renovation, second chance, dual timeline, he falls first (in both timelines), contractor MMC, enemies to lovers, roomance, forced proximity, “my wife”, he talks her through it.

Rep: queer side characters, grief, dyslexia, side character with colon cancer (past)

Spice: 3/5

CW: emotionally neglectful parents, death of a parent (past), cancer (side character, past), death of a grandparent

Thanks to NetGalley And st. Martin’s Press for this read. I read this book before and so enjoyed reading it again. Tarah writes great characters and her books always flow well.

Thanks for this!

Thank you, NetGalley, and St. Martins Griffin, for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. I had a great time reading this book and adored every second. Together, Deacon and LaRynn were wonderful main characters. I admired the character growth and the way the two were able to get past their past relationship's shortcomings. The bond they were able to establish after doing so was incredibly reassuring and healthy. The two's chaotic early connection was also enjoyable to me; their banter and animosity toward one another was hilarious throughout the book. This is the second book by Tarah I have read, and I love her writing style. It's easy to get you hooked and keeps you entertained. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a cute second-chance romance with forced proximity. I liked that it was a more wholesome romance book and did not contain a lot of spice. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I absolutely adored this one! This was my first time reading this author and I can say that I am excited to read more from her. The characters are wonderful, the world building is great, and I’m about to read this all over again.

LaRynn and Deacon have inherited a house after their grandmothers have passed. The problem is they hate each other after a summer fling gone wrong when they were teens.

I LOVED this book! The banter, the emotion, the setting . . . it was all perfect. There were (several) times when I found myself laughing out loud and the ending had me in tears. LaRynn and Deacon were such great characters. I loved the sarcasm, the mutual disdain that you know is rooted in hurt and care. They're messy and complicated and relatable.

I love the way that the second chance romance was done. There's room for LaRynn and Deacon to grow, and to define who they want to become in adulthood. While still sticking within the rom-com genre, DeWitt explores how our upbringing and baggage can impact our relationships for life. We see our characters not only recognize the failings of their childhoods, but work through that baggage in a way that feels real, yet approachable.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! I loved it the first time, but I love it even more this go around. I feel like we got more background from Deacon’s perspective that explains more of what happened. I also think it’s more in Tarah’s voice now. Rynn and Deacon are so perfect together. I love them 😍

Tarah is and will forever be an auto buy author for me! I love her writing so much and she tells the most beautiful stories! I love LaRynn and Deacon so much! The banter was perfect and mix in forced proximity and marriage of convenience I am sold. I ate this book up and I can’t wait to read more books from Tarah!