Tarah Dewitt is slowly becoming an auto-read author for me. Her writing is always so engaging and fun. Her books are always lighthearted but she has a talent for giving her characters so much depth that it makes them captivating. Definitely a slow burn, but with this being second chance it was fantastic.

This book had all the tropes and makings to be great such as marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and second chance, and overall it was an enjoyable read. Also, the best part was that there was no third act breakup and the cutest epilogue ever.

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. First off, I live in Santa Cruz, and the way that the author writes the drive over 17 in chapter 1 just kills me. 17 isn't fun, nor is it magical. Secondly, the FMC's name is...bad, its a bad name. I DNF'd really quickly.

Rating: 4.5 Stars/Contains Spoilers
***Also a huge thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.***


Tarah Dewitt had a note at the beginning of her story explaining that this novel was being written at the same time as her first, and this story underwent its own construction a few times before becoming what is it now. I hope she's proud of it, because this novel had a lot of wonderful things about it!

The Spice: It's there, it's *spicy* and is maybe 🌶️🌶️🌶️ ish
The Tropes: Second Chance and Marriage of (in)Convenience

Brief Plot Recap: Deacon and LaRynn grandmothers marry and they spend a summer as teenagers (18-19) falling in love. The break up is rather abrupt and could have been deeper than her saying, "I love you," and him stating, "It was just sex," and then not seeing each other for 10 years. (Obviously, there are few other things going on but that's really the sum of it). Both grans pass away, and leave the house to the both of them. LaRynn has quit law school, has no access to money, and she and Deacon get married to access her trust and work on repairs to the Grans' home.

I enjoyed the flashbacks and build up. At first, the banter (when they're reunited and its not great to see one another) was so cruel--and I could see why other reviewers complained about LaRynn. She appears spoiled, but honestly, has a lot of emotional abuse and neglect from her *very* rich and controlling father and she doesn't show a lot of herself to Deacon. I felt like I got to know her more just as Deacon did the second time around. There was a lot of miscommunication and it was nice to see that they were both making the effort to work on it, and work on themselves. I think there love story became something truly beautiful and I really teared up a couple of time. I loved that Deacon could be soft and vulnerable (like are you freaking kidding me?? when he confronts her with, "Because it fucking hurts. It makes me feel like I’m in pain, like I’m being choked by my own goddamn fury. Please, LaRynn. Fuck my pride, I want you to stop because I want you for me, and even if I can’t have that I just...I'm flat out begging you...”) just wow WOW wow.

I also loved the scene where LaRynn confronts her mother about her neglect, "Then I think we have to stop trying to skip over the past. You can't expect someone to forgive you without ever apologizing....['maybe here is where we get to start.']" just--bravo, well done! Both of Deacon and LaRynn do their own growing in this story and together, but her arc is more evident. (Deacon was also pretty well adjusted prior, but I digress). The scene where she's finally grieving the Grans with him, and thinks of her dad and forgives him mentally as well (no drawn out confrontations) was so touching and lovely. I think the characters were flawed and I loved the compassion and growth their relationship was allowed to have.

I maybe would have liked a bit more development with her backstory (the neglect and abuse was clear enough I suppose, but despite how LaRynn comes off--it takes awhile to really understand her). There were a few tiny errors in formatting (but this is an ARC copy so that could be it as well). I would have liked to get see LaRynn more working at the coffee shop, and with her friends, Sally etc. The lens was clearly on their relationship and the reader doesn't always get to see why so many people love her so much before she and Deacon reunite.

Overall though, there is little I would change. I loved the pranks, the healing, the banter (as friends/in love), and I'm so glad I got to read it!

LOVEDDDD!! I'll read anything Tarah writes and this was so different! SO sweet and their relationship developed so much as they grew individually as well!

It was super cute and fluffy with the perfect amount of spice sprinkled in. I’m also a sucker for books that come with a playlist before you start. The miscommunication did annoy me but other than that I loved the second chance, I loved the banter and overall really enjoyed this book. I would love to see this as a movie one day! Absolutely would recommend

LaRynn and Deacon are quite the pair! I loved their second chance story and the way the author provides flashbacks at just the right times to fully understand the depth of their past.

Her sassy attitude and his gruff exterior gave me quite a few laughs. The flashbacks brought me closer to them both, and the supporting characters were spot on.

*The Co-op* by Tarah DeWitt is an engaging and heartwarming second-chance romance that really delivers. LaRynn and Deacon’s “marriage of convenience” setup is not only fun but also leads to some great character development. Their shared history adds so much tension, and watching them navigate their complicated feelings while renovating the house they’ve inherited is so satisfying. The renovation itself is a great metaphor for their relationship, which adds depth to the story.

Deacon is easy to love—he’s patient and thoughtful, never pushing LaRynn beyond what she’s comfortable with. LaRynn’s journey is equally compelling as she works through her trust issues and learns to let people in, all while staying true to her independent nature.

If you’re looking for a second-chance romance with plenty of chemistry, humor, and emotional growth, *The Co-op* is a must-read. It strikes the perfect balance between lighthearted moments and deeper themes, making it both entertaining and meaningful.

Everything about this book is newsworthy, and trust me I will be talking about it for the rest of my life!!

Let’s start off with Deacon. That’s my man!! He’s a flirt, charming, and good with his hands… but anyways! He’s genuinely the total package. One thing I loved was how he never pressured LaRynn. Throughout the book he was always thoughtful and kind to everyone even her. This man waited for her to fully believe in herself… to love herself and learn to let others in. All while he knew his feelings towards her because didn’t want to scare her off. It had been YEARS since they last saw each other… but the second he saw her again, he knew she was always the one. In some ways, it seemed like he understood her more than himself. Also… he calls her LOVE… crying on the floor right now.

“Let me show you I want to be your friend too.”

LaRynn is actual gold! I related to her in more ways than I could count. Her issues with her family, her independence, and her trust issues were things that hit home for me. I loved seeing her character development!! She was always a dreamer who lived others dreams, but decided that’s not how she wants to live anymore. I think that’s what made me love her even more. Her realizing she is more than what others think of her was everything I didn’t know I needed. She’s one of my favorite characters in the Tarahverse and I’ll never stop giving her the flowers she deserves!!

Reading about their tension and banter was everything… I just loved this book, did I mention that already?? I just want to say thank you grandmas, they knew what they were doing with the house. This is second chance romance and is genuinely so sweet. I think about this book more than I’d care to admit, but only because it’s that good!

"I thought of one more thing I want for my birthday."
He laughs into a particularly sensitive spot
"Yes, love?
"Your name."
^ Like did you see that?? Me too please? I’d like his last name too!!

Anyways, I cannot recommend this enough! The Co-Op is one of my favorite books and I know you’ll love it too

The Co-op is the first book I've ever read from Tarah DeWitt, and boy did I love it!
This is a dual POV story featuring LaRynn and Deacon. Their grandmothers left them with shared ownership of their building in Santa Cruz, which is in rough shape. Deacon has the construction expertise but lacks the money to back his work. LaRynn has a trust fund but can only access it if she's married. They decide upon a marriage of convenience, with hopes to fix their grandmother's place, sell it to collect the profits, then go their separate ways. The problem is... they can't stand each other.

The characters felt so real and relatable to me, that I found myself growing alongside them. I also love how working on their grandmother's home becomes a metaphore for working on themselves and working on their relationship with each other as the book progresses. This is a sex positive story, LaRynn and Deacon do have a summer fling history during their teenage years. However, I never felt like there was too much angst. Yes, there is steamy tension. But I'm honestly thankful sex wasn't used as a emotional weapon in this book. Tarah did a wonderful job balancing tension with humor, complex family backgrounds with resiliance. In a way, this reminds me of Emily Henry, but Tarah writes with a voice that is distinctly hers.

I found myself tearing up at the end of the book because:
1) It's over and this story itself has come to a close.
2) I felt like I too was on a discovery of understanding how my heart is the way it is, my journey of love with my husband, and my relationship with my own parents. And even though I've finished this book, it has given me kernals of wisdom to carry on in my life.

The Co-op was transformative read for me, and I can't recommend it enough. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I will honestly be buying a copy of this book when it gets published so that I can add it to my shelf of favorites. I can't wait to get myself caught up with Tarah's other books!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

I really liked this book! I thought the plot was unique, and loved that there wasn't a horrible third act breakup to deal with. My only critique is that it could've been a little shorter-- I felt like there were a couple points where it dragged a tad. However, the romantic tension and flashbacks kept me engaged and would rope me back in.

Truth be told, I did not enjoy the first released version of this book as much as Funny Feelings, which, in my opinion, is still the best Tarah DeWitt book. Sad to say that title still holds true even after reading this rewritten copy. The depth of the conflicts, the exploration of the tropes, and the characterization leave much to be desired. On the brighter side, props to Tarah and the artist she commissioned for this aesthetically pleasing cover art. I loved it so much. I hope they continue to work together in her upcoming books, which I am still looking forward to reading.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the e-ARC!

There was nothing WRONG with this book, really, I’m just getting a little tired of FMCs who act about a decade younger than they are.

Unfortunately i made the decision to DNF this book after multiple failed attempts to consume. I hope to pick it up again at a later time.

What a good book to read in the fall! Larynn and Deacon’s second chance, enemies to lovers was a perfect story to read. The banter, the emotion, and the humor was all top notch. I honestly felt like this book had me giggling, kicking my feet, all with butterflies in my stomach.

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Co-op re-releases November 12, 2024

Deacon and LaRynn jointly inherited their late grandmother’s house and must come up with the funds to renovate the sinking ship.
Since LaRynn’s trust fund was revoked because she didn’t go to law school, the only way she can gain access to it is if she gets married, hence a marriage of convenience ensues.

The characters were beyond unlikeable and held so much hostility and animosity towards each other.
Coupled with the less than stellar communication, I just didn’t have the patience for this story.

<i>“I don’t know how to do this, how to have a discussion where feelings are involved. All I know is fighting and retreating, passion eclipsed by resentment.”</I>

Most, if not all of the renovations happened off-page in the background, leaving a bloated summarized chapter that felt more like an afterthought to catch the reader up to speed.

There was a stark contrast in characterizations between the “before” sections, present day, and the epilogue that took place ten years later, which in turn, kept giving me whiplash.
I have a hard time believing that Deacon and LaRynn would last as a couple since their relationship had less of a stable foundation than the house they inherited.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

LaRynn is a very complex character, and interesting but sometimes I found it hard to relate or forgive her. So much information about LaRynn and Deacon's past that I spent the first third of the book confused about what exactly wrong. I did love Deacon and felt he was a lot more gracious and kind than I would've been in his position. I didn't truly start enjoying this book until their barbs and honestly were more evenly matched instead of the constant barbing with stupid childish pranks. In the end, I'm happy with how the story is all wrapped up, but I wished we had more of their flashbacks in the beginning.

LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds had one short and contentious summer fling when they were teens—certainly nothing to build a foundation on. But a decade later, when their grandmothers have left them with shared ownership of their dilapidated Santa Cruz building, they're thrust back together and have to figure out how to brace up the pieces.
LaRynn has the money, but in order to access her trust, she has to be married. Deacon has the construction expertise, but lacks the funds. A deal is struck: Marry for however long it takes to fix up the property, collect a profit, and cut ties.
Thrust into a home without walls, LaRynn and Deacon quickly learn that it's easy to hide behind emotional ones, even in a marriage. But with all the exposure and pitfalls that come with living with the opposite sex (and none of the perks, much to their growing mutual frustration) they'll also have to learn what it means to truly cooperate as a team.
Filled with crackling tension, The Co-op is a steamy second chance romance about restoration and renovation, and uncovering all the things that build character within ourselves. It's about the never-ending construction project that partnership is, and finding enjoyment at every stage.

I absolutely love second chance romance and this novel was no exception. The wonderful characters and their personalities added so much to the plot and I absolutely will be reading this again.

Wow, this was amazing! DeWitt crafted wonderfully flawed characters that brought us a mix of angst, tension, and a whirlwind of emotions. The dual timeline was brilliant, providing a richer understanding of the characters' current situations and adding layers to their feelings. Even with all the angst, there were moments that made me laugh out loud — Dewitt has an incredible knack for blending romance with serious themes effortlessly. Also, I particularly enjoyed the clever reference to Funny Feelings. Overall, this was an incredible read. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy!

I will read anything and everything Tarah Dewitt writes even if it’s just a grocery list. Her writing style is unique and sucks you into the story. You can feel what the characters are feeling and feel as if you’re part of the story.

The Co-op covers grief with so much grace as LaRynn and Deacon’s loss of their grandmothers bring them together. Their story is beautifully entwined with good music and shows how two imperfectly perfect humans belong together.

What a beautiful book!! I loved how fleshed out the MCs are. I’m not as much of a fan of second chance romance & there was a lot of fighting lol so this didn’t quite do it for me, but I appreciated the story all the same. And I love home renovations so that was a win!