Originally read the self published version in November of 2022. I was thrilled to read the new and improved version. This version had all of the chemistry and moments from the original that readers loved but also included more chapters from the past. The inclusion of these chapters gave more insight into Rynn and Deac’s relationship. The banter, the tension, the humor- it was all there! Another incredible book by Tarah.

Thank you for the advanced copy of The Co-Op. I first read this book when it was originally published and I was so excited to read the newly renovated version! I LOVE Tarah’s work and all of her books are amazing. The second chance and marriage of convenience was *chefs kiss* and the spicier version of this book was 🔥🌶️😍. Tarah is an auto-buy author for me and I love recommending her books! She can do no wrong and I’m so excited for her next book! Thank you again for the copy of The Co-Op!!

My first read by Tarah DeWitt and I really enjoyed this!! I love LaRynn’s grumpy/moody ass. Deacon’s attitude was also so funny but I loved how he balanced her out! The way this flashes back from when they first met as teens, their lives together in their early 20’s and then having to find their way back together mid 20’s was fun to read. You get to see their growth, how their childhood shapes them and how they need to break cycles within themselves. This one will pull on your heart strings and have you laughing out loud! 🤍

I loved every f**king second of this book. If Tarah DeWitt writes it, I am going to devour it and form an unhealthy attachment to it! 🫡

Deacon Leeds and LaRynn Lavigne have my heart. I love books that go back and forth between past and present so we’re able to get a look into the entirety of their relationship and see where they fell apart (even if it hurts SO MUCH).

If you love second chance, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, she’s mean and he loves it, she’s also a secret softy and is just trying to figure out who she is (and who tf can’t relate to that?)

These characters actually mean so much to me. Tarah always writes the best character development and really makes you care for these two fictional people. I don’t know how she does it, I just know that I love her writing and it always makes me feel heartbroken and then puts me right back together. Thank you, Tarah, for writing these beautiful characters, you can see how much care you put into all your writing but especially these two 🧡

Thank you to @stmartinspress , @netgalley , and @authortarahdewitt for this beautiful ARC of the republishing of this book I have always loved but now get to love it in a new and beautiful way.

This book was so cute and I read it so fast Because I could not put it down. I really liked all of the characters.!!! It was a little slower than I like, but I would still definitely recommend this. I would also definitely read more from this author!

I saw a lot about this book online so maybe my expectations were just too high. I thought it was okay, I liked the end. But, I felt like parts were way too slow and the book could've been shorter.

Can I blame a book for giving me the ick? Is that a thing?

Tarah DeWitt and I may have started on the wrong foot with one of her other novels, Savor It, but I'm more than generous with the chances I give to authors to prove me wrong.
So here I am, almost fooled, giving her more credit than the last time, but still reconsidering my reading choices.

I'm not in any way a miscommunication girl - I believe very few people like the trope in the first place -, but I understand why they did what they did.
The things that hold back LaRynn are kinda personal to me, so I relate to her and the reasons why she can't show her true self to anyone; and, at the same time, I get why Deacon felt the way he felt - and probably still feel a bit. I don't even blame them for acting like teenagers again and putting up the same shenanigans, but enough is enough.

The first half is good, I love a good old marriage of convenience, but very soon the focus isn't on them anymore and when they were supposed to start working things between them, we read about of they have crushes on each other again.
Long story short, it got boring pretty fast and we’re left with two people saying they understand the other but, when in need, they get frustrated and shut down because the other doesn't open up.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I'm really happy that Tarah Dewitt's back catalog is getting the attention it deserves.

Once you get to the end, you really appreciate both characters and really want them to succeed. I loved that she was french and her use of french curse words made my little french heart happy. The narrators New England accent was *chefs kiss*, all in all it was a good time.

I really enjoy Tarah Dewitt's writing, and I love that the stories are economical, that they're not forever repeating. However, I think in this one I wanted a little more time with the characters and their romance, especially since some of their relationship was already established. But thats my only real issue, if you could call it that.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for an e-copy.

Tarah is out here writing the realistic, vulnerable, steamy romances of my dreams!
This marriage of convenience and second chance romance is fun, witty, and emotional. I think romance readers who really connect with characters who slowly fall for one another will eat this one up.

Tarah DeWitt’s _The Co-Op_ is a charming, heartwarming romance that blends humor, wit, and genuine emotion in a story reminiscent of the beloved film *Ten Things I Hate About You.* This second-chance romance centers on two characters with undeniable chemistry who must confront their past to find happiness in the present. DeWitt’s storytelling deftly balances spicy, flirtatious banter with moments of vulnerability, allowing readers to feel the weight of each character’s emotional journey.

The protagonists, who share a complicated history, are beautifully layered and relatable. Both are marked by childhood trauma, which has left them guarded and hesitant to embrace the love and happiness they secretly crave. The result is a will-they-won’t-they dynamic that’s both frustrating and satisfying as readers root for them to overcome their fears and let love in. DeWitt writes with humor and authenticity, making even the heaviest moments feel accessible and ultimately hopeful.

With its delightful combination of romantic tension, heartfelt backstory, and laugh-out-loud scenes, _The Co-Op_ is an irresistible read. It captures the magic of rekindled love and the challenge of moving beyond old hurts to create a future together. DeWitt’s novel is perfect for fans of character-driven romances that balance fun and flirtation with deep emotional payoff.

Small Town
Enemies to Lovers
Second Chance
Forced Proximity
Marriage of Convenience
Dual POVs

This was my first book by Tarrah DeWitt but it will definitely not be my last. I fell in love with her writing while reading The Co Op! I am a sucker for the enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes and The Co Op DELIVERED!!

A summer fling years ago was all but forgotten for LaRynn and Deacon. That is until they are forced to reunite and take ownership of a property their grandmothers owned and left to them… but there’s a catch. They must marry in order to sell and collect the money!

I loved that LaRynn and Deacon were so real and likeable. The slow burn of enemies to lovers was done so well and I absolutely ate it up! Watching these characters grow and work through old habits was such a joy. What set out as a challenge to earn a payday ended in maturing and earning themselves a HEA! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of The Co-Op.

This is my third Tarah DeWitt book and it did not disappoint. LaRynn was such a complex character. She started out rubbing me the wrong way, but I also know it's because we get so little of her story at the beginning. But I absolutely love her character ARC. And Deacon...that angel of a man. He had his moments, but he moves through life with LaRynn with grace for the most part and she begins to do the same with him. Its a beautiful story of love, loss, and family. The epilogue was beautiful as well. I love it when they're way in the future.

“I’m so gone for you that sometimes I want to tear this place apart just so we can do this all over again.”

there's just something about tarah's writing that just feels like a warm hug. it's refreshing and makes me so giddy. i loved larynn her character. her strength. i know he's fictional, but i just know that deacon would be THAT man. rugged and rough. and im confident he would smell delicious 😂🫣 the way they loved each other and all their rough edges. no notes. 10/10

•such is life•

I read the original copy of this book by Tarah Dewitt and this second time reading it was SO GOOD. I want a love like LaRynn and Deacon.

Imagine having a “no strings” fling with your grandma’s new wife’s grandson. Then years later, co-owning their house together and one of the clauses is to get married. This story only kept getting better as time went on. I am obsessed with Deacon and how much he loves LaRynn. Their pasts definitely influence them growing together and it’s absolutely beautiful to witness.

I have mixed feelings about The Co-op. While I appreciated many elements of the story, there were parts that made me cringe. The toothbrush scene was one of those moments where I had to pause and question whether I should keep reading. I also felt that the teenage conflict could have been resolved with just one conversation, rather than carrying it into their adult lives. Despite these issues, it was an okay read, and it did have its enjoyable moments.

this was lighthearted and fun filled with forced proximity, banter, and marriage of convenience- all things i love in a romcom! for me i didn’t feel like the FMC was super believable at the start of the story so it took some time getting into it.

This story had me with its gorgeous cover and marriage-of-convenience premise, but I stayed for the witty banter and electric chemistry between LaRynn and Deacon. Their dynamic is explosive, with both sharp humor and deep-seated emotion woven into every interaction. The dual timeline is “well-constructed,” effortlessly blending their rocky past with the slow, steamy rebuild of their relationship in the present. The story is more than just a romance; it’s about the work that goes into building trust and the joy in finding a true partner. This second-chance romance is a must-read for anyone who loves a mix of humor, steam, and heartfelt character growth. Highly recommend!

Read if you like:
🔨 Second Chance
🔨 Dual Timeline
🔨 Marriage of Convenience
🔨 Forced Proximity
🔨 Home Renovation

I really needed a book these past few weeks that was light-hearted and would make me feel good, and Tarah delivered! I’m so excited to have gotten an ARC of The Co-op in its newly updated trad published version! This second chance romance made me so giddy and was the perfect thing to help me feel better.

This story follows LaRynn and Deacon, who reunite a decade after their summer fling that ended in heartbreak. As teens, they met through their grandmothers, who had lived in the same house (that was split into three units) and fell in love, knocking down the wall between their apartments to make one home. After both grans pass away, they leave the place to the two grandchildren, which is where our story begins. With the house falling apart and in need of repair, they must work together to get it back into shape in order to rent or sell it off. The problem? Both of them are low on funds unless LaRynn gets access to her trust fund, which she can only do if she gets married. Told through flashbacks and present moments, we see what happened to these two that fateful summer that led to their resentment and bitterness towards each other now. But as they begin to fix up the house, they find it isn’t the only thing that will be restored.

I truly loved their relationship so much. They started out bitter and angry at each other, with many jabs and arguments to be had, but as time goes on, we see them learning to open up and communicate, something they struggled with in the past. The story isn’t just about rebuilding a house, but about rebuilding a relationship and finding the beauty in what once was broken. These two are so precious and I adored all of their flashbacks to when they were kids. It is a sloooow burn with lots of tension, but so worth it in the end! The pacing of the book was well laid out, with plenty of humorous moments and heart touching scenes too.

I also adored the epilogue, set ten years in the future. I love getting to see characters and how far they have come!

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this book!

Pick this up if you love:
❤️ spice
❤️ second chance romance
❤️ ENEMIES to lovers
❤️ dual POV
❤️ dual timeline

Be sure to pick up the edition that just came out this week! It has some updates. I love dual POV. I just love getting both perspectives. The timelines got a little messy for me and the characters were borderline mean to each other in the beginning. But I really enjoyed the fixing up of their grandmothers' home plotline.

I love this book so much. I read the first version of it two years ago and while I couldn’t tell you what has changed, I can say that this new version is absolute perfection. It’s full of tension, banter, push and pull and so much growth. LaRynn and Deacon are two flawed characters but seeing their love for each other felt truly special. As they slowly renovated the house, they were also building their relationship and their trust in each other. It was so beautiful to see them overcome their past trauma together and move past their previous mistakes.

I really enjoyed the back and forth between the present and their first summers together. It added so much depth to the characters to know where they were coming from and to see how the relationship had been shaped before.

My one tiny little complain is that I had hoped that the French mistakes would have been corrected in the published version. I know it won’t bother most people, but as a French speaker, specifically from the province mentioned in the book, it hurt a little to see such easily fixable mistakes.

Read for:

Marriage of convenience
Second chance
Forced proximity
Home renovation
No third act breakup
Dual timeline
Dual POV