Unfortunately, this one didn't work with me.
But take my opinion with a grain of salt: I'm not a contemporary romance avid reader. Just from time to time I decided to venture myself in the romance genre. Most of the time it fails. And this one wasn't exception.
I didn't relate or even care for the 2 protagonists or their personalities. And the tropes within this story don't appeal to me.
I'd say Tarah DeWitt's writing is decent enough. I was never bothered or annoyed by her writing style, per say.
So, I'm sure romance readers who are used to her books will most likely enjoy this new one, too.

This is one of my favorite books and marriages of convenience. These two had all of the tension built up from their teenage trysts and I loved the banter/fighting. They were so funny. Tarah is one of my favorite authors and I will absolutely read anything that she writes.

I enjoyed the book, but not enough to rave about it or read it again. Easy, quick read, but I felt it lacked luster and I found myself not itching to pick it up to finish.

The Co-op is a second chance story about a couple who have known each other since high school. When a house they equally inherit needs immediate and desperate repair, they must carefully tread through their past and get the house into sellable shape without risking their hearts all over again.

For a romcom about house renovation this one hit the right spot, this execution of a second chance romance was perfect.

I really enjoyed “Larry’s” prickly personality, not being able to open up to people, coming across as cold but there is also that side of her that is genuine and loyal.

At around 60% the story was beginning to fall flat, there was not much working against them and it the charectors were not progressing. Once I made it past that slump the rest of the story went by fast.

The epilogue was perfect, their grandmother’s would definitely have been happy.

There was almost no spice until the very end and connection between the lead charecters was strong.

Overall I enjoyed this story.

Read This Book If…you enjoy HGTV and messy relationships!

Genre: romance
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 2-3 open door scenes
Setting: Santa Cruz, CA
POV: dual, 1st person, present tense
Tropes: marriage of convenience, enemies to friends to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity, roommates, one bed

What I Thought: I really liked this one! I thought the conversations had throughout were really heartfelt and I appreciated the messy parental relationships. There was a lot of history and hurt woven throughout this story, but a lot of lighter moments, too!

Memorable Quote: “I want it all, LaRynn. You’re a fine friend, but I can’t take having less than all of it with you.”

the scream i let out when i saw this was available. i had read one book of hers previously but didn’t enjoy it quite as much as i thought i would, so i was hesitant but this pleasantly surprised me! it had heart, humor, and a really steamy love story i couldn’t help but fall for.

Honestly I kind of loved this!

The worst part about this book was that her name was “LaRynn” and I’m sorry but I do not think it’s a cute name at all.

This book reminded me of “You Deserve Each Other” at times, but I hated that book and really liked this. I think it helps that though they’re married it’s just for convenience. And they have a fractured history where they’re both dealing with their own trauma and aren’t communicating well.

And sometimes books that include home improvement can go overboard but this felt like a perfect mix. Like obviously it’s a huge part of the story but I never felt myself ready to skim through them picking out tile samples or whatever.

Banter here is 10/10, just like “Funny Feelings” so Tarah Dewitt is quickly becoming one of my must read authors!

But overall, I thought this was a real sweet story. And it felt like Cece and Helena were like the silent characters in this story encouraging them from beyond the grave because they just wanted them to be happy.

This book captures the stress of DIY renovations, adds in a marriage for financial benefit plus their history. Deacon and LaRynn were flawed, terrible at communicating, and had family baggage. Thru this story, we see them mature albeit slowly in the middle.

I was given a copy by the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!) and all opinions are my own.

The Co-Op was a beautiful romance about two people falling back in love while tackling a renovation and some past demons. LaRynn and Deacon spent a summer together when they were younger, and it didn’t end well. Both believing the other wasn’t as into the relationship. They are forced to reconnect when their grandmothers leave them their old beach house (which happens to need a lot of love). In order to get the funds they need, a marriage of convenience becomes their only plan forward. Only problem?? They can’t stand each other. Or…are they actually obsessed with each other? 🤭

I’m a huge fan of Tara DeWitt, my favorite being Savor It, and this book had all of the character development and banter I’ve come to love with her books. And in this one, The banter was definitely bantering 😮‍💨

Read if you are a fan of:
🛠️Marriage of convenience
💖Second chance
🛠️Forced proximity
💖Slow burn
🛠️Small Town
💖No third act breakup

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

“I’m a married man. To a woman who hates me”

Thank you to Tarah and her publisher for sending me an ARC.
LaRynn and Deacon have a bit of a history, one summer years ago they fell in love with the pretence of their relationship just being physical. So when years later LaRynn moves back into town and sees Deacon again she can’t hold in her resentment despite needing to work together.
There is such passion in their banter that you can feel the history behind every word. LaRynn is a flame that Deacon is drawn to, that he wants to blow out just to irk her. Which makes everything so fun to read that i couldn’t put it down. Finished this book in a day!
The depth to each character is so complex, and we get resolution of their past which makes them each grow as a character. And seeing them grow individually brings them together even more.
LaRynn and Deacon have a romance that’s kin to a burning flame, and when they finally do something about it 😮‍💨 those scenes are HOT.

Tarah Dewitt is easily becoming one of my favourite authors the more i read from her.

“I think i want you against my better judgement and i think you hate how much you want me”

larynn and daren are really wonderful character. although there past didn't end well they must come together to get a inheritance. such a good book love the banter in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this wonderful book!
The book has multiple tropes, which I loved, including: enemies to lovers, second-chance romance, and marriage of convenience.
The characters were likable but also complex. The writing was really funny at times, which I loved. The book made me home renovations sound fun and also miserable, which was entertaining.
I loved how the story centered on it never being too late to change and grow. I also really liked how it showed happiness doesn't have to be perfect and flashy. It can be contempt, peaceful, and always still a work in progress. You don't need a big career and home. It's what brings you joy and who you share it with.
I loved this book so much! It's another amazing book by Tara Dewitt! If you love a funny, touching, and spicy romance, this is a great one!

Okay, this book was so unexpected for me. I will say, the first third of the book is SLOW. Like, I almost put it down. But wow, I promise it’s so worth sticking it out for the rest of the story. It’s so incredible to see the characters grow, not just in their relationship but as two adults working through traumas and issues that they have. Two imperfect people who work through it together. And I totally fell in love with Deacon, and their story. Totally worth the read!

Read if you love black cat girl + forced proximity + marriage of convience!! The trad version of this is so GOOD! I still love this book it’s even better than the original! 🥹♥️

I will forever be SO FERAL for La Rynn + Deacon they are my babies! I see so much of myself in La Rynn she’s such a soul character for me.

The changes made in the trad copy were amazing for me. I loved that we got a few “past” chapters it helped me understand Rynn + Deacon’s relationship so much better & we got a little more of the grands. 🥹🫂 one thing I really really loved was seeing La Rynn being content with a small life and enjoying all the little moments.

I will forever be obsessed with a mmc who accepts the female lead for exactly as who she is. Deacon is so baby and I adore him. I loved being back with these two! The added spice chapter was ALSO GREAT I LOVE SEEING DEACON BEING SO SEXYYYY 🫦

I really, really enjoyed this book! The characters were so well developed and the backstory beautifully fleshed out. No third-act breakup, only one bed, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers. It checked all my boxes.

The writing was very good and kept me engrossed. I loved how much I related to the characters, and I could really understand their motivations. Their personalities shone well on the page, and the chemistry was written very well. The emotional impact was very well done! Also, steam! This book had a lot of fun, delicious spice.

Highly recommend!

Marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and a whole lot of tension. What more can a girl ask for?

I absolutely loved reading about these two falling in love and all the trials along the way. It is so easy to get lost in the story and fall in love with the characters.

Every single bit of this book had me wanting more and more. And before I knew it I was finishing. If I could read it again for the first time, you bet your bottom dollar that I would!

Loved the honorable mention at the tattoo shop. And when the big confession happened… swoon 🥰 another hit Tarah DeWitt!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the arc

This was my first Tarah DeWitt book and I’m sure it won’t be the last. The characters were deep and I could see their pull grow throughout the book and I loved it. I’m normally not a dual timeline, second chance fan, but I felt like the flashbacks were well done, timing and length wise and really added to the story while not over taking the story. Good romance read.
Also, looove the updated cover! Beautiful.

3.5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the early release of The Co-Op. If you love a slow burn with spice plus forced proximity this is the book for you.

This book follows the story of LaRynn and Deacon who had a summer romance when they were teens that did not end well and a decade later they are brought back together when they are left a building that means a lot to both of them but is in need of major repairs. Both main characters have baggage that they need to work through and they both go through major growth throughout the book.

This book tackles some tough topics but also exemplifies that life can be messy but two imperfect people can be perfect for one another.

LaRynn has the money to fix the building that she shares ownership with Deacon. But she needs to marry in order to access the money. They agree to marry to fix up the building then divorce. Except that old feelings come back...

Love this second chance romance. I love the characters. They are terrific and makes you care about them. Great chemistry and love the steamy scenes.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

If you are interested in a romance with a focus on personal growth and development, this is a good book for you. But if you are looking for a ‘beach read’ or something light and silly, I would look somewhere else.

As the synopsis implies, this story goes deeper than your average romance book. Both main characters have baggage; they haven’t let go of past scars, neither from their childhood nor from their first chance at love when they were younger. As such, there is a force on personal growth. Realizing they might not have seen the best in someone, and learning to give each other a fair chance.

I appreciated that the Co-op didn’t include the stereotypical romance third act miscommunication. Instead, as both Rynn and Deacon share their insecurities and learn to love themselves and each other, their relationship strengthens.

My biggest issue with the book is it took half the book before I felt invested in the story and wanting to see where it was going. At the beginning, Rynn came across as petulant and combative. It takes a while to unpack her characters motivations, to understand why she is acting out, and to want to see her with Deacon, someone who seems happy and to love openly. Similarly, it takes awhile to understand why Deacon is so quick to react (and often negatively), and to think he is mature enough to be in a healthy relationship.