The Co-op Paperback – October 25, 2022

This was a good read! The lovers to enemies to lovers dynamic worked very well. Having the "before" chapters of their early romance were great for character and plot development and and only made you root for their future even more. The book was quite funny and had some depth to it, but wasn't a deep, thought-provoking read. I always look for quotes that really hit me and this just wasn't quite there if you're looking for something overtly emotional. I felt a bit like the secondary characters (her and his best friends) had more going on in their story and we were left hanging a bit. Maybe a potential spin-off book to tie up those loose ends? Overall, I enjoyed the read and appreciated the banter between LaRynn and Deacon.

So I read the previous edition of this book earlier in 2024. This might as well have been a new book altogether, because it told a clearer, more cohesive story. And while I gave the first iteration 4 stars, THIS version gets all 5 of them. 🥹 LaRynn and Deacon were deeply flawed and deeply human, and it was deeply moving to watch them struggle and grieve and love. Gah. DeWitt is truly a gifted author. And this also has one of my favorite descriptions in any book, ever. "I made a noise akin to a pirate suffering a surprise an-l probe." 🤣🤣 Perfection. 💖

3.25 ⭐️Available on KUFirst finished book of 2025.I wanted to love this more but I did like it.They were just too in their heads when they should have just talked. It picked up when they eventually did start talking and that’s when I started to enjoy it and then it was over. Also, the FMC name? Disliked that and called her Larry when it was used.

Tarah Dewitt could teach a masterclass in how to write beautifully flawed, and veritably genuine characters. She has a way of making her leads feel like your real best friend, sister, or lover. In The Co-Op, the same is true as we meet Deacon, a boy next door “fixer,” and Larynn, a self proclaimed “stuck up girl” whose actually down to earth and just doesn’t know it yet.Deacon and LaRynn’s chemistry absolutely jumps off the page in this. The banter was scrumptious, and left me hungry for more with every page turned. The way both characters cared for each other while also simultaneously trying to maintain their hatred was actually quite endearing and executed so well in this novel. And not to mention the sexual tension!!! I loved how we received little bite sized pieces of sexy scenes leading up to the final climax (pun intended).<b> <i> “In need of a virile man, huh?” I bite my lip in a grin. “More specifically one that no one will miss.” I love the way her nose scrunches when she’s pissed. “Oh sugar, you and I both know I never miss.” </b> </i>Tarah Dewitt’s writing is some of my favorite in the contemporary romance genre. She has such a way with words, both in true life contemplations, and her unserious, sexy character exchanges. She balances both so well in this novel.<b> <i> “It feels like I can’t get enough of her, or like I’m asking for too much from her. Maybe it’s just me that’s not enough.” </b> </i>All that being said, there are a couple reasons I can’t give this 5 stars.For one, the arranged marriage trope felt like a plot movement device. I needed more internal confliction to really feel the “arranged” part in this arranged marriage. We also only really got glimpses of this trope throughout the novel, and I would’ve loved more.While this was dual narration, the internal monologue had the same exact cadence making it difficult to distinguish the characters voices.The flashbacks from when they were younger just randomly stop 50% into the novel and weren’t fully resolved. We needed at least one more scene to feel the hatred/tension leading them into the present day.Overall, I’ll never not recommend a Tarah Dewitt novel. She has a special place on my bookshelf for a reason! 🫶

“I don’t think there’s a version of you I couldn’t love.” - one character to another or me to this book? Might be (*is) both.There are a lot of jokes in the book community about immediately forgetting everything about a book as soon as you finish it. I’m often guilty of that, but I’m here to say it can be a blessing. I got to experience this book all over again, *almost* feeling like it was the first time but also with the feeling of “oh, yes, I know you. I understand you. I love you even more because I know and understand you.” I know this is the ‘renovated’ version and there were differences, but thanks to my brain, I can’t say exactly where they were. I can just say that I loved THIS version even more. Be it because of changes/edits/rewrites/etc or because I’d already connected to it previously, either way one thing is clear — Tarah Dewitt knows how to write a book.This book made me FEEL so many feelings. The pain of loss, misunderstanding, disappointment, feeling inadequate, grief. The joy and warmth of finding your place, friendship, growth, acceptance, mutual vulnerability, and love among the mess.There are always mixed feelings on dual timelines but I felt it was so necessary here. Deacon and LaRynn faced so many challenges in both their past and present that when they finally got it right, it felt all that much more rewarding to have been along for the ride. Nothing about finding their happily ever after was easy or tidy, but it was hard fought and earned.I can’t wait to add this version and its gorgeous cover to my collection. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC.