The Co-op

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. 💖

The Co-Op was a quick and okay read. While, I loved certain aspects of the story, the romance felt a bit underwhelming in my opinion.It is dual POVs of the main characters (LaRynn and Deacon) and has some great tropes like: a marriage of convenience, forced proximity and a second chance romance. I would suggest checking the content and trigger warnings before reading just in case.The overall premise was enjoyable. I really liked the home renovation aspect and all the struggles they had to navigate through. I will say though, it did take me a bit to fully get into the story for some reason.The romance between LaRynn and Deacon was not my favorite to be honest. Their romantic development felt a bit forced and while they did have some cute, heartwarming and spicy moments I just didn’t really feel their connection or spark despite their history. I just would have liked for more scenes from their past that showed their feelings and connection before they reunited again or more moments in the present that showed them getting to re-know each other again. Their relationship was also a slow burn one, as nothing spicy happens until 85% into the story.I did like all the side characters and friendships throughout the story. LaRynn’s connection with her late grandmother was so beautiful and I loved that she was able to keep her memory alive.There was no third act conflict, which I appreciated as well. But there were a few subplots that felt underdeveloped and forgotten at the end. The epilogue though, was absolutely perfect and so heartwarming.Overall, a decent read just not my favorite.

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! 🫶