From the description, I immediately thought of Chip and Joanna Gaines (Magnolia Table). But upon further reading the real story was that of the Tripps’s assistant, Carey and Jame McCann. See these two are as opposite as you can imagine, but thrust together to work for the Tripp’s. At first they can’t stand each other, but as the book unfolds they begin to not only trust each other, but possibly find love in the least unlikely source. A rom-com worth reading.

Being a fan of Christina Lauren’s books, it’s always a joy to read their latest story. The fun thing about reading their books is that each story is unique from their previous one. Granted, they all still have major romance and sexy times in them, but their stories don’t follow a familiar pattern.

That goes with this one, The Honey Don’t List, which presumably might’ve been inspired by the real-life, now-divorced couple who hosted HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” series. But that’s beside the point, because this is the story about a couple of assistants, or more like babysitters, who have to prevent a popular home designing couple from killing each other as they go on a book tour.

Sounds like a fun story, right? That’s exactly right.

The authors are pretty much all about fun when it comes to writing up their characters and giving their main couple situations that can be hilarious, yet momentous as they deal with their often-developing feelings with each other.

That’s where Carey and James come in. Carey is assistant to Melissa Tripp, the so-called person behind all the home designs that have made the couple famous. And James is actually a structural engineer tasked with the unfortunate job of keeping Melissa’s husband Rusty in line and away from any potential women that could distract Rusty. As it is, Melissa and Rusty are on a book tour for their newest book on having a successful marriage.

It’s not long into the book where you see the problems that Carey and James have as they accompany the famous couple on this tour, and there is, of course, some hilarity involved, but there’s also moments of tension and sadness and all those other human feelings that are relatable to any person that’s been through a relationship.

Overall, like I said earlier, The Honey-Don’t List is fun and heartfelt in a way that my romantic heart craves. Another winner from Christina Lauren.

I’m a big Christina Lauren fan so when I got approved for this arc I knew I needed to read it ASAP! I loved the premise of the book because I love home improvement and HGTV is my channel. Our main couple in the story Melissa and Rusty run a home improvement show but don’t get along and I found it to be hilarious. I loved the banter and the tension they had. I also really liked Melissa best friend Carey and their friendship. The romance in this was cute and I like the characters but half way through the book it got slow and I found myself putting this book down way to often. I really enjoyed the beginning but the middle was slow and the ending wrapped up. I thought the budding romance between Carey and James was cute but wish we had more. Overall it was cute but not my favorite from this duo. 3/5 stars.

Carey had worked for Melissa and Rusty Tripp since she was sixteen and worked in their home décor store. Almost a decade later, as the Tripp’s went from obscurity to fame, Carey had stayed by their side and became an integral, but uncredited, part of their success.

James was hired as an engineer for the Tripp’s mega popular home DIY show but instead found himself thrust into the role of Rusty’s personal assistant. Since his last job ended in scandal, he felt obligated to stay in his role in order to boost his resume before moving on.

The Tripp’s book tour (a book all about maintaining a successful marriage) was about to coincide with a big announcement about the launch of their new TV show. And all of this was happening just as the Tripp’s marriage was imploding. Carey and James were strong-armed into going on tour with Melissa and Rusty in order to keep the peace and ensure their perfect public personas remained intact. And you can imagine just how well that worked out.

While the story is told from James and Carey’s points of view, the focus is largely on the Tripp’s. Their career, their marriage, their drama. It left me feeling like I barely knew Carey and James. And that, in turn, made it hard to feel invested in their relationship and its outcome, or even them as characters. It was easy to empathize with Carey, a young woman who worked tirelessly, had an unhealthy relationship with her employers, and was truly taken advantage of. However, other than a few mentions of her roommates and her brother, Carey had no personal life. Everything about her revolved around Melissa and Rusty Tripp. With James, it was cursory mentions of his former employment and a sister. That was all I learned of James. Again, his story was really told only in relation to the Tripp’s drama.

The Honey-Don't List is billed as a romantic comedy but read more like a sort of humorous look at a marriage going down the tubes and how the fall-out affected those in the wake. Even though it felt very much like the story of Melissa and Rusty Tripp, as told by Carey and James (which was not what I was expecting), it was still entertaining. I enjoyed seeing Carey experience some growth and come into her own. And James was… pleasant. But for me, The Honey-Don’t List was missing much of the charm and humor (and romance!) of Christina Lauren’s previous novels. I think readers who can connect with the HGTV/celebrity aspect will likely get a lot more from this one.

Christina Lauren has been one of my go to authors since last summer. I never thought of myself as someone who reads romance but they definitely changed the game for me. They use the common romance tropes but write them in a way that don't feel overly done and with a handful of humor and wit thrown in.

The Honey-Don't List revolves around the two "assistants" for a Fixer Upper type couple, Melly and Rusty Tripp. While the Tripp's look picture perfect to the audience, Carey and James have to keep them on a short leash in order for their marriage not to explode in front of a national audience. Of course, Carey and James end up finding a confidante and bed partner in one another but obviously challenges arise.

While I don't think this is Christina Lauren's best work, I did enjoy more than their last outing (Twice in a Blue Moon). There weren't an abundance of plot holes, the dialogue wasn't overly cheesy, just the right amount of steam and a gratifying ending. I enjoyed that we did get a decent amount of backstory on all of the characters which did bring them to life a bit more than usual.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the romance genre but also to those just looking for a light, fun read to take their mind off the stress of quarantine.

Having recently finished “The Honey-Don't List” by Christina Lauren, I am happy to have had the chance for the preview; thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books!

I loved the idea of this story and right off the bat I had a visual of Chip and Joanna Gaines. Rusty and Melly seemed similar to this mega famous home renovation duo, but in a very dysfunctional take a peek behind the scenes way.
The story was fine and I did like it, but for some reason I didn't really connect completely to the characters. My favorite moments were definitely those connected to Carey and learning about her condition; dystonia. The way this disease was introduced into the story was very well done and the additional information in the acknowledgements was helpful and heartfelt. I learned something new from this story and that is always a great thing!

As always, the quotes in Christina Lauren stories are always memorable and fun! Here are some of my favorite smile and warm the heart moments...

"I am very clearly the Pigpen to his Schroeder."
"Her body is so tiny, honed from years with a trainer and a steady diet of cotton balls and water."
"I didn't want to interrupt your Funyunning."
"Relationships are a lot like houses: without a good foundation, they'll crumble."
"I want to make her life better by being the best thing in it."

So I have to be honest and say that I was actually reading both this and Christina Lauren's Autoboyography at the same time, and what I find so special about this writing duo is the fact that they can take what many other authors would consider just a fluffy beach read, and add actual substance to it. In The Honey-Don't List, it is a neurological condition that runs in Lauren's family. In Autoboyography, it's the experience that one of them had growing up in Utah around the Mormon religion. So while their books are certainly quick and fun reads, they feel so much more full than others. I enjoyed the Honey-Don't List a lot, because it quite accurately gives you an idea of what the BTS of television and books is. I loved the love story, and I loved the drive for independence, which is a theme I see a lot in Christina Lauren's writing.

I'm sorry but I have to say it – I miss Christina Lauren's books starting from Josh and Hazel through to their earlier works. Every book after that has consistently gotten 3 stars from me and I'd be lying if I didn't admit I've been disappointed. On one hand, I still find their books enjoyable but something is missing both emotionally and with the steaminess factor (please stop with the fade to black), which was certainly the case with The Honey-Don't List. It follows Carey Douglas and James McCaan who are the respective assistants of home remodeling and design superstars Melissa and Rusty Tripp (clearly based on Chip and Joanna Gaines, right?!). Carey started working at their first store when she was sixteen and what most don't realize is just how much she's contributed to the growth of their brand. Likewise, James was hired as a structural engineer but chafes at the idea of being an assistant. Together they have to travel with said couple on a launch tour for their new book and show and make sure nothing falls apart because––surprise surprise––their marriage is actually a disaster. It's while on tour that Carey and James go from disliking each other, to begrudging friends and then something more. Their relationship was sweet and I did like them as individuals, particularly Carey (who is the #1 reason I gave this 3 stars), but I just didn't feel invested? Neither did I feel invested in the situation surrounding them. In the end, it was still a fun book but it really needed more development all around.

Do I recommend? It's a cute read so if you're in the mood for something quick and entertaining, this is worth borrowing from the library.

The Honey-Don't List is a dream book for those who enjoy home remodeling shows and a good love story. A combination of chick-lit and romantic comedy, The Honey-Don't List was one of my most anticipated 2020 reads, and Christina Lauren nailed it.

What is most interesting about this story is while it is told in dual point of view between Carey, Mrs. Tripp's assistant for the past 10 years, and James, Mr. Tripp's assistant for about two months, the bulk of the story focuses on the relationship of another couple, Melissa/Melly and Rusty Tripp. Together, Melly and Rusty are the co-owners of a home decor brand, Comb + Honey. This power couple aren't just entrepreneurs, they also complete home renovations on a TV show and author books. Much of the book is about this couple, from their stellar careers to their martial problems. They are definitely a handful!

I really enjoyed how the story is told. Immediately, our narrators are being interrogated by the police, but before we know what happened, the story goes back in time, allowing the reader to watch everything unfold as it happened. While we are subjected to the author's prose, we also get to enjoy interview transcripts, excerpts from the Tripp's new book, and social media posts. Honestly, it felt like an ambitious feat, but Lauren handled it very well.

Overall, this is en enjoyable, entertaining, comedic read, and fans of earlier Christina Lauren novels should enjoy this too. I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest, unbiased review.

the honey-don't list finds assistants to a chip and joanna gaines-like couple in the middle of a marriage that is melting down right as a media empire is set to grow and they are the only ones holding everything together.

carey duncan has been melissa's right hand person from the start, in some ways, she's the whole reason melly and rusty have had the success they've found. james is new to the operation, but as he forced to spend some quality one on one time with carey, as well as melissa and rusty, he begins to see the truth too.

with a doomed bus tour as a backdrop, carey and james find support and a real partner in each other. and when everything comes to a head, the fallout from being in the blast zone of an imploding marriage will affect how they see things on the other side.

**the honey-don't list will publish on march 24, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/gallery, pocket, threshold books in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the idea of this book going in. An HGTV style couple who can't stand each other but act in love for the camera, sounded like something so interesting to read about. Then have it told from the perspective of the assistants who are falling for each other and just trying to keep everything from falling to pieces sounds perfect.

The book opens with transcripts from a police interview about and 'incident' that has taken place, we then spend the entire novel waiting to find out what this incident is. And I'll be honest, while I found the scene with the incident to be very intense, I was a little disappointed in the event itself.

As for the romance, I loved it! James and Carey are both very likable characters who put up with so much from Melissa and Rusty and are so supportive of each other. Overall, i loved their story but I did feel like the ending could have used a little more fleshing out. It didn't feel like we got a true ending and that it was just rushed though to end the book.

First book from this author I've read and it was wonderful! I was able to get this from NetGalley. I loved the forced proximity/enemies to lovers story. All in all I loved everything about this book

4.5 stars

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s always worth giving an author (or, in this case, authors) more than one chance. While I enjoyed the first book I read by them, I wasn’t exactly super gung-ho. Sure enough, when I gave them another try and read Twice in a Blue Moon a couple of months later I loved the story and fell in love with their writing style. That hasn’t changed with this book. I adored the characters and the storyline, and the author’s melded everything together beautifully.

There is a moment when Carey and James are first starting to see beyond their own noses to realize there is a connection between them that is so perfectly written. The analogy the authors use along with the flow of the story will speak to everyone, regardless of age or gender. It was a true delight to read.

Carey’s job is so stressful, and the events leading up to their road trip so outrageous, that you can’t help but feel sympathy for her. As for James, there is a bit of time I feel he brought things upon himself. After all, Carey tried to warn him. But in James’ head he is doing the right things and I can’t fault him for that. Eventually, even though he started the ball rolling on all of this, the tension they all have to live with is punishment enough.

I enjoy the way the story is pieced together with snippets of a police report and Twitter comments from random fans. The only problem I had was sometimes the voices of Carey and James weren’t clear. The story in alternating points of view and, on occasion, I’d forget whose chapter I was reading. Yes, this is a problem. But I still very much enjoyed the story and it didn’t happen too terribly often to take away from the story.

I know this writing duo has written a lot more stories than what I’ve read so far and need to eventually add them to my lineup.

Carey and James are working for the hottest duo in renovations. There job is anything but easy. They work together to hold thing together until their latest season is released. As they get to know each other they discover that they may have something, but are not sure they can pursue it, because they both need their jobs. A great story especially if you are a fan of HGTV.

I really didn’t know what to expect. Reviews of previous books by Christina Lauren were enthusiastic about their entertainment value, sass and humor. I can now fully attest that they were spot on. When I tell you THE HONEY DON’T LIST should be on your list of must reads listen carefully.

THE HONEY DON’T LIST is a tale about a career husband and wife team who have made a fortune with their creativity and brand. They are the Tripp’s. You know that expression you are a trip. I think that is what Christina Lauren had in mind choosing a name for this pair. Rusty and Melly Tripp’s talent is designing functional pieces that fit into apartments or small homes. Maximize available space. At this stage their brand is well known, admired and loved. However the so-called bloom is off the rose.

All is not well in the Tripp household and the couple’s two assistants Carey and James are charged with managing them. Sort of babysitting for two adults that have lost their ability to filter.

Early on you learn how this unlikely foursome seem to coalesce around work related issues. But it is the interpersonal events that have you laughing out loud.

When Carey tells James that the next time he feels the need to react toss a Jolly Rancher in his mouth. You smile. But when he does it that first time there’s no holding back a laugh.

So we are on a road trip tour bus to hawk the Tripp’s new book on relationships. There is nothing missing in this story. Christina Lauren is fastidious in her attention to detail and conversation. The chapters alternate between Carey’s and James impressions and reactions and provide great insight into these two characters. James is an engineer and Carey is Melly’s assistant. But they are so much more. And together well the possibilities could be endless. That’s the romantic in me coming out. Oh well. THE HONEY DON’T LIST is a joy to read with all the bases covered in what to expect in a Christina Lauren story. Humility, humanity and humor. A triumvirate of reading delight.

Another good name for this book could be Extreme Issues Call For Extreme Measures. Irony doesn’t escape the reader since ultimately Christina Lauren’s goal is to see if the Tripp’s can practice what they preach, making due in small places. In many ways obvious and others not so. Pretty ingenious if you ask me but if you want to experience it yourself then get your hands on THE HONEY DON’T LIST and see for yourself.

Looking for a great beach read THE HONEY DON’T LIST by Christina Lauren moves to the top. For fans of Christina Lauren THE HONEY DON’T LIST surely cements their affection. For newcomers I’ll wager it won’t be your last. THE HONEY DON’T LIST is filled with clever characters and situations from cover to cover. Some may see some similarities between the Tripp’s and couples in home design television shows. Comb+Honey - the Tripp’s show is well conceived and rather unique. The Tripp’s are Comb+Honey’s light-hearted home renovation power couple. THE HONEY DON’T LIST is written by the team of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings.

I must have misinterpreted the blurb about this book. I kept waiting for 'hilarious and zany' but never really saw that. Then with the police reports throughout, I kept waiting for a HUGE mystery. Nope. But it was a pleasant book with some good characters and an interesting storyline of 'what goes on behind the scenes' of reality shows. Should be a good beach read.

This was another consuming read by authors Christina Lauren! The main characters were engaging and well-developed and the antagonists were thoroughly unlikable but altogether human, The plot was interesting and the development was suitably fast-paced but detailed.

This was a highly anticipated read for me. It didnt disappoint either. This is a story about a tv house flipping kind of couple on the brink of destruction. To help salvage this rocky relationship their assistants try to keep things going when they fall into their own relationship.

Carey Douglas has worked for Melissa and Rusty Tripp long before they were famous. She stayed with them through ups and downs, and now, when they're at the cusp of megastardom, it seems like they're going to fall apart at last. James McCann was hired as a structural engineer, but he's been delegated to Rusty's assistant and kept far from design work. When the Tripp's marriage disintegrates before the ironic launch of their marriage-advice book, Carey and James are forced to work together to keep the ship sailing—and neither can quit because they both need their jobs.

Can the two work together and keep America's Home-Designing Sweethearts from murdering each other?

3.5 stars

"I live for other people's drama."


That was the one highlight I made in this ARC, and dammit if it's not true. There's a reason I love well-done alternate history royal romances. I love the shade!

And, welp, I'm a sucker for sly jabs at HGTV's most picture-perfect couple, too, and um, this was definitely it. Plus a cute romance among the assistants—shout out the people who really run the world—and some solid disability rep.

All is clearly not well in the state of Home-Renovation at the beginning of the book, which is a wrap for the Tripp's mega-successful show—which was a collaboration with other designers that catapulted the Tripp's to stardom. Carey is reeling from exhaustion and looking forward to taking her first vacation (a staycation) in five years, and is literally counting down the hours before she can escape Melly and go home. James, on the other hand, is trying to figure out where Rusty went, and convinces a reluctant Carey to help him.

And of course, they find Rusty balls-deep in the show's former Miss America co-host, and the shit hits the literal fan—prompting Carey and James to accompany the Tripps on their book launch tour to prevent anything from happening...and well, shit happens. From parking lot screams to vase throwing to frosty stillness to more baseball than anyone should ever healthily consume in a lifetime to a literal house burning down, shit definitely happens.

Melly and Rusty were two people who had once been in love, but who let the fame get to their heads. Melly transformed into a power-hungry demon with the kind of ambition that lets no one else around them succeed—but Melly has a deep, dark secret that is fueling her motivation. And that deep, dark secret is her longtime assistant Carey. And Rusty, of course, is over it and wants to go back to the simpler times—albeit, while still keeping the trucks and jet skis and other toys won through fame—and being his usual goofy self.

If you're thinking...hmmm, picture perfect, highly ambitious and talented woman with A Plan and the goofy, oddball husband with a heart of gold, who both own a saccharinely sweet store with mega-branding (like Comb+Honey)...does that sound like anyone I know in HGTV?

description
Some people just know that things can't be so perfect, because it's not possible. Some people are me.

I truly felt for Carey, who had started working with the Tripps when she was sixteen. She had had a really bad childhood, and because she literally didn't know any better at the time, she fell into a situation where the Tripps exploited her labor, talent and creativity for their own personal gain, and then continuously emotionally abused her to keep her quiet, pliant and productive.

While Carey realized some of the dysfunctional situation with the Tripps and her relationship with them, she truly didn't understand the extent of their emotional abuse (while Melly is the main perpetrator, Rusty was an enabler and didn't stand up for Carey until the very end) until it was pointed out to her by an outsider.

Because of her small-town roots, lack of education and disability, Carey was kept down by Melly and told that she would only ever be able to work for her because where else could she go? She had no other talents (mild spoiler: she had many talents).

James, on the other hand, was equally entrapped by the Tripps, ensnared by his desperation to get away from the stench of his former employer, which had been famously shut down for doing illegal things. He needed work experience to hide his previous job, and would take literally anything despite his stellar pedigree.

Anywho, all this is to say that there is a lot of personal dynamics happening, and much of it happens in frosty silence in a tour bus that's really too small to handle all of the shit Melly throws at people. I really, truly feel for Joe, the beleaguered assistant hired to shepherd them all through the book launch tour. He went from thinking he'd won the job of a lifetime—ushering the most romantic "opposites attract" couple in home design—to realizing that he'd entered a hellswamp.

I enjoyed the hell of this book up until the very end. Without spoiling it (too much), I was annoyed that justice was not served and that the two people who should literally be on other sides of the country and moving on with their own, separate lives, decided to try to stick it out and refocus on what mattered—saving a marriage.

Look. Divorce is good and sometimes you just gotta leave.

And sometimes you gotta write a snarky book about picture-perfect TV relationships that have a stinky underside.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Awesome book! I thoroughly loved it! Carey and James are wonderful characters! They have to work together and one thing leads to another! This was funny and sexy! There was also a lot of shenanigans going on. The authors really know what it takes to make you love a book! I had so much fun with this book!