This is probably the most middle of the road Christina Lauren book that I've read so far. I'm not sure if I'm falling out of love with their writing, as this one is pretty formulaic, or if I just only really enjoyed one section, when I normally find myself enjoying at least two. The premise, the tropes and the characters for this one were all just fine to me, but nothing new.

3.5/5

Not my fave CL book which is a bummer cause I usually rate theirs 5 stars no questions asked. I think I wanted more fun banter. Definitely still a huge fan!

Rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up here because that’s what I do. This is only my second Christina Lauren book. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it lacked some things that make me fall head over heels with romance books I’ve read and didn’t have me feeling many emotions along the way, which is what I look for.

What I liked: I enjoyed Carey and James’ characters and Carey’s character development over time. This isn’t filled with romance, but I liked the idea and enjoyed watching their relationship develop. The dialogue is great throughout, and every character has a good amount of personality that makes you feel you get to know them. And this book didn’t feel super cliche like some romance does, so that made it much more enjoyable to read.

What didn’t work for me: The pacing. I felt it was a very slow start and then way too speedy for the rest. Some parts (the books, the TV shows, the descriptions of Rusty and the Honey + Comb brand, how Melly hunts for the perfect antiques for staging) felt way too Magnolia / Chip and Joanna Gaines for me, and I’d have liked some more originality because the concept of the book would have been interesting on its own.

A lot of the plot is borderline boring. There’s too much work drama and not enough romance in this for me. And I don’t understand why there are all the police interviews mixed in when it’s not obvious what “crime” has been committed until the very end, and then it hasn’t really actually built to anything substantial because it wasn’t actually a crime. I did like the reviews / articles mixed in though - those added a lot to the story.

I’d recommend this to: Romance fans who aren’t looking for a ton of steam (it’s about a 3 on a scale of 10) and want a quick read that’s not overly cliche.

If you're looking for a quick and easy read then this is for you. I couldn't connect with any characters and the main h and H fell into the "I love you's" to easily. I was engaged with the story some of the time but then the rest was off. It wrapped up to easily when I wanted so much more.

This is my first book by Christina Lauren and will not be my last. Thoroughly enjoyed this light rom-com, many laugh out moments but still on the serious side of marriage and the budding romance of Carey and James. Loved the dual point of view. If you love HG TV, this is the perfect read for you.

I have to be honest, y'all. I think I have fallen out of love with Christina Lauren's new brand of romance. I was definitely into the less-smutty books they were putting out at first, but with each new release I find myself more bored than the last and really, really missing the raunchy smut they used to deliver. This book wasn't necessarily bad, but I feel like it really lacked personality and was just... boring. I am a sad panda because I wanted so desperately to love this but I clearly did not :c

I’ve been a fan of Christina Lauren books for years and their latest novel does not disappoint! Humorous, sweet and a love story all in one. If you’re looking for a quick, funny read this is definitely the book for you.

review // Happy #pubday to The Honey Don’t List by @christinalauren! (And thank you to @netgalley for the e-ARC!) I’ve read two or three CL novels in the last month…and have a few more on hold once my library opens up, so I was so grateful to get this copy and eager to start read it!

Things I Loved: A heroine with a disability, where the plot doesn’t make it about being saved or whatever. Some steamy scenes. The mean, bitter, and obviously fictional evil twins of Chip and Joanna Gaines, in all their HGTV stardom.

Despite the things to love, this isn’t my favorite CL novel; I just didn’t feel like I was rooting for anyone and got easily frustrated with some of the secondary characters. It is still a good read—especially if you are in need of something light and hopeful. {3.5/5 stars}

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Hl8XKgYEj/

This is such a cute frenemies to lovers story with all the HGTV vibes. I could not stop picturing Chip and Jojo meets Tarek and Christina while reading about the fictional Rusty and Melly and their design empire. The Honey Don't List was fast paced and a great palette cleanser read. I'm a huge fan of Christina Lauren and will continue reading anything they write!

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the advance e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked it, didn’t love it. Feels like they’re losing all the fun and sparkle of their best books (Unhoneymooners, Josh & Hazel). The main characters were likeable, but a bit shallow. And the pacing was uneven.

In The Honey Don't List, Carey Douglas has worked for the Tripp's for many years from their startup to where they are today as TV show hosts and about to release a new book of marital advice. When Carely stumbles upon Rusty in a compromising position as they are about to go out on a book tour, she knows there's going to be trouble. Melissa and Rusty are in a constant state of drama and discontent that isn't going to play well as they try to sell their book.

Rusty's assistant James and Carey get tasked with keeping Melly and Rusty's indiscretions out of the public eye. Their close proximity has them getting friendly, and even more than that as they deal with this challenging task. As Carey and James learn more about each other in the process, a real relationship develops between them.

But when the Tripp's marital situation goes ballistic, some secrets are revealed that could have a serious impact on whether James and Carey's relationship will also survive.

This story was a fun read, in spite of the marriage-in-trouble aspect. I really liked the contrast of a relationship in decline with the budding relationship between James and Carey. The story of these two relationships keeps the story moving forward and I was completely engaged with the story throughout. James and Carey are an adorable couple. Kudos to shedding light on dystonia, an incurable movement disorder.

Overall entertaining and humourous, I enjoyed this story.

The Honey Don't List was a Good Book, dual points of view from Carey and James. I really love books by Christina Lauren this was worth reading but not one of my personal favorites.

I was captivated by this fun, emotional, and steamy rom-com right from the start! It begins with the police interviewing sexy engineering nerd, James and I needed to find out what was going on! It then tells the story of Carey and James and their job to keep a dysfunctional couple, Melissa and Rusty Tripp, from imploding as they promote their new book on marriage and their coming tv show. Carey and James come from different worlds, and are total opposites. Carey is creative, messy, and a pushover. Carey will do anything to help Melissa who gave her a chance when she was young and inexperienced. James is a talented engineer needing a fresh start from a past job. He is given huge promises but is frustrated in being a glorified assistant. He and Carey start off a bit rocky but soon bond over their messy situation. Their attraction grows stronger in close quarters, and they soon find the comfort and passion they both need. But just when they think they can build something more, the craziness of life on tour, and selfish employers could take them all down. I really loved Carey and James together. James noticed everything and he came when she needed someone to notice her most. She helped him not take himself so serious as well, they really were made for each other. I loved how artfully this story unfolded going back and forth between police interviews, present time and peaks into the book they were promoting. This slow burn, rom-com is filled with witty banter, awkward and hilarious situations, and an emotional, sweet and steamy story line with lots of heart, and I loved it all!

The book opens with Carey Douglas the assistant to Melissa Tripp. Really though she has been working with Melissa and Rusty for ten years since she was sixteen. They gave her a job in their first store when she was planning on dropping out of high school, they kept her going and were there for her when her own parents were not. She looks at the two of them as parents so she was doing more for them than she was for herself. She and her co-worker are giving the police statements of what took place you as the reader don’t know what has happened until you get towards the end of the book. Which is really a story that is being told.
Enter new hire, James McCann, a graduate of MIT and a recite employee of an engineering firm that was raided by the FBI. He is now just a glorified baby sitter for Rusty. That is until a night at a party when he can’t seem to find Rusty and asks for Carey’s help. Not wanting and yet does they or she finds him along with someone else in a room, not his wife.
After this, they are to go on a book tour where more is revealed about the marriage and also about Carey and just how much she does for the team, show just about everything. Going on the bus tour was not the best but it works for the story and leads you to where they are to go and be away from people for a time being but even that does not work out either.
I really liked Carey’s character you get to see her grow along the way and if it was not for her the story really would be a dud for me. Overall a good book.

A fun, romantic book taking place behind the scenes of a "fixer upper' kind of home remodel show. Christina Lauren always has great characters, both main, and supporting, and this book did not disappoint. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. It also has the forced close proximity which is almost as good a trope as only one bed. Overall, a highly enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

In the current entertainment era, reality-TV-meets-home-improvement tends to draw in top ratings. This book is especially timely. Rusty reminded me of Chip Gaines (especially with his "lovable" antics and grown out hair), and Melly was definitely the cray-cray that everyone tiptoed around. The romance part of the book actually took second place for me. In some ways, this is great...I enjoyed seeing Carey grow as a person and begin to understand her own value and priorities/goals. And I love that she took therapy seriously. But it also meant that her relationship with James, while nice, didn't feel quite as important. And maybe that's not such a bad thing. Carey didn't need a man to be fulfilled. She just needed to find her way. The ending left me feeling unsatisfied, and that although Carey had turned the corner, things were still very much unresolved.

Not my favorite Christina Lauren book, but this was so fun. Honestly, I didn't really care at all about the Tripps during my read of this, only Cary and James. The beginning took a bit to get going, the middle was amazing, and the ending with one thing was anticlimactic, but the other thing extremely satisfying.

Admittedly this is only the second novel that I have read by Christina Lauren but I plan to change that. I had heard great things from fellow bookstagrammers and went on a spree to purchase their books...now just to read them.

As a fan of HGTV and shows like Fixer Upper, this was right up my alley and allowed me to connect with the storyline quickly. Readers are introduced to Carey Duncan and James  McCann - Carey has worked alongside Melissa and Rusty Tripp for years assisting with their home remodels and design. She knows the ins and outs of their business and their personal relationship. Maybe even more than she wants to. James is an MIT graduate who joined the team hoping to focus his trade as an engineer but that hasn't seemed to pan out. 

Carey and James find themselves in an odd predicament when it comes to light that the Tripps marital problems may be worse than anyone knows. They find themselves having to work together to keep the secrets hidden from the public and along the way this brings them a little closer as well. 

Seeing the situations play out in their dual POV's was interesting and allowed me to form a connection to each of them in their own respective. I thought The Honey Don't List was a cute, quick read. Another light read to add to your list if you are on the hunt for one.

Carey is a trodden down assistant for Melissa and Rusty Tripp (which seem based on JoJo & Chip Gaines of Fixer Upper). They’ve written a marriage self-help book and are going on tour promoting it. Except the marriage is a sham and completely on the skids.

James has been brought with a lofty title but is in the same boat as Carey. He’s left behind a scandal that has rubbed off on him so he’s has no choice but to stick it out.

As their success grows so does the pressure to maintain appearances. It’s the beginning for how Carey and James end up being thrown together. Though, for me, it took too long to get to that point. Usually, I love a slow burn but this didn’t feel that way to me. I didn’t feel invested in this couple – at all. Too much Mel/Rusty and not enough Carey/James.

There were some funny moments and the story wrapped up in a pleasing way. However, it was not what I have come to expect from Christina Lauren. Having said that, I look forward to the next book from this dynamic duo as they’re past work has made them a favorite of mine.

LOVEEEEEE this. So excited for release day. This book was *chefs kiss* and I can’t wait to send alll the recommendations to my friends AND customers.