The Honey Don’t List is the latest novel by Christina Lauren, the combined pen name of author duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. This story paints the picture of a forty-something home decor couple who should be riding the high of the completion of a successful series, the release of a new book on marriage, and the launch of a brand new series. The reality is that she is controlling and he is straying, and their home restoration brand is on a nosedive.

Carey McCann has been working for Melissa and Russell Tripp since she was 16. Now 26, Carey had hoped to be further along and at least being given credit for the designs and ideas that are hers alone, but is the hardworking, always on call assistant to Melissa Tripp. James McCann is an engineer who was offered an engineering job but wound up in the role of assistant to Rusty Tripp. And once the Tripps embarked on their book tour, Carey and James are in the awful position of keeping them under control so they don’t ruin everything for all the others in their employ.

In a 21st century rom-com, the exploits of James and Carey as they try to protect their bosses from their own actions while finding they just might have more in common than not, is a window into reality tv and young relationships. You will laugh, gasp, and wonder how on Earth they will make it through this never ending week. I very much enjoyed this book and do recommend it!

Thanks to netgalley for an advanced reader copy. I absolutely love Christina Lauren books, and this didn’t disappoint. I felt like it was a fictional take on the whole Chip and Joanna Gaines dynamic, which was different and interesting. I found myself rooting for James and Carey from the beginning. They had great chemistry. This was a great, solid, chick lit read. I read it quickly because I wanted to know what would happen next. I can’t wait for the next CL book!

The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren

Romantic comedy mildly. Contemporary romance. Written from the viewpoints of both the hero and heroine in alternating, titled chapters.

Carey and James work as assistants to the Tripps. It’s up tp the two of them to manage the details of the famous couple in their public personas.

I really liked Carey and was rooting for her throughout. She “made” the company with her designs and organizational work. I really hated that Melly took such advantage and stomped all over Carey. James was more a question. He’s trying to build up his resume and doesn't want to be just an assistant and he can’t afford to just walk away from his job. I would have liked a bit more background on his prior job or why he couldn’t just start over. He’s only 26.
But moving on...the middle of the book was the best with the couple getting to know each other. James was good about noticing the little things and paying attention.

In the end it was enjoyable but not as good as other books by this author.
3.5 rounding up to 4 because it’s still a lovely romance happily ever after.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to share.

I've always gravitated towards Christina Lauren books because they write fun romance with a rich story. Lately, it seems they have changed to fiction with a touch of romance (more chick lit type stories). While I love the themes around changing interpersonal relationships and questioning if you're where you're supposed to be in life, I guess it's just not the book I was looking for. There is a deep dive into real topics that I think many readers will love. The whole home renovations theme is fun, and Melly & Rusty are crazy pants. When it comes to fiction, I am a romance reader all the way, and this just wasn't what I was expecting. That being said, if you like to read these types of books, I would definitely recommend this book!

The amazing power duo, Christina Lauren does it again! This time with another fun and zany romcom and an amazing chemistry between Carey and James, assistants to HGTVs design team Melly and Rusty Tripp behind Comb+Honey.

I adore HGTV and watching fixer upper and design shows that this was a very creative behind the scenes look on how dedicated assistants and their thankless jobs manage to keep up the facade.

I enjoyed the narrative and seeing the story from both Carey and James’ points of view. This was a quick read and one that will surely make your heart swoon and rooting for these two.

I recommend this book for a nice respite and laugh out loud moments that is surely needed by all during these trying times.

Carey Douglas and James McCann are opposites in every sense of the word. She barely finished HS and he’s an MIT graduate, but they both work as assistants to Melissa and Russel Tripp respectively.
When they are saddled with accompanying the home remodeling couple on a promotional trip, right before the launch of their new show, they’ll get way more than what they originally bargained for and will find themselves leaning on each other to get through their days.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s beautifully written, funny and touching in many ways.
The characters are relatable and lovable. Where Carey has allowed herself to be taken advantage from for years and doesn’t know how to assert her wants and needs in the job place, James knows exactly who he is and what he wants. I loved the way their relationship developed and they discovered each other.
The backdrop and the secondary characters are also a great addition to the story and I honestly couldn’t have liked it more if I tried.

I absolutely loved the dynamic in this book. This isn’t a typical book by the duo, but still enjoyable. This Chip and Joanna renovations, with a little drama on the side. The book opens with a police interview, which completely caught my attention. Overall a good book. Would definitely recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

The Honey Don’t List is a book that will draw you in and not let go. It’s like they combined what we love about Chip & Joanna Gaines with what we hate about the Kardashians to give is this book which is delicious mix of fixing homes and DRAMA! I was hooked. It’s wild, sad, outrageous and dramatic but you can’t look away. ⁣
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And in the middle of all that is this sweet love story between Carey and James, the two personal assistants to the TV stars, Melissa and Rusty Tripp. Two people who don’t like each other but get to know each other as they navigate their bosses drama, infidelity, anger and failing marriage. ⁣
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I enjoyed this book a lot. I wish I had a little more of Carey and James and their love story as this book did heavily focus on the Tripp’s. I wanted to see more of the love story because I really loved Carey and James. There was something so sweet and innocent about their relationship that I connected to (and don’t worry they were steamy together too!). So while I wanted a little more romance and emotion (and not the Tripp’s brand of anger and hate) please understand this...I didn’t want LESS of what @christinalauren did give us because this book had my attention from page 1 until the end. It was so entertaining and intriguing. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. ⁣
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. ⁣

The Honey-Don't List is by no means my first Christina Lauren novel, but it may be the most unusual. Not that the book was unusual, but the experience of reading it was. Ok, I'm not really doing a good job of explaining this so let me try again.

The Honey-Don't List was a five-star read from me when I was only expecting it to be 4 stars at most. Having read and liked other stories from this incredible writing duo, I was prepared to enjoy myself, but this went above and beyond. The title and cover had me expecting something completely other than what I got. I was expecting a light-hearted read with some zany antics and this was so much more than that. The depth of characters and the story completely blindsided me and I loved it.

As a fan of HGTV, I loved reading about what could possibly happen on the other side of the screen. I enjoyed the creative processes and the ways that Carey and James had to work together to make a successful show as well as work to save the reputation of their employers is so much fun. We knew from the beginning that things were going to blow up spectacularly, but it is so amazing when it happens. I feel like the whole story was handled expertly.

Yes, this was a little bit of a departure from the typical Christina Lauren, it was a welcome one and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

An interesting story that shows us that not everything is what it seems to be, as is the case of the couple Melly and Rusty Tripp, who became famous, having their own show, but their real wedding is falling apart.
To help maintain the farce - and fame - they have an assistant, Carey, who has lived with them for ten years, and has them as parents.
Joining the group is James, an engineer who becomes Tripp's assistant, and together with Carey, they live more because of the older couple than having a life of their own.

The book brings several passages with the pain of reality (especially among famous people) and makes us think, but it is not the funniest book of the duo.
3 stars

Carey Duncan started working for Melissa and Rusty Tripp when she was 16. Now, at age 26, she has seen them grow from owning a small store to become home remodeling and design gurus.

James McCann has been hired to be the director of engineering. With a solid degree in engineering, he recently lost his job when the company he worked for was caught in crooked shenanigans. While his job is mostly as a gofer, at least he is employed.

With her long years in the company, Carey is responsible for coordinating just about everything. She also has a natural eye for design and is the person behind some of the things that Melissa and Rusty have accomplished.

Melissa is narcissistic and considers herself the star of it all. Rusty is more laid back and that results in frequent fights between them. This already rocky marriage is really pushed to the edge when Rusty is caught having sex with a co-worker. Enter Carey to try and repair the damage between them and make sure the show stays on the road.

Carey isn’t impressed with James at first because she thinks he is a stuck-up jerk. But after Rusty’s latest fiasco, they come together to keep things together as they prepare for a road tour. Along the way, both of them gain more appreciation for the other. But Melissa and Rusty appear to be hell bent on destroying everything they have. Can Carey and James stop these two from ruining everything they have worked for?

Here we have two “children” with too much money and success needing to be constantly babysat by their handlers. Meh. There is no way I would have taken the crap that Carey did. Thank goodness she had James to help her. Sorry, but this was simply too boring for words and not my cup of tea.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Title: The Honey-Don't List
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"The Honey-Don't List" by Christina Lauren

My Speculation:

What a rather exciting story this author gives us. We find this reality t.v. Couples Melissa and Rusty Tripp have their design show and are on tour with a new book out of 'their marriage and how they keep their love alive.' However, this is not true because these two are no longer in love with each other. So, what will happen next? Carey and James, who are employed assistances by the Tripps, are there to keep them in check. To see these two assistants, Carey and James, are now 'babysitting' Melissa and Rusty on this book tour trying to fight the bad press was quite interesting as they are trying to 'reign in their bosses and manage stressful situations.'

Be ready for romance, comedy, some mystery, and yes, even heartfelt emotion coming out from this story. After recognizing the situation, we find Carey and James were stuck in what went from 'enemies to partners, working to keep the Tripps' from any public meltdowns.' I felt somewhat sad over Melly and Rusty's situation at times, especially Melissa, in the way she treated people! What a hot mess! The beautiful part of this story was watching James and Carey fall in love with each other ... from 'cute, sweet, lovely, tend even to the scorching sexy' stuff!

Now, get ready to be entertained immensely by a read of some fun characters and chapters that will take you on quite a trip, or should I say 'disastrous book tour.'

Trying to rate this one was definitely hard. I have loved the other Christina Lauren books I’ve read in the past so when I saw this one was available to request I immediately did so. I went in thinking I was going to LOVE, LOVE, absolutely LOVE this one like the rest! But this one wasn’t bad it just wasn’t like all my other favorites. I’d have to give it like 3 stars vs 5 like all the other books I’ve read previously. This breaks my heart I so wanted to LOVE this book.

The Honey - Don’t List is similar to the home improvement show with Chip and Joanna Gaines. A show of which I absolutely love and adore. So I should have loved this book. But I struggled with blaming Melissa for Rusty’s affair. Say what?!?! After that it was really hard to enjoy this one. Still a Christina Lauren fan and can’t wait to see what’s next!

ARC kindly provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Did I like this book? I did! There are so many things I think this author-duo does so well with their storytelling, and near the top of this list (for me) is how their books aren't cookie-cutter versions of essentially the same story. Every standalone I've read of theirs feels different from everything else they've written, and I am so impressed by this.

THE HONEY-DON'T LIST is a more typical contemporary romance, with alternating POVs. I loved the integration of the heroine's movement disorder (this was SO WELL DONE!), and it's impossible for me to not love a hot, nerdy engineer hero. I also think the secondary couple was also written extremely well.

Did I love this book? Unfortunately I didn't. The setup is fantastic, but the execution just wasn't there. The pacing was uneven, and the whole story lacked the usual sparkle and charm I'm used to from a CLo read.

BOTTOM LINE
If you're looking for a typical laugh-out-loud CLo romcom, you might be disappointed with THE HONEY-DON'T LIST—it's a quieter kind of romance, and a fair amount of the plot does not focus on it, especially at first. Still, the writing is solid, and more mainstream fiction readers may find it hits the mark for them.

RATING: B- (3½ stars)

I knew this book was going to be good when the characters start out in a police interview. Something juicy happened!! I enjoyed how the story evolved and how it was mixed with the interviews that occurred. We learn Carey's past with Melissa and Rusty. We see how different Carey and James are, but they both have circumstances that have them wanting to stick through their jobs with the Tripps. I enjoyed the way this book progressed, the way the job brought Carey and James together, the way the reader sees both POVs and the craziness that ensued! This book gave me the feels and I didn't want to put it down!

Wow, here comes another amazing story that just wraps around your heart like a warm hug. I am writing this review in the midst of a global pandemic and times are rough around us. In the midst of the horrifying news, all I wanted when I picked up this book was a fun read where I was not thinking about the entire world just for a tiny bit. Thank you so much Christina and Lauren for giving me that escape with this beautiful story. I loved Carey and James. They romance gave me so much joy and a much needed diversion that has given me the strength to go back and tackle what is going on around me. This is stand alone book and I would highly recommend this book.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

I've been a big fan of this dynamic duo and, every book they put out, but...this one fell short for me. There was nothing wrong with the writing or story telling, but the connection of these characters weren't there. Home improvement/reno shows are all the rage these past few years (and yes, I'm a fan), but it just didn't do it for me in this read. It still a light romantic read with you cheering on for a HEA, so don't over look it!

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. The authors took the Joanna and Chip like couple and turned it into a behind the scenes story. Obviously the story is made up, but I could totally see this being true. I did find the mystery crime a little disappointing but overall I would definitely recommend this book to someone who likes romance and HGTV.

Another Christina Lauren rom-com in the books! These two can do no wrong in my opinion.   

Carey and James are the assistants to a very famous married couple- a couple that has gained their fame from their own home renovation show. This is basically Chip and Joanna Gaines but this couple is not the picture of a happy marriage they portray. ( I believe The Gaines are as great as they seem, and don't try to convince me otherwise) Carey and James go way beyond just assistants to the famous couple- they are keeping the whole facade together, at the expense of their personal life..but they soon find they can depend on each other. 

I absolutely loved the two main characters, Carey and James. They had instant chemistry and their relationship seemed so natural and innocent. This isn't a love to hate story- its more of a like to love story. They both had interesting back stories and I found myself really rooting for them as individuals and as a couple. 
I will definitely continue to be a big Christina Lauren fan!

Rusty and Melly (basically Chip & Joanna Gained) are set to go on a book tour for their latest release, but since they’ve been at each other’s throats 24/7, their assistants James and Carey are forced to babysit them and tag along on the tour. You can tell that there’s going to be a spark and love story between James and Carey, but sadly the focus was on Rusty and Melly.

Christina Lauren is a duo that I immediately request every time I see a new release, even after not loving their last book Twice in a Blue Moon. I fell in love with this cover and the description sounded so cute. However I realized pretty early on that The Honey-Don’t List wasn’t going to be a favorite of mine and ultimately it was a huge struggle for me to even finish. Like I mentioned before the focus is on Melly and Rusty and I don’t think I’ve ever disliked two characters more. They were both very rude and annoying and full of dislike. Carey and James weren’t much better either. While they weren’t rude, they were somewhat annoying and I just felt no connection with any of them.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.