Reality shows are all the rage. This story might make you think about what really goes on. Have you ever felt like you owed someone just about everything? I can understand Carey’s thinking, but I think it’s sad that she was in the situation she was in. As you read this you may see your present or previous bosses in Melly or maybe James. I think one thing we should always remember is to talk with each other. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I think you will too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

I enjoyed this book it kept me entertained throughout I just didn't connect with tthe characters like I normally do. I thought the premise of the book was great but it seemed to steer in a different direction. I loved the office romace connection and the crazy journey this book took us on. There were some really great parts to the story that made it so enjoyable and the writing was done perfectly. Overall I missed the connection and the emotional feeling you normally get with this genre but it really is a good read. I look forward to reading more from these ladies.

So I went into this expecting the usual cute and sexy funny rom-com and discovered a light on romance and more women's fiction. Not a bad thing...just took a bit to get use to the new style of writing from this duo team. That said it was a well written book and was a very good read. This story did have the romance but it wasn't center stage and you do get a HEA. You also get a look into lives falling apart. 3.5 stars
If you love women's/contemporary fiction this will be right up your alley.

3 1/2 stars

Carey and James work for two of the most self-centered people (well scratch that, Rusty wasn’t that bad). Now imaging having to go on a book tour with them to several different states. No thank you.

I thought Carey was hilarious. She had me laughing throughout the book. James I really liked a lot as well. Even when I probably should have been mad at him.

Melly, geez where do I start, she was horrible, and I couldn’t stand her. The fact that anyone put up with her is beyond me. Rusty was meh for me. Didn’t love him and didn’t hate him.

In fact, this whole book was meh for me. I love these authors and will always read their stories, but this one was just okay for me. Carey and James are what really kept things going for me, especially Carey. Did I mention I love her already?

If you like semi-cute stories with annoyed co-workers, turned lovers with crappy bosses on the side this story might be for you.

This review was originally posted on the Goldilox and the Three Weres blog.

The first Christina Lauren book I ever read and loved was Autoboyography. Since then, I've been wanting and meaning to read more of their books. I've even bought several but have never gotten around to reading any of them yet. I’m kind of glad The Honey-Don't List was my second C. Lo book because I enjoyed the hell out of it! I only meant to read a couple chapters before bed and ended up devouring it in one sitting.

I was instantly sold on the premise where two assistants who are kind of enemies get thrust together in a close quarters, everything is on the line PR nightmare where they have to keep the rocky relationship between their bosses a secret. The premise is what drew me to the book but the execution of that plot was pretty weak. It's the characters that really drove the story with the main couple being the whole reason the book was enjoyable for me.

I loved Carey! She's feisty, creative, and a total wallflower. Her chronic illness is the main motivation behind her being a modern day wallflower and I found it an interesting part of the story. I hated how she was treated by her boss. It's a super toxic relationship that has made Carey believe that she can't move on to bigger and better things.

Her budding relationship with her "arch-nemesis" James was everything! James is a total cinnamon roll! A very nicely dressed cinnamon roll but still a cinnamon roll. I still wanted to shake him for being an idiot in parts. What really worked for me is that he is as much stuck in his job as Carey is hers and the common ground allowed them to come together. I liked how supportive of each other they were together by the end.

I adored how the forced proximity allowed James to start seeing Carey as who she really is. I loved the two of them together but I wish we had gotten more of them together but away from work. I was rooting for their romance from the first. I may have swooned a bit when he offered to help her with the buttons on her jacket. As much as I loved the main couple, the romance felt a bit rushed in places and I couldn't quite suspend my disbelief as they went from "enemies" to friends to lovers. I wish it had been more fleshed out with a longer resolution/ending. I still enjoyed the story though!

I hated Melissa, Carey's boss, so much! Her and her husband, Rusty, are a couple of the most self-centered and selfish characters I've read in a while. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Rusty by the end. Even though he kind of got redeemed in my eyes, Melly is the worst and I feel like she didn't get the downfall she deserved but people might not agree with me on that. I may have been yelling at the book in a couple parts.

Overall, the romance was adorable and they kind of delivered on the premise! It was a quick fun read and it's made me more interested in picking up more of C.Lo's work. Which book of theirs should I read next?

I loved the premise, and considering I love the author duo, I expected to love this story.

Sadly, I found it simply okay. Which is still good; the book IS enjoyable. I think I just lacked a connection. Or felt the characters lacked one. What was lacking in romance was better developed in the back story, I think.

I enjoyed reading Christina Lauren’s new book, although I did like her book “the unhoneymooners” better. The comedy of unhoneymooners gave me the hook that this book did not. The honey-don’t list started off a little slow, but once the romance picked up in the book I was more into it. The few moments of suspense were a great addition to the book.

This is the fourth book that I've read by the co-author duo who go by a combined pen name of Christina Lauren. I must say their novels have been getting progressively better, and this one is their best one yet. I am honestly scared to read any of their earlier work! The reason I think it is their best work is because it is so much more than a romance. I think hints of their branching into more than romance were in their previous novel Twice in a Blue Moon, even though I did think the plot of that book was not believable.

The Honey-Don't List tackles the issues so many will relate to: being stuck in a stressful job, having an extremely demanding and abusive boss, being unappreciated and overworked, feeling lonely and desperate. The book also takes a look at the underbelly of reality TV and the hypocrisy and lies some celebrities end up living. In this book the two main characters Carey and James work for an HGTV celebrity couple Mellissa and Russel Tripp, whose marriage and professional life has become a hot mess. Carey and James end up babysitting them and trying to keep them from making fools of themselves in the public, as the duo launches a new Netflix show and starts a promotion tour of their new book on relationships (out of all things).

I loved this book. The story was interesting. The characters were relatable and real. It had the right amount of romance in it, and I appreciated all the other more substantive issues the authors tackled in the book. My one complaint is that it was hard for me to distinguish between Carey and James. But for the headings of the chapters, I would not be able to tell which on of them was "speaking". Nevertheless, 5 out of 5 stars. This was a pleasant surprise.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com

Oh, this is a joy of a book! It sneaks up on you and before you know it, you're cheering for Carey and James to find a way to figure things out despite the unending odds stacking up against them.

Carey and James are the assistants (well...Carey is....long story), the Tripps, stars of a home design show and author of a new book about marriage. Unfortunately, the Tripps' marriage is a little (a LOT) rocky, so Carey and James get "volunteered" to accompany them on the book tour. Yay.

Carey and James also don't get along. So, this ought to be one great road trip. But neither of them has a choice, so they might as well make the best of it...right?

Honestly, the best distraction during my first week of the Covid 19 crisis. Smart modern characters with real issues and no damsels in distress.

Thank you to netgalley to read and review. I had high expectations for this one but it turned out ok. I loved the premise but it felt like the book had such a slow start. It was def a "slow burn". I was well into 40% of the book before the love story even started to take place. Rusty and Melly were def annoying selfish people but totally go along with a "reality couple". I'll still read Christina Lauren books, this just wasn't a fave.

4 1/2 stars

From the four novels I’ve read by Christina Lauren, the one conclusion I’ve reached is that she is an excellent writer. My attention never wanders. I’m invested in the characters and what’s going to happen to them. And, she’s mostly made me laugh.

I wasn’t laughing with The Honey-Don’t List, but I’m not altogether sure I was supposed to. The situations felt more serious. The different ways in which a couple deals with the pressures of success and what one will do to keep it. How they affect everyone around them, especially the people who work with them/for them. And, then there is the situation that Carey is dealing with physically that adds a higher level of seriousness.

But the budding romance between Carey and James is sweet. I loved how they went from two people who once sniped at each other or made fun of each other to two people who suddenly realize how attractive the other person is. As their romance unfolds, the Tripps’ unravels, which again felt a little, well, sad.

While I would have loved for The Honey-Don’t List to be uproariously funny, because I could have used the laugh right now, I appreciated how touching the ending was and that I literally sighed. I am not a sigher at happily-ever-afters. It may not have been the rom-com I wanted, but it was a smart, thoughtful book that gave me something more, something that I may have needed at this point in time.

The storyline and characters are far more complex than in your normal romance or rom-com so if that is something you might appreciate, you might enjoy reading The Honey-Don’t List. This book certainly shows that Christina Lauren continues to evolve as a writer.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am the biggest fan of Christina Lauren. Their writing is always something I look forward to so I was so excited when I received this advanced copy! While I didn't NOT like this book, I didn't love this one. It at times felt rushed and the romance slightly annoyed me. I just felt like it was missing something. I think it's missing that CL charm that we've all grown to love. If you love a good slow-burn romance, this is a great book for that.

Melissa and Rusty Tripp are the king and queen of home makeover entertainment. Touted as the perfect couple, they’ve just left a group-oriented show for a solo project and released a marriage advice book that reflects their simple, down-home relationship with a strong focus on family. There’s just one problem: In real life, they absolutely hate each other and are on the verge of implosion.

Carey Duncan was working for the Tripps as a loyal assistant to intense and neurotic Melissa, among other things, long before they got famous. James McCann was hired as an engineer, but became womanizing Rusty’s de facto assistant when Melissa realized how untrustworthy her husband can be with close female coworkers. Carey and James haven’t had much interaction and don’t necessarily respect each other’s roles… until they’re both thrust on to Melissa and Rusty’s marriage advice book tour with the unhappy couple. Now they’ll have to work together to convince everyone that their bosses are blissfully in love. If they can’t, their careers will be shattered.

Carey and James are both really capable narrators who have distinct personalities and parts to play in the Tripp world. They come together under fire before realizing there may be something more underneath the chaos, and it was really fun to watch two characters come together in a wild yet plausible situation. Their story makes for a quick read as the authors keep the pace light and airy, moving through the days on tour with a smart mix of antics and more personal moments.

However, the tone was not exactly as I expected. The book’s description made it sound pretty comedic-- and if you’ve read author team Christina Lauren’s other books, you know they’re pretty good at injecting humor into the mix-- and it was more serious than I expected. Yes, there are definitely moments that will make you smile, but that’s not the overall feel. It’s ultimately about empowerment, which is a good thing, but the novel takes that empowerment message so seriously that I felt levity got lost.

Christina Lauren has made a recent shift from smutty romance to a more straightforward, relaxed romance that some are calling women’s fiction (though I kind of hate that term.) There are sex scenes, but they’re short, few and far between, and not necessarily the focus of the book. Still, this means that this isn’t a YA (or given the age of characters, even NA) tale. If you like your books a little steamy, The Honey-Don’t List is here for you. If you prefer your books REALLY steamy, Christina Lauren’s earlier catalog is there for you instead. Honestly, I prefer the steamier stuff because I think it had a bit more personality.

If you love yourself a good HEA with a side of swoon, fear not-- Christina Lauren will always have something up their sleeve for you. While perhaps not their strongest outing, The Honey-Don’t List is sweet, fun, and yes, empowering with an extra dose of insider amusement for the HGTV addicts among us!

3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (barely)

Well, that wasn’t one of this dynamic duo’s best.

Carey and James are personal assistants to Melissa and Rusty Tripp - husband and wife HGTV stars known for their home improvement ideas and DIY books. First off, I did not like Melissa at all. She is a super annoying character who is a demanding and condescending boss. Her husband Rusty is a cheating loser. Together these two are a train wreck - two miserable people who hate being married to each other. I feel like they really became the focus of this story - when it really wasn’t about them.

I felt like the budding relationship between Carey and James was overshadowed by them constantly trying to keep the peace between their bosses. It got really tiresome and after awhile I was kinda bored. He ending was rushed and unsatisfying.

I love Christina Lauren books. I think these two ladies are perfection when it comes to rom com’s. However, this one lacked the snark and wittiness that I’ve come to love and expect from them.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery, Pocket Books and Christina Lauren for my advanced copy to read and review.

I am a huge fan of HGTV, anything home improvement, and Chip and Joanna Gaines so The Honey-Don't List was right up my alley. During a time where I am stressed about the world and homeschooling, while still trying to work from home and be sane, this book was a fun escape.James, the hot-nerd engineer, and Carey, the do-it-all assistant, have to work together in keeping everything seemingly afloat when it comes to their bosses, Melissa and Rusty Tripp. The Tripps are a famous married couple who are experts in home remodeling and design.But everything is not as it seems, and the couple that is the face of a perfect marriage is falling apart and it's James and Carey's job to keep their secret safe from the public eye.I loved this rom-com from Christina Lauren, these authors always giving us something new. I laughed, I felt the tension both from the Tripps and the oh so delicious flirty chemistry between James and Carey, and felt the pain when the secrets exposed threatened a relationship that ended up being so much more than what was bargained for. Readers looking for an escape, for a couple of fun hours behind the scenes of a reality tv type book should give this one a try.

Often times, everything is not all as it seems and this story drives home that point in several different ways. You don't always get to do exactly what you love. You don't always get the recognition you deserve. Not every beautiful relationship is beautiful behind the scenes. Carey and James will not only have to navigate dangerous waters they find THEMSELVES in but must also navigate those of their respective charges (yes I know they are adults, but when people act like children lol..perhaps you need to treat them as such). While the story is funny (not quite hilarious, but it has its moments), there is some underlying depth here, not only in the relationship between Carey and James but also between the Tripps. I enjoyed the story.

I can always count on Laurens delivering a well written, fleshed out story that will make you feel as if you know and love the characters from the very start.

With new ideas and a refreshing story line, there is very little this writing duo hasn't tried and conquered.

With reality TV on the rise, it wasn't any wonder that they would choose to tackle that theme next. I absolutely loved the references and the realness that they brought into this story with what one can only imagine, is really how a lot of them are behind the scenes. It made it feel real and some how, crazy and it seemed, relatable.

A good reminder how most of the time, the things we see on the surface are never quite what they really are underneath.

A fun story about two people still trying to find their way, find love, and hopefully survive it all.

This is a great read, another slam dunk for this unstoppable duo! I enjoyed reading a workplace romance that didn't have an ultimate goal of getting the awful bosses back together!

I have read many of Lauren’s books. They are usually very enjoyable to me. Although I really disliked the last one, Twice in a Blue Moon for lots of reasons. I still wanted to read this book. I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it. It felt similar in a few ways to Dating You Hating You, work enemies of some sort that fall in love.

(CW: workplace sexism, emotional abuse by boss, disabled heroine)

There was nothing spectacular about this book for me. And I think that is a problem. All the CLo books are starting to feel the same, and not in a good way. Although with the sameness, the one thing that really stood out was the lack of grovel. The hero, James, does a bad thing and when the heroine, Carey, finds out she is rightfully upset. But then she just gets over it with a simple apology. Additionally, Carey’s boss Melissa is emotionally abusive and doesn’t deserve Carey’s forgiveness, yet she gets it too easily.

Carey has a physical disability that at times makes it hard for her to move her hands. I don’t have this disability or know anyone who does so it is hard to say how realistic it was handled. But James did take on a good carer roll for Carey.

Overall this book was fine but with all the sameness happening in CLo books, I think it’s time I take a break from them. I am going to try to skip the next few and maybe by then their storytelling will feel fresh to me again.