Does anyone know that song by Maren Morris, Bones? The one that goes ... “When the bones are good, the rest don’t matter ... the house don’t fall when the bones are good.” It is seriously one of my favorite songs and it immediately came to mind while I was reading The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren.

Carey and James both work for Honey+Comb designs, their boss’ are Melissa and Rusty Trip. Carey’s title is an assistant to Melly even though she does so so much more. James was hired to be a structural engineer but his role is more of an assistant to Rusty, a title he despises. The Tripp’s are the next Chip and Jo Gaines ... or at least they want to be. They have a show that just wrapped, another one they have filmed that is about to be released very soon. On top of that they are about to set off on a book tour with their latest book about marriage.

To most people the Tripp’s new book doesn’t seem shocking but to those closest to them, it seems crazy! But let’s just say their bones aren’t good, and it does not take long before everyone else sees the cracks as well. Carey and James are put in charge of the relentless task of keeping everything held together while on the book tour. They start to see each other in a new light, and are relying on each other more than every before. But are Carey and James able to keep the book tour going or does it all crumble before the tour is over, you’ll have to read to find out.

I really liked this latest CLo book, a must read if you are a fan of theirs. I especially loved the police interviews scattered throughout the book. They definitely built up the intensity as to what was going to happen because I keep reading to find out what happens all while racking my brain to figure it out along the way.

Is The Honey-Don’t List my new favorite CLo book, probably not (Love and Other Words still holds that torch for me) but that didn’t stop me from devouring it in just two sittings. I couldn’t stop until I knew just how Carey, James and the Tripps’ story unfolded.

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the eARC copy, to read and provide an honest review.

I have not been reading much lately. I have had a hard time concentrating due to world events. So when I started this book I was not sure if it was a good time to attempt to read it. Well, it turns out it was the best time. I needed a nice, fun, light hearted read. And who doesn't like any number of home makeover shows on TV. This gives you a little idea of what it may really be like.

Casey is a young girl working for a famous makeover duo. Casey has been with then for about 10 years now. She takes care of every need that Melissa may have. Then you have James a new employee hired to be Rusty's personal assistant. However don't call him that, he is an engineer without any engineering. These two get forced to go on a book two with Melissa and Rusty as their baby sitters. Because yes there is trouble in paradise and no one is to know. BUT can they keep the Duo in line long enough??

I loved this book. I did go in blind so I was not even sure what it was truly about. It is a great fun read and I recommend it to anyone who would like a good laugh, smile and chuckle.

This all-star writing duo never fails to captivate me from page one. Their books are addicting, fun, swoon-worthy, and entertaining. As soon as I started reading The Honey-Don’t List, I couldn’t stop. Fast forward a few hours later, not only have I finished the book, but my heart was happy, and there was a huge smile on my face. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with a Christina Lauren book.

Our two main characters are Carey and James. Carey has worked for Melanie and Rusty Tripp, the latest duo in HGTV and home remodeling, for the last 10 years. James, on the other hand, has only been working for the Tripps for two months. He’s an engineer yet somehow he finds himself working as Rusty Tripp’s assistant.

This book follows Carey and James as they are forced to tag along to manage the unhappy couple. In reality, Melly and Rusty aren’t the picture-perfect couple they appear to be on TV. It’s up to Carey and James to ensure the public never finds out.

Along the way, the two assistants grow closer and begin a friendship that soon blossoms into a romance. Will the constant stresses and pressures of their jobs push them apart or closer together?

The authors wrote the story and characters extremely well. It’s very easy to like and connect with Carey and James. You root for them throughout the whole story! They also depict how an unhealthy relationship can take form in ways that seem benign and normal. The relationship between Melly and Carey is hard to read sometimes, but it’s so incredibly authentic and real. Watching Carey learn how to stand up for herself is one of my favorite things about this book.

My only complaint is that I wish the romance was the main focus. At times, it felt like the romance took a backseat to the drama of Melly and Rusty. I would’ve liked to have more sweet scenes between Carey and James.

I recommend this book--and all of Christina Lauren’s other books--to you if you like books that read like a rom-com. This book is full of humor, romance, and friendship. I can’t wait for their next book to come out!

The Honey-Don't List is an enemies to lovers trope by the dynamic duo that is Christina Lauren. Honestly, this was not my favorite of their books but I will keep reading whatever they write. If you haven't read Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating, I highly recommend that one!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. When I first read the premise of this book, it sounded so cute. There's four main characters: husband and wife, Rusty and Melly, and their assistants, James and Carey. Rusty and Melly essentially have a Chip and Joanna Gaines thing going on, except Rusty and Melly are terrible people in a terrible marriage... despite making their living off having a great marriage.

The reason this book fell short for me was because there was too much focus on Rusty and Melly's relationship and too little on James and Carey. It wasn't until the last 1/3 of the book that we even got anything James and Carey related. There was some steam once we finally got to it so if you're like me and felt like Twice in a Blue Moon was a little too YA for you, The Honey-Don't List definitely is not YA.

This was a quick, light read and if you're a Christina Lauren fan, definitely still read it. Even more so during the current times, this is a great book to enjoy witty banter and be consumed in a book... but it isn't my favorite book of the duo. Thanks Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for my eARC in exchange for a free review!

Do you like slow burn romance? Do you like HGTV? Then this may be the book for you. I wanted to love this book SO MUCH because I loved "Love and Other Words" by this same duo, but I was disappointed.

Casey and James are assistants to popular "HGTV" stars, Melly and Rusty Tripp. The Tripp's marriage is falling apart, and Casey and James are tasked with trying to keep them "under wraps" and out of any negative publicity because they have a book coming out and a new show starting.

I did like the slow burn way Casey and James' relationship grew...barely talking/knowing each other, to chatty co-workers, to growing closer as friends trying to figure a way for their careers to take off apart, into showing interest for each other then into a sexual relationship. I wouldn't say it was insta-love but they did fall for each other in a pretty short amount of time. Difficult circumstances (working under pressure for their bosses in this case plus keeping their relationship together) can bring people closer together for sure.

As far as the Melly and Rusty Tripp and their part in this story.....I really didn't care, but if you are an HGTV fan, then I can see the draw to "behind the scenes TV" and how that world works.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Normally, I love this author duo. I have enjoyed all the books I have read by these two very talented women. Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me.

James and Carey were very likable characters. I loved their backstories and I loved the two of them individually. Even though I could feel their chemistry, I thought their relationship was not as developed as it should have been. I thought it was just thrown together last minute and I didn't really get how they went from hating each other to being a couple. It was too fast for me. Most of the book revolved around Melissa and Russell, a dynamic home renovation duo who have a TV show, book deals, etc, etc. They manage to fool the public, but in private, they are very abusive people. Both Melissa and Russell were selfish and toxic. And yet, I did understand why Carey stayed with them for so long. She had been working for them since she was sixteen, before they were famous, so she thought of them as surrogate parents. I liked Carey's growth and her growing ability to stand up for herself. But honestly, the romance in this one was a bit underwhelming for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for the opportunity to read their latest romantic novel - a fun way to escape from all the crazy world news lately. 4 stars!

The book is told in two viewpoints - Carey and James, working for a famous home renovation husband and wife team. Carey is the real behind-the-scenes designer but is only ever seen as the assistant to Melissa. James is an MIT graduate in structural engineering, looking for a way to salvage his resume after his previous company was embroiled in a nasty case of embezzlement, hired as an engineer but is actually just the assistant to Rusty, the husband. As they all set out on a book tour to promote the duo's new book on marriage and their new TV show, all is not well between Rusty and Melissa. Carey and James are tasked to babysit the couple to make sure everything stays on track. While at first not liking each other, they start developing feelings for each other as they go along. However, interspersing police interviews with the couple show us that not all is going to end well.

Just another ride for this writing duo that makes romantic escapism so much fun!

“... more than just seen, I feel visible for the first time in maybe forever”

I’ll be honest if took me a few pages to engage in this read. Once I did....I couldn’t put it down. Wasn’t sure if it was the book or just things going on in life that were distraction me. I usually devour these authors books from the start. Glad I kept with it ~or I’d have missed out on a great story.

“...focus on making plans rather than beating myself up about the past—and to start finding a way to make each of them happen.”

So many life lessons intertwined with humor, loyalty, frustration, self discovery,self worth, acceptance, beginnings and endings. I wish we could get a glimpse of a few years down the road to see where everyone’s journey takes them (hint, hint).

“Contentment comes in a trickle, though. It’s like a faucet dripping; slowly, my bucket is filling.”

3.5 Stars Rounded up to 4 Stars!

Like every other book I have ready by these two authors, The Honey-Don’t List is a fast and enjoyable read. It was more of a contemporary romance than romantic comedy, but it still kept me entertained. This book had drama, romance, and some serious tension between few of the characters. I loved Carey and James as a couple and I wish we got more story of their relationship and less of the tension between the secondary characters like Melissa and Rusty Tripp.

Overall, this was a great and relaxing read. I recommend it to all Christina Lauren’s fans even though it was not as much fun as The Unhoneymooners.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books, and the authors for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Carey Douglas works as an assistant to the famous home renovation duo, Rusty and Melissa Tripp. The couple has a seemingly perfect life on their show, as well as in their new book about their marriage. The only problem? They actually can’t stand each other. Carey and structural engineer, James are asked to tag along on the book tour so they can play referee to the bickering couple and help them keep up their loving facade. Can they help the Tripps rekindle the love they have lost? Or will an unexpected new love blossom in the midst of the chaos?

Here’s another lighthearted comfort read for you to add to your list during these crazy times! While this CLo book didn’t grab my heart as much as The Unhoneymooners did, I still really enjoyed it. I did have to try really hard not to picture Rusty and Melissa as Chip and Joanna. But I loved how the chapters alternated between Carey’s and James’ perspectives. So I guess overall, I liked this one and would definitely recommend it to Christina Lauren fans or to anyone who needs a quick, lighthearted read! Look for this one next Tuesday, March 24th! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Simon & Schuster for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I can always count on this fabulous duo for a fun romantic romp. Plus with this one they bring together our obsession with renovation shows.

Carey has been Melly’s assistant for 10 years but she’s really more than that as we find out. James was hired to engineering but really he’s a glorified assistant. So when things go haywire between the dynamic duo, Carey and James are thrown together.

What we get is some fun and some serious but it always makes for a great read.

Aside from the fact that I will automatically read anything Christina Lauren puts out, the premise of this book had me immediately interested. We have a couple, Rusty and Melly (essentially Chip and Joanna Gaines if they were awful human beings behind closed doors). And we have their assistants, James and Carey. Melly and Rusty are set to go on a book tour but, since they are at each other throats, James and Carey are forced to tag along and babysit them.

Like I said, I loved the premise here. I also enjoyed the little snippets of tweets, book excerpts, and even police interviews. And, as always, we had some romance and some steamy moments.

So, I’m sure you’re wondering, why is my rating so low?! And it hurts my heart to say this, but I did not love this one. There was so much focus on Rusty and Melly and I have never hated CLo characters more. They are toxic and I wanted less of them and more of James and Carey! I wanted everything I’ve come to love from CLo: all the snark, all the romance, and a stronger connection between the couple.

I liked the story overall and it did touch on some heavier topics. So, if you love Christina Lauren as much as I do, don’t skip this one! Just know what to expect going in. Also, don’t skip the acknowledgements at the end! I enjoyed the story slightly more after learning about Lauren’s personal connection to it.

I love Christina Lauren and I’ve read all their books, however, with The Honey-Don’t List I couldn’t connect with the characters, but the story itself I did enjoy and it had the typical Christina Lauren humor. Carey and James are personal assistants to two TV renovation stars whose marriage is imploding, however, while trying to keep their bosses sane they find love and support in each other.

I wanted to love Carey, I really did, however, she frustrated me so much. I constantly found myself yelling at my kindle for her to stand up for herself and get the attention she deserves. Towards the end I did like her more, but it took so long to get to that point. James, I did enjoy. He was hard working and supportive and just wanted to recover from the loss of his previous job.

Melissa and Rusty (the bosses) almost seemed like the main focus of this story at times instead of Carey and James, which took a lot away from the story. It was a slow burn, there was some romance, but this story felt more women’s fiction. Not saying I did enjoy the story, it just took me longer to read than most books because I couldn’t connect.

The duo behind Christina Lauren is one that I can depend on for delivering an enjoyable read and The Honey Don’t List is no exception.

Carey and James are the couple at the center of our story. They have the unenviable job of keeping TV’s “it” couple together while their “perfect” image unravels.

Both Carey and James were easy to like and fairly easy to relate to. I think almost everyone has woken up at one point and asked themselves “how did this become my life?” I appreciated the growth both of them went through. Carey’s was more internal and had a “why this and what’s next” vibe where for James it was more an issue of him starting to look outside himself and taking control.

Whether intentional or not, the Honey Don’t List includes several poignant messages for anyone. The ideas of standing up for yourself, looking out for others, and not losing the good things for the next thing are all woven into this well written and entertaining story.

reading about Rusty & Melly was truly DRAINING. they are both insufferable characters and unfortunately, I felt like most of this book was based on them & their drama. I didn't feel at all connected to Carey or James and didn't really feel any chemistry between them either. while reading this, I just felt frustrated most of the time.

The Honey-Don't List is an fantastic read. You will just love watching the chemistry between Carey and James. Both of them over qualified for their assistant jobs and yet their is just something about them that draws you in. Carey once you get to know her you get why she is so loyal to her job. I just love James and his ways. He will make you swoon for him by the end of this one. I can guarantee you will be smiling by the end of this one. I love how Christina Lauren take you on this journey of falling in love. You really need to read this one.

A nice feel-good type of romantic comedy involving two TV show home renovation stars and their assistants going into a road trip. The assistants embark on the journey together to try to make the couple stick together during a tour, but end up falling in love with each other. It's a nice entertainment read for the Spring.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"The Honey-Don't List" by Christina Lauren is about Cary Duncan and James McCann, assistants to the Tripps, another Chip and Joanna Gaines-esque couple who remodel homes on HGTV. Melly and Rusty Tripp are about to launch their new brand, when PR disaster strikes. Rusty has been cheating and it threatens to blow up everything they've all been working towards. It's up to Cary and James to get the Tripps through a book tour without any major issues...

This book was delightful. Christina Lauren's writing is wonderful and brings life to real and unique characters. Cary seems like an average character, but then you discover that she is complex. James is more than meets the eyes. The Tripps seem like a picture perfect couple, but so much more is going on under the surface. By layering information on characters, each page holds something new to learn.

Cary is realistically the most interesting to watch. Her character growth is immense and doesn't finish until the last page. Cary seems to be dependent and nervous. She likes control, but also dreads the cost of it. Melly and Rusty picked her out of her old life, but at what cost? Cary grows into someone who knows what she wants AND what she doesn't want. 

I also love the hints of romance throughout the book. Some of it is a little bit too much, but the relationship that grows between Cary and James is sweet. Sometimes it feels a little fast, but also they've been working together for a long time, so it just feels quick because I didn't know the characters yet.

Overall, I loved this book. Love, love, loved it. It was a great read and I devoured it in a day. 5 stars!

Did you see the movie Set It Up? This premise reminds me of that movie crossed with HGTV, both things I’ve enjoyed. (I’m starting to think the Christina Lauren ladies and I must watch the same shows because I keep doing this. Josh & Hazel = Selfie and Half-Night Stand = Big Bang + Stranger Things.) Plus I love office romances so The Honey-Don’t List should have been perfect for me.

I found Carey’s situation of being stuck in the only job she’s ever had and not even realizing how hard she works incredibly relatable. She also has a chronic illness and a toxic relationship with her boss to deal with. And something about that dynamic with Melly was just too squicky for me. I just didn’t feel like Melly deserved the resolution that she got. (I felt the same way about the hero in The Unhoneymmoners. I seemed to be the only one though, so YMMV.)

That said I liked James and Carey. However, I might have liked some supporting characters with bigger personalities. None of them made me want to read more about them. In the end, The Honey-Don’t List was just okay for me. I’m going to have to keep looking for another Christina Lauren book that makes me as happy as my first one, Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating.