It’s a honey-do list for Carey and James!

Carey Douglas has worked for Melissa and Rusty Tripp of Comb + Honey Renovations behind the scenes as Melissa’s assistant and she is currently trying to smooth over everything during the release of their marriage advice book because they can’t let people know that their brand matters more than their relationship. James McCann needed the job with Comb + Honey after the company he last worked for imploded all over the news but when he had to travel during the book tour with Carey, Melissa and Rusty and he realized how bad things could be preventing the public from finding out.

Christina Lauren take the start of an idea for the book and they take the idea in a direction that we don’t expect and make it all their own with Carey and James getting the acknowledgment for the work they have done.

The Honey-Don't List starts with a book tour for a marriage advice book and ends up being where Carey and James fall in love tour.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

I received an ARC of The Honey-Don’t List via NetGalley. The Honey-Don’t List will be released March 24, 2020. What follows is my fair and honest review.

When the world really feels like a dumpster fire, sometimes you just want to escape with a marathon of reality TV. Or maybe you want to fall into a love story by reading a romance novel. With The Honey Don’t List by Christina Lauren, you can do both. Here’s my quick summary:

Carey and James are assistants to the famous and beloved home renovation power couple, The Tripps. But as their marriage seems to implode right as they begin a big promotional tour, Carey and James are recruited to help maintain the Tripps’ image. With things getting increasingly complicated, and the pressure mounting, can Carey and James keep everything from falling apart, including their own budding romance?

The Honey-Don’t List is a fun contemporary romance that will definitely appeal to readers who love the drama of reality television. Interspersed between chapters are interludes written in the form of book excerpts, tweets, and even police reports, an effective hook for keeping readers guessing about what will happen between the Tripps, who are clearly modeled after Chip and Joanna Gaines. However, this leads me to one of my biggest issues with the book: the drama of the reality TV plot often overshadows the growing relationship between Carey and James. While the chapters are told from their first person perspectives, so much of the plot is wrapped up in the Tripps, the romance gets lost. While I do appreciate how Christina Lauren’s approach to characterization shows how characters grow beyond the scope of their romantic relationships--how Carey becomes more assertive with the help of therapy, for example--with this book, it left me wishing for a bit more time spent with Carey and James as they explored their new relationship. Still, a fun read.

I recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance and reality television--especially HGTV and for readers who have enjoyed other Christina Lauren novels.

It absolutely breaks my heart to give a 2-star rating to a Christina Lauren novel, however, The Honey-Don't List was a not a good read for me. I really hoped to get into this one because I'm such a fan of this writing duo's rom-coms and an even bigger fan of HGTV shows like Fixer Upper, Home Town, etc. But I feel like they went into way too much detail regarding Rusty and Melly and didn't develop the story enough regarding Carey and James. Not to mention that Melissa and Rusty were written so much like Chip and Joanna Gaines that it was ridiculous. I've seen plenty of fantastic reviews for this one, so maybe it's just me and that I was expecting it to be more about Carey and James then it actually was? Nevertheless, this is my least favorite book by Christina Lauren.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing this review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Honey Don’t List was a cute, quick read and although I enjoyed it, this book was missing that certain spark that I’ve come to love from Christina Lauren’s books. Although it was a tad predictable, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and I thought Carey and James were adorable. Overall, a light, romantic weekend read.

Carley Duncan has spent the last 10 years working for DIY home renovation megastars, Melissa and Rusty Tripp. Starting at 16 in their home improvement store, Carley - more than anyone knows - is responsible for the Tripp's success. To the outside world, she is Melissa's assistant but to the Tripps, she is their ace in the hole. Lately, though, her main job has been holding together her boss's marriage so that no one looking in from the outside will see the deep divide going on there.

James McCann took a job with the Tripps as a structural engineer. The MIT graduate expected to be assisting with actual engineering tasks. Instead, he is a glorified babysitter for Rusty Tripp, who is increasingly doing all he can to sabotage his own marriage, and with it, their fame and their fortune. When he and Carey are forced to forego their planned vacations so that they can travel - by tour bus - with the warring Tripps, can they work together to prevent the disaster they both see coming at them like a freight train?

Working together, Carey and James discover there is more there than meets the eye. Both feel trapped - Carey needs the insurance, and James came from a company steeped in scandal. He needs something GOOD on his resume - neither feels they can walk away. When mutual attraction blossoms, can they find a way to be together?

I really enjoyed this book, and read it in about a day and a half. The comedy was sneaky sometimes, and sometimes it was front and center. There were also many moments of poignancy where I felt sorry for the situation the characters were in.

Readers who like their contemporary romance with a few laughs and a bit of steam, will enjoy The Honey-Don't List. I know I did!

How do I hate this book, let me count the ways. It is a cheap knockoff of many of the familiar story lines that are out there. It is tired and just did not need to be written in my opinion.

This story is narrated by James and Casey, both assistants to Melissa and Rusty (think Chip and Joanna Gaines). Melissa and Rusty are struggling with their marriage and James and Casey are asked to go on their book tour to keep them in line. In between we get snip-its of police interviews (think Big Little Lies) and portions of the book being promoted. Oh yeah we have a romance that begins with James and Casey (boring).

This book felt rushed to be written, and the story is quite lacking. Such a disappointment coming from these two women, because I just love their books. This is unfortunate, but I hope this was just a one off for this dynamic duo.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely hilarious book! I chuckled the whole way through. There's just a little bit of mystery with the snippets in-between chapters, which made me want to finish the book to see what it was referencing. Loved the interactions between James and Carey, Melissa I wanted to beat over the head and Rusty just made me laugh. All in all an enjoyable read, totally recommend!

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this book! I love seeing strong women emerge and that’s what Carey does here.

Carey is the assistant to a design team. Having been with them since she was 16, she doesn’t feel worthy of more than being referred to as the girl who schedules Melly’s meetings. Meanwhile, it’s her eye and idea for design that is the base of the brand her employers have propelled into a TV show and big bucks.

James is an engineer who comes to work for Rusty, the husband of the design team. He’s come from a company that went down in scandal so, even though he’s serving as an assistant and not an engineer, he’s happy to have the job for his resume’.

Everything starts coming apart when the four head out on a publicity tour to promote a new show and book. Carey and Janes come together as assistants and then as a couple.

I really enjoyed this book!

This was my first time reading Lauren's work and
Honey let me tell you -
From beginning to end The Honey-Don't list kept me entertained
Plenty of "Oh no you don't" temper tantrums tossed about with a few hilarious "oops"' incidents all wrapped up with some powerful "See me" moments.
I felt for Carey she put so much of her life into Mel and Rusty's career. Sure she made good money but the cost was high both emotionally and physically.
Despite Rusty's faults I liked him. Mel on the other hand needs to be brought down a peg or two.

The chemistry between Jimbalaya and Carey is a bit of dump and go
Carey stays to the sidelines, hides in the shadows
When they both do collide it is a bit like an "AH HA" moment
They were always within proximity but never really saw one another
When they do? It is an instant attraction they both decide to feed.
One time - feed the need and all - should be simple they are both adults.
The opposites attract theory is definitely in play here

Carey has always worked for the dynamic duo that is Melissa and Rusty Tripp.
It is all she has known. Carey is literally the train that keeps Melissa's life on track. In front of the camera, she has it all together but behind the scenes? She is a complete disaster.
Can't blame the girl when at home it's time to let it all go.
I found this little quirk endearing when it came to her character.

Jim... What can I say about him? Mr. Perfection. He was hired as an engineer and to assist Rusty.
He is NOT an assistant - just wanted to clarify that (eye roll here) -
I appreciated Jim's slightly arrogant attitude in the beginning, he was still struggling with where his life had landed him. I would be a bit bitter too.
As the story progressed and Mel and Rusty slowly implode Jim drops his walls and the man we see is
A nerdy, handsome, quirky sense of humor and attentive
- husband material right there.

Jim and Carey are charged with keeping Mel and Rusty in line and the truth about their marriage off of social media.
It's only ten days
About two weeks
Surely it can't be that hard, right?
Let the circus begin -
So glad these are not my monkeys!

Ms. Lauren has written a character you would love to just tell her where to go. Melissa Tripp went through a personality change the minute the family store took off. Now she is so busy trying to stay on top, she has gone from Dr.Jekyl to Mr. Hide. Caught in her crosshairs is her husband Rusty, her assistant Carey Douglas and Rusty's assistant James McCann. Carey has been with the Tripp's since the beginning. She has an eye for detail, that has you envisioning her projects. James has been with them a couple of months, hired to be engineer more than an assistant. On the bus tour, James and Carey rely on each other to the point they have feelings for each other. Trying to keep the Tripp's on schedule was just about impossible. Then Typhoon Melissa comes through and everything is ruined. Can they all find their way back to the beginning where things were simple?

3.5 stars: There is nothing wrong with this book, I just didn't love it as much as some of the author's earlier works. It's well-written and has an unique plot, and I did enjoy James POV, however, the chemistry was lacking a real connection and it seemed slow in some parts. Mostly importantly, as least for me, is that it lacked the laugh out loud, roll on the floor, sexy back & forth dialogue that I've come to love when reading these authors previous books.

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance! This is exactly what you need if you are looking for a feel good vibe with a great mix of humor and heart. I especially loved the opposites attract, enemies to lovers, co-worker storyline. The reality series atmosphere also seemed fresh and current. Bonus points for the leading lady’s journey towards empowerment and fulfillment, a sexy and thoughtful leading man, and a storyline dealing with the challenge of a chronic physical condition. I highly recommend this one!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

📖 BOOK REVIEW⠀📚
BOOK: The Honey-Don't List
AUTHOR: Christina Lauren
@christinalauren
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐
Published: March 24, 2020
https://amzn.to/39SkuDw

This was my first Christina Lauren book. And I really did enjoy it. It was a fast read, deep characters and a way of making you both in love with the situation, and hating it at the same time (because who wouldn’t want to be on a tour bus traveling?) But the reason I gave it 3 stars is because it was too short for me. I know this is probably not going to be part of a series and I just wanted there to be more to the story. See more in the attached video!

Small Summary:
Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.
James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.
Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…
*****
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.

Christina and Lauren are great at creating believable, entertaining conflict and they do some of their best work in this regard in their latest book. With that said, while I’ve never disliked one of their books, I wasn’t wowed by this one as I have been with Love and Other Words or The Unhoneymooners.

It was entertaining for sure and the Melly/Rusty conflict and the hint of something more dramatic at the end occurring pulled me in, but the romance between our two main characters seemed a little random, with no foundation to it. Even when it was all over, I just didn’t really buy it.

It was a sweet HEA as expected but I came away not fully connected with any of the characters or fully believing their connection to one another beyond the physical.

All in all, this probably ties Twice in a Blue Moon for my least favorite of theirs but I did still enjoy it.

If you love Christina Lauren you will love this book. If you've never read anything by Christina Lauren you will love this book. Every time I read a Christina Lauren book I know there will be conflict between the hero and heroine, I will be crying and laughing at some point in the story and the Happily Ever After will be worth the wait.
I loved this book, James and Carey are assistants to a Joanna and Chip Gaines like couple.who are perfect on the outside but a nightmare behind the scenes. Cary has been there for 10 years but James is a new addition to the mix. Initially, they don't get along but once James sees what is happening behind the scenes he realizes that Carey is the one that is getting things done without any credit or appreciations.
While the Tripps' marriage falls apart before the readers eyes we see James and Carey coming together.. Their attraction is obvious and that makes things even sadder when they fight. It is interesting to see the way a woman and a man are treated differently in business, making Carey's situation even harder. All the turmoil makes the ending even sweeter.

This is only my second Christina Lauren book (I'm pretty sure) and I really liked it. It was a fairly light romance with some rom-com feels. Some people compared it to Set it Up on Netflix. I recently watched that movie and really liked it. I see the connections-especially in the overworking of the female assistant characters-but they are their own thing.

Carey and James were both good, likable characters. They have good chemistry and cute interactions. Carey felt more developed and had a better character arc than James. It wasn't a big issue, but an observation.

Carey has a medical condition which added to the story and felt well-done. One of the author's has a family member with the same condition. It was something I had never heard of, but caused me to do some research after finishing. It also added to why Carey put up with all the crap at work. There were also emotional reasons and combined, her decision felt very real.

There was a small "Now and Then" element to the storytelling. The "now" was police interviews. Initially, I liked it and felt it built up a nice amount of tension that kept me engaged. But the ending was underwhelming-it didn't fully work when it all came together.

I enjoyed my time reading this and need to move Christina Lauren up on my TBR.

This book is not quite what I expected. I guess I am still stuck on the older writing style of the laugh out loud romantic comedies from this fantastic duo, Josh and Hazel is one of my all time favorite books, where this is a little more serious and not as funny as I was expecting. That's not a bad thing, it's just not what I was expecting from this book, which I guess threw me off some.

This book is well written, has great characters and the premise of the story is one that is both unique and engaging. However, I just wanted it to be funnier. This set-up had so many opportunities to just laugh out loud, but sadly I didn't. Again, I think that is because of my expectations going into this book. I think I am going to have to just realize my favorite romcom duo is changing their style to something a little more contemporary and stop going in with preconceived notions of the book.

Did I like the book. Yes, of course it's written by two fantastic writers. Did it deliver everything I was looking for? Here is where those pesky expectations got in the way, and because of that I felt that this book was just a little flat for me. I really wanted some belly laughs. Do I recommend, if you want a contemporary romance sure. If you are looking for a laugh out loud romcom, eh.

Christina Lauren books have become must reads for me over the last few years and The Honey-Don't List is no exception. Carey and James are the assistants to a famous DIY couple about to embark on a big book tour. The trouble is that the couple are not at all what they seem like on their HGTV show. I loved this book- it was fresh and fun and kept me interested from page one. If you are looking for a light, entertaining read, this is the book for you!

Fun, quick read about a dysfunctional home renovation couple (Melissa and Rusty Tripp) and their assistants trapped into wrangling them on a promo tour. I loved Carey and James' budding romance but I didn't get enough of it─the book focused more on the out-of-control Tripps and what Carey and James have to do to keep them in line. That being said, The Honey-Don't List is a fun escape with humor, heart and just a touch of heat.