A fun romp of a book. My first read by these 2 talented writers. Now I will have to seek out others! Ok, I admit the plot is a bit far fetched— designers who aren’t as talented as their PR reps make them out to be. But enjoyable nonetheless. The true stars of the book are their Uber talented assistants and they were both endearing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I always enjoy a good love story by Christina Lauren. The Honey-Don’t List did not disappoint! I loved the development of the romance behind the scenes of a the television show. Also, Melissa Tripp has been one of my favorite characters to hate!

With a book deal and a new show, home remodeling and design experts Melissa and Rusty Tripp are about to hit it big, if they don't kill each other first. It's up to their assistants Carey and James to keep things on track, and maybe find some love along the way. The writing duo Christina Lauren have developed a big following with their romance stories, so their newest book will be highly talked about this spring. Having read it, it's exactly what you'd expect - a quick light-hearted cute romance that's ready to be made into a tv movie. Character development is kept at a minimum while romantic tension is kept at a maximum. Not exactly my usual fare (I will admit I skimmed over all the sex scenes), but sometimes it's nice to read something that doesn't make you think much.

In the acknowledgments, the authors talk about how their ideas didn’t quite transfer to their draft. It definitely felt like this, even while reading the final draft. The premise was interesting but it was a bit of a chore to read. Not their best book.

You know how supporting characters can add needed levity or make you love a story that much more? (I’m thinking of Sal’s dad in Kulti, Cassian in ACOTAR, Sarah and Lex in Coffee Girl, Cletus from The Winston Brothers, and the list goes on and on) Sadly, the Tripps were terrible supporting characters. They were so just genuinely unlikeable that I almost had a hard time getting through the book. I hate to say that because the romance between Jack and Carey was decent, but we just needed way more of them and less of Melly and Rusty. I have loved CL and what they write, but could have used a bit more of their witty humor in this one, and a little less Tripps, but still a solid 3.25 ⭐️ read. The 2nd half picked up and had better flow and redeemed the book a bit overall for me.

If you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a home renovation show, this gives you an inside scoop. It also answered the question of whether or not you can work with your significant other without eventually hating them. Or what happens when one of them is addicted to the fame. The Tripps' started out with a small shop, and Melly has the vision of fame.

Having just finished a TV show with a group of people, they now have their own show and traveling on a book tour on their marriage. The problem is the trip is not going as planned and really just trying not to kill each other. Carey and James as their assistants are being tasked with "babysitting" them to ensure no drama makes it into the public, and damage their change of getting a second season. Hilarity ensues, a lot of drama, a few hookups, and lots of snark and wit. Basically all the good stuff.

Incredibly charming! This book was such a quick and easy to devour read. With a heartwarming story of hardwork, sacrifice and discovering your own worth, The Honey-Don't list needs to find its way on to your Honey-Do List.

Your main focus is with Carey. Starting out working for her bosses (world renown HGTV esk megastars Melly and Rusty Tripp) at the tender age of 16, she's been there from the get go of their small town store-front to the multi-million dollar empire it's become. That includes dealing with Rusty's "Structural Engineer" James. (Don't dare think to call him an assistant) But all is not as perfect in the Tripps personal bubble as they would have everyone believe.
Now with a major book tour, a new television show and their whole empire on the line, Carey and James have A LOT of damage control to keep under wraps. Add a general annoyance of each other that turns into something more and the pair have even more to handle then just the Tripps.
The juxtaposition of Carey and James budding romance alongside Melly and Rusty's imploding one was fantastically balanced. I think there were some missed opportunities to really flesh out the transition of the relationship between our main pair but I liked it for what it was. The pacing was a bit more intense then what I've come to expect from their particular writing style. The story didn't have as much room to breath but given the plot it works. Overall, great story. I have a feeling this will be ranked up high in favorite Christina Lauren titles for quite a few.

*E-Arc provided by Gallery Books Via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I'm somewhat committed to Christina Lauren's newest novel.

The Honey Don't List, the latest novel by popular author duo Christina Lauren, follows Carey Douglas, the assistant to a couple famous couple for their home remodeling show. Unfortunately for Carey, her bosses aren't getting along despite their upcoming book on their rock-solid marriage. To ensure the book's success, as well as their upcoming new show, Carey is forced to accompany the feuding couple on their book tour with the couple's other annoying, but cute, assistant.

This was the fourth Christina Lauren book that I've read. Going into this book, I didn't set my expectations too high. While I find myself interested in the synopses of Christina Lauren's books, the execution always falls flat for me. While The Honey Don't List didn't knock my socks off, I overall enjoyed this story and thought it was one of the better plotted books of this author duo.

Like many other books by Christina Lauren, I was initially interested in this book because of the plot. There are many HGTV power couples (Joanna and Chip Gaines), and divorced couples (Christina and Tarek), who captivate viewers every week. Additionally, there's an air of distrust with some design shows for their shoddy work, staging, and quick remodels. Unlike some of Christina Lauren's other books where I found the execution of the premise fell flat, this book delivered what it promised. All of these behind-the-scenes aspects that people who watch home improvement shows wonder about are featured in this book.

Additionally, I enjoyed how this book was paced compared to some of Christina Lauren's other books. I read The Unhoneymooners earlier this year and found the plot to be all over the place. While I do think the ending of this book comes across as a little too melodramatic, I think the final article included in the book justifies its purpose. I could have done without the police reports throughout the book, but I did enjoy how article on the couple, as well as social media, was incorporated throughout the story.

Another aspect that I enjoyed about this book were the relationships, more so the relationships between Carey and her bosses rather than the romantic relationship. Carey's first job was working at a store owned by the Tripps, and while they provided many opportunities in her life, they also took many opportunities away from her. Additionally, I liked seeing the dynamic between Melissa and Rusty Tripp, especially on camera versus off camera. As for the romance, it was pretty standard. While I liked James as a character, the relationship in this book isn't especially memorable or the most interesting dynamic presented in the story.

While I overall enjoyed The Honey Don't List, I didn't have a particularly strong connection to any aspect of the story and it lacked something extra to make it stand out from other similar books. The best way I could describe this book is formulaic. This book presents all the necessary elements to make a coherent and easy read. On the other hand, in a romance, there's a large focus on the main character and the relationship that they develop with the male lead. Unfortunately for me, this was not the most interesting aspect of the book. In fact, this book may have been more successful with Melissa and Rusty as the main characters as they were more dynamic characters than the narrators who only watch the action take place rather than taking an active role in the story.

While I enjoyed this book more than some of Christina Lauren's other books, I still wasn't in love with it as I wanted to be after reading. I give this book three out of five stars.

My expectation for The Honey Don’t List was that it would be your typical adult romance novel. I assumed it would follow the same pattern, stereotypical plot, and in general not be anything that exciting. My expectations were certainly exceeded! While this is a romance, it is much more than that. It is about self discovery and self love. I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of it. The romance itself definitely was stereotypical, but I feel like that was actually a small part of the book. This was definitely one of my favorite Christina Lauren books that I’ve read so far.

I was so excited to get a copy of this book from @gallerybooks books! I love @christinalauren books! Between vacation and recovering from vacation 🤣, it took me a little while to get through. It was a super cute story and reminded me of a behind the scenes HGTV show! Carey and James have to go into repair/crisis mode when their bosses Melly and Rusty, stars of a new design show and a design empire have a huge marital crisis. James and Carey have to go on book tour with Rusty and Melly as they promote their new marriage advice book. I laughed a few times while they were trying to keep the press/fans from realizing that Carey and Melly’s marriage isn’t perfect. I love anything these two write! This was a feel good read and while it wasn’t my favorite by them, I really enjoyed it!

Design show gurus, Melissa & Rusty Tripp, are going on tour for their new book on how to have a happy and successful marriage, and, as far as the world is concerned, there's no couple better to give said advice than these two. Carey, Melissa's assistant, and James, Rusty's assistant and show "engineer," both know better: Rusty and Melissa are coming apart at the seams. The night before the tour begins, Carey and James are told they have to go and essentially babysit that couple to help them keep up appearances. Never having worked in such close quarters together, Carey and James begin to realize that, while the Tripps fall apart, something else might be coming together. I flew through this book! I'm still chasing the high that was Love and Other Words - I don't think any book will build me up and break me down quite like that book did, but this was a quick, feel-good read by the dynamic duo of Christina Lauren. Thank you to the authors, the publisher, and Netgalley for my review copy!

I enjoyed this quirky story. Seeing a new love begin against the background of a longtime marriage dissolving is a very good contrast. The two people who work for the dissolving couple alternate telling the story and it works well.
Fast paced, well done.

Everything Christina Lauren touches is GOLD! I LOVED this book and the characters and the whole story line!! If you love chick lit and “behind the scenes” looks at peoples lives then you will love this book!!

Christina Lauren books always have a unique voice that is personable, witty and realatable, giving you a direct connection with the characters. It does seem that their more recent ventures are veering more towards women’s fiction, than their previous rom-com, but their distinct writing style is still apparent.

Their latest release, The Honey Don’t List, follows Carey Douglas, a 26 year old, long-time assistant to the rising star duet of the Comb and Honey Brand, Melissa/Melly and Rusty Tripp. This rising home renovation duo are becoming legends in their field for their work and their relationship-partnership. The problem is, they spend more time nurturing their brand than their marriage which is now tumultuously falling apart. Carey, and new employee James McCann, who was hired as an engineer, but finds himself as a personal assistant to Rusty, have the unpleasant task of keeping the marital strife under wraps, far from public view. This is made more difficult by Nelly’s combative, obstinate behavior and Rusty’s ambivalence towards the relationship. The two assistants are both in positions in which they can’t leave their jobs and therefore find themselves forced to join in on an unexpected road trip promoting the warring couples new book. Jim and Carey’s somewhat contentious working relationship becomes something else as they decide that the best plan is to work together in a united front, and soon their animosity turns into something else.

This book obviously borrows inspiration, in part, from the Chip and Joanna Gaines media sensation and there are moments of laugh-out-loud dialogue, reminiscent of their previous books. But one of the main characters, Melly, was exceedingly unlikeable and I wanted Carey to stand up for herself more. The unlikely romance between James and Carey was sweet, but overall, the story felt a bit dull and lackluster. The pacing was also odd in that some chapters were really short and others extremely long. Overall, it was a cute, quick story, but ultimately not my favorite.

{ @netgalley @gallerybooks #partner }⁣
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Thanks to #bookstagram, I have become a big fan of Christina Lauren! The Honey-Don’t List was the perfect “inbetweener” read. It was really cute, fast paced, light-hearted and just what I needed to cleanse my thriller palate. ⁣
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Carey and James are assistants to superstar couple The Tripps who have their own home remodeling business, a book that’s about to be released and a reality HGTV type show (think Chip and Joanna Gaines). The Tripps put on a good show for the public but behind the scenes they aren’t really fans of each other and Carey and James basically becomes their babysitters. They go on a road trip with one not so simple task - don’t let their bosses’ secrets get out. Soon enough, they both have some secrets of their own. ⁣
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The story is told in a unique format which I really enjoyed. It starts off as a police officer interviewing Carey and James about an incident that has occurred between Rusty and Melissa Tripp. You don’t find out what the incident actually was until close to the end of the story. The chapters then alternate between Carey and James as they take us through all the events that lead up to the incident. ⁣
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The Honey-Don’t List comes out March 24, 2020. If you are a fan of Christina Lauren or if you love a quick, charming romantic comedy with a little twist of mystery, definitely put this one on your list! ⁣

This was my first book I read by Christina Lauren. It was an ok read, but I was confused throughout the book. An event happened and they had a police log about it and then the chapters would go back in time.

This book was told from duel point of view which I really like. I like knowing what both characters are thinking.

Carey is a personal assistant to Melissa Tripp and James gets hired as one for Rusty Tripp. Even though he is an engineer. He had some stuff happen at his old job so he needs to stick this one out to rebuild his resume. Carey needs the job for insurance and she has been with them since she was 16 and doesn’t know what she would do on her own.

Melissa and Rusty's marriage is falling apart and they are going on a book tour for their new book and James and Carey have to go to babysit them and make sure they act like the loving couple everyone sees them as.

Feelings start to come between James and Carey but can they make it work with their jobs?

I liked this book and will read more by this author.

#The Honey-Don't List #NetGalley
** I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love so many of Christina Lauren books but this one isn’t my favorite. It seemed more like a women’s fiction type, which I do enjoy, but there was very little humor, interesting banter, or even romance.

Melissa (Melly) and Rusty have a home design TV show, are publishing a book on successful marriage, and have another show in the works. When Carey first met them when she was 16, she enjoyed being around their design and building ideas and their evident love for one another. Through the years the success has become Melly’s focus, who has an irritating entitlement attitude. She and Rusty have grown apart and it looks like there will be major problems with them on their book tour, so Carey and James, the assistants, have to travel around the country to keep an eye on the couple. It made me think of trying to keep up with numerous toddlers who seem determined to cause chaos and trying to keep them alive. All of their arguing and everyone having to tiptoe around Melissa got really tiresome.

As Carey and James find themselves in close quarters on the trip, they start to become close but there really wasn’t much of the book about their relationship. I enjoyed the small part of the story about them but wanted more.

It was interesting to find out how talented Carey is and yet no one seems to know how much she contributed to the show and the success of Melly and Rusty. James is an engineer and due to circumstances takes on the job of assisting Rusty while hoping to use his skills and talent. Both Carey and James seem to be stuck in jobs they don’t enjoy but can’t figure out how to get to where they want to be. Carey spends almost every hour of every day taking care of the Tripp’s. I was stressed just reading about all that she put up with on a daily basis and walking on eggshells around Melissa. Toxic relationships and manipulation seem to be the focus of the story.

Trying to make sure the couple don’t argue in front of people was difficult as anytime they were around each other, Melissa had to start a fight. I can understand part of her frustration dealing with an unfaithful husband, but every word and action had to be considered as rumors would fly through social media which would then cause business concerns.

The book also seemed to go in different directions with the investigation interviews and leading to believe there has been some horrible crime and it was a letdown when you realize what happens. By this time, I didn’t care at all about Melissa and Rusty and felt that they needed intensive counseling or just a divorce.

I did find Carey’s medical issue an interesting part of the story, but I learned more about it in the author’s acknowledgements. There’s an HEA but there just wasn’t much to believe about it. I did like that James seemed more infatuated with Carey at first and enjoyed the different points of view. I was left feeling like too much was missing from the story to really enjoy it and felt that the story should have focused more on Carey and James.

Christina Lauren once again makes me ignore all my responsibilities until I finish the book!
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Carey has helped Melissa and Rusty Tripp build a home remodeling and design empire. They are on the brink of superstardom, but there's a problem: Melissa and Rusty can't stand each other. James was hired as an engineer but the job isn't what he thought it would be. But neither Carey nor James are in a position to quit. They are tasked with keeping their bosses on their best behavior on their book tour, and that turns out to be the most difficult task of all.
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Christina Lauren never disappoints! I truly loved Carey and James, their chemistry, their banter, and their story. I appreciated the character growth, and the supporting characters were hilarious. I couldn't think about anything but this book and I devoured it. This is definitely a romance I will come back to!
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This might be one of my new favorite CLo couples! No one could ever beat Olive and Ethan, but I have a place in my heart now for Carey and James.
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I will be posting a review on Instagram at @the_infiniteTBR_list before pub day!

This book has everything that makes romance novels great: a heroine's journey to self-discovery, a leading man worthy of a woman's love, and plenty of misty tears and full-on belly laughs along the way. I could not put this book down! Cheers to Lauren for another great novel.

I could NOT think of a better way of starting my #birthdaymonth 🎂 than with a brand new #ChristinaLauren book (well, 🤔maybe add to that a big slice of #cheesecake🤪🍰🎉) , so THANK YOU to the always #fantastic team at @gallerybooks for the #ARC😛.

➡️ Besides the already commited fangirlness I feel for dinamic duo Christina Lauren, what attracted me most about this book was the setting: Jackson Hole, WY

Unless it's a Western / Cowboy romance, you don't usually see any contemporary books being set in random cities like this one, and I guess this is EAXCLTY the reason why I felt more compelled to read it. I love picturing scenes happening in a city I've only ever seen in pitures, but get to know more about thanks to stories like this one 😉.

With their signature sweet, sass and sexy rom-com style, Christina Lauren came back to us with their first book of 2020, 'The Honey-Don't List', another crown jewel (IMO) for their already enormous collection. No spoilers here, and I won't only say I LOVED it, [cause that would be an understatement🙈🙈🙈] I just don't know another word BIGGER than that, to describe how much I enjoyed this read (but you get the point😛). Carey and James are the most unthinkable option for a couple, yet at the same time they are a match made in heaven😍, and their ups and downs during their employment with Melissa and Rusty Tripp will only confirm this theory. And here's the thing: you can deny atraction as much as you want until circumstances make it inevitable to hide and THAT my friends, is the beauty behind this and ANY Christina Lauren book: It just happens and you are there to witness (read) it all 😚. From #Wyoming to #California and back, Carey and James (and Melissa and Rusty) will take us on a quite peculiar #roadtrip where #patience will be tested, but also be #truelove will be found.

The Honey-Don't List is just one of those books that once you start, you just HAVE to devour. The main couple (and supporting ones) are simply the perfect combination for this story, that, I am betting will be my #fave #read for this #Spring 2020 😗
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