Carey has been working for the Tripp family for a decade. It's been a whirlwind, and Carey's life, work life and love life, is about to get turned upside down. Enter James, a buttoned up engineer with some hidden cooking, and kissing - skills. James and Carey form a bond over their somewhat erratic boss, Melissa. Melissa and her husband Rusty, have a empire of decorating and furniture building. The novel starts with police interviews, and ends with a vista view of the Wyoming Mountains. I thoroughly enjoyed this romp through the Hollywood of Decorating.

James and Carey are glorified assistants to two of the biggest home designers and tv stars in the country. When they find themselves having to babysit the arguing couple on their marriage book tour to protect their public image, they spend a lot of time in close proximity and things blossom from there.

I had a very hard time with Melissa and Rusty’s fake relationship. They were trying to portray to the public they were happily married when behind closed doors they were miserable and always fighting. I didn’t enjoy them at all and they weren’t likable in any way which made it impossible for me to like Carey and James. I felt so uncomfortable during most of the book that when it came time to enjoy some romance there was absolutely no room for it. Unfortunately this fell majorly flat for me. There weren’t many good things I could say about it. A couple of pages had me hopeful but overall just didn’t work and I didn’t enjoy it.

Wow this was really different than what I expected! This is not my favorite CL book, but it was still fun. It sort of had thriller vibes, with the police interviews spread throughout, and I would’ve liked more focus on the actual romance.

“Relationships are a lot like houses: without a good foundation, they’ll crumble.”
•
Cary has worked for design gurus Melissa and Rusty for nearly a decade. With a new book and show to launch they’re on the verge of superstardom. The only problem, they can’t stand each other.
James is hired as an structural engineer but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be.
James and Carey end up on the book tour with the Tripps and they vow to keep their bosse’s secrets hidden. And maybe they can start to build something beautiful together.
•
I don’t know where to start, so far I loved everything I read from this duo, but this book just felt short for me.
At first it wasn’t clear which were the main characters in the story because the attention was focused on Melissa and Rusty. Once the relationship between Carey and James started I got more invested in it.
Overall I did enjoyed the book. I don’t think this duo could writte anything bad. It was funny and it was sweet but I kept expecting more.
•
Thank you Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
•
“I think sometimes we see what we want to see.”
•
“I’ll build anything you need. I’d do anything for you.”

This is not my first book by these two lovely authors. This was different from there usual books. I'm guessing that's why the reviews were so low. Their books are usually very steamy or erotic this one wasn't that. Eventhough it was different doesn't mean it wasn't good. Yes at times I was reading about a bootlegged Johanna and Chip Gaines. Overall I will give this book 3.5 stars.

Carey have worked for Melissa and Rusty for 10 years. It's a job that she works for 24/7 as a personal assistant. She rarely can get a day off because Melissa depends on her so much. Carey does everything even designing for Melissa and doesn't get credit for it. James applied for engineering but ended up working for Rusty as his assistant. Carey and James ended up having to spend alot of time together. Their attraction increased and they learned to lean on eachother.

Arc received by Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I've read by this author duo and I absolutely loved it.

The story of Melly and Rusty was the primary storyline, but I was very invested in Carey and James more so than Melly and Rusty. James, the hunky nerdy engineer forced to take a job much below what he's trained for and Carey, the girl Friday that turns out to be so talented.

Anyone who has watched any of the "reality TV" shows hosted by couples must at times wonder what is true about the face they show the public. I know I do and could name several couples that put on a happy face during the show until the public finds out they can't stand each other.

If you've ever wondered, like I do / did, this will be a great read for you. I even wondered at times if this was a thinly veiled jab at another renovating couple we've all seen on TV.

The story moved along quickly, had great characters and held my interest to the end. Of course now I want a sequel so there's that. I doubt there will be one, but I'd certainly purchase one immediately. *hint to the authors*

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and authors for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own and happily given because I loved this book.

Carey has worked for a famous home improvement couple for over a decade. The couple has always been portrayed as the "perfect" couple. When they start to have marital problems right before the release of a new book on marriage and a new series, Carey and the newly hired engineer (James) are tasked to babysit them to prevent scandal. Carey and James develop a relationship while dodging bullets from the relationship of their bosses. Cute book. Reminds me of a famous couple in Waco, TX, only with marital issues! #netgalley #honeydontlist

As the long time personal assistant to Melissa Tripp, one half of a TV home renovation power couple, Carey knows and has seen it all. James, on the other hand, was hired for an engineering role that never quite came to be and now functions as Rusty Tripp's assistant. In this borderline high-drama tale, Carey and James try to figure out how to build a relationship while simultaneously trying to keep Melissa and Rusty's relationship from completely falling apart. With likable, relatable characters, this workplace romance is an enjoyable read.

I'm somewhere between a 3 star & a 3.5 star. What 100%, unequivocally worked for me in this book are the characters & character dynamics. They felt real, and I think there's a lot of care taken to set up the relationships in a way that felt believable. I think what holds this book back are 2 elements: 1) there is not enough page count (which a rare thing for me to say) so we just don't get enough time to be sold on these characters going from like to love, and 2) you know at about the 30-40% mark exactly what's going to happen in the rest of the book. Once there's a mini "reveal" about Casey's position within the organization, you can guess exactly how the story is going to unfold, and I wish there had been more elements introduced to hold interest.
Still, the writing, as ever, is charming and I had a nice time in this book. It just didn't have an extra "wow" factor

✨⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
5 totally adorable stars!
So glad I could finish & write this review on Valentine's Day 💜💋
What a perfect love story - one couple falling out and another couple falling in love! We have the bittersweet dynamics of both the ending and begining of relationships.
Along with the quite interesting setting of a popular home improvement empire, started by people with humble beginings, we have the snappy dialogue between characters that has become a trademark of the Christina Lauren writing team. What's not to love?
There is drama and heartache, but best of all, a satisfying happy ending!!

This book was a hit for me! There was a little bit of a scandal, some steam, a strong female with a disability and some funny moments. The beginning starts with a transcript from an interview with an officer and some of Russ and Melly’s employees. I was hooked from the start because I had to know what they were investigating. I loved how Carey was able to break James down and not have him be so uptight. I wish there was a little more resolution between Melly and Russ but I am happy with Carey’s ending. Of course I would have loved more of her story as well though.

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved that the couple started out as enemies, as enemies to lovers stories are my favorite. I also thought the fact that the main characters worked on for an HGTV couple/show was really interesting and fun. The romance aspects were steamy, although it could have used a bit more romantic scenes. This is one I definitely recommend!

THE HONEY-DON’T LIST • Christina Lauren • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A digital ARC of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Melissa and Rusty Tripp are America’s favorite design gurus. With a new TV show and a new book on marital advice coming out, this couple seems to have it all. The only problem? They cannot stand each other. Enter Melissa’s assistant Carey Douglas, the behind-the-scenes backbone to the Tripp’s entire brand. With help from Rusty’s new “assistant” James McCann, it has become Carey’s job to keep up the charade that the Tripps are the loving couple America thinks they are. If Carey and James fail? Both of their careers are at-stake. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together...

Let me preface this review by saying I do not like romance novels. I typically will not even read them, but I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and give a romance novel a shot this February. I had heard a lot of positive things about CLO too so when I saw this book on NetGalley a few weeks ago, it seemed like the perfect book to try.



Much to my surprise, I ADORED THIS BOOK. I have little to compare it to since I think that last “romance” book I read was “Fifty Shades of Grey” like 16 years ago, but still. This is a huge deal for me! Normally romance books are too corny for me. The characters are usually lame, the plot is predictable and/or stupid, and the sex scenes make me cringe.

“The Honey-Don’t List” on the other hand won my heart from the start. Carey and James had real personalities, and the plot was actually believable as well as endearing! I pictured Melissa and Rusty Tripp as Chip and Joanna Gaines because Rusty was described as the same goofy, lovable guy as Chip. Also, the Gaines’ come off as the most adorable couple ever so if I heard that it was all a lie, I would be SHOOK.

Other things I liked? The pacing was good instead of being painfully drawn out or way too quick. The drama kept me interested without being as extra as this season of “The Bachelor.” Even the sex scenes were bearable! Sure, the words 'growl' and 'hunger' were overused (or maybe I am the weird one because I don't think a guy has ever growled at me...), but that is a small price to pay for not having to suffer through the normal words utilized to describe sex scenes in romance novels.

Overall, this book was a quick, cute, light read. While I cannot compare this book to CLO’s other books, I can say that even if you do not typically like this genre, you may enjoy this book! I think the biggest compliment I could give is saying that I actually plan on seeking out other books published by CLO. That’s right — “The Honey-Don’t List” has made me WANT to read other romance books. Who would have thought!?

This story of two over-worked employees trying to keep up the illusion of someone else's marriage made me laugh out loud. The themes of emotional manipulation and abuse were handled well; the main character was accepting of behavior that from an outsider's perspective seems completely out of line, but you can easily understand how she found herself in that position and it became normal for her. I appreciated that the love interest didn't try to save her from herself, but functioned almost as the reader did - as a new observer, trying to understand an unhealthy work relationship. Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read.

What do you do when America's favorite celebrity couple starts spiraling out of control, becoming a train wreck waiting to happen?

Well, if you're unfortunate enough to be their assistants, you give up your vacation to do damage control.

Carey has been with Melissa and Rusty Tripp for ten years; she started working at their home design store as a broke teenager on the verge of dropping out of high school, and saw their rise to super-stardom. Carey does a lot for Melly behind the scenes--more than she gets credit for--but it's all worth it, even if she rarely has a day off and she frequently takes the brunt of Melly's temper. After all, Melissa and Rusty are basically her second parents, and she'd do anything for them. Besides, she needs the health insurance to cover the treatments for her dystonia.

James did not sign up to be an assistant, thank you very much. He applied as an engineer on the Tripp's show, desperate to have something on his resume, but got roped into being Rusty's assistant anyways. He's been in Wyoming for two months, and he's just trying to hold off a little longer before getting the heck out of there. James can't stand the beer and coffee and dry cleaner runs, hates the waste of his talent and education, and hates the reason he had to leave his previous (and only) job. At least Melly's assistant isn't terrible company...

Which is good, because with the Tripps about to have a blow-up in their seemingly perfect marriage--right as their new book on their perfect marriage is hitting the shelves--Carey and James are forced to go on the book tour with their bosses to do damage control, keeping their bosses in line. Carey and James haven't had many opportunities to be in each other's company, but now they have no choice. But the more time they spend together, the more Melissa and Rusty are drifting apart, the more Carey and James are finding themselves drawn to each other...

"The Honey- Don't List" is a fantabulous rom-com of epic proportions. So much drama, so much fluff, so much I-can't-wait-to-see-what-happens-next, so much I-can't-look-away-from-this-disaster... And when a book opens with transcripts of interviews with the police... Well, that just makes it even more of a page turner. Carey and James are phenomenal protagonists, and I especially felt drawn to Carey, who in her mid-twenties is still trying to figure out her life, which is hard when her life is full of NDA's and very few moments of stillness to think. That's not to say that James completely knows what he's doing, either; he thought he had everything planned out perfectly, only for it all to disappear and he is starting over. And I love love love that the more they get to know each other, the more they become attracted to each other. Not exactly enemies-to-lovers or friends-to-lovers, more of a we-barely-acknowledge-each-other-because-who-has-time-for-that?-to-lovers.

"The Honey-Don't List" is another A+ winner from the talented writer duo, Christina Lauren!

The Honey-Don’t List is a behind the scenes look at a home improvement show. It is not as much fun as it looks from your couch. Melissa Tripp is the high energy force behind the show while her husband Rusty just wants to build furniture. A book tour and a new show could go up in smoke if their assistants don’t keep them in line. Carey has no time for a life of her own until sparks fly between her and James. This is a fun read with a heartwarming finish. #TheHoney-Don’tList #ChristinaLauren #NetGalley

This was a light and yet enjoyable contemporary romance, with a believable and not overly contrived happy ever after. A great introduction to Christina Lauren for new readers, though longtime fans may not love it as much as previous books.

This was an enjoyable read for the most part. It’s very surface level for me. Doesn’t get too deep.

It was just really hard not to compare to the Netflix movie that came out last year.

I’ve always enjoyed these two women and their writing. I think it was just bad timing

Wow, I really enjoyed this book!

I love that this Christina Lauren title feels different from all the others I've read so far. This is my tenth title by them, and there's so much here that I enjoyed. The story starts out completely different than you expect; we begin with a police interview, alluding to some incident between the Tripps that involves our protagonists, Carey and James. From there, the book jumps backwards, beginning with a party that kicks off the downfall of Melissa and Rusty Tripp - your Chip and Joanna Gaines kind of couple, house designing and all - in a BIG WAY. Carey and James are their assistants and more who get assigned to managing the couple and keeping their perfect, loving image together as they launch their new book about - what else - their perfect marriage! Meanwhile, Carey and James find themselves becoming attracted to each other, a relationship complicated by their roles in the trainwreck that is the Tripps.

I think a lot of people go into Christina Lauren books wanting the typical romance they provide. And those are great! While there's definitely some of that mixed in, I enjoyed that this book took a more narrative, plot-driven approach than one that was character driven. I enjoyed the what-if, behinds the scenes look at what a couple like Chip and Joanna Gaines might be like behind the sickening, in-love image that we see on TV. (Can you tell I'm not a Chip and Joanna Gaines fan? Also, they get briefly name-dropped in the book, which is HILARIOUS because the whole time there is no one else to compare Melissa and Rusty to!) Even though the story is a different structure than we're used to, one that also has the police interview dispersed between the narrative, I think it's clever and exciting. It turns your classic romance into a mystery with a bit of suspense, and as you build up to the big event that the book spends its time alluding to, the payout is worth it. Everything makes sense, wraps up well, and is honestly one of the more fun books of theirs I read. I did dock it a star because I didn't really swoon, but I also don't think that was the point of the book! So that's just my own opinion. :)

I hope to see more books like this by Christina Lauren! It was definitely different and entertaining. If anything, it reminds me a bit of Sweet Filthy Boy in that way you're waiting to find out the fallout. And boy, is it a ride getting there!

Such a cute, albeit, predictable romance! Carey and James were relatable and I was rooting for them throughout. This was a light, feel-good book, and was a perfect palette cleanser after so many thriller novels in my queue.