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.

This was another cute story from Christina Lauren. James and Carey aren’t the normal H and h and that was refreshing. The Tripps were a hot mess and utterly hilarious. I loved the hint of disaster sprinkled throughout the story. I think the best part was how James really helped Carey to see her worth. They ended up being so adorable together. If you’re looking for a funny, sweet, low-angst read, this is for you!

(3.5 stars) Ok so lets jus say I really love Carey and James as a couple. The storytelling for this was interesting as it begins with a police interview (which are sprinkled throughout the book) and you don’t know about the incident in question until almost the end of the book. This is a BTS look at fame and fortune, and how relationships aren’t as perfect as they appear. I really appreciated the chronic illness representation. Carey has Dystonia that affects her hands. The way James treats Carey’s illness also made me love him all the more. He’s a hot, nerdy guy with a heart of gold. *swoon* Overall, this was a cute rom-com style romance but not my favorite from Christina Lauren.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Gallery Books for honest review. Thank you!

"The Honey-Don't List" by Christina Lauren will be available on 3/24/20!

This story follows Melly and Rusty Tripp, stars of a popular home decorating show, and their assistants Carey and James. The Tripps seem like the perfect, loving couple and as their new book on marriage is about to hit stores they prepare to go on tour. The only problem is, their marriage isn't as happy as it appears. They are forced to hold it together or risk losing their TV show, their fortune, and their reputations. Carey and James, with their own livelihood and personal pressures at risk, are sent along on tour to keep the couple happy or at least keep up the illusion that they are.

This book was really fun. I loved the set up and the different twist on a romance novel. I do feel like this book is slightly different than what I have read by the authors in the past. There are still great characters and fun banter but there is a lot more outside conflict and I actually really loved the change. This isn't quite a "closed door romance" but it isn't quite as steamy as some of the past book by same authors. I really enjoyed the refreshing changes and look forward to more books by the author team in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Super cute, funny and heart-warming story. Exactly what I've come to love from this fantastic author duo.

This was a story of a woman, Carey, who works for a couple, the Tripps, that steal her architectural designs and treat her like a slave. Even though Carey and James find their HEA I believe there should have been stronger consequences for the Tripps. The meanness of the Tripps sometimes makes you forget this is a comedy. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Very cute chick-lit romance to read this February. The story follows Carey and James, assistants to Melissa and Rusty Tripp who are famous home-renovation stars (think fictionalized versions of Chip and JoJo Gaines). But turns out Melissa and Rusty are not the picture-perfect married couple that the public thinks, and Carey and James have to manage that disastrous relationship while beginning to develop one of their own. The story kept me entertained and I read it in about a week. I'd recommend for a quick romance fix!

One of the things I enjoy most about Christina Lauren books is that they are fun, light reads. This one didn't engage me the way that others have. It might be the "Fixer Upper" premise, but I think it was more the focus on Rusty and Melissa's failing marriage and how horribly they treated Carey that really turned me off. As a reader, I felt for James and Carey and the situation they found themselves in. I might have enjoyed the book more with a stronger focus on them. If you're a Christina Lauren fan I'm sure you'll like this one, it just wasn't my favorite. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.