Such a good book!

To be honest, I was a little hesitant because I hated their last book, but I'm a big Christina Lauren fan, so I wanted to give this one a shot. I'm so glad I did. They're back on form, and the book is excellent. I loved everything about Carey and James and their relationship. It was great to get the sneak peeks into the entertainment industry. And I'd never heard of dystonia, so meeting a main character who had it was very interesting.

Thanks for the free review copy.
(Also posted on Bookbub but I can't see where to get a direct link)

The book has a very nice cover that I love, the synopsis got me hooked, and it’s from my favorite authors, so this is definitely a book to read. The book was very well written, and has the point of view of Carey and James. The beginning was very interesting because it started with a mystery or an investigation. However, there were times that I was bored, some eyerolling, and I admit was skipping some pages that I almost did not finish it. I was ready to give up, and then I thought 🧐 🤔 these women are the best of the best when it comes to romance and contemporary writing, so there must be something unique in this story. Plus the fact that I don’t like not finishing a book.

This book is definitely a slow burn because only until reading 45% of it, then the story started to change and the main couple finally got into the action of things. So if you’re reading this book, hang in there and your curiosity will be fulfilled 🙌.

All in all this was a good read, especially if you love reality shows, hgtv, and “Set it up” Netflix movie.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. I adore Christina Lauren, and this romance was another great novel. Although predictable at times, it was also like sinking into a good movie, where everything around you goes dark while you sink into the novel.

The Honey-Don't List starts with superstars Melly and Rusty who are interior designers and ready to expand their stardom. But what everyone doesn't know is that Melly's assistant Carey, who has been with the couple for over a decade, might be the brains behind the whole operation. The secret is safe until James the newly hired engineer comes on board and falls for the unappreciated assistant.

3.5 stars

Thank you!

I needed this fun book after a long sci fi book. Assistant Carey and engineer James work for a home decorating tv couple. They travel together to keep the couple's marital problems from being public while on a press tour. At first Carey and James don't like each other but you know things are going to change between them.

"I am clearly the Pigpen to his Schroeder."

"Right now I'm looking at Carey's face, thinking it's like a song I've heard a few times now, and every time I hear it again I like it more."

This was just OK for me. I love love love the book Love and Other Words (I'm a broken record on that one) and none of their other ones has been quite as memorable for me.

First, I had never heard of a Honey-Do list. Am I the outlier on this? Second, I was almost more interested in the trainwreck of the secondary characters' marriage than the love story, which had lots of Gaines vibes, if the Gaines were awful people. Third, the love story happened too fast. They went from zero to well...ya know...in like two weeks. I would rather it had taken place over at least the span of a month.

Overall, I felt only mildly interested in the main characters, particularly James, our down on his luck civil engineer. Carey was more interesting due to her longstanding relationship with the HGTV couple from hell and her own present struggles, but I also didn't quite get the differences in her personality. The story was fine burt I was particulalry annoyed with all the references to Carey having no money and lugging around a derelict suitcase. She's the right (and left) hand of one of the biggest home reno TV couples in the country who have product lines and books and she can't afford anything (but then buys something pretty big at the end). That did not add up.

I did find the ending fairly satisfying though.

Another standout contemporary romance from Christina Lauren! The protagonists, Carey and James, both work for the Tripps, the stars of a home renovation show (think the Gainses of Fixer Upper, but add at least a dozen heaping teaspoons of resentment and destructive behavior). Carey has worked for the Tripps since she was a 16 year old working in their first store. A decade later, she's Melissa Tripp's assistant, a role so demanding that she has no time to see her family or foster friendships, let alone pursue romance. James is an MIT-educated engineer who took his job with Rusty Tripp out of desperation (his previous job went up in flames after the company's white collar crimes were exposed), and he seems to feel the role is beneath him. After Carey and James catch Rusty cheating on Melissa, they're forced to follow the couple on book tour (for a book about their supposedly-great marriage!) and focus all of their energy on preventing a public blow-out. The book switches between Carey and James's perspectives, interspersed with news clips, tweets, and police transcripts (which suggest that, in spite of Carey and James's best efforts, everything will eventually go wrong). This was super charming, full of wit and heart. The hint of mystery helped to up the pace of what may otherwise have felt more like a slow-burn romance.

Rusty and Melly are the sweethearts of the media. They are remodeling or building their way into stardom.
James is their assistant, but don't tell him that. He claims higher aspirations.
Casey has been the cornerstone of the Rusty, Melly saga. She comes up with the designs for the show. Not caring that her efforts are trivialized and Melly takes the credit.
The perfect couple are an example to millions. Their TV series and books proclaim their love and undying devotion to each other.
This latest hook tour is the end of the pretense. Cracks are showing in the living couple facade. James and Casey are in charge of they couple. Their new job....to not let the fans see the cracks in the relationship Melly's temper and Rusty's drunken confessions keep everyone on their toes. Until it can no longer be hidden. The bickering and backbiting spreading to James and Casey's new budding romance.
A hilarious read. Full of fun!

This is a great, romantic comedy! Another home run for Christina Lauren. This book was laugh out loud funny. It also handled the subject of dystonia with respect. Highly recommend.

Cute slow burn story that makes one doubt the happiness of any of the HGTV designers. Carey is the woman who has provided the designs for a husband/wife duo who are seemingly modeled after a particularly famous couple based in TX. But this duo is a mess and it’s beginning to be public knowledge.

James is an assistant/engineer for the duo. He slowly realizes his attraction to Carey, who is slowly realizing that he may the right guy for her.

The ending didn’t exactly tie up all the loose ends, like I like to have in my books, but it’s still a good ending. Who knows, maybe we will be seeing the duo again in an upcoming book.

Christina Lauren is a favorite for cute rom coms and this one did not disappoint. Carey has been working for now design and home remodeling gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp since she was 16 back when they only had one store. While working at the store, she starts working on their display and is eventually designing furnitures and sets but with only the title of an assistant. James, an MIT graduate has been recently hired as an Engineer but is also doing assistant work. Carey and him don't really get along at first and they have to deal with Melissa and Rusty who are a PR nightmare. They have a book about marriage coming out and are going on tour with Carey and James in tow to keep them in line. Carey is overworked, frustrated and tired but soon enough James is a nice distraction. This was such a fun read and I was rooting for Carey the entire time.

If you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted quick read, look no further than “The Honey-Don’t List”! Christina Lauren is back, this time with Carey Duncan, longtime
assistant to home renovation superstars Melissa and Rusty Tripp. The trio embark on a cross country bus tour for their new book, along with their new assistant, James McCann. However, behind the scenes, the couple’s marriage is falling apart. It’s up to Carey and James to keep up the happy facade as they complete the media tour. If you’ve read any of Christina Lauren’s previous books, you’re sure the enjoy this one too as it follows their signature style of humor, romance, and just an overall “feel good” read!

The authors have taken a unique situation and managed to turn into a light comedy farce. In most cases a book would follow the two big stars to tell the story. However, in this case the story turns around a long suffering assistant and a recently hired assistant. The two are thrown together, with their lives becoming intertwined, after accidentally witnessing a sexual encounter by one of the principals. The big question then becomes can they keep their growing attraction secret while preventing a melt down by the stars during the course of a week's road trip.

I enjoyed the light comedy provided by this book and have rated it 4 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review

Yes, yes, yes! I will read anything and everything published by Christina Lauren and I really loved this. I was worried because I typically don't love an "enemies fall in love" storyline, but I appreciated that the antagonism was brief and not overdone or drawn out. This is absolutely going on my summer reading guide.

I’m embarrassed to admit that this is my first read by Christina Lauren. I’ve read so many amazing reviews of her (their) books in the past and have just never picked one up.

At first, I had trouble getting into the book, as I felt the oppressiveness of conflict straight off. The reasoning is because this story is told with flashbacks interspersed, so I got a feel of the drama before connecting with any of the characters.

It didn’t take long, however, before I was able to sync with the book’s rhythm and start trusting the writers to tell me a roller coaster of a story. It almost happened the same way Carey and James got to know each other–one delicious peace of information at a time until you realize that what you’re looking at is engrossing! A little bit of a surprise.

I really enjoyed Carey’s character the most. She started out as a doormat of a character and on her own merit, manages to emerge a fully-capable, and sure of herself adult by the last chapter. Earlier, she has no idea what she wants or who she is. I’m glad to say her metamorphosis felt complete and organic.

I also enjoyed James’ character. It helped that we got alternating perspectives from the two of them. Because some of his actions may have been questionable if the reader hadn’t been able to see inside his mind. Without that, I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed the romance between him and Carey quite as much.

As for Melissa and Rusty… Well, I’m not going to parse out their characters too much. Let’s just say that I feel a bit conflicted about them both. But, I think that may have been the point.

The Honey-Don’t List was a calm ride with suddenly rapid waters towards the end, which served itself up, humorously and intelligently. I felt vindicated at the end and quite content with how things wrapped up.

The Honey-Don’t List has a different vibe from any Christina Lauren books I’ve read before (and I’ve read almost all, if not all of them. I think what stumped me is I couldn’t immediately identify a primary romantic trope—I felt a bit untethered! 😆

The book features a Chip and Joanna like couple—Rusty and Melissa Tripp—who have built a HGTV empire around home renovation and design. But unlike Chip and Jojo, their marriage is like a reno project at the end of demo day—which is a bad time to be releasing a book of marriage advice.

The main romance is between their assistants—James and Carey. And although there’s definitely the typical breakdown of communication drama toward the end, they get their happy ending and all is well. There’s obviously more to it than this—it’s acquaintances to friends to lovers.

If you’re looking for a realistic, believable plot, this probably isn’t your top choice—but to be fair, we don’t typically read romance novels for their believability.

I don’t normally enjoy books that feature someone cheating on his or her spouse, but I appreciated how the affair wasn’t glorified or used for humor but rather as am indicator of the state of the Tripp’s marriage.

I gave it 3.5 stars in my own personal book journal, but I rounded it up to 4 on here and Goodreads. It’s an easy, fast read. And nothing C&Lo write is bad. This just wasn’t my favorite.

I received a complimentary copy of The Honey-Don’t List from Netgalley and Simon and Schuster in exchange for my honest review.

I love everything Christina Lauren writes, but I was especially excited for this! And ugh, I was not wrong. If you loved Set It Up on Netflix and anything on HGTV, this is a book you need to pick up. Loved everything about it.

Christina and Lauren did it again : The Honey-Don't List is a really enjoyable book, the perfect mix of hilarious with a sprinkle of sweet and touching.
The story follows Carey, the perfect workaholic-against-her-will assistant of Melly Tripp, and James, the overly-educated for the assistant position of one Rusty Tripp, second half of the decorating world power couple.
I like the chemistry and the banter between the main characters, the pace is good - though I found the ending too abrupt, but the writing makes it really easy to get into the book.
All in all, it is a quick and entertaining read that I'd definitely recommend!

I was delighted to have the opportunity to review another of Christina Lauren's books. They have so quickly become my favorite writing team. This was a quick, fun read. I very much enjoyed their banter and found their growing romance both believable and enjoyable. Another winner!

The Honey-Don't List was a charming love story about two assistants working for a Chip and Joanna Gaines like couple. The only difference is the couple in the novel absolutely hate one another. It was an easy to read romance novel, however I did struggle to buy into the chemistry between the two leads James and Carey. It will keep you entertained and I liked the different points of views throughout the book.

This was a quick and easy read, I finished it in a matter of hours. The storyline moves fast and doesn’t lag. However, it’s such a blatant and cheap knock-off of Chip and Joanna Gaines. It really left me feeling sour about the experience, particularly all of the negativity with that couple in the storyline. This was a fine read but I’m disappointed in the authors and their use of public figures in this manner. This was not original or unique. Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review. 2.5 ⭐️