Smart and funny.
This is the first book I read from this author and would love to see more of this work. The story revolves around the life of a home design power couple, that are promoting their new show and a book about marriage. All looks well from the outside, but an incident will drag their personal assistants to referee and babysit the couple and maintain appearances.
In this process, a lot of things will develop for the main characters.

DNF Did not finish. Read 51% and quit.
Good premise that lost its steam & turned to sex to redeem story.
Will not leave any reviews on any sites.

Carey lucked into a job at sixteen that turned into working for Melissa and Rusty Tripp, the famous designers with books, tv shows, and fans galore. But being Melly’s assistant is starting to take its toll when Melly and Rusty’s marriage is on the rocks right before their marriage book tour and brand new solo show. Suddenly Carey and James (Rusty’s engineer, but really just his assistant) are forced to give up their long awaited week off to join the two on tour and keep their failing marriage under wraps. Easier said than done when the two are constantly fighting.

Christina and Lauren do it again! Not that I had any doubts that they would! This book was cute, funny at times, cringe worthy at other times, and overall just a great read! While I wanted to smack Melly and Rusty at times, I also got a kick out of their insane antics, and loved watching Carey grow and learn to stick up for herself a bit. Another highly recommended book from this author duo! This was my final book of 2019 and I couldn’t have picked a better book to end on!

I always enjoy titles from this author. However, this one felt a little weaker than some of her other books. This is maybe due to the fact that the main characters are taking care of a couple whose relationship is on the rocks. This rocky relationship takes away from the main characters. I also found the female protagonist to be a little weak for my liking. Also, the male protagonist was a little less dreamy than most. That said, it was still an enjoyable read and I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think I could have chosen a better book to start the new year (new DECADE) off with than this! As with everything Christina and Lauren do, this book is wonderfully written. There's a real-life grittiness to the whole thing that I appreciated. Not a single character in this story was in any way perfect. They were all flawed human beings and I adored the realness of it all. Most romances seem to ignore reality and the ones that do try to include it often seem to miss the mark. It is refreshing to read something so grounded in genuine human experience.

I found the plot fairly unique while still being topical. Home improvement shows are trendy and reading this story felt like a sneaky peek behind the curtain. I felt like I was getting an exclusive look into that world. Everything fit and made sense and was executed brilliantly!

I loved Carey. She's beautiful and self-conscience and has her own struggles and is a great person. Her character arc is lovely and I was incredibly appreciative of how real she remained throughout. I feel like it's rare to find, especially in this genre.

My only complaint is how the whole thing started. It starts with a partial transcript of a police interview. I knew right away that something big had happened. Not too far into that transcript is mention of Laramie, Wyoming. Now I love when stories begin in medias res but this particular set of circumstances - police interview and Laramie, WY - put me in a certain state of mind because I know some of the recent history of Laramie. I immediately had an idea of what the story could be about. That idea was totally wrong; it could not have been further from the truth. And that was problematic for me because it took a while to a) figure out that my assumption had been wrong and b) correct my mood for the lighter plot it ended up being. But that's my only issue and it was a fantastic story!

I would recommend this to anyone who:
- wants to read a wonderful romance
- likes a unique, relevant plot
- adores Christina Lauren!

Christina Lauren knows how to immerse you completely in a book. You feel the characters' stress and desire, and the romance flows through the pages and into your soul.

God, I wanted to punch Melly in the face. It was visceral. The ending was abrupt, but otherwise I loved it.

This book was fun to read. Rusty and Melissa were very much in love but when their furniture and room designs, television program, and book took off; their love for each other suffered. Carey is hired to keep Melissa organized and James does the same for Rusty. Trying to keep the two from fighting in public once their book on their love relationship comes out, proves to be difficult. James and Carey, once a bit annoyed with each other, suddenly find they have a lot in common and they become each other's best confidants. Their relationship blossoms and becomes the most important piece of their lives. The author does a great job exposing all of the characters and sharing how events in one's life can destroy love. Getting caught up in life and letting it dictate how you treat others can ruin a career as well as a marriage. Insightful moments that speak to everyone.

What happens when the couple you work for, who are promoting a book on happy marriage, are at odds with each other? This is a fun story of two people who find themselves in this situation and try to keep the public from knowing the truth. Enjoy.

Loved it. Very well written and amusing. Just enough romance with an abundance of memorable characters.

This was a cute and fun read. I have never read this author but she is apparently well known in the rom-com genre readership. It was a behind the scenes look at a home decorating duo and the aides that make it work. Their relationship grows as the duo's falls apart. Enjoyable afternoon.

Christina Lauren delivers a story that illustrates new love built from shared experience and old love that falls apart. The contrast pushes the reader to think more about love and relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I love Christina Lauren and this one was no exception. It was super cute and a quick, easy read. I read it in just a few hours! It kept me interested and I give it 4/5 stars.

This is my first Lauren Christina novel, and I enjoyed the fun,light-hearted feel of this novel.

It follows the story of Carey, a talented designer, who works for Melissa and Rusty Tripp, a once down-to-earth husband and wife design team that has now made it big.

Right off the bat there’s the typical assistant-boss awkwardness, that quickly drags Carey into a trip she doesn’t want to take. She doesn’t have to take it alone, as JAmes, Rusty’s assistance is also charged with attended the trip.

Carey and James hit it off in the midst of trying to navigate life on the road (for barely a week!) with Melly and Rusty.

The story isn’t without shockers, and through it all, it becomes a nice, redemptive, read about valuing yourself and learning what (and who) you truly love.

If you enjoy rom-coms, light hearted fiction, and quick reads, I highly recommend this one.

AND THEY ARE BACK! Okay this one certainly hit the post right on the red. I was giving up a little with CLo and was planning on taking a break from their books but yet again, I was drawn in by this incredible cover and thankfully it did not disappoint. You should not expect less from CLo especially when dealing with emotional complex characters that are just meant to be. MUST READ!

As usual from this writing duo, likable characters, good story with a very ripped-from-the-grocery-store-magazine-headlines theme, and kept me turning pages into the wee hours of the morning. It may not be my favorite of their books but I was glad to read it as my first book of the new year. I am a long time fan of Christina Lauren and will read any thing they write. I read this via NetGalley.

I’m a HUGE fan of Christina Lauren books and I have yet to read one that I didn’t like. While this one wasn’t my favorite, I still enjoyed the story and appreciated the uniqueness of the plot. While there were some serious HGTV/Chip and Joanna vibes going on, the couple and the storyline were completely different. All of the characters had big personalities, which made it entertaining, and I especially liked James — I’m a sucker for a sweet, somewhat nerdy leading man. There was something about this story that felt a bit different from their other books that I’ve read, but I can’t put my finger on exactly what it was. I think it was just a bit less light and comical than their others (more drama than rom-com, I think). I’d give it around 3.5-4 stars!

This was a quick, light read about what could be going on behind the scenes of a popular home improvement show. Carey is the assistant to Melly Tripp, half of the husband and wife design team of the show. The book starts as the popular show is going off the air after five seasons and a book tour is starting. A book about marriage while, ironically, the marriage of Melly and Rusty is falling apart. Joining the tour is Rusty's assistant, James. Drama ensues, romance blossoms, miscommunications occur, and the whole thing goes up in flames. Check out this book if you want a fun, rom-com type read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Maybe my expectations for the Christina Lauren duo are too high, but The Honey Don’t List just misses the mark here. Whereas their other books have mostly been bitingly witty and endearing, this fictional take on a Chip/Joanna Gaines-ish couple feels flat and lifeless. Carey and James are assistants to Rusty & Mel Tripp - owners of a vast home renovation empire that is poised to release a new book and show. On the eve of furthering their huge empire, a PR disaster threatens it all...and Carey and James are dragged along on the Tripps’ PR tour to make sure their imploding marriage isn’t leaked.
What happens can be predicted - embarrassing situations, Carey and James and their growing attraction, meh meh meh. I usually see this writing team deliver engaging dialogue and well crafted sexual tension in their rom coms, and here, Carey & James’s relationship feels rushed, forced, solemn. The plot just isn’t that amusing, and the ending is just okay. Compared to The Unhoneymooners and their other books, this is an unfortunate disappointment. 2.5 star read.

Christina Lauren has wrote another fresh romance book. And it definitely sound promising to read.

The Honey-Don't List will bring in new fresh characters that will shake things up. And they definitely do. Let's start off with Carey. Carey has been longest assistant that the Tripps family has dealt. And that means Carey knows so much but gets no little. I kinda feel sorry for her that I do not blame when she finally steps up and distance herself away. I won't give too much deet but you will find out as you read. And you will definitely understand especially my distaste for the Tripps and kinda to James too. I really though that James will bring in more. But nope he did not. He kinda disappointed me. I wanted him to step up more especially with Carey but she is really the glue to everything but gets unnoticed. I really though James will be there for her but he does not at all. And don't get me started on the Tripps because that's another story.

The Honey-Don't List seems a good story but it felt a little rushed. I just wish it had more to it. Little more depth to the story-line.

3 1/2 Stars

It wasn’t bad. The story and characters we’re mostly likable. I felt the story was a bit flat especially at the end.