Think of that perfect couple that has their own design show. Yep, that one. The ones that always get along and seem to have the perfect life. This book tells the story of that perfect couple that is not so perfect behind the cameras. Her assistant actually has the talent and does the designing. His assistant just tries to keep him on the straight and narrow. When they hit the road for a promotional tour the assistants are assigned to go with and keep the peace. While walking the proverbial tight rope, the assistants find a way to release some tension - each other.
I found "The Honey-Don't List" to be a cute, quick and just okay read. The actions of Melissa, half of the perfect couple, were a little overboard sometimes. And by the way, why doesn't it always seem to be the woman that is such a B&*#!%? I also felt that the assistants, Carey and James, fell in love a little too fast without really getting to know each other.

I enjoyed the book - the characters were all likeable especially Carey (loved how her character progressed and you learn more about who she is!) and even Russ. I even loved to hate Melly. The book didn’t grab me and although I wanted to know how the book would end, I wasn’t drawn to it. I really enjoyed the tidbits about something big happening at the end and although it wrapped up nicely, I wish it had more. I love the authors and even though I didn’t love this book, I’m still a big fan.

As a newbie to the work of Christina Lauren, I can definitely say that the writing duo just found themselves a new fan! The Honey-Don't List was a satisfying read that absolutely warmed my heart. In the beginning, the reader is introduced to Melissa and Rusty Tripp, the seemingly perfect home remodeling and design couple (think Joanna and Chip Gaines) and their overworked assistants Carey Douglas and James McCann. Carey has been working with the Tripps for almost a decade and James was originally hired as a structural engineer, but ends up being more of an assistant to Rusty. Amid the chaos that is managing the lives and on-screen personas of Melissa and Rusty, it's clear that Carey and James have their work cut out for them because it takes a literal village to keep Melissa and Rusty's rocky relationship from completely imploding. At first glance, Carey and James appear to be polar opposites brought together by their chaotic jobs, but it's clear that there may be something more there. The "will they or won't they" vibes are heavy and make for a fun read, as I found myself aching for them to stop being silly and realize they are great together. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good rom-com, particularly anyone who has seen Netflix's The Set Up, as it will give you all of the vibes.

I'll never be able to look at Chip and Joanna Gaines the same way after reading The Honey-Don't List. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I read this book in one sitting.

A full review for AtTheCoolTable.com is imminent. I will update this review when it publishes.

This book satisfies all of my HGTV behind the scenes vibes! I was struggling at the 60% point to push through to the end but I am so glad I did! This is Christina Lauren at their finest.

I love Christina Lauren, so I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book from Netgalley. I'm happy to report it was really good! I was pulled in to the story from the very beginning. The main character, Carey, is likeable, smart and funny. She has her hands full dealing with an impossible boss, Melly Tripp, who happens to be a TV personality alongside her husband, Rusty Tripp. Melly is a controlling diva and Rusty is a goofball with a wandering eye. The happy marriage the Tripps once had is long gone and the two can't stand to be near each other, which doesn't bode well for their business or all those who work for them. So, when a disastrous situation presents itself on the eve of the Tripps' latest book tour, Carey is forced to give up the time off she'd been looking forward to in order to accompany the Tripps alongside James, the engineering guy hired to work on their show but who is now serving as Rusty's assistant (much to James' dismay). The four of them set out for a weeklong trip on a tour bus, and while Carey and James aren't very fond of each other, they quickly realize they need to work together to get through the week, as it's one disaster after another. A close friendship and admiration for one another develops as they try to keep the Tripps out of the tabloids due to their excessive fighting and tantrums. This is not an easy feat. Through all the chaos, James and Carey learn a lot about themselves and each other. He's not as nerdy and uptight as she once thought, and she's not as simple and plain as he'd pegged her initially. While one relationship is spiraling to an end, another is just beginning. I really enjoyed this one. I just wish there was an epilogue. I'd love to see how things turn out for everyone further into the future. It might even be worth having a second book. I know I would read it. :)

Thanks again to Netgalley and to Christina Lauren for the Advanced Readers Copy. Happy girl right here.

I'm just going to keep this review short and sweet. The Honey-Don't List is a book that you're either going to love or you're going to hate. For me, it was just an ok read. I thought the idea of the story was fun and different. I love home remodeling shows and would be perfectly happy lounging around the house, watching HGTV. I was excited to see where this writing duo would take this story.

What I liked: As I previously stated, the plot was unique. I found the characters to be likable and loved the humorous moments. 

What I didn't like: For me, this book didn't read as a contemporary romance or even romantic comedy. Yes, it had both of those elements, but the romance between the two main characters really took the back burner in this story. I felt like the main focus of the story was the Tripps, when it really should have been on the budding relationship between James & Carey. So, while I found the characters likable, I was left wanting and needing more. I wanted to know why these characters were together? Why should I be rooting for the two of them? In the end, I just felt like there was something missing. 

Overall, this book was an ok read. While there were some aspects that I liked, I just found the story to be lacking and wanted more. So, while this book isn't a 100% hit for me, I'm still glad I checked it and gave it a chance. I adore this writing duo and will be looking forward to see what they release next.

If you’re looking for an adorable hero & a smart, feisty heroine who is just learning to find her voice— this is the book for you. Though I wasn’t the biggest fan of the back story (home renovation gone wild), I did latch on to Carey & James & their charmingly steamy romance. CLo writes emotion so well & this book proves it once again.

Disappointing. I felt like I spent as much time reading about Melly and Rusty fighting as I did about the actual romance. This and the previous Christina Lauren book we’re both duds for me. I really enjoyed previous books, but I think two bleh reads is enough for me to pass on any future books by this author.

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.”
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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.
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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.
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Thank you Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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“I think sometimes we see what we want to see.”
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“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.