As a big fan of both Christina Lauren's books and of HGTV, I was definitely here for this book. I enjoyed all the different dynamics within the book and was always eager to dive back into the story.

3 STARS

I am such a fan of CLo, and so I was so excited to be approved to read an early copy of this new one from the dynamic duo. Unfortunately, this one just fell a little flat for me.

The book started off so interesting, a little bit of mystery/intrigue and being told from 2 POV's plus some other fun rid-bits thrown in throughout. I really enjoyed reading the chapters from Carey's perspective. I thought her character was very well done, complex, and intriguing. I related to her quite a bit. I also really enjoyed the banter and snark between Carey and James, and I did enjoy their part in the story.

That being said, I found that the mystery that pulls you in at the beginning of the book falls quite flat and the build up seemed to be all for nothing. I also wasn't a huge fan of James' character. I felt that he just wasn't quite developed as well as Carey and you could tell. Both of these things really made the story pretty 'me' to me. The last 30% of this book really felt like a let down, and wasn't as developed or there wasn't as much depth to the ending as I would have expected. I kept waiting for it to WOW me, and it just never came.

Overall it was an easy read with some funny and romantic moments, but it just fell a bit short for me in the end.

Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Just what the doctor ordered, with my mind needing some space from my dark thrilling reads, and definitely did not let me down! Had so much in it, important things, love things, fun things, and it made it quick and fun to read! Well written, character development exactly where it should have been, laughs, cries, and other emotional turmoil I was able to garner through this great book! Love the authors work, and look forward to more!
Will make sure I buzz it up around the different platforms!

This book had EVERYTHING: a terrible boss with a complicated working relationship, an attractive coworker that also gets under your skin, chronic illness awareness, steam and of course home renovation which all comes together in a story that has you turning the pages.

Christina Lauren creates such dynamic characters with real character development that you care about.

I enjoyed the pacing of the book and how it kept switching point of views. It was also a nice touch with how it starts of with a police report but then goes backwards to fill in the gaps.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the references to Disney World that made me smile.

Incredible book- it’s my first 5 star read of 2020! Would recommend for anyone who enjoys a good contemporary romance- I’m sure this will be on everyone’s bookshelf!

I am a huge fan of all Christina Lauren books. As a fan of HGTV, I was particularly excited for this one. I actually found the story of the main character and her relationship to her employers more compelling than the romance in this book. I loved it all though!

I liked this novel! I enjoyed the writing style, although there seem to be an abundance of words for everything. And the author is did a good job of making sure the reader knows who the antagonists are, and showing their denial and desperation. The beginning was a little slow, and I felt like this book was more Russel and Melly’s story than James and Carey’s. I also feel as though the author antagonized then too much, no character is truly evil and the author almost makes Nelly this way. The ending was okay, I would have preferred an epilogue as always, but I also felt as though it was rushed. Finally, I wish the title had tied it a little together more, there really could have been a moment where the author mentioned that James was on Carey's honey- don't list, but it just didn't happen.

3.85 Stars

Nothing in Life Comes Easy - and that Includes Love, especially When Your Career is on the Line!

Carey Douglas’ life has revolved around Melissa and Rusty Tripp since she was Sixteen-Years old. What was once just a small store in Wyoming has become a TV empire and a book deal for the Tripps about their happy marriage and none of it would be possible without Carey, now Twenty-Six.

James is an Engineer, whose life fell apart after his former company was involved in a major scandal. Now, he’s been hired to be the Engineer on Home Sweet Home, the Tripps Netflix series, which basically amounts to being Rusty’s right hand.

Life seems uber glamorous for the Tripps, who are social media darlings, until the sh&t hits the fan. Life is not a box of chocolates for this power couple who are about to embark on a Book Tour. It turns out that the couple’s marriage is a sham. Now it’s up to Carey and James to save the day.

“The Honey Don’t List” isn’t exactly your typical rom com and it isn’t what we fans of Christina Lauren might have been waiting for after the likes of: “Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating,” “Roomies,” “Dating You Hating You” and “My Favorite Half Night Stand” to name just a few. There aren’t any laugh out loud sarcastic, snarky back and forth repartees or any sexy funny comments that will make you roll on the floor laughing - which we’ve come to expect from Christina Lauren’s other novels. I am still holding out hope that they will start writing those types of novels for us once again!

This novel would fall more into the genre of women’s fiction, which is a genre I have grown to like. I truly enjoyed the storyline and the characters of Carey and James and liked how this novel progressed.

Admittedly, I wanted a little something more at the end and felt a tiny little bit let down (hence the reason for the 3.85 star rating v a 4 star rating), but overall I quite enjoyed “The Honey Don’t List” and hope that other readers can separate what they were hoping this novel would be and read and enjoy it for what it is.

Another buddy read with Ms. Kaceey!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Roth and Rachel Brenner at Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for the arc.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 2.2.20.

This book was much weaker than recent releases by Christina Lauren. The female protagonist was not someone who created a feeling of sympathy in me as a reader, which made her storyline hard to engage in and made the overall story fall flat. It was a a lot of tropes wrapped in a watered down HGTV setting.

I had a hard time getting through this. The two main characters, Carey and James, are interesting enough and I liked their story line. But Rusty and Melissa were so unlikeable that I dreaded their scenes. I understand WHY the dynamic was in place, but they had no redeeming qualities. After reading the author’s past books, my expectations were set really high. I just feel like this one fell short.

I wanted to love this. It was mostly fine. I thought the sorry was kinda forced, but I liked the main characters, Carey and James. And, truth be told, it could have used more/steamier sex. Ha!

I loved The Unhoneymooners, so I went and read Twice in a Blue Moon, which I also loved, so when I heard this duo had a new book coming out, I requested it to review, and I'm glad I did. Carey works as an assistant for the very high maintenance (and frankly intolerable) Melissa Tripp and her milder, down to earth husband, Rusty. The couple runs a design business with several stores and their own show. James also works for Rusty, as an assistant, despite the fact they hired him as an engineer. He's only been with them a mere few months to Carey's 10 years, but he already knows what Melissa is like, and he wants to help Carey get more out of her job.

So the thing that held me back from giving this 5-stars was how intolerable Melissa was. Usually, when I dislike a character, I cheer on the author(s) for creating such a great, bad character, but for me, the sheer amount of her evil was too much. I know Carey has gotten used to it and needs this job, but she deserves so much better, and that's where James comes into play. I loved these two together, and I think they do well, considering they're both stuck in this job because of circumstances.

Poor Carey is insecure, and Melissa did her best at making sure Carey felt that way. When she finally starts talking to James in a more serious manner, she starts to see that she can have a life outside of work, that she can have good things in her life. While I would have liked to have a bit more of an emotional connection with the two, and less "all about Melissa" moments, I think when they did come together, it was done well. Overall an enjoyable read. Thank you Gallery Books for sending this along!

I love Christina Lauren books but I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped. It was very slow and I almost wasn’t able to finish it. Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read and review for my honest opinion.

I have read a few other books by this author and they were either funny or chick flick romantic with good stories. This book was none of those and I felt the Tripps were annoying and off-putting. Plus there was a police investigation in the book which makes the reader think this is a murder mystery/thriller, which it is also not. This book was all over the place for me and it was not up to par with Lauren's other fiction books.

2.75 rounded to 3 for a few likeable characters that had humorous moments and kept the story going. Hope her next book is good like the ones previously written and not a disappointment like this one was.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for anARC in exchange for an honest review.

**FULL REVIEW**

Cute story!

While I'm not a huge fan of the magazine articles, twitter commentary, and police reporting interrupting the flow of the story, overall I enjoyed this sweet and somewhat steamy little read.

Taken right out of the tabloids, the TV show, the life...only it's all a sham. Problem is, no one is strong enough to stand up and say something. Or are they?

This author duo has some great banter, hot intimate scenes, and a sweet storyline. Definitely a story to pick and read on a cold winter's day. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

**3.5 Fixed Up, Stars**

This is a hard review for me to write. I'm a huge fan of Christina Lauren. But this one...this one just didn't do it for me. This just isn't their finest work. And it breaks my heart to have to write that.
I loved that the main character, Cary, suffers from dystonia. It was the only thing that really stood out to me about the character...everything else was just bland. And the male MC, James, was just blah. Nothing drew me into either character.
The story was missing Christina Lauren's usual jibjab - the humor and the wit. The story was just predictable and beige...and Christina Lauren are many things and beige is not one of them.

Readers wanting to dive into the writings of Christina Lauren should consider starting with Love and Other Words. Then, move on to Roomies or Josh and Hazel.
I did love the acknowledgments in this one...CL thanked librarians for all they do and there was a backstory to the dystonia. Those were lovely.

Basically a big meh from me. Between the big focus on the Gaines-esque married couple our two love interests work for and the police interview transcripts for some mysterious event that happens near the end of the story, I never felt I had enough time to fall in love with Carey and James. I wanted more enemies-to-lovers forced-proximity snark that worked so well in Dating You/Hating You. I wanted more of them and less of the other stuff.

I was glad to see both Carey and James do have their own POV, but I found it a bit odd to be in Carey's first person POV and to have her keeping the medical condition she keeps secret from everyone except Melissa Tripp (her boss) also a secret to the reader. I understand why she hides it from James, but if you writing a character in 1st person I found it odd that it is hidden from the reader. Me having to sit and try to "guess" what it was felt distracting and pointless.

I think non-romance readers will get a kick out of this book. It is fun and well written but I'll just go back and re-read Dirty Rowdy Thing. Finn and his rope? Yes please.

I have loved all of the Christina Lauren books. This was another good one. Not quite as good as others, but definitely worth reading!

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest reviews ***

I usually love all books by Christina Lauren, but this one fell a little flat. Don’t get me wrong, the romance was sweet and I enjoyed the overall Home Reno show aspect of the book, but overall I had to force myself to finish.

This is my first Christina Lauren book ever and it was definitely enjoyable. It isn't my usual kind of read which us why it took me so long to read one of the author duo's book. I did enjoy the story though and if you love Hallmark movies and that kind of stuff you will love this book and probably the author duo's others as well. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Pocket Books for my honest review

Carey is an employee of one of the most famous and beloved husband and wife home remodeling duos on TV; but looks can be deceiving because Melissa and Rusty Tripp hate each other. She’s worked for them since she was sixteen years old and is extremely loyal to them. They are currently promoting their latest project in hopes of securing another big deal.
James has just recently become employed by the Tripp team as Rusty’s assistant, he thought he was being hired as an engineer on the show. Needless to say, he’s not the happiest that his MIT degree is currently being used as a glorified baby sister to keep Rusty from making huge mistakes in public that could ruin the famous duos reputation.
As tensions rise between the couple, Carey and James have been tasked to “keep the two in line”, easier said than done for two people who can barely stay in the same room with each other. Working so closely together, James discovers just how valuable Carey is to the team and Carey starts to understand that James isn’t just some stuck-up smart guy.
This wasn’t the easiest book for me to read, it took me a little over a month. I’m not sure what it was but it didn’t hold my interest as much as I thought it would. It could be because the format was different from any other Christina Lauren book I’ve read, so I was caught a little off guard. The other reason could be the characters; I couldn’t seem to connect with any other them. Not the main or supporting characters. I really wanted to like them, especially James; one of my favs is a hot nerd but this just didn’t hit the mark for me.
The story opens with James being interviewed by the Police regarding the “incident”. Immediately you get the feel that this is going to be a “who done it”. The book flips from police interviews of James and Carey to the days leading up to “the incident”. I will admit, Carey’s interviews are quite comical, but it wasn’t enough to make me really love this book. It wasn’t horrible, it just didn’t do for me what I thought is would.