I don't know if it's just me, but I've been really struggling with the last few Christina Lauren books that I've read and same goes for this one. I was never very invested in the story as much as would have liked. I liked Carey but never really warmed up to James as a character. Also the interviews that would sometimes break up the chapters were distracting and didn't really add much to the story for me. I found myself skimming through most of them. It was frustrating to me that they kept staying in their respective jobs even though they were abusive, especially Carey. Not the best Christina Lauren book I've read.

Despite its super-fun premise, this isn't high up on my Christina Lauren list. I never really invested in these characters, especially James. I think this is probably just a personal preference. Both lead characters are given sort of implausible reasons for why they can't move on from their current jobs, despite the jobs being highly abusive, and it's distracting enough that I don't care if they get together romantically because it's more important that they solve their professional issues. There's also the weird structural device with the police interview transcripts that never really pay off? Given how spectacular so many of their books are, this seems like a slightly undercooked showing from Christina Lauren.

Oh yesssss. I got one of my favorite romance duo’s books and celebrating with happy dance (I made a change and forced my mother in law and husband dance for me this time which was pathetic experience. They don’t know what the meaning of rhythm is!!!) but well, I got a little disappointed from my read. This is definitely not I was invested for….

FACTS ABOUT THE BOOK:

You want to send friend request to those beautiful characters and wear BBF bracelets:

Lately I read “Twice in a Blue Moon” and I think so far that was the worst book of the duo. I couldn’t believe that was the work of this incredible couple. Thankfully this book is not a big disappointment like that one because we have likable hero and heroine and their back stories are perfectly developed. It’s impossible not to feel for Carey, a small town girl, started to work for couple when she was only 16, they slowly replace the place of her family. They became partly her mother and father, uncle and aunt, close friends etc. So she formed an emotional bound with them. She has her own insecurities, secrets and she needs this job so bad because of her personal reasons but after 10 years, the relationship balances changed between her and the couple. They turned into spoiled kids meet dictatorial narcissistic maniacs and she is trapped with the couple who hate each other passionately.

And James: nerd hottie engineer of your dreams is also trapped in this job (he wasn’t even hired for engineering skills, they wanted him to babysit Rusty- flirty, adventurous, childish-) because the previous company he worked for got involved into a scandal so he didn’t have too much job choices. He just dived into this one and made the mistake of his life.

So many resemblances with Netflix’s “Set it up” movie:

At “Set it up” two corporate executive assistants suffered from their exploiter, workaholic, selfish bosses’ never ending demands and they decide matchmaking them to get their lives back. In this story, those selfish assholes are already married and two young assistants are stuck with their childish, illogical demands, doing their best to make them not throat each other for the sake of their work.
I think if Jen Aniston and Brad Pitt would stay married, they could turn into real versions of Rusty and Melissa. Their character development matched so good with them.

Romance parts are failed for me because they were haphazard, sudden:
They never attracted each other but after spending only few days, they were smitten and I couldn’t process how they fell in love and of course something James did (I’m not gonna spill the beans) wasn’t so forgivable for me. We wasted so much time about their work environments and this asshole couple’s non-stop spoiled brat acting. When we finish the first half of the book, we barely see the attraction of James and Carey.

OVERALL: I gave 3.25 stars but it is solid 3 stars read for me. The resemblances of the Netflix movie (I’m sorry to say but movie was better rom-com, at least asshole bosses are more likable. Oh, please! We’re talking about Lucy Liu and charming Taye Diggs!), lack of hot chemistry and emotional parts shaped my decision about this quick read. As a humorous fiction, this book worked for me with its satisfyingly fair ending but romance parts failed for me. I love this duo so so so so much. If I have a time, I still want to reread some of their works including “Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating” but this is not as good as their previous works and I expected more and more!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Galley Books to share one of my favorite duo’s book’s ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.

** I received an e-arc of The Honey Don't List by Christina Lauren via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! **

Christina Lauren does it again! The Honey-Don't List is another funny, sexy, and feel-good romance and the newest from CL's repertoire. If you enjoy contemporary romance and/or novels with a female protagonist learning how to speak up for herself, then you'll enjoy The Honey Don't List. Jack and Carey are two spit-fire leads, and I loved watching their sparks fly and love blossom, even as their bosses' marriage goes off the rails.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that this is my first book by the authors Christina Lauren! I’m also kicking myself because I enjoyed it so much! Christina Lauren will be on my auto-read list from here on out!

The Honey-Don’t List is quirky and compelling with an exceptional writing style. Starting in the present with a police interview alternating between the two narrators of the book, James and Carey, it moves on to past history that brought me to the present. James and Carey work for a married couple, Melissa (Melly) and Rusty, that host a home renovation show, own a very popular home décor store, and are authors of a new book. Carey works for Melly and has for a while and James is fairly new to assisting Rusty. Melly and Rusty are not the easiest of people to work for and maybe their perfect on-camera marriage and personas aren’t so perfect? Throw in a bus tour with them all - what could go wrong?

The characters are well written and believable in their roles, Carey is snarky and so bright, I really loved her. The rest of the characters are equally enjoyable in their roles. This was an extremely quick read for me, mostly because I had a hard time putting it down. There is romance, comedy, a little mystery, and heart-felt emotion in The Honey-Don’t List, making this such an enjoyable read.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for providing me with a copy of The Honey-Don’t List in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn't thrilled with <i> Twice in a Blue Moon</i> when it came out a few months ago. It just didn't have the same spark that Christina Lauren books normally do, so I was a little worried when <i>The Honey-Don't List</i> followed so quickly on its heels. I shouldn't have worried. <i>The Honey-Don't List</i> is just as much fun as <i>The Honeymooners</i> and <i>Love and Other Words</i>. The characters are well-developed and fun, and made me read the book much faster than I intended.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of the book.

I was so happy that the publisher and netgalley granted me this ARC of one of my favorite authors!! I love me some Christina Lauren! I will say that this particular novel deviated from their usual witty, sexy banter. It was in no way bad, just different from their usual stories. I enjoyed the premise and of course the writing was great. That being said, it wasn’t my favorite book by them, but I still liked it!

The Unhoneymooners, Josh and Hazel, and My Favorite Half-Night Stand are a few of my favorite CLo RomComs, and I was really looking forward to this one, especially after the let-down that TIABM was for me, but this too, was a miss.

This felt a lot like poking fun at Chip and Joanna Gaines and their Magnolia Empire which, alright, yes, I'm sure we all have wondered if their life is as great as they make it seem, myself included, but still. They were who I kept picturing while reading and it made things awkward.

As with every book this dynamic author duo writes, there will be plenty of people who love it. And as usual, I will be anxiously awaiting for whatever they write next.

Thank you for the chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review!

Another winner from the writing team of Christina Lauren.

Melissa and Rusty Tripp are home renovation and lifestyle powerhouses with a TV show, books and merchandise (think Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia dynasty). A marital implosion occurs right before embarking on a book promotional bus tour prior to launching their new Netflix series. Someone has to go along to babysit these two to keep their “brand” intact.

Part adopted daughter, part employee (all dysfunctional relationship), Carey is pressured to take on this chore and give up her only vacation in like 10 years. James, the recently hired Director of Engineering, which is his official title but he has begrudgingly become Rusty’s keeper, is also coerced onto the bus too.

Close proximity brings Carey and James together and makes Melissa and Rusty a powder keg waiting to ignite.

There is a transcript from a police investigation that pops up periodically foreshadowing something big is about to go down between all the characters sometime during this trip.

I would have liked an epilogue that was a few months or years into the future. I became invested in the charmingly flawed characters of Carey and James and wanted more about what the future held for them.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC

An absolutely stunning story full of sadness, hate, love and above all else hope! This is a story that shows us just how far some will go to achieve their goals but when it’s all said and done is it worth it?

Carey and James are trying to figure out that exactly! Is all this crazy worth it. Both want more, both DESERVE more but right now all they can do is keep the hot-mess that is the Tripp’s contained then they can work on their forever. Only one small problem; when you’re the person behind their success, leaving won’t be as easy as originally thought!

I absolutely loved the sparring between Carey and James but I also loved how they finally shed their exteriors and became friends! James could see through Carey’s tough facade just as Carey saw through his! For two months they worked for this “amazing” duo but they never saw the cracks in the other! Now working in close quarters has them both noticing things about the other that they just might like!

Christina Lauren have done it again with this one. Reading one of their books is like coming home. I loved the refreshing and unique plot of this novel. I love a good hate to love romance and it was even better when it was a backdrop to a celebrity couple going from love to hate.

The characters in this one were especially complex and I often found myself mad at what the protagonist forgave or put up with but that the beauty of the novel. Every decision and ounce of forgiveness propelled our MC forward into growing into the person she was meant to be. Her story arc was beautiful and inspiring.

This one has everything: Hate to love romance, drama, steamy encounters, and happily ever after.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

I loved this book! Carey was such a delightful character. I’m always a fan of Christina Lauren’s main characters, but Carey is my favorite. Carey Duncan is Melissa Tripp’s glorified assistant, but she pretty much runs the Tripp’s business Comb+Honey without any credit. In comes Rusty Tripp’s new assistant James McCann who is completely overqualified for the job. The Tripps marriage is on the verge of crumbling and that also means their business is at risk if Carey and James can’t work together to keep the Tripps from basically destroying themselves.
It starts with a police questioning and delves into the story from there. You are hooked straight from the beginning. I also appreciate reading from both character’s perspectives.

Christina Lauren has done it again! Another book that pulls me in, makes me laugh, and has me caring about the characters.. A story of loyalty, life, and love that I could not put down.

This book fell into the middle ground for me with Christina Lauren’s books. I enjoyed it a lot more than Twice in a Blue Moon but not as much as some of their previous ones. I always like the banter Christina Lauren creates for their characters. I thought the corner the main character felt backed into was pushed a little too far, or maybe given too much room in the story - the secrecy of it seemed played up a bit much at the beginning. I’ll continue reading their books, but am still looking for some of that emotional magic I found in their older books.

This was cute. The story line was engaging enough but I did skim at certain parts. This book reminds me of a made-for-Netflix movie starring only no-name actors. It’s cute and light.
Hgtv fans may enjoy the two “stars” in the book are like a fictional version of Chip and Joanna Gaines.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: contemporary romance is one of the hardest genres to pull off. Readers know a HEA is coming, unlike in other genres where the ending isn't guaranteed, which makes believable plot machinations that aren't too predictable or too stupid hard. It can be hard to generate conflict between characters that's believable and keeps you rooting for the ending. Christina Lauren are great at finding the plot and pulling it off!

Carey has worked for Melly and Rusty, a couple a la HGTV's Fixer Upper for almost ten years, since she was in high school. She's seen them rise from small time store owners to celebrity designers, but there marriage hasn't stayed the same. James hasn't worked for them long, but needs this job after the last company he worked for imploded, leaving a stain on his resume. When the two of them are forced to go on book tour with Melly and Rusty to try to keep the public from knowing the true state of the marriage, can they succeed?

The Dynamic Duo is BACK!!! Christina Lauren returns in 2020 with a romance on set of a reality TV fixer upper show - a la Chip & Joanna Gaines - but the catch here? The stars are not the romance pairing, it's their assistants! Carey & James are trying to get by and make names for themselves, despite their respective bosses behaving very badly and somewhere along the way, sparks begin to fly.

The Honey Don't List is more of a contemporary romance than a romantic comedy, it has heart, tension & drama.and all the things I've come to love from CL novels. While this one didn't take over the top spot on my list of their novels, I still enjoyed every single world and will eagerly be awaiting their next!

If you’ve ever looked at the super-sweet, shiplapped-folksy design duo of Chip and Joanna Gaines and wondered if things are really so country-chic perfect behind the scenes of Fixer Upper, this is the book for you. Melissa and Rusty Tripp are the famous couple and design gurus with their own media empire. The world loves their HGTV show, their interior decorating books, and their adorable and long-lasting marriage.

Only a few know the truth, including Melly’s longtime assistant, Carey, and Rusty’s reluctant new helper, James, who barely tolerate each other at work. When the two employees are forced to go on tour with the Tripps to tout their new relationship book (irony alert), they grow closer while wrangling the stars and attempting to avert disaster.

This was a surprisingly sweet and redemptive story about letting go of your past and learning to speak up for yourself. I didn’t love Christina Lauren’s last effort, so I was pleasantly surprised at how charming and fun and heartfelt this book was. And without spoilers, there’s a character living with a rare medical condition that the authors treat with dignity and respect, giving insight into a real issue I’d never heard of. Overall, this one’s a win.

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I absolutely devoured this book. This was such a fun premise. Two assistants working for a home renovation power couple fall in love, as their bosses lives fall apart. I thought that the build up to the Carey and James romance was a little quick, but I think their character development was off the charts! So good.