The Honey-Don't List

Christina Lauren

Mar 2020 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

From the New York Times bestselling author behind the “joyful, warm, touching” (Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author) The Unhoneymooners comes a delightfully charming love story about what happens when two assistants tasked with keeping a rocky relationship from explosion start to feel sparks of their own.

Carey Duncan has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…

From the “hilariously zany and heartfelt” (Booklist) Christina Lauren comes a romantic comedy that proves if it’s broke, you might as well fix it.

Ratings and reviews

This was an entertaining enemies to lovers and forced proximity romance. I enjoyed Carey, James, and the crazy shenanigans by the Tripps, but unfortunately, I didn't love it. It took a bit for me to feel invested in the story and characters, and by the time I really felt anything, the book was more than halfway over. Part of that is due to the way the book is formatted. The tweets, police transcripts/interviews, and book excerpts really took me out of the story at times as I tried to piece everything together. Those parts of the book ended up confusing me more than anything. The chemistry between James and Carey also left me wanting. I didn't feel much build up between them and that playful banter and ribbing was missing. Things seemed to change so abruptly between them that I was afraid I missed a chapter. I did love them together though and wish more of the book had been spent about their budding relationship, instead of the implosion of Melly and Rusty's marriage. I really liked how attentive and sweet James was. He seemed to really see Carey for who she was and I think that's why the miscommunication drama later on didn't work for me. The book wrapped up quickly, but I liked the steps that Carey took to really stand on her own. I also appreciated the care that Christina Lauren took in discussing and highlighting dystonia. It was refreshing to read about a heroine with this condition and also very informative. Overall, this was an entertaining story, but I didn't love it as much as I hoped. *I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

3.5 stars The Honey-Don't List jumps on the increasingly popular home improvement train, which is certain to draw the HGTV fans. It is a fun idea, and there are some great moments of wit and humor as I've come to expect from the duo that is Christina Lauren. That said, it has a different feel than what I expect to find when I pick up a CL book. It leans more toward women's fiction or chick lit than the RomCom I was looking for. That's not to say that this one isn't a good read - it really is, and I did enjoy the story. We do get the wonderfully developed characters that this duo does so well. They're rich and colorful, and they bring out all the emotions that pull you in and before you know it, you're invested in the story. I would've liked a bit more on the romance side of things, but the Tripp's stole the show here, leaving Carey and James to be almost secondary characters. I realize that all of this sounds like I didn't care for this one, but that really isn't the case. In the end, this one wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but it was still very worth the read, and I'll be watching for whatever Christina Lauren does next.

The dynamic duo Christina Lauren has done it again with their latest hit, Honey Don’t list. The Tripp’s Melissa and Rusty, home remodeling and design firm that has taken off with a hit TV show and a book tour. Carey Douglas has worked for them since she was sixteen years old and grew into her current position one of assistant to Melly. Little does the world know that Carey is responsible for all of the designs that the couple tout as their own. Melly is overwhelming, abusive, and downright mean, trying to juggle all those lies and keep her husband on board with all their newfound fame and money. James McCann, MIT graduate, and engineering genius was hired by Melly as an engineer but is an overpaid assistant for Rusty. It turns out the Tripp’s marriage is dissolving while they become more famous by the minute. James uncovers the truth about Carey designing but sells out for a better opportunity. This story reminds me of the Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines.

About the author

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of longtime writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the New York Times, USA TODAY, and #1 internationally bestselling authors of the Beautiful and Wild Seasons series, Autoboyography, Love and Other Words, Roomies, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, The Unhoneymooners, The Soulmate Equation, Something Wilder, The True Love Experiment and The Paradise Problem. You can find them online at ChristinaLaurenBooks.com or @ChristinaLauren on Instagram.