REVIEW: The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren

In The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren, A vacation has been first and foremost on Carey’s mind considering it’s been full steam ahead for the past decade. Working for Rusty and Melissa (Melly) Tripp since she was in her teens, she’s followed the mega-couple through every phase of their career in remodeling and design. And Carey knows they’re on the brink of getting everything they’ve ever wanted. But at what cost? Because the once blissfully happy couple of Russ and Melly is now at the verge of going their separate ways. The ironic part is that their new series and book puts the focus on their relationship on an even bigger scale now. And as Melly’s assistant, Carey is expected to keep the unhappy couple on task–no matter what.

“Everything is riding on this, including your jobs. Change your plans and pack up for a weeklong trip. Your only job for the next ten days is to keep the Tripps from falling apart.”

James isn’t really sure how he went from getting a structural engineering job on the Tripps’ home improvement show to become Rusty’s assistant. But if things pan out the way they’re supposed to, then he’ll be able to put his MIT degree to good use soon. He hopes. Those hopes are dashed again when James is forced to take the show on the road, literally, tasked by the bigwigs to keep Rusty out of trouble or it will cost him his future. And that puts him in close proximity to Melly’s assistant, Carey. James didn’t realize just how beautiful Carey truly is. Or how smart, talented, and humble she also is. Their attraction threatens to take their attention away from keeping the Tripps on the straight and narrow. But it’s a distraction that the normally hyper-focused James doesn’t mind at all.

‘It’s part of Carey’s job to blend into the background, but now that I’ve seen her–really seen her–something heated turns over in me that I’m not sure I can turn back.’

A feel-good romance from the awesome writing duo of Christina Lauren who are known for their hilarious dialogue, smexy love scenes, and relatable characters, The Honey-Don’t List cranked the hi-jinx up a notch and dialed back the level of heat. All which was perfectly fitting for the story.

“As much as I want to protect this and keep it just between us for a little while, Melly will know. It’s like how dogs can smell fear, except it’s me with any hint of life outside of work.”

As a long-time fan of CLo’s books, I couldn’t wait to read The Honey-Don’t List. I mean, an office romance *and* a forced proximity trope all in one story? Count me in. And I did have a blast getting to know Carey, James, Melly, and Rusty while they went on their wild and wacky journey up and down the Western United States in a gigantic tour bus. Comical situations ensued as you would expect, but it was how sweet and sigh-worthy the romance was between Carey and James that truly swept me away.

The work environment James and Carey found themselves in was chaotic and rather toxic, thanks to married couple Rusty and Melly Tripp’s imploding relationship. So you can see why they turned to each other during the tour. Basically for a sense of normalcy in all the craziness the Tripps brought to the table. I so enjoyed watching workaholic Carey become bolder, both in her professional and personal relationships, as she figured out her own self-worth. The position she was in–doing way more than was ever acknowledged by the Tripps–is one I think readers will empathize with. It was a wee bit more over the top than most of us have probably dealt with, but still relatable.

James was exactly what I hope for out of a CLo hero. He was actually closer to a beta hero than an alpha, with his geek-chic appearance and wicked intelligence. Thoughtful, protective, caring, and sexy, James was the perfect match up for Carey’s compassionate nature and her seemingly limitless energy and creativity. They formed a bond while trying to corral the Tripps and keep them from making a public spectacle of themselves. (Which didn’t always work…) Carey and James were absolutely adorable together. Both a little bit shy in some ways, but being that they were in their mid-to-late twenties, they knew what they wanted in a romance. And I applauded the way James and Carey took advantage of the time they had together.

You can always count on a Christina Lauren book to make you laugh and swoon, and The Honey-Don’t List definitely delivered on that. Genuine, tender, and oh so cute, this was a love story that I hope fans will enjoy as much as I did.

Book Info:

Publication: March 24th 2020 | Gallery Books |

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 Douglas 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.