Review: The Honey-Don't List - Christina Lauren

The Honey-Don't List
by Christina Lauren
Published March 24th 2020 by Gallery Books

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…

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Review

4 Stars

Christina Lauren are the romance duo I turn to when I want a fluffy read, whether sweet, spicy, or hilarious, these two are dependable and have got it covered. From the very first page The Honey-Don't List is a fast-paced, I'm talking a train going at full speed, romance filled with drama and excitement. Told from the perspectives of main characters Carey and James, The Honey-Don't List is just as wild as the jobs the two hold for the famous owners of Comb + Honey. While they may have tried to keep a minimum of 6 feet apart (sorry I had to!) previously Carey and James are forced into close proximity in order to ensure the feuding married couple hold it together long enough to complete a five stop book tour. It isn't all romance behind the scenes for Melly and Rusty Tripp, but it lights the spark between the two assistants.

I cannot be the only one who couldn't stop picturing Chip and Joanna, it really took away from the story for me, because the two secondary characters didn't feel unique. Yes, it really gives you the full picture of just how famous they are and what a mess Carey and James have to mop up, but boy is the time spent on them distracting. The story ultimately revolved around them, leaving little room for a true romance to be developed in the novel. Sure, the chemistry between Carey and James is off the charts and their pairing is so cute, but we don't actually get enough interactions for it to be believable beyond a casual fling. But, when I read a silly romance like this I tend to give in to the unbelievable, so I still like the cute HEA we get.

The Honey-Don't List is a silly romance read with just the right amount of humor and smut. With a heaping dose of reality TV drama Christina Lauren give readers a quick read that sure to have them charmed. Well-written and just the right length, The Honey-Don't List is another romance novel to add to your shelf.