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The Honey-Don't List
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
63 posts | 73 read | 26 to read
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, andmore than anyone would suspecthas helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. Theres only one problem: Americas favorite couple cant stand each other. James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isnt all he thought itd 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 alongand start playing for keepsthey 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 its broke, you might as well fix it.
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Kristy_K
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Mehso-so

Christina Lauren books are hit and miss for me and unfortunately, this one was more miss than hit. The chemistry between the characters is missing. I didn‘t believe they were attracted to each other and the romance felt forced.

I can totally believe that this fictional “behind the scenes” look at couples who do home renovation shows is similar to reality so that part was fun to read through.

2.5⭐️

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TorieStorieS
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

I always enjoy Christina Lauren‘s books and this one is no exception! Carey and James are both assistants to the “talent” on a new home renovation show— though clearly they are the real talent! As they struggle to keep their married charges acting married for a publicity tour, they find themselves falling together. A quick, light and entertaining listen, it may not be my favorite of theirs, but I certainly had a lot of fun listening to this one!

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kissmehardy
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Glad I chose this one as my first CL! I was so swoony for James and Carey, and the way they broke out of those HORRIBLE jobs was top notch. Can't wait to read more from them! #contemporaryromance #romcom

11 likes1 stack add
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romcombc
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

To be honest, I was slightly disappointed. While the start of the story had my curiosity peaked, the overall pace was exceptionally slow. In fact, if the story had started any other way, I am not sure I would have finished it but knowing someone was being investigated is what kept my attention until it resolved. The Honey Don't List is a reminder to not believe everything you see on TV, the brightest smiles may be hiding the darkest secrets.

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chlolovesbooks
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5

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Pigpen_Reads
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Going to try the #Roll100 challenge this year. Here is my list :) These are physical books I have in my home, all unread. That's not even all of the unread books in my home 🙈

@PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper Good luck! 2y
16 likes1 comment
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BookKenz
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

After reading reviews, I think I'm in the minority here, but I LOVED this book. Even more than The Unhoneymooners.

It was such a fun read of two assistants to a reality show home design couple that are not as lovey dovey as they try to portray to the world. The assistants are forced to work together to save the couples image and end up falling for each other.

This was book 3 of my #TBRWrappedUp reading challenge. I'm glad I finally got to it!

Karisa 😂 The premise is funny! Watching the lovey-dovey couples on some of those home remodeling shows always makes me go “For real?!” and think of Morticia and Gomez Addams😂 2y
35 likes1 comment
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TheAromaofBooks
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Another soft pick here as I had some mixed feelings. I actually loved this concept and felt like a lot of the scenes were a lot of fun. However, this felt like two stories and like the authors couldn't decide which story should get the focus. Despite the fact that Carey & James are the main love story, the book felt like it was a lot more about the Tripps. This made the ending feel rushed - I really wanted to see some resolution between the ⬇

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) the Tripps as a couple and between them and Carey. It felt hard to believe that Melly could have been like a “second mother“ to Carey all those years and then basically turn into such a bitch towards her, and I really wanted to see that relationship healed or moved forward from - something.

But on the whole, this is fun and a bit silly and I did enjoy it - I just don't see myself rereading it.
3y
KristiAhlers I‘ve had a hard time connecting to these authors stories. Each time I think I might find one I‘m in it to win it with I hit a wall. Not sure what it is about their writing. 3y
See All 10 Comments
MoonWitch94 @KristiAhlers I started reading their works by working through the Beautiful series as they were published (Beautiful Bastard, Beautiful Stranger, etc) and found those books to be fun & enjoyable. I haven‘t found any of their books to be comparable. Did you read the Beautiful series? 3y
KristiAhlers @MoonWitch94 I have not! I‘m heading to the bookstore this afternoon I‘ll see if they have any of the book in that series. 3y
MoonWitch94 My favorite ones are the second & third ones, Beautiful Stranger and Beautiful Player. But the first one is good, too. @KristiAhlers (edited) 3y
TheAromaofBooks @KristiAhlers @MoonWitch94 - I've also struggled a bit with their books - the synopses always sound right up my alley, but while they are fine reads for me, I don't LOVE them. I will have to check for the Beautiful series, though - I haven't read those yet!! 3y
MoonWitch94 @TheAromaofBooks Yes, check the series out! I feel like each book they write is trying to recapture the magic of their first novels & it just doesn‘t. I‘d like to know what others think of the Beautiful series. 3y
Roary47 Hey hey! I haven‘t seen that challenge met by very many so far. Good job! (edited) 3y
TheAromaofBooks @Roary47 - Thank you!! I actually wasn't even trying to check off that prompt, but suddenly realized when I finished that honey is sweet! 😂 3y
67 likes10 comments
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Ahw06
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Another wonderful CLo book! I adore this writing duo so much! If you ever enjoy watching Fixer Upper and you like relationship drama, you‘ll love this book. Think Chip and Joanna relationship issues with another perfect love story waiting to unfold behind the scenes. Absolutely adored this book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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rather_be_reading
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Book 49

57 likes3 stack adds
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thebluestocking
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Mehso-so

A fun and fluffy (and lightly steamy) romance loosely based on a power couple like Chip and Joanna Gaines. In this, their respective assistants have to babysit the couple on a book tour as the marriage is crumbling. But romance blooms as the two assistants get to know each other.

57 likes2 stack adds
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Skeeterisme
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Delightful

43 likes1 stack add
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Johanna414
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Mehso-so

I like to imagine the authors hanging out together watching Fixer Upper and wondering "what if Chip and Joanna Gaines hate each other in real life?" and ended up with this book.
It was cute, but definitely wasn't my favorite from this writing duo. Melly and Rusty were just annoying, and I would have liked more closure for Carey career-wise.

Johanna414 @TheAromaofBooks this was my July #bookspin title! 3y
MaggieCarr Nearly identical to my review for all the same reasons. 3y
Johanna414 @MaggieCarr lol that's actually really validating - I kept seeing all these rave reviews for it and wondered what I was missing! 3y
TheAromaofBooks This one is on my shelf so I'll get to it one of these days - I feel like I've had more mixed results with Christina Lauren than a lot of people, so I'll be interested to see if I end up liking this one haha 3y
38 likes4 comments
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BookBr
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Okay, this was a cute read — rolled out like your favourite rom-com, complete with slow-burn attraction, tragic misunderstanding, and hea. Likeable, believable characters, and just enough conflict to keep things interesting. Perfect for a lazy summer day…

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BookBr
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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A good read for a pretty cottage morning…

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veebib
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Relationships are a lot like houses: without a good foundation, they‘ll crumble. When a light bulb goes out, you don‘t buy a new house, you change the bulb. When the faucet drips, you don‘t start mopping the floor before you fix the leak. In other words, no matter how much digging it takes, it‘s important to get to the root of a problem.

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Wildly_Bookish
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this one. It's not my FAVORITE Christina Lauren, but I still love it.

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Theressadoriott
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Starting book #5 of the year. Have you read it? I enjoyed their book, Holidaze, hoping this one is similar.

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yvo_about_books
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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⭐⭐⭐⭐

There have been mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed my time with this one! Maybe because I prefer less romance or at least slowburn romance in the first place? 🤔😂

10 likes1 stack add
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Junebug17
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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@BennettBookworm THANK YOU for the #bookmail today and the adorable bookmark! ❤️

BennettBookworm YAY I am so glad it arrived safely!!! 😆 4y
Junebug17 Me too... I saw that it traveled quite a distance! 4y
12 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Nitpickyabouttrains
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

The name of the book turned me off, but I ended up loving it. Quick and fun characters. Good romance.

13 likes1 stack add
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Zelma
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Another quiet weekend. All I am doing is snuggling with my furry boys and reading. Continuing my romance binge as I am in need of happily ever after and positivity right now.

ChasingOm This one set me off on a “romances that take place on reality TV sets” kick and — I‘m not mad about it! 😄 4y
Zelma @ChasingOm ha, that is very specific! 4y
41 likes2 comments
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dgingo
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Mehso-so

2.5 stars. Carey, who gives a decade of her life to the fictional Fixer Upper power couple (Melissa and Rusty as Joanna and Chip Gaines), began working for them in their single store when she was 16 and grew to become an integral part of the home renovation duo‘s success, culminating in a Netflix series. Formulaic and predictable, there‘s nothing remarkable, complex, or particularly interesting about this book at all. TLDR: Meh 😑

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Cyndij82
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Another great book by Christina Lauren! Quick read. Didn't want to put it down. I love a good romance!!

28 likes1 stack add
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Cyndij82
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Start of a new book. 📖 📚 So far it is pretty good.

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Sharpeipup
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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I can ✔️ that one off my list.

29 likes1 stack add
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aperfectmjk
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

4 🌟's

This was certainly cute, but somehow, it just left me wanting... though I'm not certain what. It just felt like something was missing. Somewhere in the storyline I just felt it was underdeveloped. Maybe it was closer to the beginning because once I got to the half way point things started to connect better for me and by the end I found I was really enjoying it. It had a solid finish.

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aperfectmjk
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Started this one this morning. Seems like this will be a fun contemporary romance. Mixing it up as I've been reading a lot of mysteries and thrillers lately.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday! Happy reading! 😘

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ambam1987
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

“I didn't want to interrupt your Funyunning.”

I usually don‘t pick up a lot of rom-com‘s but Christina and Lauren never disappoint! This story is a very HGTV“Fixer Upper meets Flip or Flop!”

I would love to see a sequel for Carey and James!

@christinalauren

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bookaddict30
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Mehso-so

Rating: 4.5 ⭐'s
Review:
It was slow for me too chapter 5 but overall a good rom com book about 4 people on a Fictional TV Show!!!

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bookaddict30
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Starting Book 21 of June and Book 93 of 2020!!!

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Julsmarshall
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Charming, funny, fast-paced and sweet. The story features a very Chip and Joanna Gaines-type tv couple on the brink of self destruction and their mid-matched handlers trying to get them through their book tour alive. Enjoyed this on audio, check it out!

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AutumnRLS
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Reading all over the place again. Four or five books at a time. Bouncing back and forth. I'm enjoying this one from the first page.

13 likes1 stack add
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Verity
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

So much fun. I was hoping for a bit more from the ending but hey I forgive it because it was so good and such a clever idea. I wonder what Chip and Jo think?!

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Verity
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Latest romance read!

18 likes1 stack add
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monalyisha
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Quick & a little dirty (but just a little). I can‘t claim this romance will stick with me but it was fun while it lasted!

I found myself wishing for a blurb by Joanna Gaines. I wonder if she‘s heard of/read the book & if she‘s worried it will reflect poorly on her — or if she‘s a die-hard C-LO fan like the rest of us. 😉 The MC‘s selfish, attention-hungry bosses bear a lot of surface resemblance to the stars of Fixer-Upper & their Magnolia brand.

68 likes2 stack adds
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CaramelLunacy
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Set It Up + HGTV. Longtime assistant Carey & engineer-but-really-assistant James are tasked with keeping the marriage of a HGTV power couple from publicly exploding while they are on book tour for their marriage advice book.
Fun, pretty low angst and a nice theme about assertiveness, knowing your own worth and how great it is to have someone anticipate your needs because they are paying attention. I enjoyed this but was hoping for more hijinks.

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swishandflick
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Mehso-so

Compared to other Christina Lauren books, this was pretty mediocre. I actually thought the HGTV couple obviously inspired by Chip and Joanna Gaines was the most entertaining part, rather than the MCs. It was a quick, easy read on a Saturday morning, but not one I'll be recommending.

BennettBookworm Unhoneymooners is my fave- which others do you like? I‘d love recommendations! :) 5y
swishandflick @BennettBookworm I haven't read that one yet! I keep hoping that my library will get the e-book but no luck so far, haha. I loved Love and Other Words ❤️ 5y
BennettBookworm Awesome!! I need to check that out! 5y
93 likes3 comments
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tularecountylib
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

It's Fixer Upper meets Flip or Flop in this fun contemporary romance. Told from the point of view from two assistants and a police interview, you get the real story of what happens when seemingly regular people get famous.
-Faythe

Available as an eBook and eAudiobook on Libby!
#recommendsday #romantsy #librariansoflitsy

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Purrfectpages
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
Mehso-so

This is the first book by Christina Lauren that I‘ve been underwhelmed by. For starters, the title doesn‘t work. In addition, there were many “main” characters, and yet not enough of them to care about. Think Chip and Joanna Gaines gone bad. This book is a look at reality stars who‘ve built (pun not intended) a perfect life, but surprise, surprise- things aren‘t as perfect as they seem. However, it‘s also a love story. Confused? You should be.

Lovesbooks87 I didn‘t care for it either! 5y
34 likes2 comments
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ChasingOm
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

I stayed up until 1 am reading this and the HEA was worth it!

There is a lot of great representation in this book and I got invested in the characters. Plus the HGTVish setting sucked me right in. I love these authors!

CaitlinSiem I really enjoyed this one, too! 5y
39 likes1 comment
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Purrfectpages
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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I‘ve yet to meet a Christina Lauren book I didn‘t like, so I‘m psyched to read this one next!

55 likes2 stack adds
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UnabridgedPod
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Mehso-so

I liked Christina Lauren's The Honey-Do List, even if it didn't (for me) reach the heights of my affection for previous books Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating or My Favorite Half-Night Stand or The Unhoneymooners. I appreciate their ambition in trying new writing styles and structure--The Honey-Do List features some great use of multi-genre sections in its portrayal of famous home remodeling couple Melissa and Rusty Tripp. ⬇️

UnabridgedPod I think my feelings partly came from the fact that Melissa and Rusty were, in some ways, more vivid that the "central" couple, assistant Carey Douglas, who makes Melissa's life and career work, and more recent hire James McCann, an engineer seeking redemption who ends up ALSO serving as more of an assistant.

I certainly liked both Carey and James more than I did Melissa and Rusty, ⬇️
5y
UnabridgedPod but in demonstrating how much Carey's life revolved around the dysfunctional couple, whose thin veneer of romance hides infidelity and lost affection, the book came to revolve around them, as well.⠀

Would I recommend this one to Christina Lauren fans? Sure. But if you haven't read their work before, I would maybe start somewhere else (my first book by the pair was Dating You, Hating You . . . and I was hooked).
5y
21 likes2 comments
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EmG
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
Pickpick

I love all of their books. I listened to this on audio but wasn‘t in love with the narration. Their trademark humor was there, the breezy pace. Likable leads you want to root for. Wish it was just a bit more fleshed out, but that‘s a greedy quibble. Fun & Fast.

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CaitlinSiem
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

I really enjoy the romance power duo Christina Lauren. Just like any author(s), some of their books are better than others.

I really loved this one. It was entertaining and I liked the scenarios in this book. The assistances to tv home improvement superstars? Sign me the hell up (most of my DVR is HGTV lmao).

This one flat out worked for me. I desperately want a sequel for these two. They were interesting and well written. I loved it.

LiteraryinPA I hear you about the HGTV love! That sounds like a great premise for a book. 😁 5y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BennettBookworm
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

Ughhhhh I loved this so much!

Christina Lauren is such a fierce duo. This was just as delightful and satisfying of a rom-com as Unhoneymooners was. I also liked how this, like the previous book, had an intense psychological component to it. Definitely not as fluffy as the cover art makes it seem haha.

WHERE IS MY JAMES?? 😫❤️

LiteraryinPA It‘s so interesting that the author is actually 2 authors! Do you think I‘d like it? If so, which of their 2 should I start with? 5y
BennettBookworm @LiteraryinLititz I would start with Unhoneymooners I think - that one was maybe better ☺️ 5y
33 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BennettBookworm
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Nothing like #bookmail to lift your spirits during self-quarantine!!
I loved Unhoneymooners so I‘m excited about this. So far it‘s not disappointing!

charl08 Ooh! I didn't know this had come out 👏 5y
34 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Book_yogi
The Honey-Don't List | Christina Lauren
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Pickpick

It may be that we are quarantined and I am hungry for contact, even if it is through reading, but I really like this book. It was devoid the enemies to lovers and instead filled with teasing and mutual affection between Carey and James, with a hilarious mix of fun from the couple Melissa and Rusty, home improvement and relationship superstars, that incidentally can‘t stand each other. I recommend this book for an escape from reality.