The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren

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.

Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
Oh, let me tell you, this is just what you need right now... a highly entertaining, cleverly romantic, based-around-a-celebrity-power-couple drama, funny adventure.

Be prepared to sink into this caper and not exit until you have got to the very last page. I loved how the story unfolds, how we know from the very beginning that something big goes down... we just have only our imaginations to think just how bad it was! Such a fun way to get the tension rising.

I can confirm that the writing is top notch. Both Carey and James are good people; and as we get the story from each of their viewpoints, we get their insights as the plot develops, and their emotions as they get to feel more for each other.

I really don't want to reveal more, just go, pick up a copy, and enjoy!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
This is a cute afternoon read. Carey and James really don't get along at the beginning of the book. Carey thinks that James is a bit of a snob, believing that he thinks the job he has is beneath him. James is not sure what to think of Carey. She's Melly's right hand, but there's something about her that calls to him.

Both Carey and James' backstory are a bit complicated and each of them have a reason not to quit the jobs they have with the IT decorating couple of the moment. As Melly and Rusty's relationship crumbles, James and Carey's begins. They discover that despite their differences, they really do have a lot in common.

I enjoyed the book, the way the characters were written and how each person was allowed to get to know the other before taking their friendship to the next level.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This story starts out with Carey and James being questioned by the police. You wonder just what has happened and it makes you want to hurry through the book to find out.

Carey has worked for Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. They are America's favorite couple when it comes to home remodeling and designs. Carey started working with the Tripps when she was 16 and has helped them build their empire. But what the public would not believe is that the couple can't stand each other.

James McCann was originally hired as a structural engineer, but it turns out that he is Rusty's assistant. James catches himself watching Carey and he sees that she is a strong woman that puts up with a lot from Melissa.

With a book tour coming up and the couple almost showing the public their true feelings towards each other, Carey and James are sent on tour to keep Melissa and Rusty on track and not at each other’s throats.

Can Carey and James succeed with the book tour? Will Melissa and Rusty blow up before the tour is over? What will the public think when they learn the couple is not perfect or in love?
I liked the storyline but there just seemed to be something missing to me. I would have liked more of Carey and James, maybe a second book. Anyway, I love other books by this author duo and will be reading more from them.

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, Dating You/Hating You, Autoboyography, Love and Other Words, Roomies, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, My Favorite Half-Night Stand, and The Unhoneymooners.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren to read and review.