It felt like it would have been better as a book on abusive and tonic relationships than a romance. The Tripps/Carrie relationship was more center than anything.

✎ The Honey Don’t List 4.5/5

After the toxic males I’ve been reading, the universe has decided to gift me the most wholesome man in the form of James. And I am thankful.

James seems like someone who stands up for women in a meeting and asks them to repeat their point after they were talked over over by a man. He is thoughtful, considerate, really sweet and reassuring. I could wax lyrical on the ways he subtly shows his care and attentiveness. And Carey!! A cinnamon roll heroine!! She’s so cute. It’s been a while since I’ve had a non-sassy heroine, she’s just so wholesome and light!! Carey does have insecurities about her education, but she voices it out and doesn’t let it manifest into some complex - and gives James a chance to reassure her. And hooray to Carey for normalising therapy!

This would have been an easy 5 if the focus was more on Carey and James. I get that the book centres around Melly and Russ, but I wanted more romance less hgtv drama. I could’ve also done without the tweets and police interviews - erase those pages! Make them Carey and James hold hands!!

I’ve become used to the enemies-lovers tension, so reading about a pair creating a healthy relationship without sassy banter or rude quips is so refreshing. It’s nourishing how they’re both trying to do the best they can while wanting the best for the other person. This is lighthearted and adorable and sometimes we need bright content to give our hearts a little comforting hug (an epilogue would have made this hug warmer though).

man fuck the tripps

3.6 stars. Lovely enough.

Cute- would be a good beach read.

I didn't find this one sucked me in as much as some of Christina Lauren's other books. It was an enjoyable, easy read but I didn't love the characters, particularly the supporting characters, and I just didn't find the storyline as interesting as I usually do. For the past couple of releases, it feels like the authors are just churning out as many books as possible without really making each one special.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love Christina Lauren and have read many of their standalone books. Their last book, Twice in a Blue Moon, was the first book that left me unsatisfied and wanting more. I felt it was their weakest book. The Honey-Don't List isn't the greatest comeback from that book but it's a good start. After 25 years of marriage, Melissa and Rusty Tripp can't stand each other so Carey and James are referees of sorts to try and keep up with appearances. Seeing behind-the-scenes with these two as assistants to a remodeling and design married couple was fun, up to a point.

Spoiler

This book is a hard balance between a marriage that's falling apart with a potential relationship that blossoms halfway through the book. The hatred between Melissa and Rusty is so volatile that it's hard to enjoy because it felt a little too realistic. Christina Lauren do their best to give us happy and romantic times with James and Carey but it's not quite enough to get 4 stars from me. I wanted more of the book to be about the young couple getting closer and getting to know each other but instead we got so much of Melissa and Rusty absolutely loathing each other, their relationship falling apart, and James and Carey jumping in to try and save it. Melissa is honestly quite horrible to Carey a few too many times and those moments are not fun to read. Rusty is no better with his cheating habits and putting in no effort to try and help in any way.
On the plus side, I liked getting to know Carey and her history with the couple as well as why she needed to stay with them for so long. While I felt we could have used at least another chapter for the build-up between them before they got together, it still worked for me. There is classic Christina Lauren writing in the way both character ogle each other and begin to realize their feelings for each other.

Overall, this isn't the strongest book from Christina Lauren but it's not the worst either. It's still a fun read that you can get through in a few hours and you'll enjoy yourself for the most part. I still look forward to future releases from these two and hope it's a long time before they run out of ideas.

I wasn't thrilled with Twice in a Blue Moon when it came out a few months ago. It just didn't have the same spark that Christina Lauren books normally do, so I was a little worried when The Honey-Don't List followed so quickly on its heels. I shouldn't have worried. The Honey-Don't List is just as much fun as The Honeymooners and Love and Other Words. The characters are well-developed and fun, and made me read the book much faster than I intended.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of the book.

So disappointed :( I’m sorry to say I had a really hard time making it to the end of this one.