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.