THE HONEY-DON'T LIST is a standalone romantic comedy penned by writing duo Christina Lauren. Unfortunately, in this book, the horrid dramatics of a secondary couple manage to overshadow the main romance couple, and turn this book into a downer for me. The main couple has a lot of their own issues, too, some of which are rather depressing. This is probably my least favorite of all of Christina Lauren's books.
Our main couple is Carey and James. Carey Douglas started work for the awful married couple, Melissa and Rusty Tripp, back when she was 16-years-old. Carey has self-esteem issues due to her lack of schooling and her poor backwoods childhood. She also has a serious medical issue that makes her desperate to not rock the boat so that she can keep her health insurance. Oh my goodness, do I feel bad for Carey! On top of all her own numerous issues, she has to deal with the toxic duo who are her bosses, who are taking advantage of her and gaslighting her to boot.
James McCann is a slightly uptight engineer who the Tripps are also completely taking advantage of. The Tripps have forced James to work as an assistant instead of doing the engineering work he was hired to do. When the Tripp's marriage rightfully starts to go off the rails, James and Carey are coerced into becoming the Tripps' minders. The amount of frustration engendered by Melissa and Rusty's noxious behavior and the unfair pressures put on Carey and James made me so angry that it significantly diminished my enjoyment of their romance.
I cheered when a character points out to Carey that Melissa Tripp is an abuser. It's not at all satisfying to see the outcome of the Tripps--I wish there were much more severe consequences for their behavior. A romance where my primary wish for the ending is punishment for the secondary characters is not a satisfying rom-com. Although THE HONEY-DON'T LIST missed the mark for me, I will still eagerly await the next Christina Lauren book, as they typically hit the right spot for me when I'm craving some silly fun and a sweet romance.
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.
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