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byrdy's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have had a hit or miss relationship with Christina Lauren's books, but this one hit for me. I bought the main relationship and I think they stuck the landing. The narrators did a good job, too. Beware if you are triggered by toxic relationships. There's a doozy of one in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual content
kaydeedickins's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I surprisingly enjoyed this, and was surprised to find not only that one of our main characters had a disability (dystonia) but that there was side characters that were sapphic, as I went in thinking this was just a fluff mass market romance and was happily surprised.
James and Carey have a coworkers to lovers arc and I really enjoyed seeing them connect. It was interesting to see this within a romance of romance troubles involving others. The celebs in the public eye added an additional strain to the drama woven throughout this book.
It was average, with a few mildly spicy scenes. But still a generic romance nonetheless. Nothing particularly stood out to me besides liking James and Carly independently as characters. Considering Christina and Lauren are two people it is impressive how cohesive and well written the book is though.
Another good basic gateway romance with basic tropes and minimal topics that could be triggering besides some alcoholism, fire and arguing.
James and Carey have a coworkers to lovers arc and I really enjoyed seeing them connect. It was interesting to see this within a romance of romance troubles involving others. The celebs in the public eye added an additional strain to the drama woven throughout this book.
It was average, with a few mildly spicy scenes. But still a generic romance nonetheless. Nothing particularly stood out to me besides liking James and Carly independently as characters. Considering Christina and Lauren are two people it is impressive how cohesive and well written the book is though.
Another good basic gateway romance with basic tropes and minimal topics that could be triggering besides some alcoholism, fire and arguing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny
macykey's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Everything with Carey and James’ romance felt rushed and unearned. I don’t feel like we got to know enough about their personalities or that they had enough time to interact before jumping into ‘I love you’. The book was an easy read though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual content
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have been making my way through as many Christina Lauren books as I can get my hands on and I have enjoyed every single one I have read so far, but this has been my least favourite of them.
The Honey-Don't List was a good story but it just felt average to me. There just wasn't a lot going on with the characters or the plot in comparison to the other Christina Lauren books I have read and enjoyed more. I did love the health representations explored with Carey, and I loved the home design angle to the story, but that is all that really stuck out for me.
The Honey-Don't List was a good story but it just felt average to me. There just wasn't a lot going on with the characters or the plot in comparison to the other Christina Lauren books I have read and enjoyed more. I did love the health representations explored with Carey, and I loved the home design angle to the story, but that is all that really stuck out for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
amanda_reads13's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Carey is an underappreciated employee of the Tripps, who are HGTV royalty. She has worked for them since she was 16 and sees them as family. James, accepted a job with the Tripps because it was all he could get after his last workplace was investigated by the FBI. The Tripps are a nightmare to work for; behind their perfect image is a couple who fight constantly and hate each other. After Rusty was caught cheating on Millie, Carey and James were forced to babysit them on their book tour. They both want to quit, but Carey needs the insurance and James has been promised a big promotion. On this tour James and Carey develop a relationship. All goes to hell when the Tripps have a fight in public and the 4 of them are forced to go to a cabin while they wait for the premiere of the Tripps new Netflix show and the second season renewal. As expected, things fall apart fast when they are at the cabin.
This was a cute book that had a few funny moments. I liked the dual POV. I hated the Tripps. They were selfish and entitled jerks. I really thought the police investigation was headed in a very different direction. The big "event" that leads to a police investigation was a bit lackluster.
Enemies to friends to lovers
This was a cute book that had a few funny moments. I liked the dual POV. I hated the Tripps. They were selfish and entitled jerks. I really thought the police investigation was headed in a very different direction. The big "event" that leads to a police investigation was a bit lackluster.
Enemies to friends to lovers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexism, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love Christina Lauren’s books, and while this one wasn’t my favorite of theirs, I still enjoyed it.
The Honey-Do List is a light romcom with two main characters that I really adored, Carey and James—they were so compatible and sweet and actually cared about each other in a way that was thoughtfully communicated and executed. They both had their own real insecurities and reasons for their choices. I found that their love story felt very believable and natural.
In this way, I wished more of the book focused on their relationship and less on that of their insufferable bosses, home renovation’s ~darling~ it couple… who secretly hate each other. And everyone else, basically. They made me so angry with how they treated Carey and James! I could’ve done without their characters tbh, though they were the reason for the season, aka why Carey and James even met in the first place.
*Bonus points for the chronic pain representation and discussion, and honest conversations about therapy!*
A cute, easy read for fans of the movie Set It Up, the book The Hating Game, HGTV shows like “Fixer Upper” or “Flip or Flop” or “Home Town”, and the like.
The Honey-Do List is a light romcom with two main characters that I really adored, Carey and James—they were so compatible and sweet and actually cared about each other in a way that was thoughtfully communicated and executed. They both had their own real insecurities and reasons for their choices. I found that their love story felt very believable and natural.
In this way, I wished more of the book focused on their relationship and less on that of their insufferable bosses, home renovation’s ~darling~ it couple… who secretly hate each other. And everyone else, basically. They made me so angry with how they treated Carey and James! I could’ve done without their characters tbh, though they were the reason for the season, aka why Carey and James even met in the first place.
*Bonus points for the chronic pain representation and discussion, and honest conversations about therapy!*
A cute, easy read for fans of the movie Set It Up, the book The Hating Game, HGTV shows like “Fixer Upper” or “Flip or Flop” or “Home Town”, and the like.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Moderate: Classism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Addiction
chloelj27's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed the characters and the banter especially between Carey and James. Melly and Rusty were written well in my opinion. Melly was meant to be the bitchy boss who always under appreciated Carey and Rusty was meant to be the laid back, “doesn’t care anymore” husband and that all came across.
I started off really liking James and Carey’s relationship and I still did at the end, but it felt rather rushed and overshadowed at times due to Melly and Rusty’s relationship and drama. Carey and James did have some very sweet scenes together though that made my heart melt. In terms of the passion between them both, I didn’t get it as much unfortunately.
I love the storyline and it reminded me of the movie, Set It Up - two assistants trying to keep their bosses happy and their relationship strong whilst forming a relationship of their own. I think the ending was rather rushed though and I really wish we got a bit more closure in terms of Melly and Carey’s relationship. I would have also like to know a bit more about Rusty and Carey’s relationship too as we weren’t shown much of that.
I started off really liking James and Carey’s relationship and I still did at the end, but it felt rather rushed and overshadowed at times due to Melly and Rusty’s relationship and drama. Carey and James did have some very sweet scenes together though that made my heart melt. In terms of the passion between them both, I didn’t get it as much unfortunately.
I love the storyline and it reminded me of the movie, Set It Up - two assistants trying to keep their bosses happy and their relationship strong whilst forming a relationship of their own. I think the ending was rather rushed though and I really wish we got a bit more closure in terms of Melly and Carey’s relationship. I would have also like to know a bit more about Rusty and Carey’s relationship too as we weren’t shown much of that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Cursing
alexia445's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Toxic relationship
sinilukee's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism