Rating: 4.5/5
Steam: 3.5/5
Warnings: absentee parent, toxic family culture, illness of a parent

Thank you Gallery Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Why did I wait to read this book? I don't know but it was fabulous. The perfect mixture of chaos, humor, steam and all around a good time.

One thing I love to observe (I know, this is bad) but wealthy people behaving badly. It is almost like, are you serious? We should know who you are because of that? Anyways, this book was filled with that and it was WILD.. It was similar to Crazy Rich Asians but they were not Asian but still in that part of the world on a private island.

What I loved: My fav trope but with a twist. Wedding shenanigans and family drama. The setting was so perfect, I almost felt like I was there and now want to visit. Late night pizza in the kitchen. Liam's perspective on his family. Such great banter and the steam was an ode to the OG CLo. Anna's story was so real for so many and I am so glad they showcased that.

What I didn't love: Liam's family really was quite cruel and while the epilogue covered how they were mending, it wish I saw more of that on page.

Just binged "The Paradise Problem" in 24 hours and OMG, I’m obsessed! 😍 From the prologue, I was HOOKED. The story follows two main characters who get married in college for financial reasons and end up faking their marriage for a family wedding years later. The banter and opposites attract energy between them were on point! 🥰 The tension was palpable and kept me on the edge of my seat. Plus, the paradise backdrop and family drama added so much to the plot. 🌴✨ This writing duo never disappoints. Perfect fun read for this summer! ☀️📚 #Bookstagram #TheParadiseProblem #SummerReads #BookReview

3.75
2
Christina Lauren are the queens of romcoms!
Anna and West got married in college so they could live in family housing and save some money. 3 years latter and Anna is a struggling artist and West is a professor at Sanford. Anna thought she signed divorce papers 3 years ago when West moved out but when West shows up at her door she finds out that was not the case.
West needs Anna to attend a 10 day family wedding to convince his family they are in fact married so he can collect his inheritance.
This is a fun romcom that you don't have to think too much about. I would 100% recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Christina Lauren's "The Paradise Problem" is a captivating romantic escapade that flawlessly executes the beloved fake dating trope. Set against the picturesque backdrop of a tropical paradise, this novel introduces readers to the irresistible chemistry between Anna Green and her fake husband, Liam "West" Weston.

What truly sets this book apart is the dynamic banter between Anna and Liam. Their playful exchanges and witty repartee inject the narrative with a delightful energy, keeping readers thoroughly entertained from start to finish. Christina Lauren masterfully crafts their interactions, making each moment feel genuine and heartwarming.

However, it's not just the romance that makes "The Paradise Problem" shine. The complication introduced by Liam's family adds depth and intrigue to the story, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate through unexpected twists and turns.

As a reader who typically reserves five-star ratings for only the most exceptional romance novels, I found myself unable to resist awarding "The Paradise Problem" with the highest praise. Christina Lauren's seamless blend of humor, romance, and family drama creates an irresistible narrative that is sure to captivate readers of all ages.

In conclusion, "The Paradise Problem" is a must-read for fans of the fake dating trope and anyone looking for a charming and engaging romance novel. With its well-developed characters, sparkling dialogue, and compelling storyline, this book deserves nothing less than five stars. Christina Lauren has once again proven why they are masters of the genre, delivering a heartfelt and unforgettable story that will leave readers swooning until the very last page.

Review will be posted on 5/21/24

Anna Green married Liam Weston years ago as an arrangement to qualify for the much coveted campus housing in college. After an amicable arrangement, they part ways at graduation and don't see each other for years; that is until Liam shows up on Anna's doorstep. Apparently, they never really divorced and he needs her help again. Liam is the heir to a major successful grocery store chain and needs to stay married for five years to obtain his inheritance. This is where Anna comes in. He needs her to pretend to be married to him and attend his sister's wedding; in turn, Anna will get a cut of the money, which she desperately needs and Liam will get his inheritance if all goes well. So, off Anna and Liam go to a private island for a family wedding and although Liam's family is pretty horrible, Anna has come to realize that he isn't. Christina Lauren's The Paradise Problem is a steamy rom-com with everything readers could want in a beach read: a tropical setting, an opposites attract romance, family drama, and a lot of witty banter.

The Paradise Problem had me laughing out loud at times. It reminded me of one of my favorite rom-coms from the 90s. Anna is a delightful character, but also very quirky; you can't help but love her. Liam is her polar opposite, so I really enjoyed how their romance unfolded. Fans of the fake marriage trope will especially enjoy this one. Also, I liked the private island setting of The Paradise Problem as this only added to the beach read appeal. Fans of romance can't go wrong with Christina Lauren's novels. The Paradise Problem will make for great vacation reading this summer.

🌸 The Paradise Problem 🌸
Christina Lauren

I so enjoyed this book! Anna is totally my kind of girl and her dry and quick humor had me laughing a lot! West or Liam actually is a total cinnamon roll of a man, but when Anna is definitely his frosting filling in all his layers with the unconditional love and support he has been missing. This marriage of convenience/fake dating set in an actual paradise set these two up for crossing the lines of friendship in the best of ways!

Anna Green thought her marriage to Liam “West” Weston was just a way to get access to subsidized family housing at UCLA, ending with their graduation and supposed divorce. Three years later, Anna is a struggling artist while West is a Stanford professor and heir to the Weston Foods empire. Despite his disinterest in the family business, West is keen on his $100 million inheritance, which requires him to be happily married for five years. With pressure mounting from his family to meet his spouse, West turns to Anna, his not-quite-ex-wife. As they grow closer during their time in paradise, he must decide if his inheritance is worth risking the genuine love that has emerged from their sham marriage.

Read if you enjoy
💍 Marriage of Convenience
❣️ Fake Dating
💞 Friends to Lovers
🏝️ Island Setting
💰 Billionaire
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Family Drama
🗣️ Banter
🧲 Opposites Attract
🛏️ Only One Bed

Thank you to @gallerybooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

#christinalauren #botm #bookofthemonth #theparadiseproblem #paradiseproblem #netgalley #arcreview #BookReview #BookRecommendation #marriageofconvenience #fakedating #friendstolovers

I just loved this book. Anna and Liam's lives are like oil and water. You would have never seen these two together if it wasn't for the fact they are married because Liam needed to get into UCLA housing. They have not seen each other since graduation. Anna is a starving artist trying to make ends meet and keep up with her dad's medical bills. Liam is now a professor. Now, Liam needs Anna again. When she agrees because of the money offered, they are whisked off to Liam's sister's island wedding where most of Liam's family is going to meet her for the first time. They think she is a doctor, but some secrets will be revealed. The longer they are on the island, Anna falls deeper, until secrets come out and all heck breaks lose. This was an awesome read. Thank you to Christina Lauren, Galley Books, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was such a cute read. Loved the dynamic between Anna and West/Liam. And felt like both were relatable and real. Ate this one up!

Since I don’t have any kids and I am not a teacher, summer begins when the weather finally gets warmer. So it’s officially summer for me and what better way to start it off than with a rom com set on a private island. This had the equivalent of my favorite trope, a fake marriage.

I love Anna and West/Liam. They are opposites in so many ways, which played well for their slow burn romance. She’s out of work and poor from a small family filled with love. And he’s not only a professor but is first in line to run the family company from an over the top large dysfunctional family. I loved their banter as they learned about each other while pretending they’ve been married for five years.

Even though this is very much a slow burn, there is some spice, heartfelt moments, laughter and romance to root for. I enjoyed disliking Liam’s family in all their quirkiness and dysfunction and wanting him to land on top. There were moments that pulled on my heartstrings in hearing about Anna’s family.

This was a great read to start my summer reading. Everything coming up will have a lot to live up to.

The Paradise Problem is Christina Lauren at their best. This is a fun and funny story that I flew right through, soaking up every moment with these characters. And who doesn’t love some well-written fake dating antics? Or the chemistry thusly generated? This is a perfect choice for this summer’s beach reading season- though I’m glad I didn’t wait that long.

Thank you Christina Lauren, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am so honored I finally got a Christina Lauren book as an arc!!!!!!

This book is the best romcom I have ever read. The characters are flushed, marriage of convenience, and literal laughing out loud from the first page! I have recommended it to everyone I have seen since it released. I will honestly go back and read everything ever written by this powerhouse duo!

I devoured this book! I absolutely loved the premise and plot—it hit so many of my favorite tropes and did them exceptionally well. The writing, pacing, characters, romance—everything was on point. I was giggling and loving it from start to finish.
Both main characters are incredibly lovable, fun, and real. Their chemistry and banter were top-tier. This is the perfect summer read, so do yourself a favor and pick it up! You won't regret it!

thank you gallery books for the earc in exchange for a honest review!

marriage of convenience
forced proximity
one bed
opposites attract
banter
destination wedding
billionaire

If you loved Succession & White Lotus, but wish they were funnier & with less murder, this is the book for you! All the characters were so well-written and I loved the exotic location. This was my first Christina Lauren book & I look forward to reading more!

Is it socially acceptable to dye my hair pink? Asking for a friend.

Thank you Booksparks and Simon and Schuster Audio for the gifted copies in exchange for my honest review.

Christina Lauren hit me with a plane and sent me right into a tropical paradise of happiness. This is the epitome of perfect beach read.

Can I gush about Anna for a second? Because I think I have a girl crush on an fictional character. I really just appreciate when authors write in artists into their stories. Anna is just so cool because she has this really unique personality that I found to be addicting to read about. I loved that she was bold. You have to be a confident and BA woman to rock pink hair on a daily basis. I thought she was so awesome because she NEVER gave up on becoming an artist even though she was at her lowest. She had so much passion for painting that she never gave up. I love love loved that. Speaking of her painting, we get her literal inner dialogue when she paint and has ideas for future paintings. I can relate because I think very similarly when it comes to graphic design.

I am not usually one for family drama but HOT DOG the Weston family were a dumpster fire that I was addicted to reading about. *insert me munching on popcorn watching the flames*

Seriously, when the authors hit you with a first chapter that a break-up unfolds and the female main character is happy because it was all arranged just so the pair could get housing how can you not be addicted? *mind explosion*

It only gets better from there because Wes and Anna are forced back together three years later in an incredible vacation filled with deception, secrets and romance, duh.

The romance is... A W E S O M E. The one bed. SHEESH! *fanning face* I don't think I can ever eat frozen pizza again without thinking about that scene (IFYKYK)

Trust me when I say this is the book you're going to want to binge read in the sun. Bring paradise to your life. I can picture it for you all right now... grabbing a fancy adult bevy, relaxing in a beach chair and letting the problems that are the Weston's unfold before you in this glorious romance. It's literal vacation perfection.

Quick note... I will say I took a .5 star away from this book because them referencing his "goods" as "god d***" was eye roll worthy. Sorry, please don't come after me! *runs away*

I have to admit I only did a bit of the audiobook sooooo I didn't get the F U L L experience when it came to Christina Lauren's latest. I enjoyed my time when I was listening. The narrators did a great job at pacing the story well and keeping the reader entertained. Personally, I didn't think Patti Murin's voice fit Anna's character well. I don't think her voice really represented her youthfulness and creative soul. I wish that it was something more animated. Outside of that, I'd say the audiobook is worth it!

- Billionaire
- Rags to Riches
- Marriage of convenience
- One Bed
- Tropical Vacation Vibes
- Habanero Spiced
- Messy Families

The book begins with Anna’s ex-husband Liam moving out of their apartment, and we quickly realize that the setup isn’t what you might expect.

They got married so they could live in family housing at UCLA.

A few years later it turns out they didn’t really divorce, and for Liam to get his enormous inheritance, they need to stay married.

The trouble is, Liam’s wife needs to accompany him to his sister’s private island wedding without earning any suspicion from the family, or everything could fall apart.

Meanwhile Anna has just lost her cashier job, and she’s trying to make ends meet and help pay for her father’s chemo, which is challenging as a budding artist.

Anna agrees to go to the wedding, and let the opposites attract, marriage of convenience romance begin! 🤩

I love both of these characters. Anna is wild and creative with a heart of gold. Liam is more reserved, but despite significant family trauma, he tries hard — and succeeds— at being a good man.

This is a slow-burn spicy romance set in paradise. The amount of wealth is insane, and the cast of characters (Liam’s family) is equally insane, but so very entertaining.

I love how reading this book feels like going on a vacation, yet the focus remains on our couple.

This is one of the most solid and believable romances I’ve ever read. This is a couple that you don’t doubt will make it, and my anxious self saying that is rare.

This is a top recommendation for summer, or anytime you want to treat yourself! It’s also my favorite by these incredible authors.

I demand that this be adapted for the screen. Manifesting!

I absolutely LOVED this one! I had read a few bad reviews about this one so I was nervous going in, but man this surprised me how much I loved it! Every time I had to put the book down, I was counting the hours until I could go back to it! The characters were both easy to love, pace was perfect, the storyline even felt unique. I really enjoyed this one and I would absolutely recommend it! It's a perfect beach read.

An opposites attract, fake marriage romance between a grocery chain heir and a broke free-spirited artist.

Anna and Liam married each other to qualify for cheap student family housing. Anna believed herself to be divorced, until Liam shows up asking her to accompany him to his sister’s wedding in Singapore… as the wife his family is expecting. Due to stipulations in his grandfather’s will, the two must convince Liam’s well to do family that they have been happily married for five years in order to receive a massive inheritance.

I was so taken in by the gorgeous tropical setting for Anna and Liam’s forced proximity opposites attract romance. There were some sizzling scenes, toxic family moments, hilarious rich people antics and have I mentioned this is dual POV (and dual narration for the audiobook!).

The Paradise Problem is the perfect book to read on the beach, on vacation or when you wish you could escape to a tropical island.

🌟𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪🌟
Writing duo Christina Lauren have done it again with 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠! The plot is completely far-fetched but the characters feel so real that you can't help but get sucked into their story - I was so into this book, I read it in one day!

This book features:
💍 Fake marriage
🏝️ Only one bed in paradise
😡 Dysfunctional family drama
☯️ Opposites attract
💰 Rich people behaving badly
👰🏼‍♀️ An over-the-top wedding
📺 Fun pop culture references
🛍️ A Pretty Women-esque fashion transformation
🗣️ A couple who communicates like adults
🌶️ Some serious spice

If you're looking for a fun romance to add to your must-read list for summer, this is it. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Gallery Books for the copy to review.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren introduces readers to Anna Green and Liam 'West' Weston, whose seemingly simple college marriage for housing takes a dramatic turn when a substantial inheritance enters the picture. This novel skillfully oscillates between the past and present, delving into the intricate layers of Anna and Liam's evolving relationship. As an enthusiast of the fake dating/marriage trope, I found myself captivated by their journey of emotions and rediscovery.

Christina Lauren, renowned for their mastery of romance, once again proves their talent in crafting compelling stories with characters that feel real and relatable. The blend of humor and heart in this book is exceptional, as is the exploration of how wealth can affect genuine relationships. Anna’s spirited, artistic nature and Liam’s struggle with family expectations versus true love create a captivating dynamic that kept me hooked from start to finish.

The Paradise Problem excels in every aspect of a perfect romance read – from its engaging characters and well-executed trope to Christina Lauren’s trademark wit. The authors' knack for writing sparkling dialogue and authentic interactions makes their characters' experiences and quirks highly believable. Even the most whimsical premises have a layer of depth that draws readers in.

This book is no exception. By the time I reached the final chapter, I was left reflecting on the story and lamenting the wait for Christina Lauren's next novel. Their ability to create such an immersive and emotionally rich experience is truly remarkable.

I am deeply grateful to the publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Fake dating is the romance trope of the summer! I adored this one - and getting to judge rich people for their over-the-top extravagance. It was funny, romantic, heartbreaking (I love a good angsty moment), and everything I was looking forward to from this writing duo. Christina Lauren strike again!

Thank you for the early access!