Let me start this review with a little heads up, this is not your typical rom com! It is so much more than romance. This book grabbed a hold of my heart and has not let it go. I finished this book last night and I am still an emotional mess.

This story follows two sisters who could not be more different, they are truly polar opposites. Marin has never left Tennessee and is a constant worrier. She likes to plan and be in control of everything that happens in her life. On the flip side, her younger sister, Sadie, is a free spirit. She lives life spontaneously, traveling the world as a photographer.

When Sadie convinces her control freak of a sister to go on a sisters retreat to paradise, Marin reluctantly agrees. However, there is a hitch, Sadie misses the flight and Marin must fend for herself.

On the plane Marin meets the handsome, yet arrogant, Lucas Tsai. From there Marin has to learn how to let go and enjoy herself. Learn how to live life without control and a planner. Go on adventures, have fun, smile a little.

I thought these characters were relatable and found their way into my heart. I fell in love with them and the story of sisters moving on in separate ways after the death of their mother. This book has romance in it, but it is also about family, sisterly love, grieving, and finding yourself.

One warning I will give you if you decide to read this book, have tissues nearby! I have not ugly cried to a book in a while and this one definitely had me full blown sobbing. I cannot recommend this book enough, just know going into it, that it is not a warm and cuddly rom com. To be fair, life is not generally warm and cuddly.

So all that to say, you should run, not walk to the bookstore on March 23rd to pick up your copy!

I suspect my feelings on this book would be more positive if I'd known what I was getting into when I cracked open the virtual spine. 

See, here's the thing. Suggesting a "heart-wrenching truth" in a synopsis that also mentions rom-com like hijinks such as a missed flight, mixed up luggage, and landing in a hot guy's lap isn't enough to tell me as a reader that this book is actually a full-on tear-jerker. 

This isn't the author's fault, but I'm left feeling angry that the book I felt I was promised is not the book I read. If I'd wanted a tear-jerker, I would have picked one up. This sort-of misleading marketing is frustrating at best, and I really wish publishers would stop trying to trick me into reading a book that isn't actually a rom-com. 

So I'll add the disclosure that I don't actually like tear-jerkers. I am very rarely in the mood for them, and I'm especially not in the mood for them after a year of living in a pandemic, raising twin babies without any help outside our household, and missing my friends and family. So once I realized (over 50% of the way in) that this book was NOT going to be a fun, fluffy romp through paradise, I got angry. 

That said, I was already struggling to connect with the supposed romance in this book. We know so little about Lucas Tsai, and I never felt any real chemistry between him and Marin. A good hero should make ME fall in love with him just like the heroine does, and while I didn't dislike Lucas, I never felt connected or attached to him in anyway. The romance aspect of this book just felt sort of forced, and I didn't really buy into it. 

If you don't care about the romance, this book is really more about one woman finding herself, facing grief (both old and new), and about the bond between sisters. The synopsis from the publisher isn't the best snapshot of what to expect; but if sad stories about family is your cup of tea, maybe this book will work for you. It didn't work for me.

Wow, I was expecting a cute beach rom-com but I got so much more. This book is so beautiful and heartfelt. It was an absolute joy to read. The relationship between Marin and Sadie was so realistic and beautiful. I loved that we got to hear the story from different perspectives. I loved the different settings in the story, it really added to the story. Meet Me in Paradise is a wonderful story about love, family and finding yourself. I couldn't have loved this story anymore.

This was not a bad book, but I unfortunately lost interest in it about halfway through.  It is not really a romance, although there is a romance in it, which I didn't think was very well developed. No chemistry between the characters and the whole thing with Ted was just too much.  The relationship between the sisters was better developed although I thought what Sadie did to her sister, while well meant, was kind of cruel, even under the circumstances.  Overall, this was a bit too depressing for me but I think a lot of people will enjoy it.

GOOD GOD MY HEART!!!! THIS BOOK!!!! IT SHATTERED IT!!! AND THEN PIECED IT BACK TOGETHER!!! Okay okay okay. Wow. Where to start. First and foremost, this is a story of the love of sisters. True, unfettered, and unrestrained love between two women who went through the worst together and came out of it stronger. The bond that is created between Sadie and Marin is evident from page 1, and it’s the type of love that tugs at your heart and floods your brain. I’m trying not to give anything away, but just know this book will have you grabbing for the tissues but also laughing through your tears. And the prose. Holy hell the prose. Each page feels bubbly and special and makes you feel like you’re right there with Sadie and Marin.

I am just so on the fence about this book. The writing was good and the author seemed to have a great handle on her characters... I just didn’t really like the full situation.

Marin is an overbearing and boring older sister to a younger and more free Sadie. After the death of their mother, Marin felt she had no other choice but to become the sole protector of her little sister. The woman goes so far as to live not even half a life in order to secure the safety of her sister, which makes absolutely no sense to me... Marin declines to make big important steps in her own life in order to stay close to her sister, who ends up living a carefree and wild life anyway.

And all of this culminated in the beginning of our story where Marin waits dotingly for Sadie to return home from yet another incredible adventure only for Sadie to act uncharacteristically strange up until the day they decide to board a plane for a sisters’ vacation... where Sadie just doesn’t show up. No, instead Sadie has a secret and instead of informing her sister who has given up her life for her, she cons her into taking a trip completely out of her comfort zone ALONE (unbeknownst to Marin).

I understand the point of Sadie’s goal here. She wants her sister to begin to live life, but to more importantly understand that she has a life to live, a life that will go on, and one that deserves living it to the fullest. While I understand the logic behind Sadie’s ridiculous antics, I was still in a constant state of disbelief that it would even happen in the first place...

I didn’t like Marin’s absolute faith on the idea that she had to excuse everything in her own life to give attention to her sister. It made me mad and just felt completely implausible.

With all of my criticism aside, I enjoyed Marin’s character growth. I did, in fact, enjoy the sister bond that Sadie and Marin share. And I liked the story as a whole... but getting from the beginning to the end was a bit of a leap for me.

On this trip, Marin grows so immensely. She meets new people, must make amends with her past demons and even falls in love. I loved watching her come out of her shell and make big improvements to her own character.

I have conflicting feelings about this book. I thought it was a beautiful story about love, grief, and getting out of your comfort zone. The island itself sounded lush and vibrant. The islanders all seemed community-oriented and kind. I would have loved to spend time on that island. I loved how Marin adapted to island life. I loved how Lucas showed he cared and quietly understood her. It's a very warm story. I didn't find it particularly romantic but I think that's because Lucas and Marin were both quite subtle, many of their interactions were sweet but anything above sweet was very "blink and you'll miss it" - which is fine, it's just that kind of story. 

However, despite enjoying the story itself, I did not like Marin. I did not feel like she had much of an identity outside of being a sister. Every few sentences were about her sister and I realize that's kind of the point - it's just the point I didn't enjoy. Her life revolved around her sister and she had little to nothing else going on in her life. Marin may have been the main character of the book but Sadie was the main character of Marin's life. I found myself skimming paragraphs to parts where she wasn't talking about her sister. I couldn't get a sense of what her personality was other than repressed and uptight. She wasn't funny, neither was Lucas. She didn't seem to have any real interests outside of her sister. It sometimes felt like Tennessee Marin was a statue at home that came alive when Sadie was home, and only to protect her.

I did ache for everyone involved as grief is such a tender topic and I thought it was sweet to watch Lucas and Marin bond over that shared experience. There were things about Lucas that I wanted to like but just couldn't. He seemed like a nice enough guy but not someone I connected with. He was at times just as closed off as Marin and it was clear that he just "got" her. While the romance left a lot to be desired, in my opinion, there's something to be said about the friendship built between Marin and Lucas over the course of the story. They seemed so much like kindred souls that I was actually annoyed when another character overstayed their welcome, detracting from what I think - based on their underlying connection - could have been a much deeper romantic story.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Marin and Sadie are as close as two sisters can be, but they are also complete opposites. Where Marin is a reserved worrier, Sadie is a spontaneous free spirit. Their relationship has always worked because they balance each other out.

When Sadie returns home from her latest exciting adventure, she seems a little different. But then she suggests her and Marin go on vacation together to a tropical paradise. Despite being afraid of travel, Marin gives in. Unbeknownst to Marin, however, this is all an elaborate gift from Sadie who wants Marin to truly experience living life before it’s too late.

Although it’s pretty obvious where this story’s journey will take you, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have your tissues handy. This is a book that focuses on the importance of living life to its fullest, but it additionally pays tribute to the special bond so many sisters share. It also made me wish for the 99th time that I had a sister of my own, but I digress.

I read this one with @lovearctually. Special thanks to @netgalley, @berkleypub, and @libbyhubscher for writing such a moving story. Definitely check this one out when it releases on March 23rd!

This was an emotional page turner of a novel. I do have to say that I prefer character driven novels so while this did go into Marin’s and everyone else’s characteristics, there was a good chunk of the novel that was focused on the activities Marin did with Lucas on the island. I felt this part dragged a bit and when it hit just over the halfway mark, it then picked up for me and I couldn’t put it down after that. 

I really loved the depth of Marin’s character and it was heartbreaking when she had to say goodbye to another and her last family member. I especially loved it when she went off to Italy to find herself and it felt a bit like Eat, Pray, Love. I was right there with her when she was in Amalfi, enjoying the culture and rediscovering what she wants in life.

While I can appreciate the author's intentions and writing style, I did not enjoy this book because I was hoping for a happier story rather than the sad tone that followed through this story.

The stages of reading this book....
1. Yes! I’m so excited I received this ARC I love rom coms!
2. @lovearctually choose this a group read. Yes! I love buddy reads.
3. Start reading
4. I love stories about sisters! They are yin and yang. Marin is an uptight older sister and Sadie a is creative, world traveler!
5. Sadie missed her flight. Oh boy hi jinks will ensue I know it!
6. Adorable meet cute on the plane for Lucas and Marin
7. GORGEOUS PARASIDE landscape
8. Counting the minutes until Lucas and Marin realize they are meant for each other
9. Wait a minute
10. Wait a damn minute
11. Is this not a rom-com?
12. Am I sobbing??
13. Ok funny, flirty banter. 
14. Holy crap this this is not a rom com. This book is tearing my heart out
15. Yup not a rom com. BRB crying
16. Ugly crying
17. Some moments of humor
18. Ok, I’m crying again
19. I love this book. Not at all what I expected but I still love it. It’s a beautiful story of friends, family sisters and love.
20. I loved the ending and yes, it made me cry again

My take away this is not a rom com but it does have some moments. It’s a heartfelt book and I loved it. It is just beautiful and so unique, but make sure you have tissue nearby.
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Thank you to #Netgalley and #Berkleypub 
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Get this on your radar for March 23rd!

This may be a favorite book of mine this year. It had everything I needed. The characters were great as well as their chemistry and wittiness. I also fell in love with side characters. I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends and followers.

Well it is a good thing I buy tissues in bulk because oh my word, I needed them. I will admit that I am an emotional hot mess on a good day. I wear my heart on my sleeves and have so much empathy that I can barely contain it. I cry often and if something gets me in the feels ( I am looking at you Cerulean Sea and Meet me in Paradise) then once I start crying, well I just don't stop. 

The blurb on this one is that Marin and Sadie are sisters, and their mother died on assignment as a journalist. Marin, has always played it safe and raised Sadie. Sadie is a wild free spirit, who was literally hanging from the rafters at her mothers funeral. Sadie comes home from her latest wild photography adventure and convinces Marin to go on a girls trip to an Island called Saba. Problem is Sadie has no intention of showing up on this trip and Marin has the worst travelling experience ever. In her hellish ride through the Caribbean she falls into the lap of Super hottie Lucas Tsai and he attempts to show her a good time on the island since her sister stood her up. Marin is confused and worried and trying to do as her sister asked because she knows she needs to step out of her comfort zone, but why is she on this island in the first place. 

The emotional roller coaster that is this book is one that made this old lady relate and feel all the sadness and all the love. I felt as though I was on this trip with Marin ( I wish hello tropical island in the best suite on the property) and I was getting to experience everything she was. The writing is great and I loved the character development. My only complaint is the pacing of the book. I felt it was a bit slow, but I did read it in one sitting. There is no shock in this book. You are fairly quickly introduced to the idea of why Marin is on this trip alone, you the reader knows but Marin does not. 

I loved this. I will recommend it highly. It is an emotional one. 4 & 1/2 stars from me. It broke my heart but put it back together in a very nice way.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the copy. 

This has such great reviews and I was looking forward to it but I had such a hard time getting through the book. It just dragged on. Could have been a lot shorter. I didn’t connect to the characters either.

DNF -- I read a couple chapters but then other reviews informed me of a surprise cancer subplot and I'm not interested in reading anymore.

I am not sure if this book is being marketed as a romance, when in reality it isn't! It is more of a story of two sisters, one of whom is fearful and scared to take risks, and the other who is the ultimate risk taker and a fan of seeing the world. Sadie sends Marin to Saba - a real Caribbean island - and gets her to experience some adventure. Without spoilers, there is grief and sadness in this book, as well as some insta-love, which is not my favorite. I loved the island setting.

Reviewed for Shelf Awareness. Review will run near publication date.

Meet Me in Paradise, Libby Hubscher's debut contemporary novel blends one part self-discovery adventure, one part vacation romance and one part family heartbreak into a book that reads like a summer romantic comedy film with a surprisingly tragic base.
After the death of their mother while teens, Marin and her younger sister Sadie take two different approaches to life. Marin assumes responsibility for Sadie and everything else in their lives, while Sadie adopts a "life is short" mentality and follows their investigate journalist mother's footsteps as a risk-taker and world traveler. Hoping to convince Sadie to finally settle down, Marin agrees to her first ever vacation out of Tennessee, only for Sadie to abandon her before the flight. As Marin stumbles through a comedy of errors--an emergency plane landing, misplaced luggage, accidentally exposing herself to the sexy owner of the resort she's staying at--Sadie is at home coming up with more ways to keep Marin out of her comfort zone. While most of the book is told in Marin's point of view, short interstitial chapters from Sadie reveal the reason she's so determined to give Marin the adventure of a lifetime. After all, life is short.
Not simply a breezy romantic comedy, Hubscher captures the duality of life in Meet Me in Paradise. Every vacation has to end and as Marin finds herself and a new love with Lucas Tsai, she's about to lose something precious.

Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher is a excellent standalone romance novel. We meet Marin Cole and her sister, Sadie; after their mother’s death, Marin stepped up to watch over her younger sister. As they get older, she constantly worries about Sadie’s wild adventures, as she does a lot of traveling, being a photographer and thinks nothing of doing fun and dangerous things.   When Sadie comes home after a time in China, she plans a sister getaway, forcing Marin to open up and go with her to a tropical island, Saba.  When Marin gets on the flight, Sadie was late and missed the flight, promising that she will take the next flight out.   A man who came in the last minute takes her sister’s seat, much to her chagrin.

Lucas Tsai is the handsome stranger, who ends up helping Marin during the flight, as she was a mess, being scared about the turbulence.  When they arrive in Saba, she learns that Lucas Tsai is a wealthy man, who is a hotel tycoon, and owning the resort in Saba.  Lucas goes out of his way to make Marin comfortable and to enjoy her stay; though he does notice that she is uptight about everything, since she has not really experienced a true vacation and time to learn to enjoy the things that her sister most certainly would have had.  
In a short time, Marin will learn that Sadie has no intention to coming to Saba, and wants her sister to enjoy the things she has never had the time to do.  Lucas will go out of his way to take her touring and taking chances to thing she was too afraid to try; such as going on trails, mountains, diving for pearls; not to mention having lost her luggage, etc.  Marin begins to open up, and allow herself to have fun, especially spending time with the gorgeous Lucas, as well as befriending many of the local people.  What follows is a slow build romance between Marin and Lucas, but will it last when she plans to return home?

Things will change when Marin learns the truth of why she is there, and why Sadie is doing everything to keep her on vacation.  What follows becomes an emotional rollercoaster for the last third of the book; as anxiety, grief, tears, sadness changes everything.  We spend a lot of time with Marin, Sadie, Felix, and Lucas during the emotional story line closer to the end.  

Meet me in Paradise was an excellent story, split into two parts; one the fun and escapades that Marin did with Lucas and local friends and the complete change when grief and sadness take control.  I do not want to give spoilers, since you need to read this book. I thought Libby Hubscher did a fabulous job in writing this wonderful novel.

Well I'm officially an emotional wreck after reading this book...

Probably my mistake, but I thought this was advertised as a vacation romance, which it is definitely NOT. This is an absolutely heart-wrenching story of grief, fear, and complex family relationships. I adored the the sisterhood trope and wish I could partake in a fierce three-way hug with Sadie and Marin - they were really special characters that I will not soon forget.

My only critique for this book is the romance. I found that it was not well-developed and lacked chemistry, so by the end it just seemed a little far-fetched. Lucas was a character I would have loved to understand better, and I think a few sections from his perspective would have made a big difference. I still really enjoyed this book - I actually think it could have been great without the romance at all - it just felt like more of an afterthought to me.

Read this for ALL the emotions and a beautiful island setting with sweet and lovable characters.

This book was truly heart-wrenching. If you're expecting a cute romantic-comedy, this is not it. That doesn't mean stay away--this is a truly excellent story--I just want everyone to go in eyes wide open. This story deals a lot with grief (CW: death of family member), and the romance is most definitely secondary. But the book is so emotional, and so well done, that it'll leave you thinking about it for days to come.

At first, I was a little thrown off by the disjointed writing style, of switching perspective for some chapters, but soon realized it was necessary to tell the story and helped the reader get tidbits of information in small doses that we wouldn't otherwise have. You get used to it after a bit and appreciate the uniqueness. 

This book is one I would highly recommend if you're looking for:
An island fling (maybe more??)
Tropical vibes
A good cry
Excellent writing

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 stars - 9/10