I went into this expecting a light holiday-in-the-sun romcom, but ended up crying openly on the subway on more than one occasion. This is a beautiful story of sisterhood, grieving, and allowing yourself to let go and enjoy life. Having already told my bookish friends to look out for it, I've added it to the list of recs I'll offer customers who are looking for thoughtful, emotional romances or women's fiction novels.

Thank you NetGalley for the free eArc in exchange for an honest review!

~ 𝟑.𝟕𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
I was expecting a cute destination romance and got so much more than that. My heart has been ripped out of my chest too many times during this book. As in, tears and snot rolling down my face type of break down. I kind of enjoyed that this wasn’t a typical romance book- it’s more about life, grief, and learning to live even with fear of dying. Don’t read this one if you’re looking for a sweet, happy romance! You won’t find that here... this one has more substance than that. 

The only reason it’s not a 5 star is because I didnt care for the love triangle and the insta love, other than that it was amazing.

Oh goodness. I teared up so many times during this book! It's charming and heartbreaking and hopeful and infuriating all at the same time. This was so lovely to experience.

Make sure you have tissues when you pick this one up! Meet Me in Paradise combines a slow-burn romance with a heartbreaking sister story and the vacation of lifetime to take the reader on a tropical journey of self discovery that will have us all redoing those resolutions and bucket lists come March.

Marin has played it safe since her mother’s untimely death. She’s had to in order to take care of her adventurous younger sister Sadie. But when Sadie plans a sisters trip to a tropical paradise and then conveniently misses the flight, Marin is forced to find out who she really is and why she’s really on that island.

I loved this story. The character development is well-done and in depth. Marin had a long way to go, and each time I thought she might take the out something kept her going—sometimes Sadie, sometimes Lucas, but mostly herself, though she won’t admit that. I was rooting for her to find her way and get the guy. 

I swooned, I cried, I commiserated. One thing I really enjoyed was that with the slow-burn (and Marin’s obliviousness), I really got to fall in love with both love interests; I wanted them to figure it out and see past the broken parts of them, and in the end I was not disappointed!

This book was so sweet and, as a worrier who never takes risks myself, cathartic to read. I loved seeing Marin branch out beyond her comfort zone and find joy in that. And her romance with Lucas was lovely in that it made her grow and become better as a person, which all of the best romance novels show.

Meet Me in Paradise, by Libby Hubscher, is a gorgeous book that walks/swims/boats the line between women’s fiction (or fiction, as I like to call it) and romance. For marketing ease, we tend to divide books into categories, but that means some of us miss out on treasures like this one. This is a story about loss and sisterhood, lust and love, and one woman’s struggle to wake up from a decade-long grief. The romance in MMIP is sweet, the hero is compelling, the setting is idyllic, and the secondary characters are all well drawn and memorable. The overarching story, however, of Marin and her awkward, painful journey back to where she always wanted to be is what will keep this book in your thoughts long after you’ve finished it. Pre-order now! Whatever prejudices you might have for either WF or Romance – this book will change your mind.

Marin Cole is a homebody, scared to leave her safe surroundings in Tennessee after her mom tragically died while on an adventurous work trip.  Her younger sister, Sadie, on the other hand, is wild and adventurous just like their mom. When Sadie comes home from another far off work assignment, Marin agrees to a sister weekend at an island. But, when Sadie misses the plane, Marin’s trip takes a different turn - especially when she lands in the lap of her handsome airplane seat mate.  Marin ends up having a few adventures of her own once on the island of Saba thanks to her new dreamy friend, Lucas.  Soon she will discover the real reason for the trip. 

This was so much more than I expected. It was a sweet romantic comedy but also had so much more to the story - sweet sister bond that shows the deep and never ending love of a sister.  Bring your tissues you might need them at certain parts. Overall and great heartwarming story.  

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

From the cover and even from most of the blurb, I figured this would be a nice rom-com but there was so much more packed into this beautiful book. I didn’t know how emotional it would make me but there were plenty of tears shed and they were all worth it!

The book is split into two point-of-views: Marin and Sadie. Both sisters are completely different in looks and even their personalities. Marin would rather stay in and never leave Tennessee and worries about her sister more often than not. Sadie travels the world in search of great photos for her job. I honestly enjoyed reading about both, especially the antics of Sadie. She is a wild one!

From the beginning of the trip of a lifetime, which was supposed to be with her sister, Marin is pushed into new experiences from the get-go. There are so many hilarious moments because of it and the plane ride had me dying. And of course, there is the introduction of Lucas. The hot guy who stole her sister’s seat.

When it came to the plot, I was hooked. There are magical moments on this island and Marin is finally learning what it means to be her true self. One without worry and one that takes risk. It’s amazing how our siblings know exactly what we need even when we don’t. The island is also filled with a great cast of minor characters that help Marin in whatever way they can and become friends along the way.

Even though this book is about finding oneself, there is also heartache found throughout the plot as well. As the book gets going, I had a thought in the back of my mind on how it would go and even though I had prepared myself, it still wasn’t enough. So many tears! And even though I was an emotional mess, I loved it all because there was still hope and a bright future ahead.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It’s not often I find a book that makes me emotional but I like it because it makes the book that much more special to me. The romance was sweet and had me smiling. I know I didn’t take about it but it’s fun to be surprised when you read it! I’d highly recommend adding this one to your tbr.

Ok, I seriously loved this book. It made me keep turning pages to find what happens next, it tickled me and it made me cry. All in one.

The book act as a slow intoxication and then the characters grip you out of nowhere. Literally.

The plot
Yes, it's a romance (for those who were wondering) and yes it has its HEA and a delish mix of a side romance too. Though for me this was a story of Marin and her sister Sadie. While the big sis Marin has been the perfect parent for Sadie and is rooted in the ground, the effervescent Sadie takes the world on. 
And then the time comes when the little sister grows up and decides to take care of her big sister. She must. She is on a deadline. So she schemes and manipulates the timid, introverted Marin into an adventure of her life on the little paradise island Saba.
And does Marin have an adventure! Marin stumbles, literally into the lap of the gorgeous fellow traveller, Lucas Tsai, loses her bag, her passport and for the first time is alone in a place outside of her hometown but she gets to do the best romp of her life! 
Lucas takes Marin through the absolute scenic tour of the Island, the beautiful close-knit culture of the people and the food. He slowly is drawn towards her, snaps her adventurous pics for her and helps with her paradise project without which Marin would be stranded on the Island forever.
But when Marin does fall for Lucas she figures all this risk-taking is not necessarily too bad. ;-) 
Trying to not give away spoilers, but there would be a VIP suite, a goat, and an Island wedding full of tears.


Content warning:
Cancer, death, loss.

Steam Category: Closed doors

My take:
What worked for me: great!

The book is gorgeous from its cover to the end of the page. It's full of vibrant colors and that does set the tone of the words inside. The writing describes the place nicely, lush with the details of the hikes, the jungles, the flowers, and down to the empty coconut shells. I never knew about the Saba Island and I think I relate to Marin as someone who is even afraid of going on a Ferris wheel on the summer fair day, but I had so much fun exploring the place as well the adventures through her and Lucas.
The core of the book though is Marin and Sadie. I enjoyed reading the book from the sisters' POVs to my surprise. The worry Marin has for her little sister is heart touching (eldest of the four here!) and Sadie's growing concern over her big sister being too afraid to live is equally soulful. Again, without trying to give away spoilers, at times, you root for Marin to go and take that zip line lead and at times you are afraid for her.
Lucas is SUCH a gentleman with just enough dose of naughtiness mixed in. In the flight, he starts out as snarky as a millionaire/billionaire can sound. Then grows on you as a sweet pie. He has close bonds with people around him and it shows. he is naughty enough to surprise Marin with excursions so she'd not be able to refuse but fully the one to fish a mango out of a jungle for her to eat on the way (*sigh*)
On the side, I totally loved Sadie and Felix. I felt so bad for Felix. but they were what they would call the perfect love. (*sigh* again). I mean the man not only helps Sadie keep the secret from Marin, fully understanding why she does that. But he also has the best innuendo jokes in the book! He won my heart the moment he went to get that coconut water carton for Sadie but then when he comes, he was the cutest character for me in the book!

What did not work for me, PLUS sensitivity comments?

There is one line about one must drink bottled water in China. The way it is in the book currently, sounds pretty prejudiced. Having to go through with such kind of comments over the years every time my clients had an upcoming offshore team visit, it stung pretty badly for me. Even after the read is over, it just is nagging me. At one level I understand what Marin might think like maybe she means you just have to be careful while traveling as your stomach does not get accustomed to foreign water and food immediately. but the way it is written is very.... unlikeable.  It's a simple thing to fix and who knows if they do or not.

There is also a mention of the south Asian ritual of professional criers at a funeral. It is not just in China but in many Asian cultures. The saving grace is Marin at the end of the book thinks it might be a good thing. Though the first time it is called wrong, I would not want any reader from a similar culture to read it without knowing. 

The last thing that kept bugging me was, how there is not enough questioning from Marin or explanation from Lucas as to why he is helping Marin so much, taking her sightseeing and all the special trips and whatnot. In the end, we know why but still throughout the book I was left wondering, why this man has all the time to do it and how Marin just is going with it?


Final conclusion!

There is sad stuff. yes. I cried. a lot. if you enjoy the elements with sadness and happiness, joy, and grief all intertwined together, this definitely is a book for you. if you enjoy seeing faraway places through books, this is a must-read! I mean, I googled the shortest runaway in the world to experience what Marin did and I am not sorry :-D . Happy reading!

This was such a beautiful, touching and humorous book! The romance was adorable and super sweet. I loved the plane meet cute! The tropical setting provided the perfect getaway that I needed in my life right now! I really felt like I was on that island. While all of this was fun, this is about so much more than just Marin and Lucas' love story.  I really enjoyed the exploration of the sisterly bond. The emotional component that drives the story forward between Marin and her sister Sadie is so beautiful. 
This was a sweet and heartbreaking love story about family that dives deep into some heavy topics. It's definitely not just a fluffy romcom, it packs an emotional punch. 
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I’m truly emotional mess! I was expecting to read a sweet, entertaining, soft romcom takes place in exotic island but this book is  so much more than that! It’s powerful, incredibly emotional sisterhood story! 

 Two sisters who are polar opposites: Marin is uptight, analytic, a true worrier, planner, systematic, always likes to be in control. Everything is scheduled detailedly in her including the clothes she wears, her each meals, her daily routines. She lives in her cocoon, safe, secluded life without taking risks or trying new things.

  But her sweet sister Sadie she has literally raised after her mother’s tragic murder is a WILD CARD! She loves living spontaneously, dangerously, experiencing different things, taking less responsibility, crossing lines, having fun, traveling around world as photographer. It’s so adventurous lifestyle when you compare it with Marin’s boring advertising writer work and organized home life! 

Now sisters plan to getaway for a week to enjoy themselves at an exotic island trip. But at the last minute Sadie ditches Marin which is not quite surprising for her character and Marin finds herself traveling with handsome, mysterious, arrogant hotel tycoon Lucas Tsai: hot Asian Adonis who is also the owner of the hotel where her sister reserved for them on Saba Island. 
  
  As Marin pushes harder to cut her travel short to go back to her home, something unexpected comes out! She finally finds herself trapped in this island but when you get trapped in paradise with an ultra sexy archangel, you get to learn the ways of having fun, experiencing new things like snorkeling, climbing rocks, trying new dishes, singing at traditional island karaoke nights (Sabaoke for islanders). 

  Marin realizes she is attracted at Lucas a little too much but this is only one week trip and he still deals with his father’s loss so this cannot be more than a fling, right?

  Maybe you think this sounds like a classic romcom plotline but you can’t be so wrong! I’m not giving you so much details because I don’t want to ruin your reading experience. I can only warn you to stock napkins, toilet papers, any kind of tear dryer! You’re gonna need all of them!  At some chapters I truly cried my eyes out and literally howled like a wolf! 

This is a sweet, heartfelt, tear jerker siblings, family, sacrifices, self discovery, taking second chances story! So meaningful, bittersweet but memorable earning my four ugly tears, adrenaline rush, divine sisterhood stars! 

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

Marin's been living a safe life, a small life. After losing her mother at a young age and growing up overnight to be her wild-child younger sister's stand-in parental figure, Marin's all but forgotten how to take risks, live for her happiness, and pursue her dreams.

The subplot of this story is honestly heartbreaking. As Marin realizes who she's about to lose in her life, this story's pace accelerates brilliantly, a reflection of the desperation anyone who's lost a loved one to terminal illness will recognize: as if time is sand slipping through your fingers, as if there will never be enough hours to share and say and feel everything you need to.

The romantic element of this story is gentle and reflective. There's an old flame who shows up and a new man who could be Marin's future. By the end of this story, Marin—true to this genre which is (women's) fiction first and foremost—beautifully chooses herself. And in her choice to live bravely, boldly, authentically, she finds her heart's choice revealed.

Content Warnings: grief, loss of a parent (off-page), loss of immediate family to terminal illness (cancer, end of life days on-page and in detail).

Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for this complimentary copy! All opinions are my own.

I loved Meet Me in Paradise! It's a sister story with romance, secrets, heartbreak, and hope. The story is mainly told from Marin's point of view, with dashes of Sadie's side of the story. Marin has been the steady, responsible older sister since their mother's death when the girls were teens. Sadie's career and fearless nature take her all over the world. Marin believes she has to be Sadie's home base. On Sadie's most recent trip home to Tennessee, she plans a sister's long weekend on a tropical island for the two of them, then misses the flight and insists Marin go on without her. The story takes off from there, with Marin facing lots of her fears and not realizing Sadie was behind most of it. There are lots of moving, tearful (for me and the characters) moments as the story threads come together, and you find yourself invested in the sister's lives. A really great read!

This plot of this book is kind of wild, but get past that and I really enjoyed the characters and their growth. This book is about finding one's self and relationships with others, both of which were written about quite well. It's a lighthearted book in some ways, but there are some very intense moments and plot points. Overall I enjoyed it and couldn't put it down!

Despite the cover's beachy vibes, Meet Me in Paradise is a read with substance. Right now, we're all Marin Cole, having been stuck in our quarantine routines for what feels like forever. Beginning-of-the-book Marin would be totally okay with staying home! However, her free-spirit sister Sadie has other plans.

I so enjoyed the dynamic between the sisters. There's a (closed-door) romance, and don't get me wrong, Lucas Tsai is as smoking-hot a romantic hero as you could ask for, but for me the central relationship was between Marin and Sadie. It's funny to see Sadie drag Marin kicking and screaming out of her comfort zone, but fair warning - by the end you will just possibly have ugly cried at least twice.

If you're in the mood for swoony-but-sweet romance, fully realized side characters, and tear-jerking family scenes, all wrapped up in a book that scratches your tropical travel itch, MEET ME IN PARADISE might be your perfect staycation

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

Wow.  This book.  

I would recommend if you're looking for 

-a heck of a meet cute on a turbulent plane
-m/f frenemies to lovers
-a grumpy billionaire
-an anxiety ridden older sister who is tricked onto a vacation
-vacation romance
-elements of a small town romance
-a beautiful sister relationship that is the heart of the book
-slow burn romance
-closed door

This book.  It left me at a loss for words.  Laughing out loud at moments, in tears at others this is a beautiful story with two sisters at its heart.  A story of sacrifice, love, grief, anxiety, and sisterhood.  I felt every emotion reading this book.  I loved Lucas.  How he didn't force Marin out of her shell, was a grump.  His story.  

But the true story at the heart of this book was Marin and Sadie.  Their shared grief, how they took care of each other in different ways, loved each other.  A story that stays with you long after you put it down.  I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Read this book is all I can say.  Thank you for such a beautiful story.  

Rating: 5
Steam: 1

CW:  anxiety, grief, cancer, death of a loved one

Sweet, poignant, beautifully written.  Read this book with comfort chocolate to eat and a box of tissues next to you.  Sisters Marin and Sadie Cole lose their mother when still in school.  Marin becomes the responsible homebody and Sadie the adventure thrill seeker.  With the promise of a girls weekend Marin braves her fear of travel to go to Saba, a small Caribbean Island.  But Sadie misses the flight setting up the a life changing adventure for Marin.

I don't want to give away specifics but this is a life affirming love story of sisters who sacrifice and give to one another.  This can be categorized as women's fiction or chick lit with a side of romance.  The characters are richly developed and the setting of Saba couldn't be more perfect.  (I googled to make sure the location was real and now I want to go there.)  I will definitely recommend this for my bookclub and friends.  

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley-Penguin Random House for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! And loved that the love interest, Lucas is Taiwanese, something I have never seen before. This was so important to me, as someone who is Taiwanese. The themes, about losing loved ones are sad, but handled so beautifully and funny in a heartwarming way. And there is humor and light heartedness throughout, making it a very enjoyable read. It's so much more than just about Marin and Lucas' love story. There is such emotional depth that drives the story forward and the bond between Marin and her sister Sadie is beautiful. A definite must read!

A wonderful story about sisters, grief, and making the most of every moment.  When Marin and Sadie lose their mother, each reacts in a different way. Marin, the oldest, lives her life in lockstep, not even daring to leave their home state for so much as a vacation. Sadie becomes a globe-trotting adventure photographer -- total opposite. Don't want to spoil anything here, so I'll just say that Sadie tricks Marin into taking an adventurous vacation guaranteed to get her out of her comfort zone. Sadie sets things up pretty well, but she doesn't anticipate the new romance that opens up for Marin. Really enjoyed this book and look forward to recommending it to readers who enjoy Susan Mallory, Kristan Higgins, Emily Henry and Debbie Macomber.

Marian's life changed as a teenager when her mother died on assignment as a journalist. Feeling protective of her younger sister, Marian gives up her dream of going away to Columbia and stays in Tennessee. Her only serious relationship ended when she refused to travel to Tibet with him. She hasn't traveled over 20 miles from her home recently. Her sister Sadie begs her to go on vacation with her. After Sadie misses the plane, Marian is alone with her handsome seatmate Lucas. After many travel mishaps, Marian relies on Lucas's help to get to her destination and she begins to discover all the experiences in life she has been missing out. This is a good book if you don't like sappy romanced and you want a book with more substance.