The Paradise Problem was a quick, fun read that's perfect for summer and relaxing by the pool. It's the ultimate beach read, with a getaway to a private island, fake dating / marriage of convenience, a secluded bungalow (with only one bed of course), and fun, complex characters.

There are also billionaires, an inheritance at stake, and complex family dynamics, which added some great depth to an otherwise light and silly romance novel. The result is a beachy read with just a sprinkle of "Inheritance Games."

The cons: At first I was annoyed at just how much the main character was portrayed as a ditzy dumb blonde (except with pink hair), however she grew as a character and grew on me as the book went on.

Thank you to Gallery Books, Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

“I’m your ride-or-die, West Weston”

Imagine finding out your fake husband who you married purely for student housing is actually uber wealthy (like with “b”!!) and needs you to keep up the facade whilst vacationing on a private island for two weeks… Oh, and you are getting paid handsomely for your hard work and used his credit card to let your bestie buy fancy designer outfits for the trip… What could go wrong?!?

I loved the juxtaposition of the pink-haired, free-spirited artist Anna Green paired with the by-the-book Stanford professor Liam “West” Weston. I hated to see how the love of money corrupts the Weston family and the way they treat people, including Anna, who had a very different loving family relationship with her father and for whom she would do anything.

The family dynamics, inheritance and manipulation play a huge part in this story and ultimately they have to chose if they still want to play these power games or if they want to come together to be there for each other as family should.

🌶️ Ay Caramba! There are some extra spicy scenes in this novel!

Two ex-roommates fake a relationship to land a massive inheritance in this new marriage-of-convenience rom-com from writer duo, Christina Lauren.

To score subsidized family housing, Anna Green and Liam “West” Weston faked a marriage while at UCLA. Once they graduated, and with divorce papers signed, they went their separate ways.

Three years later, Liam (a now Stanford professor), approaches Anna (a struggling artist) with the news that they’re still married, and with an irrational offer that comes with money she desperately needs. Anna must stay married to Liam for a little longer and accompany him to his sister’s tropical wedding. The catch? His family is awful, but if they can keep up the ruse, Liam—the heir to a grocery store conglomerate—receives his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. Liam wants nothing to do with his problematic father and their company, but for him to do what he aspires, he needs the money.

Free-spirited, pink-haired Anna couldn’t be more different than the polished and pretentious one-percenters, and when things get heated during the wedding week, everything begins to spiral. Worse yet, the more time Anna and Liam spend together, the more the line blurs between what’s real and pretend.

In their singular, never-fail style, Christina Lauren deliver an irresistible, opposites-attract romcom teeming with fantastic banter, pop-culture references, and just the right balance between spiciness and emotion. I was swept away by the characters falling for each other in paradise, coming together to fight against Liam’s awful family. This is the perfect, one-sitting, poolside read—I loved it!

I devoured this in two days. I could not put it down. I think I had that silly in love grin on my face the entire time. You know which one I’m talking about right? I also started referring to my husband as Liam while reading this book. His name is William but goes by Will. Liam is a much better nickname tbh.

The last two Christina Lauren books I read were good but it didn’t really hit the way this one did. Maybe it’s the banter or the electrifying chemistry but I just couldn’t get enough. It actually reminded me a lot of The Unhoneymooners, which happens to also take place on an island. Maybe I just need a vacation.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. Five stars for me.

This book was hotter than the Indonesian sun! Luxury vacation, lavish everything…throw in a little lie and a lot of family drama and you’ve got The Paradise Problem.
Marriage of convenience, forced proximity, “that’s my wife”, strangers to lovers, all set to the most idyllic backdrop of a private island. This books screams summertime and will be the most perfect vacation read this season!
The characters were so dynamic and I loved the layers of the story and how they unfolded! Christina Lauren does it again!

To say I've enjoyed Christona Lauren and their writing would be an understatement. The Paradise Problem is only the third book I've read by them, and I've enjoyed it just as much, if not more than the others.

The story follows Anna and Liam who are married as a legality in order to gain access to affordable family housing while in college. In the beginning, it picks up as they are moving out. Liam then returns and offers Anna a large sum of money in exchange for playing the role of his wife at his sister Charlie's wedding. While Liam's intentions seem selfish (hello trust fund), that couldn't be further from the truth.

What I loved about this novel is that it was beached themed, perfect for Summer! I also loved how real Anna is L. I love that she is honest, that she cares so much for her dad, best friend Vivi, and eventually Liam, and I loved that she helped Liam learn to truly care for himself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This was such a fun book to read! Definitely one of my favorites from Christina Lauren. It was easy to get swept away in paradise with the wonderful description. Love the development of the characters. I especially enjoyed how the heroine grew, but also stayed true to herself. This had me hoping for the best outcome for both of the protagonists.

This was a great book to dream about Summer! The location was dreamy and this fake marriage trope in a tropical location with some cute and fun twists of a family inheritance and all that is tied to that. Secrets and lies and can they pull it off and get Liam his inheritance!

I have to say this is my new favorite book by the authors!!
Five years ago, Anna and Liam (they barely even know each other) decide to marry as a matter of convenience to gain subsidized housing while in college. They both agree after graduation they will both sign divorce papers and part ways.
Three years later guess who appears at Anna’s door.. Liam and he informs her that guess what they are not divorced and he needs her help, she needs to come with him to his sister's wedding and pretend that they have been a happily married couple this entire time.
Anna is struggling to make a living as an artist and to add to it she was just fired from her job at the local convenience store. She sees this as an opportunity to make the cash she needs to help pay her father's medical bills so she agrees.
Liam a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.
There’s clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years.
Once they arrive on the island for the wedding, immediately Anna feels like a fish out of water, she watches how Liam’s fathers treats him and she begins to wonder wether she can play the part, in this toxic world of wealthy. Liam wonders if his family will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal “wife.”
Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren was so much fun! Fake(ish) marriage, rich boy/poor girl, complicated family drama, paradise vacation, one bed…what could go wrong? This is a great summer read with likable main characters, great sense of place, and a balance of serious, funny and swoony moments. This could have been a 5 star read but, I saw the hole in the plot right at the beginning and knew what was going to throw the guise the entire way through the book. Despite this, I still really enjoyed the book! Thank you to #NetGalley and #Gallery Books for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @GalleryBooks for the digital ARC & @simon.audio for the audiobook.
Marriage of Convenience
Opposites Attract
Grumpy Sunshine
Rich guy/poor girl
Travel to private tropical island
Crazy Rich Asians vibes

How amazing is this cover? It gives all the tropical paradise vibes and I love it. The audiobook is dual narration and lots of fun with this odd match of a couple who is literally just getting to know each other even though they lived together before and are legally married. Marriage of convenience for the sake of university housing and an eventual huge inheritance is not the most realistic start to a romance, but I don't read romance for realism. I enjoyed the exotic setting, the luxury clothing, and even the ridiculously out of touch family. Anna and Liam's relationship goes from almost strangers to friends to more. It was great to see those moments where they showed how much they care for each other. Plus, the setting alone is pretty dreamy. I recommend reading The Paradise Problem for a fun summer read.

I love Christina Lauren, but the novels are getting a bit formulaic in nature. Fake dating, marriage of convenience, complex family, second chances, slow burn, tropical/exotic location, dual POV, opposites attract, pop culture references.... it works but it is getting a tad repetitive for me.

Oh Christina Lauren - how do you do it every time? I get so sucked into your writing and absolutely adore the way your stories flow, making me want to just binge through every book you write!

The Paradise Problem was no different. This opposites attract, fake dating story centred around a wedding on a private island had me experiencing all the feels as I read it. I can't rave about it enough, it was that good. Be sure you get your hands on a copy! This book will be another huge hit for this super women author duo.

First thank you to galley books and NetGalley for and advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Anna is a struggling artist barely making ends meet. Liam is the golden boy son of a supermarket family dynasty with a large inheritance coming soon. There is just one family wedding to get through.

What I liked: Anna and Liam were such great characters. I love the humor in a Christina Lauren book and this one had plenty of it. The spice was perfect. I liked how even through it was set in literal paradise, it dealt with some heavy topics. They did a great job of pointing out the inequalities that exist and how that can be ignored. I loved how Anna always spoke up for the “little guy”. She taught Liam how the differences impacts her and her family and others in a kind way. It wasn’t too preachy. Ideally I wish that the inequality issues in real life could be solved as easily as done in the book. However that is part of why we read books.
I highly recommend this book for the Summer reading season and beyond.

The Paradise Problem
🗓️ 05/14/2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston in order to have affordable family subsidized housing while at UCLA. She also thought she had signed divorce papers after graduation. Liam stands to inherent hundreds of millions of dollars however had to be married to collect. Little did he know his late grandfather wanted him to be happily married for five years before collecting that inheritance.
Approaching their five year anniversary, can Liam convince Anna to go on a tropical vacation with his uptight, pretentious family for his sister’s wedding, while pretending to have been married this whole time? Tempers flare, suspicions rise and lines are crossed when money and family values mix.

The Paradise Problems is a modern day Can’t Buy Me Love (throw back to the 80’s movie staring Patrick Dempsey before he was Dr. McDreamy,) and Pretty Women with a very timely quote from When Harry Met Sally. The quintessential Rom-Com that will have you laughing out loud and leave you giddy with a school girl crush. Friends to lovers and fake dating are some of my favorite tropes and this story line did not disappoint!

Thank you @netgalley @christinalauren and @gallerybooks for this eARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

#theparadiseproblem #christinalauren #netgalley #eARC #netgalleyreview #gallerybooks #romcom #newrelease #fakedating #friendstolovers #bookofthemonth #BOTM #bookstagram

✨ARC Review

✨𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: May 14, 20024

🌸𝒯𝒽ℯ 𝒫𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓈ℯ 𝒫𝓇ℴ𝒷𝓁ℯ𝓂
🌸Christina Lauren
🌸Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓Have you read any of C. Lauren's books? If so, which is your favorite?

💭Thoughts 💭

🌸If you love a good RomCom then don't miss this release next week! It was super cute. There were some parts of the book that made me laugh out loud! I loved the characters and the story-line was well written.

I am normally a thriller reader but I know how loved Christina Lauren's books are, so I wanted to give her a try. I'm glad I did! Anna and West's love story was so fun to follow!

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

jeans_stacked_shelf

I eagerly await new Christina Lauren books. Story line was cute as always, and characters were easy to love.

Christina Lauren can do no wrong! I love every one of her books and this one is no different. From the beginning to end I was hooked. Very much Crazy Rich Asians vibes in the best way possible! I can’t wait to recommend this to friends

This is the perfect island escape to pick up this summer! I saved The Paradise Problem for my trip to Florida, and reading it on the beach made this book so much fun, along with the creative and entertaining plot! I loved West/Liam as the male love interest because he is a teddy bear who isn't afraid to stick up for what he believes in or those he loves. I was afraid I wouldn't like the marriage of convenience plot, but it is actually believable and made very fun by this author duo! The setting is definitely what makes this book great, but the plot is also super fun, and the characters are fun to hate.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the free copy of The Paradise Problem in exchange for an honest review!

I think this is my favorite Christina Lauren book to date. I loved it so much.
We have 2 main characters who switch POVs, Anna and Liam. They got married in college so they could have access to subsidized family housing when they were at school. They barely even spoke to one another. Once school was over, they got divorced. Or so Anna thought. 3 years later, Liam comes back begging Anna to go to his sister's wedding with him. Turns out, Liam is part of one of the richest families, like ever. Also turns out, they are not divorced. In order for Liam to get his inheritance, he had to be married for 5 years, otherwise his inheritance would be forfeit. Anna just didn't read the papers she signed. Now in order to keep his inheritance (and for Anna to have a big payout from Liam), Anna and Liam need to masquerade as a happily married couple despite hardly knowing each other at all.
I absolutely loved both Anna and Liam. They are total opposites. Anna is poor. She spends her every penny taking care of her dad who has cancer. She loves her dad so much and he is the best dad. Anna is hilarious and witty and she paints. She just felt extremely relatable. Liam is the "golden child" his father has picked him over one older brother and one younger brother to take over the company when he retires, but he wants nothing more than to never talk to his father again. Liam is part of one of the most broken families I've ever read about. It broke my heart. Liam is trying so hard to be better and not who his father is or wants him to be. He loved his siblings (well, most of them) even though they are deep in the company. Every side character was so fleshed out and fantastic. Anna's dad and best friend (who is literally the best friend. She looks after Anna's dad while she is gone and shops for all of the her clothes for the 12 day getaway). Every one of Liam's family members felt like a real person, down to one of his nieces, Reagan.
The plot was great. The wedding is extremely extravagant and takes place on an island near Singapore. Literally no expense is spared. I loved going along with Anna who is floundering being in this environment where an amount of money that would save her father feels like a penny to these people. She goes between savoring every second, to being disgusted at how entitled these people are. Obviously Anna and Liam are near strangers, but their chemistry is so strong right from the beginning. There was a great mix between wedding activities, slow burn and romantic scenes. There were also a lot of real, difficult conversations between Anna and Liam. It really solidified the connection they formed through the time the were on the island. There was a third act breakup but it made so much sense. The whole book they kept saying that once the wedding was over, they would go their separate ways and get officially divorced once the 5 years were up. To me, it was kind of obvious what would happen from the beginning, but it was just done so well.
The dual POV was extremely effective. It moved the story along so quickly. I was never bored and I always wanted to pick it back up. I laughed out loud so many times at the banter and the absurdity of what these rich people were actually doing. The things that came out of Anna's mouth were just hilarious. Christina Lauren has one of my favorite writing styles ever.
There was an epilogue that spanned the year after the wedding, and it wrapped everything up so well. Everything was just so satisfyingly perfect and I just loved it.