Anna and Liam could not be more different. I got Cinderella and Prince Charming vibes as Anna was forced to go from rags to riches while fake dating Liam at his sister’s wedding. The plot twist? Liam’s family thinks he and Anna have been married for five years already. I love a good fake-dating romcom but this? It should be used as the template for how to create any storyline in this sub-genre. It’s über funny, sensual, romantic, heartbreaking and has some exceptionally bad behaving relatives out to thwart Anna and West. They couldn’t be more opposite in natures, but they share one great quality…a sense of decency. Their lives are testaments to putting others before their own needs. The Paradise Problem was everything you expect from a Christina Lauren book and so much more. I struggled to put it down, I couldn’t stop smiling, I GIGGLED, I was genuinely sad when it was over. All signs of a five-star book that I’ll definitely be recommending, I enjoyed the first half more but its stilll so good.

I really enjoyed this book. I might be a biased reviewer because I grew up reading tons of Christina Lauren books. The Beautiful series was my introduction to reading. And they continue to write many hit books for me. I loved the plot of this, the relationship, and the vibes of this book. the cover alone demands that this book needs to be read

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of The Paradise Problem. This was probably my favorite book written by Christina Lauren so far. A perfect summer read!

Anna and Liam entered into a marriage of convenience order to share cheaper family housing while at UCLA. Now after three years of not seeing each other, Liam appears on Anna's door step with an offer to resume her role as wife to attend his sister's wedding. The catch is that Liam is the heir to the Weston grocery chain dynasty, is a part of a very broken and dysfunctional family, and wants to separate himself from it all.

Anna is a dynamic character. She's smart, funny, honest, and open. I really liked her character and her interactions with all the characters. I found myself cheering for her on more than one occasion. Liam is a more serious, closed off counterpart. He's hurt and carries a lot of scars from his relationship with his parents, especially his father. I think the two of them make a good fit. Their relationships develops through the book, and there is plenty of heat and tension. In addition to the main characters, there are plenty of side characters that flavor the overall story. I found myself pulled along emotionally with Anna and her interpretation of the various people in Liam's life.

Overall, this was a fun read. I read it in two days, which says a lot given my current reading slump. It's one I have added to our library collection and will definitely recommend to our romance reading patrons.

A new wonderful Christina Lauren book! It was funny, the setting was perfect and it had just the right amount of drama to make it hard to put away and not devour it in one go.

Can confirm I will literally drop everything to read what Christina Lauren writes! Something Wilder has been my favorite from this duo for so long, but this one just might change that! If you're not adding it to your summer TBR list, then what are you doing?? This would be the perfect book to read on the beach or by the pool with a cold drink in your hand.

Anna was hilarious and so real, I adored her character and lost track of all the times she made me laugh! I couldn't tell you the last time I read a book with the marriage of convenience trope and I forgot how much fun it was. And can we talk about the setting? STUNNING. I can't say enough good things about this book, please please please read it!

Thank you Gallery Books and Christina Lauren for my gifted copy!

~ ARC provided through NetGalley ~

I have been aware of Christina Lauren's love of the show Succession since they described their last male love interest as hot Kendall Roy crossed with a lego figure. However, "The Paradise Problem" fleshes out the Succession love in a fake-married, billionaire romance that I'm sure the romance girlies will love. I enjoyed aspects of this, but I could never not see it as a vanilla, rom-com spin of Succession. The central couple, Anna and Liam, are wholesome characters who are at time extremely self-righteous in the face of Liam's family's wealth. The remaining cast are less nuanced versions of the Roy siblings, and ultimately are so much less interesting than their inspirations. Lines of dialogue, family dynamic, and lines of dialogue are plucked right from the hit HBO show, and I was and wasn't mad about it, mainly because I still have a Kendall Roy-sized hole in my heart and love any art that resembles my number one boy. As a whole, this is just a surface level romance with all the miscommunication and shenanigans to be entertaining without the slimy film of reality.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for allowing me to read this delightful rom-com. This book was so funny and heartwarming. I loved the family drama and how the two main characters had to pretend to have a real marriage during a wedding island retreat. If you love Christina Lauren books you will love this one. It’s certainly a fun and hilarious read. I almost gave this book 5 stars, but two things kept me from adding it to my all time favorites list. I didn’t care for the word to describe a body part. I am not religious but it bothered me anyway because it was used way too much. It was supposed to be for effect to shock but it ended up taking away from each scene because it was used too much. And I must live under a rock, but I have never heard of this word being used to describe a body part before. There are so many better words to use that are vulgar and shocking in all the right ways. Lastly, my only other slight issue was that everything was wrapped up very quickly and into a nice and neat bow at the end. I know that is what we are coming for in a rom-com, but it was a little too nice and neat and resolved too quickly. Those slight issues aside, I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves to laugh, romance, and Christina Lauren. It’s one of their best! Thank you again for allowing me to review this wonderful summer read.

😁𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹?
I loved 𝐀𝐁𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘 everything about Anna & Liam. From their witty banter, to their tension, to the serious moments. They had me laughing, crying, and even made me swoon at times 🥰 it’s also the perfect summer read since it takes place on what I can only imagine is a beautiful tropical island 🏝️ and gives 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑 vibes which I also loved by this duo author! And the epilogue was sheer perfection 🥹
👍🏼𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹?
𝟭𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬% 𝘆𝗲𝘀! If you love marriage of convenience, opposites attract, only one bed, family drama, forced proximity rich people problems, dual POV’s as some of your favorite tropes then pick this one up 𝗡𝗢𝗪! I honestly think this may be tied for favorite CLo book next to 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧! 🤩

I just feel like I’ve read this book before, so many times. It wasn’t anything new or exciting for me. It felt like the same plot and characters as so many other books. I wanted something more from it, something even slightly different. I didn’t feel anything special about the romance or care enough to be invested in the little plot there was. I can see it being a great summer or vacation read. If you like the tropey, predictability of a rom-com, then you’ll probably love this one. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t for me.

Christina Lauren does it again! I think this is my favorite novel of theirs. I could close my eyes and be transported to paradise myself. The romance sizzled and made me swoon and smile so many times. Phenomenal.

This one hooked me from the beginning.  I have to say this was probably the funniest and most unique marriage of convenience romance.   It starts with Anna and Liam separating after marrying each other in college to secure affordable housing.  Three years later, Liam shows up to inform Anna that he never filed the papers and they are still married…and he needs her to continue to stay married for a little while longer and to attend his sister’s destination wedding as his wife so he can receive his inheritance.  The problem is, Anna and Liam never got to know each other in college and Anna has since changed career paths.  She is not the doctor he told everyone she was.

There were lots of laughs, romance, and a toxic family to deal with.  I loved seeing Anna and Liam get to know each other.  These two could not be any more opposite from the other.

The Paradise Problem" by Christina Lauren is a delightful and escapist read that transports you to a tropical paradise filled with sun, sand, and a whole lot of drama. This charming novel follows Callie, a young woman who wins a dream vacation to a luxury resort on a private island. But as she begins to explore her new surroundings, she quickly realizes that paradise isn't all it's cracked up to be.

The story unfolds with a perfect blend of humor, romance, and mystery, keeping you hooked from the first page to the last. Callie's journey is filled with unexpected twists and turns, as she navigates a cast of eccentric characters, uncovers secrets, and finds herself caught in a love triangle.

Christina Lauren's writing is witty and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the world of "The Paradise Problem." The vivid descriptions of the island setting, the delicious food, and the luxurious accommodations will have you daydreaming of your own tropical getaway.

However, the novel does have a few minor flaws. Some readers may find the plot predictable, and the characters could be developed in more depth. But overall, these shortcomings don't detract from the enjoyment of the story.

If you're looking for a fun and lighthearted read that will transport you to a world of sun, sand, and romance, "The Paradise Problem" is the perfect choice. It's a delightful escape that will leave you feeling refreshed and entertained.

LOVED IT. This will appeal to those who love Kwan. Spicy and fun and easily readable. Great beach read. Thanks t the publisher and Netgalley!

This was fun at moments, but it just wasn't my favorite Christina Lauren book. It felt a little predictable at times (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). It was fun, just not my favorite of theirs!

Omg I LOVED The Paradise Problem

I was absolutely HOOKED from the first chapter. I laughed so hard I cried. Anna is so fricken funny hahaha

I loved how the love story between our main characters developed. And let me tell you, the spice was totally spicing! THE kitchen scene?!?! 🥵🥵🥵🔥🔥🔥

☀️ Hilarious FMC
🌺 Marriage of convenience
💚One bed
🌺Crazy rich family
☀️Shenanigans
💚Tension and banter

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

All thoughts are my own

A book of fake of fake marriage and a remote island? So much potential! Sadly this fell flatter than a pancake for me. I cringed, I was embarrassed for Anna. There’s a difference between being a struggling artist and just not giving a damn about anything. Introducing Anna.

Not only does this story have the absolute best characters, the wittiest and most adorable banter, the steamiest sexual tension, and the most fun tropes (marriage of convenience, fake dating), it also takes place in an gorgeous (and jealousy inducing) setting! This felt like such a cinematic book - it almost felt like a movie in my mind as I read and I loved every second of it!

I read this book in one sitting because I truly could not stop. The pacing was impeccable and the dual POVs were perfectly balanced. I loved that although there was fun and sun and steam and hilarity, there was also a lot of emotional depth as Liam navigated his complicated family dynamics. The juxtaposition of the light and fluffy vacation vibes with the heavier and more emotional journey of the dysfunctional Weston family made this book completely unputdownable!

This book was definitely a slow burn in terms of Anna and Liam’s connection (both emotional and physical), but when the spice hit IT REALLY HIT!! I loved the buildup - it made it feel even more special when the moment we were waiting for finally happened!

This new masterpiece from CLo is an absolute MUST READ this summer!!

I’m not going to lie, I saw this and was excited about it, but I said I would wait for it to come to the library, BUT THEN I heard it was Fake Dating and to a wedding and I IMMEDIATELY downloaded it. That’s absolutely one way for me to download it as soon as possible. And I’m going to be cliche here, but I’m definitely glad I did. I was in such a weird mood around that time, but this put me in such a good one.

Ok so the first thing is the writing style. I haven’t read something that made me actually laugh out loud like this in such a long time. This book was unexpectedly hilarious. Idk if it was the way she just felt so uncomfortable or what, but I could not stop laughing. But I will say this was a good way to discuss class systems. I’m glad the two MCs were aware of the amount of money the MC had and that he still thought to treat people as people. Because I can assure you, there are people out there that don’t do that.

The characters in this were brutal tho. I don’t know the last time I hated a character more than the MMC’s mom and dad. I KNEW he was a terrible man, but because the wife stayed I wasn’t trusting of her either. I still don’t know how Liam came from them. Even his two brothers were terrible so I was hella impressed by Liam. He like came out of nowhere lol The wife also might have been the most terrible of the two. At least the dad was terrible out-loud. He was just terrible to everyone. The mom was like giving out small remarks to everyone and trying to say it all nice like no one would catch on. It was terrible.

As for those that I did like, Anna. Lol I only liked Anna. She was hilarious and called them out on their shit. And she was so good natured and nice. And the way she took care of her dad was amazing. At first I hated that she was with that family, but then I realized she was probably the only one who was going to tell the truth about them. Because Lordt knows that’s what they were scared of. Now Liam I liked him, but I thought he took too long to stand up to that man. I’m glad he finally got it together tho. The romance was great tho. They worked well together. But this whole plot was hella weird. Are there really people out there that would do some shit like this? This was literally the first time ever I ever said out loud “yte people ish.”

I do wish that there was more talking about the setting tho. I LIVE for seeing those places in books and the way this cover looked, I would have loved to “see” what the island and the place they were staying was like. More than just the basics. I wanted something like what color the water was and the way the sand was hot on their feet. I know this is probably just a me thing, but the place where the book is set being described really helps with my imagination. I haven’t been many places, so I use books to travel.

This was a fun one. I didn’t know how much I needed this pick me up until I had it in my hands. So if you need me, I will be trying to find more fake dating to a wedding until I feel better. It’s the micro-trope to end all be all.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

In this newest release by Christina Lauren, struggling art graduate Anna Green has to pretend to be Liam "West" Weston's wife to satisfy an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will: He won't receive his $100 million share of his grocery empire inheritance unless he's been happily married for 5 years.

Fake marriage? Private island wedding, Crazy Rich Asians style? Sign me up!

Though this was a 3-star, middle-of-the-road read for me, there were elements I sincerely enjoyed! I loved the dual narration; I loved the Pretty Woman set-up (and references!); and I loved the rom-com vibes of it all--I felt like I could see this as a movie as I was reading.

As for the elements I was not as much of a fan of: I felt like the conflict at the end seemed contrived and also too easily resolved. I also did not like the Gen Z slang that the authors tried to incorporate; it felt a little forced and heavy-handed.

Overall, I don't regret reading this, and it's a solid summer read for anyone who is a fan of this author duo or who loves rom-coms!