Rating: ⭐⭐
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. It started off strong and initially I was engaged, but that changed as the story progressed. I struggled to connect with the characters—Jem and Dee’s relationship felt forced, and I found the character development lacking. I was especially unsettled by the way Dee seemed to change herself for Jem. I know that may not have been the intention, but that’s how it came across to me. This story just didn’t resonate with me.
Have you read The Paradise Hook-Up? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Thank you the Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this ARC.

I should have realised from the synopsis/blurb of this that it wouldn't be for me. This was a lighthearted, romantic romp that was just too fast paced, unbelievable and ridiculous for me to follow! Dee apparently concocts this ridiculous plan to secure a business deal despite a broken ankle that means she can't walk, her twin sister covers for her but then sends her assistant to be her fake boyfriend? And the fake boyfriend hates her but actually loves her?

Dee is so incredibly un-self aware and Jem hates her for no apparent reason, so naturally everyone in this book changes their mind every 30 seconds and the entire thing is riddled with plot holes. The whole book feels very rushed and much like a checklist of tropes, none of which are well written.

The Paradise Hook- Up is a steamy romance, Dee can’t work in her job as she’s hurt herself so her twin is going to do her job while she goes to Greece to help her father, Jem who dislikes Dee is heading there too. Stranded on the island with weather the steamy sessions begin. There is not really a storyline as it’s basically two characters making out, but it’s a quick fun read for an afternoon by the pool. A 3 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

The Paradise Hook-Up is a cheeky rom-com that had me laughing and unable to put the book down. Christy McKellen provides a good balance of comedy, tension, and spice with some emotion. It was definitely an angsty read where the main characters Dee and Jem are fighting the attraction that builds until they decide to do something about it.

Readers are introduced to Dee, an artsy woman who as developed a care-free skin after constantly coming in second place to her twin sister (the only one who doesn't seem to judge her). Then there is Jem, the rigid and serious business partner to Dee's twin. After an injury, a scheme to help Dee keep her job, and a little white lie, Dee and Jem find themselves in a fake relationship helping Dee's father try to land a deal with a business mogul on his private Greek Island. When one event leads to another, a storm has Dee and Jem with nothing but time to address growing tension and attraction while still denying any budding feelings.

This light-hearted, quirky, book has a decent plot. It is an opposites attract romance that gives "No Strings Attached" energy. At times I wanted to scream at Dee and Jem to stop fighting their feelings and to lay their true feelings on the table. The tension and angst was evident. It made for a quick read that I enjoyed and would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Christy McKellen for providing me with an eARC copy of The Paradise Hook-Up for an honest review.

This is a really good RomCom. I enjoyed it very much and would read this author again. The banter is hilarious and the tension is so hot! Thank you for an arc of this

A cute summer read!

Classic enemies to lovers, one bed, forced proximity love story. Grab this book, a seat in the sun and dive in!

I loved the premise of this book and was drawn in by the gorgeous cover, but I struggled to connect with the characters and never really got fully immersed in the story. The plot was lacking, and the characters sadly couldn't carry the story alone. This one wasn't for me.

I liked this book until I didn’t , idk it felt forced between Dee and Jem ! I do like Dee’s character delvlopment . Won’t like she kind of annoyed me in the begging !

A messy, fast-paced vacation romance with heart.
This book is a whirlwind, it has equal parts unhinged fun and emotional depth. Delilah, an aspiring artist with a complicated family dynamic, gets pulled into a fake dating setup (an elite trope) with Jem, her sister’s business partner, and things get out of hand fast.
While the initial chemistry felt a bit forced and the pacing made some moments feel underdeveloped, the story eventually found its stride. There’s genuine tension, surprising spice, and satisfying character growth, especially for Delilah.
A quick, steamy vacation read that doesn’t quite stick every landing, but still manages to charm.

-Fake dating, one bed, and a storm
-Starts spicy, but the emotional payoff hits hard
-Real tension, real growth, real chemistry
-Dee teaches him the ropes — literally

Perfect summer read! Quick, lighthearted book.

I thought that this was a very compelling book with great characters and a storyline that kept my attention

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I want to say thank you from the bottom of heart to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book.

I honestly don't know where to begin with this book, and usually thats I'm not a total fan. But here I loved this book and I really don't know how to go. What keeps popping into my head is it was unhinged, but so not in a bad way. This book digs its claws into you so you can't and do not want to put it down. I devoured it in hours. The characters are real and well rounded, there is an incredible plot, there's character growth, heck there is true animosity not exactly enemies/rivals to loves but the closest I've seen to that in a long time. You fall for these characters and the story hard and all at once for them like they do with each other. Yes I could get a little annoyed at Jem sometimes for his thoughts but I realized that this is a perfect book example of don't judge a book by its cover. The unhinged part I think only comes for me from the fact that yes she totally teaches him the ropes of sexual relations, and I don't think I was expecting it to actually give me all that. It does, what it says I'm the description about that, 100% true! I honestly wasn't sure at first if I would like this at all but my gosh it delivers and I fell in love! This is also 100% a fantastic vacation read!

Thank you very much from the bottom of heart for allowing me to read this book I loved it!

2.5✨
Thank you NetGalley, Christy McKellen and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review - The Paradise Hookup publishes July 11th.

This was a short and sweet read and if you’re looking for something fast paced and steamy then this could be the book for you.
I could appreciate Dee’s complex personality due to her challenging family upbringing and her being the disappointment of the family. The premise of this was fun, but I’m not sure the book was entirely for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Dee and Jem and was also surprised at how early the first spice scene was considering there was no connection between the characters and Jem’s feelings for somebody else. I found it quite forced and awkward at times but I did appreciate the romance a little more towards the end of the book.

Unfortunately I felt the book was underdeveloped, which I think may have been due to the length of it. Although I also love the cover, it is slightly misleading considering the weather!

Overall a quick read and I was pleased with the character growth at the end, but I’d have liked a little more from the story!

I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I can't wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Delilah is an aspiring artist who has a strained relationship with her dad. She agrees to go on vacation with him to impress his business partner. However, her twin sister's business partner, Jem, also offers to join since Delilah's dad believes they are dating.

Unfortunately, this story was not my cup of tea. Although I appreciate that it was a short story, I found it had too many plot holes and too much going on for me to fully enjoy it. For instance, Delilah has an injured ankle that prevents her from going to work and staying at her apartment, yet she can still travel to Greece? Additionally, there are many subplots: Jem is a virgin, they are fake-dating, Jem has feelings for Delilah's sister, Delilah doesn't get along with either of her parents, and Jem's mom is sick. The list goes on and on—there's just too much happening for a short story.

Moreover, I felt that Jem never truly liked Delilah. Even though she worked on bettering herself, it seemed she was trying to change for him rather than for her own sake. He often talked down to her and never really stepped up to show that he genuinely cared.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was very well done and the characters were people that felt so real. I would easily recommend this book to others.

Very short and sweet. Took me away from the cold rainy weather im in right now to fun summer trip away. Not anything that will stick in my brain but a great time.

Like many of us, Dee is still figuring out how to “adult”—which is all the more complicated when you're constantly being compared to your hyper-competent twin. So when the chance arises to turn things around by tagging along on her father’s business trip to a private Greek island, she takes it. The catch? She has to fake a relationship with her twin’s business partner, Jem—a man who’s made it very clear he can’t stand her.

At first, I wasn’t sure this book was my cup of tea. I found it hard to connect with either main character early on, and the story leaned heavier on spice than plot. The island setting, while undoubtedly luxurious, didn’t evoke the idyllic paradise I had in mind.

But as the story unfolded, so did the layers of the characters. The more I understood their histories and the reasons behind their friction, the more I became invested. By the end, I was genuinely rooting for their unlikely romance.

If you're in the mood for a steamy, fast-paced read with classic romance tropes—enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and fake dating—this one checks all the boxes. It’s a sizzling escape that eventually finds its emotional core.

Thank you to Christy McKellen, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance review copy..

This was a fun book to start summer! I loved the fake dating, close proximity trope! Jem and Dee are stuck in a hotel during a storm and fun ensues! The have been fighting their chemistry for years and a finally give in during the storm. Such a good beach read!