It was a quick summer romance of enemies to lovers but just not the book for me. Thanks for the eARC #netgalley

I enjoyed this book for many reasons. The first being it is enemies to lovers and that is one of the best tropes. Another thing I liked was how fast paced it was, I felt it moved really well and didn’t have really any boring parts. I liked Dee as a character and am glad she didn’t let people break her down and used it as motivation. I liked all the build up to what was inevitably going to happen with the shared room, trapped on an island and the types of personalities they have. I honestly didn’t really care for Jem because I felt as though he never really respected Dee until the end, and I felt like he was a bit too rude to her. I also didn’t like that Dee was wanting to change herself for him, even though it ended up being for her at first it was for him. Otherwise I really enjoyed it, it had just the right amount of spice and I didn’t feel like it was overly done. I recommend this cute summer romance.

Tropes:
🏝️ Holiday romance
🔥 Enemies to lovers
☀️ Grumpy/sunshine
💕 Fake relationship
✨ Dual POV

Thank you to Love Books Tours, Christy McKellen & Boldwood Books for an ARC copy of this book. *All thoughts and opinions are my own*

Dee was a fun, well-written character and the chemistry between her and Jem was great. I would have liked more character development for them both, but with this being a short whirlwind holiday romance book, it didn’t take away from the story.

The story touches on deeper themes - neglect, dementia, grief and toxic parenting, and had me rooting for Dee and her personal development more than it did the romance. At first I struggled to get into this book but the more I read, the more I enjoyed it. It was a short and sweet holiday romance that I read in less than a day and would recommend.

The Paradise Hook-Up by Christy McKellen is a fast-paced romance book, filled with banter and humorous moments. The story follows Dee, who convinces her sister’s business partner, Jem, to pretend to be her boyfriend, to help her father secure a business deal. The two travel to a remote island, where a storm hits, leaving them stranded.

I liked how fast-paced the book was, as it made for a quick, enjoyable read. The witty banter between Dee and Jem were the highlight of the book for me.
I did feel like at times there could have been more detail added to the plot, as things sometimes felt a bit rushed.

Overall, it was a fun read, that kept me engaged. I did find myself wanting to keep picking the book back up to find out what happened next.

If you like short, romance books, that are easy-to-read, I would definitely recommend this book.

Tropes:
Grumpy x sunshine, opposites attract, forced proximity, enemies to lovers

Thank you @netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Rating: 3/5

‘The Paradise Hook-Up’ by Christy McKellen is an easy-to-read book filled with humorous moments, making it an instantly unputdownable read for me. The story follows spontaneous Dee, who convinces her sister’s uptight business partner, Jem, to pretend to be her boyfriend for a business deal with her father. A storm strands them in paradise—with only one bed.

The book is full of flirty moments and witty banter between the main characters, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Both Dee and Jem are funny and endearing, with enough emotional depth to add weight to the story. Set against the backdrop of a luxurious private island in Greece, the book offers a delicious dose of escapism.

This is a perfect pick for readers who enjoy lighthearted, steamy romances with fake dating, forced proximity, and a touch of emotional vulnerability.

2.5 stars — I had high hopes for this one, but it just didn’t land for me. The plot felt confusing at times and overall, it fell a bit short of expectations.

A companion book to Here Comes Trouble, The Paradise Hook-Up was a fun read - enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, only one bed. Jem's serious demeanor is an excellent complement to Dee's fun and spunky attitude. Spicy and entertaining, it's a perfect summer/beach read.

The Paradise Hook-Up by Christy McKellen delivers exactly what the title suggests—a sun-soaked, tropical escape filled with flirty moments and romantic tension. The premise is fun and breezy, perfect for a weekend read or vacation companion, and the chemistry between the main characters is easy to root for.

That said, the story didn’t quite reach its full potential. While the setting was dreamy and the romance had its moments, the plot felt a bit predictable and some of the emotional beats didn’t land as strongly as they could have. The pacing also lagged at times, and a few character decisions felt more like plot devices than natural development.

Still, if you’re looking for a light, easy romance with a picturesque backdrop and a touch of steam, The Paradise Hook-Up offers a pleasant getaway—even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

2.5 stars.
I wanted to love this book, but I just had a rough time with it.
It was a fast read; in fact, I read it in a sitting.
This is one of those books that was heavy on the spice but light on the plot. So, if that is something you love in a book, you might love the book.
The premise of the book was fun, and I had high hopes. Dee & Brea are twins. Dee gets injured and ends up having to stay in Brea's apartment.
The problem, Jem. Jem is type A, and they are not on the best of terms because they have not seen eye to eye in the past. Brea, of course, thinks Jem is too uptight.
Jem and Dee end up going on a trip and end up in a forced proximity situation while they ride out a storm.
The characters are not developed enough. I did end up with questions.
The plot was structured, but not strong. I did like the fast pace of the book.
Tropes we get: enemies to lovers, spice, opposites attract, forced proximity, and twins!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

This was a quick, entertaining read that blends the enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes with a dose of steam and emotional tension. The story follows Dee, a free-spirited artist who's often seen as the less responsible twin, and Jem, her sister’s serious and slightly judgmental coworker. The two have never really gotten along—Jem sees Dee as chaotic and too reliant on her sister, while Dee views Jem as uptight and cold.

Circumstances force them into close proximity when Dee injures her ankle and ends up recovering at her sister’s flat—where Jem also happens to work. Things escalate when Dee's father unexpectedly shows up and mistakes Jem as her boyfriend. Rather than correct him, they go along with the lie. What starts as a simple fib turns into a full-blown act when the two are invited to Greece to support a business deal that hinges on her father appearing family-oriented.

Cue the tension: one hotel room, one bed, and a lot of unresolved frustration. As they navigate their fake relationship under tight quarters—and eventually get stranded on a Greek island due to a storm—what began as mutual annoyance slowly shifts into something more complicated.

While the plot is familiar and relies on well-loved romance tropes, it was a fun and easy read. There's plenty of tension, some light angst, and a handful of steamy scenes to keep things interesting. Though I didn’t find it groundbreaking, it was enjoyable enough for fans of forced proximity and opposites attract dynamics

“I’ve always joked with people that I’m the evil twin. I’m not evil though, I promise you. I don’t have the mustache for it.”

“I seemed to have opened a portal to hell. Well, maybe he’ll is a bit strong. But some kind of purgatory at least.”

“He’s now my nemesis with benefits. Quite the tongue-twister.”

Review: Thank you @lovebooktours and @christymckellen for the ARC of The Paradise Hook-Up! 🏖️ When Dee hurts her ankle she ends up in her twin sisters flat and smack dab in the middle of Jem’s very type A world. The two are nemesis and have a history of butting heads with each other - he thinks she’s too emotional immature and she thinks he’s a tight wad nerd - what a pair! When Dee’s father asks the two to come along on a business weekend, a freak storm forces the two to spend a few days in a mansion in Greece to (do everything but) ride out the storm 😉 I did find this book a bit fast for my liking, I wish I had some more character development and a little less insta-love between the characters. But for a quick summer whirlwind romance, this was a fun read! Cheers to nemesis with benefits 🤗

🖥️ Enemies to Lovers
⛈️ One Bed
🖥️ Holiday Romance
⛈️ Open Door Spicy Scenes

I found this book a little bit ‘meh’ to be honest 🙈 I just feel like there was something missing. I’m normally a big fan of enemies to lovers but this one just didn’t click.

Dee and Jem are sworn enemies for no other reason than they just don’t like each other. They’re in each other’s lives because Jem is Dee’s sister’s business partner. Cut a long story short, Jem and Dee end up on a ‘business’ trip with Dee’s dad, and the forced proximity between the two leads to them developing feelings for each other.

I just didn’t buy into their chemistry, I didn’t really feel like it was there. It’s almost like Jem had a complete personality transplant! I did like Dee and I felt she stayed consistent to her personality the whole way through, and I definitely think she showed character development. Jem though, I found him to be a bit of a wet lettuce 🙈 I think I definitely like a strong MMC in my romance books!!

I just feel like the book had lots of potential to be something better than what it ended up being. I think that Jem needed to be better developed, as I feel like he was the weakest link for me. Not the best book I’ve ever read but equally not the worst!

The Paradise Hook Up is a quick, tropey enemies-to-lovers and fake-dating romance with just the right amount of steam.

Dee is the wild twin, free-spirited, artistic, and not exactly known for her responsibility. Jem is her sister’s co-worker, buttoned-up and convinced Dee is nothing but trouble. When Dee injures her ankle and ends up crashing at her sister’s flat (where Jem also works) the tension between them is immediate. Things get even more complicated when Dee’s dad shows up unexpectedly, and the two have to pretend they’re dating to cover for her sister's absence.

Their fake relationship spirals into a whirlwind trip to Greece for a business deal, where they have to share a room (yes, one bed), deal with family expectations, and navigate their growing chemistry. And when a storm leaves them stranded together, the heat really turns up.

This was a fun, angsty read with a few steamy scenes. While I didn’t completely love it, I didn’t hate it either. It’s the kind of book that delivers on familiar tropes and gives you exactly what you’d expect—a spicy, entertaining escape.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC copy of The Paradise Hook-Up.

This was a really quick read for me, around 5 hours or so. This is an enemies to lovers/fake dating book that is an enjoyable summer read. I liked both Dee and Jem and how both characters had some depth and development but it did feel a little rushed as a whole story. It was easy to understand why Dee and Jem are the way they are as characters with Dee needing to have her own identity as an identical twin and Jem as a sole caregiver for his parents growing up. Wished there was an epilogue but sadly there wasn't one.

This one just didn’t hit the mark for me. It leaned heavily on the spice but fell short on plot and substance. I had high hopes after reading the synopsis, but the execution felt forced and ultimately left me disappointed.

This was a fun, spicy read! This is the perfect book to read sitting by the pool, sipping a summery drink. It's fast-paced, the characters have great chemistry, and the spice is top-notch.

Okay, so The Paradise Hookup is exactly what the title promises , spicy, fast-paced, and full of drama. If you're into enemies-to-lovers with major tension and character development that actually goes somewhere, this one's for you. Most of the book is straight-up heat (and I mean a lot), but it’s not just spice for the sake of it, there are some deeper emotional moments and interesting personal dynamics tucked in too. It’s honestly a super quick and fresh read that doesn’t drag. Definitely one of those books you finish in a day!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½

Despite what some other reviewers have said, I actually really enjoyed The Paradise Hook Up! It’s a reverse sexual awakening story and I was absolutely here for it. Jem is uptight, mature, and honestly a bit boring for his age, having missed out on all the typical late teen/early 20s experiences due to heavy family responsibilities. Then along comes Dee, fun, spontaneous, and much more experienced.

The dynamic between them was refreshing, and I liked that the plot leaned more into who they were as individuals rather than relying on a lot of external drama. I really appreciated Dee’s character development; she felt layered and real. On the flip side, I do wish Jem had loosened up more or experienced a similar arc of growth. It felt a little one-sided.

I also would have loved to see more relationship development, more time spent building their connection through friendship, dating, or shared experiences. Still, it was a fun and engaging read that I flew through!

Dee & Bea are twins (Don't worry - those are their nicknames! Their names are Delilah and Beatrice). Bea is the favoured twin - the good one - and Dee the wild one no one expects much from.
When Dee hurts her ankle and can't make it to work or manage the stairs at her place, it's Bea to the rescue. Bea will pretend she's Dee (even cutting her hair to match Dee's), fill in for her at work, and swap apartments while Dee's ankle heals. The only problem is the Bea's place is also where she runs her business with her business-partner Jem (a nickname for Jeremy).
Dee and Jem do not get along but in a moment of weakness, Jem agrees to keep Dee company until she falls asleep when she's not feeling well and accidentally falls asleep in her bed only to be found by twins dad.
Their dad needs Bea's help with a business opportunity in Greece - This is Dee's chance to prove herself.
Dee convinces Jem to pretend their a couple while they travel to Greece to help her dad.

My Thoughts:
This is a short, light, fun rom-com with lots of spice and great tropes (enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, one bed) and is told from dual-POV.
The relationship between Dee and Jem is a very physical one - even though the reader can see what's going on in each of their mind's, it didn't feel all that deep for most of the book, but was entertaining and their relationship does deepen emotionally.

I really enjoyed this book, the style of writing was really enjoyable. It was funny, likeable but interesting characters and a nice romantic plot. It was spicy in places, which fitted perfectly with the story. An honest romantic and realistic story which was a joy to read. I would recommend this to my friends as a good holiday read