Christy McKellen's 'The Paradise Hook-Up' is a sweet, sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance ideal for a holiday novel. It is set in a stunning Greek paradise with Dee Donovan, the "wild" twin, and Jem, her sister's serious business partner. They are pushed into a pretend relationship for a business transaction, but a surprise storm leaves them cooped up together with only one bed, stirring pent-up chemistry.

The author skillfully creates a forced proximity trope with a charming "teacher becomes the student" dynamic, as self-assured and mature Dee mentors Jem. The adventure includes sidesplitting moments, tender heart-to-hearts, and the wonderful truth that first impressions may be deceiving. As they become more acquainted with one another, their bond grows, establishing a sweet and spicy relationship. Rom-com lovers with a touch of spice and heaps of humor will enjoy 'The Paradise Hook-Up' as a fun and entertaining retreat.

Going in to this I wanted to love it as I have done with previous novels I’ve read by Christy McKellen however something just fell flat for me.
I felt the chemistry of the main characters wasn’t very believable as everything went from 0-100 instantly for Delilah and I found Jem quite abrasive toward her. It almost felt like the novel was too short, if it had been longer it may of been able to fully develop some of the plot elements.
One thing I did really find well done was the way in which McKellen handled the topic of dementia, it is such a sensitive topic and putting it into a romcom could in other people’s hands really of not worked but she managed to deal with it successfully.
Overall I think there’s definitely readers who will love this book, however something just didn’t work for me. I will be revisiting McKellen's other books in the meantime.

Enemies-to-lovers? Check. One bed? Check. Fake dating on a sun-drenched Greek island? Double check.

The Paradise Hook-Up is a fizzy, flirtatious getaway in book form—equal parts hilarious misunderstandings, sizzling tension, and unexpected heart. Christy McKellen delivers a sunshine-soaked rom-com with sharp edges and soft landings, perfect for readers who love their romance messy, sexy, and layered with emotion.

Dee Donovan is used to being the fun twin, the unpredictable one, the girl people don’t take seriously. So when she finds herself fake-dating her sister’s stiff, by-the-book business partner Jem for the sake of a deal, she’s ready to play the part—but not ready to feel anything real. Jem is the kind of man who makes spreadsheets sexy—tight-laced, controlled, and allergic to chaos. And Dee? She is chaos. But when a storm rolls in and one bed becomes their only option, sparks fly in the most deliciously inconvenient way.

What follows is a beautifully balanced dance between two people challenging each other’s walls, rhythms, and assumptions. Jem's slow unraveling is as satisfying as Dee’s realization that she’s worth more than being someone else's “fun distraction.” McKellen writes chemistry like a match to dry kindling, but never sacrifices emotional payoff for heat—though don’t worry, there’s plenty of that too.

The banter is witty and whip-smart, the setting lush and immersive, and the emotional growth surprisingly tender. Dee’s inner journey—figuring out who she is when she stops playing the part others expect of her—is the book’s true beating heart.

If you like fake dating with a messy, heartfelt core, this one will hook you like a summer tide.

This book was a DNF for me. The FMC was so annoying, selfish and immature. Didn’t love the characters nor was I rooting for them. No chemistry

I’ve read a few books by this author and enjoy her work. I’ve also read Best Mistake Ever which is kind of an interconnected book about the other twin sister. Truthfully this isn’t my favourite of her work, as personally I couldn’t connect to the characters that well. I also found the female main character’s behaviour a bit strange at the beginning. However the second half of the book was definitely more enjoyable. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

The Paradise Hook-Up by Christy McKellen is a fun, easygoing romance with classic tropes like forced proximity and grumpy-sunshine pairings that are executed with charm. The story follows Dee, a witty and refreshingly casual heroine recovering from an ankle injury, as she moves in with her twin sister Bea. Sparks (and some friction) fly when she meets Jem, Bea’s surly business partner. When the two pretend to be a couple to help secure a business deal on a private island, their fake relationship begins to feel very real.

Dee is a standout—funny, confident, and refreshingly open about her desires, which flips the usual romance dynamic in a really satisfying way. Jem’s more reserved nature makes for a great contrast, and their chemistry builds naturally as the story unfolds.

The book earns a solid 3 stars. While the plot was engaging and the character arcs well-developed, the ending felt a bit rushed, leaving a few threads hanging. Still, it didn’t detract too much from the overall enjoyment.

This is a great pick for readers who enjoy low-drama, trope-driven romances with likable leads and a light touch. The Paradise Hook-Up is breezy, entertaining, and perfect for a weekend escape.

Jem is the business partner of Dee's twin. They have never really gotten along, but will all that change when they are stuck together in a foreign country?

3.5
Super easy to read, chaotic and funny. The tension is there and the setup just works out. A light reading to enjoy in the beach.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a super easy read, and I loved the characters! The story was great and I got really invested in seeing where things would go and really just enjoyed every second.

Firstly as the title suggests this book has an element of a paradise getaway- and I loved all the descriptively written chapters set in Greece as well as those set back in the UK too. It just made for a really lovely read seeing how different the characters were in the different locations.

I love Jem and Dee so much. I think as characters they were both brilliant to begin with and I loved Bea too. I loved getting to know them and their history and basically could have read about them for a lot longer!

This book was a lovely read from start to finish. Little bits of spice, love/hate vibes between the main characters and beautiful writing made this a perfect summer read for me!

The Paradise Hook-Up was a quick enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake relationship, steamy summer read. The short chapters and dual narrative made it a fast read for me. I enjoyed the romance between the characters, Dee and Jem, who both had interesting back stories. As the book was quite short, I felt it was missing quite a bit of detail and character development. We were promised a paradise hook-up but it fell a little flat for me. Overall, it was a fun read, I just wish it had been longer.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of The Paradise Hook Up by Christy McKellen. Christy McKellen is a new author for me, I really enjoyed her writing style. I always love an enemies to lovers trope. This was a quick read with witty dialogue. The setup with the shared room/ one bed, the island setting, and their headstrong personalities created great tension and anticipation for what was to come. This was a fun and flirty summer rom-com. 4.5 stars

When Dee hurts her ankle, its twin sister Bea to the rescue to hold down her position at work so that she doesn’t lose her job. Dee gets to spend some time resting at Bea’s house, alongside Bea’s business partner Jem, who for some reason can’t stand her.

Dee is bored and determined to strike up a friendship with Jem, she tries to do just that. However, despite her initial efforts being unsuccessful. She finds herself forced onto a different path of getting to know Jem when they end up having to go to Greece with Dee’s Dad to help him try to secure a business opportunity.

Well you know what comes next… 😉.

There’s only one bed, a pretend relationship and an opportunity for Dee to really try and get to a friendship level status with Dee and uncover why he can’t stand her. Dee finds there is so much about Jem that she doesn’t know and sparks fly because of it, they strike up a deal to benefit them both. No strings attached right?

At first I found both characters a little annoying in their own way! I felt a bit sorry for Dee because Jem is so cold and offish with her and despite her unbothered exterior at first you can tell she was hurt. She gets treated as if she is not good enough by everyone.

It wasn’t until the trip to Greece that I really warmed to the characters, things started to really slot into place and I could not put the book down. Things got steamy quite quickly but then we were exposed to the air of vulnerability of both characters, which added a lot of depth to the book. I loved how this came together in the end. I felt a genuine development of friendship and I was really rooting for Dee to get her happy ending!

Troupes:
* One bed
* Forced proximity
* Holiday romance
* Fake relationship

I enjoyed the will they/won't they tension in this, and the build up of their mutual lust and forbidden attraction.
The Greek work trip is the push they need to explore their feelings and pent up tension, and it was fun seeing Dee take the lead and give Jem sex lessons.
It has enemy to lover themes, forced proximity, fake dating and plenty of funny and awkward moments.
I enjoyed the dual pov as we got to see both of their feelings and understand them better.
I was frustrated at times though and really wanted Dee to stand up for herself especially with her father, but it pays off at the end when she's found her own success.
This is mostly lust driven for a chunk of their encounters, so you're never certain how things will play out, especially with Jem's initial feelings for his business partner / Dee's sister.
It's a nice quick read with an opposites attract relationship and a heated summer romance.

A fun short read, miscommunication, inexperienced MMC Jem and feisty misunderstood FMC Dee.
Lots of steam with what starts as friends with benefits.
Dee has a difficult relationship with her father and at times in the beginning I was willing her to stand up for herself.
A great setting such together as a fake relationship on a Greek island with an incoming storm.
A great summer read

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1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of The Paradise Hook Up.

Jem and Dee hate each other but decide to fake date to impress a businessman. They end up stranded on an island together.

This was just all around not a good book. The characters were not likable and very underdeveloped. The story lacked all substance.

I was drawn in by the blurb: “A party girl, a serious businessman, only one bed in paradise...” and comparisons to Tessa Bailey, Christina Lauren, and Ali Hazelwood. Unfortunately, the book just didn’t deliver.

The author seemed to be aiming for the same level of witty banter, chaotic romance, and character-driven humour as those authors I love so much—but it fell flat. The meet-cute between Jem and Dee was unique and had potential, but the rest of the story didn’t build on it in any significant way.

The writing style felt more like fan fiction than a romance novel. The plot lacked any form of direction, and the only real development between the characters came during the spicy scenes—which, honestly, didn’t hit the mark either. I kept waiting for the spark or chemistry to click, but it never really happened. Instead of being entertained, I found myself frustrated and detached.

It’s a shame, because the setting and concept had promise. But this one just wasn’t for me.

This is a great quick summer read, perfect for the beach!
Jem and Dee are polar opposites so throw in a bit of fake dating, one-bed scenarios and you've got yourself a romcom!
Jem has some really tough things going on and in his past, it was great to see him evolving and realising what is truly important for a full life.
I felt like Dee got a really rough deal in how people treated her and I felt sorry for her many times.
There were hints of Dee and sister Bea's relationship and I would enjoy a story from Bea's side with her own romantic encounter.
There's hints of spice throughout, it wasn't overly busy with it though.
Fast-paced and fun, very easy to whittle through in a few hours. I would recommend to those looking for something easy to read this summer.

A decent fast paced summer romcom. Perfect for a light and quick read however the writing felt quite stilted at times and the characters lacked any real depth which made it hard to fully enjoy the book

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Dee is off work as she had an accident which resulted in her leg being in plaster. So that she doesn’t lose her job, her sister and twin goes to her workplace in her place. As are can’t live on her own in her flat, Dee has to stay at her sister’s. Bea’s business partner,, Jem also works at her sister’s place.

Having Dee stay is the last thing Jem wanted as he really doesn’t like her. When Dee’s dad visits and informs them that he wants someone to be a board member and for them to help him to make that happen, they both agree. The person lives in an island which is only occupied by himself. Dee and Jem still don’t like each other and constantly are in an argument.

When her dad and the person who’s place they are staying have to leave, Dee and Jem are left by themselves, and soon a storm hits the island, meaning they can’t leave until it goes away.

In order to pass the time, they spend time together. Between them, the make a decision to have a fling and when they leave things will be back to how they were. But will it happen as they want?

Dee and Jem are two totally different characters, it was lovely to see them realise what they want from their lives and the changes they need to make.

I recommend this book.