Oh, my heart. A powerful and moving story, Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher is a heartbreakingly beautiful tale about one woman's path to self-discovery. 

I will start by saying that this book is not what it seems. I thought it was going to be a fun, beachy romantic comedy. What it is is actually a gutwrenching, moving, and important read about grief and self-discovery. 
Marin and Sadie are sisters who couldn't be more opposite. After losing their mom at a young age, Marin stepped into the parent role while Sadie lived on the wild side. The two decide to take a relaxing sisterly vacation together, but Sadie misses the flight and Marin loses her luggage. Luckily, Marin's seatmate is a cute local who agrees to show her the island while she waits for Sadie to arrive. Sadly, paradise is not what it seems, and when Sadie arrives on the island, Marin's life is turned upside down. 

I think this is an important read for anyone who might be dealing with the loss of a loved one. The way Hubscher was able to write a love story in the midst of tragedy, and dispense life advice is something that needs to be acknowledged. I don't think I've ever read another book like this. It will stay with me for a long time.

My first thought as I began to read this books was that the writing was so open and accessible: It made me feel very comfortable starting in. And the plot premise caught my attention!

But the book didn't keep me engaged. I was halfway through when I realized I wasn't looking forward to the next chapter or the next chance to sit down and read. I see the other glowing reviews, so I am probably not just in the best life point right now for these issues and the narrative. I'll try to pick this up later.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the chance to read.
Publication date March 23, 2021

Short verdict: beautiful, reflective, gut-wrenching, powerful (and painful) reminder of the transience of life. Thank you @berkleyromance and @netgalley for the gifted e-ARC.

This book ripped out my heart out and served it to me freshly grilled. It was a difficult read for me for personal reasons - but I am grateful to the author for reminding me I need to step up, take risks, be more confident in my abilities and leave my comfort zone more often. A beautiful piece of work of art - thank you to the author for sharing what I think was a very personal story.

A theme I've noticed a lot lately has been a fun, cutesy cover that promises a lovey-romance read is really just pretty packaging for a full of emotion book. Meet Me In Paradise is a cute book, but it is also jammed full of sibling love, family connections, and overcoming fears.

Sadie and Marin are sisters. They're also total polar opposites. Marin is older, craves routine and safety but Sadie desires adventure, daring vacations and never staying in one place. Somehow, they thrive off each other and Marin sees Sadie as her sun she revolves around. Sadie realizes how bad Marin needs to be shoved out of her comfort zone, to truly find herself, before it's too late and there's nothing else she can do.

I have a slight love-hate with some of the characters in this book. I won't fully explain why, but I felt annoyed and put off by them at times. I also don't think I am the perfect audience for this one, as I'm an only child and can't understand the sibling connections. I think I was a bit of the odd opinion out here, but I felt it a touch slow and dragged. In saying all of this, I still enjoyed the story immensely, loved the adventures and the entwining love story.

The cover of this book is deceptively sweet but please expect heavy emotional content from it.

The book is about Marin, who has always led a 'safe' life since her mother died during a journalistic assignment. Her sister, however, takes the same path in life as her mother and lives an adventurous life with every month in a different country. Sadie plans a sisters-only trip to an Saba, but ends up missing the flight and Marin has to handle everything on her own.

I went into this book thinking that it would be a lighthearted romance novel set on a tropical island, but this book is more about sisterhood and living life to the fullest. There is a lot of self-discovery, and I loved the exploration of the sisterhood aspect. There is some romance, don't get me wrong, but it is not the main plot point of the book. I think that the half star I docked off of the review is only because of my expectations - I wanted to read something funny and romantic and picked up this book but it was super emotional and I already was too into the book by that point to stop reading it and pick another book.

All in all, a heartfelt sisterhood book with lots of emotions thrown in.

TW: Death of a parent, cancer.

Marin has been stuck in protective, safety mode since she lost her mother at the age of seventeen and had to be the adult for both her and her younger sister, Sadie. Marin’s sister took after their mother and is the risk taker, living life on the edge while traveling around the globe as a photojournalist. Marin hasn’t ever left the state.

Sadie invites Marin to take a trip with her to recharge. A sort of sister spa vacation and Marin can’t say no to her beloved sister the only family she has left. Marin is forced to take her life out of the safe zone, have fun, and live life. Something she hasn’t done since her mother died.

Meet Me in Paradise is not the light, fluffy beach read it appears (from the cover) to be. It’s so much more. My emotions were all over the place! The story was at times funny, flirty, and silly, with outings of adventure that felt more like magical dates, but then it’d take a sharp turn into serious and heart wrenching! I must confess I sobbed! Ugly, snotty crying and I wasn’t expecting that at all! I don’t want to scare people, so know this: This romance junkie has a to have happy ending and I wasn’t disappointed but be prepared to break out the tissues!

This book starts off as the perfect rom com. A meet cute, perfect man on a tropical island, the whole thing. Then BOOM! All of a sudden you're crying in our office while getting some lunch break reading in. This was a kicker, but so so good. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recommend for another looking for a tropical getaway, but also a book to make you feel.

Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher is a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover. At first glance, this book appears to be light, fluffy and bright. While it certainly has those moments, it also packs an incredible emotional punch that left me crying through the last 40% and dealing with a serious book hangover. Don't let that deter you, it's well-worth the emotional ride.

This book made me ready to pack up my bags and head to the island of Saba, especially if I'm escorted there by a handsome hotelier like Lucas. I was ready for the relationship between Marin and Lucas (it was just wonderful to watch it bloom), but was not expecting the depth of the relationship between Marin and her sister, Sadie. The impact of their mother's death is a constant throughout this book and really plays out in current day Marin and Sadie's actions.

I went into this expecting mostly a romance with a little emotion (what I had gathered from other posts on this book); what I got was so much more. For those for whom the loss of a loved one could be triggering, please take note before diving into this one; you're welcome to DM me for more specifics.

I give this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and a mild steam rating. I honestly can't believe this is LIbby's debut, and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.

More than a romance, this is a powerful story of the beauty of sisterhood, and how your loved ones, even in death, will never really be away from you, if you keep them in your heart. It's tackles grief (death of a parent, death of a sibling, death of one's dreams) in such a nuanced, beautiful way, and reminds one, that no matter what happens, life goes on, and is worth living. Highly recommend.

Oh my heart. Be warned. Don’t let this beautiful cover confuse you like it did me. I thought I was digging in tow rom-com for my spring break trip.there is some romance and love but this is so much more.

Hubscher has written a beautiful story as her debut novel. This is a tale is two sisters who love each other deeply but are so different. Sadie and Marin experienced a tragic loss at way too young and they both responded differently in their grief. Sadie followed in a similar path as their mom and trekked around the world while Marin retreated in to herself and gave up on her dreams to be a writer and instead took care of her younger sister.

The first part of the book had me laughing out loud. And then I sat and sobbed. This book evoked a range of emotions.

Hubscher has written such a strong story that I will be anxious awaiting future releases.



Possible trigger: loss of family member and or sudden loss.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Meet Me In Paradise was a case of don’t judge a book by it’s cover, in the best possible way! A friend quickly advised a full box of tissues when I commented being “ready for a light read.” While there is romance, the story of sisterhood was everything for me. The gorgeous tropical setting of Saba, along with a cast of very likable supporting characters, made for a literary vacation. I will keep Marin and Sadie in my heart for a long time. Now off to start my campaign for a sequel!

A huge thank you to Penguin Random House International and NetGalley for this free eARC!

I’ve been mislead again by this cute cover thinking it’ll be another fun, light romcom set in a tropical island bUT NOPE. There is SO MUCH more packed in this book!

This book starts with two sisters who couldn’t more different with Marin who’s taken the role of parental figure after they lost their mom and has forgotten how to have fun in every sense of the word and with Sadie, this wild child younger sister who has lived her life travelling the world and taking risks as much as she can. In hopes of helping her sister find the meaning of life again, Sadie plans a trip for both of them to this secluded tropical island only to ditch Marin at the airport where she meets the broody yet sexy, Lucas Tsai whom she ends up spending most of her vacation time with 👀

With that, it definitely sounds like your typical swoon-worthy romcom and yes, the romance is cute, sweet and has all the slow burn goodness I love but alongside that there’s a story all about sisterhood, the important of family and finding love outside of your family, dealing with grief and finding yourself when you thought you’ve lost sight of who you are and what you want in life.

I recommend stocking up on the tissues as you go into this because though the plot is mostly all the fun and craziness that Marin goes through during her journey of finding the joy in life again with the new found family she makes at the island whose stories are just as investing as the main couple, the subplot WRECKED ME. I already felt it happening but a part of me just felt it all too much that I ended up hardcore sobbing at some of the scenes 😭

Overall, this is such an amazing, heartfelt book that I’ll be remembering for the rest of my days. By the end of it, I just felt to enlighted, inspired, broken and satisfied. I’m giving this book all of the stars because it’s so well balance with how it made laugh too loud, smile too widely and cry too hard.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Thank you @netgalley and @berkleypub for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am a hot mess after this book. I cried and laughed and cried some more. Seriously, I wish I was able to type a better review than this. I have been typing and deleting this review for the last hour because nothing seems to do it justice. That being said, you'll just have to pick this book up and find out for yourself (and grab some or a lot of tissues while you're at it- don't say I didn't warn ya)!

Thank you, Netgalley & Berkley Pub for this E-Arc, in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this book because of the cover…. It seemed like the perfect romance to lift my spirits after a reading slump. Honestly was not expecting this book to be as sad as it did. Nothing from the synopsis prepared me for the sadness to come. I loved the relationship and bond between these opposite sisters. I adored all the characters, especially those from the island ESPECIALLY Lucas. But I feel like A LOT happened in the later half of the novel but the first half was just eh. There wasn’t much going on that it didn’t fully keep my attention… the only thing that kept me reading was the fact I could sense Sadie was hiding something. I wish I knew what to expect going into this book a little more because the cover and synopsis were deceiving I think I would have liked it better if I was prepared for what was to come.

I received an ARC through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own

This book was beautiful. You'll need tissues to dab tears from laughing, but be sure to save most of the box for later in the story because you'll be ugly crying.

Our main character is Marin. Growing up her family was her mom, a journalist going into all sorts of disasters and war zones, and her younger sister. Marin dreams of being a journalist too and traveling the world. When her mother's helicopter is shot down and everyone aboard dies, Marin becomes guardian of her little sister. In an effort to safeguard the remnants of her family Marin chooses safety. She abandons her dreams of journalism and gets a local job, and evaluates all situations for danger. Her little sister Sadie embraces danger as a world traveling photographer and mountaineer - much to Marin's worry.

The story begins when Sadie returns from another assignment looking tired and worn down. She suggests recharging with Marin fora week on a tropical island. Marin reluctantly agrees. What follows is a trail of comedic situations as Sadie misses her flight, Marin survives turbulence along side a very handsome stranger, and bad weather forces an emergency landing on a different island. The handsome stranger (Lucas) is headed to the same resort as Marin, and takes her along with him on his yacht.

Upon arrival, Marin finds out Sadie is not coming, and Marin decides to head back stateside until she realizes she has lost her passport. Sadie informs her that she can have a new passport sent to her via Sadie's state connections, but first Marin must demonstrate that she is willing to embrace adventure #ProjectParadise

So Marin plays along, and Lucas - who she has discovered as owner of the resort, joins her in showing off the island. Marin finds herself opening up to adventure and love when tragedy strikes.

This book is not a romcom, no matter how beautiful the cover is. It's a story that contains some romance, but is in greater part a love story of sisters, of family, and the connections we make along the way. Choosing to be happy and enjoy life requires bravery and difficult decisions.

Marin Cole was always the sensible sister. Not only was she older than Sadie, she was infinitely more responsible and just a tad bit more restrained. Marin made a career of worrying about her only sibling -and for a very good reason. Sadie was an adrenaline junkie of the first order just like their late mother.

The only time that Marin felt like she could finally breathe is when Sadie was home safe and sound. But something was different this time.

Marin told herself that Sadie just needed a little rest and only agreed to her wild idea of a sister’s getaway to make sure that she got it. So when Sadie misses their flight, Marin is forced to take a look outside of the shell where she has barely existed for years.

“I’d like to say that I decided to go ahead and get in line to board the flight because I’m a badass. Or even because I was fully committed to my plan to convince Sadie to join the firm so she could stay home with me. But really, she goaded me into it. Just like she could goad me into anything. I would show her just how big of a pansy-ass I wasn’t. Ha. Of course, when it came to picking up my carry-on and actually walking over to the line, my indignant resolve faded fast. Heaving a sigh, I leaned over to grip the handle of the carry-on. Why the heck was I doing this again?”

Lucas Tsai was unlike any man Marin had ever encountered. Sure, he was the GQ kind of gorgeous - but he was also enigmatic, brilliant and heartbreakingly kind.

Falling in love while being stuck on an island paradise wasn’t ever in her plans. Neither was losing the one person she loved more than life itself.

“And then Lucas Tsai, hotelier, secret Sabaoke superstar, and jet-setting international hottie, kissed me. The moon was shimmering on the ocean, waves flowed in over the volcanic rock beach, seabirds swooped and dove in the sky, and I noticed exactly zero percent of that. I was too busy noticing Lucas’s hands in my hair, on my waist—oh, and up under my too-short-thank-you-Mrs.-Right dress, his lips tender and firm—and by the way, if you’re hypothesizing that a guy who can speak eight different languages fluently can do amazing things with his mouth, you’d be right. At that moment, he was speaking the language of Get that dress off you and get these pants off me and let’s go reenact our little post-massage mishap with a mature-content rating. Who was I? I was like a woman who’d lived with amnesia for years, amnesia that made me forget that I had needs and wants until this very moment. My memory was back, baby. I was needing and wanting all over this beach.”

Libby Hubscher delivers an unexpected emotional masterpiece with Meet Me in Paradise! She flawlessly balances just the right amount of humor and wit with the kind of sorrow that can only come from experiencing a devastating loss.

Each of her characters radiate a special soulfulness that literally leaps from the page and grabs you by the heart. It’s far more than just another romantic comedy. More than a story about sisters. It’s about finding the meaning of your life and living each and every day as if it were the last.

So read the book. Swoon over Lucas. (Trust me on this!) Take the trip. Drink the wine. Eat the cake. And never forget to cherish every moment of it…

You’re going to need a pillow, some ice cream and a box of tissues for this one.

I read most of Meet Me in Paradise by @libbyhubscher in one sitting. I loved this book and I think it’s definitely one to add to your TBR’s. Swipe for the synopsis.

Marin and Sadie are sisters but could not be more opposite. Both of them lost their mother when they were young and Marin not only took on the role of mother but fell into a deep anxiety about anything beyond her Tennessee home. Sadie was the girl who wanted to be anywhere and everywhere doing crazy things.

This book started to go back and forth between Marin chapters and Sadie chapters. At first I thought that the Sadie chapters were going to take away from the main part of the story which was about Marin but I soon realized what was happening. This author did so well putting the pieces together in a way that made you intrigued about where this story was going to go.

The climax was in the middle of the book which I really appreciated. It bothers me when the big moment happens in the last 20 pages and then it’s a rush to the end. I felt like everything played out more realistically this way and Marin and Lucas had more time to develop a stronger bond.

This book started as a laugh out loud romcom, moved its way into a hand-me-the-tissues moment and ended with a hopeful picture of self-growth, courage and love. I loved all of the characters and the way this story evolved.

I will definitely be keeping a look out for more books by this author.

Thank you very much to @berkleypub for an e-arc of this book. It is released today!

When I say I wasn't ready for this book, that is an understatement. I was completely unprepared for this story of two sisters and the love they share. This was more than just a romance, it was a life changer.
Marin has always taken care of Sadie, ever since their mom died when Marin was 18. She has protected Sadie and stayed safe to protect herself and not followed her dreams. She has given up love, adventure and actually living for herself. Sadie is a free spirit and has followed in her mother's footsteps. She has become a photojournalist, traveling to remote and dangerous areas of the world. Sadie is home now, and talks Marin into a sister's trip to Saba.
Marin has never been to the ocean; always staying where its comfortable and safe in her hometown in Tennessee. From the beginning of the trip, things go south for Marin; Sadie misses the plane, she is seated next to a handsome stranger she is embarassing herself in front of and a storm has them rerouting to the wrong airport. Good thing the stranger next to her was already going to Saba and can get her there, but did I mention it is by boat and she has never been on one of those either.
I don't want to give too much away, as this book is told from Marin's POV with some of Sadie's sprinkled in. Sadie only wants the best for Marin and wants her to open up and begin to live again.
The beginning of the book left me unsure what was happening. I was not sure about Lucas, the owner of the resort and the handsome stranger that took a liking to her so quickly. I thought it was an insta love situation and I am not really all about those, but as I kept reading, it all began to unfold. I am actually tearing up writing this review because the impact it had on me was that strong. There are triggers in this book, so don't think you are getting a cute rom com here. When you are in the mood for an emotional read, something that will tug on all of your heartstrings and make you thankful for the things you are given, then you will be ready for this book. Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley and Libby for an early copy of this book.

Meet Me in Paradise is one of this years' most astonishing reads. It is equally heartwarming and heartbreaking and considers the bond of sisters Marin and Sadie Cole. These two couldn't be more different. Marin is stuck and Sadie can't stay put. However, Sadie talks Marin into an island vacation, one that doesn't start off so well. Sadie is late to the plane, and Marin is on the verge of an anxiety attack. Especially when Sadie's seat next to her is suddenly filled with an "A tall, angled Asian hunk of a man", Lucas Tsai. His presence is baffling, and the tardiness of Sadie leaves Marin very distressed.

We follow Marin to the Caribbean, specifically the island of Saba. Lucas seems to have taken her under his wing, getting her to the island. Especially after flight disruptions, bad weather, and now a rainy boat ride. Time on the Island provides Marin with many challenges; dinners with Lucas, ziplining, and the appearance of her ex. It's exactly what she needs

The story is told from both Marin and Sadie's points of view and I really enjoyed getting to know them. We become privy to Sadies' intentions for this trip, and for not making the plane herself. It's clear how much these two love each other, as they are all that's left of their immediate family. there's much growth for both of them, followed by heartbreak. I simply couldn't put it down. I happily recommend this stunning 5-star debut.

{Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for the complimentary copy.}

Reader PSA: Resist the urge to base this book on the title or the cover.

This debut was not the light, rom-com I was assuming it would be and that was fine with me. It's an emotional, sometimes gut punching, story about the deep bonds of sisterhood. The characters are dealing with some heavy issues: grief, self-growth, and discovery. I don't want to give too much away, just know that the heft is counterbalanced with very tender, heartfelt moments as well.

This book read like fiction, not romance. The romance component of this story is lovely albeit secondary.

Another reviewer said it perfectly "Sandwich this one between two feel good reads and it will be perfect."