Thank you NetGalley for and Arc of this book!

***Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed and they both went on their merry ways.
Three years later she's on a private island with her fake husband, trying to convince his family that they are happily married so he can receive his hefty inheritance from his grandfather**

Fake dating at its best. Absolutely loved this book right from the start it was hilarious and the characters had you routing for them! This one goes up there as one of my favourites with the unhoneymooners,

Anna and West got married while in college to solve their on campus housing troubles. After a year of living together, they parted ways and hadn’t seen each other for years. Anna is going through a rough stretch of luck when Liam shows up on her door. She’s utterly perplexed because she thought she signed divorce papers years ago. It turns out she didn’t and West needs her to go to an exotic paradise island with him and his family. It’s a fun story with all the signature Christina Lauren laughs, twists, and love.

Description from Amazon: “ Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, an over-the-top family wedding means he’ll have to appear with his mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But once they land at the wedding venue, a luxury island resort, Liam’s less worried if the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part, and more about whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt even his surprisingly grounded and openhearted wife. Now he has to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth risking true love that sprouted from a lie.”

I thought this book was absolutely adorable!!! I loved the entire plot of the story, I loved she was this unpolished artist that was in this exclusive crowd. I loved the MMC and though he was a rich heir, he was still relatively humble and gentlemanly. I loved their chemistry and how they fell for each other. It was really adorable and the perfect beach read for sure! 4/5 stars!

The Paradise Problem starts with such a fun setup - what Anna thinks is the end of her marriage of convenience for student housing. Fast forward a few years, and Anna is a struggling painter who just got fired from her job at a convenience store. And now, Liam has come back into her life with a proposition - how much money would it take to get her to pretend to be his wife just one more time? Only here’s the catch, they are legally still married. And if they can’t pull this off - he’ll lose his inheritance.

My thoughts:

I thought Anna and Liam had great chemistry. The forced proximity?? The one bed?? What’s not to love! And emotionally, I love how Anna was just his ride-or-die amongst his toxic family, she was such a fun FMC to root for.

My one issue was that we didn’t get to see Liam resolve his inner character arc - it was revealed after the fact to Anna, and I think it had less of an emotional impact for me because of that. I wanted a little grander gesture for her - and to see Liam really go all in on their relationship as well as finally standing up for himself.

Overall, it was a really fun vacation read, definitely fast paced enough to keep you entertained on a plane or poolside!

I will read anything that Christina Lauren write - they are my favorite author for romances! This one is the best one yet, with a tropical setting, and a firey romance - loved it!!

Christina Lauren has worked their magic again with "The Paradise Problem," a delectable tale of love, deception, and personal growth. This novel blends humor, heart, and heat, creating a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Anna Green and Liam "West" Weston are a captivating pair, drawn together by a twist of fate and an antiquated clause in a will. Lauren masterfully crafts their dynamic, from Anna's free-spirited artistry to Liam's structured, academic world. Their chemistry is palpable, sparking off the pages as they navigate the complexities of a fake marriage turned real.

The storyline is both charming and thought-provoking, exploring themes of authenticity, societal pressures, and what it truly means to belong. The juxtaposition of Anna’s bohemian lifestyle with the opulent world of the Weston family adds a rich layer of tension and intrigue. Yet, it’s the deeply personal journey of both protagonists that truly shines through from start to finish.

Lauren's witty dialogue, well-rounded characters, and clever plot twists elevate this book to a standout status in contemporary romance. If you’re looking for a swoon-worthy escape that also prompts reflection on the tangible vs. the intangible, "The Paradise Problem" will not disappoint. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that delivers a hearty mix of laughter, tears, and pure joy.

Highly recommended!

CLo is one of my go to romance authors. They write witty dialogue that doesn't border on cheesy. The female leads are usually fairly capable and not complete idiots. Highly rec.

Omg I adored this book and it's definitely one of my fave CL books. Honestly it was the perfect mix of hilarious and heartfelt. This was definitely trope-y but I think it still worked really well! The premise of the book was crazy to me but it just...worked. The execution was great and I loved the dual POVs. I definitely recommend!

"I'm too lazy for an influencer life."

The Paradise Problem is a cute fake-dating romance. When the book started, I wasn't a big fan of the FMC or the MMC. But as the plot progressed, I slowly became obsessed with them. This book felt different from Christina Laurens' other works, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like a good fake-dating, slow-burn romance, this is just the book for you.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a Christina Lauren fan and I hope this duo keeps writing books like this one! I’m not a standard romance reader, but these kinds of stories that actually have a plot and are fun AND funny to read always hook me in. These authors are great at this kind of story telling.

I love a good fake-marriage trope and this one is perfectly executed. Liam is locked into an antiquated and sexist stipulation thanks to his grandfather’s will, but luckily he married Anna three years prior…but she thinks they’re divorced. When Liam’s family insists on meeting his wife, he has no choice but to face facts and bring her into his family’s toxic circle. This book is hilarious and lighthearted. Easily my new favorite Christina Lauren book.

Many thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy.

I was really disappointed with this title, despite how much I looked forward to it. I love an island book for the summer, but this just wasn't it for me.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren is a delightful rom-com that explores themes of self-discovery, love, and the complexities of relationships. Set against the backdrop of a luxurious vacation destination, the story follows two main characters who are brought together by unexpected circumstances.

Christina Lauren's writing is witty and charming, with a perfect balance of humor, heart, and a bit of emotional depth. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and their growth throughout the book makes for a satisfying and heartwarming read. The tropical setting adds a refreshing touch, making the book feel like a mini escape for readers.

With its engaging storyline, lovable characters, and a mix of romance and personal growth, The Paradise Problem is a perfect pick for fans of feel-good, lighthearted romance. It’s a fun, quick read that will leave you smiling long after you turn the last page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ | Fun, Flirty, and Full of Heart

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren is a delightful blend of fake-dating tropes, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt moments. With their signature wit and charm, Christina Lauren crafts a story that’s equal parts funny and emotional, as two opposites navigate a pretend relationship that quickly feels all too real.

The banter is sharp, the romance slow-burn but oh-so-satisfying, and the emotional depth adds just the right amount of weight. A couple of plot points feel a bit predictable, but the lovable characters and sweet, summery vibes more than make up for it.

A nearly perfect rom-com escape that will leave you smiling long after the final page!

Christina Laurin’s Paradise Problems is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and romance! This delightful story revolves around a fake marriage turned real as two unlikely people find themselves entangled in a whirlwind of family drama, wedding chaos, and unexpected love.

Perfect amount of cute, hilarious and page turning drama! A little steamy and a lot of laughs. This is a fast read. Pretty typical rom-com but I liked it.

I absolutely loved this book! It was sweet, funny and emotional at times. I found it to be lighthearted and highly entertaining.

4.5 stars! I loved the characters and the story. I was literally cracking up at their dynamic. I couldn’t put it down!

Pretty standard of a romance novel--but I do love the pose as lovers trope. It is a favorite and Christina Lauren do it so well. What was nice is that I found BOTH characters likeable and for some reason, I do not feel that is always the case with romcoms.

Yes,. there is LOTS of sex (as one expects both from the genre and from Christina Lauren). Sometimes a gripe of mine is that I want to depth to relationships and sex does not exactly equate to depth. But, again, it's standard of the genre and both characters did make each other better at the end of the book (so what more could you want)

Another win for Christina Lauren!!! I gave five stars to the True Love Experiment (2) last week & couldn’t wait to read another one of theirs too. I took this one on our little getaway weekend trip & it’s the perfect summer read. 🙌🏻 There is a political / business aspect that I wasn’t a super fan of, but it did relate to the plot. HOWEVER Anna is so quirky and funny & their banter made it perfect and just couldn’t drop a star for just the short business problems. Definitely a grumpy x sunshine trope!!