Anna and Wes made a deal for affordable housing in college. She thought they signed the divorce papers after graduation and went their separate ways. Years later Anna is struggling and Liam is in need of a wife to get to his inheritance and finally get out from his father's thumb. They strike another deal, fool the family, get Liam's inheritance and go their separate ways again. But then Liam's family gets involved and so do a whole lot of feelings.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. I typically find romances super cheesy, but this one was really good! The witty banter was perfection I found myself laughing out loud so many times throughout the book.

Paradise Problems is everything I love about Christina Lauren’s books—fun, romantic, and full of heart. The tropical setting makes it the perfect escape, and the characters are so easy to root for. Their chemistry is off the charts, the banter is sharp, and there are plenty of sweet and emotional moments that keep you hooked.

It’s the kind of book that makes you smile, laugh, and maybe even tear up a little. If you’re looking for a lighthearted romance with just the right amount of depth, this one’s a must-read!

Thank you @gallerybooks @netgalley for the free review copy!

📖 Anna and Liam had an arrangement to marry each other in order to qualify for family housing in college. Three years after they go their separate ways, Liam shows up with some shocking news. They’re actually still married, he’s an heir to a billion dollar grocery corporation and also he needs her to go with him and play wife on a family vacation for a destination wedding.

💭 I loved this one so much. Anna was the best. She had me laughing out loud at times. She was just such a great character, I love when characters are so likeable you just can’t help rooting for them. There was good chemistry between her and Liam and the banter was pretty cute too. I was curious how the ending would play out, specifically with Liam’s dad. I was happy they took the direction they did. Overall, a very cute and entertaining read.

📚Read this if you like…
Marriage of convenience
Only one bed
Forced proximity
Rich people drama
Destination weddings
Dual POV
Family dramas
Banter

✍️ How I rated other books by these authors:
The Unhoneymooners- 5⭐️
The Soulmate Equation- 5⭐️
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating- 5⭐️
Love and Other Words- 4.5⭐️
In a Holidaze- 4⭐️
My Favorite Half-Night Stand- 3⭐️
Something Wilder- 3⭐️

Fake daters/spouses of convenience to lovers meets class disparity in this vacation of a novel. This writing duo pens another fun, steamy, beachy read perfect for those who need a little armchair travel. Christina Lauren show us that group work sometimes does work out.

I am such a fan of Christina Lauren. The way she writes cozy romances never ceases to surprise me. The Paradise Problem was so fun and made me want to take a trip!

Hands down the best Christina Lauren book I've read in years. Funny, heartfelt, and compelling, I fell in love with Liam and Anna right from the beginning. They balanced each other really well, and I was so stoked when Anna told off Liam's father for being the complete jerk he was. I would've liked a little more depth with Liam's family, and there were a couple of moments where they threw in unnecessary words like "phew" or the lie, but overall a fun story. Perfect for vacation.

Found myself giggling more than once. This was a cute read. And if you want family drama you'll get it here. If you want a prefect FMC you'll get it here too. I enjoyed my time and this story was a good one. We all need a David Green.

The most magical summer read!

I love Christina Lauren and all they do, but this is hands down the most well done romance since Love and Other Words! This is the perfect summer read.

This was Christina Lauren like I love them. There was humor, pining, flirting, and just the right amount of real life hurt for this romance novel to finish as a perfect treat. Not too sweet or heavy. This book was a relief to me as I hadn’t loved the last couple releases from my favorite duo. This has healed me!

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren showcases the dynamic duo’s signature blend of romance, humor, and charm, but with a fresh twist that will delight longtime fans and new readers alike. The story dives into themes of love, self-discovery, and the idyllic versus the real—examining what “paradise” truly means for each of us.

Strengths:
1. Engaging Characters: The protagonist feels relatable, especially as she balances her dreams with the messy reality of life. Supporting characters add depth and humor, making the story even more engaging.
2. Setting: Christina Lauren’s depiction of the tropical locale is lush and vivid, transporting readers right into the heart of paradise with all its beauty and challenges.
3. Emotional Depth: The book explores the complexities of relationships—romantic, familial, and platonic—while still delivering plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
4. Fast-Paced Plot: The narrative flows effortlessly, keeping readers invested from start to finish.

Critiques:
1. Predictability: While enjoyable, parts of the storyline can feel a bit formulaic, especially for fans familiar with the authors’ previous works.
2. Secondary Characters: Some supporting characters could have been explored more deeply to enrich the narrative further.

Overall, The Paradise Problem is a delightful, feel-good read that balances humor, heart, and a touch of introspection. It’s perfect for readers looking for a light yet meaningful escape.

Christina Lauren is a must read for me but this one fell a little flat. I'll be checking out the next one.

I genuinely love everything I read by Christina Lauren & this was no exception. This book was great, sexy, funny & romantic. I will impatiently waiting for the next book these ladies craft & produce.

I've always been a massive fan of Christina Lauren and I absolutely adore the their books! This one was okay, not my favorite, but super appreciative of the ARC!

This book was such a fun read! I love a good fake dating/marriage when both are attracted to each other and you just watch the growing tension. Liam or “West” has his PHD and is a professor at Stanford who can be very serious and comes from immense wealth. Anna is an aspiring artist and she’s just always looking on the bright side and tries to be happy, and far from rich. It was very touching watch Anna be the stability and voice of reason Liam needed in order to put his happiness first when it comes to his family. Anna was able to show him that there is so much more to life than money.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. It was a really fun, zippy read with great character development - I loved the family dynamics between the Westons, especially between Ray and his sons. He was such a despicable man and his influence on each of the boys was an integral part of the story. Overall, it was a light read that I kept wanting to return to. A perfect poolside choice!

I love all of the Christina Lauren books and this one was no exception! Anna and Liam have been roommates but have never really “known” each other. As the each find themselves in a bind, what are they to do but become a fake couple… on a romantic island….at a wedding. Fun and romantic, this is the perfect summer read.

An automatic author name for the Bookish Brunch Club is Christina Lauren, when we saw this new ARC was set to release we immediately requested! This was such a fun and atmospheric summer read that set you into the tropical atmosphere.

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, pressure mounts from his family to see this 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 in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

We loved this fake, but not so fake marriage between our MMC and FMC. The FMC was your classic golden retriever who pulled our black cat MMC into the light. We love some character development and the settings that Christina Lauren creates. The MMC's family was the pits, but overall this was a great book that our bookclub thoroughly enjoyed. An enthusiastic 4 stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC

Anna and Liam got hitched in college for cheap housing. Anna thought they were divorced, Liam knew they weren't. Now Liam needs Anna to to to a family wedding with him. . . as his wife.

What's in it for Anna? Cold hard cash.
What's in it for Liam? Maybe a chance to tell his wife his the really feels.

This was very cute lighthearted romance.

Christina Lauren does it again! I loved The Paradise Problem and it's probably my new favorite book by this author duo. The banter, the angst, the laughs, the swooning, the spice....it's a perfect rom com. Highly recommend