I love Christina Lauren and I really enjoyed this book. The setting was so fun and I loved all the characters.

3.5 rounding up to 4

Anna Green and Liam "West" Weston initially marry for convenience, but after three years apart, Liam discovers he won't inherit his fortune unless he remains married for five years. Desperate to fulfill this clause, he reconnects with Anna, his unconventional ex-wife. As they navigate his wealthy family's expectations and the complexities of their past, Liam must decide if preserving his inheritance is worth sacrificing his newfound love for Anna.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that two people co-authored this book! Generally, I'm not a fan of dual authors, but this collaboration was seamless and well-executed. The story follows a fake marriage scheme aimed at securing a hefty inheritance. I really liked the beginning of the book, it was funny and I quickly grew fond of Anna and Liam. However, the momentum slowed down two-thirds of the way through. I HAAAATED the father and Alex.. My other criticism is that I didn't really care for the epilogue. This felt excessive. The alternating perspectives and periods made it feel rushed.

This was a great fluffy book to get me out of my slump. I'll definitely be reading more from Christina Lauren.

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for a chance to read this in exchange for a review!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced reader's copy of this publication.

Christina Lauren's writing is a joy every time I read her novels. I giggle, gasp and take it all in. She is a joy to read and her storylines keep me turning the pages.

As someone who's totally obsessed with Christina Lauren's books, I was all hyped up for this one, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint in the slightest.

I was completely committed in Anna Green and Liam "West" Weston's adventure from the minute we first met. The idea of a fictitious marriage developing into something more is always intriguing, but Christina Lauren gives it a special twist that made me want to flip the pages even more.

At first, I'll admit, it took me a minute to vibe with Anna, but I started to love her really fast! Such a strong, independent, and surprisingly real heroine, Anna Green captivated me with her charm and unyielding will. Even in the face of the Weston dynasty's glitz, she stays loyal to herself and doesn't let the extravagance of her surroundings dominate her. And her humor is amazing! I was laughing so hard at the Twilight reference! Even in this snooty, wealthy environment she never asked for, she is unabashedly herself, and I loved that!

And then there is Liam Weston, who is such a fascinating contrast to Anna's boundless energy with his own internal struggle between duty and desire. Being a descendant of the Weston Foods dynasty, Liam struggles with the pressures of his family and is divided between wanting more from life and the wealth. It's heartbreaking and incredibly affecting to watch him gradually change into a guy prepared to defy tradition for the sake of love.

I have to say that Anna and Liam's unquestionable chemistry. Their relationship is unforgettable and thrilling at the same time. Their banter is full of wit and humor, and their vulnerable moments are deeply touching.

Even though a few of the supporting characters felt a little underdeveloped, they still gave the narrative depth and richness by acting as allies and opponents to our main characters.

The combination of humor and romance in "The Paradise Problem" is too good to resist. Ideal summertime reading!

Another outstanding read from this talented author duo! The Paradise Problem revolves around an intriguing set-up, opposites-attract characters in a fake (but getting more real by the second) marriage, an ultra-luxury setting, and crazy family politics. It’s a blast, plain and simple. I read it in one day -- just couldn't stop!

This book was SO fun!!! I was a little hesitant going into this one since I’m 50/50 with the books I’ve read by this author duo, but this is easily my favorite of theirs that I’ve read.

The banter, the tropes, the chemistry, the main characters… chef’s kiss 👩🏻‍🍳🤌🏻💋

This was a slooooow burn but it was so worth the wait for Anna and Liam’s first moment together. You could feel the tension and angst between them leading up to that moment.

✨ marriage of convenience + only one bed + forced proximity
✨ character development and growth!!
✨ she’s a little spicy which was a pleasant surprise 🌶️🥵
✨ pop culture references
✨ tropical island setting that will make you want to be on a tropical island 🏝️☀️🌺🦜🌊🍍🍹

This was a FUN romance read that I had a hard time putting down. Thoroughly enjoyed my time with Anna and Liam and sad I have to say goodbye to them 🫶🏻

Anna Green thought her marriage to Liam “West” Weston was just a ticket to cheaper digs at UCLA, and their divorce a done deal after graduation. Fast forward three years: Anna’s an artist scraping by, and West, a Stanford professor and reluctant heir to a fortune he can only claim if he’s been hitched for five happy years.

Now, with the inheritance finish line in sight and his wealthy family eager to meet his better half, West ropes in his not-so-ex-wife, Anna, for one more performance. Under the spotlight, West worries less about Anna’s rough edges, though, and more about the corrupting claws of his family’s wealth. As the charade deepens, West must decide if his multimillion-dollar inheritance is worth jeopardising the unexpected, genuine love that has grown from their faux marital roots.

Fake marrying (and dating) a Stanford professor to snag a huge inheritance? Not too shabby for me and certainly not too shabby for our favourite writer duo.

Christina Lauren use a well-tested formula for their novels which might be a downfall for any other writer pairing after so many books but when the formula’s that good, you don’t mess with it. Yes, while the formula may remain the same, none of their books ever feel bland or

Instead, every novel brings with it good times, laugh-out-loud moments, witty banter and at least one chapter that will make you ponder your own life choices. The Paradise Problem proved to fit right into that formula and yet felt completely unique.

Anna was one of my favourite protagonists the author duo has created so far. I loved how creative and down-to-earth she was and I found her all the more relatable for her struggles. Anna went to college with ambition and drive but—like so many of us—her options on the job market do not reflect the talent and her degree. Anna was so ambitious in nature but also struck down by a system that makes you question your own merit and I think anyone who’s ever tried to get a job (or venture out with your own artistic talents) will relate to the feeling of being lost even when you made all the right choices in life.

Liam took a bit of a backseat when it came to personality (he does have to compete with one of the most shining stars here), but it’s his reflective moments, love for his family even though they often don’t deserve it and his desire to make his family whole again that truly enamoured me with him.

Now, as you can tell, this is a true opposites attract romance. Anna and Liam couldn’t be more different yet it’s those differences that make for such a fun pairing. Anna’s sassiness pairs so well with Liam’s struggles and secrets he’s keeping because it causes him to let loose and try to actually enjoy life again, even with the burden he’s faced with. Meanwhile, Liam’s quiet strength and tenacity give Anna a place to feel appreciated and valued for her artistic talent and her vivacious personality. And of course, there’s a lot of mutual pining and attraction before Liam and Anna give in to their feelings – and the long wait definitely pays off because their chemistry is electric.

The family dynamics in this novel were also so well-matched. Liam’s family is…well to phrase it nicely, a trainwreck. The whole story builds up to a huge scandal that had me grinding my teeth. Every interaction with most of the adults made me want to tear my hair out (the kids were adorable though) whereas Anna’s dad and best friend is just so supportive and kind that it soothed my soul. There’s a lot to be said about how the people you surround yourself with determine your life’s trajectory and never does it feel quite as prominent as when Anna and Liam have tough choices to make. Yet both dynamics added so much depth to the story overall.

My only gripe with The Paradise Problem is that it features a third-act break-up (which is my absolute pet peeve) and while it may have its reasons (no spoilers here), I still think it could have been dealt with through a nice adult conversation. Then again, the lowkey grovelling was pretty cute. If you can set that little pet peeve aside though considering the novel ends on a sweet note with some excellent character growth on the secondary characters

Escapism at its finest, Christina Lauren pairs fan-favourite tropes such as opposites attract and marriage of convenience with wholesomely chaotic yet undeniably relatable characters in their latest not to be missed, feel-good romance The Paradise Problem!

This is the perfect romcom from Christina Lauren! The duo strikes again! I absolutely adored every single second of this book!

I loved this book! As a fan of Christina Lauren, I have to say that I think this is one of my favorites by them. I really enjoyed both Liam and Anna's back stories and what the conflict between the family was about. It kept me very engaged throughout and I was always wondering what would happen next. Fake dating and marriage of convenience tropes are two of my favorites and I love the way that this book incorporates them. Overall, I highly recommended this book for a summer romcom!

ARC READ THROUGH NETGALLEY. This book is definitely up there on my list of top Christina Lauren books. I thought that Anna and West were both funny and had good character development. I really liked how much the book talked about therapy and how it changed West for the better. The whole paradise island, gross overspending part did turn me off a little bit, but it also didn't work for Anna, so I liked the book for pointing that out. Overall, I would recommend this, especially to someone who hasn't read anything by Christina Lauren before.

It's an ok book but after 30% reading the characters aren't pulling me in. It started off strong but feels a little predictable. DNF

******************I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion***********

As a huge Christina Lauren fan I had high hopes for this book… and it did not disappoint! The Paradise Problem was SO GOOD! There was fake dating/fake marriage/marriage of convenience woven together with tension that was *chef’s kiss*! I audibly laughed so many times while reading this book. I enjoyed the balance that Christina Lauren was able to incorporate between the romance/spice and plot. I was invested in what would happen with each character and thought the character development was well executed. The reader is given a glimpse into the real life of the two main characters outside of just the romance, which for me made them more relatable and likable.

This book is great for lovers of:
Marriage of convenience
Grumpy x Sunshine
Enemies to lovers
Destination wedding/travel romance
Dual POV

I am a SUCKER for any book set in a tropical location, fake relationships, enemies to lovers, and all the typical tropes. Well, this hit them ALL. And let me tell you, I wanted to throw this book across the room when it came to certain characters bc the author portrayed these characters in such a way that it make your heart break for them and made you hate the protagonists!

I will read anything Christina Lauren writes, they write the best rom-coms with a little heart tug to them!

What is it about this writing duo that makes me want to drop everything when I get their book? I mean yea I worked but every other free moment was reading this gem. Anna and Liam (aka West) smolder off the pages. You always know where the book is going to end but let me tell you, the ride is always a blast.

Money isn’t everything, in fact sometimes it’s the worst thing that can happen to a family; just ask the Weston’s.

As a first time reader of Christina Lauren, this was a great read. It had all the feels. West and Green make an adorable couple. It's a bit controversial within the family and i thought at times Green comes across a bit childish, but after the first third of the book is was a page turner.

Very enjoyable. Christina Lauren brings a lot of humor to this improbable marriage of convenience story. Anna Green and Liam (West) Weston marry to get into the subsidized family house while attending UCLA. They lived together, barely connecting, for two years before graduation. When he shows up almost three years later she is surprised to learn that they are still married. She is living paycheck to paycheck working odd jobs while she works on her art. She is also helping with her father’’s medical bills.

Liam needs to be married for five full years to meet a quirky requirement in the trust fund his grandfather set up, And it turns out that he is the once golden boy who turned black sheep by becoming a professor at Stanford instead of helping run the Weston Food conglomerate. He is months away from meeting the requirements of the trust and getting his 100 million dollar inheritance. But his sister is getting married and his parents insist his wife attends the wedding week.

Of course it doesn’t all make sense. Logically you know with that kind of wealth on the line his parents would have investigated his wife. But for the fun of the story I parked the right side of my brain and went with it. His dad is over the top competitive and controlling. There is jealousy with the father pleasing brother. And Anna is a ray of sunshine in the middle of the craziness.

I’ve read several books by this writing duo and they seem to be getting better and better. This is on the steamier side for them and I love that. I hope they had as good of a time writing this as I did reading it. And by the ending, which was a bit convoluted, I found I cared a lot for Anna and Liam and cheered their HEA. I finished with a happy smile on my face. (4.5 Stars)

I love a fake dating trope and adore the Christina Lauren duo, but sadly this one missed the mark for me. Some of the family dynamic stuff was too far fetched. Liam had little to no contact with his family for five years, but went to a family wedding, and they had never met his wife?! That is a stretch…

I also had trouble getting invested in Anna and Liam’s relationship. They didn’t know a thing about each other yet lived together for two years? However, I loved Anna’s character and she was such a perfect FMC. I wish she got the attention she deserves as Anna was very charming and authentic. Anna deserves a rewrite in my opinion 🙂

Thank you @netgalley and @gallerybooks books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really liked the character dynamic in this book. Liam and Anna were both likeable characters and they complemented each other very well. I love how Anna is such a funny and sassy character and it was obvious how she was influencing Liam for the better. Liam's character development was done well; I wasn't the biggest fan of him at first but once he started to give in to his feelings for her, you can definitely see the growth. The author also did a great job with the dual perspective. We were able to see how Liam's relationship with his father had a deeper effect on things and I love how we were able to see him overcome it. There was a good balance of spice, humor, and heartfelt moments. I don't love how the conflict was handled but for the most part, it was a very satisfying ending. I really liked the character arcs and though the plot was not the most unique, there were layers to the story that made it an enjoyable and emotional read.

I was looking forward to a new Christina Lauren book and was very excited to start reading. Unfortunately, if I'm honest, I was not loving it at the start. I find the premise of the book to be a bit far-fetched and the characters to be a bit too stereotyped. However, I am glad I stuck with it. In spite of the things I do not love, I ended up enjoying it overall. The romance is sweet and fun, and I really fell in love with the male lead. The female lead grew on me despite my distaste for her originally. Ultimately, my feelings are still mixed but I can admit I had a good time reading it.

The storyline follows Anna Green and Liam Weston, who married in college in order to live in family housing. It was a marriage of convenience that never actually ended even though they have not seen each other in years. Suddenly, Liam shows up at Anna's front door with a proposition involving life-changing money in exchange for attending a family wedding with him and pretending they have a real marriage so that he can receive an inheritance. As one can image, this does not go smoothly.

There are a lot of unlikeable characters in this book, specifically Liam's wealthy family. Their extreme privilege and snobbery are difficult to stomach. In contrast, Anna is unconventional and artistic. The reader is supposed to love Anna, but I found it very hard to relate to her. In fact, I could not relate to any of the characters in the book. This is not usually a problem for me, but when I also do not really like any of them, it is hard to root for any of them.

That being said, I did end up invested in Anna and Liam's relationship. When they are not interacting with the horrible Weston family, they are honest and kind with each other. Their romance develops organically through their forced proximity. They have fun and laugh together, which I find very endearing.

So, overall I'd say my feelings on this one are middle of the road. I do not love the set up of the plot or most of the characters, but I do love Anna and Liam's romance. I would tentatively recommend this to the right reader.

Like all Christina Lauren books I could not put this down! The banter between Anna and West was fantastic and all of the tropes in this book were fantastic! My only problem is that a one hundred million dollar inheritance is so unbelievably unbelievable it made me laugh. Who needs that much money?