I am unfortunately giving "The Paradise Problem" by Christina Lauren 2.5-3 stars. Let's start with the positives: I think the characters had great chemistry. And yep, that's it.
Negatives: so many plot holes and unrealistic circumstances. Definitely wasn't a clean read. The story had great potential--it just didn't quite reach it.

This was such a fun rom com. Christina Lauren did it again. The writing sucks you in immediately, the characters are lovable and engaging, and the situations that pop up in the story make you feel all the feels. This is the perfect vacation read.

Format: ebook ARC
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I want to thank Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑺:
🌺 marriage of convenience
🌺 inheritance in danger
🌺 toxic family

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺:
Wow - Christina Lauren really hit it out of the park with this one 😍

I just have to dive right in and say what a lovable, eccentric, strong FMC Anna is. I saw a lot of myself in her vulnerability and openness with others and it made her so relatable. And the things that came out of her mouth had me rolling on the floor laughing! 🤣

Liam felt like a giant teddy bear that I just wanted to hug and shield from his dad. Speaking of which, CL made Ray soooo unlikeable, it was a work of art really. That ending was so satisfying 😉 but back to Liam, I could feel him trying to juggle all of the balls in the air when it came to his family, Anna, his past, and everything else. I’m so happy for the HEA in this book because they all deserved it 🥹

The pace was fast and chalked full of hilarious one liners and heat felt moments. The book was honestly an enjoyable read from start to finish 🫶🏻

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
Narrators: Patti Murin, Jon Root
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 5/14

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Gallery Books for my advanced copy and to Simon Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

Three years ago, Anna Green and Liam “West” Weston got married to qualify for family housing. Anna thought she signed divorce papers, but when Liam shows up looking for a favor, she finds out that not only are they still married, but Liam is the heir to a grocery store chain and filthy rich. To keep his inheritance, he has to prove that he is happily married, so he begs Anna to go to his sister’s wedding to show her off to his family. Anna needs to play the part of the high society wife, when really she’s a struggling artist who can barely afford to pay rent. What could go wrong?

I absolutely loved this book! If you’re craving a summer read that’s both hilarious and heartwarming, this is the book for you.

Anna and Liam’s rollercoaster journey is an absolute delight. With dual POVs that give front-row seats to their innermost thoughts, I was rooting for these quirky characters from the get-go. Anna’s charming messiness and Liam’s endearing personality make for an irresistible pair.
But it’s not just about the romance—though let’s be honest, their banter is chef’s kiss—the plot is packed with twists, turns, and plenty of shenanigans that will keep you glued to the page. From the absurdity of a fake marriage to the looming threat of a massive inheritance, there’s never a dull moment.

Anna and Liam steal the show with their chemistry, but the supporting cast adds depth and hilarity to the story. And let’s not forget the setting—Christina Lauren’s vivid descriptions of the island resort will have you booking your own tropical getaway.

The narrators, Patti Murin and Jon Root, did an incredible job of bringing all the characters to life. I highly recommend listening to the audio version of this story!

From laugh-out-loud moments to tender, quiet ones, "The Paradise Problem" truly delivers. It’s the perfect blend of humor, heart, and heat that will have you swooning until the very last page.

Read if you like:
*marriage of convenience
*opposites attract
*slow burn
*tropical setting
*complicated family dynamics
*dual POV
*open-door spice

Oh what a perfect summer read and my new favorite Christina Lauren book!
This one had all the makings for a perfect romcom with banter, one bed, fake marriage and the perfect amount of spice! This one had me laughing out loud and reaching for the popcorn with that family drama. This was a really fun read and one I’d definitely recommend!

Thank you Gallery Books for providing me an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Release date: May 14th

Thank you for allowing me to read this book. I enjoyed the characters and their arcs, and found the plot interesting. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Pretty standard "let's get married so I can get my inheritance and then I'll cut you a fat check for your time since you're poor, but wait, I think I might actually be falling in love with you" storyline. West is a pretty buttoned up guy and in comes Anna in all her quirkiness ready to play Pretty Woman with him. As you can imagine, the story unfolds exactly as you would expect, but still worth reading if you liked the aforementioned classic movie and Crazy Rich Asians. Grab a fruity cocktail poolside so you can live vicariously through them as they travel to an all inclusive resort catering to the 1%.

This is another cute one from Christina Lauren. I really enjoyed the main characters and how their chemistry. I could do with less of the sex scenes but it didn't take away from the book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Rating 2.5

Im not really sure what this was. TOO many pop culture references, and overall cringey dialogue. This novel feels too easy, as in the plot gets handled so easy. There is no conflict. It’s just one cheesy moment to the next. If you don’t want to think this is the book for you. If you want to be entertained? Look elsewhere.

Thank you Netgalley for this gifted arc with my promise of an honest review.

Christina Lauren does it again! Anna Green and Liam West are adorable and hilarious. The Paradise Problem was a very slow burn, but the spice was there when it finally happened. This was an opposite attract, slow burn, marriage of convenience and we get to see both point of views! I rate this a 4.5 stars!

This was my first Christina Lauren book and I loved it!
Anna Green is pink haired, adorable hot mess. She enters a fake marriage to Liam Weston to get cheaper/family housing in college. This unexpectedly opens Liams trust, which means they need to stay fake married and attend a family wedding in Paradise to keep his inheritance. Be prepared for the following tropes: Fake dating, marriage of convenience, cute banter, billionaire romance, forced proximity and one bed.
I was hooked and thoroughly entertained from the beginning. 4.5 stars and a little bit of spice too.

Thank you Gallery Books for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.

I’m a big Christina Lauren fan, but I’m still not sure how I felt about this.

Anna and Liam had a modern marriage of convenience so they could share student housing for married couples. She’s shocked when he shows up a few years later and they’re still married. Anna agrees to attend his sister’s wedding on a tropical island to get his family off his back. Anna is constantly surprised (and so was I) about the level of wealth that Liam’s family displays. I liked Liam and Anna, but it was hard to like many of Liam’s family members. I liked seeing Anna and Liam deepen their relationship. I think Liam really needed Anna and someone who just loved him for him. I was proud of him for finally standing up to his father. I think seeing Anna stand up to him while on the island was one of my favorite parts. This was interesting but just didn’t babe the magic for me that most Christina Lauren books do.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Christina Lauren for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Christina Lauren did not disappoint with this fun, flirty book that also covers some heavy topics like emotional abuse from family members, therapy, and conditional love.

Told from two perspectives - Anna and West meet in college and get married so they can live in family housing for cheap. Their marriage comes back around years later (after Anna didn't really sign divorce papers...) when West needs a "wife" to claim his inheritance.

Anna's character is laugh-out-loud funny. She's quirky and loving and just the right amount of hilarious to counter West's more serious nature. It gave me vibes of Crazy Rich Asians and the romance is *chef's kiss*.

🌺The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren🌺

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

I love Christina Lauren books and was so excited to receive an ARC via @netgalley to review ahead of release day. My favorite Christina Lauren book previously was The Unhoneymooners and no other book of theirs has topped that one but The Paradise problem usurped it and now holds the title of my favorite Christina Lauren Book. I absolutely ADORED Liam and Anna from the start and their relationship dynamic was both adorable ad hilarious at different points. Marriage of Convenience is one of my favorite tropes and this book absolutely nailed it. The chemistry between Anna and Liam as their relationship became not-so-fake was 🔥 and the spice in this book was 🥵 I truly enjoyed every minute of reading their love story. I also loved seeing how they both overcame their own trauma AND that this book was very therapy positive. I loved everything about about this book and think it should be on everyone’s list for this summer!

Read this if you like:
- Billionaire Romance
- Marriage of Convenience
- Friends to Lovers
- Protective MMC
- Therapy Positive
- SPICE 🌶

Christina Lauren is one of my favorite authors and The Paradise Problem was a clear example of why. This book was lighthearted while still having complex characters that had me rooting for them from the get go. While the story is not realistic (and something I'm totally fine with -- hence why I read fiction), I felt similarities to the characters, their flaws, and how complex a relationship can be. This was one of the books I've read this year that I was devouring and could not put down. Highly recommend if you're looking for a good "beach read" or if you just want a bit of an escape with a fun story!

Is it hot in here? Christina Lauren came with some spice with their latest romance! The Paradise Problem is an open door romance that uses the fake dating/only one bed trope but man, was I there for it. One of my favorite light reads of the year so far.

Thank you NetGalley for this preview, I love a good romance. But, lots of sex and lots of talking about sex does not make this a romance. Throw in some unlikable, cookie-cutter characters and a completely unrealistic story and there you have it. Interesting plot, but not well done. This is my third book by this author and they all have the same problem for me, no romance.

Charming, witty and irresistible, The Paradise Problem is quintessential Christina Lauren. Anna is unlike any other character they have written and she was a complete blast while also being nuanced. I can’t wait to read more by Christina Lauren.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren was a quirky, funny, family, beach-Pretty Woman vibe story!! Excellent fun easy summer loving read!

Anna and West come from two different worlds and even though they have been fake married for five years to get married housing, they barely know each other. When West has to go to his sister’s wedding on a private island, he must convince Anna to join him and pretend to be his wife in front of his mega rich family. She desperately needs money so she agrees. What happens is both hilarious, sad, maddening and heartwarming.

I loved this book. It had a little of everything and was just enough outside the same ol’ romance story to keep me invested! Highly recommend!