Christina & Lauren write amazing romances.

Anna uses Liam and their fake marriage to get student family housing. She assumes they are divorced but turns out he never signed the papers.

When he needs their marriage to be able to access his inheritance, he comes back and they have to fake it for his family. Hilarity ensues and of course, the two fall in love.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable and swoonable rom-com about expectations, families, and falling for the right person at the right time.

Thank you to Net Galley and Gallery Books for the eARC!

Take Christina Lauren's non-stop banter and steaminess, and set it on a gorgeous island getaway...you've got this book. Pure escapism with a hefty dose of stress due to the major Succession vibes the family gives. West (his nickname) comes from an uber-rich and competitive family. His father wants him to take over their grocery dynasty, but he's made a happy life for himself as a professor who tries to stay far, far away from his family. But then his beloved sister is getting married, and West is called back into the fold. The main problem is that his whole family thinks he's married to Anna. Ok, so he technically did marry Anna, but not for love--he married her for the cheaper housing at Stanford. Anna is a struggling artist who thinks she and West divorced, but she cannot say no to West's offer to pay her to pretend that they are still in a loving marriage. Off they go to this wedding. The Weston's are truly AWFUL people, but that allows West and Anna to really become a team. I love their playfulness together, and of course the chemistry between them is off the charts. This was a really fun read that was like a vacation for my brain. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5stars!!!!!

This book was so much fun to read. The comedic elements hit at just the right times and had me laughing out loud throughout. Even with all of the levity, the story and characters kept my full attention. The grumpy sunshine nature of our MCs, the fact that Anne was a starving artist and West was a reluctant heir to a corporate grocer empire, and their ceaseless banter made this a complete binge read. Seriously, I read this whole book in less than 36 hours!

The private island setting was dreamy and made for optimal romantic feelings as Anne and West began to fall for each other.

This book gave Pretty Woman vibes in all of the right ways - minus the prostitution ;-)

I only wished the ending hadn't felt rushed. There were so many milestone relationship moments in the epilogue that I wanted to be explored in more detail and a part of the book itself and, perhaps, an epilogue that was set a couple of years in the future beyond that.

Ultimately, as always, Christina Lauren delivers another absolute gem!!!!!

I greatly enjoyed a few other Christina Lauren books, so I was excited when I saw that this one was on NetGalley. It had a few tropes that I love, and had so much of the banter I enjoyed in other books. While it had a very strong start, the middle dragged a bit, though it picked right back up in the end, which was perhaps a bit too rushed. Though the epilogue was a nice touch.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the free electronic advanced reader!

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren was such a fun, cute read that will be perfect for the summer. It was entertaining and funny. I felt like this one was one of Christina Lauren's more witty books and I definitely enjoyed it. Although, the storyline seemed a little absurd, it was done so well and I couldn't wait to find out what happened. I think this is perfect for all romance readers.

This cute novel read similar to Christina Lauren's past works, so if you have liked them in the past, this novel won't disappoint. This novel was a spicy beach read. The setting was just as fun as the characters' witty banter.

Anna and West got married to secure student housing....they were complete strangers. After 2 years, he moves out but unbeknownst to Anna, they stayed married due to a clause in his inheritance saying his marriage had to last 5 years. Right before that 5 years is up, West's sister plans her wedding, and the family wants to meet his wife. Down on her luck and recently fired, Anna takes the chance to spend 10 days in paradise and make some much needed money. But, when she meets his dysfunctional family, Anna isn't sure she, or West, will make it to the wedding.
I adore Christina Lauren!!! This book is open door romance, opposites attract, somewhat strangers to lovers. This book is Pretty Woman meets Keeping up with the Kardashians. You can't help but love Anna and all her authenticity, you root for West (Liam) and grumble at his family issues, and you really can't stand any of the other Westons.

The Paradise Problem is a win for this writing duo. I am always so shocked when I remind myself that there are two voices writing these stories, since it always seems so cohesive.
The writing in this story is witty and darling and I feel like I know Anna and Liam. Their chemistry is palpable and the tension is hot.
One thing I do want to applaud Christina Lauren for is the fact that the plot is actually an interesting portion of the book and not something that's happening in the background of this romance. The Weston family drama and feud is something that I wanted to read as much as Anna and Liam's budding relationship.
The setting was amazing and now I want to be in a water bungalow on a Singaporean island for a week.
Definitely pick up The Paradise Problem when it comes out.
4 stars.

Can CLo write anything that isn't 5 stars for me? At this point just sign me up for any and all Christina Lauren books because they have it all. The laugh out loud comedy, main characters I root for, side characters who absolutely carry the book, witty banter, real life problems, wild plot settings, and extremely amazing spicy scenes.

Liam and Anna got married for the residential benefits in college. They barely knew one another and never talked, but did it to help each out out. Flash forward 5 years and Liam shows up at Anna's door step to ask if she will go to his sisters wedding on a private island and act like they're a happily married couple. After realizing that the man she is married to is absolutely rich, she agrees to go for money to help out her dad and herself.

While this seemed like a wild unbelievable plot line... I ATE IT UP. Anna was so truly herself even around snobby rich men and women and I lived for every moment of it. I devoured this book because it was just that good.

I loved getting to know Liam and Anna and watching them get to know one another and the slow burn of a fake marriage. UGH. It was everything. CLo knows how to write slow burn and spicy spicy scenes.

I loved how this was so much more than just a rom com. I could go on for days, but Anna and Liam were such fleshed out characters and both had real issues and CLo doesn't shy away from flaws. Life isn't perfect no matter how much money you have, it's about the people you have in your life.

Wow, where to begin… This story was so fun, so cute and honestly, had a lot of depth for a romantic comedy. The characters were really likable and their relationship (or lack thereof) draws the reader in from the very beginning. I found myself laughing out loud as I read it. It gives Pretty Woman/Crazy Rich Asian vibes and I’m here for it! Truly so good and has easily become my favorite Christina Lauren book to date. Perfect summer read, so add it to your TBR!!

So good!! I loved 99% of it. The third act “breakup” didn’t seem necessary but it was so quick, I could overlook it easily.

I really liked this one! Lots of family drama and spice. I liked the dual POV’s and fake marriage is a fun trope to follow. I would have rated it higher if the pacing were better for the first half and if they had included more fun banter in between the two MC’s.

Christina Lauren could publish their grocery list and I'd love it.

I'd suggest going into The Paradise Problem totally blind. It made the first chapter very confusing (in a good way) and had me asking "how is this going to play put?" I love the duel POV. Anna, our FMC, is quirky and charming without being annoying or a pick me girl, and Liam, our MMC, is grumpy without being an asshole. 🤌

This was such a wonderful, quick romcom. CL can make me laugh every time, so effortlessly funny, but can also make me feel my feels when I'm supposed to.

Please pick this up if you loved The Unhoneymooners or Love and Other Words. You'll get the same comedy, sandwiched with heart and paradise.

(4.5 Rounded up for Goodreads rating purposes.)

The Paradise Problem is quintessential fun, steamy, delightful Christina Lauren tale-telling. From the start to the finish I was charmed and laughing and rooting for the characters to have their happy-ever-after. I swear, CL books are practically the only romance books where I don't want everyone to wind up miserable--ha! Your perfect summer read, your perfect feel-good title, your anytime romance...just read and enjoy it!

My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the chance to preview this title in exchange for my honest review.

🌸The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren OUT MAY 14 2024🌸

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy!

Christina Lauren is an auto read for me! Fans that love the movie “The Proposal” with Sandra Bullock will absolutely LOVE this one!

Anna Green and Liam West were roommates at one point for cheap rent. Fast forward 5 years, and West needs Anna to be his plus one at his sisters wedding, because his rich family thinks it’s his WIFE. Can they keep the lie up on an exotic island?

Christina Lauren has a way of making me laugh out loud. More times than not I was cackling at some of the lines in this book. It was hot, funny, and sappy all at once. And we can’t ignore that it has the PRETTIEST cover so far this year. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would! This is a MUST read this summer and I will telling all my friends to pick it up 5 ✨

Read This Book If…you enjoyed White Lotus, Knives Out, or Crazy Rich Asians!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Genre: romance
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 1-2 explicit scenes
Setting: Los Angeles and private tropical island
POV: dual, 1st person, present tense
Tropes: marriage of convenience, fake relationship, billionaire, one bed, forced proximity, opposites attract, slow burn

My Thoughts: Calling all fans of dysfunctional families!!! This billionaire romance was a great example of rich people behaving badly and I was eating it up. I love a fake romance and wished they’d been put in even more direct circumstances where they had to pretend. The chemistry between these two was really fun and this book makes for a perfect beach read!

The writing team of Christina Lauren does what they do best in this new release coming out in May! Anna Green and Liam Weston had an arrangement to get married while attending school so he can access his family inheritance. Five years later, after they became estranged, Liam needs Anna to attend his sister's extravagant wedding and keep up appearances that he is still happily married. I loved this story and how the characters grew to understand and develop feelings for one another. The banter and circumstances were charming and funny, with multiple side characters to elevate the story. Definitely put this one on your summer reading list!

Briefly, THE PARADISE PROBLEM is about a man and woman who fake married 5 years ago, said goodbye and moved on with their lives. Anna, a struggling artist hasn’t thought of Liam in a long time. Liam is only thinking of her now because they’re technically still married and he has to bring her to a family event to placate his horrendous family. (Liam has a couple missteps but he’s also pretty great. Definitely a cinnamon roll).

And I truly mean horrendous.

Right off the bat I really loved the writing and banter between Liam and Anna - I think it’s some of their best work! Other things I loved: the setting & atmosphere, the highly entertaining though completely abhorrent family of Liam’s and also just Anna as a person. She is the most down to earth character and has the best morals. The rest of them… not so much.

You kind of know how this one is going to go but it doesn’t stop you from enjoying the ride. I really loved it! It has a lot of fun tropes like marriage of convenience/fake dating and a little bit grumpy/sunshine! I think this one may rank pretty high up on the CLo’s that I’ve read and I think it will be a hit with their fans!

The Paradise Problem
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
📚 Romance
🎶 Paper Rings - Taylor Swift

One sentence synopsis:
A starving artist and billionaire heir have to keep up the rouse of their fake marriage (that they faked for family housing at college 5 years ago) at his family wedding on a luxury private island in order for him to receive his inheritance.

My review:
My feelings on this one are all over the place. But first let’s start with the biggest problem… my inability to suspend disbelief in rom-coms. Specifically, you mean to tell me that two people got fake married so they could live in family housing during school for two whole years and they never learned anything about each other?! This whole starting situation of why they are in this current situation was frankly hard for me to overlook the absurdity.

It’s also a little cheesy. And sometimes I wanted to bang my head against a wall waiting for them to finally realize they both liked each other. But even with all that there were a lot of times I swooned. It was so cute and funny in the way only Christina Lauren can be without being crass.

I also really loved the part of the story that focuses on their differences. Shes unemployed and he’s a millionaire heir and that financial and family dynamic at the wedding on a private island was so fun to read about.

Another win for Christina Lauren. This is going to be a great beach read this summer. Especially if you don’t take things as seriously as I do.

Writing duo Christina Lauren have a very specific formula. One I am very much a fan of. Paradise Problem brings the laughs, pop culture references, and witty banter that I have come to know and love. Even so, this one felt a little different from their usual- in a good way. There is no instalove and it is very much a slow burn. But when the spice finally arrives it is HOT. Somewhat predictable, but hey, most Happily Ever Afters are, right? This wasn't like a deep connect with the characters type of book for me, but it's definitely the perfect beachy read. Lots of laughs, a sprinkle of spice, and a touch of heart. 3.5 stars rounded up.