This was an enjoyable read from this author combo. They can sometimes be hit or miss. The first 75% of the book flew by. The last quarter was a bit of a slog. There characters were enjoyable, especially the banter between the male and female protagonists. I enjoyed how the epilogue summed up the happenings of the characters in a succinct, but emotional and real way. There was some extreme toxic behavior by some characters that seemed a little far-fetched and stretched credulity. Overall, though, library patrons should enjoy this book.

This book was AMAZING. It could be a movie so easily. I loved the two main characters. I was so sad when I finished the book. I need more Liam and Anna! I could not put this book down. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the chance to read it early.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the chance to read this book early and review it.

**Quick Thoughts:**

READ IT. JUST READ IT. READ IT AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

**No Spoilers Plot:**

A fake marriage is tested when family inheritances come into the picture. Anna and Liam are married just on paper to be eligible for university family housing, but almost 5 years later and no contact with Anna, Liam realizes there is a loophole in the family trust leading them to attend his sister’s wedding on a private island together and attempt to fool everyone into thinking they’re in love. But what if they aren’t fooling anyone? Including themselves!!!! 😈

**My Feelings:**

This book procrastinated work projects, cancelled plans, missed bed times, and I was totally fine with it. The banter! The flirting! The steamy bits! Those were enough to make me obsessed with this book, but the support, emotional connection, and genuine love between Anna and Liam sealed it for me as a new favorite. I squealed. I swooned. I contemplated being straight again if it meant finding a Liam. This is Christina Lauren at their best. READ IT!!!!!

Every book Christina Lauren puts out is better than the last! I don't know how this duo does it, but their reads are fantastic. Loved The Paradise Problem - a definite five-star read.

Great quick read, enjoyed the dynamic trope between the two main characters! Thank you for allowing me to read and review this ARC!

This was my first Christina Lauren novel and what a banger! I loved the lush and lavish island setting, the smart and respectful way Anna and Liam interacted with each other, the over-the-top evil narcissist, and of course, the spice.

(Actual: 4.5⭐, rounded up) OMG YASSSS. I am so, so grateful to have been approved for this book - Christina Lauren was one of the first to become an "auto-buy" author for me, and I look forward to every new release they have. This book was, to me, CLo at some of their finest. It was fluffy and a bit silly at times, yes, but also filled with so much heart; the banter, as with all CLo books, was also ACES— and! The spice!! Love to see it. With rare and few exceptions, I always find the characters CLo creates to be well-layered and relatable; Anna & West (Liam) are no exceptions. They, along with the ensemble cast of secondary characters, all feel like real people, with fully realized & unique traits, emotions and internal/external conflicts they must each work through (both together and apart, as individuals) that are all still very much grounded in reality. Finally, a quick shout-out to the SETTING and VIBES of this book - if you've watched The White Lotus, Crazy Rich Asians, or even Succession to be honest, I think you'd enjoy this book. Also, I am a straight ADDICT for second chance romances— I've always enjoyed them, but lately I've just been on a roll of amazing ones, TPP obviously now included into that mix. I'd definitely recommend this to all CLo fans and romcom enthusiasts for sure!

I loved this book! I loved Anna & Liam, especially Anna, so much respect for her! I did want to tell you there is a typo. On page 252 of 296 it says, "When we get back to California, I'll bring you to my place. We'll sit down and I'll tell you everything. But, right now, I just need figure out what happens next." It should say, But, right now I just need TO figure out what happens next. hope this helps!

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

There are a few pretty big plot holes so you do need to suspend reality to really enjoy this one as an easy light rom com! But it is a fun read to throw in your bag to bring on the beach this summer!

A few things I really loved about this book-There are very few rom-coms out there that actually make me laugh and this had me smiling and giggling in places!
-Dual POVs and alternating chapters - this worked really well to see both of their thoughts on the same issue without it feeling repetitive
-Excellent banter and fun chemistry
-The relationship between Anna and her dad was so heartwarming compared to the difficult family dynamics of the Westons.

A few things that missed the mark a bit for me
-The main character is very reminiscent to Hazel from Josh and Hazel; it just seemed like a very similar character. She was meant to be spacey but her lack of recognition of West was not convincing.
-The reason why they even entered a fake marriage seemed to be close but not fully fleshed out
-The family drama and the plot holes surrounding this piece
-This version of dysfunctional rich people with all the trusts and inheritances just didn't really work super well for me

Recommend if you enjoy:
-Marriage of convenience-Fake dating
-Fun banter
-Family drama-The show Succession
-Crazy Rich Asians and Pretty Woman
-Opposites attract
-Tropical settings

Christina Lauren does it again with yet another cute, funny, rom-com. I won't lie, I had a pretty good idea of how Anna and Liam would end up after the first few chapters, but that didn't take away from how much I enjoyed reading this one. We have the classic fake-dating troupe so Liam can unlock his trust fund paired with plenty of other fun details in there - trying to trick family on a vacation, shared hotel bed, witty comebacks...you name it! This one had just the right amount of spice without it feeling random or forced. I see this one being a big hit in the Booktok world upon release, and I can't wait to see what else Lauren has up her sleeve. Thanks so much for the ARC!

What a great book! I loved the characters; I loved their back-and-forth conversations and the tropes! I found myself giggling and smiling through most of the book! Fantastic read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery books for the advanced reader copy of this novel,

If you are a Christina Lauren fan, this dynamic author duo will not disappoint. I loved this novel.

Not only do you have a couple fake dating their way through attending a family member's destination wedding, but you also have a really interesting sibling dynamic that reminded me a little bit of the show Succession. Lots of tension.

This novel isn't too terribly graphic in nature so I think it's perfectly acceptable for young adult readers.

I don’t love the pretend couple trope, but as I do generally love Christina Lauren, of course I gave it a try and it was well worth it. A truly enjoyable read.

The main characters of Anna and West are easy to fall in love with. I adore Anna’s zaniness and West’s uptight style, creating great chemistry and sassy banter.

The family drama is a lot. It makes the novel a more complex story about the self discovery that happens in our twenties and how influenced we are by our families.

In the beginning, I had high hopes for this story. It had all the trappings of a great rom com. I have read two of Christina Lauren’s YA novels and enjoyed them both. Love and Other Words was also a great read. This books sadly fell flat for me. There was just simply too much going on.

Things that were going on:

- Marriage of convenience for student housing
- Contrived decades old inheritance clauses
- Dysfunctional rich people
- Acting out a fake marriage at a 10 day wedding on a private tropical island
- So, so, so much more

I think this would be a fun beach read. Readers who love modern rom come will probably love this. The totally unbelievable premise just went a little too far for me. I would recommend this to the right person in the right situation but I wouldn’t say it’s for everyone!!

I love Christina Lauren, so jumped on the opportunity to read this one! Anna was a breath of fresh air and loved chemistry between these two characters!! This was super cute and highly recommend.
This one made me swoon!!!! Couldn’t put it down, made me smile and GIGGLE while reading.

Anna and Liam entered into a fake marriage years ago inorder to help Anna have a place to live during college. She thought the relationship with the college professor was over years ago but that never happened. Liam needa her in order to receive his inheritance but first he has to introduce Anna to his family. True love found despite the circumstances told in the humorous style of Christina Lauren.

The vibe = Crazy Rich Asians x The Wedding Date (two of my fave movies!)

Sometimes you just have a blast reading a book - and this was that time!! I absolutely loved these characters and especially these characters together!! I felt like it was CLo at their finest. One (of the many) thing they do extremely well is the opposites attract trope. These two characters could not BE any more different. I totally loved the juxtaposition of them together, their BANTER, and their sensitivity to each other’s feelings. Top notch. And let me tell ya, there is a kitchen scene that is 🔥🔥🔥

There’s some pretty extreme family drama that could be distracting (and sad tbh), but I was invested in the outcome!

What to expect::
•Marriage of convenience
•Complete opposites attract
•Gorgeous tropical setting
•ONE BED + open shower
•Top notch banter and chemistry
•Absolutely awful family (hero)
•Sweet dad (heroine)
🔥Open door, many scenes

In this engaging tale of unexpected love and family legacy, Anna Green finds herself entangled in a complex web of relationships with Liam "West" Weston. What started as a marriage for subsidized family housing at UCLA took an unforeseen turn when Anna thought they had signed divorce papers post-graduation.

Three years later, Anna, now a struggling artist, and West, a Stanford professor and heir to the Weston Foods conglomerate, discover a peculiar clause in his grandfather's will. To claim his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance, West must be happily married for five years. Desperate to meet his family's expectations, West turns to his unpolished, foul-mouthed ex-wife, Anna, to play the part.

As they navigate the charade, Liam grapples with the pressure from his wealthy family, questioning whether Anna's authenticity can withstand the toxic world of wealth. The story delves into themes of love, loyalty, and the impact of wealth on a seemingly pure heart. Liam must confront the dilemma of whether the price tag on their cover story is worth sacrificing the true love that emerged from a lie. Brace yourself for a heartwarming journey that explores the complexities of relationships and the unexpected turns that life can take.

The “Paradise Problem” has a silly and unbelievable premise. However, I found the characters charming and likable. I would have preferred a stronger change in voice with the dual point of view format but this was an overall enjoyable book.

I had the privilege of reading an ARC of this book and this book reads so smooth like I’m watching a movie. I couldn’t put it down and I think this is my favorite book yet by Christina Lauren. The Paradise problem is a must read!