No one writes a better rom-com than Christina Lauren!This book is funny, charming, sweet, and sexy. Plus the setting in literal paradise is dreamy AF.

Anna, the FMC, is one of my new favorite leading ladies, right up there with Fizzy Chen (The Soulmate Equation/The True Love Experiment). I love that Anna is unapologetically herself, with a heart of gold and calls other people on their bullshit. The MMC fell a little flat in comparison, I sometimes got annoyed with his reactions and withholding information, but with a horrible family like his, it’s understandable.

Overall, I really loved this book and highly recommend reading this when it hits shelves in May!

Thank you Christina Lauren, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was my first, "can't wait to see what happens next, finished in a day" reads in a long time. Christina Lauren delivered a charming story that gave the perfect vacation escape vibes. A brief summary: in college Anna and Liam/West entered into a marriage of convenience to secure affordable, married-couple housing. Anna thought she signed divorce papers, but years later West shows up at her doorstep with a surprise; they are still married and he needs her to attend his sister's destination wedding as his wife.

I found both MCs likeable and the setting was fantastic. Anna helps West navigate the complicated dynamics of his super-wealthy family and, of course, feelings develop between the two. Although there was an element of insta-love here, Christina Lauren did a great job in not rushing the happily ever after, and wrapping up all plot points in a satisfying way. Four out of five stars because some of the plot was a bit too predictable. This would be a great beach read, or anywhere read for someone who is looking to escape to paradise and enjoy a fun (and spicy) romance.

Such a fun fake dating rom-com! Hints of Succession and White Lotus make this the perfect beach read of 2024. Christina Lauren just gets it

“Do less, but better.”

Another banger from Christina Lauren that will leave you satisfied and swooning. This book was filled with vivid imagery that made me feel like I was right there in paradise with Anna and Liam. Anna was sunshine and Liam was wrapped up in a grumpy exterior. Their contrasting personalities, circumstances, and upbringings weaved a magnificent web of a story! I loved how the main characters were developed and their emotional maturity was revealed through adversities large and small.

Thank you to Christina Lauren, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this book!

Christina Lauren books can be hit or miss for me, but the Paradise Problem is 100% a hit! A hilarious FMC, swoony island bungalows, and Twilight references. *chefs kiss* This read is perfect for when you're dreaming of an island getaway with the romance you'd expect from CL.

I enjoyed this book. It shows a flawed family dynamic with flawed characters. The main female character isn't one who showed a lot of personal growth throughout the story. I am glad to see that she stayed true to her character and acted to provide some semblance of outsider perspective to the sickening displays of wealth. I like that the male lead had flaws but not ones that you had to ignore in order to get swept up in the romance.

I want to thank NetGalley, Gallery Books and the author for the Arc.
I love Christina Lauren’s books!! I was so excited to receive this ARC- and it did not disappoint!

I love the MC Anna. She has a positive outlook, great humor, and is also committed to her family and friends. She had been married to Liam 4.5 years ago- an arranged marriage so each could afford housing. However, Liam shows up at Anna’s apartment after she has had an awful day, asking her for a favor- to play his wife at his sisters wedding.
Liam is a controlled, serious individual with a lot of family baggage! But I love how we get to see him grow and show who he truly is. I love the interaction between the two- and the connection they create. I think this couple is one of my favorites. They are honest, encouraging and challenge each other. There is heartache in the family drama- and Liam’s dad is over the top as a despicable person.
I definitely recommend this book!!

.What sets this book apart is its ability to balance humor and sadness flawlessly. The witty dialogue and light-hearted moments create an atmosphere of joy and hope, while the raw emotions and heartbreaking moments bring forth tears. It beautifully portrays that love is not always perfect, but it is through its brokenness that it becomes even more poignant and meaningful.

The prose is both lyrical and captivating, painting vivid scenes and evoking a wide range of emotions. The author's writing style is enchanting, drawing readers into the story and holding them captive until the very end.

“The Paradise Problem" is a testament to the power of love and its capacity to heal even the deepest of wounds. It reminds us that love is messy, unpredictable, and imperfectly perfect. It celebrates the resilience of the human spirit, reminding us that even in our brokenness, we are capable of finding beauty and strength.

I absolutely loved it.!! Liam gave me Ethan from the Unhoneymooners vibes. Which is a good thing! The pace was great and I was never bored while reading. I loved the long epilogue. Didn’t feel squished or rushed! This book reminded me why I am such a fan of Christina Lauren

⭐️⭐️💫✨ 2.75 rounded up. Christina Lauren with yet another spicy romance that keeps the pages turning. CLo’s books are all really similar for me and their heroines are always a bit cheeky for my taste. The passion is always really heavy handed so you kinda have to dig for the relationship aspect which I think I personally prefer the two swapped a bit better. This is their version of the billionaire marriage of convenience trope and man is the rich family a peace of work 🥴 Fun/enjoyable read but somewhat forgettable for me.l 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Steamy. Caution to sensitive readers.

Read if you like these tropes:
-Marriage of convenience
-Billionaire bachelors
-Fake dating
-Only one bed.

I received an advanced eBook copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided

I absolutely loved this book! Their Disney book was a little bit of a let down- this one will remind you of their earlier work. I love that they can have a funny premise, but with deep characters. I definitely cried at points. Loved this!

I received a temporary digital copy of The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren from NetGalley, Gallery Books and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Anna Green and Liam Weston marry so that they can get family housing during their graduate programs at UCLA. When Liam graduates the two divorce, or at least Anna believes they did. Almost three years later, Liam comes back asking for Anna to attend his sister's wedding as they are still married and his family desperately wants to meet his wife, who is completely unknown to them. A wedding in a tropical paradise will either seal Liam's ability to obtain his inheritance left by his Grandfather, or everything will come crumbling down with Anna in the middle of it all.

The Paradise Problem was a fun and quick read - great for the beach. The banter and humor between the characters was definitely my favorite part of the novel. I enjoyed the storyline as far-fetched as it is for people marrying for housing when one is a secret billionaire who then doesn't actually divorce her...

Great book! The characters were relatable. There were parts of the story that made me laugh out loud. There were parts that kept me on my toes. Christina Lauren’s style of writing is easy to read. It was hard putting this book down. I wanted to keep reading.

From the start I was very interested in this book and the tension between Liam and Anna. What starts as a fake marriage quickly turns into much more, with plenty of drama included! Anna and Liam were such likable and relatable characters. Sometimes awkward and uncomfortable, this kept me reading to see the small changes that transformed their relationship. I would absolutely recommend to any Christina Lauren fans or any romance readers!

This is one of my favorite author combos and they never let me down! I was so invested in this story. Is this trope somewhat over done? Maybe, but that didn’t make this story any less interesting! I loved it.

I think this takes the cake for my favorite Christina Lauren book!

They did a great job of taking what could have been a predictable trope and adding tons of fun storylines. I was really drawn to both main characters- Anna is a hot mess and West is a mostly down to earth rich guy, and I rooted for their fake marriage to turn into something real the whole time. There were spicy moments, heartfelt ones, and some that made me so pissed at West’s family; the last fifth of the book was a whirlwind with constant twists and turns that I was not expecting.

This was a quick read that would be perfect for the beach.

This book was amazing! Christina Lauren hit it out of the park with this one.

The novel effortlessly weaves between the past and present, unraveling the complexities of Anna and Liam's relationship. As a fan of the fake dating/marriage trope, I found myself thoroughly immersed in the delightful dance of emotions and rediscovery. Christina Lauren, known as the reigning queens of romance, once again showcase their unparalleled ability to craft engaging narratives with characters that feel both authentic and relatable.

My love for this book stems from its seamless blend of humor, heart, and the exploration of the consequences of wealth on genuine connections. Anna's feisty, paint-splattered persona and Liam's inner conflict between family expectations and true love create a dynamic that kept me turning the pages.
'The Paradise Problem' checks all the boxes for a perfect romance read – a well-executed trope, engaging characters, and the signature wit of Christina Lauren.

Christina Lauren is my favorite author (s)!! I jumped for joy when I received this ARC and it did not disappoint! Thought this was a perfect spring/summer read and fell in love with the characters. Thanks NetGalley!!!

There's not many Christina Lauren titles that I don't enjoy, and this is no different. To preface, marriage of convenience is my least favorite trope because I feel it's just too farcical and extreme, but this one had me bought in and hooked at the beginning. I was CACKLING, especially at Anna and Liam's banter in the beginning.

The last 35% was a miss, though. I felt it was too rushed and the epilogue was too long for an epilogue...I get that they wanted to tie up all the loose ends, but I wish it instead did a flash forward for a few chapters and then the epilogue. I was confused why the epilogue was like the longest chapter of the entire book.

I also feel like Anna's character diverted from her original self, and not really in a developmental way. She lost some of her fire during her time on the island and I feel their banter and chemistry just lacked after having such wittiness in the first 1/4 of the book.

I was also confused by Liam's money situation...he put all his current inheritance into a foundation, but he was still able to pay Anna 100K plus an undisclosed amount for a crapton of designer clothes and spa treatments...how? Not on an academia paycheck.

I think I would've liked a little more into Anna and Liam's relationship while they were "roommates" -- like maybe some more interaction just so their relationship didn't dive into LOVE after one whole week on a secluded island, and this would give them more of a backstory to make the banter more genuine. I get it...gotta drive the plot without dragging it out, but they literally didn't know each other even though they roomed for a couple years, but then they're in love? A couple flashback chapters or more references to their time in college would've been nice for their relationship development.

I do like how they touched on toxic family members and how you don't owe them anything just because they are "family." I liked the banter between Anna and Liam. I loved Anna's relationship with her dad and her perspective on life. In all, it was still a great romance read, and I was pleasantly surprised I didn't hate the marriage of convenience like I normally do!

Rating: 4/5
Spice Level: 2-3/5 (in comparison to their other books)

I loved the immediate banter that starts right at the beginning of the book to the end. There is a blend of humor, heart, and discovering one's true self that can get lost in wealth and allow one to lose genuine connections in life and to those around them. The contrast between Anna's feisty, heart full, and living as if no one had a say to Liam's inner conflict with family expectations and self-love had me loving the duo even more. The way Anna was able to help Liam navigate finding himself while allowing him to come out of his shell was so precious.

Synopsis: Anna Green is a starving artist and college student who agrees to marry grocery store heir Liam "West" Weston to secure subsidized housing at UCLA. After graduation, Anna believes that divorce papers are signed, and they both are going their separate ways. However, three years later, after a disaster of a day for Anna, Liam shows up at her doorstep. He is claiming that he and Anna are still legally married. It doesn't just end there. Not only are they still legally married, but to claim his multimillion-dollar inheritance, he must be happily married for five years. Together, the two of them strike up a Pretty Women deal where Anna will travel with Liam to the private island where his sister Charlie is getting married to show his family the loving, married couple they have been for the last five years.