⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

Another well-written book by Christian Lauren. The Paradise Problem introduces us to Anna Green, a ne’er-do-well, down-on-her-luck, snarky artist and Liam Weston, a Stanford professor, golden child of the Weston fortune. We first meet these two as they are parting ways from their “fake marriage.” Fast forward three years and Liam needs Anna to continue in the “fake marriage” in order to obtain his inheritance. Off they go to a destination wedding to Singapore.

Anna is a really incorrigible, unlikable person. She grated on my nerves for the majority of the book. I didn’t care for her word vomit at all. I also do not understand how she was not way more concerned with the money and why she kept trying to get West to forgo his inheritance. I would be beside myself if someone offered me the money she was offered. And to let her friend do all the shopping for her! What? Why? She didn’t even have a job. Liam was a lot more likable and charismatic. He made sense! I liked Liam!

I gave this book three stars because it was entertaining and well-written but I feel like this story has been told so many times before. Fake marriage, billionaire, daddy-issues, eventually falling for each other… It happened just as expected. Oh, and one more thing...the nickname that Anna used for Liam’s nether region, was funny how it was used, but I really wish they had picked a different word.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title for review.

I enjoyed this book so much! It put a unique twist to the marriage of connivence trope, which is one of my favourites! It also got the he falls first and harder vibes, which I couldn't get enough off! Anna, the fmc, was quirky and never lost her sense of humour, which made me laugh out loud multiple times. Anna felt so real and confident in herself as a person, despite coming from nothing while Liam, the mmc, comes from more money than anyone would ever need.
Their dynamic was interesting and I loved the opposite personalities, with Anna's feisty personality and Liams conflicting family dynamic and the expectation of true love, the combination of humour, love and the consequences wealth can have on relationships of all sorts. Their banter was like a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed every second of it, I found it hard to stop reading this book because it all flowed so well and kept my interest peaked. I loved the development of their romance and I found it super sweet. The tropical setting was a nice touch.
I genuinely had a good time reading it and would recommend it to anyone who wants to read an engaging romcom that makes you laugh and just feel good and happy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC for my homest review.

All I can think to muster up is "Oh my god!" And "I don't want this book to be over!"

Anna and West are legally married but only for the rent control during college. Thinking that she had signed divorce papers., West shows up to tell her they are still married and needs her to go to his sisters wedding with him. They end up getting back in touch due to Wests sister getting married and needing to have his "wife" there with him to continue to keep up with the facade.

1000/5⭐️
Funny, amazing banter, hot spice!

I received an ARC of The Paradise Problem for review purposes from Net Galley and Gallery Books. As expected, Christina Lauren wrote yet another amazing, funny romance! Go ahead and add this #marriageofconvenience rom com to your TBR.

I devoured this book. I tried to put it down, more than once, and just couldn’t. The characters were well-written. I found myself rooting for them as though they were friends and cheering for their growth. I felt my own emotions swell as Anna and Liam navigated the twists of their fake marriage. I just adore the writing style in this book. I’m so thankful to have been able to read an ARC copy. I can’t wait for the world to love it as much as I do.

This book was the perfect escape, during the first big winter storm of the year! Anna is such an endearing character, who can’t seem to catch a break. There’s no doubt that she and West should be together, but the true journey of this book is finding out if they will end up together. A great cast of supporting characters, and a beautiful exotic locale made this book impossible to put down!

When Christina Lauren comes out with a new book, I am first in line to read it. This book shows exactly why I rush to devour them!

Five years ago, Anna agrees to fake marry Liam in order to get subsidized housing at UCLA. As per their agreement, Anna signs the divorce papers after graduating. At least... she thinks she did. When Liam shows up on her doorstep saying they are still legally married and he needs her to accompany him to his sister's wedding, she is understandably shaken.

There are SO many great things going on in this book: marriage of convenience, witty banter, forced proximity (ONLY ONE BED!), opposites attract, etc. I adored every bit of it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

As someone who briefly considered getting married in college for financial-aid purposes, this novel deeply resonated with my "... what if?" side.

Anna and West are two strangers who marry as a way of accessing family housing while in college and go their separate ways following graduation. 5 years later, West shows up at Anna's door to ambush her with the fact that, not only are they still technically married, but he needs her to play the part of doting wife in order for him to secure his trust fund. Anna, a struggling artist drowning in her father's medical bills, agrees on the stipulation that he'll pay her handsomely for her role.

Parts of this are every girls' dream: a beautiful stranger whisks you away to a private island, all expenses paid. He bankrolls your new wardrobe and gives you a generous payout for a week of luxury vacationing. However, I didn't enjoy the undercurrent of manipulation. The MMC deliberately withholds information to get the FMC to agree to his ploy, and the FMC's role as the broke and destitute artist places West at an undeniable position of power over the entire situation. Additionally, Anna's dad is mentioned to be sick, but this aspect is glossed over and not well-developed. Many of the side characters fell flat.

Despite this, Anna and Will's relationship had me squealing and kicking my feet. The entire story is completely unbelievable, but in typical Christina Lauren Rom-Com. This is a laugh out loud, feel good HEA that lives up to the authors' fabulous reputation.

4.5 stars!! Wow. There really is just nothing like the banter we get from Christina Lauren, and these to MC’s had it in spades. I LOVED this book, even with a few imperfections. The characters just came to life so well and our couple’s chemistry was off the charts. This book may have been a touch unrealistic, but in the best way. A great story to escape into and enjoy the fantasy.

*cheers* May we all have a sexy and morally upright millionaire knock on our door and whisk us away to a private island. 🏝️

This book did not have the tension and angst that I loved in “Love and Other Words”, but I don’t think it needed it. It isn’t going to be a story that you identify with. I’d call it a high-end, intelligent beach read.


The ONLY thing I didn’t like *spoiler-ISH moment here* is that I don’t think Anna’s character and background were fleshed out as well as they could have been, leaving some holes and unanswered questions. For instance, why doesn’t Anna live with her father? She’s financially supporting him during a cancer battle and struggling to make ends meet, and apparently he still lives in her childhood home, so that would just make more sense.

And speaking of financially supporting his medical needs - she has a degree in fine arts from UCLA and works at a convenience store and waits tables on the side? Maybe her character could have left college early in order to explain that, but it doesn’t seem realistic that she wouldn’t have a single better job option. But I also don’t live in LA so maybe I know nothing.

**Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Christina Lauren’s books are always so fun to read, and this one is no exception. I can always count on her characters having easy banter, hilarious interactions, and crazy chemistry. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

Fake marriage? Christina Lauren? I'm in. This was one of my favorite Christina Lauren books. Anna and Liam were married on paper only so that they could receive on campus family housing. To Anna's shock, the marriage hadn't been dissolved, and Liam requested her help with getting his (very rich) family off his back. The two traveled to a tropical island for his sister's wedding, and the two wind up falling for each other. The descriptions of the food, scenery (those hotel rooms!), and clothing made me feel like I was on that island with them. I highly recommend this book.

Publication Date: May 14, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Christine Lauren's books never disappoint. The writing duo is brilliant together as they always provide a great rom-com with witty banter and a fun romance. Anna Green and Liam Weston got married for student housing. Liam shows up at Anna’s doorstep after something unexpected happened. They now need to pretend to be married to his whole family for his inheritance.

The story was very entertaining. I enjoyed the marriage of convenience troupe and how Anna had to help bring down the patriarchy of Liam’s family. Anna and Liam were well-rounded characters, and I loved that both were family-oriented. The scenes where Anna spent time with Liam’s niece were cute. Their witty banter was entertaining, and I loved how their fake marriage grew into something more. Liam’s family dynamics and his sister’s wedding, with all the insane details, added to the story for a fun twist.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Gallery Books for giving me a copy of the book.

4.5⭐️ I honestly couldn’t put this book down! Like all Christina Lauren books, I read it in less than a day. This one was so fun— fake marriage, lots of “my wife”, broody and possessive MMC, all on a private island. I ate it up! I would definitely recommend!

Easily one of my personal top 3 Christina Lauren reads ever! While there’s a fake marriage trope, set in paradise, it may first sound reminiscent of The Unhoneymooners but trust — this story is totally unique. I loved the personality of the strong FMC in this one and the wit and chemistry is next level. I totally picture the epilogue playing out in a move style “where are they now” with text captions and some poignant song as a send off… the whole, beautifully developed story would make a fantastic rom com in film format. This will absolutely be one of the top hits of the summer and I will be recommending it as a vacation read must!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for my review.

A fantastic new book by Christina Lauren! The descriptions of lush and luxurious clothing, island living, and food made me feel like I was there, and so did the descriptions of apartments and gas stations! A little bit of everything. A really, really enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Wow, this book had me hooked from the beginning. I was very thankful the crush in this book wasn’t her awful manager at the gas station but in fact her husband. I read this book cover to cover to find out if Anna Green stayed Anna Weston.

This was one of those books that I didn’t want to put down. The storyline immediately has you hooked. I loved how all scenes are vividly described and it makes you feel like you are right there in the story with the characters. I’ve read a few books by Christina Lauren and this one did not disappoint. I loved the banter between characters. This is a book I would definitely recommend!

Another hit by this dynamic duo!

The fake dating trope will always be a hit for me. This book made me laugh out loud multiple times. The witty banter was perfect.
The main characters had perfect chemistry.
Is this book anything new and different in the romance genre? No. But why mess with a good thing.
This will be a perfect summer read!

3.5 stars. This was such a cute story and I liked the premise. Trouble in paradise, a pretty woman theme and family drama. It was a fun and easy read but there was something lacking in Anna’s character. I laughed that Liam’s description of her included a muppet type style. As much as a wild card that Anna was supposed to be, there was something missing. I didn’t quite catch the magic between the 2 characters but it still seemed to work. I wish we could have had more David Green (Anna’s father) in the story because he was such a strong support and we could all use his love advice. The epilogue was way too long for this story. Thank you for the ARC! I will continue to always want to read the authors books!

This book started off feeling like every other fake dating rom com and took a bit to get into, but once we started meeting the Weston family things got interesting. The family dynamics were bananas and made things fun. I enjoyed the chemistry between Anna & Liam, and the satisfying conclusion. The slow starter prevents me from giving it a full five stars.