The Paradise Problem was such a fun read. The main characters got married once upon a time in order to have access to family housing, and five years later, must pretend to still be married due to some complicated family issues. Of course, in true romcom style, this pretending takes place on a tropical island! This was quick, smart, and easy to read, and I loved every second of it.

This wasn’t my favorite Christina Lauren (which is admittedly a high standard), but I still enjoyed it a lot. Anna and Liam are in a marriage of convenience (though she thought it ended several years ago) and have to attend a wedding with his family for him to receive his 100 million dollar inheritance. Obviously, drama and feelings ensue.

I laughed out loud several times during this, which is quite rare for me. Lots of fun, but maybe a bit more family drama than I’d prefer.

Well Christina Lauren has done it again. I loved this book.

At first, I wasn’t totally crazy about the main character, as she’s a little out there, but as I read more I began to love her character. I loved the character of Liam as well.

This was a great book with a great premise. Others have done it before, but Christina Lauren just does it better.

I love all Christina Lauren’s books and this one did not disappoint!

Synopsis: Anna & Liam (“West”) get fake married for graduate housing and then Liam figured out it can trigger his inheritance if they stay married for five years. Anna signs papers when he moves out thinking they’re divorce papers and it’s actually a contract to stay married for five years. Fast forward a few years and the five years is almost up but Liam’s little sister is getting married and the family reallllyyy wants to meet Anna. So he goes to find her and convince her to play the part of his loving wife to go to a PRIVATE ISLAND and celebrate his sister’s wedding and meet the family.

I laughed out loud in this book so much because Anna was just so relatable. The banter between her and Liam was so cute and funny. I loved it despite the fact that this super rich family with all the connections never ran a background check or hired a PI to see who this mystery woman was before now? I’ll get over that plot hole that they’re all so trusting of him until now 😂

This book had all the fun you can imagine of someone trying to fit in with their “in laws” who are ridiculously rich and extremely toxic without blowing their cover. (Side note/spoiler: so glad the dad got exactly what was coming for him at the end!)

This Christina Lauren was definitely one of the spiciest of their novels I’ve read and I have to wonder if they feel weird writing/talking through those spicy scenes together 🤣

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Christina Loren have the wonderful ability to make a simple love story trope (Cinderella) into a swoony, yet relevant critique of that trope. The Paradise Problem on its surface is a story for anyone who (justifiably) thinks money solves problems. True life proves that concept over and over again. The poor get screwed while the rich get richer. The only way to win is to be the most powerful man in the room.

Even the reverse of the trope is simple. Pretty Woman's famous line is that she saves him right back. She wins when she gets money. She goes back into the store when she can use his power to intimidate. He learns the meaning of true love and his frozen heart melts.

But The Paradise Problem looks at these tropes and throws in other ideas: what is money without love and support? Can money buy loyalty? Is loyalty and love the same thing?

I have always loved Christina Loren's ability to craft unique complex characters who wrestle with real world problems. This is a love story. But it is about the love of family and what people would do to keep that love.

Love the writing style & can’t wait to recommend this for my customers! Fiction is always a crowd pleaser & I’m grateful to have gotten an advanced copy!

The writing style and feel of this book reminds me of the writing of The Unhoneymooners and it makes me so happy! I loved this book! Getting to really know Liam and Anna and seeing their story evolve was fantastic. You are able to see how family, whether good or bad, shapes your life and how important it is to stand up for what you believe in and everyone deserves to be happy. One of my new favorites from Christina Lauren!

I very much enjoyed The Paradise Problem! Christina Lauren is an expert at witty banter and I thoroughly enjoyed the build-up between Liam and Anna. Anna was such a unique character and I enjoyed this take on the fake dating troupe.

I’m already a big fan of the fake dating trope, because when done right, you get great banter, laugh out loud moments and moments of sincerity that play into a great slow burn. CLo, of course, does it right. They are so good at witty, funny banter and adding depth to their characters without making a story longer than it needs to be. Another great read from this duo.
Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for an early copy!

I enjoy all of Christina Lauren books, and this one did not disappoint. The main character, Anna, is so funny and would definitely be anyone’s best friend. I loved the banter between her and pretty much everyone. Of course I loved the romance between Liam and Anna. This was a fun easy read that I highly recommend!

This book had me immediately engaged and was hard to put down! The characters were so likable and seemed very genuine. The book had the trope of marriage of convenience, but still seemed realistic and not cheesy. It was set in a tropical location and felt very dreamy! I was so invested in the characters and how they interacted with their families. It was such a great romance while also dealing with family trauma in such a hopeful way. I strongly recommend this book!

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

So glad this was my first read of 2024 as it was another great Christina Lauren read! This one features a fake marriage/marriage of convenience trope that in true CL fashion has many ups and downs. I loved the polar opposites that were the main characters of Liam/West and Anna❤️ and how their opposite upbringings and lifestyles made them just have the perfect banter. This is an easy read full of vivid descriptions of paradise and how money can change a person.

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️!
Thanks to NetGalley and Galley Books for the ARC

My first book of 2024 is a 5 star book! I started reading it at 9pm and didn’t put it down until i finished at 3am. While reading, I laughed out loud, had tears in my eyes, and didn’t want it to end. The characters are lovable (except Ray). The dialogue is easily readable, entertaining, and genuine. The plot is interesting and engaging. I loved it!

Another great one by Christina Lauren. As usual she does not disappoint. This was a great read. I loved it all.

Received an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a pretty consistent fan of Christina Lauren, so I just jump into their books without looking too much into them. This book follows artist Anna who just lost her job after rejecting her teenage boss’s advances. When Liam, her fake husband from college (they both got cheap on-campus rent out of it), needs her to play his fake wife for his sister’s wedding, his offer is the solution to her father’s medical bills and her current joblessness.

I am not the biggest fan of fake dating as a trope, but despite that, I still enjoyed this book. The chemistry between Liam and Anna was great. The rich person family drama was over the top, but also exactly what CL was going for. Overall 4.5 stars.

Reader Thoughts:

Christina Lauren does it again. I spent 6 straight hours completely sedentary reading this because I couldn’t stop. It had ALL of the best tropes (i.e fake dating, second chance, rich people behaving badly, one bed, forced proximity) all set on a private island in Singapore. The slow burn and banter between Liam and Anna was palpable. I also LOVE how Christina Lauren can balance true emotion (family manipulation), steam (kitchen hook up), AND humor (i.e trying to treat a jelly sting as a fake doctor).

Not only are the characters on point, the setting makes me want to quit my day job and move to a private island. From private bungalows on the ocean, to pastel sunsets, to weddings and parties in the millions (yes millions) made me want to teleport inside the books.

The book isn’t just wealth, sex, and bougie vacations, it also deals with family problems. Anna struggles with a sick dad and must pay all his bills. Liam deals with a billionaire family that puts success, money, and material items before love and protection.

Book Summary:

Anna is a struggling artist that has a whopping 20 dollars in her bank account. She is desperate for money, when along comes Liam. Liam and Anna got married in college (they both wanted to live on campus and this was the only way to do it). Five years later, Liam needs a MASSIVE favor. He needs Anna to attend his sisters wedding and pose as his wife. She is confused but then accepts (due to a serious serious bribe on Liams end). They fly to Singapore and the wedding festivities begin. Unfortunately, each beautiful activity, is usually followed by your usual BILLIONAIRE family drama (due to Liams incredibly hideous, heinous, and ASSHOLE of a father). Through the horrific family dynamic, Anna and Liam find that their rouse of a marriage may be turning into something more. Liam feels safe for the first time in his life and Anna feels comfortable. They are both exactly what each other need. The night of Liam’s sisters wedding, turns into an utter shit show and they have to fly home where they will be met wit their own set of problems, where Anna and Liam will have to think if love is more important than money.

Christina Lauren books always deliver with an excellent sink your teeth in book. I devoured this book quickly with its quirky plot. Due to some red tape in a will, the main character must be "married" to receive his inheritance. Liam pretends to be married to Anna to get a discount in student housing. This lie catches up to him five years later at his sister's wedding. Anna and Liam get to know each other in a exotic beach wedding surrounded by Liam's toxic wealthy family. Leading to self reflection and some new changes for all the characters.The book alternates between both Liam and Anna's point of view letting readers love the characters even more.

The Paradise Problem, by Christina Lauren, is a fun, beachy read. The story is more unique than many romance stories I've read recently and the characters make for some laughable situations. Descriptions are beautifully written to take the reader on location and the pace keeps you engaged until the end. Love the Cover!
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

This book was so cheesy. I kept picturing Mar Whitman as the main character. Great little romance book, pretty minimal amount of spice which is my preference. Happy ending. Entertaining palette cleanser between my thriller reads

The Paradise Problem was such a fun book. I thought that the characters of Anna and Liam were so well developed - while reading it became clear who each of them were and why they worked so well together. I love when that happens in a book. I laughed out loud many times while reading. It’s the perfect beach read, while also having a little more depth with other topics such as family and money. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early read!