Marian Andrew is a new-to-me author. I wasn't certain what to expect of this novel, but I was quickly drawn in and found myself unable to put it down. The characters came from diverse backgrounds but once stranded on the island, they had to leave all that behind and focus on survival. I liked that it was written from each of the characters' perspectives, allowing the reader to get inside of each of their minds. I loved the length of the book, the dark themes and the development of the relationships between and among all of the characters.

Once you've made a crime map to understand the twists and turns, this is a good dark romance! Interesting premise, spice, and great characters.

I could not get into it. I was overwhelmed with the world building. I have it a few gos but at this point it’s not working for me.

I have tried to read this book 5 times in the last 2 weeks and I just cannot get into it. I really like the premise but the writing is just not pulling me in. In some books it's as if the author tries to cram every big word they know into it and this felt like that to me. I read parts of it out loud to my husband and he did not necessarily agree with me. I don't dnf easily but I am struggling to get through the pages of this one. I only made it to 18%. I'm sorry.

This is one of those books that you need to somewhat put aside your idea of reality. For example, in what world would a college send you on a private plane to another country to do community service because you happened to be at a party where drugs were being sold despite your drug test being completely clean. Also, the 6 inexperienced people survive the crash, but the 2 pilots don’t?? Other than that, I really liked the story. I completely wasn’t expecting the twist that happened in the middle of the book as the group found out more about the island that they were stranded on. This is a dark romance so there are some dark themes but I was relieved that the somewhat awkwardness of Byron’s first time and Eve being stressed about getting her period on an island with no supplies were handled well. At first, I didn’t like any of the male main characters (5 of them) but by the end they grew on me and Byron and Zane were easily my favourites. This is a standalone with a happy ending which was cute.

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley and MA Crown Ink Publishing for providing me with a free arc in return for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

DNF at 41%

I really tried to like this. But as I kept reading I just kept going in my head “it’s giving breakfast club meets flight 29 down”.

I greatly disliked how at the start of each chapter when it was changing POV it’d have that stupid little identifier for the character. Like we get it. Eve is a princess, etc etc. it just felt so cliche and like really? REALLY!?

The plot of them “being bad for getting caught at a party but not actually doing anything remotely wrong” was just kind of dumb. Like if they’d been in the act of taking drugs when caught, great. Love it. Would have understood the plot line more since that’s a bad thing and they should be punished.

Now for the island. Obviously I didn’t finish but I was wanting to rip my hair out. It was literally just sex and more sex. Like I get it it’s a reverse harem story but that does not mean the story line just gets to take a back seat.

Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️

Lost in Paradise

Okay.... So, initially it took a second for this book to get my attention, but once it did, I really enjoyed it. With this being my first time reading a book by Marian Andrews, I didn't want to just to conclusions, but am glad that I stuck around to finish it.

Essentially, this book gives Breakfast Club with Blue Lagoon vibes, but RH and steamy, which made it good. I'm not much of a new adult book reader, but have been giving them more of a shot, and this story didn't miss with being a hit. I liked that all of the characters were realistic and I could see how they looked as I read more of the book, the scenes that were depicted, and I even found myself feeling the emotions that they felt, too, at a time or two. I absolutely loved that as a young FMC Eve knew what she wanted. Some of the MMCs got on my nerves for a bit, but that's because I'm the type of female reader that always roots for the string FMC lol, but I liked that each and every one of them seemed to fit Eve perfectly at a different capacity. The idea that they all were stranded on an island and have to navigate the different dynamics was really good, but I did wish a time or two that we got more plot or connection between the characters, versus steam.... But don't let that dissuade you from reading this, because this is such a good book.

Lost Paradise - MMMMMF

Lost Paradise is about a group of college students who attend a prestigious school called Hawthorne's. The story is told in MPV, which is not something I typically enjoy however, it is good to see each characters point of view and story being told in their point of view. There are 6 different point of views. Jack, Astro, Byron, Foster, Zane, and Eva.

The storyline of them crashing their plan and landing on a deserted (so they thought) island is the underlying theme to this book. As they learn to navigate the island no only finding themselves and true character they encounter other individuals living on the island. They are cannibals who were tortured by experiments and want to punish those who resemble the team who did this mind control experiments on them.

Although, I appreciate the overall plot and story line with the sexual tensions and intimacy. It didn't seem to flow as smooth as I would have liked and the plot gets lost with the sexual content. Although it had a lot of sexual context (which is always great) within the book it did not seem to go well with the underlying storyline. The theme gets lost in the story of whether it was about the experiments the cannibals suffered or is it about the students and teacher find themselves during this journey with their individuality, sexual desires, or facing their past with vulnerability.

I am rating this book a four from my point of view due to the flow of the story and the lost plot. I think there are so many people who will love this book and will find it extremely satisfying for them due the sexual content. This is my review and feedback and when I post to my social media (Amazon, Instagram, TikTok, and Goodreads, I will recommend and my critical comments will be left our on the public platform so that other readers will read the book and find their own opinion.

Thank you for letting me read the book in advance for honest feedback.

Lost Paradise is a WONDERFUl new Reverse harem/Why Choose novel with multiple POVs--each from a unique, creative, and dynamic character you cant help but fall for. The story also has a little bit of everything and I really liked the writing style and plot premise.

I was introduced to reverse harems via booktok and immediately was hooked. If you’re not sure if you would like a.RH story I think this one is a perfect one to dip your toes in with. The characters are all so unique and intriguing and the setting of the story is so fun and Erie. I after reading this book definitely need to be reading more survival type of stories as I absolutely devoured this if you’re a fan of lost and a fan of romance, you will eat the story up like I did.

Lost Paradise by Marian Andrew delivers a deliciously spicey, why-choose romance. The perfect standalone book for a quick read and no cliff hanger!

Rich with banter, angst, and plenty of spice, you'll find yourself hooked from the very beginning!

The Manhattan Princess.
The Teacher.
The Brain.
The Athlete.
The Basket case.
The Criminal.

When a campus party goes wrong the 6 of them are sent away as punishment, on a volunteer mission. Fate has other plans though and on the way their plane crashes near mysterious island filled with danger and secrets worth killing to keep buried. They must do all they can to survive the dangers that lurk on the island.
Each from well known families and their own complex lives, they soon find they have a lot more in common than they thought... possibly more than they ever imagined....
and the princess finds herself right in the middle.

Being the only female, Eve soon starts falling in love with each of the men stranded on the island with her. Each relationship a perfect puzzle piece that keeps their group together and surviving. The longer they spend stranded on the island the more they shed society's rules and give into their desires.
and there is plenty to be desired.

Will the secrets of the island put them in more danger? Will they ever be rescued? IF they survive will they continue the bonds they have forged with each other or forget everything and go back to life was before the plane crash?

I loved this story and learning about each of the characters. They each were portrayed with with unique pasts.
I felt like at time the emotions portrayed were more so lustful than the other “L” word that was tossed around. That word and emotions would have been far more effective dropped like a bomb later on in the story between the characters when deeper bonds were formed, instead of during first encounters early on. The changes from UK and US terms were perfectly done to fit the characters. Over all the book was a great read and the ending was perfectly done!

This book had an entertaining premise that immediately drew me in: a teacher and 5 college students stranded on a remote island. The setting sets the stage for an exploration of survival, temptation, and the breaking of societal norms. Very much Blue Lagoon vibes, except wayyyyyy steamier.

Love how Eve, the FMC, navigates her relationships with each of the 5 male characters. Each connection felt distinct and added depth to the story. The dynamics between them created a compelling tension that kept me engaged.

The spice in this reverse harem is off the charts - definitely a 5-star rating for the steamy scenes. While the book excelled in delivering heat, it sometimes prioritized these moments over plot development. I found myself wanting a bit more storyline to elevate the overall experience but it was an entertaining read and the writing was great.

If you're looking for an enticing escape with plenty of spice, you will love Lost Paradise!

I loved reading this! The writing style and multi POVs are just how I enjoy reading. The story line has a little of everything to keep you needing to read more!!
Great author and book! Highly recommend

DNF - I really wanted to love this book because I think the story idea is fantastic, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the right fit for me. I read about 20%, but it wasn’t grabbing my attention or pulling me in as much as I had hoped. There’s definitely potential, but something felt like it was missing for me personally, which kept me from fully connecting with the characters and plot. That being said, I can see how others might really enjoy it, and I appreciate the author's creativity and hard work. It just wasn’t what I was looking for.

This was a very interesting read. I didn’t thoroughly enjoy it, but I didn’t dislike it either. The characters were different and I thought ending with them changing identities and not going back to their old lives was a twist.

The Breakfast Club meets the Blue Lagoon and its extra spicy!!

5 elite college students, from privileged backgrounds, get arrested at an off campus party, and their punishment is to be sent over seas to help in a humanitarian project for orientation. After setting off, the flight crashes leaving all 5 students and a teacher (he’s more like a teaching aid/coach who’s only like 24 yrs old) stranded on a deserted island.
You have Evelyn (Eve) the princess, Zane the athlete, Byron the brain, Astro the criminal, Jack the basket case, and Foster the “teacher”. No ones knows where they are or if they’ll be rescued. Their societal titles and external masks are quickly shed as the group “comes” together, in more ways than one, as a team to survive and hopefully find a way off the island. It’s just Eve (the irony of this name was not lost) and five deliciously gorgeous men who are obsessed with her, alone on this island. Or so they thought, until they come across the natives, who also happen to be cannibals. And if this didn’t motivate them to get off the island quicker, they also stumble upon a mysteriously abandoned Cold War era laboratory that looks to have been used for potential human experimentation. All in all, the plot is there and spice delivered. Reverse harem told from every characters POV. The scenery details give you the Blue Lagoon movie ambiance as this is where a majority of connections are made on the island. And there’s lots of breakfast club references, from the character identities to Eve doing the lipstick trick, and even at the end when the essay reads in the same style as the movie. Both are great movies that I’m love and I loved this mashup take on the characters. The only negative I had was that the writing wasn’t very good in my opinion, specifically the dialog between characters. I just found some of the conversations to be cringey. But overall, still loved this book.

The Breakfast Club + Lost + The Blue Lagoon = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩵🖤💜❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☺️😆😎😚🥰

The heroine: Eve - The princess. she is a wealthy American, the daughter of a highly successful Manhattan businessman. She is used to being the queen of any school she attends, of her group of friends and socialites. However, this year she is the new girl at Hawthornes Valor Institute, an exclusive, private Scottish college. She lives in fear of returning to New York and being married off by her father to forge important business alliances. In the world she comes from, that is traditionally what is done with daughters to uphold the status and wealth of a family.

The Heroes: Jack - The basket case. He likes to watch people, get the lay of the land before deciding what to do and enacting his plans. He is also a talented hacker.
Astro - The criminal. He comes from the dark end of the East London underworld. His father, the leader of the Corinthian syndicate, whom Astro works for as much as any of his other lackeys, and when one of them slacks off, his father makes them pay, including his own son.
Zane - The athlete. He is a scholarship student from the United States and has come to train for the olympics. He came to Hawthornes Valor because of his skill in martial arts.
Byron - The brain. He is asian, and a scholar. He is “a two-time winner of the British Physics Olympiad AS Challenge and most recently won the BAAO Astrophysics competition and British Biology Olympiad.”
Mr. Coldwell - The teacher. He is an olympic gold medalist and is writing his master's thesis for his studies at Cambridge. Meanwhile he is working at Hawthornes Valor to set up their martial arts and fencing teams for the Olympic trials.

The Story: When Astro throws a party, complete with free drugs to give out in order to get new customers and the party is raided, he, Eve, Zane and Byron are caught by campus police. The next morning, they are summoned to the Dean’s office where Jack also joins them. The dean gives them a chance to fess up to whomever brought the drugs and when none of them do, he tells them they will be given another chance, but only after they pay their debt to society in the form of helping a village in Mozambique by building a water sewage system. Though the school’s private jet crash lands into the ocean and they end up stranded on a deserted island.

The book is written in first person point of view and there are chapters told in the point of view of each of the main characters. I like that we get a view into the minds of each of the characters. I also love the fact that each of the characters is different in various ways. The book classifies the main characters: a Brain, an Athlete, a Basket case, Princess, and a Criminal (later adding a Teacher), though the first five immediately made me think of The Breakfast Club. Like in that movie that they each are characterized as one thing but find that they all are much more than just that one label. There are other parallels to The Breakfast Club, such as the scene where everyone is sitting around telling each other about their not so perfect lives. There is a remarkably similar scene in this book, and we even find out that many of the revelations that come out in that scene have some huge similarities to the revelations that are told in TBC, also some of the dialogue is nearly straight out of the movie.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I ask, a little surprised by his kind gesture. There's a playful glint in his eyes, hinting at a depth of character beneath his charming exterior. “Because you’re letting me.”

“You know I have just as many feelings as you do, and it hurts when someone steps all over them.”

“There will be two hits,” he declares cooly. “Me hitting you. You hitting the floor.”

“We’re all pretty bizarre,” Jack says, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. “Some of us are just better at hiding it; that’s all.”

Despite the somewhat tacky references to The Breakfast Club, a storyline reminiscent of both the TV show Lost and movie The Blue Lagoon, I found this book to be extremely interesting and compelling. There were also a few Lord of the Flies moments thrown in for good measure, and plenty of the steamy scenes you get in any reverse harem romance. I did like all the action and adventure, and I found the characters to be interesting and likable. I was very pleasantly surprised.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

This is a book that truly immerses you in a world of emotional depth and intricate storytelling. The author expertly crafts a narrative that explores the complexities of human relationships and the profound impact of love. The characters in the story are not just names on a page; they are deeply developed individuals with their own struggles, desires, and secrets that add layers of complexity to the plot. The things they have to go through together, people that wouldn’t usually mix are forced together in a cruel twist of fate and have to survive on an island full of secrets.

One of the standout features is the way the author seamlessly combines suspense, emotion, and human connection throughout the story. The plot twists are expertly executed, which left me gasping, smiling, fuming and loads of other emotions. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat.

It’s a reverse harem, so of course there’s a boat load of smut, and it is spicyyyy. So if you’re a fan of smut, I’d definitely recommend, but the whole story is incredible too, the survival aspect, the romance, the suspense, all of it is so so good.

This book is full of character development and storytelling. Not only does it entertain but also provokes thought on deeper themes of human nature and the fragility of trust.

This was a BLAST! I loved the premise and I honestly haven’t read anything like this before. I loved how each character was different and we really felt their differences.