The Paradise Problem

I was looking forward to a new Christina Lauren book and was very excited to start reading. Unfortunately, if I'm honest, I was not loving it at the start. I find the premise of the book to be a bit far-fetched and the characters to be a bit too stereotyped. However, I am glad I stuck with it. In spite of the things I do not love, I ended up enjoying it overall. The romance is sweet and fun, and I really fell in love with the male lead. The female lead grew on me despite my distaste for her originally. Ultimately, my feelings are still mixed but I can admit I had a good time reading it.

The storyline follows Anna Green and Liam Weston, who married in college in order to live in family housing. It was a marriage of convenience that never actually ended even though they have not seen each other in years. Suddenly, Liam shows up at Anna's front door with a proposition involving life-changing money in exchange for attending a family wedding with him and pretending they have a real marriage so that he can receive an inheritance. As one can image, this does not go smoothly.

There are a lot of unlikeable characters in this book, specifically Liam's wealthy family. Their extreme privilege and snobbery are difficult to stomach. In contrast, Anna is unconventional and artistic. The reader is supposed to love Anna, but I found it very hard to relate to her. In fact, I could not relate to any of the characters in the book. This is not usually a problem for me, but when I also do not really like any of them, it is hard to root for any of them.

That being said, I did end up invested in Anna and Liam's relationship. When they are not interacting with the horrible Weston family, they are honest and kind with each other. Their romance develops organically through their forced proximity. They have fun and laugh together, which I find very endearing.

So, overall I'd say my feelings on this one are middle of the road. I do not love the set up of the plot or most of the characters, but I do love Anna and Liam's romance. I would tentatively recommend this to the right reader.

Fun Read

After reading Tangled Up in You, I found myself so captivated that I delved into the back covers of countless other books by Christina Lauren, eventually landing on The Paradise Problem. From the very first page, I was hooked, and I ended up devouring the entire book in a single day. It's not just good; it's phenomenal. Every element of this story pulled me in and refused to let go.

This book has everything you could want in a contemporary romance: humor, sexiness, compelling characters, and lush, vibrant detail. It's one of those rare stories that can make you laugh out loud one moment and have you wiping away tears the next. The narrative is intricately woven with a commentary on family, wealth, and love, adding depth and substance to the romance. The emotions this book evoked in me ran the gamut—from laughter to tears, from nail-biting tension to triumphant cheers. In short, I loved every single part of it.

One of the things I’m starting to realize is how much I love the marriage of convenience trope, especially when it’s written as well as it is here. Christina Lauren nails it with Anna and Liam. The way these two characters exist in and around each other is nothing short of mesmerizing. Their relationship grows organically, both as individuals and as a couple, navigating tough situations and even some delightfully zany ones with grace and charm.

Anna and Liam are not just protagonists; they are the beating heart of this story. I found them to be incredibly compelling characters, each with their own struggles, strengths, and vulnerabilities. The connection between them is instantaneous, and I couldn’t get enough of the chemistry that sizzles between them. Every interaction, every exchange of dialogue, every stolen glance feels so real and loaded with meaning.

One of the standout aspects of this book is how it handles the wealth gap between Anna, who is struggling, and Liam, who is insanely rich. Rather than glossing over this disparity, Christina Lauren dives into it, offering insightful commentary on capitalism, power, and privilege. The book explores how wealth can be both a tool and a weapon, and how it affects relationships and personal identity. Importantly, this is done without falling into the traps of chauvinism or exploitation, making the narrative feel both modern and thoughtful.

And then there’s the spice. My god, the spice! The intimate scenes between Anna and Liam are not only steamy but also deeply emotional. The chemistry between them is electric, and their physical connection is enhanced by the bond they share—their love, their respect, their adoration for each other. These moments are not just about physical pleasure; they are about two people who are deeply in love, and that makes the heat all the more intense.

The Paradise Problem is a book that I cannot recommend highly enough. It’s a story that will make you feel every emotion under the sun, from the joy of new love to the tension of unresolved conflict. Christina Lauren has crafted a romance that is not only entertaining but also thoughtful, offering rich commentary on wealth, love, and power without ever losing sight of the characters at its heart. If you love contemporary romance with depth, humor, and a lot of heart, this book is a must-read.

The best parts of the forced proximity and fake marriage tropes

Nothing in this plot is truly groundbreaking, but I enjoyed it so much that it's going to stick with me for a while. The romance is well written. The fake marriage setup is reasonable. Liam and Anna are charming, confident, playful, and have great romantic tension.

The private island wedding setting is the perfect combination of extreme wealth and high stakes to really drive the plot forward. At no point was I bored. I often surprised myself by how fast I was flying through pages but never felt like I was missing any depth.

There was so much going on plot wise outside of the romance that it would have still been compelling without it. Family tension, corporate politics, wedding stress all blended together beautifully.

Highly recommend in general, but especially as a vacation read and/or for people who loved the drama and romance of Crazy Rich Asians.