A review by bribreez
Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

4.25⭐️/ 2-3🌶️

I went into this book thinking it was going to be a simple “fake dating” situation, but oh no, I was so off base, and I couldn’t be any more happy about it! In Christina Lauren’s newest release, “The Paradise Problem”, this story followed, Anna Green and Liam Weston as they had to pretend they were  happily married since that’s what Liam told his family for the past couple of years and keep the charade going while attending Liam’s sister wedding. In addition, in order to secure the rest of Liam’s inheritance he needed to remain married to Anna at least for the duration of the trip. So take fake dating but make it married, “my wife” moments, a summer getaway to a private island, he’s a billionaire, she’s a down on her luck artist, and you get this unique romance that only Christina Lauren could have written.

I legitimately didn’t expect this book to be what it was in terms of the plot, but OMG IT WAS GOOD! Years ago, when Anna was attending UCLA, she married Liam (known as West to her at the time) in order to get family housing on campus since it was cheaper. When graduation came, Anna thought she signed the divorce papers and that was it, but it turned out she and Liam were very much still legally married. So with the revelation that Anna was still married to Liam, that was the beginning of what she found herself in. Wow, imagine realizing you’re still married, and said husband shows up asking for your help? I would be mind boggled, but Anna seemed to take it fairly well aside from the later panic that set in. 

Anna was in the last place imaginable, having a husband she never actually divorced (oops), finding out he’s a billionaire, and part of a family that runs a multi billion dollar empire of grocery stores. Anna had imagined her life differently such as, being a well known artist, but instead she was juggling a couple part time jobs in order to pay her rent and help her dad out. I could tell that Anna always tried her best, but there was still a part of her that longed to live out her dream of creating more with her artwork. Anna was likable right from the start, I thought she was lighthearted, kind, a bit of disorganized mess, but there was also a charming quality to her that made her even sweeter. Whereas Liam was the more mature and put together person, Anna was a free spirit who was funny and a bit of a sunshine. 

Liam wanted his life to be his own, without his dad trying to take control of it, and make him follow in line accordingly. Liam was also a likable man who the more I read about, the more I liked! Liam wasn’t just dealing with trying to secure the rest of his inheritance, but the significance behind it meant that he would officially be free from his father’s demands. Liam liked his life the way it was because, it was what HE WANTED, not his dad. I got a better understanding of why Liam wasn’t necessarily looking forward to being around his family when his dad came into the picture, and my first thought was, “yeah I could see where the problem started.” Aside from the family drama, seeing Liam trying to be a “loving husband” to Anna was intriguing, and I loved seeing him start to open up to Anna over the course of the story. 

Anna and Liam were legally married, but oh boy, they way those two had to act like they were madly in love was believable with the tension between them! In a fake dating sort of way, Anna and Liam had to ensure everyone believed that they had been happily married the whole time, and in doing so that meant sharing affectionate looks, touches, and…KISSES! The more I kept reading, the more I saw behind those supposed “acting” skills that Anna and Liam did in order to keep their marriage image good. From the way Liam would look adoringly at Anna or how Anna would give her supportive reassurance to Liam, the two of them quickly became so much more than the fake marriage they initially had. 

Wow, I was not expecting the kind of drama to unfold in this book, but it definitely took it to higher heights. I’ve never seen the show, “Succession”, but the way the Weston family was when it came to their money and the family business, it gave off vibes similar to the show. In a world where the Weston’s were accustomed to being filthy rich, that wasn’t the world Anna was familiar with. Even with all the lighthearted fun that Christina Lauren brought to Anna and Liam’s story, I also liked how they tackled the topic of wealth in this story. Namely how people such as, the Weston’s took for granted their wealth and didn’t truly understand the privilege they had compared to others. I didn’t like Liam’s dad at all, that man was a piece of GARBAGE! Ugh! Anyways, seeing the way people like Liam’s dad were made me see that not everything was perfect even when you had billions of dollars at your disposal. 

Overall, Christina Lauren did an amazing job crafting such a lovely summery book that gave a unique spin on fake dating, but make it fake marriage. In addition, having the story set on a vacation getaway, Liam basically being a billionaire, and Anna’s lovable, sweet personality, and I couldn’t put this book down! You still got the romantic comedy vibe of the book, but there was also a flair of drama with elements that reminded me of the show, “Succession”. Liam and Anna were in an unconventional situation, but it worked for them in the end since they actually got to know each other, and form a loving romance together. Despite the toxic atmosphere within the Weston family in the beginning, I was glad to see the family start to reconnect and work on themselves in the epilogue. Liam and Anna were lovely together, I loved the tension, the ease they found with each other, and the subtle ways they showed their love for each other. By the end, I couldn’t put the book down and it was just an amazing mix of drama, romance, heartfelt love, and joy. This would perfect to read in the summer time or if you want to escape into a tropical paradise.