Libby Hubscher

Marin Cole has never: Seen the ocean Climbed a mountain Taken a risk on love ....But if her sister's plan works, she just might do all three. Ever since her journalist mother died on assignment, Marin has played it safe, refusing to set foot outside the state of Tennessee. Her wild-child younger sister, Sadie, has trotted the globe as a photographer, living off of art and adrenaline. When Sadie returns from a tough assignment abroad and looks a little worse for wear, Marin reluctantly agrees to a sisters' spa weekend on the tropical island of Saba. But her lifelong fear of travel is affirmed when Sadie misses the flight, Marin's luggage gets mixed up with another passenger's, and an episode of turbulence sends her hurtling into the lap of Lucas Tsai, the handsome stranger who stole her sister's seat. For the first time in a long time, Marin has to step outside of her comfort zone as she explores the island with Lucas and learns what she's been missing out on. With each breathtaking new experience, Marin gets closer to her real self, the man she's falling for, and the heart-wrenching truth about why she's there in the first place.

Meet Me in Paradise

Julie Palacio

cried so much, wasn’t expecting it at all

Rachel Kanyid

The twist in this through me for a loop, but it madea classic summer time rom-com a little more intersting.

Connor 

this book is lovely but it’s also a heartbreak heartache one so tread carefully

Vedha N

i liked it! i loved the character development and how we got to learn about sadie more and more throughout the book through her letters. i loooooved lucas’ character, very dream business man type. but yeah good hook and i def recommend!!

Jana Jenkinns 

This story broke my heart, but I adored every page. This book is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. I loved the relationship between Marin and Sadie and the sister and the rest of the characters felt as real to me as my own family. Libby Hubscher is incredible. I think that calling this a romance, while there is a wonderful romance, confines this novel to a box it should not be in. It is so very much more. It’s about love, loss, adventure, self-discovery and self-acceptance. It was everything I needed and so so much more. Full review to come on my blog soon. 💜

Krista M.

Growth. Loss. Bravery. Romance.
A cute love story wound up in a remarkably sad premise. Sophie wasn't a surprise but I was still very sad when it happened. The sister relationship was very tender and. I did feel like the characterizations of Sophie and Marin were a bit of a caricature and the book was a bit trope-y. Despite that it was a quick read and the imagery was lovely. Made me want to just abandon responsibility and move to Saba.  

Ashley Holstine

The cover makes you think of a romantic comedy in paradise. It’s definitely misleading. This book broke my heart, I sobbed my eyes out many times. If you’re looking for a book about finding yourself, stepping out of your comfortable shell, sisterly love and dealing with loss and grief then this is the book for you.

Leah | @LeahsLittlePleasures

This story was beautiful, funny, and oh-so-heartfelt! And also what a tear-jerker. It pulled at all my heartstrings. Hubscher effortlessly weaves a tale of two sisters, polar opposites of the other, as they begin to navigate a significant turning point in both their lives. ⁣
⁣
I really ended up loving this book! Marin was a tricky character to like at times, but I loved her growth arc by the end so much. She’d really been through a lot in her life and had shouldered so much weight and responsibility for those things. And gosh everything Lucas (and Sadie!) did for her 😭 ⁣
⁣
• Read This If You Like •⁣
👙 Sisterly love & banter⁣
⛱ Vacation & paradise vibes⁣
☀️ Adventures⁣
✈️ Trying new things
🍹 Character transformations⁣
🌺 Self-discovery⁣
⛵️ Second chances⁣
🌊 Facing & overcoming fears⁣
⁣
CW: cancer, death of a family member, general anxiety⁣ and anxious feelings

Kayla 

You’re going to need a pillow, some ice cream and a box of tissues for this one.

I read most of Meet Me in Paradise by @libbyhubscher in one sitting. I loved this book and I think it’s definitely one to add to your TBR’s. Swipe for the synopsis.

Marin and Sadie are sisters but could not be more opposite. Both of them lost their mother when they were young and Marin not only took on the role of mother but fell into a deep anxiety about anything beyond her Tennessee home. Sadie was the girl who wanted to be anywhere and everywhere doing crazy things.

This book started to go back and forth between Marin chapters and Sadie chapters. At first I thought that the Sadie chapters were going to take away from the main part of the story which was about Marin but I soon realized what was happening. This author did so well putting the pieces together in a way that made you intrigued about where this story was going to go.

The climax was in the middle of the book which I really appreciated. It bothers me when the big moment happens in the last 20 pages and then it’s a rush to the end. I felt like everything played out more realistically this way and Marin and Lucas had more time to develop a stronger bond.

This book started as a laugh out loud romcom, moved its way into a hand-me-the-tissues moment and ended with a hopeful picture of self-growth, courage and love. I loved all of the characters and the way this story evolved.

I will definitely be keeping a look out for more books by this author.

Thank you very much to @berkleypub for an e-arc of this book. It is released today!

Linda Quintanilla

** spoiler alert **
           Look, I got to get this off my chest but people need to be warned before starting this book. Triggers warning: death and grief.
I am all for romance books having different tropes or real life situations. But you got to warn somebody about it. You can't warn something without someone becoming an emotional mess. I was after finishing Meet Me in Paradise. I thought that I was reading a light fun romance book, not an intense emotional book. I was not the same afterward. I had to take a mental break before reading a new book. I won't go into too much detail because I do not want to spoil the whole plot but I will warn from the beginning of this review toward the end of this review. Be prepared for heavy triggers: death and grief. If you have not experienced it before, you will still be an emotional mess. But if you have experienced this before, I am sorry for your loss. I would say take a whole day to read this book because it is an intense emotional read. You need it, trust me. I know that I did. Giving you the heads up. 
To give a quick summary before giving too much details, you will have:-sisterly love-sisterly annoyance -unexpected vacation-unexpected yet surprisingly loving fling-unexpected loss-process of grief-new revelations-new relationships

Kath Lau

After losing their mother at a young age, Marin is left to take care of her younger sister Sadie. She has forgotten to go out, have fun, and take risks. She also worries a lot about Sadie since she is her total opposite. Sadie is an adrenaline junkie free-spirit photographer who never stays put. When Sadie returns from her latest assignment abroad, she suggests that she and Marin have a sisters' weekend on the tropical island of Saba. But Sadie misses their flight and Marin ends up sitting in an airplane beside a handsome stranger. This is where Marin's life-changing journey starts.

Don't be fooled by the beautiful and vibrant cover. I didn't read the blurb but I figured out quite early that this was not a lighthearted romcom story I was expecting. I still end up loving it so it's okay but I want to set your expectation. This book is more of women's fiction than romance.

I liked how the story is told through alternating POVs between Marin and Sadie. It was fun seeing Marin doing things for the first time. I genuinely felt excited and happy for her. I thought her character development is well-done. Sadie is a force to be reckoned with. I loved that there were no boring moments with her. Lucas is very generous and kind but I felt like I didn't get to know more about him. Also, he's too perfect in my opinion. The secondary characters are astounding. I'm really hoping for a Ken and Elisabet spin-off.

I liked the slow-burn romance between Marin and Lucas. Their meet-cute is definitely fun and memorable. The island setting was perfect and the author made me feel like I was there. My most favorite in this book was the strong bond between the sisters and their unconditional love for each other. The sacrifices and things we do for our family and loved ones. I was pretty much aware of what's going to happen but I still ended up bawling my eyes out. It's just heart-breaking. Overall, this was a very hopeful and captivating story that will stay with me for quite some time.

*trigger warning: anxiety, death of family member, terminal cancer, grief
*Huge thanks to Berkley/PRH International and NetGalley for my free e-arc. This did not affect my overall opinion of the book.

Tess

🏝Beautiful island escape, handsome hotel owner, and an emotional adventure…

You will need a box of tissues by your side when reading. 🗳 This book had me laughing 😄, swooning 😍, and crying 😭. I loved every minute of it. 💖🥲 It’s a beautiful journey of self discovery and the heartbreaking truth of why there is a journey in the first place. 💔

This story is about Marin who has never taken a risk living life in the safe zone. When her wild younger sister surprises her with a weekend sister’s trip to a tropical island. 🌺 Marin is shoved out of her comfort zone once she finds out her sister isn’t coming…

Read this if you like ⤵️

🌺 Journey of Self Discovery
🌺 Sister Bonds
🌺 Slow Burn Romance
🌺 Forced Proximity 
🌺 Hope After Tragedy
🌺 Tropical Escapism

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Meet Me In Paradise by @libbyhubscher 

(TW: Tragedy)

Bethany Phillips

Hello, may I introduce you to one of my new favorite books? Guys, I *L O V E D* this book. So much. From start to finish. I have nothing bad to say about any part of it. Who do I petition to get this made into a movie? 

This book is SO enjoyable. Marin and her sister Sadie are all that each other have in the world after their mom died in a tragic journalism accident; Marin becomes the parent and devotes her entire life, essentially, to taking care of her little sister and forgets to live herself in the process. Through a crazy list of events, Marin ends up on Saba at Paradise Resort experiencing all it has to offer with Lucas Tsai instead of her sister. 

Read this if:

🌺 You like tropical settings. 
🌺 You like well written romance that gives you butterflies. 
🌺 You love a good “breaking out of your shell” plot line. 
🌺 You like books that surprise you with depth. 
🌺 You like swoon worthy main characters who are Complicated People.

Tabassum Irin Zaman

Don't let the sunshine-y cover of Meet Me In Paradise fool you, fam. 🤧 I'm still sobbing because the story broke me. I was expecting a fluffy romance, but I got something so much more beautiful ~ a story about sisterhood and family. 5/5 *heart-wrenching-but-I-love-it* stars. 🌟 Many thanks to Berkley Romance #partner for the free review copy. 

In Meet Me In Paradise, we follow (uptight, anxious, a no risk-taker) Marin as she plans to travel to Saba for a sisters' weekend. Sadie ditches her at the last moment, but she gets to travel to Saba with an arrogant (but very hot) business tycoon - Lucas Tsai. Turns out that he's the owner of the very same hotel that Sadie booked for their trip! 👀 From there, the story captures Marin's adventures as she slowly keeps coming out of her shell in the beautiful island of Saba. Does she fall in love along the way? That's for you guys to find out. 💜 

I loved how MMIP showed Marin's journey of self-discovery. The character development was the main feature of the book ~ and it was so perfectly written! The author described Marin's panic attacks and breakdowns in such a realistic manner. That made her character so real to me. I cheered Marin throughout the story and felt so proud of her accomplishments. 
Now, I won't tell you why the book made me cry because that's A HUGE SPOILER but please keep some tissues by your side while reading Meet Me In Paradise. You're gonna need those. A LOT. 

Marin's story touched my heart in so many ways. To be honest, I don't even have the words to describe how beautiful Libby Hubscher's debut novel is. The story was powerful and conveyed the importance of family in the truest sense. The characters; both main and supporting ones have my whole heart. I can't wait to see what other gems she brings to us readers in the future!

Jessie Lundberg

Meet Me in Paradise was a hard one for me to rate. I landed on a three star because it just wasn’t what I wanted it to be. I knew going into it that it was sad, and oh it was definitely that. But for me the neediness of some characters and the lack of connection with the romance just made it fall a little short. I would have been fine if the main character ended the book single and I NEVER feel that way. I understand that the sister relationship was a HUGE aspect of this story and I love that but if you are going to have a romance as well it needs to be developed and I honestly didn’t get the chemistry between them. I enjoyed it overall but not one of my favs! It is not a light summer read like the cover makes you think!

Marin Cole has never: Seen the ocean Climbed a mountain Taken a risk on love ....But if her sister's plan works, she just might do all three. Ever since her journalist mother died on assignment, Marin has played it safe, refusing to set foot outside the state of Tennessee. Her wild-child younger sister, Sadie, has trotted the globe as a photographer, living off of art and adrenaline. When Sadie returns from a tough assignment abroad and looks a little worse for wear, Marin reluctantly agrees to a sisters' spa weekend on the tropical island of Saba. But her lifelong fear of travel is affirmed when Sadie misses the flight, Marin's luggage gets mixed up with another passenger's, and an episode of turbulence sends her hurtling into the lap of Lucas Tsai, the handsome stranger who stole her sister's seat. For the first time in a long time, Marin has to step outside of her comfort zone as she explores the island with Lucas and learns what she's been missing out on. With each breathtaking new experience, Marin gets closer to her real self, the man she’s falling for, and the heart-wrenching truth about why she’s there in the first place.

Meet Me in Paradise

Reviews