Name: Celina Irena Kuhn's review of The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
Item: The Paradise Problem
Rating: 3.5
Author: Celina Irena Kuhn

Christina Lauren

Christina Lauren, the instant New York Times bestselling and “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar), returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance. Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways. Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch. Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife. But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

The Paradise Problem

Fiona

“Being an artist is sometimes about not being afraid to do it badly first. Is that why in the end, I chose art? Because it’s forgiving?”

claire

Had me giggeling on the train. Really fast ready, the best of them yet! Still did not make me cry and that was lacking for me. Although really great concept and characters. Loved the whole crazy rich asian Vibes. And there was definitly an Hommage to nothing hill! 

Celina Irena Kuhn

No matter the plot, I tend to eat these stories. If I could inject Christina Lauren novels into my veins, I would.

I loved the banter, the sweetness and the ANGST.

The side characters were bonkers, but the main characters brought a gentleness to the story that I loved.

I loved Anna's softness and kindness, and West's growth after feeling actual love for the first time. UGH! So good.

Sarah Campbell

No matter the plot, I tend to eat these stories. If I could inject Christina Lauren novels into my veins, I would.
I loved the banter, the sweetness and the ANGST.
The side characters were bonkers, but the main characters brought a gentleness to the story that I loved.
I loved Anna's softness and kindness, and West's growth after feeling actual love for the first time. UGH! So good.

You know you’re reading Christina Lauren when you start and finish an audiobook in one day. Where you are actively seeking chores as an excuse to keep your AirPods in for as long as humanly possibly. 

I LOVED these characters. Per usual the banter was 

 and you are left with the intense desire to find these people in real life and become best friends. Seriously. The moment I met Anna I wanted to be besties. 

All to say, Christina Lauren did it again. Infinity stars from me. 

You know you’re reading Christina Lauren when you start and finish an audiobook in one day. Where you are actively seeking chores as an excuse to keep your AirPods in for as long as humanly possibly. 

I LOVED these characters. Per usual the banter was chefs kiss and you are left with the intense desire to find these people in real life and become best friends. Seriously. The moment I met Anna I wanted to be besties. 

All to say, Christina Lauren did it again. Infinity stars from me. 

i read this entire book in two days lmao it was lots of fun! i really enjoyed liam and anna’s chemistry, and i found myself really enjoying each of them as characters. they both seemed likeable — both to other ppl in the book as well as to readers. i also liked that their relationship seemed pretty healthy in that they did not necessarily hold back or repress their attraction or affection for each other, and any issues were addressed with communication and mutual respect. i even liked raegan lolll. overall enjoyable and funny!

lucia

I love Christina Lauren and this is everything I expect from her. Beautiful romance with a twist, family drama, and a good backstory. 

Amanda 

Something about this book.. I thought it was so well written but I didn’t enjoy myself very much especially the last half. It’s a billionaire trope that actually feels like people you may have met or know for a fact exist. The MMC’s toxic family isn’t in caricature, it’s uncomfortable how familiar and real they feel. Another review mentioned that this book was similar to Succession and that helped me define how I felt as that’s a show I can appreciate is well done but personally too intense and depressing for me to want to watch and I think that’s why I didn’t want to pick this book up and yet kept reading. The spice (like 2ish scenes some FTB) was wonderful as always which is kind of annoying because I wish I was sold more on the romance of this book, the MMC was too one dimensional for too long. 

Abigail

julie reads

Megan Helberg Keiser

issa

liam weston and anna green i would do anything for you two !!!

tink 😵‍💫⭐

it did the job. i guess… in a way, this is as much “your money is built off the backs of poor people” as a lighthearted billionaire romcom can get? the FMC’s sense of humor is a bit too millennial manic pixie a bit for my liking, in the sense that having pink hair seems to be her main personality trait and manages to have a rocking body even though she lives off coco pebbles and seemingly never works out. and the “having a sick parent” subplot is constantly overused in these books, and in this particular case, it added no substance to her character. idk it was … fine.

big ab

Brittany Peterson

Christina Lauren does it again!! 

I loved this book so much!!! 

What you can expect

- marriage of convenience 

- family drama 

- billionaires 



Rebecca Hurd

Yes, yes, yes, yes!!!! The duo that is Christina Lauren just can’t lose. Every book of theirs is amazing!! The love, the plot, the spice!! Top tier. I love Liam and Anna both of them are so different but match each other perfectly. They have great chemistry and the sex oh my!! Loved this!!!!

I love the story line!! But definitely a little too spicy but i love the characters. 

Bethany Williamson

         I acquired an ARC of this one last summer, and it’s been sitting on my physical TBR shelf since then.  I prefer to read ARCs closer to the release date because I can’t post a review until it’s been officially released (frustrating), so I waited.  I eventually managed to convince one of my book clubs to throw it in as a selection for June of 2024, so I finally dug it out of the shelf.  I was looking forward to it(despite the evidence to the contrary) because I have typically enjoyed the Christina Laren novels, so I made myself comfortable and got started.

            Unfortunately, this one was disappointing.  It’s a solid story, but this particular storyline is miserably overdone.  The fake partner that goes to a wedding to help out a family member under pressure to themselves get married, then inevitably falling in love, is a story that has been told over…and over…and over again.  I am almost certain there are TWO Sandra Bullock movies that tackle the same subject.  One of them is inevitably wealthy while the other struggles financially, yet somehow the “falling in love” part never seems to be about the money.  The struggling character is always a do-gooder, while the wealthier character is flighty. 

            This one does grapple with alternative themes, and the family dynamics are so full of (unrealistic) drama, it made the story more compelling than it otherwise would have been.  However, overall, it’s missing the dynamic storytelling I’ve become used to from Christina Lauren.  I did read it, and it’s not like I hated it, but in the hierarchy of Christina Lauren novels, this one fell to the bottom. 

Kristen Claiborn

         I acquired an ARC of this one last summer, and it’s been sitting on my physical TBR shelf since then.  I prefer to read ARCs closer to the release date because I can’t post a review until it’s been officially released (frustrating), so I waited.  I eventually managed to convince one of my book clubs to throw it in as a selection for June of 2024, so I finally dug it out of the shelf.  I was looking forward to it(despite the evidence to the contrary) because I have typically enjoyed the Christina Laren novels, so I made myself comfortable and got started.

            Unfortunately, this one was disappointing.  It’s a solid story, but this particular storyline is miserably overdone.  The fake partner that goes to a wedding to help out a family member under pressure to themselves get married, then inevitably falling in love, is a story that has been told over…and over…and over again.  I am almost certain there are TWO Sandra Bullock movies that tackle the same subject.  One of them is inevitably wealthy while the other struggles financially, yet somehow the “falling in love” part never seems to be about the money.  The struggling character is always a do-gooder, while the wealthier character is flighty. 

            This one does grapple with alternative themes, and the family dynamics are so full of (unrealistic) drama, it made the story more compelling than it otherwise would have been.  However, overall, it’s missing the dynamic storytelling I’ve become used to from Christina Lauren.  I did read it, and it’s not like I hated it, but in the hierarchy of Christina Lauren novels, this one fell to the bottom. 

I really liked the characterization of the MC and the sister/wives in the family. The rest of the characters didn’t have anything particularly unique about them. Cute little story with lots of cute little moments but nothing groundbreaking or particularly memorable. Female audiobook narrator did great. Disliked the male audiobook narrator and there wasn’t much differentiation in the characters he voiced.

Syrina

I love Christina Lauren, so it’s hard to say which is better or best. That being said, I LOVED this one! Sweet, emotional, and I will say I think this is the best Christina Lauren spice so far. 

Alyssa deRaad

Liam Weston and Anna Green were the perfect fake married couple, together just long enough to take advantage of married housing at UCLA but were actually little more than strangers.  After graduation, they both went their separate ways until 3 years later when Liam contacts Anna and tells her that there was no divorce, and he needs her to be his fake wife for a while longer so he can claim his inheritance.  All she has to do is accompany him to an isolated island for his sister's wedding, but when they get there, Anna realizes that she may be in over her head as family backstabbing takes center stage.

The Paradise Problem is an enjoyable story that tackles some serious issues, but also engages the reader with lots of fun, quirky characters and an abundance of humor.   While the plot raises questions about the super rich, and how they spend their money, it also contrasts that with the daily struggles of average people just trying to make ends meet.  Even though this aspect of the story works well, it does get a bit overdramatic by the end, focusing on an over-the-top villain.  However, the comedic parts of the narrative, particularly the character of Anna, makes this book well worth the read.  Overall, The Paradise Problem is an extremely good novel that will probably be overlooked in a spring filled with so many outstanding romance releases.

Lynn Braden

Liam Weston and Anna Green were the perfect fake married couple, together just long enough to take advantage of married housing at UCLA but were actually little more than strangers.  After graduation, they both went their separate ways until 3 years later when Liam contacts Anna and tells her that there was no divorce, and he needs her to be his fake wife for a while longer so he can claim his inheritance.  All she has to do is accompany him to an isolated island for his sister's wedding, but when they get there, Anna realizes that she may be in over her head as family backstabbing takes center stage.

The Paradise Problem is an enjoyable story that tackles some serious issues, but also engages the reader with lots of fun, quirky characters and an abundance of humor.   While the plot raises questions about the super rich, and how they spend their money, it also contrasts that with the daily struggles of average people just trying to make ends meet.  Even though this aspect of the story works well, it does get a bit overdramatic by the end, focusing on an over-the-top villain.  However, the comedic parts of the narrative, particularly the character of Anna, makes this book well worth the read.  Overall, The Paradise Problem is an extremely good novel that will probably be overlooked in a spring filled with so many outstanding romance releases.

claire &
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

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The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren