The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

Book Review #754

Title: The Paradise Problem

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: Piatkus

Genres: Fiction, Romance

Format: Paperback

Source: Pansing

Publication Date: April 14, 2024

Pages: 352

My Rating: 4 STARS

SYNOPSIS

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.

BOOK REVIEW

Disclaimer: I am fully aware that this author is on the boycott list but based on my understanding and research, it was their assistant that posted about supporting Zionists and has changed their stance since. But if I am wrong, please let me know.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren is a marriage of benefits story where two characters who were married realises that they never got divorced and were forced to continue their charade. Set in a lush island in Indonesia for a week long wedding celebration, they have to fake their marriage until they realise that perhaps staying married is best for them.

This story started off funny, I kept laughing to myself with the characters’ antics, specifically Anna. But then it started getting heavy and full of family drama and honestly, this book is unlike the author’s story style and it’s quite interesting.

This story reminds me a bit of Crazy Rich Asians what with the extravagant parties and wedding. It has the dramatic family dramas and perhaps, way much more manipulative. But the romance is cute and they suit each other well in their odd ways.

The ending felt rushed and it felt like the epilogue was just dumping everything in one go so that everything gets resolved. The one thing I like about this author’s style of writing is not being too crude but Anna’s character is exactly that. It would feel better much better if she can tone it down a little.

All in all, this book is unlike any stories published by the author before but it was still an enjoyable read. I recommend you to pick up this book.