A review by rebroxannape
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

 
“Houston, we have a problem(atic man).”

I hate to give this book less than 5 stars. The writing was excellent, it was very funny, the story kept me turning the pages, the heroine and hero were both lovable and admirable, the main bad guy was the evilest of evil and the ones in the middle were layered and somewhat complex. There was more than one cheer-worthy moment and also lots of drama and suspense. But I counted off for TMI in the spice department. I’m not a prude (debatable) and don’t mind some open-door explicitness, but it started to suck up too much air out of the actual story and character development. It started a little past the halfway point and I was liking the story and characters so much that I got impatient with the amount of real estate it took up.

“West” Weston (aka Liam) and Anna Green got married in college just to qualify for affordable married housing. They barely saw each other and after Liam graduated they completely lost touch and haven’t seen each other for almost 5 years. Anna changed her major from Pre-Med to Art but her dream of supporting herself and paying her beloved father’s medical bills with her painting is not even a distant possibility. And she just got unjustly fired from her crap job at the Pico Pick-It-Up. She is at a very low point. So when Liam, whom she almost didn’t even recognize, comes a-knocking at her apartment door with a proposal that will allow her to breathe a little financially, she is all in. This is a girl who thinks $10,000 is “life-changing,” and Liam’s deal will net her over 10 times that amount. He needs her wifely presence by his side at his sister’s extravagant wedding on a private island in Indonesia. A condition of Liam and his siblings’ each inheriting around $100,000,000 each from their late grandfather is that they must be legitimately married for at least 5 years. And according to his mother, his ruthless father is starting to get suspicious that Liam’s marriage to Anna is a sham.

The plot is certainly not original and there were plot holes one could drive a bus through. The most glaring, to me, was how Anna and Liam could possibly think that their marriage-in-name only could not and would not have been easily uncovered years ago. But I was so involved in the story that I didn’t let that bother me (too much). The character of Anna was the key. Boisterous, proudly blue-collar, inappropriate, and hilarious, she must try to bury her authentic self to pretend to be Liam’s perfectly classy blue-blood and loving wife who is at ease with wealth and power. All the while pretending she is a doctor. Liam knows he is in for trouble when she shows up at the airport expensively attired, accessorized, and gorgeous (he gave her a dress allowance) but still sporting her strikingly pink hair. But Anna is smart and motivated to carry the whole deception off. She likes and respects Liam, who is a perfect foil for her. He left the family business for academia to become independent from his dysfunctional family for mysterious reasons. We only know that Liam is a good man with high principles and his father is a fiendish “sludge goblin.” He is constantly having to navigate his father’s manipulations and pressure to rejoin the family firm while still trying to keep in touch with the less offensive members of his troubled family.

Although The Westons certainly look askance at Anna’s unconventional ways she is pretty much accepted by them. Given Anna’s spirit and gumption, they don’t have much choice. The children of the family love her, Liam’s sister is nice and thrilled to finally meet her, and her sister-in-law is almost becoming a friend. And anyone can see the young couple are devoted to each other. Still, there are many dangerous waters to navigate and many traps to avoid. Suspense and tension build, but Liam and Anna have each others’ backs and even though there are some close calls, they are in a fair way to carrying the whole charade off. Except it’s not a charade anymore. Liam and Anna are in love. Then all hell breaks loose. Liam’s father gains the upper hand in his obsession to get Liam back under his thumb and back in the family business. Threats are made, secrets are revealed, and high drama is on every page. As truths come out, we learn there is much more at stake than we thought.

The opposites attract romance was engaging (other than…you know) and the crass and conspicuous consumption of the Weston family was an endless source of entertainment. Liam’s rage-filled narcissistic father kept the tension and drama factor high. I loved that when the inevitable crisis in Anna and Liam’s relationship came it was for good and understandable reasons, not silly foolishness. The side characters, including Anna’s friends and family, were very enjoyable and layered. Justice was served and the comeuppances were beautifully done and very satisfying. I closed the book with a smile on my face and hope for the families in my heart! 

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