nguyenkristine 's review for:

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

3.5

adventurous funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren took me a while to get through, but not because it was bad. I’ve just been in a major reading slump lately, and honestly, romance hasn’t really been hitting the way it used to. But my sister recommended this to me and I was determined to finish it and I’m glad I did! 

The setup is fun: Anna and Liam (aka West) got legally married back in college for cheap housing , and suddenly 5 years later find themselves having to play the part of a happy couple in front of Liam’s super-wealthy, super-traditional family (Liam’s family?? Whew. The AUDACITY). It’s got all the tropes: forced proximity, fake dating, family tension, and for the most part it works. It’s funny too, which really helped keep me going even during the parts that dragged a bit. And yeah… it did drag a little at times. That said, I really liked the slow way Anna and West’s relationship developed. It's obviously not a conventional romance (I mean… fake married for years? lol okay), but there’s something kind of beautiful about how they gradually open up to each other. They both carry so much emotional baggage, and watching them lay it all out and still choose each other in the end was really sweet. By the last few chapters, you can actually feel how much love they have for each other and it felt really genuine and comforting in a quiet kind of way. Also, the spice!!! It’s definitely not front and center, but it’s sprinkled in here and there. Most of the book is more about that tension, the kind where you’re just waiting for something to finally snap or wondering who was going to make the first move, and when it did? Whew. The scenes were steamy but in this very intimate, emotional way that honestly had me reaching for water. Like… why did it feel like I was intruding on something so personal?? (Not in a bad way, just very “close the door behind you” vibes). This wasn’t my absolute favorite Christina Lauren book, and it didn’t fully pull me out of my slump, but I still enjoyed it for what it was. If you're in the mood for something light with a bit of emotional depth, plus a lot of family drama, this is a solid pick. Not perfect, but definitely a cute, easy read with some heart.