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A review by bookishevy
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I usually only listen to mystery thrillers, but clearly, I need to listen to more romance because this was amazing.
Anna Green thought she married Liam "West" Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. When they graduated, she thought she signed divorce papers. Three years later, Anna is a starving artist, and West is a professor at Stanford. He's also one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate. West has no interest in his family's business other than the $100M he stands to inherit. But there is one catch: he must remain happily married for at least five years before seeing a penny. Now that he's just a few months from collecting his inheritance, his one-percenter parents want to meet his mysterious wife. West has to take the unpolished, foul-mouthed Anna to his little sister's wedding.
I enjoyed the banter between free-spirited Anna and buttoned-up West. They're different in a lot of ways, but the most glaring difference is social status. Anna really needs money, so West has to pay up for her pretense. Still, the amount she asks for is nothing to a billionaire's son. I identified with Anna and her disbelief at how much life-changing money is being spent on this wedding. West shares her views on capitalism, hence why he shuns his family.
West has hopes of Anna impressing his family but underestimates how encorrible she is. Though Anna's down-to-earth nature and loyalty to West aren't winning her any points with his parents, West takes notice, and the farce starts feeling real. They have amazing chemistry, and she loves to make him laugh. Patti Murin is hilarious as Anna, showcasing the authors' comedic timing with ease. I snort laughed too many times. Jon Root's voice lends a bit of mystery to West, who's not as open as the unfiltered Anna. Both played all the characters well.
This was giving My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman, and The Proposal with just the right amount of spice that I honestly wasn't expecting as this was my first read by Christina Lauren. It won't be my last.
Anna Green thought she married Liam "West" Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. When they graduated, she thought she signed divorce papers. Three years later, Anna is a starving artist, and West is a professor at Stanford. He's also one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate. West has no interest in his family's business other than the $100M he stands to inherit. But there is one catch: he must remain happily married for at least five years before seeing a penny. Now that he's just a few months from collecting his inheritance, his one-percenter parents want to meet his mysterious wife. West has to take the unpolished, foul-mouthed Anna to his little sister's wedding.
I enjoyed the banter between free-spirited Anna and buttoned-up West. They're different in a lot of ways, but the most glaring difference is social status. Anna really needs money, so West has to pay up for her pretense. Still, the amount she asks for is nothing to a billionaire's son. I identified with Anna and her disbelief at how much life-changing money is being spent on this wedding. West shares her views on capitalism, hence why he shuns his family.
West has hopes of Anna impressing his family but underestimates how encorrible she is. Though Anna's down-to-earth nature and loyalty to West aren't winning her any points with his parents, West takes notice, and the farce starts feeling real. They have amazing chemistry, and she loves to make him laugh. Patti Murin is hilarious as Anna, showcasing the authors' comedic timing with ease. I snort laughed too many times. Jon Root's voice lends a bit of mystery to West, who's not as open as the unfiltered Anna. Both played all the characters well.
This was giving My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman, and The Proposal with just the right amount of spice that I honestly wasn't expecting as this was my first read by Christina Lauren. It won't be my last.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism and Classism