Why don’t I have billionaire friends who invite me to their weddings?!
I picked up The Paradise Problem because I was in the mood for something indulgent — and what’s more indulgent than a fake marriage, a billionaire’s private island wedding, and a whole lot of family drama? Plus, it’s Christina Lauren, so I trusted it to be entertaining and well-written. And in many ways, it was. The premise is pure escapist gold: West, a ridiculously rich and controlled guy, fake-married struggling artist Anna years ago for convenience. Now, they need to pretend the marriage is real in front of his ultra-wealthy, controlling family — at his sister’s destination wedding in literal paradise. Let’s get one thing out of the way: the setup is fun, but not super believable. Anna supposedly has no idea she’s still married three years later? And West apparently mentioned it, but it just… didn’t register? Sorry, no. And then there’s the family — billionaires who wouldn’t have noticed their son married a total stranger, with no prenup, and just rolled with it? Especially with that father? It stretches credibility a bit too far. Anna, as a character, didn’t entirely work for me — mostly because of that whole “I didn’t know I was still married” bit, but also she is supposed to be that struggling artist that has bad jobs, gets high during the day - but also is really good at one million random facts (because she reads a lot of magazines, aha…) and jim’s just a pro at human psychology and knows how to analyze anyone she meets immediately... yeah, it‘s a no from me. West, on the other hand, is more believable, though still exaggerated. He’s the classic good guy surrounded by awful people, and while that dynamic gets repetitive, his emotional struggle feels genuine. But seriously — how did he turn out so decent growing up around that family? That said… the chemistry? Fantastic. Anna and West have great, natural tension that builds without games or unnecessary drama. They actually talk to each other — like adults — about what they’re feeling, and I loved that. No drawn-out miscommunications, no angst just for the sake of angst. It felt refreshing and earned. The pacing works well, and the tropical wedding setting was genuinely immersive — I could practically feel the heat and hear the ocean. Honestly, I’m now bitter I don’t have billionaire friends inviting me to island weddings. Family drama was dialed up a bit too high. Everyone except West was pretty much awful, and even Anna’s supposed friend (West’s brother) didn’t come through. It felt a little too much like “rich people are trash: the novel.” Still, West’s exasperation and emotional conflict were relatable, even if exaggerated. The writing is exactly what I’ve come to expect from Christina Lauren: smooth, engaging, and fun to read. They know how to craft a rom-com that keeps you hooked, even when the plot’s a little far-fetched. Final verdict: 4 stars. There were definitely some inconsistencies and logic gaps, but the setting, the banter, and especially the chemistry carried it for me. It’s fun, tropical, and surprisingly heartfelt — exactly what I wanted in the moment.
