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If This Is Paradise, I Want My Money Back
A fabulous, funny and frothy novel about cosmic karma from bestselling author Claudia Carroll, that will make you laugh and cry. Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Milly Johnson, Heidi Swain and Holly Martin will not be disappointed - perfect to raise your spirits on a rainy day!'Hugely enjoyable' -- Heat'A fab tale!' -- OK!'I certainly don't want my money back - a brilliant book from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review'A great book filled with funny one-liners and a storyline that pulled me in and wouldn't let go' -- ***** Reader review'Hilarious!' -- ***** Reader review'Couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review*********************************************************************IMAGINE BEING SENT BACK AS A GUARDIAN ANGEL...TO YOUR EX!Charlotte Grey is hovering between life and death, but it's taken a coma for her to realize she's made a complete mess of her short time on earth. Not to mention the five precious dating years she's just wasted on the cheating, faithless James Kane.But after a quick peek at the afterlife, she decides it's not all it's cracked up to be either.So, when she is offered the chance to go back to earth, this time as a fully-fledged angel, she jumps at it. But as always, there's a catch. The person she's assigned to watch over is ...a certain Mr James Kane.And this is where the fun really starts. Well, just because she's passed on doesn't necessarily mean she's moved on, does it?
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
76 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Carroll
41 books454 followersClaudia was born in Dublin and is a graduate of UCD, the College of Music and of the Gaiety School of Acting. Since then she has worked extensively as an actress on the Irish stage, but is probably best known for her role as TV’s Nicola Prendergast in the long running Dublin soap opera, ‘Fair City.’
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
November 13, 2015
2.5 Stars
Up until the end of the book I was undecided between three and four stars, but the end left me undecided between two and three. Why?
Because:
The end is sort of a cliffhanger, but there’s no follow up book. It was unsatisfactory... the three main stories get wrapped up by the head angel in a very very short chapter and that’s it. Also, there is no romance for the protagonist, Charlotte. The book is all about her getting over her ex and the lives of her best friend, Fiona, and sister, Kate. And I know that she’s an angel, but the author could have slipped in a fellow training angel and make them bump into each others during their training/angelic duties, right? And finally the amount of back-story, conversations with the dad, and descriptions of heavenly offices or so are simply too much and too long.
On the positive side the book has some funny moments, and the idea of having uncensored access to your ex is great and was the best part of the book.
Up until the end of the book I was undecided between three and four stars, but the end left me undecided between two and three. Why?
Because:
The end is sort of a cliffhanger, but there’s no follow up book. It was unsatisfactory... the three main stories get wrapped up by the head angel in a very very short chapter and that’s it. Also, there is no romance for the protagonist, Charlotte. The book is all about her getting over her ex and the lives of her best friend, Fiona, and sister, Kate. And I know that she’s an angel, but the author could have slipped in a fellow training angel and make them bump into each others during their training/angelic duties, right? And finally the amount of back-story, conversations with the dad, and descriptions of heavenly offices or so are simply too much and too long.
On the positive side the book has some funny moments, and the idea of having uncensored access to your ex is great and was the best part of the book.
December 21, 2018
Ok, I'm really sorry to say this and I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone, but this book is terrible!
I made it to page 40 before giving up and read a couple of parts throughout the book, but it didn't get better.
The main character just complains about everyone in the first chapter and only talks abit how terrible her life is. The book is cheeay and filled with sentences I've read before.
I don't want to struggle through this any longer
I made it to page 40 before giving up and read a couple of parts throughout the book, but it didn't get better.
The main character just complains about everyone in the first chapter and only talks abit how terrible her life is. The book is cheeay and filled with sentences I've read before.
I don't want to struggle through this any longer
January 19, 2011
I'd finished reading all the Joanne Fluke books that our library had, and which I quite enjoyed. So I asked the librarians about another author that was light-hearted & easy reading (but not romance or soppy!) Claudia Carroll was one of the suggestions.
So I tried this book, but I didn't finish it. The main plot idea is funny enough, but the character of Charlotte I found to be a bit pathetic & sorry for herself. Plus the book didn't go anywhere very quickly due to long descriptions of people & rooms & so forth.
So I tried this book, but I didn't finish it. The main plot idea is funny enough, but the character of Charlotte I found to be a bit pathetic & sorry for herself. Plus the book didn't go anywhere very quickly due to long descriptions of people & rooms & so forth.
dnf
October 14, 2013 DNF :*(
I felt like I'd read it all before & it was a little try hard in the comedy department IMO.
I felt like I'd read it all before & it was a little try hard in the comedy department IMO.
July 19, 2025
I have a neighbor who talks nonstop and is very annoying. The story had some humor but it reminded me of my neighbor. Clever idea for a story.
October 10, 2018
A book I picked up randomly at a used bookstore ended up being such a fun read. Switching between focusing on four different people’s lives, this book makes you want to keep reading without putting the book down. So good! Got me feeling all the feels.
August 28, 2011
Chick lit has always been one of my guilty pleasures. It's pure potato chip pleasure for me and I've been known to completely cut myself off from civilization whenever Sophie Kinsella or Meg Cabot put out a new book. Paradise gives off roughly the same feel of guilty pleasure, but fails to deliver on exactly all that it promised.
I'm a little torn at how to describe this book. Carroll puts out an entertaining read to where I'm definitely going to track down her other books, but this was a bit of a chore to read at times. The book's general premise sounded like it'd be incredibly fun because after all, being able to get even with an awful ex is something most of us would love to do. In this aspect yes, the book was fun. I read the scenes of Charlotte tormenting her ex with a bit of sadistic glee. These were some of the better written scenes. Charlotte made for an interesting main character in that she was enough of an every-woman to be relatable to, something that is invaluable in any sort of read. She made me want to keep reading about her even as I wanted to throttle her for being so dense.
Where the "but I'm torn" part comes in is with the book's predictability. You can see every big revelation and plot twist coming miles away. This wouldn't be so bad considering that chick lit books tend to be a little formulaic by nature, but when you add in the parts of the book where the plot got a little dull, it became a chore to read at times. The amount of times where Charlotte visits her family members really could have been reduced greatly because most of what she does ends up being the same as the last time she saw them. I'd express more irritation over how completely devoid Charlotte is of common sense (she wouldn't know it's raining even if her head was soaked), but as this is something that was brought up in the book as a plot element I figured that I'd give it a pass. If anything, Charlotte's moronic nature was something of a "how much more simple minded can you get" form of entertainment where I eagerly turned the pages like a crack addicted chipmunk to see exactly what she'd do next.
Even with all of the irritation I would occasionally feel throughout the book, I was somehow unable to put it down. This might not live up to the high standards put out by Kinsella's fare, but Paradise was still an addicting read and I know I'll be tracking down the author's other works. Carroll still has a way to go but I have a feeling I will end up staying with her for the long haul. My recommendation? For anyone who loves chick lit, this is something you'll probably want to read, but you might want to flip through it first or check it out at the library.
3 out of 5 stars
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
I'm a little torn at how to describe this book. Carroll puts out an entertaining read to where I'm definitely going to track down her other books, but this was a bit of a chore to read at times. The book's general premise sounded like it'd be incredibly fun because after all, being able to get even with an awful ex is something most of us would love to do. In this aspect yes, the book was fun. I read the scenes of Charlotte tormenting her ex with a bit of sadistic glee. These were some of the better written scenes. Charlotte made for an interesting main character in that she was enough of an every-woman to be relatable to, something that is invaluable in any sort of read. She made me want to keep reading about her even as I wanted to throttle her for being so dense.
Where the "but I'm torn" part comes in is with the book's predictability. You can see every big revelation and plot twist coming miles away. This wouldn't be so bad considering that chick lit books tend to be a little formulaic by nature, but when you add in the parts of the book where the plot got a little dull, it became a chore to read at times. The amount of times where Charlotte visits her family members really could have been reduced greatly because most of what she does ends up being the same as the last time she saw them. I'd express more irritation over how completely devoid Charlotte is of common sense (she wouldn't know it's raining even if her head was soaked), but as this is something that was brought up in the book as a plot element I figured that I'd give it a pass. If anything, Charlotte's moronic nature was something of a "how much more simple minded can you get" form of entertainment where I eagerly turned the pages like a crack addicted chipmunk to see exactly what she'd do next.
Even with all of the irritation I would occasionally feel throughout the book, I was somehow unable to put it down. This might not live up to the high standards put out by Kinsella's fare, but Paradise was still an addicting read and I know I'll be tracking down the author's other works. Carroll still has a way to go but I have a feeling I will end up staying with her for the long haul. My recommendation? For anyone who loves chick lit, this is something you'll probably want to read, but you might want to flip through it first or check it out at the library.
3 out of 5 stars
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
August 5, 2016
*Copy provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Whooooaaa! I finally read it. I'm ashamed to admit it's been more than a year since I've downloaded it from NetGalley. I did try reading it once soon after downloading it, but it didn't work for me. I was hoping if I postpone reading and get into a certain mood I'd enjoy this book more. So I gave it another chance. This time I did manage to finish it, however as you can see from the rating, I found it just ok.
You see, I had few issues with it, more than few actually. The writing was ok, though frankly, I wasn't impressed. The premise was promising, and I though I'll enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed Heaven Can Wait by Cally Taylor, since it basically the same stuff, going to heaven and learning a lesson. BUT, I was disappointed.
The writing felt a bit strange and very hard for me to understand, not because of the Irish slang (I've read quite a few books by Irish authors so am pretty familiar with some words/phrases they use). The sentences were too long, and as a rule, that's always something which makes reading the book harder for me.
The characters, oh my god - don't let me start with that! Not only I couldn't relate to Charlotte, the MC, she was too annoying from the start till the very end. Now it happens rarely that I dislike a character so much. Of course, I've read many books with characters I didn't like at the beginning, but somehow by the end of the book they would kind of grow on me. They would leave a certain impression, impact, make me care for them or feel them. With this book - it was NADA! NOTHING!
No matter how hard I tried I COULD NOT understand or like Charlotte. That's a major problem with me, which of course reflected my enjoyment of this book.
I will check out Claudia Carroll's other books, but I just can't recommend this one.
Whooooaaa! I finally read it. I'm ashamed to admit it's been more than a year since I've downloaded it from NetGalley. I did try reading it once soon after downloading it, but it didn't work for me. I was hoping if I postpone reading and get into a certain mood I'd enjoy this book more. So I gave it another chance. This time I did manage to finish it, however as you can see from the rating, I found it just ok.
You see, I had few issues with it, more than few actually. The writing was ok, though frankly, I wasn't impressed. The premise was promising, and I though I'll enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed Heaven Can Wait by Cally Taylor, since it basically the same stuff, going to heaven and learning a lesson. BUT, I was disappointed.
The writing felt a bit strange and very hard for me to understand, not because of the Irish slang (I've read quite a few books by Irish authors so am pretty familiar with some words/phrases they use). The sentences were too long, and as a rule, that's always something which makes reading the book harder for me.
The characters, oh my god - don't let me start with that! Not only I couldn't relate to Charlotte, the MC, she was too annoying from the start till the very end. Now it happens rarely that I dislike a character so much. Of course, I've read many books with characters I didn't like at the beginning, but somehow by the end of the book they would kind of grow on me. They would leave a certain impression, impact, make me care for them or feel them. With this book - it was NADA! NOTHING!
No matter how hard I tried I COULD NOT understand or like Charlotte. That's a major problem with me, which of course reflected my enjoyment of this book.
I will check out Claudia Carroll's other books, but I just can't recommend this one.
June 8, 2014
I actually really, truly, enjoyed reading this novel. I was worried I'd end up asking for MY money back, but I am glad Claudia Carroll proved me wrong.
Yes, it's a light, fluffy, story - even though the protagonist is actually in a coma - and yes, it is quite predictable, but I still enjoyed it immensely. It is the kind of thing I really needed at the time that I read it.
This book has been perched on my shelf for quite a long time, and I didn't know when I was going to get to it, but I finally did. And I finished it easily in a day or two. I found Charlotte Grey to be an absolute delight, and was very satisfied that she played all those nasty tricks on James. What a total douchebag. Even though she wasn't supposed to, I was inwardly happy every time she got back at him. Oh, the laughs I got out of it.
On the other hand, there were several story lines that weren't as light and fluffy, such as those of her sister's and mother's. I found the story line involving her sister to be very heart breaking and sad. I was very disappointed at how things turned out for her, but not at Carroll's choice of writing it that way.
What I did find annoying was Charlotte's meddling in Fiona's life. That needed to stop. I found myself yelling at the book at some point telling Fiona to stop listening to Charlotte!!
The book reminded of A Tooth Fairy in the way that the events took place and how this bizarre, insane, surreal organization takes you up and changes your life.
I really liked how Charlotte took it all in stride and not too much time was spent feeling sorry for herself, or going through passages of misery. I also liked the humor and sarcasm of her character. But most of all, I really enjoyed watching her grow and develop as a protagonist.
Very enjoyable read.
Yes, it's a light, fluffy, story - even though the protagonist is actually in a coma - and yes, it is quite predictable, but I still enjoyed it immensely. It is the kind of thing I really needed at the time that I read it.
This book has been perched on my shelf for quite a long time, and I didn't know when I was going to get to it, but I finally did. And I finished it easily in a day or two. I found Charlotte Grey to be an absolute delight, and was very satisfied that she played all those nasty tricks on James. What a total douchebag. Even though she wasn't supposed to, I was inwardly happy every time she got back at him. Oh, the laughs I got out of it.
On the other hand, there were several story lines that weren't as light and fluffy, such as those of her sister's and mother's. I found the story line involving her sister to be very heart breaking and sad. I was very disappointed at how things turned out for her, but not at Carroll's choice of writing it that way.
What I did find annoying was Charlotte's meddling in Fiona's life. That needed to stop. I found myself yelling at the book at some point telling Fiona to stop listening to Charlotte!!
The book reminded of A Tooth Fairy in the way that the events took place and how this bizarre, insane, surreal organization takes you up and changes your life.
I really liked how Charlotte took it all in stride and not too much time was spent feeling sorry for herself, or going through passages of misery. I also liked the humor and sarcasm of her character. But most of all, I really enjoyed watching her grow and develop as a protagonist.
Very enjoyable read.
April 22, 2019
She is in an accident, then a coma, and then she meets her dad, who passed away many years ago, who recommends her for guardian angel school and then she becomes one. Sent back to Earth as her ex's guardian angel. Proceeds to make him bloody miserable. And then, because it's a fluffy book, learns her lesson and repents and all that. An eminently missable book.
May 1, 2024
Irritating story, full of clichés, and repetitions. Even the dialogues are boring. Charlotte is annoying, selfish, and bitchy, no character development.
The problems are solved by the end of the story (kind of), but due to Charlotte’s actions.
Pretty cover and witty title, though.
The problems are solved by the end of the story (kind of), but due to Charlotte’s actions.
Pretty cover and witty title, though.
August 10, 2012
Brilliant!
Loved that this was chick-lit with a twist, the ending was predictable but that didn't matter.
Favorite quote: "girls are like tea, you don't know how strong they are until they get into hot water!" - So True
Loved that this was chick-lit with a twist, the ending was predictable but that didn't matter.
Favorite quote: "girls are like tea, you don't know how strong they are until they get into hot water!" - So True
January 29, 2012
Yes, I certainly wanted my money back! I have no idea how this got published. Sorry Claudia, I really did want to like it.
February 14, 2012
I had to force myself to finish this book. I found myself skipping paragraphs at a time.
September 24, 2025
I got about 25% of the way through this book and just could not take any more of the constant internal dialogue of this totally unlikable narrator and fast forwarded to the end to confirm what I suspected all along.
This was a cute idea poorly executed. Humans who die do not turn into angels, but since this is fiction, I had to suspend my disbelief for that one. But her behavior while in angelic form seemed more like a ghost or poltergeist than a those of a heavenly being. Angels should have more powers than humans, not fewer. Despite the evidence that he was a dirt bag, I felt great sympathy for her beleaguered ex. I just kept wanting to shout at her to SHUT THE BLEEP UP! Skipping over 50% of the book was the only way to successfully do that! If I had read the whole book, I would have probably given it 1 star!
This was a cute idea poorly executed. Humans who die do not turn into angels, but since this is fiction, I had to suspend my disbelief for that one. But her behavior while in angelic form seemed more like a ghost or poltergeist than a those of a heavenly being. Angels should have more powers than humans, not fewer. Despite the evidence that he was a dirt bag, I felt great sympathy for her beleaguered ex. I just kept wanting to shout at her to SHUT THE BLEEP UP! Skipping over 50% of the book was the only way to successfully do that! If I had read the whole book, I would have probably given it 1 star!
January 6, 2022
A fantastically funny five-star read. I read this one when it was first in paperback, but picked up the ebook recently, and it was just as good the second time round, if not better as it was like catching up with Charlotte all over again, feeling her anger toward Screechy and how she all she wants to do is make the lives of those she loves better in any way she can, at least that’s what she thinks she is doing. I love that Charlotte is human, she is one of those people who don’t always get it right and that was great, especially now, knowing that you don’t have to be perfect but can still go along is great. I love this author and am excited to catch up some more on their work.
April 26, 2018
So full of lively funny characters. After an accident a young woman becomes an angel. But instead of peace n bliss she is given a lot of tasks to sort out those left on earth. Her family, her best friend, n especially her loser of a cheating boyfriend. Sometimes frustrating when the people just don't get the message or learn the lesson n even as an angel she can't always intervene. She can see everyone exactly as they really are, but they can't see or hear her. They're also talking about her! A lively, funny story with an unexpected ending - thoroughly enjoyable.
December 10, 2019
I found this book absolutely hilarious, a real laugh out loud read. I’ve read a couple of other Claudia Carroll books and Also enjoyed them. I predicted the outcome of the story quite early on in the book as it is quite obvious, But it didn’t stop me from enjoying the rest. The main character Charlotte is very likeable and her relationships with the other characters are very believable . The scene where she is talking to James in a meeting and singing Cabaret! Well it made me scream with laughter : ). Loved it and going to read lots more books by this Author.
November 22, 2021
I’d had this book on my kindle for a while so I thought it was finally time to bite the bullet… what can I say? I wish I hadn’t. I can’t say it was an awful book, because it was bearable. But the fact it took me nearly 2 months to finish it says it all.
I didn’t like the characters, and I just couldn’t get myself stuck in. I found Charlotte self absorbed and ignorant, which made the book even more difficult!
The ending also disappointed me, it felt like I was back at primary school reading a story that ended with ‘and it was all a dream…’
I didn’t like the characters, and I just couldn’t get myself stuck in. I found Charlotte self absorbed and ignorant, which made the book even more difficult!
The ending also disappointed me, it felt like I was back at primary school reading a story that ended with ‘and it was all a dream…’
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 9, 2025Cause For a Brief Review
I think I might have found a new author to follow! I absolutely love the honest portrayal of the characters--I've always believed that a good story will trigger a visual in your head--a movie of sorts. Claudia Carroll has given readers 3-dimensional people that you would recognize on the street...and recognize them to be very much like your own friends and family. "God Complexes" are running rampant in our society. Perhaps we should all review our own behavior toward one another!! 🤓🤔🙂
I think I might have found a new author to follow! I absolutely love the honest portrayal of the characters--I've always believed that a good story will trigger a visual in your head--a movie of sorts. Claudia Carroll has given readers 3-dimensional people that you would recognize on the street...and recognize them to be very much like your own friends and family. "God Complexes" are running rampant in our society. Perhaps we should all review our own behavior toward one another!! 🤓🤔🙂
September 9, 2025
A predictable story that would have been better if it had been half as long and then half as long again. Charlotte is in a car accident and dies, or does she? She is reunited with her father in heaven, or is she? Charlotte returns to earth as a guardian angel for her family and friends, or does she. I'm not sure who this novel would appeal to but it wasn't me. If you get bogged down with the tale go ahead and skip to the final few chapters. You won't miss a thing.
July 17, 2017
A run down version of 'Click', highly disappointing and not worth the time. The story hardly grabs your attention and stuck between 4 characters and none of them strong enough to keep the story interesting.
June 5, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable and amusing read
A good intriguing story with a witty dialogue that draws you on to read the next chapter. Recommended for relaxing reading. A good book for bedtime
A good intriguing story with a witty dialogue that draws you on to read the next chapter. Recommended for relaxing reading. A good book for bedtime
August 14, 2020
Great plot but only 4.5 as it ended extremely unfinished. In serious need of a sequel ....THAT is how it ended. If you love book with an ending...this book it ain't for you...you'll be left feeling as though youve only eatrn half an apple crumble!..Loved it but left needing a resolution.
September 26, 2020
Absolutely fabulous from start to finish it had me gripped I found myself going to bed early to read it. Claudia really made me think wow imagine if this actually happened and thinking after I wonder did it all pan out. Would highly recommend 💕
August 12, 2022
an interesting take on a concept of hovering between life or death. a funny read din since the jokes are not insensitive and they are really used to light up the mood which adds to the personality of the character. kinda predicted the ending din sooo
March 29, 2020
An easy read with funny moments. Love the way this author describes her characters
July 30, 2020
Tbh I wasn’t particularly sure of the point in this book. It felt like it just stopped as there really wasn’t an ending.
January 6, 2021
I was going to give up with this book after the first couple of chapters but thought I would persevere, it could only get better. Sadly, it didn't. 3 stars is me being generous.
July 6, 2022
Absolutely fantastic
I read this book in about 3 days. I loved it and almost couldn't wait to go to bed to read more.
More like this please x
I read this book in about 3 days. I loved it and almost couldn't wait to go to bed to read more.
More like this please x
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews