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The Paradise Hook-Up
A party girl, a serious businessman, only one bed in paradise... 🏝️🌞💖 For fans of Tessa Bailey, Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood! 🏝️ Greek setting
🏝️ Only one bed
🏝️ Funny and spicy
🏝️ Fake business partners
🏝️ Forced proximity
🏝️ Teacher becomes the student
Dee Donovan is used to living up to her reputation as the ‘wild’ twin. She finally has an opportunity to prove everyone, especially her father wrong. She just needs her sister's business partner Jem to play along with her outrageous plan. Secure a business deal by faking it as her boyfriend in Greece. The catch? Jem and Dee are not that close. In fact, Dee can’t put her finger on it, but Jem seems to really dislike her!
However, it’s just for 24 hours. Until a storm blows in trapping them, alone in Paradise! With no way of getting home, they need something to do… why not confront their tensions head on? After all, they’ve been dancing around their chemistry for years now. But Jem has a secret – he’s not quite as experienced as Dee in this particular area!
So Dee promises to teach Jem everything she knows before they return. And it’s clear that her student is a very fast learner! And all too quickly, they start wishing the storm would hang around. Because neither want to think about what will happen when they have to return to reality…
✨ Praise for Christy McKellen ✨ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I just loved it - the perfect amount of heart, heat and humour in this pacy, racy romance read’ Sandy Barker
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'There is no one like Christy McKellen for fun, flirty and sexy romance with a lot of heart and deep emotional insight' - Jessica Gilmore
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'It’s sexy, laugh-out-loud funny, and just the right dose of heartfelt moments. Definitely recommend!💕' Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Everything a good book should be!' Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book ticked every box for me on what I like in a romance.' Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'LOOOOVE THIS BOOK! It's so funny and the plot and storyline keep you in it. Would highly recommend.' Reader Review
🏝️ Only one bed
🏝️ Funny and spicy
🏝️ Fake business partners
🏝️ Forced proximity
🏝️ Teacher becomes the student
Dee Donovan is used to living up to her reputation as the ‘wild’ twin. She finally has an opportunity to prove everyone, especially her father wrong. She just needs her sister's business partner Jem to play along with her outrageous plan. Secure a business deal by faking it as her boyfriend in Greece. The catch? Jem and Dee are not that close. In fact, Dee can’t put her finger on it, but Jem seems to really dislike her!
However, it’s just for 24 hours. Until a storm blows in trapping them, alone in Paradise! With no way of getting home, they need something to do… why not confront their tensions head on? After all, they’ve been dancing around their chemistry for years now. But Jem has a secret – he’s not quite as experienced as Dee in this particular area!
So Dee promises to teach Jem everything she knows before they return. And it’s clear that her student is a very fast learner! And all too quickly, they start wishing the storm would hang around. Because neither want to think about what will happen when they have to return to reality…
✨ Praise for Christy McKellen ✨ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I just loved it - the perfect amount of heart, heat and humour in this pacy, racy romance read’ Sandy Barker
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'There is no one like Christy McKellen for fun, flirty and sexy romance with a lot of heart and deep emotional insight' - Jessica Gilmore
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'It’s sexy, laugh-out-loud funny, and just the right dose of heartfelt moments. Definitely recommend!💕' Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Everything a good book should be!' Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book ticked every box for me on what I like in a romance.' Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'LOOOOVE THIS BOOK! It's so funny and the plot and storyline keep you in it. Would highly recommend.' Reader Review
- GenresRomanceContemporary
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2025
61 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Christy McKellen
119 books157 followersFormerly a Video and Radio Producer, Christy now spends her time writing provocative, passionate, seductive romance. When she’s not writing, she can be found enjoying life with her husband and three children, walking for pleasure and researching other people’s deepest secrets and desires.
You can find out more about her books at www.christymckellen.com
You can find out more about her books at www.christymckellen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
June 20, 2025
This was terrible 😭 Review to come
August 24, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
The Paradise Hook-Up is about Jem and Dee, two strangers who end up stuck in a hotel room in Greece during a storm. What starts as an accidental lock-in quickly turns into a physical relationship that they clearly don’t know how to handle. The idea had potential for a fun summer romance, but the execution didn’t quite work.
The writing feels like something straight out of Wattpad, with most of the focus on their intimate moments instead of any real plot. Because of that, the story ends up feeling repetitive and kind of flat. The characters don’t have much depth, and their connection never really feels believable or emotional.
I was hoping for a light, escapist read full of chemistry and charm, but instead it came across more like a rushed fanfic with awkward dialogue and unrealistic situations. It’s always a letdown when a book promises a feel-good vibe and doesn’t deliver.
If you're after a solid romance or even just an easy beach read, this one might leave you more annoyed than entertained. Definitely a missed opportunity.
The Paradise Hook-Up is about Jem and Dee, two strangers who end up stuck in a hotel room in Greece during a storm. What starts as an accidental lock-in quickly turns into a physical relationship that they clearly don’t know how to handle. The idea had potential for a fun summer romance, but the execution didn’t quite work.
The writing feels like something straight out of Wattpad, with most of the focus on their intimate moments instead of any real plot. Because of that, the story ends up feeling repetitive and kind of flat. The characters don’t have much depth, and their connection never really feels believable or emotional.
I was hoping for a light, escapist read full of chemistry and charm, but instead it came across more like a rushed fanfic with awkward dialogue and unrealistic situations. It’s always a letdown when a book promises a feel-good vibe and doesn’t deliver.
If you're after a solid romance or even just an easy beach read, this one might leave you more annoyed than entertained. Definitely a missed opportunity.
July 11, 2025
I enjoyed the will they/won't they tension in this, and the build up of their mutual lust and forbidden attraction.
The Greek work trip is the push they need to explore their feelings and pent up tension, and it was fun seeing Dee take the lead and give Jem sex lessons.
It has enemy to lover themes, forced proximity, fake dating and plenty of funny and awkward moments.
I enjoyed the dual pov as we got to see both of their feelings and understand them better.
I was frustrated at times though and really wanted Dee to stand up for herself especially with her father, but it pays off at the end when she's found her own success.
This is mostly lust driven for a chunk of their encounters, so you're never certain how things will play out, especially with Jem's initial feelings for his business partner / Dee's sister.
It's a nice quick read with an opposites attract relationship and a heated summer romance.
The Greek work trip is the push they need to explore their feelings and pent up tension, and it was fun seeing Dee take the lead and give Jem sex lessons.
It has enemy to lover themes, forced proximity, fake dating and plenty of funny and awkward moments.
I enjoyed the dual pov as we got to see both of their feelings and understand them better.
I was frustrated at times though and really wanted Dee to stand up for herself especially with her father, but it pays off at the end when she's found her own success.
This is mostly lust driven for a chunk of their encounters, so you're never certain how things will play out, especially with Jem's initial feelings for his business partner / Dee's sister.
It's a nice quick read with an opposites attract relationship and a heated summer romance.
July 3, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I enjoyed this book for many reasons. The first being it is enemies to lovers and that is one of the best tropes. Another thing I liked was how fast paced it was, I felt it moved really well and didn’t have really any boring parts. I liked Dee as a character and am glad she didn’t let people break her down and used it as motivation. I liked all the build up to what was inevitably going to happen with the shared room, trapped on an island and the types of personalities they have. I honestly didn’t really care for Jem because I felt as though he never really respected Dee until the end, and I felt like he was a bit too rude to her. I also didn’t like that Dee was wanting to change herself for him, even though it ended up being for her at first it was for him. Otherwise I really enjoyed it, it had just the right amount of spice and I didn’t feel like it was overly done. I recommend this cute summer romance.
June 2, 2025
Thank you boldwood for the arc
The book follows 2 people met on holiday stuck in a hotel room due to storm
I thought it would be a cute summer rom com but it felt flat at times to me the characters weren’t develop enough with the short book and I thought they weren’t really suited together bit force to be together they wasn’t much of plot the chapters in the book was a bit Long and lacking and I felt a bit bored (sorry) it took me ages to finish it and a bit cringy at times I’m bit disappointed with it sorry
The book follows 2 people met on holiday stuck in a hotel room due to storm
I thought it would be a cute summer rom com but it felt flat at times to me the characters weren’t develop enough with the short book and I thought they weren’t really suited together bit force to be together they wasn’t much of plot the chapters in the book was a bit Long and lacking and I felt a bit bored (sorry) it took me ages to finish it and a bit cringy at times I’m bit disappointed with it sorry
June 1, 2025
I am a huge fan of traditional romance, although there are certain book “tropes” that I enjoy more than others. One of my absolute favorites is “fake relationship.” Because of this, I was super excited to read this book.
I was pretty nervous to read this book, as it looks like there is another book that follows this same timeline. Due to that, I was nervous about needing to read that one first to enjoy this one. I needn’t have worried too much. While certain scenes did make me wonder about what happens in the other book, I still enjoyed this as a standalone.
One thing I liked about this book is it is told in alternate perspectives. Usually, when reading a book like this, there is a character that I am “rooting for” more than the other. With this book, the alternate perspectives really helped, because I truly got to understand where the other person was coming from. It enabled me not to judge them too harshly.
Ultimately, I truly enjoyed the book, but I do wish that there was an epilogue. Hopefully we will get a bonus epilogue down the line. I do have plans to read “Best Mistake Ever,” the book that I was previously referring to.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
I was pretty nervous to read this book, as it looks like there is another book that follows this same timeline. Due to that, I was nervous about needing to read that one first to enjoy this one. I needn’t have worried too much. While certain scenes did make me wonder about what happens in the other book, I still enjoyed this as a standalone.
One thing I liked about this book is it is told in alternate perspectives. Usually, when reading a book like this, there is a character that I am “rooting for” more than the other. With this book, the alternate perspectives really helped, because I truly got to understand where the other person was coming from. It enabled me not to judge them too harshly.
Ultimately, I truly enjoyed the book, but I do wish that there was an epilogue. Hopefully we will get a bonus epilogue down the line. I do have plans to read “Best Mistake Ever,” the book that I was previously referring to.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
June 18, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick enemies to lovers, fake-dating, read. Dee and Jem do not get along. Dee is the wild twin of her and her sister, and Jem is not a fan of her. He thinks she is irresponsible and relies on her twin sister too much. Dee is an artist working to get her work out there at a hotel. Dee hurts her ankle and begins staying at her sister's flat where Jem works most days, they find themselves being around each other more than they like. When her dad shows up looking for her twin sister who is gone and finds Jem and Dee together they pretend they are dating. Dee tells her dad that her sister is gone away to a funeral and she won't be home for a few days. They then end up going to Greece for a business deal with her dad when he wants to show the potential business partner that he is "family oriented". Her dad also thinks Dee is not responsible and has never taken work serious so he is cautious. Dee and Jem end up going together. When they get there the find themselves in the same room with only one bed and they are in tight quarters all while still disliking each other. The two then get stranded on the island due to a storm. This book has a bit of angst and tension but overall, I felt the book was okay and I didn't hate it. There are also quite a few steamy scenes.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this in return for my honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this in return for my honest review.
June 23, 2025
This was a mess.
Jem and Dee, who apparently dislike each other for reasons that are never clearly explained, decide to fake date to impress a random businessman who promptly disappears after one brief meeting. Bad weather strands them on a private island with nothing to do but get physical, and from there, they attempt to navigate their feelings through poor communication and emotional immaturity.
Every aspect of the characters and plot felt underdeveloped and unnecessary. I’m still not convinced these two even like each other. Too many supporting characters, settings, and subplots were introduced and then simply dropped. I’m increasingly frustrated by books marketed as escapist romance where the “escape” barely plays a role.
This could have been an okay premise if executed well, but instead, it devolved into a directionless trope fest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood for the advanced copy.
Jem and Dee, who apparently dislike each other for reasons that are never clearly explained, decide to fake date to impress a random businessman who promptly disappears after one brief meeting. Bad weather strands them on a private island with nothing to do but get physical, and from there, they attempt to navigate their feelings through poor communication and emotional immaturity.
Every aspect of the characters and plot felt underdeveloped and unnecessary. I’m still not convinced these two even like each other. Too many supporting characters, settings, and subplots were introduced and then simply dropped. I’m increasingly frustrated by books marketed as escapist romance where the “escape” barely plays a role.
This could have been an okay premise if executed well, but instead, it devolved into a directionless trope fest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood for the advanced copy.
August 15, 2025
I just finished The Paradise Hook-Up and I really enjoyed it! The story is set in Greece, and you can really feel it—the sun, the sea, the beach… it immediately pulls you in.
The plot follows Dee and Jem, who pretend to be a couple to secure a business deal. Of course, things don’t go exactly as planned, and sparks start flying between them. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters, and the flirty tension made it so addictive to read.
What I loved most is that it stays light and fun while still having moments of warmth and emotion. It’s not a super deep book, but it was exactly what I needed to escape into a summer story.
The only thing I didn’t love as much was that some parts of the ending felt a bit rushed, and I sometimes wanted to know more about the characters’ backgrounds. But overall, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.
All in all, I’m giving this book four stars. It’s a fun, light romcom that’s perfect for a relaxing afternoon or a vacation read. I’d definitely recommend it if you like tropical settings, flirty romance, and a bit of humor.
The plot follows Dee and Jem, who pretend to be a couple to secure a business deal. Of course, things don’t go exactly as planned, and sparks start flying between them. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters, and the flirty tension made it so addictive to read.
What I loved most is that it stays light and fun while still having moments of warmth and emotion. It’s not a super deep book, but it was exactly what I needed to escape into a summer story.
The only thing I didn’t love as much was that some parts of the ending felt a bit rushed, and I sometimes wanted to know more about the characters’ backgrounds. But overall, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.
All in all, I’m giving this book four stars. It’s a fun, light romcom that’s perfect for a relaxing afternoon or a vacation read. I’d definitely recommend it if you like tropical settings, flirty romance, and a bit of humor.
July 11, 2025
This is a great quick summer read, perfect for the beach!
Jem and Dee are polar opposites so throw in a bit of fake dating, one-bed scenarios and you've got yourself a romcom!
Jem has some really tough things going on and in his past, it was great to see him evolving and realising what is truly important for a full life.
I felt like Dee got a really rough deal in how people treated her and I felt sorry for her many times.
There were hints of Dee and sister Bea's relationship and I would enjoy a story from Bea's side with her own romantic encounter.
There's hints of spice throughout, it wasn't overly busy with it though.
Fast-paced and fun, very easy to whittle through in a few hours. I would recommend to those looking for something easy to read this summer.
Jem and Dee are polar opposites so throw in a bit of fake dating, one-bed scenarios and you've got yourself a romcom!
Jem has some really tough things going on and in his past, it was great to see him evolving and realising what is truly important for a full life.
I felt like Dee got a really rough deal in how people treated her and I felt sorry for her many times.
There were hints of Dee and sister Bea's relationship and I would enjoy a story from Bea's side with her own romantic encounter.
There's hints of spice throughout, it wasn't overly busy with it though.
Fast-paced and fun, very easy to whittle through in a few hours. I would recommend to those looking for something easy to read this summer.
June 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely devoured The Paradise Hook-Up—it took me less than 24 hours to read and was exactly what I needed. It’s short, sweet, and funny. No, it’s not a literary masterpiece, but it doesn’t need to be—it’s fun, feel-good escapism at its finest!
I really enjoyed this story. Dee was hilarious, but there was also a lot of depth to her character, especially when it came to her upbringing. The chemistry and banter between Dee and Jem were spot on—I was completely rooting for them the whole time.
I’ll 100% be reading more from Christy McKellen!
3.5🌟
I absolutely devoured The Paradise Hook-Up—it took me less than 24 hours to read and was exactly what I needed. It’s short, sweet, and funny. No, it’s not a literary masterpiece, but it doesn’t need to be—it’s fun, feel-good escapism at its finest!
I really enjoyed this story. Dee was hilarious, but there was also a lot of depth to her character, especially when it came to her upbringing. The chemistry and banter between Dee and Jem were spot on—I was completely rooting for them the whole time.
I’ll 100% be reading more from Christy McKellen!
3.5🌟
July 11, 2025
The Paradise Hook-up by Christy McKellen.
This was a good read. I did find it slow to begin with. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I had to get used to the writing style. I did like the story. I loved the cover. It was so different. The sunset and the characters in the front. That was the reason I signed up. It was different. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I sort of roughly predicted what would happen.
This was a good read. I did find it slow to begin with. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I had to get used to the writing style. I did like the story. I loved the cover. It was so different. The sunset and the characters in the front. That was the reason I signed up. It was different. It wasn't what I thought it would be. I sort of roughly predicted what would happen.
June 30, 2025
This one just didn’t hit the mark for me. It leaned heavily on the spice but fell short on plot and substance. I had high hopes after reading the synopsis, but the execution felt forced and ultimately left me disappointed.
August 28, 2025
DNF - This book is really not very good. The characters are unlikeable with absolutely no development by the 60 per cent mark other than a willingness to have hate sex. I don't think I've ever not finished a book but I just can't waste anymore effort on this one.
July 16, 2025
This one was a quick, fun, spicy summer romance read!
July 30, 2025
While I liked this one slightly better than the book about the other twin, I still couldn’t bring myself to rate it more than 3 stars. Also I feel the need to warn folks who may look at the title and cover of this book and think “Ohh fun, cute beach read! Let’s get it!!” even though this book and Best Mistake Ever are not advertised as a duet, you really MUST read them that way. Several times I felt like there were conversations and situations that only seemed to make sense to me because I read BME first but anyone picking up this one first might feel a little bit in the dark.
Let’s start with things I liked about the book…
I liked the interactions between Dee and Jem which slowly shed light on how wrong they both were in the preconceived notions they had about the other. Dee slowly began to see that while he was a bit serious and focused about his career goals, his reason was because he’d always HAD to be responsible, he was never allowed to let loose and have fun because he was always taking care of his sick and aging parents. Jem came to a slow understanding that Dee’s impulsive, slightly chaotic personality stemmed from an upbringing in which she was left to her own devices because her parents were never truly there for her in the way she needed. She didn’t really have the best examples in her life of how to “adult”.
Oh and can I take a moment to rant about what SHITTY parents Dee and Bea had? When they divorced and split up the girls, one (Bea) was raised by a narcissistic, controlling taskmaster of a father and the other (Dee) was raised in a commune by a lackadaisical, flaky creative who cared more about her art than nurturing her child. THE WORST PARENTS EVER.
I liked the billionaire who owned the Greek island. He seemed to be the only person who immediately saw the worth of both Jem and Dee and I was a bit sad this character wasn’t a bit more fleshed out. I would have loved a bit more interaction from him.
Now, on to things that didn’t work for me…
I didn’t care for the fact that Dee was the one who did the begging for a relationship only to be rejected (sadly we saw this coming) and then in the end when it was “grand gesture” time, SHE’S the one that does the groveling to get Jem back. I really felt like the onus should have been on Jem since he was the one who stupidly turned Dee away even though he knew he wanted her. Honestly, “heroes” who make really poor decisions that hurt the heroine seem to be a pattern with this author because I recall Jonah did something really stupid and hurtful towards the end of BME that had me kind of hoping Bea wouldn’t forgive him and take him back (but it’s a romance so of she did).
Also overall the “romance” between Jem and Dee felt a bit rushed. When the butler told them that the billionaire had tasked him with arranging ground transportation back to Bath due to the impending storms, my immediate thought was “Yay!! Roadtrip romance!” I was so sure there would be a few chapters of them getting cozy on trains or buses, staying overnight at an inn or two (keep that one bed trope going), perhaps a little gelato in the sun on a romantic picnic… Alas, no. In fact the entire trek home was fast-tracked over the course of a few fairly nondescript paragraphs. That was such a missed opportunity.
All in all I think this book and Best Mistake Ever read more like women’s fiction than “steamy romance” as they are advertised so don’t get fooled. I don’t know that I’d say I’ll never read this author again but I will definitely approach her work with lowered expectations next time if I do.
Let’s start with things I liked about the book…
I liked the interactions between Dee and Jem which slowly shed light on how wrong they both were in the preconceived notions they had about the other. Dee slowly began to see that while he was a bit serious and focused about his career goals, his reason was because he’d always HAD to be responsible, he was never allowed to let loose and have fun because he was always taking care of his sick and aging parents. Jem came to a slow understanding that Dee’s impulsive, slightly chaotic personality stemmed from an upbringing in which she was left to her own devices because her parents were never truly there for her in the way she needed. She didn’t really have the best examples in her life of how to “adult”.
Oh and can I take a moment to rant about what SHITTY parents Dee and Bea had? When they divorced and split up the girls, one (Bea) was raised by a narcissistic, controlling taskmaster of a father and the other (Dee) was raised in a commune by a lackadaisical, flaky creative who cared more about her art than nurturing her child. THE WORST PARENTS EVER.
I liked the billionaire who owned the Greek island. He seemed to be the only person who immediately saw the worth of both Jem and Dee and I was a bit sad this character wasn’t a bit more fleshed out. I would have loved a bit more interaction from him.
Now, on to things that didn’t work for me…
I didn’t care for the fact that Dee was the one who did the begging for a relationship only to be rejected (sadly we saw this coming) and then in the end when it was “grand gesture” time, SHE’S the one that does the groveling to get Jem back. I really felt like the onus should have been on Jem since he was the one who stupidly turned Dee away even though he knew he wanted her. Honestly, “heroes” who make really poor decisions that hurt the heroine seem to be a pattern with this author because I recall Jonah did something really stupid and hurtful towards the end of BME that had me kind of hoping Bea wouldn’t forgive him and take him back (but it’s a romance so of she did).
Also overall the “romance” between Jem and Dee felt a bit rushed. When the butler told them that the billionaire had tasked him with arranging ground transportation back to Bath due to the impending storms, my immediate thought was “Yay!! Roadtrip romance!” I was so sure there would be a few chapters of them getting cozy on trains or buses, staying overnight at an inn or two (keep that one bed trope going), perhaps a little gelato in the sun on a romantic picnic… Alas, no. In fact the entire trek home was fast-tracked over the course of a few fairly nondescript paragraphs. That was such a missed opportunity.
All in all I think this book and Best Mistake Ever read more like women’s fiction than “steamy romance” as they are advertised so don’t get fooled. I don’t know that I’d say I’ll never read this author again but I will definitely approach her work with lowered expectations next time if I do.
November 4, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC of The Paradise Hook-Up in exchange for this honest review!
This is nothing special. There is no plot and is primarily Dee being a crappy person that just wants to use Jem for sex because she is jealous that he likes her twin sister. That's it, that's the story.
As always, my full complaints are below:
Dee sucks. She is not someone you want to read about. She willingly took prescription meds that weren't for her then sexually harassed Jem. No thanks.
Dee spends every chance she gets either sexually harassing or nonconsensually kissing/touching Jem. All through the 35% mark. WTF? I'm supposed to be having fun reading this?
"I feel weird. Uncomfortable. Like I've done something wrong." Yeah... Because you did... You shoved your hand down his pants without asking and all you had done prior to this was take your shirt off in front of him when he told you no and then kissed him, again when he told you no.
"I'm going to have that bath if you're really not prepared to be a grown-up and talk about this." YOU. ARE. BEING. THE. CHILD. You assaulted him. Then continue to act like that isn't what you did! All because what you realized he was hot? So that means you can touch him however you want?
Dee spends the next little bit ignoring Jem and treating him, you guessed it!, like shit. Why? Because he didn't want to talk about her jerking him off without consent ♡
Queue sexscapades for most of the book in the name of "teaching" Jem everything since he is a virgin. Then queue Dee pushing him away only to turn around and be like "we should be together even though I said we should not do that and also you made it very clear you are not in a good place to be looking for a long term relationship". Dee, literally have any thoughts at all other than when you can next see Jem naked.
Dee also spends a lot of time being all "it's just sex! it doesn't mean anything" only to take a hard turn around 85% that "oh they kissed, that means her heart belongs to him" like MAKE UP YOUR MIND.
At the end of it all, Dee is "so proud" to have not been fired from another job.... Less than 4 months after the previous events. Wow girl, 4 months!!
We don't see actual character growth throughout the story, it is just kind of tossed at the end there to make it seem like yeah they are ready to be together.
This is nothing special. There is no plot and is primarily Dee being a crappy person that just wants to use Jem for sex because she is jealous that he likes her twin sister. That's it, that's the story.
As always, my full complaints are below:
Dee sucks. She is not someone you want to read about. She willingly took prescription meds that weren't for her then sexually harassed Jem. No thanks.
Dee spends every chance she gets either sexually harassing or nonconsensually kissing/touching Jem. All through the 35% mark. WTF? I'm supposed to be having fun reading this?
"I feel weird. Uncomfortable. Like I've done something wrong." Yeah... Because you did... You shoved your hand down his pants without asking and all you had done prior to this was take your shirt off in front of him when he told you no and then kissed him, again when he told you no.
"I'm going to have that bath if you're really not prepared to be a grown-up and talk about this." YOU. ARE. BEING. THE. CHILD. You assaulted him. Then continue to act like that isn't what you did! All because what you realized he was hot? So that means you can touch him however you want?
Dee spends the next little bit ignoring Jem and treating him, you guessed it!, like shit. Why? Because he didn't want to talk about her jerking him off without consent ♡
Queue sexscapades for most of the book in the name of "teaching" Jem everything since he is a virgin. Then queue Dee pushing him away only to turn around and be like "we should be together even though I said we should not do that and also you made it very clear you are not in a good place to be looking for a long term relationship". Dee, literally have any thoughts at all other than when you can next see Jem naked.
Dee also spends a lot of time being all "it's just sex! it doesn't mean anything" only to take a hard turn around 85% that "oh they kissed, that means her heart belongs to him" like MAKE UP YOUR MIND.
At the end of it all, Dee is "so proud" to have not been fired from another job.... Less than 4 months after the previous events. Wow girl, 4 months!!
We don't see actual character growth throughout the story, it is just kind of tossed at the end there to make it seem like yeah they are ready to be together.
July 9, 2025
This is a:
Quick novella
Enemy to Lover
Fake Relationship
One Bed
Paradise island vacation
Stranded together
Exploring sex for the guy
I think the summation pretty much summed up the entire book. Dee is the 'lesser' twin, both of his parents thinks so. But she learned to toughen up, and put up this great fun persona, which also led to everyone not taking her seriously. In come Jem, her twin's business partners. He detested someone so free, so loosey goosey, flighty, irresponsible.
Out of a turn of events, Dee's dad found her and Jem in the same bed (fully clothed) but still suspected. He needed the 'good twin' to go w/ him for a business deal, but because of their lie, Dee ended up going, and of course the 'boyfriend' has to go too. And exploring of each other, their own feelings, and personalities, all unfolds.
I really do feel for Dee, all she ever wanted is to be loved and not to be left behind. She's left behind and being treated horribly by her own parents, the people who is supposed to love you. But they don't. She is competitive and talented but after being beaten down since young, it's no wonder she gets attention in different ways. Jem was a different story, strait laced, no time to play, already have been taking care of everyone but himself. How can he be tangled with a mess of a girl like Dee?
I think the book gets alot of flack because it's very spicy, it is unusual that the man has less experience than the girl. And they learned together. Thru that, they developed feelings. I do feel for the characters, wish the book is longer to flush out further. They have dimensions, but needed more of it. Some parts felt rushed, and some parts got brushed thru, but there's a HEA, and I'm here for it.
It's a quick fun read. Thank you NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the ARC
Quick novella
Enemy to Lover
Fake Relationship
One Bed
Paradise island vacation
Stranded together
Exploring sex for the guy
I think the summation pretty much summed up the entire book. Dee is the 'lesser' twin, both of his parents thinks so. But she learned to toughen up, and put up this great fun persona, which also led to everyone not taking her seriously. In come Jem, her twin's business partners. He detested someone so free, so loosey goosey, flighty, irresponsible.
Out of a turn of events, Dee's dad found her and Jem in the same bed (fully clothed) but still suspected. He needed the 'good twin' to go w/ him for a business deal, but because of their lie, Dee ended up going, and of course the 'boyfriend' has to go too. And exploring of each other, their own feelings, and personalities, all unfolds.
I really do feel for Dee, all she ever wanted is to be loved and not to be left behind. She's left behind and being treated horribly by her own parents, the people who is supposed to love you. But they don't. She is competitive and talented but after being beaten down since young, it's no wonder she gets attention in different ways. Jem was a different story, strait laced, no time to play, already have been taking care of everyone but himself. How can he be tangled with a mess of a girl like Dee?
I think the book gets alot of flack because it's very spicy, it is unusual that the man has less experience than the girl. And they learned together. Thru that, they developed feelings. I do feel for the characters, wish the book is longer to flush out further. They have dimensions, but needed more of it. Some parts felt rushed, and some parts got brushed thru, but there's a HEA, and I'm here for it.
It's a quick fun read. Thank you NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the ARC
June 17, 2025
The Paradise Hook-Up is a great read if you're looking for a fast-paced enemies to lovers style romance. It has all the tropes of miscommunication, fake dating, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine that build tension throughout and keep you wanting more.
The story is told from the POV of the two characters and I personally enjoyed seeing both of their inner thoughts and feelings towards each other in certain situations in which they completely misread each other. We are allowed to see a glimpse into the past of the two characters, which shows us a little more about what shaped them, why they behave in certain ways and have certain attitudes towards relationships. In my opinion, one character was slightly more developed than the other but both of their motivations were clear and had enough depth so that we, as readers, can understand and empathise with them.
This book is spicy and steamy, (win!), so you should make sure that no one is behind you when you are reading this book! The relationship between the two characters is fun, exciting, and full of tension. It's nice to see them explore each other and their relationship, (whatever it may be) and test boundaries together, as they figure out what it is they each want and need in their lives.
Although the pacing of this book moved a bit fast for me at first, once it found it's rhythm, I was hooked. The writing and plot was easy to follow, and I breezed through this book in one day! The perfect book to take on your holiday and read by the beach/pool to raise your heart rate and bring the heat! I will be recommending this to friends and fellow book-lovers for sure. 3.5 stars from me!
This book also shares a timeline with another Christy McKellen book "Best Mistake Ever" and I will definitely be giving that a read!
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early access!
The story is told from the POV of the two characters and I personally enjoyed seeing both of their inner thoughts and feelings towards each other in certain situations in which they completely misread each other. We are allowed to see a glimpse into the past of the two characters, which shows us a little more about what shaped them, why they behave in certain ways and have certain attitudes towards relationships. In my opinion, one character was slightly more developed than the other but both of their motivations were clear and had enough depth so that we, as readers, can understand and empathise with them.
This book is spicy and steamy, (win!), so you should make sure that no one is behind you when you are reading this book! The relationship between the two characters is fun, exciting, and full of tension. It's nice to see them explore each other and their relationship, (whatever it may be) and test boundaries together, as they figure out what it is they each want and need in their lives.
Although the pacing of this book moved a bit fast for me at first, once it found it's rhythm, I was hooked. The writing and plot was easy to follow, and I breezed through this book in one day! The perfect book to take on your holiday and read by the beach/pool to raise your heart rate and bring the heat! I will be recommending this to friends and fellow book-lovers for sure. 3.5 stars from me!
This book also shares a timeline with another Christy McKellen book "Best Mistake Ever" and I will definitely be giving that a read!
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early access!
July 20, 2025
The Paradise Hook-Up is a fizzy, flirtatious getaway in book form—equal parts hilarious misunderstandings, sizzling tension, and unexpected heart. Christy McKellen delivers a sunshine-soaked rom-com with sharp edges and soft landings, perfect for readers who love their romance messy, sexy, and layered with emotion.
Dee Donovan is used to being the fun twin, the unpredictable one, the girl people don’t take seriously. So when she finds herself fake-dating her sister’s stiff, by-the-book business partner Jem for the sake of a deal, she’s ready to play the part—but not ready to feel anything real. Jem is the kind of man who makes spreadsheets sexy—tight-laced, controlled, and allergic to chaos. And Dee? She is chaos. But when a storm rolls in and one bed becomes their only option, sparks fly in the most deliciously inconvenient way.
What follows is a beautifully balanced dance between two people challenging each other’s walls, rhythms, and assumptions. Jem's slow unraveling is as satisfying as Dee’s realization that she’s worth more than being someone else's “fun distraction.” McKellen writes chemistry like a match to dry kindling, but never sacrifices emotional payoff for heat—though don’t worry, there’s plenty of that too.
The banter is witty and whip-smart, the setting lush and immersive, and the emotional growth surprisingly tender. Dee’s inner journey—figuring out who she is when she stops playing the part others expect of her—is the book’s true beating heart.
If you like fake dating with a messy, heartfelt core, this one will hook you like a summer tide.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dee Donovan is used to being the fun twin, the unpredictable one, the girl people don’t take seriously. So when she finds herself fake-dating her sister’s stiff, by-the-book business partner Jem for the sake of a deal, she’s ready to play the part—but not ready to feel anything real. Jem is the kind of man who makes spreadsheets sexy—tight-laced, controlled, and allergic to chaos. And Dee? She is chaos. But when a storm rolls in and one bed becomes their only option, sparks fly in the most deliciously inconvenient way.
What follows is a beautifully balanced dance between two people challenging each other’s walls, rhythms, and assumptions. Jem's slow unraveling is as satisfying as Dee’s realization that she’s worth more than being someone else's “fun distraction.” McKellen writes chemistry like a match to dry kindling, but never sacrifices emotional payoff for heat—though don’t worry, there’s plenty of that too.
The banter is witty and whip-smart, the setting lush and immersive, and the emotional growth surprisingly tender. Dee’s inner journey—figuring out who she is when she stops playing the part others expect of her—is the book’s true beating heart.
If you like fake dating with a messy, heartfelt core, this one will hook you like a summer tide.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2025
2.5 stars.
I wanted to love this book, but I just had a rough time with it.
It was a fast read; in fact, I read it in a sitting.
This is one of those books that was heavy on the spice but light on the plot. So, if that is something you love in a book, you might love the book.
The premise of the book was fun, and I had high hopes. Dee & Brea are twins. Dee gets injured and ends up having to stay in Brea's apartment.
The problem, Jem. Jem is type A, and they are not on the best of terms because they have not seen eye to eye in the past. Brea, of course, thinks Jem is too uptight.
Jem and Dee end up going on a trip and end up in a forced proximity situation while they ride out a storm.
The characters are not developed enough. I did end up with questions.
The plot was structured, but not strong. I did like the fast pace of the book.
Tropes we get: enemies to lovers, spice, opposites attract, forced proximity, and twins!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!
I wanted to love this book, but I just had a rough time with it.
It was a fast read; in fact, I read it in a sitting.
This is one of those books that was heavy on the spice but light on the plot. So, if that is something you love in a book, you might love the book.
The premise of the book was fun, and I had high hopes. Dee & Brea are twins. Dee gets injured and ends up having to stay in Brea's apartment.
The problem, Jem. Jem is type A, and they are not on the best of terms because they have not seen eye to eye in the past. Brea, of course, thinks Jem is too uptight.
Jem and Dee end up going on a trip and end up in a forced proximity situation while they ride out a storm.
The characters are not developed enough. I did end up with questions.
The plot was structured, but not strong. I did like the fast pace of the book.
Tropes we get: enemies to lovers, spice, opposites attract, forced proximity, and twins!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!
July 9, 2025
I loved this book from start to finish and read it in one sitting. It was the perfect summer romance.
We meet Dee, who has injured herself, and to avoid losing her job, her identical twin sister steps in to cover for her. Since she cannot return to her own flat, she stays at her sister’s place and has to deal with her annoying business partner, who happens to be working there too.
Jem cannot stand his business partner’s sister, but when her dad asks them to help him bring on a new board member, he jumps at the chance to network. Once they arrive at the private island, they butt heads constantly, which only makes their chemistry burn hotter.
When a storm strands them alone on the island, they turn to each other for company, and you can guess where that leads. They agree it will be nothing but a fling and that no feelings are allowed, but it never really works out that way, does it?
Dee and Jem were such complex characters, and I loved watching them grow and adapt as the story progressed. I could not contain my glee at all their snarky banter. They were truly made for each other. I was so happy with how their story ended and cannot wait for you to experience it too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this super cute summer romance.
If you enjoy an enemies-to-lovers story with forced proximity, one bed, and a secluded island, be sure to add this to your TBR
We meet Dee, who has injured herself, and to avoid losing her job, her identical twin sister steps in to cover for her. Since she cannot return to her own flat, she stays at her sister’s place and has to deal with her annoying business partner, who happens to be working there too.
Jem cannot stand his business partner’s sister, but when her dad asks them to help him bring on a new board member, he jumps at the chance to network. Once they arrive at the private island, they butt heads constantly, which only makes their chemistry burn hotter.
When a storm strands them alone on the island, they turn to each other for company, and you can guess where that leads. They agree it will be nothing but a fling and that no feelings are allowed, but it never really works out that way, does it?
Dee and Jem were such complex characters, and I loved watching them grow and adapt as the story progressed. I could not contain my glee at all their snarky banter. They were truly made for each other. I was so happy with how their story ended and cannot wait for you to experience it too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this super cute summer romance.
If you enjoy an enemies-to-lovers story with forced proximity, one bed, and a secluded island, be sure to add this to your TBR
June 25, 2025
This book is the counterpart to "Best Mistake Ever" by the same author. It can be read as a stand-alone but you might sometimes be lacking some context.
Dee and Bea are identical twins and when Dee hurts her ankle and asks her sister to pretend to be her in order not to lose her job (you can read that story in "Best Mistake Ever), Dee spends her time in Bea's appartment because hers has too many steps to reach. Since her sister and her colleague Jem are working out of said appartment Dee and Jem keep bumping into each other but both can't really stand each other. Nonetheless the twin's father ends up thinking they are dating and asks them to accompany him on a business-trip in order to impress a business mogul. They agree to come along and end up fake-dating and stuck on a greek island with a storm prohibiting them to leave...
I have read Bea's book before and while I liked that one a lot but I'm sorry to say this book turned out to be less than I expected. I could't really relate to both main characters, as Dee is portrayed as completely selfish and shallow for a long time and Jem is really not a nice guy either. Also the story was kind of boring, as there was really not a lot happening and the relationship between Dee and Jem felt very unbelievable.
I received an ARC via netgalley.com and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dee and Bea are identical twins and when Dee hurts her ankle and asks her sister to pretend to be her in order not to lose her job (you can read that story in "Best Mistake Ever), Dee spends her time in Bea's appartment because hers has too many steps to reach. Since her sister and her colleague Jem are working out of said appartment Dee and Jem keep bumping into each other but both can't really stand each other. Nonetheless the twin's father ends up thinking they are dating and asks them to accompany him on a business-trip in order to impress a business mogul. They agree to come along and end up fake-dating and stuck on a greek island with a storm prohibiting them to leave...
I have read Bea's book before and while I liked that one a lot but I'm sorry to say this book turned out to be less than I expected. I could't really relate to both main characters, as Dee is portrayed as completely selfish and shallow for a long time and Jem is really not a nice guy either. Also the story was kind of boring, as there was really not a lot happening and the relationship between Dee and Jem felt very unbelievable.
I received an ARC via netgalley.com and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
🌶️ 🌶️/5
“I’ve always joked with people that I’m the evil twin. I’m not evil though, I promise you. I don’t have the mustache for it.”
“I seemed to have opened a portal to hell. Well, maybe he’ll is a bit strong. But some kind of purgatory at least.”
“He’s now my nemesis with benefits. Quite the tongue-twister.”
Review: Thank you @lovebooktours and @christymckellen for the ARC of The Paradise Hook-Up! 🏖️ When Dee hurts her ankle she ends up in her twin sisters flat and smack dab in the middle of Jem’s very type A world. The two are nemesis and have a history of butting heads with each other - he thinks she’s too emotional immature and she thinks he’s a tight wad nerd - what a pair! When Dee’s father asks the two to come along on a business weekend, a freak storm forces the two to spend a few days in a mansion in Greece to (do everything but) ride out the storm 😉 I did find this book a bit fast for my liking, I wish I had some more character development and a little less insta-love between the characters. But for a quick summer whirlwind romance, this was a fun read! Cheers to nemesis with benefits 🤗
🖥️ Enemies to Lovers
⛈️ One Bed
🖥️ Holiday Romance
⛈️ Open Door Spicy Scenes
🌶️ 🌶️/5
“I’ve always joked with people that I’m the evil twin. I’m not evil though, I promise you. I don’t have the mustache for it.”
“I seemed to have opened a portal to hell. Well, maybe he’ll is a bit strong. But some kind of purgatory at least.”
“He’s now my nemesis with benefits. Quite the tongue-twister.”
Review: Thank you @lovebooktours and @christymckellen for the ARC of The Paradise Hook-Up! 🏖️ When Dee hurts her ankle she ends up in her twin sisters flat and smack dab in the middle of Jem’s very type A world. The two are nemesis and have a history of butting heads with each other - he thinks she’s too emotional immature and she thinks he’s a tight wad nerd - what a pair! When Dee’s father asks the two to come along on a business weekend, a freak storm forces the two to spend a few days in a mansion in Greece to (do everything but) ride out the storm 😉 I did find this book a bit fast for my liking, I wish I had some more character development and a little less insta-love between the characters. But for a quick summer whirlwind romance, this was a fun read! Cheers to nemesis with benefits 🤗
🖥️ Enemies to Lovers
⛈️ One Bed
🖥️ Holiday Romance
⛈️ Open Door Spicy Scenes
July 10, 2025
The Paradise Hookup was exactly what it promised -> fun, fast-paced, and full of tropes (forced proximity, fake dating, one-bed, opposites-attract). It is a solid 3-star good time and when the reviews said a cross between Christina Lauren and Tessa Bailey, I completely agree.
Dee is the "wild" twin, who is trying to prove herself. Without giving too much away, she needs her sister's business partner (aka super hot nerd named Jem) to pretend to be her boyfriend for what is supposed to be a luxurious, short trip to a Greek isle. Things don’t go to plan, of course, and they end up stranded together thanks to a storm… with nothing but time (and chemistry) on their hands.
What surprised me most was the emotional vulnerability woven into Dee’s character. She’s not just the chaotic, confident one. She takes on that persona to hide how often she’s felt like the “forgotten” twin, and that played into her dynamic with Jem in a way that made their connection feel deeper than just lust. Watching that play out gave the spice some emotional weight.
This was my first book by Christy McKellen, and while it didn’t break any new ground, the setup felt slightly more original than your average fake dating rom-com. It was a good time, fast-moving, VERY spicy, with a satisfying ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Dee is the "wild" twin, who is trying to prove herself. Without giving too much away, she needs her sister's business partner (aka super hot nerd named Jem) to pretend to be her boyfriend for what is supposed to be a luxurious, short trip to a Greek isle. Things don’t go to plan, of course, and they end up stranded together thanks to a storm… with nothing but time (and chemistry) on their hands.
What surprised me most was the emotional vulnerability woven into Dee’s character. She’s not just the chaotic, confident one. She takes on that persona to hide how often she’s felt like the “forgotten” twin, and that played into her dynamic with Jem in a way that made their connection feel deeper than just lust. Watching that play out gave the spice some emotional weight.
This was my first book by Christy McKellen, and while it didn’t break any new ground, the setup felt slightly more original than your average fake dating rom-com. It was a good time, fast-moving, VERY spicy, with a satisfying ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 10, 2025
I enjoyed this book releases tomorrow and perfect summer book so defo go read!!
Blurb
🏝️ Greek setting
🏝️ Only one bed
🏝️ Funny and spicy
🏝️ Fake business partners
🏝️ Forced proximity
🏝️ Teacher becomes the student
Dee Donovan is used to living up to her reputation as the ‘wild’ twin. She finally has an opportunity to prove everyone, especially her father wrong. She just needs her sister's business partner Jem to play along with her outrageous plan. Secure a business deal by faking it as her boyfriend in Greece. The catch? Jem and Dee are not that close. In fact, Dee can’t put her finger on it, but Jem seems to really dislike her!
However, it’s just for 24 hours. Until a storm blows in trapping them, alone in Paradise! With no way of getting home, they need something to do… why not confront their tensions head on? After all, they’ve been dancing around their chemistry for years now. But Jem has a secret – he’s not quite as experienced as Dee in this particular area!
So Dee promises to teach Jem everything she knows before they return. And it’s clear that her student is a very fast learner! And all too quickly, they start wishing the storm would hang around. Because neither want to think about what will happen when they have to return to reality
Blurb
🏝️ Greek setting
🏝️ Only one bed
🏝️ Funny and spicy
🏝️ Fake business partners
🏝️ Forced proximity
🏝️ Teacher becomes the student
Dee Donovan is used to living up to her reputation as the ‘wild’ twin. She finally has an opportunity to prove everyone, especially her father wrong. She just needs her sister's business partner Jem to play along with her outrageous plan. Secure a business deal by faking it as her boyfriend in Greece. The catch? Jem and Dee are not that close. In fact, Dee can’t put her finger on it, but Jem seems to really dislike her!
However, it’s just for 24 hours. Until a storm blows in trapping them, alone in Paradise! With no way of getting home, they need something to do… why not confront their tensions head on? After all, they’ve been dancing around their chemistry for years now. But Jem has a secret – he’s not quite as experienced as Dee in this particular area!
So Dee promises to teach Jem everything she knows before they return. And it’s clear that her student is a very fast learner! And all too quickly, they start wishing the storm would hang around. Because neither want to think about what will happen when they have to return to reality
July 19, 2025
The Paradise Hook-Up by Christy McKellen is a fun, easygoing romance with classic tropes like forced proximity and grumpy-sunshine pairings that are executed with charm. The story follows Dee, a witty and refreshingly casual heroine recovering from an ankle injury, as she moves in with her twin sister Bea. Sparks (and some friction) fly when she meets Jem, Bea’s surly business partner. When the two pretend to be a couple to help secure a business deal on a private island, their fake relationship begins to feel very real.
Dee is a standout—funny, confident, and refreshingly open about her desires, which flips the usual romance dynamic in a really satisfying way. Jem’s more reserved nature makes for a great contrast, and their chemistry builds naturally as the story unfolds.
The book earns a solid 3 stars. While the plot was engaging and the character arcs well-developed, the ending felt a bit rushed, leaving a few threads hanging. Still, it didn’t detract too much from the overall enjoyment.
This is a great pick for readers who enjoy low-drama, trope-driven romances with likable leads and a light touch. The Paradise Hook-Up is breezy, entertaining, and perfect for a weekend escape.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.
Dee is a standout—funny, confident, and refreshingly open about her desires, which flips the usual romance dynamic in a really satisfying way. Jem’s more reserved nature makes for a great contrast, and their chemistry builds naturally as the story unfolds.
The book earns a solid 3 stars. While the plot was engaging and the character arcs well-developed, the ending felt a bit rushed, leaving a few threads hanging. Still, it didn’t detract too much from the overall enjoyment.
This is a great pick for readers who enjoy low-drama, trope-driven romances with likable leads and a light touch. The Paradise Hook-Up is breezy, entertaining, and perfect for a weekend escape.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.
August 20, 2025
In this fun and tropey vacation romance novel, readers will love the adventures of Dee Donovan, the “wild” twin desperate to prove her father and her sister’s business partner Jem wrong. Convincing Jem to be her fake boyfriend to seal a business deal in Greece, Jem and Dee have to figure out if they can even stand each other for twenty-four hours that soon turns into days when a storm traps them on the island and forces them to deal with their good and bad feelings for each other. As their relationship changes and their time on the island runs out, Dee and Jem have to figure out what this relationship means for them when they return to reality. Spicy, steamy, and entertaining, Christy McKellan has once again brought some fantastic characters to life in this new romance novel. Her characters are, of course, the stars of the book, and their changing relationship and chemistry pulls readers into the story. The setting and tropes are great additions to their relationship, and the drama is absolutely perfect in ways which readers will love. Spicy and entertaining, romance readers will absolutely love this new book from Christy McKellan and be immersed in the characters’ changing relationship.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
May 28, 2025
This book had all the holiday romance, forced proximity action that I love so much! Dee and Jem’s journey had moments of laughing out loud, touching conversations, and the development of two people realizing that their opposites really can connect. They’re a great example of how learning about someone can truly lead you to fall in love!
So much of the growth between Dee and Jem came from them learning that their initial impressions of each other weren’t accurate. This book served as a great reminder that we don’t always know the truest sides of those around us until we take the time to know one another.
This is my second Christy McKellen holiday romance, and I completely loved it! I’m such a fan of the way she developed this forced proximity romance and thoroughly enjoyed seeing these characters come together. The Paradise Hook-Up was such a fun read and I truly enjoyed it from start to finish!
Thank you to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
So much of the growth between Dee and Jem came from them learning that their initial impressions of each other weren’t accurate. This book served as a great reminder that we don’t always know the truest sides of those around us until we take the time to know one another.
This is my second Christy McKellen holiday romance, and I completely loved it! I’m such a fan of the way she developed this forced proximity romance and thoroughly enjoyed seeing these characters come together. The Paradise Hook-Up was such a fun read and I truly enjoyed it from start to finish!
Thank you to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 5, 2025
2.5✨
Thank you NetGalley, Christy McKellen and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review - The Paradise Hookup publishes July 11th.
This was a short and sweet read and if you’re looking for something fast paced and steamy then this could be the book for you.
I could appreciate Dee’s complex personality due to her challenging family upbringing and her being the disappointment of the family. The premise of this was fun, but I’m not sure the book was entirely for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Dee and Jem and was also surprised at how early the first spice scene was considering there was no connection between the characters and Jem’s feelings for somebody else. I found it quite forced and awkward at times but I did appreciate the romance a little more towards the end of the book.
Unfortunately I felt the book was underdeveloped, which I think may have been due to the length of it. Although I also love the cover, it is slightly misleading considering the weather!
Overall a quick read and I was pleased with the character growth at the end, but I’d have liked a little more from the story!
Thank you NetGalley, Christy McKellen and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review - The Paradise Hookup publishes July 11th.
This was a short and sweet read and if you’re looking for something fast paced and steamy then this could be the book for you.
I could appreciate Dee’s complex personality due to her challenging family upbringing and her being the disappointment of the family. The premise of this was fun, but I’m not sure the book was entirely for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Dee and Jem and was also surprised at how early the first spice scene was considering there was no connection between the characters and Jem’s feelings for somebody else. I found it quite forced and awkward at times but I did appreciate the romance a little more towards the end of the book.
Unfortunately I felt the book was underdeveloped, which I think may have been due to the length of it. Although I also love the cover, it is slightly misleading considering the weather!
Overall a quick read and I was pleased with the character growth at the end, but I’d have liked a little more from the story!
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