This is a frustratingly addictive rom-com where a couple of hostile exes are forced to work together and confront their past while stuck on a private island preparing for a violent storm. I liked the tropical setting and the dual POV kept me intrigued, but the entire premise is driven by the most absurd miscommunication, which happens to be my least favorite trope. Surprisingly however, the story is light and playful enough that I actually enjoyed it, so while it’s definitely mindfully irritating, it’s also short and sweet, and ridiculously fun.

What happens when you end up stuck on an island with the ex who ripped your heart to shreds seven years earlier….as well as an incoming hurricane.

There were so many elements of this book to love, from the way the heartbreak of years past was portrayed, to the dual POV from Carrie and Luke.
Love, fear, bitterness, apprehension, anger and so much more keeps these two from resolving what ripped them apart, and a matchmaking boss, flirty staff and the incoming weather keep the will-they-won't-they of this couple front and foremost.

If anything, I would have adored a little more angst to this, with a bit more post-island - but that's a minor thing compared to how much I enjoyed reading this.

The story follows Carrie as she travels to a private island to meet with a client, her clients representative is none other than her ex-partner Luke. The same Luke that left her without warning to get back together with his wife and have a baby. Carrie has to try her best to be civil and work with Luke despite the pains of the past.

This is an easy read and great as a palate cleanser between heavy books or just as a general romance read. I did find the characters were annoying and self centered with little development. I felt if they had just had a conversation then the book could have been 5 chapters long.
That being said if you enjoy second chance romance this will be right up your street, also had a touch of enemies to lovers vibes.

Stuck in Paradise with You is a captivating tale about two ex-lovers who reunite after seven years for a work-related trip to a tropical paradise, sparking a second chance at love. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is skillfully woven into the narrative, with witty banter and tension that adds charm to the story. Author masterfully blends romance with just the right amount of spice, making it both satisfying and steamy in all the right places. The tropical setting adds an extra layer of escapism, creating a perfect backdrop for rekindling romance.

If you're a fan of feel-good second-chance romances with tropical backdrops and the perfect balance of spice, Stuck in Paradise with You is a must-read.

Highlights:

Contemporary romance
Second chance
Enemies to lovers
Workplace
Island setting
Forced proximity

Miscommunication trope, dual POV, second chance romance, lovers to enemies to lovers, forced proximity, tropical setting, billionaire...all of the tropes in one book! To me, the enemies really felt hateful (too overdone). Overall, it was an easy read. I appreciated the history of each of the characters and was certainly rooting for them (I'm a sucker for a HEA!). It's not a 4 or 5-star read for me, but it's also worth my time. I appreciated the chance to read the advance ecopy. *I received an advanced complimentary copy from author/publishing company in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope. Especially when it goes on for pages because the couple can’t sit down and have a grown-up conversation. This was a huge down tick for me, which is unfortunate as this book is fun when it gets away from that.

I did enjoy the split POV, the forced proximity trope (yum!), and the lush setting. Even if there was a hurricane on the way! I’m also a sucker for a second chance romance.

I’m not sure what else to say, really. It’s a light read, despite the drama, and I enjoyed the banter. I liked both Carrie and Luke, and rooted for them throughout. But if they’d just have talked to each other properly! I get that there was hurt on either side, but them ignoring the elephant in the room was extremely frustrating. And ultimately why I’ve rated Stuck in Paradise with You as 3 stars instead of 4.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books publishing and the author for the ARC!!

Carrie is unexpectedly sent to fill in for her boss and work with one of the wealthiest men in the world and the work is on a tropical island.. Doesn't sound too bad to tropical island. When she finds Luke, an ex partner is the client and CFO she will be working for. Stuck in Paradise with you is a second chance meets enemies to lovers romance. It is a quick and easy beach read.

The first 30% or so felt slow, it was hard to keep reading at times. Banter between Carrie and Luke was quick witted and build tension- but felt forced at times. I found it hard to feel for them and want the relationship to work in the end. The impending storm felt like the turning point for them to finally make what feels like a genuine connection. It fell a little flat for me.

This was my second Laura Carter book, it feels the same. A great premise, great idea with realistic characters but the playout of it falls short for me personally. Still a super easy read if you are looking for a tropical, forced proximity, second chance romance. 3.5 Stars overall.

This book is a second chance romance where it is giving right person but wrong moment vibes. I enjoyed the writing of this book and wanted to read more from the moment I started this book. Perhaps the miscommunication piece was a bit frustrating, but it also made for a good reason for how they ended up reconnecting and being able to communicate properly with each other. Also I wouldn’t have guessed what facilitated them to reconnect again so I thought that was a good plot twist! This book also wasn’t on the smutty side either.

This book follows Carrie and Luke, exes forced together on a week-long trip. Miscommunication drives their conflict, dragging out tension. While the setting and side characters add charm, the unresolved issues between Carrie and Luke make the story feel longer than necessary. Both have valid reasons for their feelings, but their failure to communicate until the end frustrated the reviewer. Despite this, it’s a light and fun read with a happy ending for fans of second-chance romance.

⭐️⭐️/5

This one bummed me out because I was super excited for this read! I love a tropical setting and the exes in close proximity trope. The character development was completely missing for me and most of the book was miscommunication which drove me INSANE. Their “tension” felt more like hate and resentment which did not make me cheer for them. Throughout most of the book, they fixate on him getting back with his wife (whom he was separated from) over choosing her and then one night it *poof* all goes away and they have a romantic evening together. I just didn’t buy it unfortunately and the story really dragged. The reason I have two stars instead of one, is because the ending actually started to reel me in and I saw the potential of this book! There were moments of really good writing, it just wasn’t consistent enough.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and Boldwood books for the copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

It is one of those books that transports you making you forget about real life and full of delightful characters that spring to life. I actually felt like I was there in the story with them ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh Luke and Carrie how you have both frustrated me! This book has the miscommunication trop so if that isn't your thing give it a pass but my brain seems to like being frustrated and sometimes even downright angry while reading lol.

There is so much history between these two and I can only imagine what it would be like being stranded with an ex on an island so i won't judge them to hard but my word, i wanted to knock their heads together!

Nope, an affair-based romance just isn’t for me. I’m really not into stories where infidelity takes center stage, and this book had it woven throughout. If cheating or infidelity is a deal-breaker for you like it is for me, you’ll probably find this one a major turn off. Consider yourself warned!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books publishing for the ARC!

#StuckinParadisewithYou #NetGalley

The vibes, the setting, the story, the characters...this all hit and hit really hard! I loved it! I enjoyed Carter's writing style and look forward to reading more from her!

Rating: 2 stars/ spice: 🌶️
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books publishing for the ARC!

Overall, this was an OK read. The tone was pretty light (except for the banter between Luke and Carrie; a second chance romance with enemies to lovers... it was not kind/fun between them). Pacing was a bit off with the build up to the romantic tension.

I wanted to like this more than I did. Good descriptions on the scenery. This book just very forgettable and I wasn't into for most of the read unfortunately.

Thank you so much for the ARC! I was very excited going into this book because the summary sounded very interesting! However, the first 30% of the book was very repetitive. I’m not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope and it drove me insane the entire time. I felt like there were too many characters. I couldn’t feel any chemistry between the main characters. I felt that the ‘seven years ago’ parts wasn’t necessary considering how many times the past had already been brought up. The story dragged and it felt like I was at 57% without anything actually happening.

This book needs a lot of editing and more believable characters. I'm not even talking about the billionaire with the private island. The two main characters were just flat and I didn't really feel the chemistry. I really wanted to like it because weathering a hurricane on a private island with your ex sounded like it could be a great plot.

This was a pretty good book. The banter was funny but the book felt like it dragged out a little bit too long.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Stuck in Paradise with You by Laura Carter.

Carrie, a tax accountant up for promotion to partner, travels to a private island in the Caribbean for a week to do some work for one the firm’s clients, Joe Hettich, one of the world's wealthiest individuals. Luke, Carrie’s former boss and the love of her life, who broke her heart seven years ago, is Joe’s best friend and CFO of Joe’s company.

This was my first book by this author so I had no idea what to expect. I was drawn to the description of this novel because I am an accountant and there are very few romance novels about accountants so I was excited to read about someone like me! I liked the portrayal of Carrie’s job, she works long hours and is working hard for her promotion, which is an accurate portrayal of a public accountant going for partner. I also thought the description of the hurricane was very accurate – I have been through a number of hurricanes, including a few where the eye went directly over, and the descriptions in the book were well done.

I thought the character of Joe Hettich was clearly based on Richard Branson, and it was a bit distracting. Joe’s character also came off a bit juvenile, interfering in the personal lives of his employees and service providers. I didn’t find this believable. Also, the main conflict in the book is due to miscommunication, which dragged on and on for so many pages I was getting bored. I think quite a few pages in the middle where Carrie and Luke just argue with each other could have been cut out to help the story move along.

Overall, I didn’t find the book to be a must read, but it was a nice light read with a HEA. A 3 star read for me.

This book was a delightful escape filled with romance and emotional depth. Carrie is relatable as she navigates her career and unexpected feelings for Luke, the man from her past. The chemistry and banter between the characters sparkles, making every interaction enjoyable. The Caribbean setting adds a vibrant backdrop that enhances the story's charm. While the pacing could be a bit tighter, this heartfelt tale is perfect for fans of feel-good romance.