Jem is the business partner of Dee's twin. They have never really gotten along, but will all that change when they are stuck together in a foreign country?

3.5
Super easy to read, chaotic and funny. The tension is there and the setup just works out. A light reading to enjoy in the beach.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a super easy read, and I loved the characters! The story was great and I got really invested in seeing where things would go and really just enjoyed every second.

Firstly as the title suggests this book has an element of a paradise getaway- and I loved all the descriptively written chapters set in Greece as well as those set back in the UK too. It just made for a really lovely read seeing how different the characters were in the different locations.

I love Jem and Dee so much. I think as characters they were both brilliant to begin with and I loved Bea too. I loved getting to know them and their history and basically could have read about them for a lot longer!

This book was a lovely read from start to finish. Little bits of spice, love/hate vibes between the main characters and beautiful writing made this a perfect summer read for me!

The Paradise Hook-Up was a quick enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake relationship, steamy summer read. The short chapters and dual narrative made it a fast read for me. I enjoyed the romance between the characters, Dee and Jem, who both had interesting back stories. As the book was quite short, I felt it was missing quite a bit of detail and character development. We were promised a paradise hook-up but it fell a little flat for me. Overall, it was a fun read, I just wish it had been longer.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of The Paradise Hook Up by Christy McKellen. Christy McKellen is a new author for me, I really enjoyed her writing style. I always love an enemies to lovers trope. This was a quick read with witty dialogue. The setup with the shared room/ one bed, the island setting, and their headstrong personalities created great tension and anticipation for what was to come. This was a fun and flirty summer rom-com. 4.5 stars

When Dee hurts her ankle, its twin sister Bea to the rescue to hold down her position at work so that she doesn’t lose her job. Dee gets to spend some time resting at Bea’s house, alongside Bea’s business partner Jem, who for some reason can’t stand her.

Dee is bored and determined to strike up a friendship with Jem, she tries to do just that. However, despite her initial efforts being unsuccessful. She finds herself forced onto a different path of getting to know Jem when they end up having to go to Greece with Dee’s Dad to help him try to secure a business opportunity.

Well you know what comes next… 😉.

There’s only one bed, a pretend relationship and an opportunity for Dee to really try and get to a friendship level status with Dee and uncover why he can’t stand her. Dee finds there is so much about Jem that she doesn’t know and sparks fly because of it, they strike up a deal to benefit them both. No strings attached right?

At first I found both characters a little annoying in their own way! I felt a bit sorry for Dee because Jem is so cold and offish with her and despite her unbothered exterior at first you can tell she was hurt. She gets treated as if she is not good enough by everyone.

It wasn’t until the trip to Greece that I really warmed to the characters, things started to really slot into place and I could not put the book down. Things got steamy quite quickly but then we were exposed to the air of vulnerability of both characters, which added a lot of depth to the book. I loved how this came together in the end. I felt a genuine development of friendship and I was really rooting for Dee to get her happy ending!

Troupes:
* One bed
* Forced proximity
* Holiday romance
* Fake relationship

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.

A fun short read, miscommunication, inexperienced MMC Jem and feisty misunderstood FMC Dee.
Lots of steam with what starts as friends with benefits.
Dee has a difficult relationship with her father and at times in the beginning I was willing her to stand up for herself.
A great setting such together as a fake relationship on a Greek island with an incoming storm.
A great summer read

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1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of The Paradise Hook Up.

Jem and Dee hate each other but decide to fake date to impress a businessman. They end up stranded on an island together.

This was just all around not a good book. The characters were not likable and very underdeveloped. The story lacked all substance.

I was drawn in by the blurb: “A party girl, a serious businessman, only one bed in paradise...” and comparisons to Tessa Bailey, Christina Lauren, and Ali Hazelwood. Unfortunately, the book just didn’t deliver.

The author seemed to be aiming for the same level of witty banter, chaotic romance, and character-driven humour as those authors I love so much—but it fell flat. The meet-cute between Jem and Dee was unique and had potential, but the rest of the story didn’t build on it in any significant way.

The writing style felt more like fan fiction than a romance novel. The plot lacked any form of direction, and the only real development between the characters came during the spicy scenes—which, honestly, didn’t hit the mark either. I kept waiting for the spark or chemistry to click, but it never really happened. Instead of being entertained, I found myself frustrated and detached.

It’s a shame, because the setting and concept had promise. But this one just wasn’t for me.

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.

A decent fast paced summer romcom. Perfect for a light and quick read however the writing felt quite stilted at times and the characters lacked any real depth which made it hard to fully enjoy the book

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Dee is off work as she had an accident which resulted in her leg being in plaster. So that she doesn’t lose her job, her sister and twin goes to her workplace in her place. As are can’t live on her own in her flat, Dee has to stay at her sister’s. Bea’s business partner,, Jem also works at her sister’s place.

Having Dee stay is the last thing Jem wanted as he really doesn’t like her. When Dee’s dad visits and informs them that he wants someone to be a board member and for them to help him to make that happen, they both agree. The person lives in an island which is only occupied by himself. Dee and Jem still don’t like each other and constantly are in an argument.

When her dad and the person who’s place they are staying have to leave, Dee and Jem are left by themselves, and soon a storm hits the island, meaning they can’t leave until it goes away.

In order to pass the time, they spend time together. Between them, the make a decision to have a fling and when they leave things will be back to how they were. But will it happen as they want?

Dee and Jem are two totally different characters, it was lovely to see them realise what they want from their lives and the changes they need to make.

I recommend this book.

Rating: 3 stars

The Paradise Hook-Up starts with an irresistible setup: two strangers, Jem and Dee, are stranded together in a hotel room in Greece during a storm. What could have been a breezy, chemistry-filled summer romance quickly turns into a steamy but surface-level connection that’s heavy on physical encounters and light on emotional depth.

The alternating perspectives are a high point, offering insights into both characters and preventing the usual one-sided judgment. This structure adds a layer of understanding that helps the reader connect—at least momentarily—with both leads.

However, the novel leans hard into the "locked-room lust" trope without offering much in terms of plot or character development. The dialogue occasionally veers into cringey territory, and the emotional stakes never quite land. While fans of light romance or certain tropes like "fake relationship" might find brief moments of enjoyment, the overall experience feels more like a rushed story than a polished novel.

Ultimately, The Paradise Hook-Up has potential but doesn't fully deliver. It’s not a total miss, but readers looking for depth or meaningful romance may walk away a bit disappointed.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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 whole-heartedly 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.

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

If you’re a fan of Tessa Bailey's steam, Christina Lauren's banter, or Ali Hazelwood's nerdy charm, then get ready to devour this hilarious and heartwarming opposites-attract romance!

Set against the dreamy backdrop of the Greek islands, this story brings together wild-child Dee Donovan and buttoned-up Jem in a sizzling, slow-burn whirlwind of fake dating, forced proximity, and laugh-out-loud tension. What starts as a 24-hour business ruse quickly turns into something deeper—and much hotter—when a storm traps them in paradise with only one bed and no distractions. 😉

Dee is fierce, funny, and determined to prove she’s more than just the "wild twin," while Jem’s quiet intensity hides a vulnerability that makes you fall for him hard. Their chemistry? Off the charts. The spice? Chef’s kiss. And the emotional payoff? Totally worth the wait.

With witty dialogue, a fresh twist on the "teacher-student" trope (yes, in that way), and just enough angst to keep you hooked, this book is pure summer romance magic.

Honestly this was quite bad. The smut at points was okay, but it lacked plot, character development and the writing was quite stiff, disjointed and boring. Thank you for the arc NetGalley, and sorry to the author for not liking it I guess 🥲

The Paradise Hookup was fun easy and quick read for me. The enemy to lover for me is always a great read. It was written in such a great way that I was done with the book before I realized it.
The characters were so likable that it made me eager to see what was going to happen. There was just the right amount of spice in it but not over the top.
Thank you NetGalley, Christy McKellen and Boldwood Books for the Arc of The Paradise Hook-Up. This is my personal review.