Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of Stuck in Paradise with You in exchange for an honest review. I picked this book because I loved the premise - romance, forced proximity, holiday vibes! I enjoyed the beginning of this book however the pacing and dialogue fell flat. I was tired of the miscommunication trope by about 50% and the lack of character development made it difficult to continue reading. It was a little too long and I was glad to get to the end unfortunately! This book had a lot of potential!

I really enjoyed this book! The characters and the plot are very well written and the story was interesting and thought out well. I would definitely recommend this book to my audience and friends.

Carrie and Luke have a past and when they are thrust back together on a remote island with a category 5 hurricane coming their way, they are forced to discuss what happened. Overall, cute story and I enjoyed the supporting characters a lot!

This book had a lot of potential, but in the end the miscommunication trope dragged on a bit too long. Still cute though.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Stuck in Paradise with You by Laura Carter. This is my first time reading one of her books, and I went in pretty excited about the premise—second-chance romance mixed with enemies-to-lovers, plus forced proximity. That combo usually brings a lot of tension and great banter. However, this one landed at 3 stars for me.

The setup had a lot of potential. The two main characters are stuck together for a week in paradisiac island, and both have pretty solid reasons to want to avoid each other. But the miscommunication trope is at the heart of the conflict, and unfortunately, it dragged on a bit too long for my taste. I'm not a fan of this particular trope, especially when it feels like two adults just can't communicate even when they're literally in close contact for days, so it started to feel juvenile and kept me from being more invested.

I get that both characters had their baggage and reasons for keeping their distance, but I wish the plot had offered more beyond the repeated lack of communication. They only really started talking things through close to the end of the book, and by then I wasn't as engaged as I would like to be. I wish we had seen some development a bit earlier.

That being said, this was a light and fun read. The setting is great, and I enjoyed both characters. There were some great moments that made me smile and I really enjoyed the banter with the side characters as well.

If you love second-chance romance and don't mind a hefty dose of unresolved tension throughout most of the book, Stuck in Paradise with You might be worth a try!

Stuck in Paradise with You follows Carrie and Luke. Carrie is about to make partner at the accounting firm where she works and is doing everything it takes to get there, including flying to the private Carribean island belonging to one of the firm's biggest clients to talk business. However, what she never could have expected was for the person she was meeting with to be Luke — the man who broke her heart. Things did not end amicably between them and that is clear from the tension in the air. And what do exes who are stuck on a private island and forced to do business together need? A massive hurricane heading their way that makes escaping impossible, of course.

This was really, really great. I have read and loved another Laura Carter book before so I knew I was in for a treat when starting this one. There are so many redeemable features of this book: the tropical setting, the business-minded and determined female main character, the dual POV, the cast of supporting characters — I could keep going. The writing is fast paced and entertaining while striking the perfect balance of banter and emotion. There are many enemies-to-lovers books where the 'hate' isn't believable but this wasn't one of them — the tension was palpable. I also loved the way Carrie put herself and the career she has worked so hard for first; that was refreshing.

All in all, I would highly recommend Stuck in Paradise with You. The perfect summer escape. Released on the 15th October, 2024.

Carrie is hoping to make partner in her company but discovers she's got to go to a Caribbean island to meet millionaire Joe to sort out his finances. She then discovers that Luke who broke her heart 7 years ago also works with Joe. She ends up getting stranded on the island when a huge hurricane comes in

I was bored with this book. I didn’t like the two main characters, Luke and Carrie. I wish I could have seen more of their personalities, qualities and talents. . I didn’t love that Luke was technically still married when he hooked up with Carrie, and I hate that he left her for his wife and communicated that via TEXT. It was super uncool what Joe did to bring them together. Totally unprofessional and condescending. The looming hurricane and the actual storm scene gave me some anxiety, so I feel that was well written. Although Carrie disappointed me again by being stupid and chased after the dog into the storm. I felt a lot of frustration with this story. 2 stars.

This one sounded fun but I wasn't really getting along with either of our protagonists. It didn't seem like them getting back together would be worth it and it sadly put me off the book.

As always, I've fallen in love with Laura's writing! RTC soon after publication! Thankyou to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for this wonderful ARC in exchange for an honest review!🥰💞

This ended up being a quick read for me, however I am torn on what to say for a review. The enemies to lovers aspect of any book is wonderful for me. But I did not care for the countless miscommunications between the main characters of this book. Don't get me wrong, both characters have honest reasons for being upset with each other. However, the only reason they did not reconnect sooner was simply because of some letters that never got delivered. This leads us to reading the book and having them in my opinion almost never have real conversations until basically the end of the book. The lack of character development both separately and together had me wishing they would actually communicate so the pace of the story would pickup and be more enjoyable.

With all that being said, I do really enjoy a split POV. The way they would both flash back to seven years a go to when they dated the first time gave me the understanding as to why they both missed each other so much during the time apart.

Overall, the book was fine to read, but felt like it was dragging at times and had me wishing they actually had more meaningful conversations so we could have a fighting chance at actually falling in love with both Carrie and Luke.

I just finished Stuck in Paradise with You by Laura Carter, and I’m feeling a bit torn. I love a good enemies-to-lovers story, but I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope, so I was kind of conflicted the whole time. I ended up giving it 3/5 stars because while I enjoyed the story, there were definitely some things that bugged me.

Carrie and Luke both had legit reasons for feeling the way they did—Carrie felt betrayed when Luke left, and Luke thought he was doing the right thing by going back to his ex-wife and potential baby. But here’s the thing: Luke wrote letters explaining everything, and they just never got delivered. So we spend 200 pages watching them bicker and avoid just having a grown-up conversation, which was frustrating. I really hate when characters don't just say what’s on their mind, so that dragged the book down for me.

That said, I did enjoy the split POV. It was interesting because I couldn’t figure out who I was rooting for—both of them had pretty solid reasons for their feelings, so it kept things interesting. And of course, the forced proximity trope was fun too!

Without spoiling too much, they do get their happy ending, but I was kind of annoyed it took so long to get there. Overall, it was a decent read, but it felt longer than it needed to be.

Stuck in Paradise with You by Laura Carter is an enchanting escape to a sun-soaked island, where romance and personal growth intertwine beautifully. The chemistry between the main characters is electric from the start, and their witty banter kept me thoroughly entertained. Carter’s ability to craft realistic, three-dimensional characters makes their journey from strangers to lovers all the more satisfying.

The setting is a character in itself, with the vivid descriptions of the island making me feel like I was right there with them, enjoying the warm breeze and stunning views. The story is a fun balance of humor, romance, and heartwarming moments, making it an easy and enjoyable read.

However, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a little slow, particularly in the middle where the plot could have moved forward quicker. A bit more tension or drama could have made the story even more engaging at times.

That said, the overall charm and feel-good nature of the story more than make up for this. Laura Carter has delivered a delightful, romantic getaway with characters you can't help but root for, and a setting that feels like a dream.

Absolutely fun! Romance is supposed to be a light read and enjoyable and this was it. Loved the atmosphere and the island!

I don't know even what to say about this book. I guess what I liked...I always like a tropical setting. I love a good enemies to lovers and forced proximity. This was not that unfortunately. The characters were really not well developed and you don't really know them outside of the story. The settings could have been described better. [ For about 80% of the book, the two main characters do not have banter but passive aggressive jabs. It isn't fun hate...but HATE hate to the point where you are like there is no tension here just resentment. Then, all of a sudden, it flips to them having a hook up. ( fade to black). The MMC fixates on why she blocked him out of his life after he left her for his pregnant wife, and then he was like I tried to explain after I found out my wife cheated on me and the baby wasn't mine...I wanted to come back to you ....just...no... this is not a romantic gesture. Them not communicating after he decided to resign is also very far fetched...it was just like pulling angst after angst that it took away from what could have been a playful teasing romance with some heavy stuff in between. Don't even get me started on a CAT 5 storm on an island in a storm cellar...

ARC Review: *Stuck in Paradise with You* by Laura Carter

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)

Second-chance romance on a tropical island? Sign me up! *Stuck in Paradise with You* by Laura Carter delivers everything you could want from a swoony, sun-soaked escape—compelling characters, sizzling chemistry, and the kind of tension that keeps you turning the pages well into the night.

Carrie Briggs is on the verge of achieving her career dreams—just one more job, and she’ll finally make partner at her accountancy firm. The assignment seems perfect: a trip to a private Caribbean island, working for a world-renowned billionaire. Sun, sand, and a career high—what could go wrong? Enter Luke Chalmers, the CFO of the company… and Carrie’s ex-boyfriend, the one who shattered her heart seven years ago.

From the moment Carrie and Luke cross paths on the island, the tension is palpable. With a literal storm brewing outside and emotional storms brewing inside, the heat between them simmers until it’s impossible to ignore. Luke is determined to stay professional, but old feelings and unresolved emotions make things complicated—especially when it becomes clear that the spark they shared all those years ago never fully burned out.

*Microtropes:* *Second-Chance Romance*, *Forced Proximity*, *Stormy Weather = Stormy Feelings*, *Billionaire Employer*, *Heartbreak Healing*, *Tropical Paradise*, and of course, a heartwarming *Happily Ever After*.

Carrie is a strong and driven heroine who knows what she wants, and Luke is the brooding, emotionally complex hero who made a mistake and desperately wants to make it right. Watching them navigate old wounds and find their way back to each other is both heartbreaking and uplifting. The chemistry between them is electric, and the tropical backdrop only heightens the romance.

Carter does a fantastic job of blending humor, emotion, and steamy moments in this second-chance romance. The setting is lush and vibrant, the tension is spot-on, and the moments of vulnerability will make your heart melt. It’s the perfect beach (or cozy rainy-day) read for fans of Christina Lauren and Emily Henry.

*Stuck in Paradise with You* will have you dreaming of sun-soaked beaches, delicious tension, and the kind of love that deserves a second chance. 💖🌴🌞

Perfect for readers who love a tropical backdrop, characters with *history*, and a romance that makes you believe in do-overs. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

I was so excited about this book after reading the blurb. The premise if this book is great and I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t. I was so annoyed with all of the bickering.

Laura Carter has done it again! She’s written a binge romance with a unique twist. Take cover, everyone! Hurricane on the way!

“You hit me like a hurricane, knew it was gonna be a long night from the moment we locked eyes over whiskey on ice, started talkin bout us again.” -Luke Combs

Seven years ago Carrie and Luke had a smoking hot relationship for six weeks. Then he suddenly up and left, leaving Carrie for his ex. She ghosted him, giving him no chance to explain. Both felt hurt and angry.

Now they unexpectedly meet again when Carrie is flown to a private island for work. Luke and Carrie are forced to work side by side. On top of it all, a serious hurricane is on the way. The hurricane on the island parallels the hurricane of their feelings. Will they come out unscathed?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

I loved Joe. Mega billionaire, slightly crazy, down to earth, yet living in luxury.

I loved the setting. Can I please visit?! Sans hurricane though.

I loved the entire cast, actually. Each person was unique but completely realistic. Felt like a real bond was formed.

Lastly, I loved how much Luke loved Carrie.

I had high hopes for this one. What I wasn't expecting was this being a book about an affair going legit. The book is based on another woman and a man having an affair while he was still married. The author villainizes the wife later, though, so I guess she thinks that's cool.

But no, I don't want to read a romance based on an affair. I also hate that other infidelity is mentioned throughout the story.

If cheating is a trigger for you this will be a big turn off.

I just didn't like either lead either. They were immature, childish, juvenile, etc. etc. There was no character growth to be seen from any of them. And also, the actual children in the novel are written to have the vocabulary of someonw with their PHD and maturity of a teenager.

Overall, I'd avoid this one.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This book had a cute premise and promising character, but I just personally didn’t vibe with the writing style. Dialogue felt awkward and some of the word choices felt out of place. A lot of the fights between Luke and Carrie felt superfluous and unrealistic. I just feel like this book wasn’t for me, but I’m sure someone else will really enjoy the read.
There were also a couple moments that took me out of the book- when the author says “like aluminum to a magnet, and “that coffee’s a strong antidiuretic”. I also thought that their reasons for not getting back together didn’t seem realistic and went on for too long to the point where I didn’t care anymore when they finally did get back together.