The Paradise Problem

Contemporary romances differ from historical romances, for the latter usually feature heroines who are independent for their time but are also highly sheltered and sexually inexperienced. In the typical historical romance, the female protagonist reaches her full potential only after a man rescues her from her situation and introduces her to the realities and pleasures of life. By contrast, the protagonists of contemporary romances are often emotionally mature, sexually adventurous, and fully independent in a world that offers harsh societal and financial realities. In contemporary romance, the female protagonist is at least as capable as her male counterpart, and she rescues him just as often as he supports her. While historical romances with a serious tone dominated the publishing scene in the 20th century—and began explicitly describing sex scenes between the characters in the 1970s—the romance genre shifted in the 1990s and began to incorporate more humorous elements. In the 21st century, most authors of romance novels have focused on contemporary settings that include elements of humor, adventure, and sexual attraction in equal measure. Other examples include Elle Kennedy’s The Graham Effect (2023) and Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis (2021), and Chloe Liese’s The Nanny (2003).

In addition to focusing on modern settings and real-world issues, contemporary romance novels often feature elements of social critique and rely upon suspenseful plotting to add nuance to the narrative. While the authors behind the penname of Christina Lauren got their start in the subgenre of fantasy romance, The Paradise Problem features realism and injects distinct moments of social commentary into the broader story, and much of this commentary revolves around the inevitable tension between disparate social classes. For example, because protagonist Anna Green works menial jobs while trying to become a successful artist, Liam Weston’s intention to pay her $100,000 to keep the charade of their marriage alive essentially hijacks her independence while providing her with a potential solution to all of her current financial problems. As the main action of the plot unfolds on a luxurious private island, the authors use this setting to emphasize the differences between Anna’s and Liam’s respective social classes and financial circumstances. While Liam does rescue Anna financially, her witty willingness to give up money to preserve her freedom inspires him to reject his own father’s manipulation and commit to living the life he wants. By blending these elements with the typical “happily-ever-after” conventions of the romance genre, the authors craft a contemporary novel with realistic trappings and a quasi-fantastical premise that conforms to the “billionaire romance” subgenre.