What Happens in Paradise
Book Review - What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
I read and reviewed Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand and then chose it as my Virtual Book Club selection for the month. After our book club discussion, we agreed that we wanted to read the next book in the trilogy as a book club, but life happens, and I had to put the book club on hiatus until I get through this move to Chicago. I do hope my loyal book clubbers will pick this one up and read it on their own. I’m missing the opportunity to discuss it with you guys this year! Maybe the book club will be back up and running with the third book in the trilogy, and we can pick up our discussion then!
What Happens in Paradise picks up where Winter in Paradise left off. A year after Irene Steele finds out her husband was killed in a helicopter crash and was living a second life with another woman and their child, Irene and her grown sons, Baker and Cash, return to the island of St. John to pursue a new life and follow their hearts. Irene has her eye on Huck, the father of her late husband’s lover (yeah, she knows it looks bad.) Her sons, too, both have their eyes on Ayres, their father’s lover’s best friend. They are all also wanting answers surrounding the mysterious life and death of their husband and father.
Book Review - What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
In the middle of the book, Hilderbrand delivers a lot of the tropical details that make the story come alive—life on the island is truly brought to the forefront. From the bright Caribbean sky to the fragrant sea breeze, the island of St. John offers the perfect backdrop for these characters trying to put together the pieces of their fractured family. The paradise they’re now living in isn’t all it seems, as their late husband and father’s secret lives come to light. The man they thought they knew was leading a double life, and they’re determined to uncover the truth behind his mysterious life and death.
Book Review - What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
It’s hard not to think about how the middle book in a trilogy often just sets up the last book, and What Happens in Paradise doesn’t stray from that trope. It’s a fine book—entertaining, perfectly likable—but it doesn’t have as strong of a plot as the first book. I’ve been taking a class that discusses the elements of a novel’s plot, so I’ve been reflecting on these elements as I read. In my opinion, middle books in trilogies tend to lack a compelling Major Turning Point or a strong Major Dramatic Question. What second books do have, however, is a great cliffhanger at the end. And this book certainly delivers on that—leaving me eagerly anticipating the conclusion.
Book Review - What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
A successful businessman and loving husband father turns out to be just another twist in a series of revelations about this grown family coming to terms with who their father truly was. Baker and Cash, who thought they knew their father, are left questioning everything. And with Huck and Ayres both playing pivotal roles in their journey toward the truth, the paradise they thought they were experiencing becomes a much darker, more complicated place.
The cliffhanger at the end leaves you dying to read the last book in the series. With Hilderbrand’s ability to pull readers back into the drama with her immensely satisfying page-turner, you won’t want to miss what happens next. In What Happens in Paradise, she mixes romance, intrigue, and the lush details of the island in a way that keeps you hooked.
This novel is perfect for readers who love a blend of tropical details and romance. If you're a fan of paradise gone wrong and discovering secrets that change everything, this book will keep you coming back for more. Whether you’ve been reading the series since Winter in Paradise or you’re just getting started, this is a book that promises a ride to the very last page.
For in-depth book fans of What Happened in Heaven, if you want to wear the classic elements of the book on your body, you can use the Custom Lapel Pins.
Book fans can customize exclusive badges based on their understanding of the plot, such as using helicopter elements as the core design, paired with the gold-plated inscription of Wings of Truth to commemorate the key plot that unveils the dual life.
These customized badges are not only a symbol of the identity of book fans but also an emotional bond connecting readers and stories.
