B. A. Paris took a turn into a contemporary novel. This wasn't a wow factor for me, but I thought I'd give it a go. It was a let down unfortunately and I'm so disappointed in it. This will find the right audience, but I'm used to more thriller. Although it did have a thrill, it wasn't enough to satisfy what I'm used to from the writing style.

Relatable characters going through unimagina le circumstances. B.A. Paris continues to write books that are impossible to put down!

Not Paris' best but it's interesting enough to make you turn the pages. Lots of family secrets, lies, and drama. No spoilers from me, Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

Well, this was a disappointment. The entire book was just one unnecessary secret after another which led to misunderstanding and hurt. I was so ready for it to be over. There was very little that actually happened within the story. I felt like it was the longest day of my life. I had to start skimming parts or else I was going to DNF.

This family drama had potential, but I really hated the self-absorbed main character and all those who tiptoe around her to keep her happy and avoid spoiling her "big day." This takes place over 24 hours, but the story line drags and it seems much longer. Honestly, I think some might find this delightful, but I have a hard time connecting when I don't like the characters, so it could just be me! Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris tells the story of Livia and Adam who are both harboring secrets that they need to share with each other. They're getting ready to celebrate Livia's birthday with a big blowout party and a surprise visit by their daughter who is studying abroad and told her mother she couldn't make it. As the evening progresses, Livia and Adam both try to tell each other their news, but are constantly distracted or interrupted before they're able to talk. Told in alternating POVs this book is a slow burning domestic thriller, not much of the suspense that I've come to know from Paris. I think that if you like the miscommunication trope and a slow burn with family secrets, you will enjoy The Dilemma by B.A. Paris. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

A quick read and a mild thriller! It wasn’t a jaw dropping, shocker of a book but it did surprise me! I enjoyed it!

B. A. Paris, known for her chilling thrillers, takes a surprising turn in "The Dilemma," venturing into contemporary fiction. Instead of the usual suspense and dark twists, The Dilemma focuses on different tension. Livia and Adam harbor secrets threatening to shatter their carefully constructed lives. As the day progresses, the weight of their hidden truths creates a suffocating atmosphere, threatening to erupt at any moment.
Paris excels in crafting compelling characters, even if they are not always likable. Livia's paranoia and obsessive need for control can be frustrating, while Adam's passive-aggressive behavior is undesirable. While their flaws make them relatable, highlighting the complexities of human relationships, it doesn't make them compelling.
The novel's strength lies in exploring communication breakdown and the damaging consequences of keeping secrets from loved ones. The narrative portrays how silences and unspoken truths can fester and lead to devastating outcomes. This exploration could be faster due to the lack of traditional thrills. The emotional intensity doesn't hold up over time. In part, because Adam and Livvia are not the driving forces of the big secret, they are retellers, and their perspective is on incomplete second-hand information. There is an opportunity for exploration of trust and forgiveness, but the telling lacks depth and is a tacked on element of the conclusion.
The Dilemma is a unique departure from Paris's usual style. However, it is slow, and the ending is unsatisfying. There is a compelling thread of betrayal and unspoken truths, but the second-hand narrative does not serve this style well. A different perspective from the main action characters would be more enjoyable.

B.A. Paris is one of my favorite authors. They're in the immediately buy whenever a new book is published. I was fortunate enough to read this with a few friends and we came out of this one wondering why it wasn't B.A.'s normal work. Not enough gripped us. The problems were mostly discussions that could easily happen, and then work that drama llama away. Yet, nobody talks. I have decided book where communication is the biggest problem are a problem. I do not like them at all. It takes away from the plot when it's such a simple solution. Discuss the problem!

I still will buy the books immediately but I'm hoping the next are more on the thrilling side.

B.A. Paris is a hit or miss for me. This book was a miss. The plot is just thin. I did enjoy the characters I just felt there really wasn’t much of a dilemma. I expected more.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I did read this book and have to say I was very unimpressed. A woman turning a certain age who is absolutely obsessed about a party she has been planning for herself for years for this particular birthday. There is a suspenseful event in the book, but her selfish need-fullness over her own ridiculously unimportant timeline of her life overrides it all. I spent most of the book hoping no one showed up.

Not a winner for me.

B.A. Paris is an auto buy for me and this one did not disappoint. Great story line. Would definitely recommend.

I'm a big fan of B.A. Paris' writing. She weaves a fantastic trail of suspense that keeps me reading way past my bedtime. While The Dilemma is definitely suspenseful, there was more of a feeling that it was a mystery that never developed. The ending went a different way than I'd expected from a typical B.A. Paris book. I definitely expected a story with a murder mystery but it wasn't that. Instead of a Mystery, Thriller, or Psychological Thriller, it was more of a Family Saga or Saga about a couple who experienced immense growing pains after a teen pregnancy brought them together. Because they'd developed a relationship so young, they failed to learn how to communicate in a timely fashion. Liv and Adam allowed themselves to just keep secrets that had the potential to hurt each other until the secret is released and they lash out. The story was engaging but I didn't like any of the characters. I didn't feel sorry for any of them. Well, perhaps a bit for Liv because I understand how hard it is to care for children with a spouse who seems absent even when they're right there, every single day. If you're more interested in a family saga then The Dilemma is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of B.A. Paris, so I was excited to receive this ARC. I went into this thinking it was another psychological thriller, but it was not. A bit suspenseful, more of a family drama? The story is told from different POVs which I enjoy, but both main characters were a bit hard to like. Good story, emotional at parts, and it drag a bit in some parts. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Expectations are at the core of this bow string tight novel. Livia has planned this birthday with precision and longing. Adam her husband has a secret that could blow her fortieth and their lives apart. Each decides to hold onto their secrets till after the big day. Forces set in motion will push issues to the surface and give readers a thrill to remember.

The only thing that kept me reading is the author at least has a good and engaging style of writing. I disliked our MCs so much. And allllllllll the lying was not only frustrating and annoying, but stressful. My fault for requesting a book with that as the main trope. I was not a fan.

First things first, this book is NOT a thriller or a mystery but more of a Family Drama. The entire novel unfolds in a 24 hour period and revolves around a married couple- Livia and Adam.

It is Livia’s 40th birthday, and her husband Adam is throwing her the party of a lifetime to make up for the grand wedding they never had. Everyone she loves will be there, except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But throughout the party, both Adam and Livia are in mental turmoil. Because both of them are withholding a secret from each other and in a dilemma, whether to reveal it or not… A secret that could tear their lives apart.

First the good part. This is a story about miscommunications that overtime keeps getting bigger. The story unfolds slowly with each chapter over a one hour time period, told by either Adam or Livia. The story is tragic and B A Paris has an amazing writing style that keeps you hooked.

Now for the not so good part. If you read this expecting a thriller you will be disappointed. It’s more of a family drama. I found the entire premise of Birthday party and husband not sharing a secret really hard to believe. The story gets very repetitive with both husband and wife struggling with their ‘secrets’ over and over and over without any resolution in sight. Entire scenes and chapters start feeling repetitive after a while. Both Livia and Adam came across as immature and self-centered. There was no twist in the ending either. This could have worked as a short story but felt unnecessarily dragged.

3.5 Stars

Entertaining with a hint of suspense. A good family drama filled with secrets.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This book kept me interested. Love this author although parts of this book felt repetitive and it dragged a bit too much.