Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. The writing was good, but the situation was one that completely frustrated me. I could not see people actually acting like this, any of them. I think the author tried to push a thought experiment too far, and for me, it didn't work. The characters were all unlikable, unrelatable, and unbelievable.

This book was EXTREMELY suspenseful which I kinda liked, kinda didn’t. You kinda figure everything out fairly early in this book & you’re just waiting for everyone else to find out. Since you find out so early, there really is no big surprise or plot twist towards the end of the book, which I would’ve liked. It was a good story though & definitely not like any I’ve read before.

The premise of this book is that it’s told from a husband and wife’s point of view throughout a day of big celebration but they each have secrets they’re keeping from each other. As the day goes on it’s just a question of how and when their secrets will be revealed.

I loved this storyline and thought that it was different from other B A Paris books in that it’s not the typical thriller type of book but it still has that suspense aspect where you’re trying to figure out the secrets and how they’ll be revealed. I also loved how the book really focused on different family relationships and I found it very relatable.

This was the third book I have read by this author and the third one that I didn’t care for, which means I won’t be reading her again. This one was the worst of the bunch though. The ENTIRE premise was based on the simple fact that Livia and Adam REFUSED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. Seriously, if they had just communicated, there would be no book and that pissed me off. Both Livia and Adam know a secret and they keep putting off telling their spouse. So each chapter was just one of the characters going on and on and on about why it was fine to put it off for a little bit. So annoying. The book was slow, there was too much extraneous information and there was zero suspense, only irritation. I would not recommend this one at all.

Paris has done it again! I'm a fan of her previous books and her latest lives up to the suspenseful story her readers expect. Although a cliche, I truly could not put this book down.
The plot is riveting and I couldn't help but imagine how anyone might handle such a situation. To know your child is gone and not be able to reveal it immediately conjures up quite a state of mind. To compound that loss with discovering a secret of such magnitude is doubly discouraging. Paris so masterfully weaves this story.

It's very hard to write a review about this book without any spoilers. This book was very good, but very different than I expected it to be. It wasn't really a thriller, but more a family drama. This family has got so many secrets. It was a bumpy and emptional ride. This book is very well written and you can feel the tension between the characters. It was so hard for me to put down the book. I'm looking forward to see what else this author is going to write.

Life. It’s complicated. On her fortieth birthday, Livia has a secret—maybe more than one—to share at her birthday party. What is The Dilemma that has Livia so frazzled?

Adam and Livia are dating the summer between high school and college when Livia ends up pregnant. Livia’s parents disown her ending her dreams of the perfect white wedding. Instead, Adam and Livia have a civil wedding and Josh is born a few months later. Adam must put down his dreams of attending university. But he hasn’t quite become a mature father—leaving for days at a time to hang out with his best friend, Nelson. Having their daughter, Marnie, a few years later sets Adam on the right course. But will he ever be able to make up his poor fathering to Josh? To Livia?

The less you know going into The Dilemma, the better. It is even hard to write a review without spoiling the excellent and heart-wrenching plot. Therefore, I will simply state that this book is the must-read book of the summer. 5 stars and my favorite book so far this year!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved BA Paris’ previous novels, which were all suspense thrillers. This one is more of a relationship drama, with the husband and wife each keeping significant secrets from each other. It was fast-paced, with well developed characters. I found it a little predictable but also found that I couldn’t put it down. Recommended.

This was a little different than B. A. Paris' previous books. It's not really a thriller (at least not my definition of a thriller) but it was definitely suspenseful!! This is family drama at its best that had me almost dreading the ending but couldn't wait to get there and find out what happened!

The writing is good (as always) and the characters are realistic. This is a thought-provoking scenario. What would the reader do in a similar situation?!

I found this latest book by B.A.Paris to be frustrating and annoying. It is a domestic drama with several dysfunctional human beings who miss every opportunity to communicate honestly about their relationships, their friends, their family, and their lives.

Livia has planned her 40th birthday party for 20 years. The build-up to it has everyone all thrilled for the big event she has meticulously arranged for herself. Yes, everyone she knows is meant to be in attendance -- except for her daughter, Marnie, who's away studying in Hong Kong. That's OK, though, because Livia doesn't really want to see her daughter and needs to tell her husband, Adam, all about it. She'll discuss the situation with him after the party is over.

Adam is quite excited about the special surprise he has planned for Livia's party and is having a tough time keeping the secret. While getting everything arranged for the evening, he hears some terrible news. Telling himself that it's better that Livia just enjoy her special day, Adam decides to keep it to himself. He decides that he will share all when the party is over.

NO SPOILERS. But, I just wanted to smash some dishes throughout most of this book. The narrative is told from the points of view of both Livia and Adam as they struggle to keep in the extremely life-changing information that each holds separately. Neither knows the thing the other knows. Have they ever heard the phrase, "Sharing is caring." Well, eventually it all comes out and is just as bad as you'd expect when people withhold stuff from their partners. I was sick of both of them by then and so irritated by the missed opportunities that I was just glad to get to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review. I've read all the previous books by this author and now I don't know if I care to try another.

This book was not what I was expecting. In both a good and bad way. I've read prior novels by this author and this was different (not a bad thing).

I don't know how to label this,but I think if you like thought provoking fiction you will enjoy this.

There is so much say about this novel but I can't because of one word- SPOILERS.

I will say that once I started this book, I didn't really put it down. The pacing and plot are riveting despite my disliking almost everyone, especially Livia, and Adam wasn't much better.

Again, if you are looking for a book to generate conversation this is a sure bet!

I give it 4 hearts(out of 5).

Unlike B. A. Paris's previous works, the Dilemma packs up less thrill and more relationship/family drama.

Told throughout the course of a day, the story follows Livia who saved for years to have her perfect fortieth birthday party and Adam, Livia's husband, who felt he owed Livia that perfect day to make up for the wedding party they never had. But both Livia and Adam have a secret to tell one another. Because of their secrets, the party becomes an internal hell brew within both of them.

Paris works her way throughout the day of Livia's 40th birthday party with equal parts intrigue and irritation. The non-communicative couple is to many a trope, but Paris manages to keep me somewhat interested in how it will turn out. Some of Adam and Livia's reasoning was relatable and some of it was implausible. Their reactions to some of the details uncovered throughout the plot was a bit ludicrous and the simple fact that they went on with the party regardless was mind-boggling. Paris tried to convince us of the importance of the party, but that only led to repetitions that defeated her purpose. But there was also sympathy for "the dilemma" of secrets they both faced.

It wasn't Paris's strongest work, but I can see its appeal to many.

Many thanks for St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

“The Dilemma” by B. A. Paris is the story of Olivia and Adam Harman on the day of Olivia’s birthday, a glorious celebration and a terrible day. The story is told in first-person narratives, and each chapter notes the time and perspective so readers can follow along as events unfold. Readers follow the Harmans through the excitement, the joy, the reminiscences, the disappointments, the uncertainty, the dread, the fear.
Paris created a dynamic family, Olivia and Adam Harman and their adult children, Josh and Marnie. Their past has been somewhat troubled, and yet all things have been set aside for this elaborate birthday gala. Little did they know that a dark cloud, something unthinkable and foreboding, would hang over the day. Intricate details pull readers into the story and the document the raw emotions as the day progresses. Readers find out that this family has many secrets, and the weight of those lies has exacted a heavy toll on those who know the truth.
“The Dilemma” is about family, communication, and a communiqué that no one expected. I received a review copy of “The Dilemma” from B. A. Paris and St. Martin’s Press. It was compelling, thought provoking and tragic. It has advice for everyone; “Life’s too short. Just do what makes you happy.”

This book clearly wasn't for me. I thought it was too drawn out and the pacing was slow. I need to have someone to root for (unreliable and unlikable characters are just not my jam) and this book left me wanting more,,,
I know that fans of BA Paris will love it, however.

It's Livia's 40th birthday and to make up for the big wedding she never had, she is throwing herself a huge birthday bash. However, in the midst of it all, she and her husband Adam are each desperately trying to keep devastating secrets from each other about their daughter. Even though keeping important secrets from one's spouse is probably not the best course of action, Livia and Adam's love for each other clearly shines through in their actions. You can't help rooting for them. This book is completely engrossing and absolutely heart-wrenching.

Olivia is throwing herself a 40th birthday party since she didn't have the wedding she would have wanted. Everyone is there but her daughter. She doesn't even know if she wants her daughter, Marnie, there since finding out something about her. Olivia needs to tell her husband, Adam, something about Marnie but decides it can wait until after the party.
Adam decides to surprise her and secretly having Marnie be able to show up, since she lives abroad.
Then something happens during the day and Adam gets bad news but does he tell Olivia before her party or let her stay happy and tell her after?
I did see his dilemma on waiting to tell her. She had been waiting and waiting for this party and really what could she do if he told her but to cancel it.
This book is told by the POV of Olivia and Adam with alternating chapters. Both of their secrets are devastating. It kept me on the edge of my seat to see when or if they were finally going to tell each other. I had enjoyed this book even though I was frustrated with the lack of communication. I did see Adam's side but I also know how Olivia would react.

Great concept, just one that seemed tough to execute well.
I think the downfall here was that the events in this book all take place within 24 hours, from multiple POV's and the author recapped each POV at the start of a new characters chapter.
Wayyyyy to much repetition and caused the book to move along at a snails pace.

I hung in there because I wanted to see the final showdown and how it all came together. Best part of the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley

A recent reading peeve of mine has been the mysterious secret that will change everything but that the main character continues to refer to but reader doesn't get to know. And yes, it happens in this book too. However, somehow Ms. Paris writes in such a way that it feels natural and not a foreshadowing taunt of the reader. Whether it was because there were so many other things taking place or whether it was because it was obvious that there were many secrets being kept by many people, I am not sure, but I was not aggravated waiting. I enjoyed reading of the angst that various characters were dealing with as they moved forward with a 40th birthday party for Livia. Though, honestly, I did not understand her obsession, even with the lingering issue of her parents and her wedding. But it did make for a really good center point for all the twisty plots to twist around.

What I liked: Livia and Adam are very relatable. The couple has had their ups and downs that stems from their marriage and children at an early age. The two were genuine when addressing various regrets and the love they have for their family. I empathized with them while hoping for the best. Additionally, when one of the mysteries began to surface, my prediction was way off. I like it when I am mistaken, it means the author is thinking much harder than I am. Which I greatly respect.

What I didn't like: I know how it ends, but I didn't experience the continuous journey. Consequently, accept my opinion as you will. In the last half of the book, I only skimmed. It didn't have anything to do with not enjoying the book exactly, but I could not handle the pending loss. In essence, the suspense was too much for me, at least that type of suspense.

Livia and Adam experience a gripping journey. Just know that experience is very bittersweet.

A big Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy. B. A. Paris has done it once again! I’m a huge fan and have read all the author’s previous books. Her new novel is a hard to put down page-turner. An emotionally, heart-wrenching story that’s filled with secrets, guilty and shame between a husband and wife. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping, attention-grabbing story that certainly kept me up reading late into the night. This book you will want to add to your summer reading list!
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Knowing the truth will destroy her. Keeping it secret will destroy him.

It's Livia's 40th birthday, and her husband Adam is throwing her the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding they never had. Everyone she loves will be there, except her daughter Marnie, who's studying abroad. But Livia is secretly glad Marnie won't be there.

Livia has recently uncovered a secret about their daughter which, if revealed, will shake the foundation of their family to its core. She needs to tell Adam, but she's waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.

Adam, meanwhile, has his own surprise for Livia: he's arranged for Marnie to secretly fly back for the party. But before Marnie arrives, Adam hears some terrible news. Now he too is faced with a dilemma: Does he share what he's learned with his wife? Is hiding the truth the same as telling a lie? And how far are Adam and Livia willing to go to protect the ones they love—and give each other a last few hours of happiness?