For some reason I was expecting a psychological thriller. Instead I got an intense family drama. At times I was annoyed at characters behaviors and at other times I was brought to tears. Livia and Adam we’re both flawed characters but they were also very human. Just trying to do what seems right in that moment. Both of their dilemmas were hard to second guess so I had a hard time putting this book down. I would have liked the pace to be a little faster but the book basically occurs over a 24 hour period. Overall, a very enjoyable read.

This is the first book from B.A. Paris i have read. I do have a few of her other books but haven't gotten around to reading them yet. I wish I would have started with her other books.

I did not like this one at all. 2 stars because I did like the first 3rd of the book and the ending made me very emotional. It went downhill from there. If you read the synopsis you will understand that this book is about secrets within a family and friends.

The premise of the book is ridiculous. Waiting until the main character is 40 years old to have the party of her dreams because she didn't get the wedding she wanted? Why not renew your vows, not make the party all about her. And the secrets husband and wife kept from each other are egregious. Then they finally reveal secrets just to keep one more from their best friend at the end??? Have they learned nothing?

Also, the writing in the last 2/3rds of the book was just running on and on with the same thing over and over. Could have cut out the whole middle section and you would have missed nothing.

I was very excited to read this, and I honestly can't understand how anyone could give this more than 3 stars. Maybe the reviewers aren't avid readers or haven't read authors who are terrific writers. Too bad I can't recommend this book.

Thank you so much Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader's copy of this book! I wish I would have liked it!

Unfortunately, The Dilemma was a huge miss for me. B.A. Paris is one of my favorite authors, but I almost DNFd this one because the plot was almost ridiculous and this was in no way a suspense novel but a family drama. I kept reading it hoping that there would be some amazing twist that would leave my mouth agape and clutching my neck, but I was left feeling WTF did I just read, so two stars rounded up to 2.5 because she's one of my favorites and her writing itself is impeccable is all I can give this one...

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the ARC.

2.5 stars rounded up for The Dilemma by B.A. Paris. This novel centers around one 24 hour period from the perspective of our two main characters, a married couple: Livia and Adam. You learn that each character is struggling internally with shocking information that will change their family forever...but each is waiting for the right time to share with the other. All of this turmoil takes place on the day of Livia’s 40th birthday bash, a day she’s been planning for 20 years, subconsciously, to replace the wedding she never had. The story was very well-written and had me wanting to dig in and get to the bottom of the tragic, nail-biting, INSANE dilemmas that both characters face throughout the plot!

Although I did enjoy the novel, I definitely wouldn’t classify it as a thriller - it fell into more of a family/relationship drama category for us. This is where I feel the book is misrepresented and the marketing missed the mark. The story itself was well-written and interesting, but it did get pretty repetitive with the same storyline and pacing through the entirety of the novel. The ending wasn’t a surprise necessarily either. This story has really great potential, but overall missed the “must-read” mark for me.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley and B.A. Paris for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, what a dilemma Adam has gotten himself in! This was a entertaining and page-turning read centered around a family who is on the eve of hosting an extravagant birthday party for the wife, Livia. As a surprise, her husband and daughter have worked out a plan for the daughter to fly in from outside the country to surprise the mother at the party. What a great, sweet idea. Only then do things go array when Adam (the husband) hears news that the plane his daughter was supposed to be on has crashed. He cannot confirm that she was in fact on the plane and spends the duration of the novel reeling with this news alone, trying to get in touch with his daughter, and debating on when and how to tell his wife this potentially terrible news.

The premise of this book is so different than B.A. Paris' other books and it was a fun direction for her to experiment with. I would highly recommend it to others. It really makes the reader look at themselves and question how they would react in Adam's situation. What is "right" and was Adam justified in the way he handled the situation. If you were Livia, how would you hope your husband would handle the situation.

I found this book to be a quick read. However, I was hoping that it would WOW me. I have enjoyed all her other works but none have met my expectations as her first novel. This felt more like a contemporary with a hint of mystery. I skimmed the last 25% as it just got boring and felt the story dragged on and on and was not getting anywhere. I am not giving up on Paris just yet. Thanks to NetGalley, the Author and Publisher for the eARC.

Livia and Adam have been married for years, but they never had the big wedding or other big celebrations. Livia wants a big party for her 40th, and she's been saving for years to celebrate the night with friends and family. Adam has the perfect gift for his wife - a visit from their daughter, Marnie, who is studying abroad in Hong Kong. Livia knows a secret about Marnie though, and she's been waiting until after the party to tell Adam. Before the party, Adam learns some terrible news, and now he has something to tell Livia after the party.

Told from the alternating points of view of Livia and Adam. The novel is primarily set in one day, and follows Livia and Adam as they prepare for the party and struggle with the secrets they are keeping. The reader is aware of the secrets, and it's frustrating to see how they are keeping important information from one another.

I've read three other books by B.A. Paris (Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown, and Bring Me Back), and they were all mysteries and thrillers. This one is not. The reader is aware of the events happening throughout the novel, there is no mystery. It's a contemporary story about a married couple and the secrets they are keeping.

While I was sometimes frustrated with the characters and their actions, I was drawn into the story and couldn't put it down. An enjoyable read for fans of contemporary domestic drama. Intense and compelling.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I find out about B.A. Paris has a new book coming out, I get giddy. When I actually get the book on my kindle to actually sit down to read it, it’s like my happy place for the few hours or days that it takes me to read it from start to finish.. I just have so much fun reading her books, and this one was no exception.This one took me about three days. I wouldn't say any of her books are perfect and I realize she is not everyone's cup of tea, but an amazing reading experience always counts for something and that's why I'm placing this in the 5 star category. When you can put your life on pause to enjoy a book then you know it’s worth the high praise.

I 100% agree with other reviewers who said this book is a bit different than anything she has written before. I don't want to get into spoilers and I do think the less you know going in, the better it will be . If you can appreciate a slow burn of a story this might be the book for you because most of it takes place over the course of a day. I also think that if you love a thriller and are looking for something outside the box that this is the book for you. Livia got married and had her first child at a young age. Now that she is turning 40, she wants to finally do something special for herself, so she throws a big party to celebrate her birthday. This party has been in the works for a long time and she doesn't want anything to ruin the day, so she thinks it's best to just wait until after the party to share a secret with Adam, her husband. Adam has something rather important to tell Livia as well, but he knows how important the party is to her so he's going to have to decide when to change his wife’s world forever . The story alternates between Livia and Adam on the day of the birthday party.

So who is most likely to enjoy this book? Well, if you have liked other books by the author, then give this one a chance but just go in knowing that it is different from her other novels. Anyone who enjoys a good thrill ride is bound to find this fun and unique. Also, I do not recommend reading the back cover the less you know the more you will enjoy this one in my honest opinion.

If you haven't read a B.A. Paris book before I recommend you start with the older ones and work your way here. I know that this book may not be everyone's cup of tea because people who read lots have a long list of favorites. This author just happens to be very high on my favorites list. I can’t wait to see how outside the box or on par with her writing style the next one is because I forsure I am here to stay!.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Happy #BookBirthday to #TheDilemma 🎉❤️

#bookreview ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!
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I DEVOURED this book! The writing was exceptional and I was in it from start to finish. I could have easily finished this book in one sitting if my schedule had permitted. I wouldn’t classify this as a typical thriller - it was more of a family drama type of book but the suspense was really intense and it gave me all the feels. It was high paced and so easy to get into. I absolutely loved The Dilemma and this author has just became an “auto-buy” for me! I highly recommend checking this one out!
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Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

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?
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So, The Dilemma. I think this is going to be one of those love it or hate it books, and unfortunately, I find myself firmly in the latter category. Part of that may be due to the fact that I was looking for one thing and found another. All the hype would lead one to believe that this is a thriller, psychological women's fiction, domestic thriller... I'm sure you can see where I'm going. The problem is I didn't find anything even remotely thriller-like in this book. Domestic drama would be more like it, but it's not a particularly good one. Honestly, I was bored more often than not, and when I wasn't bored, I wanted to shake the daylights out of Livia and Adam both. I don't know if that was the author's intention or not, but these characters seriously drove me nuts. The story is very repetitive, and the whole thing relies on a lack of communication. And I'm just gonna say it - if a 40-year old woman is so wrapped up in herself that all she cares about is having a fabulous birthday party, she deserves nothing less than to have it a little spoiled. Maybe that's harsh, but really, grow up already. I did push through to the end, hoping for something to warrant all the hype, something to justify the time spent reading this book. Nope, it just wasn't happening. This ended up being a thoroughly disappointing book made even more so with its ending. I've heard great things about this author, but this book is totally underwhelming.

I am always so excited when I learn there is another book by author B. A. Paris on the way, and I am never disappointed. No story is quite the same – sometimes jaw-dropping, sometimes non-stop danger and suspense, and sometimes a deep dive into people, their relationships, their secrets and what they say and don’t say to each other.

The Dilemma is not a thriller with an “oh wow” ending or danger around every corner. Instead it’s a story that tortuously takes you step by step through Livia’s 40th birthday party, with delicious glimpses into the past of her and husband Adam’s life together, and growing horror about what will happen when one of them reveals the big secret they are hiding to the other. Who are the heroes and who are the villains changes depending on whose point of view you are currently seeing, whose eyes you are looking through. And who secret you are keeping.

The characters are well developed, linked together in surprising ways we discover with every turn of the page. The plot flows smoothly, sometimes seeming to speed along and sometimes perfectly dragging out the suspense and uncertainty.

The story is compressed into such a tight time span that I couldn’t put it down, couldn’t turn pages fast enough I couldn’t begin to guess how it would end. I didn’t want it to end because I didn’t want the bad hidden truths to become exposed lies, but at the same time I couldn’t wait for the ending because I was desperate to see how it all played out. No way could everyone be happy when all was revealed. And who was going to reveal what first? Well done, B. A. Paris! Another totally satisfying story. Disturbing, thought provoking, and a great read. Thanks to St. Martin’s Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of The Dilemma for my reading pleasure and honest review. All opinions are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

I basically saw B A Paris' name attached to an upcoming book and requested on the prior works alone. So when I started reading The Dilemma, I kept waiting for the murder (or other thriller aspect) to happen. I wasn't expecting what this book gave me.

This was still a suspenseful read just without the heart in your throat, slightly terrified feeling. It is so well-written and compelling. The dual narrative, between Adam and Livia was an excellent way to build anticipation. Both characters have something they're hiding from the other. In a way both omissions are simultaneously selfless and selfish acts.

As the story progresses you learn more and more about the intricacies of the family's relationships. The characters develop really well over the course of the book which takes place in a day's span. It's amazing what Paris was able to accomplish in such a short time frame.

I'd say this is different than Paris' other novels, but it may just be my favorite. The character development was just so relatable. I felt the most connected to THESE characters. I became very emotionally invested. I'm eager to see what else this outstanding author can come out with, because she can clearly cross genres with ease.

I really enjoyed Behind Closed Doors, another book written by B.A. Paris. This book was very different. I enjoyed the suspense and the characters, but some parts were predictable. I would recommend this to someone who is looking to read about relationship drama.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book, in exchange for my honest opinions.

I ended up skimming most of this because I just couldn’t get into it. The story fell flat for me and I honestly didn’t connect or care about the story or any of the characters.

Rating: 3 family-filled stars

I cannot believe that this is the first time that I’ve read a B. A. Paris book! All my friends have been raving about her keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat books. So going into, “The Dilemma” I thought that I was going to encounter a taut psychological thriller. What I read was a domestic drama that mainly centered around communication issues.

Husband and wife, Adam and Olivia, ‘Livia’ narrate the book in alternating short chapters. The chapters are set in one-hour blocks leading up to and through Livia’s 40th birthday party. Adam and Livia married young when she got pregnant with their first child, Josh. They then had a daughter named Marnie. Josh and Marnie are now 22 and 19 respectively. The story is really about this nuclear family and the small circle of family and friends that populate their lives.

Adam and Livia are decent folks who made the best of their circumstances and forged a life together. That life has not been without its challenges and drama, but they have worked through the turbulent times and are soon to have both children studying overseas.

However, Adam and Livia are keeping secrets from each other. They both have the best intentions in why they are not sharing their secret with their partner. Nevertheless, you can just see the disaster that is about to occur when one, or both of them comes clean. There is a real drama unfolding, and that tension did keep me invested in reading on. I would not call this book a mystery, at least not in the normal sense of the genre. Yes, I know I have provided very few actual plot details. I’ve done that on purpose to not spoil the read for you.

As I was reading, I was thinking to myself that this was really reading like a screenplay. I can see this easily being made into a movie. Fair warning, it was a bit of a tearjerker at the end. While it was not what I was initially expecting, it was an engaging read. I’d say that this falls more closely in the Women’s Fiction genre than the Mystery genre. I enjoyed the time I spent reading this book. I am still looking forward to picking up any of Ms. Paris’ earlier books.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, St. Martin’s Press; and the author, B. A. Paris, for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the writing style of Paris. It just sucks me in, flows easily, and keeps me completely engaged. This story is set at a party that has been twenty years in the making. Livia has thrown herself a huge 40th party to make up for not having a wedding. We see alternating view points from her and Adam, her husband. They are both withholding secrets from each other about their daughter, Marnie. Some of their motives may be hard to believe at times. This book is different than the others by Paris. It is gut wrenching family drama that consumes you.

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris is about a multitude of problems in Livia and Adam’s family. Livia never got over her simple wedding to Adam after her parents disowned her for being 17 and pregnant. While spending years trying to earn her way back into their good graces, Livia has replaced her dream of a beautiful wedding with a big bash that she will save for to celebrate her 40th birthday.

Her husband Adam indulges her birthday wish but it turns out to be the hardest thing he has ever had to do because of something he knows that no one else does...so he thinks. While Adam is trying to hold things together for Livia’s sake, she is trying to protect Adam about shattering news that she’s been keeping from him. When their secrets collide, all their family and friends will be called upon to help put things right.

B.A. Paris continues to entertain her readers with page-turning plots. I could not have gone to bed without finishing this one. The author of Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown, and Bring Me Back – I have read them all -- lives in the United Kingdom where The Dilemma is set.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting June 30, 2020.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

This one wasn't for me, I'm afraid. I'd read this book back in the beginning of June and I've sat on my review, waiting to see if my feelings over the story would change at all...and they really haven't. I was kind of lukewarm over it while I read, and I'm still rather ambivalent about it now.

The writing was solid, but I think I went into the book thinking it was going to be more of a thriller-esque type of plot like I've come to expect from this author and it really wasn't at all. Not that that is a bad thing, because it isn't...I just wasn't in the right mindset to read a heavier drama type of book that this book read like to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3 stars.

I was so looking forward to a new book by BA Parrish, however I did not enjoy this read. I saw someone comment that this book felt like a short story with 100 pages of angst and misunderstanding added to the middle to make it novel length. This description seems spot on. I felt no affinity for any of the characters and the story line was one really long evening described in excruciating detail.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I've been a fan of B.A. Paris for quite some time now and even had the opportunity to meet her a few years ago. While she usually writes thrillers, this latest one is a bit of a departure but I loved it all the same!

I'm always a big fan of stories that focus on family drama and one that involves people keeping secrets and this one absolutely delivers on that 100%. It is told from alternating viewpoints of a husband and wife and essentially takes place over the course of a 24-hour period. I loved the build-up to the eventual reveal of what the secrets were - both Adam and Livia each had their own secret they were keeping from the other - and as the book progresses, the tension builds which just hooks you further into the story.

I also loved that because of the alternating view points, we are experiencing what is going on from each of the characters' perspectives. Events are happening and because of the secrets, reactions are very different. We are privy to some things, but not everything and this proves to increase the readers anxiety - at least it did for me!

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely more of an emotional read, filled with some suspenseful moments. There were times I was afraid to see what would come next, but I also could not put this book down either...I was so invested in these characters that I needed to keep reading.

This book, while definitely not the thriller that B.A. Paris is known for, was such a great read. It's the type of read that will stay with you long after you finish that last page as you think about what you would have done if you were to find yourself in either character's position. I highly recommend picking this one up.