This family drama had me reading late into the night and then picking the book up again early the next morning because I was so absorbed in the story. Livia is celebrating her fortieth birthday and her husband Adam wants it to be perfect for her. The book is told in the points of view of Livia and Adam and the divisions of the book are times, hours leading up to the party, during the party and after the party. Livia wants the party to be the dream of her lifetime; she thinks she deserves it because she never got a big wedding since her parents disowned her when she got pregnant as a teen. Adam wants to fulfill her dream because he thinks he has lived selfishly, pursuing his happiness on his motorcycle and with his friends rather than devoting time to Livia and their family. The two children, Josh and Marnie, are young adults who are leading their own lives and beginning to make independent choices. The dilemma is that both Adam and Livia have secrets and both of their secrets involve Marnie. Since the secrets will devastate their partner, both decide not to share until Livia has her big day. Therein lies all of the drama! Adam is dying to hide his secret, feigning a migraine when others notice that he is not joining in the festivities as he should. Livia is torn about sharing her secret since it will devastate Adam and destroy friendships that he has had for years. The themes of this book include communication in marriage, friendship, honesty vs. deceit, parenting and loss. I found that it was written brilliantly, capturing me from the beginning to the end! This novel was filled with drama and suspense. I do think that there were details added that weren’t necessary to the story, but I devoured every detail and really wanted to do nothing but read this book. The main characters, with all of their strengths and weaknesses, were well-developed so I felt like I got to know Adam and Livia well. There were many minor characters because it was a huge party and each guest played a part in their lives together. Josh was likable whereas Marnie, Adam’s favorite, came across as spoiled and entitled. I really enjoyed this book but I would not categorize it as a thriller like the author’s previous books. This was definitely a hard to put down family drama and one that is perfect for book clubs and a future movie!

Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This book is like the first fall of a roller coaster. It's slow to build and then the bottom falls out! Adam and Livia married very young. Livia is turning 40 and is having a party to put all others to shame. She has been planning this party for over twenty years to make up for the wedding she didn't get. Adam is 100% committed to making sure it's perfect. Their daughter, Marnie, is the only person that can't make it. Is that a good thing? This book is based on secrets. Livia is keeping a secret, Adam is keeping a secret. When do they tell? Will it ruin everything?

After reading B. A. Paris' other books, I was expecting a thriller, but this is a family drama that just keeps on giving. I couldn't stop reading until all the secrets had been revealed. Get your emotions in check for this one.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-Arc. Will read more from this author in the future. See star rating for my review.

I have a real "Dilemma" about writing the review for this book! It was an enjoyable read, but quite different from B.A. Paris' other novels. Though, I wouldn't place this one in the "thriller" category.

The Dilemma is an agonizing story about a tragic event that unfolds over the course of 24 hours. It is told from the perspective of a husband and wife who each have reasons to not share some information with each other that changes the course of their lives. As a reader, you get pulled along this agonizing story - not in a bad way! You become desperate to know what's happening! I was fiendishly reading this book to find out what was really happening and how it would all turn out. Though, honestly, I was hoping for a twist to change the trajectory of the story to something a little happier!

Highly recommend this as a great beach read for the upcoming summer!

Thank you to B.A. Paris, St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book! This review was also published on Goodreads.

Thank you #StMartinsPress & #netalley for the ARC of this book. I have read all of B.A. Paris's books. Some I have liked and some I have not liked. I really enjoyed this book. The author has a way of keeping your interest and you just keep turning those pages. I found every character in this book was in a dilemma. Not one of them knew when to share the secret they were harboring because they didn't want to hurt or ruin the day of a loved one. This is a story of family, friendships, selfishness, love, and deceit.. It is also a very moving story about how, with the love and help of family and friends you can get through a horrible tragedy. This should be on everyone's TBR list.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* The Dilemma has a claustrophobic feel about it, which only serves to build the tension in the novel A great deal of the action takes place at Livia's 40th birthday party - a much anticipated event that has been years in the making. It should be a night of celebration, but something is not right. Because Livia has a secret. But so does her husband Adam. And so does their daughter Marnie. As the book is tightly plotted with a number of different twists and turns, I am hesitant to give away much more about the plot, for fear of spoilers. This was definitely one of those books where you feel slightly anxious reading it, wanting to know what will happen and wanting characters to make different decisions. Definitely an enjoyable read.

4 stars. This was a great quick read with short chapters that I love. I found it different than B.A. Paris’s other novels. The whole book took place basically over one day with not too many thrills. It was a little dragged out & repetitive at times. However, still hard to put down! Not as uplifting as I would have liked during quarantine but overall decent book that I’d recommend!

Synopsis:
Livia is throwing herself a lavish 40th birthday party to make up for her wedding that never occurred because she had a baby out of wedlock and her parents disowned her. On the day of the party, there are 2 dilemmas: 1) Livia is holding a secret about her daughter than could break her friend group apart, which she feels that’s all she has. She plans on telling her husband, Adam, once the party ends. 2) Adam potentially knowing catastrophic news that will devastate the family. He is doing what he feels is best for his family and holding out until morning to share this news.


**I requested and received a digital ARC copy of this book from #NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review**

I enjoyed the book, although I kept waiting for something ... not sure what. I imagine it is because the authors other books have been more of a thriller and this one was much different. Something to be learned from this one is that we all could probably be better communicators.
That’s to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC

Thank you to Netgalley.com for the ARC.

I have read BA Paris' previous books and think they are all good thriller, page turner novels. This one does not disappoint. Told from two different perspectives (husband and wife) each dealing with their own individual dilemma and how they those dilemmas intertwine. There is heartbreak and happiness throughout the story and while there is no big twist or surprise reveal, the story keeps you riveted hoping for an outcome that is different from the way it is heading.

I finished this book in a day and am sure it will be another best seller for the author!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this advance copy.

I really enjoyed this. It was less psychological and more domestic than the other books of hers, but I still liked it. The hour by hour framing of one day reminded me of Mrs. Dalloway. Slow at times, but then it moves faster.

First off, I want to say that The Dilemma by B.A. Paris is a lot different than any of her other books in my opinion. It’s a family drama that’s a very emotional read. The one thing that I didn’t care for about reading the story was that it seemed to drag on and on. If I hadn’t been reading it off from my kindle and had a physical copy, I know I would of peeked at the ending to see what was going to happen. I’m glad that I couldn’t, as that would of ruined the whole thing for me. I do think it was a very good story and one I’d recommend, although the subject matter might be very painful for some but only for those who have gone through similar circumstances. I do want to warn readers that tissues will be needed as this is a sad story, however, the way the characters work through it is uplifting. I wasn’t sure about the star rating, at first I thought only 4 stars because of the way I felt it dragged on but then I went with 5 because of the way it left me crying my eyes out. I believe that if an author can have that kind of effect on a readers emotions, then they deserve the 5 stars. I’d like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review the arc. All opinions stated are my own.

A real page turner, classic Paris does it again with a gripping story that is truly un-putdownable.
Whilst not my favourite genre, i appreciated and enjoyed it all the same.

When I saw that B.A Paris had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it. I love a good psychological thriller and the way things get spun. I knew Paris wouldn't disappoint. What I got was so different from previous Paris books. It was twisted in a totally unique way and I'm still thinking about it a week later.

The Dilemma is basically told over one full day and it's more of a suspenseful family drama than a thriller. Livia's 40th birthday celebrations are to begin and she is having the party of all parties. She has literally been saving for this party for 20 years! She and her husband, Adam got pregnant and married at a very young age. Their children, Josh and Marnie are now grown. They made life work for them as they were young parents, but now they will enjoy what comes with having adult children. That is our background of the story that unfolds in such a breath holding way.

Livia has a secret and she is going to hold until sometime after the party. She wants everyone to be happy because she knows life will change for their whole family and their friends after. She wants one last day of happiness. What she doesn't know is Adam also has a secret and he doesn't even really 100% know if what he's keeping from everyone has happened or not. What follows is how these characters are feeling throughout the day.

Told from Livia and Adam's point of views, I definitely got in the head of both of these characters. How they grappled with keeping something so life altering from one another. How they wanted everyone to have one last day of happiness. They loved one another and their family and friends enough to give them that happiness. Or was it selfishness? I felt like I was holding my breath the whole time through this story AND it was just told over ONE day!! When were the secrets going to come out? How would it effect everyone? Would they share the secrets?

I found the storytelling compelling, but at times, I just wanted to get on with it. But that wasn't the point. The point was to feel the emotions of each character and how they were going to change the lives of those around them. You just don't release those thoughts without thinking about it. And that's what we got. Those thoughts and those emotions. And when they come to a complete boil, you have no idea what will happen with the family dynamic.

A different story that I enjoyed and liked getting inside the thought process of the two main characters. It definitely wasn't an easy read, but it was one in which made you think.

To me, this didn't feel like a traditional thriller or mystery. The two main characters, Livia and Adam, it alternates between are both keeping big secrets from each other until after Livia's 40th birthday party. It is the story of that day, as it all comes to a head. It was a fast read, but it was definitely a departure from what I'm used to in this genre, and I would probably say it read more like a straight psychological novel than a thriller. I obviously still read it very quickly and was interested and entertained the entire time, but if someone were to ask about a new thriller, this would not come to mind.

This story had more unexpected twists than a Jodi Picoult book! Every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist in the story caused me to rethink everything. I loved it!!!!

2.5.....I'm having a hard time deciding what rating to give this book. I'm a big fan of B. A. Paris so I couldn't wait to read this book however it was a disappointing read. I was expecting a good read like the previous books however what we have is a family/friends drama filled with people not communicating with each other, a grown woman obsessed with having a 40th birthday party to make up for her not having her dream wedding and I was just bored waiting for it to end. The ending was very emotional however everything leading up to it was just crazy, drawn out and unrealistic. It was a quick read because it was very repetitive and you could honestly skip chapters and not miss anything. I really hope the next book is a psychological thriller like the previous ones.

Thanks to NetGally for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I give this book a 3 star rating. I was very confused on what was happening and had a hard time keeping up. I felt like it was too focused on the wife's party. I wanted thrill and I didn't receive that from this book.

I absolutely love all B.A. Paris books. But this one kinda felt flat to me. The characters were semi likable but story was drawn out. It's not like her another books. This one a family drama. I kept waiting for twist or stock in the end but got nothing. SPOILER ALERT: I wish there was more after the death of the daughter. It kind of just ended. The whole book was about Liv and Adam the day of the party. I wish she wrote few chapters about Marnies point of view before she died. Overall I would give it 3 half stars.

I think if you go into this book thinking it’s a thriller, you will be disappointed. If definitely is a long drawn out family drama. I love this authors books and will continue to read her books. This one was okay, but not nearly as good as the authors other books.

B.A. Paris is the undisputed master of domestic suspense, so this book was high on my wishlist.. One of my favorite current authors, Paris always delivers the thrills and I am usually on pins and needles for her next release. I absolutely loved The Breakdown, and wondered how she would ever top it. Here, she did not disappoint! Paris always has very creative ideas, and is great at building suspense and thrills organically without resorting to trick twists, red herrings or overly dramatic prose. Just genuine thrills and quick page turning with your heart in your throat. When people say a book is "unputdownable," this is the author that comes to mind most literally. I am usually physically unable to put her books down until I get to the end.

This book poses a really interesting and scary "dilemma" that I won't describe here, because that would ruin the fun. The author has said this is more of a family drama, and different from her other books, which is true - but it's still extremely scary so it will satisfy any thriller reader. This is a very suspenseful, brutally honest and interesting portrait of a "perfect family" that I enjoyed very much. It's a little bit of a slow burn at the beginning but well-written and your interest is always piqued, and it really picks up speed halfway through. The last 1/3 of this book is scary and uncomfortable to read in the best way. Paris never cheats with her endings and always delivers - this was no exception.

Another great book by this author. I can't wait to read B.A. Paris' next book, even though I just finished this one!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, B.A. Paris and St. Martin's Press for giving me one of my most wished-for books in exchange for my honest review!