3.5 stars

This book, just like Behind Closed Doors, is too drawn out. I liked how you get to go thru the emotions of Adam. Was pretty put out with Livia, and just wanted to string up Rob’s family jewels! Good character study but could have been shorter. I like the author but she is not my favorite.

Although I enjoyed the first two novels by this author, I must admit I wanted a bit more from this author. This didn't capture my attention as well as the others and I wonder if I shouldn't revisit this novel at a later date. Overall I'd still recommend it though.

This is one of my new favorites. Admittedly, I'm a fan of B.A. Paris. I truly love their work. The Dilemma is very much written in the same writing style as some of Paris's other novels. I appreciate the constant cliffhangers at the end of the chapters-they really keep me moving through the book. This is one of those books that will absorb you and not let you go. I always enjoy the way Paris sets up the characters and setting of the story. The characters are very interesting. My only complaint is that The Dilemma does remind me a lot of The Couple Next Door. I wish this story was just a tiny bit different from its current storyline. However, I really love the way the book flows. This is a very easy read, and the story is very interesting. It oddly reminds me of a bit of the movie, Taken.

Livia has been dreaming of her fortieth birthday party for over 20 years. Sure it may be a bit overdone, but after all, she never had the showy wedding of her dreams--and she deserves it! She and her husband, Adam, and son, Josh, pull out all the stops to make this a day to remember. However, underneath this celebration are secrets being carefully guarded. But some secrets are too big to be kept secret....

I have read and enjoyed B.A. Paris' "Behind Closed Doors," and have been looking forward to reading, "The Dilemma." The newest book dealt with many relationship themes: trust, betrayal, sacrifice, compassion and love. B.A. Paris also had me at the edge of my seat at times as I both wanted them to spill the secrets, while inwardly cringing and wanting the weight of lies to remain hidden. The characters were for the most part both relatable and likeable. My only other feedback is that the story seemed to take its time before taking off as the author set up the story, but this may have been also due to the anticipation of the upcoming fireworks. The build-up was worth the wait, however, and overall it was a good read. My new dilemma is which of B.A. Paris' to read next!

The Dilemma is a book with a seemingly simple plot that made my heart race. As long as she can remember, Livia has been planning her fortieth birthday party the way some girls plan their weddings. Now the party is finally happening. Everyone she loves will be there, except her daughter Marnie. Adam is determined to make this day perfect for Livia, but when he learns some terrible news he will have to make a difficult decision.

As their story unfolds hour by hour from both Livia's and Adam's perspectives, secrets are revealed. The less you know going into this story the better!

This book seems to return to the style of Behind Closed Doors- a domestic thriller that lets the reader know that there is more to the story before that information is revealed. Since I prefer a slow reveal rather than a giant twist, this book was right up my alley.

I don't think fans of domestic thrillers will be disappointed by this book!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Dilemma is a family drama. What had me turning the pages was my intense curiosity of what happened to Marnie, the daughter of main characters, Livvie and Adam. The focus of the story was around Livvie's 40th birthday bash which she has been planning for 40 years.
Throughout the story, all I could say was, please, please TALK to each OTHER. But, then, I guess, The dilemma would have been a five page read if they did.
I think B.A. Paris challenged herself and I loved that.
Thanks #Netgalley

Great book, filled with love, deceit, pain, lies and forgiveness. I smiled and cried through the book, and the story will stay with me for awhile.
Livia has been planing and dreaming of her 40th birthday party for years. It was to be the party she always wanted to make up for her lack of wedding. Her only regret is that her daughter, Marnie, won't be able to come back from her study abroad to be with them. But her husband, Adam, has arranged for Marnie to come home in the middle of the party and surprise her mom.
Suddenly there is news that a plane has crashed, and it seems that it may have been Marnie's plane. Desperate to get in touch with her, Adam tries endlessly to call and email her, with no luck. He lets the party go on, unsure what to do, who to tell, and how to let Livia know what may have happened. But simultaneously, Livia is keeping her own secrets about Marnie from Adam, and she wants him to know so that she can be rid of the guilt of keeping things from him.
When all the secrets are revealed, when the whereabouts of Marnie are confirmed, can the family pick up the pieces and move on, or is there no turning back?
The characters were filled with such real emotion and feelings, and the plot captured me from the first page. Warning, tissues will be needed, especially at the end.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Dilemma is full of so many secrets and so much heartache that this reader couldn’t help but completely immerse herself in this book to see how it would all unfold.

Livia has planned a huge 40th birthday bash to make up for the wedding she and her husband Adam never had. Everyone she loves will be there, except her daughter Marnie. But Livia is secretly glad she won’t be there because she has recently uncovered a secret about Marnie. Adam has his own surprise, but during the day, he hears some terrible news and he too is faced with “The Dilemma”.

The Dilemma is not what I consider your average or normal mystery/suspense/thriller. Oh! Don’t get me wrong! There is plenty of mystery, suspense and thrills! I was on edge during the entire book. When every secret is finally revealed, I felt like I could breathe again. I didn’t realize I had been that tense and full of anticipation.

What do I mean when I say this wasn’t your average mystery? When I think of a mystery/suspense/thriller, I think of a dead body (or bodies), someone running for their life, that kind of thing. I won’t say much more because I don’t want to spoil this story for you, but while this story may not have what I was expecting, it has so much that made it a page turner. The characters, their actions and reactions were well written. While I might not have agreed with some of the reactions, I could understand them.

I was disappointed in Paris’ last book, but she has put herself back on my must-read list with this one. This reader was not disappointed and doesn’t think you will be either, so put this one to your list.

This is a quick page turning read! The story mainly takes place in a 24 hour period, with each chapter being a different hour. Relationships and character traits are built slowly through flashbacks. The book left me wondering what would I do if in the same given circumstance.

I enjoyed this one overall and look forward to more from this author. I’ve officially read all of Paris’ stories and loved each one more than the last. Thumbs up!

What an interesting read! I have been a huge fan of Paris' novels in the past so I immediately jumped at the chance to read this novel. It was very different from what I was expecting, but as always with BA Paris, the writing was incredible and kept me flipping pages late into the night. This novel brought up so many questions and really left me thinking about it after I finished. I would definitely recommend this to readers of BA Paris' previous novels with the warning that it is veryy unique and different from her previous novels. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The highlight of this book was that, according to my Kindle app, it only took me 2.5 hours to read. I hate to leave a bad review when a publisher has generously given me an advanced copy to read for review, but there was no getting around it with this one. There is no "dilemma" in this book, just two adults not willing to talk to one another. The craziest part is...neither party did anything wrong! No one was admitting to an affair or a crime or some act they wrongly committed. The reveal of the two secrets being kept happens super early in the book so the ENTIRE book is told from the perspective of two characters who are ruminating endlessly on the secrets they know and when they'll tell the other person. Unreal. This entire book was so contrived and a total disappointment. I've tried B.A. Paris in the past and not been a fan so I don't know why I continue to? This will definitely be my last. I can't even bump it up for quality of writing. The dialogue was so stilted and weird. Do yourself a favor and don't even bother! Too many fish (books) in the sea (bookstore).

This was not what I was expecting! I have read two other (amazing) books by B.A Paris. I loved them. This one- was the same!

What would you do to protect your family? If you had one chance to keep everything the same. Even for a few hours... would you?

Livia has been planning her 40th birthday party for 20 years. But a family secret could make it all fall apart. But is her secret the only thing looming?

B.A. Paris has done it again with another unstoppable novel. Once you pick this one up, prepare to read until the early morning hours to find out what happens next.

Livia has been planning her 40th birthday celebration for years. And once that fateful day arrives, there is enough happening in the lives of her family and friends that it could've been cancelled, yet the show must go on. The twists and turns of the party and its aftermath will have you at the edge of your seat.

A loving couple is preparing for a 40th birthday party like no other but both people have a secret of their own.

That’s the basic premise of this book. I did like the book itself. Finally I got a book that feels complete. The last few books by this author felt rushed near the end. This was not which is good

Though I feel this book wasn’t really a thriller or suspenseful book. The believability of the story line as well wasn't to out of the realm of possibility. Though there were times wondering if I would actually keep going with a party while carrying around this secret.

All surprises were revealed fairly early on and no real twists came about after. For that reason I give it three stars but overall enjoyed reading this book

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an early copy for review

I enjoy this author's books. This one was not my favorite but I kept wanting to flip pages. The whole book takes place in a day. I felt it was an exciting story.

I usually like this author’s books, but this one didn’t appeal to me very much. Totally different from what I have come to expect and like from author B A Paris. The story took place over a course of one day and how the main characters were “faced”with a dilemma on how to tell they partner something they learned. Secrets kept that should have been shared. Would have made a nice short story, but not a full length novel. Waiting anxiously for the next book from this author.

I was very excited to see that new B.A. Paris book was available, that I requested it immediately from Netgalley. It did hook me in initially but then got bogged down by some of the characters and plot descriptions. In some ways too much happening, and others not enough.. I find that Adam and Olivia are both unlikable characters, especially Livia, who seems to be a very immature woman getting close to her 40th birthday and planning a put out all the stops type of party since she never had a small wedding.

All her friends will be there including, secretly unbeknownst to her, her daughter Marnie, who has a very close relationship with her father and is planning a surprise visit from her studies in Hong Kong. Her mother initially is happy that the daughter won't be at the party promising that she knows something that her husband Adam does not know about Marnie. Add to this, her husband Adam, also has something secretive that he needs to tell his wife knowing that it will not only ruin her party but will completely change their lives. I enjoyed the way the book was told from both points of view, Adam and Livia's.

It is a good solid book. Filled with emotions about friendship relationship love and loss. I could see this being tweaked and made into a feature.

I would like to thank author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Liv and Adam both have a secret that they need to tell each other. Neither wants to spoil Liv's 40th birthday party, so they wait. The consequence s of both of their secrets could change their lives forever. Thank you netgalley for offering another great story.

It is finally here, the night that Livia has been waiting for and saving for the last 20 years, her fortieth birthday. She was a young mother who had a very small wedding and she has been saving for this birthday to make up for the dream wedding that she missed out on. She has spared
no expense on turning her backyard into all she has dreamed of, inviting 100 people and serving the best food. But her party will not be complete because her daughter Marnie will not be in attendance but Livia feels it difficult to admit to herself that she doesn’t want her there. Livia has a terrible secret that she is keeping from her husband Adam and is not sure when or if she should tell him. Meanwhile Adam is trying to put on a brave face and allow Livia to enjoy the party she has waited so long for. He wants her to be happy for a few more hours before he must shatter her world with a secret of his own. Are
they both holding back the same secret or will their worlds equally be upturned by each other’s confessions?
I kept holding on and wondering if something was going to change or when things would happen. I was choked up and felt the pain of each of them so real while reading the story. Not like B.A. Paris’s previous books but still Definitely recommend! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!