B.A Paris is an amazing writer of suspenseful novels. This book was I I incredible! It was a gem that I would reccomend to anyone.

B.A. Paris' books elicit strong emotions. I cried from sadness, frustration, and anger because the author crafted a complex story with multiple peaks and valleys. The characters are flawed but human. You can't read this tale without thinking how would you handle similar circumstances. I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc for my honest opinion.

This was another novel by an author I have enjoyed reading in the past, and expected to enjoy this one. I did not feel any suspense or excitement, I felt there was no “Dilemma”. I found the characters annoying, selfish and simply boring. Yes I understand the desire to have a big to do for a big occasion, but this was ridiculous. The dynamics between the family members feels stilted. Sadly I was disappointed. I will wait for the next book, hopefully this was just a fluke.

First off, let me just say that this book was totally not what I was expecting. I have read everything that B.A. Paris has written and the gal can write a thriller! So when I had an opportunity to read her latest book, I was expecting something in the same vein. The Dilemma deviates from her usual style, written as more of a domestic drama than a thriller.

This story is about the secrets that husbands and wives keep from each other, the dynamic of their marriage, the relationship they have with their children and friends and family, and how they all intertwine.

Typically anything B.A. Paris writes is a page turner for me. And this book was no exception. However, I was waiting for some sort of twist or surprise as the story evolved, and there wasn't really that moment. To be honest, the ending was a tad underwhelming if you go into the book expecting her typical thriller-like writing. But, if you go into the book expecting a domestic drama, it's excellent.

I would recommend giving it a try as long as you have the right expectations up front.

-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, B.A. Paris, and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review.-

“The Dilemma” by B. A. Paris

The bestselling author of “Behind Closed Doors” is back with a well-written, emotional and heart-wrenching family drama.
In “The Dilemma,” Livia is having a party she’s been planning for a very long time. But what her husband Adam doesn’t know, is that she’s keeping a terrible secret from him. How can she tell him that although she loves her daughter Marnie, she’s glad she won’t be there to celebrate with her?
When the party’s over, Adam will be faced with an unbearable decision, one that will risk ripping their family apart in the worst way possible.
Fans of B. A. Paris will be thrilled to discover that “The Dilemma” has the author’s mesmerizing signature style. There’s a menacing atmosphere that you can feel within the first pages of the book, and it keeps the reader eagerly turning the pages until the final outcome. Paris knows how to shape each of her characters and explore their inner human depths very meticulously.
If you enjoy reading celebrated authors such as Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain, “The Dilemma” is absolutely worth diving into. This is a heart-rending journey you won’t be able to forget.

Reviewed by Ludwig Marzouk for Suspense Magazine

I read this from start to finish in less than 24 hours- what an incredible novel. I am pretty sure it had my heart racing from page 1! This book had everything- secrets, lies, guilt and more...I highly recommend!

B.A. Paris wrote another great psychological thriller - loved how both main characters had separate secrets and it all came together in the end.

It kills me to say but this was not the book for me. I became a fan of B.A. Paris after reading Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown. I was quick to recommend those to any thriller fans. When I read Bring Me Back it was a miss for me also so I was excited to see The Dilemma.

I have a few issues with this book for me personally, first off, I wouldn’t really consider it a thriller. I was also really frustrated with the main characters relationships. I struggled with Adam and Livia being married all these years and yet the story focused on them hiding things from each other and Adam having this strange relationship with his son. Sadly, this book had me skimming some pages and ready for it to end.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for my copy in exchange for a review.

What lengths would you go to in order to shelter someone you love from unhappiness? In “The Dilemma”, Livia and Adam are both keeping secrets from one another to protect the other person’s happiness. But would you be able to keep the ultimate secret for a few hours so that someone you love could be blissful before their life is ruined? Is that cowardly or courageous? Selfish or selfless? Cold hearted or full of love? These are the questions you’ll consider as “The Dilemma” pulls you in and doesn’t let go. Whether you’ll feel empathy or fury — you’ll have an opinion. I did. Great for book clubs!! Disclaimer– I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher!! Release date: 6/30/2020. 4 1/2 stars!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩⭐️ #NetGalley

I’m not surprised that I enjoyed this book so much as B.A. Paris is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite authors, Great, though-provoking story that kept me reading when I should have been doing chores. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

This book was quite a bit different from her other books. I was expecting a thriller, but it's more of a family drama/character study and I really enjoyed it!

I've read Bring Me Back and The Breakdown and I look forward to her new releases each year. I loved both of these and have been meaning to pick up Behind Closed Doors. So my expectations were pretty high for The Dilemma as well. Unfortunately, this just didn't live up to the hype I had created for myself.


When B. A. Paris is mentioned I automatically think thriller. This book was marketed as thriller, with a secondary women's fiction focus. So I was thinking maybe it'd be a domestic thriller. It wasn't. I wouldn't even say this is a thriller to be honest. I think that was why I didn't enjoy it as much as her others.


I have absolutely no problems with women's fiction. I'm not very picky on genres, but if something is marketed a certain way and then is another that's where the disappointment sets in. And I'm well aware this is partially because of author branding as well. So if you go into this, expect more women's fiction.


Aside from that and once I had the new outlook I was half and half on whether I liked it or not. I'm not a huge fan on the lack of communication but also you can't deny they had really good reasons for it and you know they're going to have a confrontation about everything after the party from the beginning. Since I knew this was going to happen I kept playing out the ending in my head and the actual ending wasn't that far off.


For some reason all of the characters seemed pretty cardboard at the beginning, which I've noticed happens quite often for me, so I don't really know if it's a me thing or a books thing. Once I go to know them more they started feeling a lot more real.


Overall, it was a disappointment but if I had known what I was getting into I would have enjoyed it a lot more. I'm still excited to read Behind Closed Doors and anything else she comes out with.

Review will be live on my blog on June 25th at 9 am EST

I wanted to really like this book, but I had immense struggles with both of the main characters. They seemed somewhat trite in their personalities and it felt like the author tried too hard to push the plot forward. I didn't have a big wedding and can't imagine making my 40th birthday the time to celebrate that. And the secrets that they both have, while interesting, just didn't make up for everything else that i felt was missing.

The writing is good and I did finish it, but the plot just left me wanting more. So, I will certainly try another book by this author but can't really recommend this one.

I received an advance copy of this book from net galley. A different book than her usual suspense books but still well written and worth a read. A heartbreaking family drama that involves the dilemmas of honesty. do they tell their secrets before or after the party? Adam has the secret of their daughter was to surprise everyone by coming home for the party but the plane crashes. livia has the secret that her daughter is having an affair. They deal with the dilemma of whether to tell or not tell but secrets have a way of coming out.

B.A. Paris consistently writes quick, satisfying books, and this one delivered for me. It is quite different from her previous books in that it is more of a domestic drama than a psychological thriller. I always appreciate how Paris reveals her cards quickly in a way that builds tension for the reader instead of holding out secrets for unnecessary twists later in the book, as so many suspense writers seem to do.

Livia has a bit of a dilemma on her hands. She knows a truth about her daughter, Marnie, that may well tear her family apart. She is waiting for just the right time to tell her husband because a secret this big will rock their entire world.

Her husband, Adam, also has a dilemma on his hands as he first suspects and then later knows a truth about Marnie that will change everything.

Both of them decide that the news can wait, SHOULD wait until after Livia’s 40th birthday party celebration that is happening tonight.

How long should you keep a secret that you know might devastate your partner, end life as you know it, change the course of your life? At what point is this lack of honesty less about protection and more about avoidance and denial? At what point does keeping that secret become a cruelty?

Although the story takes place over twenty four hours, the telling seemed to drag on. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters other than Nelson, the rest kind of fell flat for me.

I did like the idea of a keeping a secret and having eavesdropping moments add to the confusion and supposition. The different conflicts and deceit added some interesting context to the story.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review

My first problem is that the only other book of B A Paris that I have read is Behind Closed Doors and that was a home run. This book fell a bit short for me. The main character Livia was very unlikable for me. The whole story revolves around her woe is me attitude and she was very selfish. #thedilemma focuses on two different dilemmas that each of the main characters needs to tell the other. However one is majorly different from the other. When Livia finds out about what her husband needs to tell her, once again her selfishness comes into play, all the while he had her best interest at heart. This was still rated 3 stars for me. Thanks to #netgalley for the advanced copy and the privilege to read now.

This one was a nail biter for me as the story quickly unfolds with POV's of both Livia and Adam, each of them keeping secrets from each other, although with Livia's huge 40th birthday party that day, neither wants to share. It was difficult to read because keeping something from the most significant person in their life is difficult. As a reader, you want to yell at them to just share it, but I also know they have their reasons... how often do we keep things from others because we don't want to hurt them? It's a dilemma we have all faced at some point.

B.A. Paris did a great job pulling you in emotionally to Liv and Adam's life to truly understand the dilemma they were facing. The tension rises throughout the book since we know they eventually tell each other. It makes you wonder what would have happened if they had opened up to each other earlier, would things have turned out differently for the family? Sometimes what you think is best, is not necessarily best for everyone.

I read this book in its entirety in one sitting. Was I having trouble sleeping and thus was grateful to have this book to read or was this book so good that I was having trouble sleeping? Either way...I have no regrets.

This book had me from the start. At one point, I teared up. At one point, I physically felt the anxiety that the characters felt. I tip my hat to B. A. Paris as I don't often respond physically to books I read. I enjoyed the short chapters. I enjoyed the change in character perspective from chapter to chapter. I enjoyed that the better part of the entire book was within a 24 hour period. I would say, if you're looking to be entertained, read this book but it's more than that - although it's an easy and can be a quick read, it was one I would recommend for my book club. It made me think...what would I do? Would I tell, would I not tell, is honesty really the best policy, is that selfish or selfless, is there ever a right time, is that what love is? This book will stay with me for some time. I recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and B. A. Paris for the advanced reader's copy in return for an honest review.

This was a family drama, not really a thriller with high stakes, like Paris' first two novels, Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown (I didn't finish Bring Me Back :/).
I was shocked by how unlikeable every single character was, so I wasn't invested, BUT I couldn't stop turning the pages because I needed to figure out what would happen at the end. I didn't like it, but I did need to know the ending so it was definitely worthy of 3 stars for sheer readability.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!