B.A. Paris delivers again with her newest novel, The Dilemma. The characters were rich, and I had trouble putting this book down. Paris is a fabulous story teller and shows she can impressively dominate in different genres.

Livia has been dreaming and planning her 40th birthday party for years. The date has come and everyone important will be at her party except her daughter. Livia and her husband Adam however have been keeping secrets from each other. What will happen when the secrets emerge? Will her party be everything she always dreamed of?

I really enjoyed this one!!

I previously read Behind Closed Doors and Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris. I was expecting another exciting psychological thriller full of twists and turns. The Dilemma is a much more subdued family drama story than I was expecting. Slow-moving at times, it is an interesting family story of two parents dealing with life-changing information about their college-age daughter (they each have different secrets they are holding). You can certainly question both Livia and Adam's decision to keep certain information to themselves. It is easy to think so much could have been prevented if only the secret than Livia was hiding about her daughter had come to light sooner.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.

Received as an ARC copy. It was different than the other novels written by BA Paris. The book deals with the family dynamics and how to tell the ones you love something horrible. I truly enjoyed the book and the thoughts of what I would do. Also it was a good cry.

I love B.A. Paris's other books much better than this one. Based upon her other books, I anticipated a much more satisfying ending/twist. It's an easy read, but don't spend time reading it if you are expecting a thriller.

Another page turner from B. A. Paris.
Forget sleeping and anything else. You will not be able to put this down. The suspense keeps building from the first chapter until the end. Family secrets and assumptions that affect relationships and emotions tumble together during a 40th birthday celebration.

Entertaining
Well written
Good plot
Secrets
I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

The Dilemma is the story of Livia and Adam and the secret each of them hold about their daughter Marnie. The story is told in a dual narrative and takes place the day of Livia’s 40th birthday party - a day that Livia has planned for the past 20 years.

The story held my interest throughout. It is a story about love and friendship and what each of us does to protect others around us. I loved how the story unfolds as the day progresses and the inner conflict the protagonists face. A well-developed storyline.

I loved the book and recommend it to book clubs and fiction lovers.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

This book about a birthday party for 40 year old Livia was outstanding. Not having had a wedding it was her desire to have a large fortieth birthday party, a party she never had when married. Due to circumstances beyond the family's control the day at least for her husband, Adam, was difficult to get through. He cannot tell Livia what he just learned, that is his dilemma. Livia, in the meantime is holding fast to her own secret, and cannot t ell Adam, that is her dilemma. This book was amazing, it's not something you could put down (not even for a minute) and come back to at a later time. I've never read anything before by this author, and when I do if the next (or previous ones) are anything like this, I'll have to have several glasses of wine to get through the novel!!!! Outstanding. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book and have loved every book that B.A. Paris has written. This book was actually more psychological than thriller. I hurt so much for Adam as he had to hold the secret about his daughter and get through that party without sharing his grief. I actually felt stress for both parents the whole time and hoped that the daughter would walk into the party at any moment and prove Adam wrong. Then throw the affair in on top of it all... my nerves were shot. Great book that I highly recommend!

I was so excited to have been given an advanced copy of The Dilemma by B.A. Paris but it frustrates me that I just couldn’t get into it. B.A.Paris is a great author, her books keep readers on the edge of their seats, unfortunately for me, I felt this book was flat.

This book takes place throughout an entire day. It’s Livie’s 40th birthday, ever since she didn’t get to have a big wedding, she started putting money away for a big birthday bash. Everyone but her daughter Marnie will be at her party but Livie doesn’t mind, she didn’t want her there anyway. Livie is holding on to a huge secret, a secret she’s been keeping from her husband Adam and a few other people. She knows it’ll affect her party so she keeps it to herself.

Adam has a secret of his own too, he and Marnie made plans for a surprise visit but then something horrible happened. Adam is beside himself but knows the ppl secret he’s holding on to will not only ruin the party, but change their lives forever. Adam loves Livie so much that he doesn’t want to ruin her special day, but can he keep it to himself until the party is over?

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book, 1.5 stars.

I had to struggled with this boom. I tried my best but, really felt like this story fell short. I enjoy this author yet, had a hard time connecting and staying engaged.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I’ve read B.A. Paris’ other books, (Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown and Bring Me Back) so I had high hopes for this new book. The whole book is based on the dilemma of secrets between a husband and wife and there was a strong sense of suspense throughout but it seemed to drag on too long. The story was told in alternating chapters between Livia and Adam. I liked the main characters/narrators but there were several superfluous characters that just seemed unnecessary. It was an entertaining story and I kept waiting for the big A-HA moment but it never really happened. I would definitely read more by this author but this one fell short for me.

Although an avid reader, I am not that person who stays up late to keep reading. Until now! This was a compelling story with a heart-racing and heart-breaking incident. The author builds suspense while she made me FEEL fear, hope, and sadness. I was actually tearing up at points and felt my heart aching a bit. Of the couple, I found Adam to be a very empathetic character but didn't like Livia as much. I think this added to the suspense and dilemma. I will be hunting down other books by Paris and recommending to my friends!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Ohhhhh my!!! B.A. Paris has truly outdone herself with this read! The Dilemma had me glued to my kindle from start to finish! This moving novel combines the general fiction and women’s fiction genres superbly with some mystery/suspense flowing throughout the storyline! I have enjoyed all of B.A. Paris’s prior novels, but The Dilemma really pulled at my heartstrings and had me very emotionally invested! I read non-stop because I had to find out what exactly happens, but at the same time I was so darn nervous to find out what exactly happens! The Dilemma is a gripping 4.5 star novel that will have you thinking about these characters long after you finish the book!

B.A. Paris has done it again! I really love her books. They're so easy to read. Plots are interesting. I zip through them because I need to know what happened. I think I still like Behind Closed Doors the best, but this one would be second or third. This one is told in alternating points of view between the husband and wife, Adam and Livia. And the entire plot takes places over one evening. Misguided couple trying to keep each other happy. Don't do it. Just be honest with your spouse and let the chips fall where they may people! But then we wouldn't have any good books if that happened!

This was a book that I could not put down. The time frame of the book takes place in a 24 hour period. Livia and Adam are a happily married couple who both have a big secret that they are not sharing with each other until the time is “right”! Once the secrets are told, hearts are broken and lives spiral out of control.

I could not put this book down! Adam and Livia are keeping secrets from each other about daughter Marnie in an effort to protect each other. Unfortunately talking around the truth or telling half truths is very stressful to a marriage. Thankfully they find their way through their grief, although they are still keeping a secret from a friend, of course to protect her feelings.

In the meantime Adam and Livia have to grapple with the fact that, even though they thought they had raised Marnie to know right from wrong, she was still human and had made a horrible mistake. Yet, she was still their daughter and they still loved her. That is a good lesson for any parent.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review -
Liva's parents didn't give her a wedding so she saves her money for a big celebration on her 40 birthday.
Their daughter Marnie is studying abroad but hopes to make it home for the party as a surprise for mom.
And then a parent's worst nightmare happens.... and each has a secret they need to share with the other - but what will happen when it is shared?

A lot of build-up to what each of the characters was hiding helped make this a great book for me. Yes, a lot of drama could have been eliminated by communication but this was a fiction book. Accepting it as such makes this a fantastic, page-turning read.

Loved this! B.A Paris does it again! This unputdownable novel will have you in tears. Well done AGAIN B.A Paris well done.