Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of The Dilemma by B.A. Paris.

Unfortunately this is a DNF for me, I made it about 20% of the way. I will tell you why I can't stomach continuing.

This is a family drama centered around a 40th birthday party and a family secret. I never discovered what the secret was, but I never got to a point where I cared.

To begin with, FIRST WORLD PROBS. Omg, I've been planning my 40th bday party for twenty years because my stupid parents didn't give me the magical wedding that I wanted. I get it, that sucks, but seriously, I have a hard time believing that a grown woman would make that big of deal over her own party.

Also, the strained relationship of the father and son because the dad wasn't around for the early years. Again, that's tough, but dude, you're twenty! And your dad has clearly spent years making amends, stop making jabs like it happened yesterday.

Overall, it was all just silly. The details became too weighty and the characters all felt like adult children. I just can't invest any more time.

This was very different from what I have come to expect from B.A. Paris, and I loved it. Hard to give too many details without spoiling the story. Livid and Adam are married, with two children. Throughout the story, we learn everyone has a secret, some more devastating than others.
You are kept guessing to the end, and hoping for a different outcome. Beautifully written!

I had a hard time connecting to this one. I didn't love either main character and there were some points to the plot that I had a hard time understanding. Planning that long for a 40th birthday party makes no sense. You don't care about your 40th birthday in your 20s! And why did Adam not do any of the obvious ways to find out if Marnie was on the plane? And seriously, I can't believe thats a dilemma to not ruin a party for. And Adam's dislike of his son was bizarre. My parents had me when they were 19 unexpectedly and I can't imagine them holding that against me. I've really loved previous books from Paris, this one just was a confusing one for me.

You'll spend the whole book waiting for the answer to one simple question, then, when you have the answer, you'll argue with yourself about whether you knew the truth all along or if you wanted things to turn out differently. I wonder what my desire for one outcome or the other says about me, and, on the whole, think this book was an interesting psychological experience.

I was pleasantly surprised by this newest novel by B.A. Paris. So far, my experience with this author has been with page turning psychological thrillers that leave me feeling just a little scared (as a self-proclaimed chicken!) When I accepted this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review, I was expecting just that in "The Dilemma." The story takes place during the course of one day and night, and much of the information is gained from the two main characters inner monologues, as well as reflections of memories and events from the past. This helped me to feel immediately that I knew both characters even without knowing all of the specifics of circumstances they referred to. I loved how I went through moments of disliking, relating to, and also feeling for both as more of the story unfolded and the person's perspective put actions into context. While this certainly had me engrossed and rushing to see what would happen next--both in the present day happenings and to have answers to more of why the past had colored emotions in the present--this page turner appealed to me as a wife and daughter, as well as a therapist as the layers of family dynamics were peeled back, and flawed characters revealed themselves in a way that left me feeling empathy, for ALMOST every single one. While there were certainly very sad moments, ones that I found myself not wanting to fully immerse myself in because of how surprisingly connected to the characters and their emotions I felt almost right away--the story felt realistic and satisfying in the way that it ended. Messy, raw, real, but working hard to accept the circumstances and do their best with where they are left at the end---just like all of us do ideally in real life.

While I think expecting something more along the lines of the first book of B.A. Paris' that I read, "Behind closed doors," sort of had me waiting to see what the disturbing twist would be about these characters I was starting to relate to (not that there are not disturbing twists--just not in the characters I was expecting!) it also became a twist in itself for me personally to find empathy (again, for most not all of the characters in this story!) and impressed me to see what feels like a great ability that feels like it crosses genres for this author.

Thank you for gifting me with this copy--I feel so honored to have been able to read it in advance, and the opportunity to review this great read!

Wow!
Read this in two quick sittings, I could not put it down! Another amazing reading from B.A. Paris. Each chapter follows a married couple and follows either Olivia or Adams perspective. The novel takes place around Olivia's 40th birthday party, the party/wedding she never had. As the story unfolds, both Olivia and Adam are holding on to large secrets that the other does not know. Each holding on to the secret to protect the other, but as we know the truth eventually unfolds in the most dramatic and heart wrenching way. So many twists and turns that will prevent you from putting the book down.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I liked this one, but I felt like the twists/turns were anticlimactic and they were not as intense as they could've been. I think the story itself was cool, but there were lots of missed opportunities for suspense.

Thanks to Net Galley for the digital arc. I loved this book. It kept me glued to the pages and I finished it in five hours. Loved the storyline, the characters not so much... Hope you enjoy this book. It gets a 5 star from me. I have read all of B.A. Paris books.

I love all B.A. Paris's books but this was my least favorite. You know whats happening or going to happen basically the whole time and at the end it's just confirmed, which anyone in their right mine would know.

I thoroughly enjoy BA Paris’s writing style and plot pacing. This particular one fell flat to me. It read less like a psychological thriller and more like domestic fiction. I couldn’t relate to the MC at all. Having recently turned 40 myself, the obsession with the perfect birthday party that Livia has been planning for 20 years read as a really sad and selfish version of ‘My Super Sweet Sixteen’. I am sure other readers will be able to relate better; this one was just not for me.

An interesting premise that provokes a lot of "what would you do" scenarios. Not so much a mystery as straightforward story telling. This is the third book by this author that I have read and the books are consistently solid.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

This book is incredibly sad! I never cry when reading and this book brought me to tears. This is such a heart wrenching story. My heart just broke. I love when I finish a book and it leaves me pondering everything I’ve read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Man... B.A. Paris really knows how to reel a reader in. Paris will reel you in with multiple characters that you will fall in love with, and instantly relate with. This particular story is told via 2 different point of views, and it is interesting to see the story unfold though the eyes on 2 very different characters. The title "The Dilemma" makes the reader think there will be 1 choice the characters make, but in the end if really seems that each an every character has something they are struggling with.

I fully loved this book, but I am having a hard time writing a review because I do not want to spoil anything for the reader. I stayed up way too late reading, but I did not want to put this book down. You will relate to the various dilemmas in the book, and you will find yourself asking "what would I do?" "how would I react if I were in that situation".

I must admit... I kept rooting for Marnie (and when you read the book) you will discover why...

I wouldn't call this mystery/thriller but more of a domestic drama. This was the first book in the thriller genre to actually make me feel quite sad, but really connected to the story. I enjoyed the format of short chapters separated by each hour, and it felt like every new chapter unwrapped a new aspect to the story. It was really hard to put this book down - I've only read one other book by B.A. Paris but this is my new favorite of hers.

I really enjoyed this book, it was easy to read. The characters were relatable. It had a “real” feel to it.

Easy 4.5 stars from me. This book navigates difficult issues as well as complicated family/friend life. I was instantly sucked into the lives of the characters and couldn't wait to see how it ended. I will definitely be recommending this one to my family and friends.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this one to fall rather flat. I enjoyed the “suspense” for maybe 5 chapters and after that the only thing I did was scream at Adam and Livia in my head. This novel could have been a 5 paragraph essay if the husband and wife could pull their heads out of their butt and just talk to each other. I found the book to be frustrating and annoying, not in a good way. I struggled to finish. Compared to this authors other books, this one was extremely dull.

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris a suspenseful story that takes place over 24 hours. Adam and Livia are hosting a party for Livia's long planned 40th birthday. It is supposed to be like the wedding Livia never had, and she is hoping it is absolutely perfect. Adam is busy trying to make sure that everything is in place; the caterers, decorations, gift, and the surprise of their daughter, Marnie, coming in from Asia to surprise her mother. No one knows about Marnie's surprise except her father. As the day unfolds, the reader gets a glimpse into Livia's mind, as she grapples about having to tell Adam a secret that will shatter his world, but decides to wait until after the party. Adam is waiting to hear from Marnie about which flight she ends up making, and is panic stricken when there is a plane crash leaving from her connecting airport. As the party draws closer, Adam and Livia become increasingly anxious as they try to keep the other calm.

This book was not a thriller like I was expecting, but it is a raw look into one couple's relationship. Adam and Livia's relationship has been tested over the years, and this party comes at a time when they are truly happy. Neither wants to break that. I am giving 4 stars only because this book built up the suspense quite high, but it didn't really have the climax it should have. Otherwise, this book is genuine and well written. Thank you the NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy!

The Dilemma is an amazing domestic drama by B.A. Paris. It deals with hot topics such as marital affairs, pregnancy loss, infertility and the death of a loved one. In short, it has it ALL.

if you like detail in writing this is for you. Me? I prefer getting to the point at least a little more quickly than Th Dilemma. The book slowly smoulders on and on, until final the story breaks.

The narrative flips between the two main characters: Livia and Adam, who are married so that you see the their lives through two sets of eyes. Now here is the part I don’t get but I’m not one who’d ever want a big party or wedding.

Livia has been waiting for, and organizing her own party for as long as she can remember. She even chose their home based the garden where the party would one day take place. Now the pressure is on her husband, Adam, to make sure that it’s perfect for her.

Adam and Livia seem to have it all: they have a beautiful home and a boy and girl child, Marnie and Josh, and a host of extended family and friends. But wait not all is perfect, Livia was disowned at 18 when she became pregnant out of wedlock with Josh. Later Marnie is born into wedlock and maybe that’s kinda okay with Livia’ s dad, but after 20 years there has been no contact.

Now for for Livia’s perfect and extravagant fortieth year old birthday party! Livia is planning the celebration of the century, but it’s more than just a party to her it’s is her one opportunity to be self-indulgent; to make up for the wedding her parents never provided her. Rather she and Adam were married in a fifteen minute ceremony at the courthouse. I am struck by the love between Adam and Livia after marrying so young and under not so wonderful circumstances. Can this love endure the worst event to ever happen in the life of parents?

The party comes and eventually goes with Adam harbouring the most devastating news. Why does Adam wait til after the party to share? Does he really want to spare his wife’s grief until after her gala or is he just afraid to confront it! This is the point this reader became frustrated as The Dilemma drug on and on and on. I guess the author wanted to impose on the reader the difficulty of such a dire decision.

The plot is not a complex one, yet engaging as you desperately hope that things will work out as the party, parties on. Even though the book unfolded slowly and in great detail, I was hooked by the decisions that had to be made hoping that relationships can be salvaged and lives will not be destroyed. But that’s not true life.