I have read a couple of books by B.A. Paris that I have enjoyed so I was excited to get the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. From the very beginning you can tell that the majority of the book was going to take place within the course of about 24 hours. I don’t generally do well with plots like that. There never feels like enough time to fully grasp what is happening. That was not the case with this book though. The chapters bounce back and forth between Adam and Livia’s perspectives at different times throughout the day of Livia’s big 40th birthday party. At first you can tell that something is going on that Livia doesn’t want to tell Adam about but is psyching herself up to do it after her party. I started to have a theory and then that was blown, and then another theory which was again blown, etc. Each time I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was proven wrong. I loved that about this book. I was always kept guessing. When I found out what was actually going on, I was shook. Both Adam and Livia are struggling to tell one another about something involving their daughter, Marnie. Each one is very serious, one more so than the other. I felt so hard for Adam and what he had to keep to himself all day to give Livia just one more day of pure happiness before their lives as they knew it were over.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. It could be a little long at times with the back and forth but it still kept my interest and kept me guessing until everything was revealed.

3.5 Stars

This book was a huge disappointment for me. It really wasn't a "thriller" in my mind, so its unfortunate that some reviewers have marketed it that way. This story just did not hold my interest at all. I loved her earlier books, and am hoping she writes something similar to that very soon.

I rolled my eyes several times at the beginning of this book as I thought the whole book was going to be about a cheesy birthday party. I mean, who spends twenty years planning their own fortieth birthday party? Really??? But as the story progressed, like peeling an onion, the layers of the story started being revealed and the characters' worlds started falling apart. The plot is really clever and leaves us with lessons in love, loss, forgiveness and the consequences of keeping secrets.

3.5 stars for this domestic suspense (sort of) novel. The plot revolves around a married couple and their daughter and son. Livia didn't get to have a wedding. So, she is about to turn 40 and wants a big fancy birthday celebration. She deserves it. Her husband and children go along with it. But, her daughter is studying out of the country and can't for sure make it back for the party. And it is more like a wedding than a birthday party with party planners, decorations, cake, etc...

There is a big dilemma we come to be in on and it was painful to watch it unfold. What would I do? What should they do? Would I tell my husband what I found out about my daughter? OR would I protect my daughter??? Would I tell my wife what I fear has happened while my daughter is out of the country, esp when she is so happy about her party and being celebrated????? Or keep it a secret, hoping for the best? Ruin my wife's party or let her have the time of her life??????

What is really important here? We all have secrets and lies. I found this one hard to swallow at some points. Tho, not unbelievable.

It is a good read and I do recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy to read for review

For one reason or the other I could not finish this story and did not enjoy it. This was the 2 book I've read by this author and thoroughly enjoyed the first book. Sometimes expectations are high once you read a new author. But needless to say what I did read I didn't enjoy.

Livia has been dreaming about throwing herself a 40th birthday party since forever—well, at least since she didn’t get the wedding she wanted so many years ago. But the big day is finally here, and everything is perfect. The only small hiccup is that Livia’s daughter, Marnie, can’t attend, since she’s living abroad. And even though Marnie’s husband, Adam, is disappointed that his (secretly favorite) child won’t be in attendance, he’s more than happy to support Livia. He may even have a surprise or two up his sleeve. In the midst of party chaos, however, what Livia and Adam don’t know is that they both are keeping secrets about Marnie from each other. They’re about to have an unfortunate “gift of the Magi” situation, and there will be dire consequences.

MY THOUGHTS
There was just so much about this book that I couldn’t get behind. First, Livia is obsessed with this party in a way that I can’t imagine any 40-year old mother of two to be. Why there would be so much pomp and circumstance over this event is beyond me. In fact, Adam’s motivation for not revealing his HUGE AND TERRIFYING secret is that he wants his wife to have fun at her party. There is a zero percent chance that a husband would keep this secret from his wife.

Livia’s secret is a bit more believable, but the reveal takes forever, and I was bored and irritated by the time I finally understood what was happening.

The only thing I really liked about this book was the evolution of Adam’s relationship with his son. It was very heartfelt, and I liked how it progressed and where it ended up.

Otherwise, this was a meh read at best. Probably not my best introduction to the author.

This book wasn't what I expected from B.A. Paris, but I still enjoyed it. I am glad that I went into it already knowing it was more of a family drama than a thriller. It was a very quick read and captivated me from the start.

It's definitely a book that makes you question what you would do in that same situation and I have to say I would HATE Adam to not tell me even if it meant ruining a party I was looking forward to for years! I even held out hope every time thinking that Marnie wasn't on that flight and was going to show up surprising us all!

I think some of the mixed reviews are because nothing much actually happens as it basically follows one family's "dilemma" during 24 hours, but to me it's a really realistic read and I think it's worth it to at least give it a try!

If you scroll all the way back to my first ever bookstagram post (almost a year ago!) you’ll see that it is 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 by 𝗕.𝗔. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀. I was hooked and I read 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 immediately after. She has such a way with writing. You’re not only mentally invested in the mystery and on the edge of your seat with anticipation- your heart is in your throat, ready to collapse with all of the emotions she weaves in. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮 was no exception to this. I binged it in a day and it was completely worth it. Secrets, deception and heartbreak, this family drama gets 4.5/5 🍷🍷🍷🍷 from me! If you’ve finished this one and want to discuss, dm me!
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Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my copy!
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#goodreads #bookish #booksharks #booksparks #flowersofinstagram #cvilleva #cvillebooksandwine #drinkandread #bookstagram #book #bookstagram #bookaddict #bookphotography #bookphoto #bookaesthetic #bookbuyingproblem #author #bookbuyingaddict #bookrecommendations #bookreviewer #stmartinspress #baparis

I think when people see B.A. Paris, they automatically assume thriller. Readers beware, this is NOT that. This is domestic suspense. So adjust your expectations and then enjoy this very deep dive into the human psyche and how we deal with a potential shock to the system and how that shock may resonate with everyone else around us.


What I loved about this read is Paris's writing style. As usual, it's compelling and easy to binge. This particular read is extremely somber so it can seem a bit too much at times and seem to drag in places. However, take into account the actual time span that is happening within the storyline and adjust that to just how fast or slow this time might feel towards the Adam and Livia and what they're going through during these hours.

There are some definitely frustrating moments within this read. You'll want to throttle some of the characters for what they're doing.... and what they're NOT doing. OMG, COMMUNICATE PEOPLE! There were times where I was like JUST TELL HER/HIM/THEM. Call. Find out. What the hell are you doing?! But you just never know how you would react in any life altering situations until you're actually put in them, right? There was just a couple things I couldn't quite wrap my head around that keeps me from absolutely loving this read. I will say that I did tear up at quite a few scenes and my heart was feeling it.

I just want to go hug my parents now.

The Dilemma is a heartbreaking story about a family with secrets. Will the secrets Livia and Adam are keeping tear their family apart or can they survive the tragedies? B. A. Paris had me in tears for most of this book. I just wanted to reach into the book and hug the main characters and tell them that everything would be ok. I haven't been this emotionally invested in a book in a while. There were a few parts where the pacing of the story was a little slow but overall I loved the story.

While this was not a thriller as the other books of hers I’ve read, I enjoyed it just the same. It was more of a family drama, and takes place over the span of one day - Livia’s 40th birthday. Livia has always dreamed of an elaborate birthday celebration for her 40th, since she never had a real wedding. But, she is holding onto a secret from her husband, Adam, and doesn’t want to tell him until after the party. However, the day of, Adam ends up with a secret of his own. They both have the dilemma of when to tell each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Dilemma is B.A. Paris' newest psychological thriller. She is definitely a master of this genre. The story begins with Livia and Adam, a married couple, planning a 40th birthday party for Livia. Livia has a devastating secret that she needs to Adam and he has one that he needs to tell Livia. Both are hoping to wait until after the party. What if the party shouldn't go on? Would you wait to break the news that might blow your whole family apart?
Be prepared to stay up all night as you won't be able to put this book down!

Normally I devour everything B.A. Paris writes, but unfortunately this one was just not it for me. I had a hard time buying into the fact that this would be a dilemma at all. I also found the characters flat and to have a grown women put so much stock into her 40th birthday party didn't feel believable. I wanted more for Jess, though I did like MS being represented on the page. All this to say, I know this has worked for other readers and there is definitely merit in a book with controversial opinions! This could be fun for book club.

Definitely a page turner. I read this in less than 24 hours. I just had to know what happened next and where Livia, Adam, Josh, and Marnie would end up. This book really speaks to people's own state of mind and how each of us would handle bad news and having to tell our loved ones. Great book.

B.A. Paris is a talented author, and every one of her books I've read is almost impossible to put down. This story was the same, but I personally wouldn't categorize it as a thriller - I felt like it was more of a family drama. What should you communicate? When should you do it?

I had totally not guessed about the secrets mentioned in the synopsis, and the book went a whole different direction than I anticipated, which was great. It was well written, and a page-turner. I'm not a huge fan of family drama and angst, but I still had to read quickly to see what happened, which is a big recommendation!

Well...this was emotional and so not what I expected read from this author. I had read Behind Closed Doors, and while it was a gripping read, it so bothered me, and would call it a favorite.

This book, was so different, I couldn’t put it down. The title and cover are perfect for this storyline, and would have bought the book on the jacket write-up alone. I also, wanted to see how this author would spin the tale. Although, I know, for a fact that neither I or my husband would have handled the situations the way Adam or Livia did. I gave my husband a brief synopsis of the story, and we both knew what the other would do. As I was reading this story, so many questions and concerns entered my head. Shock. Surprise. Why are some secrets being kept? How could they do that? But as the story evolved, I felt the author did a great job of making the reader see both Adam and Livia‘s sides of the story, whether we agreed or disagreed.

To say anything more about this book would be to give too much away. I’ll sum it up saying it’s about family, love, protection, disappointment and acceptance, moving thru and moving past, and most of all forgiveness of each other and self.

Thanks to B.A. Paris, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

This may be slightly less suspenseful than some of the other B.A. Paris books, but I thought it was more thought provoking. I don't think I would've made the same decisions as the characters here, but it was interesting (and somewhat understandable) to see how our best intentions to protect our loved ones can quickly spin out of control. Very quick read.

This book was just okay for me. Maybe my expectations were too high, but the big reveal of secrets at the end was a letdown. I was expecting this to be more of a thriller, but I just found it so depressing. For as much of a deal as the parents both made about Marnie, I expected her to play a bigger role in the book. I had a hard time connecting to the characters. For the majority of the book I just found my self feeling stressed, uneasy, and wishing it was over so I could move on to something else. It wasn't the worst book ever, but I just expected so much more. It was disappointing.

I think I've read all but one or two of B.A. Paris books. I really enjoy her writing and she is my go to author for a good read. This book is one of my favorites. Once I started reading I didn't want to stop.
The setting of the entire story revolves around one day, a planned 40th birthday party for Livia. The story is dialog between Livia and her husband Adam and their inner most thoughts and feeling about the unfolding of the day, as past and present secrets collide. They don't communicate these feelings or their secrets to each other until the very end. But that just made we want to keep reading to find out the truth.Their past life and that of their two children and closest friends is slowly revealed and unfolds. Excellent build up of the story. It’s a well thought out story, with good solid writing. Other reviewers have said they thought it was a boring, and were angry the couple didn't communicate their thoughts... but I disagree. Yes it was a little too long and I found myself wanting to skip pages too, so I marked one star off for that. There was a satisfying ending that tied up the story.
I read the kindle version, and purchased the audible version as well, so when I couldn’t read I could listen. Definitely one credit worthy. The narrators did a perfect job and made it great listening experience. The only thing I would of liked to see was actual chapter numbers, along with the the name and time of each chapter. It would of made it easier for me to jump between the book and audible version, since I couldn’t sync the two different reading devices.
I highly recommend this book or audible version to anyone who enjoys a slow burning mystery/suspense genre.
* A special thank you to St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the advanced readers copy, in exchange for my honest review.*

Another winner from B.A. Paris, but a little different from previous thrillers. It is still fast-moving, twisty, and very compelling. I couldn’t put it down until I finished! It portrays a nice normal family preparing for a huge 40th birthday party for Livia, the mother of the family. Livia came off as very self-absorbed in throwing this big party for herself to make up for the wedding she never had, but her 20 year estrangement from her parents had contributed to those issues. Otherwise, she seemed perfectly nice, and the father, Adam, had a few small issues of his own. They each have a secret that they are struggling to keep, and the suspense mounts inexorably as you read. No spoilers - you really need to read it for yourself!

Thanks for Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.