I really wish I could say I loved this one but sadly I cannot. I don’t normally have a problem with unlikable characters but I just couldn’t get past these main characters. Who puts so much time and energy into planning and paying for such an extravagant 40th birthday party? For yourself? No one I know. It was so unbelievable and the plot wasn’t much better. I had hoped for so much more from this author.

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris is a full length, stand-alone book.
Meet Livia, Adam, Josh and Marnie. Livia is about to celebrate her 40tieth birthday with her husband Adam and her children Marnie and Josh when tragedy strikes and changes everything for the family. Nothing is anymore as it was.
The Dilemma is an emotional, gritty and raw story. An unputdownable pgeturner that had me glued to the pages.
I connected easily with the characters and could feel all their emotions in the wirds. The writing is great and the storyline put me through the emotional wringer , and I loved it. 4,5 Stars.

Goodreads Review:

This book appeared on my Netgalley page as one frequently requested, and having already and enjoyed another by B A Paris I decided to read it. I thank the publishers for allowing me to read it and give an unbiased review.

Other reviewers have given a good overview of the plot: in summary a woman's (Liv's) long-awaited 40th birthday party. The story is set in a 24-hour period which covers the immediate preparations for the party and the events of the night itself. The story is written in alternating chapters from Adam's (the husband's) and Liv's perspectives which, though occasionally irritating in books it worked fairly well in this novel, the third major character being their daughter, Marnie, whose life in Hong Kong is the catalyst for the events (and secrets) of the novel.

This book is tagged as a psychological thriller which is misleading: there is some suspense about when Adam is going to tell Liv the unfortunate news that he has, but it drags along a little and this is in no way a psychological thriller. I admit felt a bit like yelling “just get on with it” more than once! Liv also has a “secret” which, much like the party, she has blown out of all proportion, thus I was expecting there to be a another, larger secret which just didn’t eventuate. I read the book expecting, nay hoping, that there would be some sort of sophisticated twist or a surprising denouement but disappointingly the end was just.... meh.

So whilst the book itself was quite a page turner in parts I was, somehow, expecting that all was going to not quite be what it seemed and fully hoping that there would be one of those OMG moments where the plot twist is so clever that the book becomes a satisfying read. Alas, I was slightly disappointed. None of the characters were particularly likeable - perhaps that was the whole point though - and whilst some events from the past were alluded to there were I felt some holes in what would have rounded out the characters, particularly Adam and the early years of his marriage to Liv though admittedly this might have derailed the narrative further. I got to the end feeling perhaps something was missing and feeling I'd been a little short-changed.

The Dilemma is a great story. I thoroughly enjoyed it as we were kept wondering how things were going to go. Livia and Adam are interesting characters, both trying to do right by the other. Complications arise, and that's all I can say without spoiling the read.It's how those complications are resolved that makes the story so interesting. The author constantly teases the reader on whether a character will reveal a secret, only to have some complication arise, only to arise again...and again! Perhaps a little too much teasing there. All in all, though, readers will be pleased with B.A. Paris' latest offering.
Thanks, NetGalley, and the publisher, for the ARC.

It is Livia's 40th birthday and her husband Adam is throwing her the party of a lifetime. To make up for the wedding they never had. Everyone will be there but her daughter Margie who is studying abroad. Livia is glad because of a secret about her daughter that will destroy their family. She wants to tell Adam after the party. Meanwhile Adam has a surprise for Livia but before the party he learns something terrible. How far would you go to give a loved one a few hours of happiness? That is the dilemma.

The story takes place over the period of one day with alternating points of view. There were parts where you had to suspend belief but over all an entertaining read.

I’d like to begin by saying that this is nothing like a typical B.A. Paris thriller which was what I was (of course) expecting. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy it because I did. It was more of a family drama. The dilemma. A couple each with their own dilemma on how to tell their spouse some horrible news. When to tell them. How to tell them. And how their decisions will impact their family & friends. And their relationship. It takes place in the span of 24 intense hours going back & forth between Adam & Livia’s accounts of how things are going & how they’re each dealing with their own dilemma. I really enjoyed it but If you’re expecting a thriller/mystery then don’t bother.

Wow, I do not even know where to really start with this review. I have read BA Paris before and have really loved her work. With that being said i emailed the publisher to get a copy of The Dilemma since I was so excited she was releasing a new book. This has to be one of the biggest let downs of all time. This book has no plot twists, you find out what happens right in the beginning, and frankly I would not even call this a thriller. It's a story being told where nothing really ever happens. I am absolutely shocked that this book was so bad. The characters had absolutely zero personality, there was absolutely nothing to the plot, and things that were added to be shocking were not even a big part of the plot, just added in for something to happen in the story. This was a huge let down and I do not recommend you read this book.

This is a different type of book than others by B A Paris. I've enjoyed several of her books but, this one is a tear jerker!
Livia has a deep secret that she is planning on telling her husband Adam after her 40th birthday party. All while Adam has a secret of his own to tell her after the party as well. The secrets and this family have been through a lot and lots definitely a emotional rollercoaster of a read!
This is a very dramatic storyline, heart wrenching but very good. Definitely recommend and worth the read you will not be disappointed!

It's Livia's 40th birthday and she's having the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding she never had. Everyone she loves will be there except her daughter Marnie, who's studying abroad. But although Livia loves Marnie, she's secretly glad she won't be at the party. She needs to tell Adam something about their daughter but she's waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.

Adam wants everything to be perfect for Livia so he's secretly arranged for Marnie to come home and surprise her on her birthday. During the day, he hears some terrible news. He needs to tell Livia, because how can the party go on? But she's so happy, so excited - and the guests are about to arrive.

The Dilemma - how far would you go to give someone you love a last few hours of happiness?

3 stars

I've always enjoyed B.A. Paris works before, and this one was definitely different than her usual page-turning thrillers. Although the premise of secrets and miscommunication works well to shape the story, it took a long time to get there. The Dilemma has a psychological tone that I have not seen much from other thriller writers where you want to get to the climax of the story sooner and keep the pages turning.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This was an interesting presention of what not to do when unpleasant events happen. Livia and Adam married without the blessing of Livia's parents because she was pregnant. For Livia's 40th birthday, she plans the party she wished she could have had for her wedding to Adam. Selfishly, her world centers around her, and this party is all she can think about and she expects it to make her happy. She has a secret she is keeping from Adam which devastates her and she knows their life will change when she reveals it to him. But NOT until the party is over. Adam is doing everything he can to make the party perfect knowing how important it is to Livia. On the day of the party he has heart breaking news but does not feel he can spoil Livia's party. As in any relationship, communication is key and that is not happening between Livia and Adam. I though there was a little too much drama and too much telling of the same events. It still made me want to finish the book and see how they dealt with each disaster.

This was not what I expected. I'm sorry to say I found this boring and sad. Who's life revolves around one birthday party? Didn't like the main characters at all. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. B.A. Paris never lets me down. I can always count on her for a juicy twisty book. This one is all about dilemmas- appropriately titled. Definitely recommend.

Okay, yes, Livia, the main female character, has this twenty-years-long 'need' for a huge and specific party to make up for the wedding she never had and it's pretty ridiculous. But if you can't get past that for the sake of the story, you probably shouldn't bother with this one because the entire book takes place right before and during said party. Just let it be what it is.

Now to talk about it without giving everything away...

Livia and her spouse, Adam, both have a 'dilemma' involving their daughter Marnie. Information they do not know when or how to share with each other. I have to admit, as I talked through the scenarios with my husband the decisions seemed silly and simple, but when you're reading the book, the author does a great job of drawing you into the minds of the characters and feeling their struggle. At least with Adam's struggle. Livia's struggle didn't make sense to me in the context of marriage. But I could understand Adam's dilemma a little better- and though it seems simple to an outsider, the intensity of conflicting emotions can easily cause people to think and act irrationally.

I thought it was interesting that we don't really get to know Marnie much at all. I feel like most books like this would spend time having flashbacks to the character's past to build on her personality and help you know and feel connected to her considering she is at the heart of the story. But Paris didn't do that. I can't decide whether I would have preferred that or not: on the one hand, it would have broken up the book more instead of spending so much time in one 24 hour time period and maybe would have made the reader like Marnie more; on the other hand, it seemed evident that Paris was trying to write a book focused on communication in marriage and the relationship between the husband and wife before, through, and after their dilemmas.

I read this book in about 3 days- the writing is very compelling and gripping. I was drawn in and feeling the tension. I'm glad she didn't string you along too far without revealing more details or it would have gotten annoying. But I feel like it was just the right amount of drawing out and keeps you biting your nails trying to figure out which way Paris is going to swing it.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It's not going to change your marriage by any means, and you probably won't like one or more of the characters, but I think you will connect with the story and be engaged throughout the story. It's not a thriller but it's a compelling, tense, family drama and sometimes we need something that touches our emotions.

And bonus!- broaden your British English vocabulary:
- to 'revise' means to study (as in school)
- a 'marquee' is a large tent
- a 'jumper' is a sweater

I wanted to like this, and some of the writing was strong, but it just didn't hold my attention. I felt that the author was withholding too much from me as the reader in order to enjoy the book. I didn't finish it.

B.A. Paris, my Queen.

Although very different from her prior works, I still really enjoyed this. Smaller in scope, yet quite intricate as a character study.

Following husband and wife, Livia and Adam, this story takes place during the course of one day. The day of Livia's much anticipated 40th birthday party.

Adam and Livia were married very young and never had the chance to have the wedding of her dreams.

She has always looked on this party as an opportunity to celebrate not just her birthday, but also their relationship.

As the day arrives Livia is dragged down by a monumental secret she is keeping from her husband.

Unfortunately, she's not the only one with a secret. Adam has a life-changing secret as well that he is choosing to keep from her.

The narrative alternates between the two as they struggle with their decisions to keep such important facts secret from one another. It is very introspective in a lot of ways, but there is still quite a bit of suspense.

Over the course of the story, the reader learns the true nature of their respective secrets and what those secrets could mean for the family as a whole.

As I mentioned above, this novel seemed smaller in scope compared to her previous novels. By that I mean, all of the action takes place at their home during the course of one day.

Her previous novels certainly covered larger geographical areas, as well as longer spans of time, making the stories seem more complex.

However, I think after you complete this one, and you sit back and think about what you have read, the real intricacies begin to come to light.

I cried reading this. The characters go through so much, it really moved me.

Although I would classify this as more domestic drama than psychological thriller, which is what I would classify her earlier novels, I appreciated it very much.

Her writing style is just so compelling and never fails to keep me glued to the pages.

B.A. Paris has a fan in me for life. I will always pick up every single thing she has published.

Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. This was absolutely one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it did not disappoint.

B.A Paris is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. This is the second book I have read and the characters are rich and believable. This is a heartbreaking story no parent wants to face.

This book was a fast read, you just had to know how it was going to end! I almost skipped to the end to see how it turned out. A definite creative thriller by a great author

The Dilemma was about a woman named Olivia (Livia) who was excited to be having her 40th birthday party. She never had a wedding, because her parents didn't approve of her getting pregnant before marriage. Livia's parents were no longer a part of her life from that moment forward. Livia's daughter Marnie was studying abroad and wanted to come home and surprise her mom on her birthday. Livia's husband, Adam, made the arrangements for Marnie to go back. Just before Livia's birthday party started, Adam read on his phone that the flight his daughter was supposed to be on crashed. He wasn't sure that she was on the plane because Marnie told him she would miss the layover. So, Adam decides to go along with the party and not worry Livia until he k for sure what has happened to their daughter. Adam spends the next 14 hours trying to be polite at the party but is internally melting down because he can't get ahold of Marnie. Livie's party was a success, and once everyone leaves, Adam calls the airline to find out what happened to Marina. Livia and Adam face their new future and struggle genuinely. This book will make you cry, laugh, and feel empathy for these characters. The Dilemma is one of my favorite books by B.A. Paris.

Wow, tell me about building up the drama...This book had me hanging on each word, waiting for some resolution. The story was like waiting on pins and needles. The ending was a little unsatisfying, like it was wrapped up quickly, but overall, the book was amazing. I read it in a single sitting because I just had to know what happened!