Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5 stars

Alas, this is not my favourite B.A. Paris book. Having read the first three books by this author, I was expecting a twisty thriller...and The Dilemma was not that. I would say it fits more comfortably in the family saga/domestic fiction genre. I kept expecting there to be a huge twist...and there just wasn’t.

I’ve seen some other reviewers note that this was a short story stretched out to novel-length, and I have to agree. The story is drawn out and quite repetitive. And I still can’t really comprehend why Livia (not Olivia) wanted a big 40th party. Her rationalisation that it was a substitute for the big white wedding she never had falls short for me. Why not have a big party to celebrate the renewal of their marriage vows? It would have made more sense and would have been a better justification for Adam not telling Livia “the news” straight away. I’m not keen on the trope where characters decide not to communicate. It creates a superficial tension and the resulting drama doesn’t feel authentic.

All in all, a disappointing read. If I was recommending books to friends or customers I’d steer them towards Behind Closed Doors or The Breakdown rather than The Dilemma.

***I received a free copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris is an intriguing story about secrets. Olivia has been planning her 40th birthday party for over 20 years. When she found out she was pregnant and married her husband at very young age her parents disowned her. They refused to pay for a wedding. She decided that she would get a party and it would be for her 40th birthday. In the day of the party her husband has a big surprise which he has kept secret from her. Olivia has her own secrets and so does almost everyone. Should you keep a secret to make someone feel better?

This book is told by both Olivia and her husband, Adam. The story takes place over a very short period of time. It is a good example of spouses trying to protect each by keeping secrets. Olivia wants to protect Adam and Adam wants to protect Olivia. Will they tell their secrets? Will they forgive each other if they do tell?

I had trouble putting this book down. I wanted to know what they each knew and what they were going to do with that information. I loved this book. B.A. Paris did it again....another great book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mystery/Thriller
Women's Fiction
Release Date June 30, 2020

Wow! Was this a fantastic book or what?!?! I really enjoyed this read and it went by really quickly! Just a fabulous family story and I do not generally enjoy family sagas! But, there was something about this cast of characters that I just really enjoyed! Please read this book when it comes out!!

This was not my favorite B.A. Paris book. As one other reviewer put it, it was a short story that was stretched out to make a full-length book. The main characters, Olivia and Adam, are a married couple in the midst of throwing a big 40th birthday bash for Olivia. This is apparently because Olivia got pregnant with their first child and they had to have a quickie wedding. She's been regretting it all these years and hence the big party. Which is kind of silly but whatever. However, both Olivia and Adam are hiding secrets concerning their daughter from each other - and are determined to keep the secrets until after the party. This is where the story starts to get a little redundant. Adam's secret is huge, and no person alive would keep this secret from their wife until after the party. The scenes of the party seem to stretch out forever and we are subject to various conversations that just serve to drag out the story on and on and on. I kept reading thinking it would get better and it just didn't. Not a winner for me. Thanks for NetGalley for an arc of this book.

This is quite different than what I was expecting to get when I saw this book on NetGalley, who sent a copy of this book to me in advance, I have thoroughly enjoyed everything B.A. Paris has written.

The Dilemma is fast-paced and keeps you hanging on to each and every word. It tugs at your heartstrings, especially at the end. I highly recommend this book and it is my favorite that B.A. Paris has written.

I know that I will be buying a hardcopy the moment it comes out.

I will most definitely recommend this book and I will most definitely read it again.

I loved this book. A perfect title for a family drama that was driven by secrets, yet compassion and love. It was heartbreaking to understand each character's desire to do the right thing and not hurt other loved ones but also to be forced to deal with the consequences of those decisions and actions. I cared about each character and completely understood their "dilemma" in trying to do the right thing while also being the best friend, parent, spouse and child. The family dynamics were situations that everyone can relate to and makes you think about what you would do if the same set of circumstances happened to you. Not only a good read, but one that stays with you and you're forced to think about your own decisions and the inevitable impact they have on those closest to you.

Ok, I LOVE B.A Paris, and I really did like this book, but I don't think it's a mystery, or a thriller. More of a family drama, in the same vein of Elin Hilderbrand. It's a page turner, and a dramatic build up, just not in the same way as her other novels. I think other readers might be disappointed, but I still really liked it.
Olivia has been planning her 40th birthday party for over 20 years. Ever since she found out she was pregnant as a teenager, and disowned by her parents. Olivia had to settle for a courthouse wedding that did not live up to her dreams. So, she knew that by the time she was 40, she would get what she always wanted. An amazing party just for her. And it hasn't been easy, she and her husband Adam had it very difficult raising small children, just barely getting by, but they did it. And now they are empty nesters, Marnie studying abroad, and Josh getting ready to leave for an internship in New York, she feels like she really deserves it.
Olivia has a secret. A big one. She has to tell her husband, but doesn't want to ruin the party she has worked her entire life for.
Her husband Adam, also has a secret. He's secretly flying in his daughter to surprise Olivia, and is trying to keep it under wraps.
The Dilemma is told in Adam and Olivia's alternating voices, as both of their secrets begin to unravel.
Again, not a thriller, but a good book that is impossible to put down.

I'll be honest, I almost DNF'd this one. It just wasn't doing it for me. I gave it a bit longer and holy hell it turned around 160! Unlikable characters, selfish even, but that only made for a better book. This was way more than just -a 'Dilemma'. Secrets and twists all over! Fan-freaken-tastic! I liked it so much I even ordered a hardcopy from the U.K. (It's not available in the U.S until June). Thank you so much for this ARC!

Told through the perspective of different family members over the course of one day in their lives you can see inside their minds as they grapple with the dilemma of sharing information they have learned that the others do not yet know about. Engaging and equally stressful, the story is a quick and enjoyable read that will leave you thinking about the different shades of grey that come with different decisions we all must make .

Since Livia had a courthouse wedding, she had planned to make her 40th birthday a big event. 100 people were going to be at her birthday party! (Yet, not her estranged parents).

Unfortunately for Livia, her daughter, Marnie, was stuck in Hong Kong and would not be able to attend. Marnie is 19. Livia's other child, Josh (22) and her husband of over 20 years, Adam,
would be there.

Secrecy is supreme in this story. As more and more secrets are revealed prior to the party, the family dynamics become more clear. Peeling off the veneer is difficult for all of Livia's family - especially for Adam...

A MUST READ! The suspense builds and hangs in the balance - don't miss this book!

Many Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an amazing read!!!

Wow what a heartbreaking story and so beautifully told. It's a story that will stay with me for a long time. It's also a story that reminds you that you must make the best of every moment of every day and not wait or think oh I will do this next week or next month.
What will we do to spare our loved ones pain? How will we react if we know something that will break them? Nobody can answer this for certain if they haven't been in this situation.

Although I figured out quite early what will happen it was still an amazing book to read and one I will definitely recommend to everyone. It is very different from her previous book "Bring me Back" but it shows us what a wonderful author and storyteller B. A Paris is.

Thank you to Netgally and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. The tension, at times, was almost too overwhelming! I was desperate to know what happened to Marnie, and how people would react.

The character development throughout was strong. I had a clear understanding of each character's motivations. Also, I love books that take place during a short period of time. This story presents how life can change in the blink of an eye, but also highlights how conflicts and attachments are built slowly over time.

Thanks to B.A. Paris, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I really enjoyed it.

2 1/2 stars

This book was just ok for me. I dislike novels written in the first person / present tense, so unfortunately, that affected me negatively right from the start.

This was a story of 24 hours in the lives of 2 main protagonists, Liv and Adam, told from their different points of view in alternating chapters. Most everything about Liv revolved around one big secret that was alluded to CONSTANTLY for 100 pages. Sigh… I am not the biggest fan of foreshadowing, but I really dislike it when it is done to excess.

Adam had his own secret, and his angst about it went on and on (and on and on and on) ad nauseam for most of the book. We are teased about it for most of the story - is she or isn't she? - and when we finally get the answer, the ending is then rushed right through.

Sorry, but I thought the book was pretty repetitious, with quite a bit of manufactured drama. I didn’t think “the dilemma” was much of one either.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.

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.