My favorite from BA Paris yet! I’ve looked forward to new titles from her since I read Behind Closed Doors years ago, and this doesn’t disappoint.

See goodreads for my review of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to preview the galley and provide feedback.

Amazing - secrets, secrets and more secrets and when is the right time to disclose those secrets and how will lives and the lives around them fracture once secrets have been revealed - so many what ifs in this book. The end was just heart wrenching and I felt for the characters who were wracked with their own guilt and the guilt from the secrets they have held - so wonderfully written and I love the point of views from characters

B.A. Paris seriously does not disappoint with any of her novels. I AM OBSESSED with each and every one of her books!!! I literally was so excited that I was able to read this one, I gobbled it up in a day! I am in love. The suspense, drama, thrill and characters were everything. Y'all need to read this ASAP. I mean honestly I am already waiting for her next novel to come out because I just love all of them so much. You will not be disappointed.

I have read each of B A Paris's books to date. She is a very creative writer and this book is written in her normal back and forth story telling between different people. What is different about this book is that is not a psychological thriller like the other three are. There are no roller coasters, no huge OMG moment. But the book is still a wonderful read.

The story is told from Adam and Livia's view points all within a window of one day. Although they do flash back to things that are significant that occurred in the past. The story is told on the day of Livia's 40th birthday in which she is having a huge blow out party - one she has been planning for 20 years. Everything about the day is perfect expect that her daughter is studying aboard and cannot be with her. While she is disappointed not to celebrate with her daughter at the party, she learned something about her that secretly she is happy she did not come home. The secret about her daughter is weighing on her and she wonders if she should have told her husband Adam, but she knew telling him would ruin a lot of lives and she wanted this one day to be perfect.

Then there is Adam, he has a secret too, but should he tell Livia now or wait until she has her perfect party. The pain of holding a secret is killing him, but he loves Livia and knows she has been waiting a long time for this.

When they both finally reveal their secrets is their love strong enough to hold them together, what will the secrets do to their family?

The only reason I am not giving this a 5 star review is because I was disappointed that it was not the true B A Paris psychological thriller that keeps me at the edge of my seat questioning every page I turn.

The dilemma for me was why Livia was having such a ridiculous party for her fortieth birthday and why her husband Adam was so hesitant in sharing the truth about their daughter. Adam and Livia certainly had their challenges as a married couple and never really dealt with them . Issues that people living together need to face and deal with were left unresolved. This book has a cast of people who never confront problems head on but leave them to fester . No one likes to hear terrible or unsettling news but unfortunately that is life . This whole book was about putting off telling tragic news for a few hours but it read like years. Lots of weak and shallow characters . Most of the story took place in a house that was bought twenty five years ago because the backyard was perfect for this party that was predetermined that long ago. A tad bizarre.

A really interesting novel about communication, lies, omissions, and love. Definitely thought provoking.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150465

Wow B.A. Paris had done it again with The Dilemma! What a page turner I ended up devouring this one in less then 24 hours! Such an intense read that gave me so many different emotions. Love, longing, friendship, horrible tragedy and devastation. Paris is such a phenomenal writer that it felt like I was right there with the family as they went through everything. This is definitely a must read for 2020.

Have you ever longed and planned for something for the majority of your life? While f that's what Livia did. After she became pregnant at 17 and had a quick wedding, she imagined a huge 40th birthday party to replace the wedding she never got. For 23 years she planned, she envisioned both her children, her husband all her friends and even a hopeful reunion with her parents. Well the day has finally come and Livia still isn't sure if her parents will turn up and her daughter Marnie wasn't able to attend because she's away in Hong Kong. Well at least that's what Livia thinks, but her amazing Husband, Adam, and her daughter have planned a huge surprise for her to turn up and have the 40th birthday party she's always planned. Things don't always go as planned and now secrets are being kept, will the birthday party go off successfully without tragedy? Will everyone's lives ever be the same?

An intensely emotional rollercoaster of a read. The highs the lows, the happiness the sadness, a familys hopes and dreams. Friendships, secrets ands lies.

Will post to other social media closer to release date

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. This was a different story for the author. Not necessarily a thriller, but certainly a family drama. Livia has been planning her 40th birthday bash for years, and when the night finally comes, her husband Adam cannot imagine ruining her night by telling her the tragic news of their daughter. Livia too is holding on to some secrets, and the novel unfolds, explaining how holding on to secrets can almost destroy a family.

*Thanks to NetGalley + St. Martin's Press for the ARC!*

I loved this book because honestly, who doesn't love a good, engaging, fast read? This book had a compelling plot that I don't feel like I've seen over and over again, and I read it pretty much straight through, because I wanted to know what was going on that badly.

I see in other reviews that people are talking about tropes often used (ie: a situation going on forrreeeevvvveeeerrrr because people just don't talk about it), but honestly, I'm reading for fun and to be engaged, and this book more than did that. My criteria for reviewing is typically was I engaged in the book, how quickly did I read it, and how often did I opt for another form of entertainment (like TV or reddit) instead of a book. If all of those conditions are met, it's a go from me.

I'll be recommending this one!

When I started this book, I initially really disliked the two main characters. They both seemed immature and selfish!, completely unlikeable! But as I progressed through their story, I began to see their humanness. Many of the choices they both made through their lives together were dicey, at best. I’m so glad I kept reading! This story is heart wrenching, yet hopeful.Grab a hanky! #uglycrying

A 40th birthday party is set to take the place of a wedding reception that never happened since the marriage started with a short dating life and a quick conception. What could possibly go wrong? B.A. Paris’ answer is … everything. A series of second-guessing, miscommunication is what drives the story but there’s enough that will have the reader scratching their heads wondering what they would have done in this instance or the next. Right and wrong isn’t easily decided here and that makes for an awesome read. This is different from B.A.’s previous work and is all the more enjoyable.

The Dilemma is a well-written, heartbreaking family thriller/drama. I was sucked into this story and couldn't stop reading until the end. I am a big fan of B.A. Paris and was thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review her newest. This wasn't the usual type of thriller that I normally read, but it really has a way of grabbing a hold of you and not letting go.

Livia has waited almost 20 years to have this day. She has planned her 40th birthday to make up for the wedding she never had with Adam. She is filled with joy that everyone she loves will be here except her daughter Marnie, who is studying abroad. As much as Livia loves Marnie, she knows Marnie's deepest and dark secret. Livia is guiltily glad her daughter won't be there for her birthday.

Adam, Livia's loving husband, has a surprise for Livia. Adam and Marnie have been working together to really surprise her. Marnie is going to be flying in to surprise Livia for her birthday. On the day of the party, Adam learns horrific news and is stuck wondering what to do. Should he tell Livia, or should he let her have these last few hours of happiness?

Livia on the other hand is facing her own Dilemma; how much does she want to tell Adam about Marnie? This is a huge secret and one that will tear many people apart. How could this happen?

Great suspense and the twist was shattering! The Dilemma will stick with you for a while after reading.

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

I was so excited to see that B.A. Paris was coming out with a new novel. I loved, “Behind Closed Doors,” “The Breakdown,” and “Bring Me Back.” I loved that they were gripping, thrilling, and even a little dark at times. When I saw “The Dilemma” on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it.

The book focuses on spouses Livia and Adam and their perspective dilemmas. Livia has been waiting her entire life for her 40th birthday. A pseudo redo of the wedding that she was never able to have (the book will explain why). Livia and Adam have two children, Josh and Marnie. Josh was their first child that they had very young, they eventually marry and then have Marnie. Adam has a much closer relationship with Marnie, which is interesting to see unfold and why. Marnie is studying abroad and cannot make it home for the birthday party which leaves Livia relieved and Adam scheming to get her home as a surprise.

Livia has learned a secret about Marnie that would destroy Adam, their family, and their closest friend’s lives. She decides that she needs to keep this secret close to her chest and let Adam enjoy the party and one last night before all their lives change.

Adam also has a secret about Marnie that he does not want to share with Livia until the party is over and when/if he can confirm that it is true. He wants one blissful last night for Livia in case her world is turned upside down.

Throughout the book, there were times where I would be so upset and want to shake both Livia and Adam. Their communication was basically, non-existent. I did feel as though this book was lacking a bit more of the thriller aspect that I am used to from B.A. Paris. You know the secrets pretty early on in the book, and then from there, it is the back and forth of the spouses saying nothing to each other. It drove me mad. Then we have the ending which just wrecked me. I do not want to say more and spoil the ending, but I was sobbing by the end of it.

I do not want to make it seem as though as I did not like the book, I did. However, I was just expecting more thrills and twists like her previous books. The book is excellently written, the character development is there, and the plot is enthralling. Overall, I would give this a 3.5/4. Would I recommend this book over her others? It depends on what you are looking for, but I would most likely choose another one of her books so that you continue reading and following her as she is a fantastic writer.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Fantastic novel! Impossible to put down. The story alternates between Olivia and her husband’s point of view. Olivia is having a big party for her 40th birthday. As the big event approaches both husband and wife have something huge to tell each other. Each person’s secret has the ability to crush the other person. Heartbreaking choices are made to hold on to their secrets until after the party even though it is extremely painful for husband and wife to not share the burden of what they need to tell each other, they are doing it to spare the other’s feelings. Extremely well written and heartfelt story of love and family and the mistakes we all make. Highly recommended.

While I wouldn’t classify this book as a thriller, it’s definitely a page-turner that I couldn’t get through quick enough. The dilemmas in the book are laid out pretty early on and the exciting part is to see how they end up unfolding. While
Adam and Livia were frustrating at points and I just wanted to scream at them, they were also human and facing some serious... dilemmas.

I thought the plot and family dynamics were excellent, but the writing sophomoric. After about a third of the way through i started skipping until the last 15%. That helped, but then there were capitalized phrases like "I HATE YOU, DO YOU HEAR? I HATE YOU!" the book ended with "THE END".

I have read and enjoyed other books by this author. I don't remember the writing being this loose. I could imagine my junior high English composition teacher rolling her eyes as I read this one.

I’ve loved the authors other books but this one just wasn’t what I thought it would be. I found myself skipping whole chapters because of the redundancy of it all. The characters were hard to like for me as they seemed quite selfish and their choices questionable.

Honestly, I didn't understand this dilemma. The answers seemed so clear cut to me, so in was confused by some of the decisions made. However, I can understand that some might be you're and some might have a more positive outlook than i... Wishful thinking and all. Still, this goes to an extreme. I enjoyed the book overall, but couldn't relate to the decisions made.

The Dilemma is psychological angst in a family dynamic revolving around secrets and white lies. Even though the secrets can be guessed before they are revealed, the different points of view are written so well that you feel each emotion. I was drawn into this story quickly and read into the night until the book was done! B.A. Paris has a mastery of words that transports you into the story line and brings the tale alive. I recommend any book written by B.A. Paris - you will live the story!