Had high hopes for this because I have enjoyed B. A. Paris’ other books but this one just didn’t do it for me. I was expecting more of a thriller based on the description but it wasn’t that at all. Slow and not much happening.

I've been a big fan of B.A. Paris since her debut novel Behind Closed Doors and was anxious to read her newest The Dilemma. At the beginning I was intrigued by the first person narrative in alternating chapters. However, I feel like the novel fell short somehow. I definitely felt like it needed to focus more on the story of the daughter as opposed to the party for mom. It seemed unlikely to me that the daughter would have had a relationship with her best friend Chloe's dad, Rob. Too random. However, saying that, I still felt like the novel deserves 4 stars and will be a favorite recommendation for many people.

I tried to like this one, but I just couldn’t. I gave it a rounded up three stars because I have loved the author’s other novels. This one just bored me. I found Livia self-centered and Adam weak. I felt sorry for Josh and Marnie was a brat. These opinions are my own, even though the publisher and NetGalley allowed me to be an early reader.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of The Dilemma by B.A. Paris. Livia is planning her 40th birthday party. Since she didn't have a wedding, this event was going to be spectacular! Marnie, Adam and Livia's daughter, is studying abroad in Hong Kong. Adam has decided to surprise Livia and fly Marnie home for the big birthday party. Many events happen that will keep you in suspense. I hope you enjoy this new book as much as I did.

I read this book quickly. I couldn’t wait to see what happened. The end was very anticlimactic for me. I was waiting for a big twist or surprise but nothing happened. The premise of the book wa a good but it just didn’t deliver for me. I have read Paris’ other books and enjoyed them too, but this wasn’t a favorite. Worth the read but don’t get too excited.

Love B. A. Paris’s books!! Couldn’t put this one down once I started. Was a little slow at times but still one of my favorites of this author!

I have read other B. A. Paris books before and loved them! This one was equally as good. Such a gripping and suspenseful story that I couldn't put down! Thank you so much for the advance copy! It was amazing.

I saw B.A. Paris had a new book, and that was that. I wanted it. She is a master of psychological suspense, her writing detailed right down to the color of the carpet fibers.

Rapt with suspense at 2:30 in the morning, the book had me on the edge of my seat as I read the last chapters, but the storyline behind the book didn’t seem to support the usual astonishment after the final page has been devoured.

Misinformation between husband and wife Adam and Livvy causes “the dilemma” on the day of the 40th birthday party Livvy has been dreaming of for 20 years. The result is an agonizing, frustrating, chillingly written horror—until the information is revealed to the reader. The story had an abundant amount of potential but fell flat, with an elaborately drawn out event that seemed to leave the reader more depressed than anything.

Her method of suspense did not waver, as the investment I had in the book kept until the very last chapter. It’s a quick read, but doesn’t have the robust storyline to accompany a pristinely written, skin-crawling B.A. Paris novel.

Once I started I couldn't stop reading to find out what the wife wanted to tell her husband and also if the daughter was safe. I also was very interested in if the parents would come to the party.

What I expected: A twisty psychological thriller much like B.A. Paris' previous books.
What I got: An emotional, character driven novel that left me with all the feels.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Livia and her husband Adam. Both have concerns for their daughter, Marnie, coming to Livia's birthday party but for completely different reasons. For a character driven novel to work (at least for me), the characters must be likable (which is rare) and also relatable. I found both to be true of Livia and Adam. I became so immersed, not only in their story, but also in their emotional journeys that I too felt that raw, real emotion of these characters. I was swept into this emotional roller coaster ride and, yes, a few tears were shed along the way. This won't be a book I'll forget for awhile, and I strongly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

BA Paris is a gifted suspense writer. I literally read most of the book in one sitting and I wasn’t even that riveted by the plot. She has a way of keeping my interest and enticing me to keep going.

Now, the plot - it doesn’t seem that complicated. The Dilemma is unlike Paris’s other works. It’s not really a whodunit mystery, but a study of a family on the verge of unimaginable challenges. The main characters, Livia and Adam, are portrayed as a happily married couple, who didn’t start that way. But, they beat the odds of teenage marriage failures.

However, if these characters are as happily married as the book says they are, they truly are awful at communicating to each other. And if you’re bad in that department, you probably wouldn’t have good relationships. Much of the book would have been cut by 75% if this husband and wife just openly talked.

Though I wasn’t captured by the mystery, it did drive me to introspection. Like Livia and Adam, my husband and I also have a 19yo studying college halfway around the world. I can relate to the worry and heartache of being so far away from their child.

One question I kept asking myself while reading the book - is there anything my child could ever do that would make me hate, not forgive, or distance myself from them? It is hard to imagine I would ever stop loving my child, especially as a Christian who has tasted the forgiveness of God. But then I think of history’s most evil people - could I keep loving a Hitler or a Stalin?

The ending is somewhat anticlimactic, but with its dramatic real-life storyline, I couldn’t have conjured up a more satisfying-to-me conclusion, without making it fantastical

*Thank you to netgalley and publisher for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. With that said- here we go.
I was very excited to see a new book by BA Paris. I’ve read her three other books (all psychological thrillers) and enjoyed each of them. Going in- I wish I had set myself up for the fact that this was a departure from Paris’ typical genre. This is more of a family drama.
I did not relate to the characters and their relationships with each other. I find it so unbelievable that a husband and wife who had been together for over 20 years and have 2 children together would be such poor communicators and keep such important information about their child from each other. I also found Livia and Adam having such huge character flaws that it was hard to really LIKE either of them. (And I really don’t think you need to like characters in a book to like the book- just have characters you can relate to. This book had neither). Livia seemed so self centered and immature executing her 40th birthday party. As an almost 40 year old woman myself I could not imagine myself or anyone I know acting like her. And Adam. Forgiving his behavior in the beginning of his married life (which is so incredibly awful I can’t even imagine why Livia stayed with him), I cannot fathom why he wouldn’t immediately call the hotline to find out the status of his daughter. It’s beyond me. And the fact that he let this party happen knowing his daughter was likely dead- again, it’s beyond me.
All in all- 3 stars from me because I did finish it and I feel like this story could go have gone somewhere with some serious character editing. I’m sorry BA Paris! I promise I still love ya!

B.A. Paris has an interesting premise in her new book, Dilemma. The sudden tragic death of a child and its effect upon a marriage and family. Livia and Adam married young when they found out she was pregnant and it has been a good marriage with two grown children. Livia, who is completely estranged from her parents over the pregnancy and marriage, feels she missed out and has been saving for an over the top fortieth birthday party. Their daughter as a surprise is due to fly from Hong Kong to Cairo to Amsterdam to the UK. Only Adam knows that she was on the Cairo flight that crashed three minutes after take off killing more than 200 passengers. How the family copes with the loss of Marnie is complicated by the fact she was having an affair with a family friend who is the father of her best friend and whose wife is suffering from MS. The characters lack of communication and the decisions they make often leave the reader frustrated and at loose ends. What could have been a taut psychological work is just too much for this reader. This was an ARC.

I always look forward to this author's books, and despite this one, probably still will. However, this particular novel was so stressful to read. I've come to love Paris' creativity and the tension she builds up to make excellent thrillers. But, I can't really say that this one was a thriller. It was more or less some family drama that was allowed to grow out of hand. The "dilemma" was whether or not to cancel a party based on secrets that different characters knew. There's also a phone call that one of them could have made pretty early on which would have cleared up some of the "unknown" bits. All in all, this was a really sad book about a family who kept secrets which caused them all even more pain and suffering than they were already going through.

I loved ‘Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris, and could not wait to get my hands on her newest novel, ‘The Dilemma.’ This story stayed with me long after I finished it, and I could feel the rollercoaster of emotion harbored by Adam, who is keeping a dark secret from his wife Livia throughout her dream 40th birthday party. The entire book took place throughout the course of one fateful day - and the amount of twists, gut wrenching emotion, and secrets revealed throughout this 24 hours had me captivated. It followed not only Adam and Livia, but their best friends, 2 children, parents, and extended family members. The story itself was a bit unbelievable and far-fetched, especially as more people became involved, but I was intrigued by the suspense and drama throughout. B.A Paris does it again!!

For Livia's fortieth birthday, she (and her husband Adam) just want to have a perfect day. A perfect party, one that has been planned for a long time, to make up for the fairytale wedding that she never had. But, when is anything ever perfect? Livia is keeping a secret from Adam in regards to their daughter Marnie, but, Livia isn't the only person keeping a secret.

I was not expecting this book. Having read B. A. Paris' other books, I thought I knew what I was getting into, but I was so wrong. And you know what, that's okay with me! I loved reading about the family dynamic that Livia and Adam have.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A heartbreaking novel that leaves you with hope by the end.
My quick review- still learning how to review books, and this one is hard to talk about without ruining the book.

Two people. Two secrets.
The Dilemma:
When do they tell each other?
How do they tell each other?
What will happen when they tell each other?

This books takes the reader on an hour by hour account of finding out horrible news, the thought process, anxiety, fear, and well, dilemma of living with this secret.

A slight departure from Paris' usual thriller style book, this book still captured me and I just had to continue to read until the end.

The bulk of this book takes place over just a 24 hour period. It is the day of Livia’s long awaited 40th birthday party. She did not have the opportunity to have the big wedding of her dreams so for 20 years she has been planning her 40th birthday party to make up for it. We soon find out that both she and her husband Adam have separate secrets they are holding in to share with one another but decide to wait until after the big day.
I could not stop reading this book. The alternating viewpoints makes the story move along at a swift pace. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. I really enjoyed the book and it was a thriller, but not necessarily in the sense you typically think of for a suspenseful thriller.
I will say that some parts were pretty unbelievable. Like the fact that you would start planning a 40th birthday party 20 years in advance (why not just renew your vows to make up for missing out on a wedding??). I also find it hard to believe that Adam would be capable of keeping in his particular secret throughout the party.

*I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! The Dilemma is definitely a page turner and I could not stop reading it even though I knew that staying up past my bedtime was not the best idea I've had all week. The story switches between Livia and Adam as we approach Livia's 40th birthday and her birthday party which she has been fantasizing about for the past 20 years. We understand the main characters' thoughts, fears and the secrets that they are keeping from each other. Livia and Adam have been married for decades and have two children: an older son and younger daughter who are both in their 20s and venturing out on their own. Present day Livia is reflecting on her relationships with her family and friends and wishing that things could have gone differently with her parents. With twenty years of wishing behind her, she's ready to let go if it comes to that and pursue her next chapter of life on her own terms. Adam has regrets too and he loves his family even if he hasn't always demonstrated it in the best ways. The family isn't truly dysfunctional, but like most families, they have their challenges.

The book only gives you pieces of information at a time, so it keeps you wondering what is going to happen, what might have already happened and if you can guess what the secrets are. The anticipation continues to build throughout the story which is one reason why the pages almost flipped themselves and all sense of the outside world was lost to me. I highly recommend this book as a fast and engaging read.

I always like to see an established writer take a risk, so when I started reading The Dilemma I was glad B.A. Paris seemed to be venturing into new territory. Whereas her previous book, Bring Me Back, is a straight thriller The Dilemma is entirely different. Told from Livia and Adam's points of view, the novel is broken up into short chapters that span a single day that combines frivolity and tragedy. After twenty years of imagining a lavish fortieth birthday party, Livia has at last made her dream a reality. All her friends will be there to celebrate with her, Adam and their son Josh in a backyard garden filled with roses and fairy lights. The only thing that mars Livia's happiness is that her 19-year-old daughter Marnie can't be there. Well, that's not quite right. Because she isn't sure she wants her daughter there, for reasons we learn later on in the novel.

The premise and structure of the novel reminded me immediately of Virginia Woolf's novel, Mrs. Dalloway, which also spans a single day. Like Livia, Clarissa Dalloway is also planning an extravagant party—a party that's marred by a tragedy. It's this similarity that gives me most pause when writing my review, because it makes me wonder just what Paris's take on her characters actually is. As a few other reviewers have mentioned, there are times when they seem shallow and selfish, not to mention foolish. Are Livia and Adam—as well as some of their friends—meant to come across as unsympathetic? Or are we supposed to identify with them and sympathize with their emotions? I'm just not sure. Maybe that uncertainty is what Paris wants readers to consider.

I'm also not sure whether Paris intended the narrative structure to be as frustrating as it was. Both Livia and Adam are holding back secrets—secrets they know they must share with each other. Readers know early on what Adam's secret is and are maybe halfway into the book when they find out what Livia's hiding from her husband. Because the chapters alternate between Livia and Adam's perceptions, and because they proceed hour by hour, the time between learning Adam's secret and hearing him tell Livia becomes excruciatingly maddening (there is also the not-so-small matter of an unmade phone call). At first I found Adam's behavior utterly unrealistic, but after mulling it over last night I realized I know people who have acted in just this same way when faced with difficult tasks. And as much as I couldn't identify with Livia's actions, I understand there are women out there who would react this way. As a mother, the final chapter in the book—the final paragraph specifically--was the hardest for me to accept. But again, that brings me back to my initial question: what are we as readers meant to make of these characters?

I do recommend two things: first, if you're a fan of Paris, go into this novel with different expectations. The Dilemma isn't like her other books and I wouldn't really classify it as a thriller, though there is a lot of suspense. Second, if you can read the book quickly, in one or two sittings. Otherwise, the waiting may drive you nuts. I think if this had been a shorter book, even a novella, it would have worked better for me. But I read it very quickly—in the course of a single day—and that fit with the narrative arc, more or less.

Much thanks to St. Martins and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.