I read some of the other reviews and I am apparently in the distinct minority. I have read many of her previous novels and this one was a complete disappointment. For me, it was a soap opera filled with all the cliches you usually find - sex, deception, lies, abortion, mean spirited parents, and a plane crash to add additional drama. I found I could not empathize with the characters and they certainly lacked depth. The secrets everyone were keeping were lethal and hard to believe that a long married couple would not share them. This book failed to engage. I am a fan of her previous works, but this one fizzled.

I’m a huge fan of B A Paris and have read all of this author’s pun loaned books so far. This was a little bit different from her usual books, less fast paced thriller and more domestic drama. I really enjoyed this book, found myself feeling the worry and fear and horrors of the characters.

Liv and Adam were two awful people though... making it slightly hard to follow what they were going through. I find so much secret keeping strange although it’s well explained throughout the book as to why they decided not to tell each other these major life changing events.

Overall this was a good book, moving and raw and tough to deal with but I enjoyed reading it, finding it difficult to put down, desperate to find out what was going to happen and how things were going to resolve themselves. A great read.

Thoroughly disappointed in the plot of this one. I love this author's writing, but the plot was a major dud. Not believable (from the perspective of how parents would react at any point), claustrophobic to take place over 24 hrs, and truly boring.

WOW! Having read The Breakdown and Behind Closed Doors, I will admit that I came into this book with a strong love of the author’s writing. This book was the true definition of a page turner. I finished in under 12 hours!!! I was on the edge of my seat waiting (hoping) for positive news for Adam & Liv. I fell in love with both of their characters and the story, while heartbreaking, was lovely. Thank you for the opportunity to read!

I started and finished this book in one sitting!!! I have never read such a compelling story. Being married with four children,I can see myself in any one of the characters in this book. I have had reasons for sharing information and withholding information at times in my life just like the characters in the story. It will definitely give you reasons to think. I will definitely recommend it for my library!!

B.A. Paris steps out of her comfort zone (and slightly away from the genre that rocketed her to the top of the best seller list with the publication of her first novel, Behind Closed Doors) with The Dilemma. While The Dilemma has plenty of suspense, it's not a "Whodunit?" or even a "Why did they do it?"-the major question here is: "What in the world were these people thinking???" And there's not just one "dilemma" but several-none are handled in a way that feels remotely plausible or rational. But The Dilemma gets high marks for its quick pace and masterful use of dual POV's. The plot bounces between narrators like a hot potato nobody wants to touch-combined with short, crisp chapters that often leave more questions than answers, and The Dilemma becomes a page turning thriller. Just don't expect logic to prevail. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, the characters in The Dilemma laid the bricks.

"Behind Closed Doors" was one of my favorite books; a novel that truly brought me into the domestic thriller genre. When I saw there was a new B.A. Paris book to be reviewed, I was thrilled - and read nearly through the night to finish it! For fans of "Behind Closed Doors", this is a much different book in that there is still intrigue and suspense, but it is a totally different nature than the now-famous domestic thriller.

20 years ago, Livia fell unexpectedly pregnant. Her relationship with her parents was ruined, her new husband wasn't coping well with being a father, they hadn't gotten any education, money was tight. They had a small wedding in a pub, and all these years, she's always planned to have the party she never could. Instead of a wedding, she'll be celebrating her 40th birthday surrounded by everyone she loves. This is no ordinary birthday party; it's been planned and obsessed over for years and years, and Livia knows it will be just perfect...except for one secret she's hiding that would affect her husband badly.

Her husband, regretful of some of his past decisions, vows to make this the perfect day of Livia's life. He's arranged for a gift as well as a big surprise, but he finds out just hours before the party that one of his surprises might have gone badly wrong. There could be permanent, life altering, consequences that will forever change their entire family. Does he cancel the party?

With all these secrets and all their colleagues, friends, family, and neighbors there with them, can the party really go on? And what will be the aftermath?

This was a heart wrenching, difficult read at times. I truly empathized at times - and disliked at times - all the main characters. Isn't that true of all humans, though? That's what made The Dilemma so relatable. How do your small, every day decisions about what to disclose and what to hide, mean for your future? And when faced with doing the wrong thing for the right reason - what do you decide, and who can judge if you were right or wrong? I do highly recommend The Dilemma - it is a heart-racing, heart-wrenching exploration of what is suppose to be the best night of a family's life. We learned from "Behind Closed Doors" that B.A. Paris can explore a terroristic marriage - and we learn from "The Dilemma" that she can also explore a marriage where everyone is trying to do the most right in the most wrong of circumstances.

<blockquote>”An angel walking to the Devil’s beat.”</blockquote>
Beautiful saying for a tattoo!

Dilemma is the perfect title for this book...well maybe <b>Dilemmas</b> would have been more appropriate! It’s an emotional tear-jerker that touches on sensitive subjects and pulls at your heartstrings.

4 💔 ⭐️’s for this family drama—with more than one dilemma—that is told through alternating chapters by Liv and Adam. Parents of Marnie and Josh. They pour out their deepest feelings and private struggles to us...but not each other. Once revealed, will their secrets tear them apart or bring them closer together? Read it and find out!

It was original, intense and hard-to-put-down, but slightly drawn out. I would have preferred a shorter book, with less repetition.

<b>My Rating: </b> 4 ⭐️’s

<b>Published:</b> January 23rd 2020 by HQ
<b>Pages:</b> 384

<b>Recommend:</b> Yes! If you are looking for an emotional family drama, this is the book!

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and B. A. Paris for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion!

@BAParisAuthor @HQstories

#familydrama #tearjerker #originalpremise #TheDilemma

B.A.Paris has done it again, written a great novel that delves deep into the psychology of a family & their close friends. Decisions were made, actions taken, healing occurs. A new kind of happiness is reached.

Read in one sitting, couldn't put it down.
I received an advanced copy, but voluntarily left this review.

I will leave 5 star review on Amazon under name of Connie
Thank you for granting me access to this book

Although I’ve loved works by this author in the past, this one went on too long- and wasn’t very suspenseful at all!

Livia and Adam are the couple that everyone likes to be around. They are devoted to each other after 20 years of marriage, have 2 grown children, and are surrounded by close friends. But what happens when lines are crossed and relationships coming to light threaten their perfect circle?
Livia has dreamed about a special party where she is the central character for as long as she can remember. Since she couldn't have that with her wedding, she decided it would be her 40th birthday, so she prepared for nearly 20 years. The day has finally come, and Adam is thrilled to see her so radiant and excited. He knows he can amp it up even more with a surprise he and his daughter Marnie have concocted. Adam loves Livia so much that he will do anything to keep her happy for as long as he can.
Livia is relieved that Marnie is out of the country and unable to come to the party, because Livia has stumbled upon a secret that threatens to blow apart their world. Perhaps she might seem a bit selfish, but she loves Adam so much that she decides to withhold the secret for just a little bit longer. She really wants to preserve his relationship with his friend, after all.
When The Big Day finally arrives, an unexpected event exposes secrets this family has hidden. Will they survive the fallout or not? Either way, they learn a devastating lesson.
Paris writes another gripping tale, reminding us that relationships can never be taken for granted. What will you do to save yours?

I liked this novel a lot. It takes place over a short period of time and goes back and forth between the two main characters. It is beautiful in its relative simplicity. As the tension builds you can really feel it.

Wow! What an emotional roller coaster ride of a book. It is the story of good intentions that backfire in a horrible way and how good can come out bad. Bravo!

Thank you, NetGalley for this interesting story! How far would you go to give the person you love a few extra hours of happiness before you destroy their life? Livia's 40th birthday is going to be quite the bash, she has been planning it for years, and It's coming together brilliantly. The only person missing at the party is daughter Marnie who is studying abroad, but secretly Livia is glad Marnie can't make it because she has learned some very disturbing news about her daughter that she doesn't want to share with husband Adam yet. meantime, Adam has his own secret - he's arranged for Marnie to surprise her mother at the party. Then he hears some very disturbing news about a plane crash that could bring this whole event to a sudden halt. Well told and I kept reading late into the night to get to the finale.

2 stars, down from 3 when first reviewed.

I've previously enjoyed all of BA Paris' books that focused more on domestic issues but I can not recommend this book. The storyline is utterly ridiculous. A grown woman obsessing with a birthday party that much is hard to swallow. But then you add the fact that 80% of the book is the characters deliberating between talking vs. not talking to their significant other and you have a book that struggles to say anything. I skimmed through 20% of the book because it was just the characters thinking to themselves and making up scenarios in their mind. No actual action or dialogue until the last 10% of the book! Found all of the characters boring without enough real background information that makes you care about them. You learn about their life "before" but it all seemed so unrelated to who they were now. I was just waiting for anything to happen for majority of the book. And then when it did, it was wholly underwhelming. What a bummer. Was looking forward to another BA Paris book! Maybe the next one will be better.

B. A. Paris has done it again!! I was engrossed from the beginning of the book and found myself - cheering on the characters, offering advice (sometimes in a very emotional out loud voice) and sharing their emotional roller coaster of emotions.

What I loved about the book is the simplicity of the story is deceiving because of the way the author approaches the topics and the characters. When each character was speaking - I was either on their side or not but there was no way you could be in the middle.

This is a book that you want to read in one sitting because the suspense is palpable but there is a richness of detail that will make you slow down and ensure you are experience all the emotions fully!

I'm thankful to the publisher and to Netgalley for an ARC of The Dilemma by B. A. Paris! I've been a fan of Paris's since her first book a couple years ago, and her latest does not disappoint! Anyone who loves thrillers will adore this book, and i plan to recommend it often.

I received this book "The Dilemma" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. This book was okay. I didn't really care for the characters at all. The storyline was kind of boring because of Adam I think. Should I tell her? I don't want to ruin her big party. Then she gets mad at him. Not really suspenseful but more of a drama.

All Livia has ever wanted was the wedding she never had so her 40th birthday party is the event she's been planning for almost 20 years now. As the day finally arrives, she has a secret from her husband Adam that she knows will change everything for them and their close friendships. She plans to tell him after the party and knows how upset he will be that she's waited so long to tell him. However, now that the day is here, Adam has a secret of his own. He wants Livia to have the amazing day she's always dreamed of but the longer the day drags on the harder it is for him to hold himself together for Livia. Told from the 2 view of Livia and Adam, this one caught me from page 1 and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. This one will not disappoint.

I am sad to report, this is the first book by this author that I didn't love as much as the others. Livia is celebrating her 40th in a lavish way to make up for a party she never had 20 some years ago. The only person not going to be in attendance is her 19 year old daughter. And Livia is secretly happy for that because she is keeping a huge secret.

Only, her husband Adam is also holding back a horrible secret too. Will the party end in madness?

I must admit, I stayed up until 2am reading this because I was interested to see what the secrets were and what would happen. However, that's kind of where the pros end. I felt like the book was repeating sooo much just to add a word count or something. It got boring and I thought every character was just plain stupid. The ending had me feeling a mix array of emotions. Karma, sadness, anger. I don't like how a certain person got away with things and the book was basically about a husband and wife who suck at communicating.