I was not able to download this before the publication date. I look forward to reading a print copy. My stars are based on others’ reviews.

BA Paris is always very hit or miss for me, and this one was very miss. This wasn't a psychological thriller like I was expecting, so I was always prepared for some shocker that never came. Very slow domestic drama.

I love B.A Paris - this novel is different from the other books that I have read by her. I still enjoyed the novel - but not what i expected at all. This is a story about a family - Livia and her husband Adam. Livia has been planning her 40th birthday for 20 years - to replace the wedding that she never had. Their daughter Marine is planning to surprise her mother by returning from studying overseas. Adam is aware of Marnie's surprise but heres news about a plan crash - the plane that Marnie was suppose to be on. Adam struggles on when and how to tell Livia - and the uncertainty of whether Marine was aboard that plane.. The birthday continues and goes on - with the missing surprise for Livia.

Oh boy, this was just not good.

It’s essentially a book where you observe a husband and wife not communicating with each other for 80% of it then finally talking, then being angry at each other for not talking sooner.

There’s no emotional impact because the characters are just awful and vapid and nonsensical. You just want to shake them and say, “After 20 years of marriage, you still haven’t learned to communicate?!” It’s also just completely unrealistic for them to not have shared these secrets about their daughter, especially on Adam’s part.

There’s next to no plot, no character development, and not a single likable person in the bunch. What was the point of this?

We all keep secrets from people in our lives. Usually, they're mostly small secrets, without consequences.... Or so we think. What could happen if a small secret doesn't come out, but becomes bigger, bigger... until it has some considerable consequences? This is why the less secrets, the better in ANY relationship!

This book is incredibly hard to put down. I was biting my nails, putting myself in Livia and Adam's place, and could only find the deepest regret that their communication wasn't better, even if it was to protect each others... Sometimes good intentions have terrible repercussions.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press or the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’ve been a huge fan of this author for some time. I was excited to read this and had high expectations. It did not disappoint. Love the story and author!

BA Paris will always be an auto buy author for me. Loved this one like all her others. So good, excellent twist! Well worth the read!

This latest thriller by B.A. Paris heads down a different road than her usual works. This is Family dynamics with a twist.

Although the premise of this story is exciting, the characters dont quite take us where we were hoping to go.

It's a fast, engaging read, that won't need you leaving the lights on.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers St. Martin's Press and the author B.A. Paris, for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Dilemma". The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

Livia has been planning her fortieth birthday party for a very long time, and the day has finally arrived. Her daughter Marnie will be missing, but Livia is secretly glad about that - for reasons she can't share with her husband Adam. Adam knows how much this party means to Livia, and will do anything to make sure that everything goes perfectly. However, just before the party, he is faced with news that he doesn't know how to break.

This is not the thriller full of twists and turns that I’ve come to expect from this author. However, I was tense the entire time I was reading. I think this is an amazing character study, and I found myself sympathizing with (almost) every character during this dilemma and rooting for them. I think fans of the author will like this one, although different from previous books. Also recommended for fans of realistic fiction and intricate character portraits.

Read courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher.

I think I am done trying to like this author's books. I really hate giving bad reviews and I rarely do. I was looking forward to this book even though I haven't liked others by Paris. This novel, like the others, was just too much for too little. There was one group who was just there for the sake of being there- like a blob. The wife was just absolutly silly and ridiculous in my opinion. For real. I did enjoy how the story was told- in increments of time. The party itself went on f o r e v e r. This was just not my cup of tea. Thanks for the ARC though.

This is my first book by B.A. Paris and, while it kept my attention, I found it to be a bit unbelievable. Livia was WAAAYYY to invested in the idea of a 40th birthday party and then in the party itself. Her secret, while pretty awful, in no way compares to Adam's secret. I get that Livia was insanely obsessed with her party, but how on earth could he not tell her right away? And, if all my friends knew a secret about my relationship and not one of them told me and I found out, I would not be happy.

I kept reading just to find out how the dilemma(s) resolved themselves, but wasn't particularly taken with this book.

I really wanted to like this book. The way the story was told reminded me of one of my favorite books “Three Wishes”. The comparison ends there. “The Dilemma” is a long story of a couple's lack of communication over a very dull 24 hours leading up to and after a 40th birthday party.

The husband and wife were so annoying. They were constantly keeping secrets from each other and when they did talk they would keep trying to guess what the other is going to say rather than listen.

The drama was not a fun kind of drama. It began to be depressing to finish reading.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

Oh my goodness! Could 24 hours last any longer? It was painful reading through without feeling like I was going anywhere. While touted as a thriller, it’s really more of a family drama.

While many B. A. Paris fans will probably enjoy this book, it did not appeal to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Marnie is flying home to surprise her mother, Livia, for her 40th birthday party. Adam, Livia's husband, knows about the surprise and has helped coordinate her visit. What Adam doesn't know is that Livia knows a secret about Marnie too. a secret that makes Livia a little glad Marnie isn't coming to her big birthday celebration. Some, potentially, devastating news makes Adam's secret a terrible burden to carry. Should Adam tell Livia and risk ruining her big birthday? Or wait until after the festivities and risk ruining his marriage?

"The Dilemma" may take on a different type of story that Paris's previous works, but the almost unbearable tension we have come to expect is turned up to eleven in this tale about the danger of family secrets. Prepare to miss a lot of sleep while reading and afterward contemplating the power of your own secrets and if any surprise can is good.

This is only my second B.A. Paris but this is completely unlike Behind Closed Doors. This is not a thriller, but a domestic drama. I love character driven books and this was a great slice of life story focusing on difficult decisions. The subject matter was definitely hard to read and I definitely cared about the characters and their "dilemmas." I love books that make me think "what would I do in this situation" or "what is the right thing to do?"

Not my favorite B.A. Paris book. It was sorta boring for me. I didn't really enjoy the story line. I was thankful for the ARC to read this book!

This book was not the typical Paris thriller, but I still liked it. The book is centered around family secrets. Most of them are being kept to spare another person's feelings. The point of view alternates between a husband and wife with the majority of the story happening on one day. Each hour of the day is broken down and secrets are revealed.

This is my first B.A. Paris book, and I know that she is well love, and I'm SO sad I didn't connect to this one. Yes, I did go in knowing it wasn't going to be her typically thriller style and would be more of a family drama, but I don't think I realized just how family drama heavy it would be.

I love BA Paris and was so excited to be approved for this book but I ended up so disappointed. This is the story of a woman, Livia, who is planning a huge party for her 40th birthday. Livia knows something that she hasn't shared with her husband, Adam, yet and he suspects that a different life changing event has occurred on the day of the party. He doesn't want to ruin his wife's party so he decides to keep things to himself. While the premise of the book was really interesting it unfortunately didn't play out that way. The story is told from Livia and Adam's perspectives. Livia's side of the story is talking about her party and the secret she knows for 80% of the book while Adam's part is all him stressing about the news. When each person finally reveals what they know the story becomes more interesting because we're able to witness each person's reaction. All in all this would have been better as a short story or if less time has been devoted to the party and more to the life changing news. I also could not connect to Livia at all, I felt that she was really shallow and self centered. I felt bad for Adam for most of the book.
I do not like giving a bad review on a book but I really can't recommend this one.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris is a dramatic novel that al hinges around the pivotal scene of a birthday party. What secrets are held? Can they be held to allow temporary happiness? I enjoyed the author’s storytelling skills, unfolding it gradually and building up. I think readers of suspense and especially domestic suspense will enjoy this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.