This is a compelling family drama that explores the dilemma of keeping secrets from our partners. It has plenty of what-if moments letting the reader peruse what they would do in the same circumstances. 

Livia is anticipating the party of a lifetime and doesn't want anything to spoil i.t. She keeps a worrying discovery from her husband until after the party.  When he learns devastating news, Adam doesn't tell Livia. The story explores the protagonists' dilemmas and their consequences. Believable characters and an intense drama immerse the reader in a claustrophobic world. This is an emotional story, heartbreaking at times, and it resonates.

I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book was wonderful but heartbreaking 

I absolutely love B A Paris the way she writes is amazing 

Highly recommend this but it will tug at the heart strings

I had put the book down I didn't think it was on her best book.

I think it would put people off her.

Definitely a psychological thriller I need to read more by this author, highly recommend.  Couldn’t put it down now stuck as to what to read next!

BA Paris knows how to write psychological thrillers.

What a ride this was! I literally felt like I was running a marathon. I coudlnt read fast enough. It was amazing! 

Plot idea was great, the secrets being revealed just at the right time. Absolutely loved every bit of it.

I read this book in a single sitting, a suspenseful and ultimately heartbreaking story. I absolutely loved it and will be recommending to everyone I know!

Great read from BA Paris as usual, flew through the pages and liked the different story perspectives - would highly recommend!

As always from this author it's a fabulous story, well written and with great character development . I was hooked!  it's a  high tension page turner, mostly set around a 24 hour window where Livia and Adam, each with the aim of protecting the other, keep heartbreaking and catastrophic secrets, aiming to tell all after a long awaited and much anticipated  birthday celebration takes place.   
A cocktail of  love, loss, deceit, friendship and family.  How far would you go to give a loved one their last few hours of happiness? In some instances there is  never a 'right' time to share!

4 - 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher - this is my honest and unbiased review.

"It’s Livia’s fortieth birthday and tonight she’s having a party, a party she’s been planning for a long time. The only person missing will be her daughter, Marnie.
But Livia has a secret, a secret she’s been keeping from Adam, her husband, until the party is over. Because how can she tell him that although she loves Marnie, she’s glad their daughter won’t be there to celebrate with her?
Adam is determined everything will be just right for Livia and the party is going to be perfect… until he learns something that will leave him facing an unbearable decision. "

Oh my goodness, this book is so good, I went through every dilemma, emotion, decision and worry with the whole family.  I had sympathy for everyone from Livia who just wanted a perfect birthday party to make up for her missed big wedding day and Adam, who just wanted Livia to have a happy day and was reluctant to burst her bubble with bad news and spoil the party.  Surely she was entitled to be happy this one last time, before her world came crashing down around her?  After all, we don't know until the end of the book, what has actually happened to Marnie, and for this I was grateful.

However, secrets and lies are so difficult and I felt the Author got the balance just right and allowed the reader to consider what they would do.  Do you really know what is best for someone? Even if you have loved and lived with them for 20 years?  I felt I would be on Adam's team and allow one last happy moment for someone, but of course the recriminations and anger that follow must be accepted as part of the decision you made on their behalf.  But, of course, Olivia is keeping her own secret from Adam and so both lives will never be the same again.

I absolutely loved the tender moments in the shed with Josh and his Dad and felt they added another layer as the story began to unfold and I felt sorry for Josh too, as he had tough decisions to make about his future too, and he felt the "second best child" vibe from his Dad very deeply.

Definitely read more by this great Author, she took me on a very thrilling family drama ride.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.  This is my own honest voluntary review.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley. 

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. 
Natalie.

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 was a good book. I could easily see how Adam got himself into the situation he did. Yes, it's not a tense page turner like her other books can be, but I was interested to see what would happen and read the book quickly.

B. A. Paris is one of my favorite authors!  I have read all her books and cannot wait to read the next new one she writes as soon as it is out.

The Dilemma by BA Paris is my favourite novel by this author to date.  At times, it was a difficult read but the plot and the characterisation sucked me and propelled me to the end.  Absolutely fantastic story despite the sadness that radiates through the novel.  This book made me cry which is a testament to the writing.  4 stars

I’ve read several books by this author and always enjoyed them , however, this one wasn’t for me I’m afraid. I felt that it didn’t have the usual edge that previous novels had.

Livia has been dreaming of her fortieth birthday party for years. And finally it is here. All her family will be there except her daughter Marnie who is studying overseas. Secretly Livia is relieved abou this as shes discovered something she needs to tell her husband Adam but first she just wants her birthday party to be perfect because once the secret is out she knows nothing will be the same again. As the day goes on Adam learns something awful too but he doesn't want to ruin the day, and he needs to know for sure.

Lets be clear. BA Paris can write. I've read two great novels from her. Sadly this isn't one of them. The issue is twofold. Firstly it's a bit daft. At a push I can believe Livia would withhold her information but for Adam to not tell them straight away or find out as soon as possible if he's right is crazy. There's avoiding the truth and then there's this. Secondly the story is just too thin for a novel. It might have made an ok short story but it's not a novel. I kept with it as I hate not finishing a book, I like the writers style of writing and was hoping for some sort of twist or payoff at the end. But it just sort of fizzled out. I'm in the minority I think so another reader might love this, it's just not for me.

Oh no, I’ve read a book by this author and am not mad about it - at all!  Livia is planning a huge birthday party for herself with every detail gone over many times to make sure it’s exactly what she wanted.  Early on, on the day of the said party Adam (husband) discovers something so shocking.  Turns out both of them are harbouring secrets and every time one of them decides to tell the other something or someone interrupts, so it’s not until the 80% mark that f i n a l l y everything is revealed and I found that SO annoying.  Not sure who was the most irritating but I think Livia takes the prize - for being so self engrossed with this party of hers.  I would categorise the book as a family drama and there was just enough going on to make me turn the pages.  Also don’t think several of the characters were necessary to the plot either.

Another good read by this writer. I worry when this is the 4th novel will it be not quite as good. But no, this is a real talent and if you haven’t read any yet start with this then look forward to the others. 4/5.

I was massively disappointed with this one. I’m a big fan of B.A.Paris but felt this wasn’t her usual pace or tone of voice. The story felt so diluted and I felt that we knew the big plot lines from the beginning. I didn’t warm to any of the characters and just found the whole actual dilemma to be unbelievable.