I very rarely negatively review a book but I must be honest with my feelings. Maybe this author is not for me.

Livia is turning 40 and has been dreaming about a lavish party to celebrate ever since they had to have a shotgun wedding. She and her husband Adam are parents to two teenagers with daughter Marnie studying abroad in Hong Kong.

Livia isn't expecting Marnie to make it to the party as she knows Marnie's secret and is not happy. What she doesn't know, however, is that Adam and Marnie have planned to surprise Livia with Marnie's arrival at the party.

This may be a minor spoiler but I'm putting it in because it is very relevant and happens early on in the book. Marnie's plane crashes in Cairo and she has died. Adam wants Livia to have the birthday she always dreamed of so decides to keep quiet. Livia is also afraid to broach the subject of Marnie's secret with her husband Adam.

85% of this book is either Livia or Adam thinking "I should tell him/her". Okay, tell them then. I felt very bored with the repetitiveness of it all. The plot felt thin.

None of these characters were likable at all, except maybe their son which, to be honest even after finishing the book about 6 hours ago, I can't remember his name. Sorry, not one for me.

I was glued to this book, I couldn’t put it down. This was different to what I normally enjoy reading but this one was excellent. The twists and turns throughout keep you in plenty of suspense. The characters were great, the story was enjoyable and the style of writing was perfect. I have read many books by this author and have loved them all.. this is one of my favourite authors.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

This author is new to me. A book that sends you on a journey of every emotion. It is a book that is fast moving that delivers on drama, heartbreak. Writing is just amazing

When I first started reading this book, I felt like it was going to be one of those books that dragged you along with intrigue as to what was going to happen and where it was heading, and it did for maybe the first half of the book. But sadly for me, after that point I just wanted something to happen and for the too-ing and fro-ing between Adam and Livia’s “dilemma’s” on what to say to each other actually stopped so the storyline could move forward.
I did initially enjoy the book, but when it starts to frustrate me, it really stops the enjoyment of the book.

A gripping and heartbreaking novel. It was really easy to believe this and empathise with the pain of the characters. I can’t comment on much of what I’d like to for fear of spoiling the plot so I’ll just say it’s worth a read, and probably a book club conversation afterwards!

This book was not as good as previous ones by this author. It wasn't the usual psychological thriller. I liked the writing enough to finish the book but the story just limped along. Both Adam and Olivia have a secret about their daughter they haven't shared with each other. It kept alluding to something dark and mysterious but it wasn't.

A great book - really suspenseful. I absolutely loved the characters and the storyline kept me interested throughout. Highly recommended.

I found myself skipping over a lot of this. It's quite self-indulgent with little substance and the ending just wasn't enough of a pay off for me to give it a good rating.

A very different story to the last few that Paris' wrote, this is an amazing page-turner, I literally could not put it down before getting to the end to find out exactly what was happening. Paris is amazing at this kind of domestic suspense thriller, and she does another fantastic job here!

The Dilemma is unfortunately a book I didn’t enjoy and one I won’t be recommending to anyone, ever. I dived in expecting a thriller, a mystery, a suspenseful novel. What I got was everything but.

My Thoughts:

In the Dilemma, we follow the life of what seems like a normal family, and we slowly start to uncover their secrets. The mum is busy planning her 40th birthday party – a huge celebration to make up for the fact that she never had a wedding ceremony. Her husband is slightly annoyed at this, but tries to make her happy. Whilst planning a surprise, he learns that something bad may have happened – and this is where the dilemma appears. Should he tell his wife now, or wait until the party is over. At the same time, the mum also learns a secret, and she is also doubting whether she needs to tell her husband.

And that’s one of the main issues with this book. The couple spend all the book not talking to each other.

I am sorry, but what kind of relationship is that? What kind of a marriage?
The other issue is that the dad is not even sure that something bad happened – but he also refuses to find out more. There were so many ways he could have checked if that information was true, but instead he chose to spend all day worrying about it.

Then, we also have a woman who has been dreaming for a 40th birthday celebration to replace the wedding she never had. I will never be able to understand her obsession to push something into happening, to force a celebration in which she makes all guests believe she is the bride. Let’s just conclude this to be a desperate need for attention and just leave it there…

I was so frustrated with every character’s decision and their decision making process as well. There was no logic in some of the actions they were taking, and it felt like the book was dragged to be much longer than is actually needed. There was also little to no mystery in this book – just some weird “secret-hiding-family-drama” scenarios that were mediocre at best.

But I’ll give credit where credit is due – I liked the writing. The scene descriptions were vivid and the chapters ended on a note that made you want to keep going – and that is the sole reason I managed to finish this book.

If you’re ever in a Dilemma (see what I did there?) as to whether to pick this book up, I suggest you pass.

The Dilemma by B A Paris was a fab, fab book that I devoured in one sitting. It’s one of the best books I have read this year so far, perfect to while away the time while we can’t do or go anywhere. A must read.

BA Paris has to be one of my favourite authors at the minute and I always look forward to getting my hands on one their books! Very fast paced with good characters and storyline it’s a must read for 2021, you won’t be able to put it down!

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.