The book had me hooked right from the start. I don’t think I have ever devoured a story so quickly! I really needed to know the outcome and hoped for the best all the way through. Likeable well rounded characters, the story is told from both Adam and Livia’s perspectives with each section having their name at the top which saved any confusion. I recommend this book, thank you #netgalley.

I found this book to be a very different read to previous B A Paris books which I loved so much. It wasn't a psychological thriller to my way of thinking at all. Difficult to describe without giving away the plot line.
There are twp dilemma's in the book but personally I found one of them to be unrealistic, hard to believe and not plausible. If the dilemma had lasted a couple of hours, but it was a whole day and I found the whole thing was dragged out for far too long. I just kept asking myself "really!" who would do this?
The ending was extremely raw, so sad and very well written. Certainly it was an emotional read, but not the book I thought it was going to be based on previous works. There is a final few pages on what happens one year later on which I am not sure was needed as it seemed to detract from the ending. I would say if this is your first B A Paris do read the earlier works as they are truly psychological thrillers.

I was really looking forward to reading this as I have read all of this authors books, the premise sounded good, the writing is as usual great. But I struggled with the story, I just couldn’t find it believable enough, which I hate to say. Others may love this. But this couple were so in love which was relatable and believable, they were a strong family unit despite the dad Adam not always being there at the beginning for his son Josh, but he had been young when him and Livia had found out they were pregnant.

Livia had been planning her 40th birthday for years, she had been saving money, and it was to make up for the big wedding day she never had, her parents had shunned her for around 20 years because she had found herself pregnant and not married. This was to be the party of all parties, but she had a secret she was keeping from Adam, but what was it? Why was she waiting until after the party? Why did she feel this would be the last time they would be so happy, because she felt once Adam knew it would change their relationship? Then Adam who was arranging a big surprise for Livia, also has a secret, although he isn’t certain until after the party, whether what he thinks is true, he just keeps hoping it isn’t. Adam just wants Livia to enjoy this day she has looked forward to and planned for years, so he doesn’t tell her something he knows will devastate her.

I couldn’t have done what Adam does, it’s hard to fathom how anyone could, that was the bit that got me, and as I was reading it I was getting more and more annoyed with this solid couple, who were keeping secrets from each other. I am sorry but that just didn’t work for me, other Dilemma’s maybe, but Adam’s mainly was the one I struggled with. I did obviously have to keep reading to the end, to see if there was going to be some kind of twist, I kept hoping there was going to be a twist, but it just didn’t happen.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #HQ for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

"It reminds me of the haunted look I see I my own eyes and suddenly, I'm struck by the possibility that maybe he knows what I know, and has been looking for a way to tell me."

Adam and Livia and trying to celebrate Livia's 40th birthday. I say trying because they are each in a dilemma. Each of them are hiding something and just can't figure out when to tell each other. Both have information that will just wreck the family. When is the time to spoil the mood?

Oh my. This book caused me stress. I was right there with Adam and Livia in their dilemmas. I was screaming at them as I read. It really got into the minds and feelings of having big decisions to make. Such good stress though.

A five star read to (almost) finish the end of my reading year for 2019. What a brilliant book to round up an absolutely fantastic year of reading for me. The Dilemma focuses on family secrets and exactly what it says in the title - Dilemma's. This was a powerful read, not least because I wanted to have hope throughout that it wasn't going to turn out the way I was thinking it would. There were lots of twists and turns, lots of characters and secrets between them, but they were all woven together really well. B.A Paris has previously written Psychological Thrillers and this was more of a Domestic Thriller with elements of suspense and mystery.

5🌟 all the way!
A powerful and thought-provoking read. A step away from the usual Psychological Thriller genre for B.A Paris, yet she shows that she is still a phenomenal writer, in this gripping domestic type thriller.

Livia and Adam became parents at a young age and when they married Livia didn’t get the wedding she’d always dreamed of. From that day on she saved to ensure that when she was 40 she’d have the party of all parties and celebrate in style. She’s harbouring a secret though that could really change the dynamics between her friends and family! She needs to tell Adam but is in a quandary about when to do so.
Meanwhile, on the day of the party, Adam has his own dilemma! He has something that he needs to tell Livia, something terribly important. Should he tell her straight away and cancel the party? or let her enjoy her longed-for party and tell her after?

This book really is such a poignant read, I found myself questioning throughout what I would do if I was in Adam's shoes. The answer is... I don’t know! Do you tell your partner something that is so life-changing as soon as you find out or do you let them have that one last night of fun and feeling carefree? The beautifully crafted story will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. I had tears and goosebumps in parts and really struggled to put my kindle down! I loved that the chapters were quite short, they flit perfectly between the perspectives of Livia and Adam. The detail throughout is so great that you can really grasp how each character is feeling. It’s definitely a book that has stayed with me even after finishing it and will do for some time.

If you’re in a Dilemma about what to read next then give this a go! B A Paris is up there as one of my favourite authors, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all her books. If you’ve not read any then you must!!

Thank you so much to B A Paris, NetGalley and HQ Stories for my ARC of this book.

Just loved this, a real head whirring story, makes you evaluate what you would do and who was in the right. I laughed, I cried and I held my breath. I found myself losing sleep unable to put it down and making excuses to go to bed early to get to read it again, a true judge of how good a book is for me. Really enjoyed

Absolutely captivating!

The tension is overwhelming as the secrets & lies fester for Adam and Livia through the backdrop of a birthday celebration that can’t be ruined, no matter what. The consequences of that dilemma could haunt the family forever in this dramatic story.

A slight departure from the previous books that I had read by Paris but it was still expertly crafted and gripping. It tugged at my heartstrings and had me enveloped in the lives of the characters. I loved it and was very happy to receive the ARC.

Great book, I really connected with the plot and the strong characters. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to netgalleys and B A Paris for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

I loved this novel! There's a fantastic double-mystery which is very well wrought, with two characters thinking that their secret is the only one. The confusion and misunderstandings and slow reveal of information to the reader is perfectly paced, and I was gripped from the first page

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. An emotional rollercoaster that had me in tears a few times. The Dilemma was not what i was expecting......it was better! I would definitely recommend this book to others but be warned...get the tissues at the ready.

The book follows a family who are keeping secrets from each other, secrets that will destroy lives. But, Livia needs her fortieth birthday party to happen (it's the big day that she never had) I read this book in two sittings and read the last part in floods of tears, not many a book tugs on my heartstrings like this one, it is hard to not feel any empathy for the characters. You become to understand their flaws and how their family unit works.

The Dilemma is a brilliant, emotional read! A definite 5 star one too!

First off this book is different from B.A.Paris' other work! This is not a psychological thriller but exactly what the title says; it's one big 'Dilemma'.
This book follows Livia and her husband as they prepare for her 40th Birthday party. This party means everything to Livia, she has been planning it for 20 years! Yes YEARS!! After falling pregnant in her teens, her and Adam were rushed in to marriage and she never got the big white wedding that she felt she deserved. This 40th Birthday party is everything to Livia, it has been life consuming and she can't quite believe that it has finally arrived. Unfortunately, not everyone can attend her gathering but she is not going to stop her from having a great time.
Adam seems to be behaving weirdly at the party and she is wondering if he has found out the secret that she has been keeping from him and how it would destroy him. Adam is in turmoil as to tell Livia whats bothering him or should he tell her after the party, seeing as she has planned this for years and doesn't want to spoil her special day.
This is told from alternate views between Livia and Adam, it reminisces about the past and how they have come to be today, but also the scandal and secrets that build up to the party.
This book was compelling and frustrating at the same time. I was trying to put myself in Adam's shoes and I wouldn't know what to do either. It has some repetition to the book and doesn't have a major twist at the end but I will read anything that B.A Paris publishes

This was different to my usual reads – more of a ‘thrilling’ drama than a ‘thriller’ per se but I really liked it. But, then that should probably not come as any surprise as, whilst new to me, B A Paris is a million-copy bestselling author.

Anyway it’s Livia’s 40th birthday and she’s having a much-wanted party to make up for her shot-gun wedding. During the day, her husband Adam hears some terrible news. He needs to tell Livia but she’s so happy, so excited – and the guests are about to arrive. The Dilemma – how far would you go to give someone you love a last few hours of happiness? In Adam’s case probably too far but that’s what made this totally compelling, from beginning to end.

Whilst this focuses on a 24hr period, with each chapter moving forward hour by hour, the author beautifully weaves in the back stories of all the characters; the foundations of Adam and Livia’s marriage, Adam’s strained relationship with his son, Livia’s estranged parents and the dynamics of childhood friendships as those friends marry and have children of their own. And, in doing so, some really difficult and thought-provoking subjects are tackled including teenage/unplanned pregnancies, illness, death, betrayal and realising your children are not necessarily the angelic innocents you’d hoped.

Most of all, however, it’s a heart-breaking and powerful story of love (both family and romantic) which shows that together you can overcome most things. It’s emotionally captivating, tapping into your worst fears, and cleverly exploring how different people handle grief and tension in such different and sometimes unfathomable ways. It’s about good intentions, behaving in a shocking way but with the best of intentions.

I liked that the story was told from the two alternating perspectives of Adam and Livia - it’s one of my favourite styles of writing. It means that both characters become equally familiar and understood as the story develops. As well as the main characters, I also found the secondary characters just as likeable, relatable and integral to the story. The chapters were also nice and short which made for an easy, un-put-down-able read.

I’m still struggling to decide whether to this should be 4 or 5 stars. However, I’ve gone with a 4 purely based on the fact that the genre is more drama than thriller - which whilst a pleasant surprise was not what I’d originally anticipated. A superb read though nonetheless and definitely recommended.

This is certainly full of dilema's & what if's. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. So well written and easy to relate to. The lengths we go to to protect our loved ones. This could be a situation that could happen to anyone. What would you do in this situation? How easy it is for things to spiral out of control. A really enjoyable read.

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.

The Dilemma is told from the points of view of both Livia and Adam and revolves mainly around the day of Livia's 40th birthday party, which has been years in the making, but both Adam and Livia are keeping a secret, each different to the other, both will have such catastrophic consequences to their lives if either tells the other at this point in time, so they both decide to keep quiet until after the party so they can have one more normal, happy day, before their world's come crashing down around them. I had to wonder, if I were faced with the same dilemma, would I have done anything differently and the answer would be no, because I totally got their reasons for keeping quiet. This book is a slow burner to start with, then the writer cranks it up a gear and it really gets going, I struggled to put it down, but real life always gets in the way. It's a rollercoaster packed with emotion and by the end I had cried many tears, it's totally different to her previous books, which have been psychological thrillers whereas this is a domestic thriller, but no less tense than the others, with both Adam and Livia battling with their consciences, wondering if they are doing the right thing. It's definitely one you won't want to miss.

I'd like to thank HQ and Netgalley for the approval and will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

This has go be my favourite B A Paris book (do I say that everytime?)

I just don't know where to start on this review. It's just very good. A 5 star from me. I couldn't believe what happened. I too was in denial. I can see why Adam did what he did and why. I can understand Livia's reaction too but she came right in the end. It makes you think how you would react if you were in the same situation. A thought provoking story then.

This is an incredible book, a family tragedy compassionately told through the eyes of both parents. What should have been a happy occasion turns into a life changing disaster. It does show that you should never give up on reconciliation as it is never too late to forgive. Definitely worth a read.

I've been a huge fan of B A Paris for years, every time I see she has a new book out, I squeal with delight. The concept of this was great, gritty from the first chapter. But it didn't quite seem to go anywhere for me. It was just a description of a day, with a man feeling torn. I think I just wanted a bit more really.

Wow what a book! I became completely absorbed in the story and couldn't put it down. I kept swaying between wanting Adam to tell Livia what was happening, and desperately hoping he was right about Marnie being delayed.
It was utterly compelling reading about Adam's struggle to accept the truth and tell Livia, especially when she had her own secrets about Marnie that she was still trying to come to terms with. I think the way the drama unfolded over the day of the party was brilliant, and I loved the way their friends and family were woven through the story. It kept me hooked.
The last few chapters were heartbreaking, and I think this story will stay with me for a while.
The only thing I would say is that this book is labelled as a pyschological thriller, which I wouldn't class it as. For me it's more a domestic drama, and while I loved it if you were hoping to read a thriller I think you'd be a bit disappointed. Thankyou to netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.