A woman’s birthday party takes a dark turn in a poignant, heart-stopping new novel from the reigning queen of suspense, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown, and Bring Me Back. “A heartbreaking page-turner that will have you up at night reading just one more chapter.” –Catherine Steadman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Something in the … Steadman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water
“The phenomenal B.A. Paris has done it again! I devoured The Dilemma in one sitting–it grabbed me from the very first page and wouldn’t let go until I’d finished. Secrets, guilt, shame and heartbreak–this story has it all in spades.”–Sandie Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Woman
Knowing the truth will destroy her. Keeping it secret will destroy him.
It’s Livia’s 40th birthday, and her husband Adam is throwing her the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding they never had. Everyone she loves will be there, except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But Livia is secretly glad Marnie won’t be there.
Livia has recently uncovered a secret about their daughter which, if revealed, will shake the foundation of their family to its core. She needs to tell Adam, but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.
Adam, meanwhile, has his own surprise for Livia: he’s arranged for Marnie to secretly fly back for the party. But before Marnie arrives, Adam hears some terrible news. Now he too is faced with a dilemma: Does he share what he’s learned with his wife? Is hiding the truth the same as telling a lie? And how far are Adam and Livia willing to go to protect the ones they love–and give each other a last few hours of happiness?
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It was a great read, and very good for a book club.Lots of opinion questions could come of this book. The story was gripping and I was in tears near the end. The book was very captivating and i felt invested in the characters. Overall a great read.
I finished this book in two days because I couldn’t put it down. Very different from Paris’ other books – an original concept and a deep dive into a marriage where secrets can destroy. Five stars on this one.
I couldn’t wait to get hold of this book, knowing that B.A. Paris consistently produces great psychological thrillers. What I hadn’t expected was the emotional depth of it. It won’t just pluck at readers’ heartstrings, it will break their heart in two. All the way through I was willing the characters to make different choices while totally understanding why they were doing what they did. What would you do if faced with the same dilemma as them? Be prepared for a thought-provoking and emotionally-charged read – and have tissues nearby to catch your tears!
The weight of the lie becomes too heavy to bear.
“The Dilemma” by B. A. Paris is the story of Olivia and Adam Harman on the day of Olivia’s birthday, a glorious celebration and a terrible day. The story is told in first-person narratives, and each chapter notes the time and perspective so readers can follow along as events unfold. Readers follow the Harmans through the excitement, the joy, the reminiscences, the disappointments, the uncertainty, the dread, the fear.
Paris created a dynamic family, Olivia and Adam Harman and their adult children, Josh and Marnie. Their past has been somewhat troubled, and yet all things have been set aside for this elaborate birthday gala. Little did they know that a dark cloud, something unthinkable and foreboding, would hang over the day. Intricate details pull readers into the story and the document the raw emotions as the day progresses. Readers find out that this family has many secrets, and the weight of those lies has exacted a heavy toll on those who know the truth.
“The Dilemma” is about family, communication, and a communiqué that no one expected. I received a review copy of “The Dilemma” from B. A. Paris and St. Martin’s Press. It was compelling, thought provoking and tragic. It has advice for everyone; “Life’s too short. Just do what makes you happy.”
A powerful, beautifully crafted story that ratchets up the tension with every page and packs a huge emotional punch.
A beautifully written story of love and loss which will stay with me.
Most of The Dilemma by B.A. Parris is told in about a 24 hour time span, alternating between Livia’s and Adam’s point of view and including flashbacks to give more context. They are both keeping a secret hoping to keep the other from experiencing the complete ruin they know is to come. One is keeping it in order to give their spouse a few last hours of happiness, the other to realize a dream they’ve had for years. Some people may side with both of them and their decisions. While I think both of them should have said something right away, I’m completely siding with Adam. If you’ve read the book, I would love to hear if you thought either of them were doing the right thing.
Parris kept the suspense up and the exposing of new secrets like a pro. There was a bit in the middle with Adam and his thought process that I found very repetitive and wished more of it had been cut out during editing, mainly to keep the story flowing even faster. When I did finally find out the outcome, it wasn’t a surprise, but it was still moving. I was hoping it would go a different way and was looking forward to seeing if Parris could throw in another big twist.
A very interesting look at family and friend drama and the secrets people keep while trying to protect themselves even when they are saying they are completely doing it for someone else.
5* Consequences Stars
I am a huge fan of B A Paris and every book I have read by her has been fantastic and did not disappoint. When I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Dilemma, I wasted no time delving into the book as the blurb was very enthralling.
Livia has been obsessing and planning her 40th Birthday for many years because she never got to have the white traditional wedding of her dreams due to her falling pregnant at 17 years old. Adam her wonderful and caring husband has been so supportive and knows how much this means to her. He has even planned a wonderful surprise for her. Despite the high both of them are on because of the impending party and having all their friends and family present, one decision that is made will change everything. Secrets are being withheld to protect loved ones and anxiety is at an all-time high.
The chapters were short and alternated between Livia and Adam which made for a fast-paced read. The secondary characters are engaging and are integral to the story. Once again, the author did not disappoint, and I loved every page read.
Many thanks to Harlequin Books| HarperCollinsPublishers Australia for my copy to read and review.
This is a one-sitting book for sure! Livia didn’t really have the wedding of her dreams but has been planning a special 40th birthday for as long as she could remember. The party is finally here, and almost all her family and friends will be there. The only person missing is her daughter Marnie. The story is told from two perspectives, Livia’s and her husband Adam. There is a secret weighing down Livia, and a bigger secret that has rocked Adam’s world! This story has it all! The heart of this book is love, and sometimes love breaks your heart! B.A.Paris knows how to grab you from page one and this story won’t let you go until the end!
This is not the typical B.A. Paris book readers have come to expect. Rather than a psychological suspense novel, this is more of a domestic thriller.
Livia never had the wedding she dreamed of. As a result, she has spent over 20 years planning her own special day – her 40th birthday. She and her husband Adam married young and have had their fair share of ups and downs, but Adam has went to great lengths to help make sure Livia’s day is everything she dreamed of. Unfortunately, their daughter Marnie is abroad and unable to attend the party. Marnie and Adam have planned the perfect surprise though. When an unexpected event happens, Adam is faced with the difficult decision of telling his wife and spoiling her perfect day or waiting until it’s over and facing it then. Likewise, Livia has been hiding a secret from Adam for weeks about Marnie and she is sure it will shatter his world. Does she risk waiting to tell him until after the party, knowing that Marnie’s secret may surface there and destroy some of the family’s closest relationships?
This was a page turner for me. I had to know what secrets were being kept and why. With that said, there were a lot of secrets (maybe too many). Occasional red herrings are sprinkled throughout but I think some things were pretty obvious early on. That still didn’t spoil the book however.
I’ve read quite a few reviews where people have stated their immense dislike of Adam. I think Adam makes some questionable choices but I also thought it was important to keep in mind how young he was when some of his worst decisions were made.
I thought the author did a great job bringing the characters in this book to life. Furthermore, the suspense was kept pretty high throughout.
A quick, easy read and one I would recommend to others.
This book wasn’t what I thought, but when I figured out what it was, I settled in and read and read and was completely absorbed in the dilemma. Perfect title, by the way. I have greatly enjoyed every one of B.A. Paris’s books, and I will keep reading them as she masterminds them. I waited nine months to get my hands on this book, too, so I think that made me cherish it even more. Now I am turning it back into the library but in a happy way, because I can’t wait for someone else to get to spend some time with these characters and in the midst of the dilemma. Oh, and I thought the ending was satisfying as well!
I did like this book but after a bit it bogged me down. I almost skipped some chapters but didn’t.
Well…this was emotional and so not what I expected read from this author. I had read Behind Closed Doors, and while it was a gripping read, it so bothered me, and would call it a favorite.
This book, was so different, I couldn’t put it down. The title and cover are perfect for this storyline, and would have bought the book on the jacket write-up alone. I also, wanted to see how this author would spin the tale. Although, I know, for a fact that neither I or my husband would have handled the situations the way Adam or Livia did. I gave my husband a brief synopsis of the story, and we both knew what the other would do. As I was reading this story, so many questions and concerns entered my head. Shock. Surprise. Why are some secrets being kept? How could they do that? But as the story evolved, I felt the author did a great job of making the reader see both Adam and Livia‘s sides of the story, whether we agreed or disagreed.
To say anything more about this book would be to give too much away. I’ll sum it up saying it’s about family, love, protection, disappointment and acceptance, moving thru and moving past, and most of all forgiveness of each other and self.
Thanks to B.A. Paris, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Another winner from B.A. Paris, but a little different from previous thrillers. It is still fast-moving, twisty, and very compelling. I couldn’t put it down until I finished! It portrays a nice normal family preparing for a huge 40th birthday party for Livia, the mother of the family. Livia came off as very self-absorbed in throwing this big party for herself to make up for the wedding she never had, but her 20 year estrangement from her parents had contributed to those issues. Otherwise, she seemed perfectly nice, and the father, Adam, had a few small issues of his own. They each have a secret that they are struggling to keep, and the suspense mounts inexorably as you read.
Thanks for Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Love B.A. Paris books! This story broke my heart in a thousand pieces.
Grabbed my interest from the beginning and kept me engaged. The plot was interesting and the characters were true to life.I
4 stars.
This was a fascinating look at the pernicious nature of secrets and the lengths one will go to in order to “protect” the people one loves… The story is a series of tragic unfortunate events. No one is entirely who they seem – although, is anyone ever? The writing was engaging and the revelations managed well. I couldn’t put it down until everything d resolved, even as I read with my eyes squinted half shut to try and keep the parade of horribles at bay. It was a moving and horrifying tale that was presented with perfect pacing and the tension levels were just the right amount of harrowing. A great – albeit dreadfully tragic – read.
As I look at this, it’s an extremely short review that doesn’t say much. I’m sorry for that, but tt’s hard to say more than that, honestly. The magic in this story lies in the revelations, misdirections, and secrets – and the rationales (and justifications) for each one of them. To say more would threaten that magic, and I wouldn’t do that for anything – the story was so compelling that it deserves to be experienced whole and uncluttered by expectation or suggestion. Try it, and then tell me what you think – I’m dying to have someone to talk with about this one!
My obligation-free review copy was provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
This story was a 4.5 read for me. I felt like I was on a derailed train and couldn’t stop reading until I finished it. The story chapters trade off between the two main married characters, Adam and Livia, and at times it was hard to remember who was speaking which is why I didn’t give it 5 stars.
I read and loved all B.A. Paris books. This one was just as good. It kept me turning the pages.
Yes, B.A. Paris is known for writing some of my favorite mysteries/thrillers, but that does not mean she can’t write other genres. She writes well and that’s what is hard for me to understand why others are having a difficult time with her latest. Authors are just plain good at writing. It’s what they do well, why they get published, and why we read their books. She still wrote a great book even if it’s not what readers are used to from her. Other authors write more than one genre. It’s okay if a writer has a good story to tell. It doesn’t mean it’s not great because it’s not what they’re known for writing. I’m saying all of this because, yes, Paris is one of my favorite authors because I’ve loved all three of her previous thrillers. However, I also love this book. It’s still a type of mystery as the reader waits to have certain things confirmed, but the heart of the story is family fiction. It’s about a family and the two parents who each are struggling with a secret they are holding. I love the narration of the two key character’s point of views hour-by-hour way it is laid out for the reader as they wait to find out how everything happens. It’s a wonderful book! I LOVE IT!
Another excellent book from B.A. Paris. This book felt a lot different from her other ones, but suspenseful just the same. It’s a great a novel about relationships and making the right choices for the ones you love.