Reviews - The Dilemma | The StoryGraph

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Thank you to St Martins Press and @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! It comes out June 30th.

Synopsis: This is a dual POV story between Livia and her husband, Adam, leading up to her 40th birthday party. She never had the big wedding, so she has been planning/ saving for a long time. However, Livia knows a secret about their daughter, Marnie, that might affect the big day and their relationship with their friends. Adam, on the other hand, is also struggling with his own dilemma that he knows about Marnie that will affect their lives forever. Should he hold onto this secret until after the party or ruin everything?

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐.5 / 5 stars

Livia and Adam clearly have communication issues - especially when it comes to the borderline relationship Adam has with his daughter, Marnie. There is a lot of resentment, jealousy, and lack of trust in this family, and it's hard to want to scream when reading each chapter. Many parts are repetitive, and dragging out a pretty simple situation into a 300+ page story. However, B.A. Paris has you wanting reading more and more about this dire situation, like a fly on the wall at a family reunion. It’s supposed to be awkward. As I did like this, definitely not my favorite just due to pacing. However, if you are into family dramas, then this is for you.

beckiebookworm1974's review against another edition

3.0

This really was an emotional ride that by the finish had the tears pouring down my face.
This really needs to just be picked up and read with no prior expectations.
Its essentially at heart a family drama that focuses heavily on the family dynamic and what makes people tick.
A dilemma of ultimate truth told from both Husband and wife Livia and Adam who are both holding their cards close to there chest, temporally withholding certain facts they believe will protect and shield there loved ones.
The events unfolding here play out over a very brief window of time which expertly manages to increase the intensity and increasing sense of horror, disbelief, betrayal and despair all depending on whose head we are in at that moment in time.
But I also equally felt such a sense of connection to this family and I could definitely feel there love and commitment for each other despite and also because of the obstacles they have managed to overcome.
So despite my Sadness here I was also left with an emerging sense of hope and also growth.
That this family have managed to pull together in such a make or break scenario and even eventually emerge intact as a unit.
This was such a heartening thing, so yes I did enjoy this it's excellently written and managed to get me feeling all sorts of mixed-up emotions.
My rating reflects also on the toll this took on me personally, my enjoyment of this was also mixed with a profound sense of loss and I was left feeling wrung out and put through an emotional wringer.
Also, this was quite slow in regards to plot direction as I said it focuses more on feelings so at times I did find myself skimming slightly, In conclusion, this was a solid emotional read that I would recommend just keep the tissues handy.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Dilemma.

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Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

the_readinglife's review against another edition

4.0

Review to follow!

nurseamber's review against another edition

5.0

This book will stay with me

This book was so heart wrenching! I can’t even imagine how Adam must have felt and trying to decide what the right thing to do was. This book kept me turning the pages and then completely broke my heart by the end. This book will definitely stay with me for awhile. This is my second read of a BA Paris book and I have loved both books.

britni's review against another edition

0.5

emotional tense medium-paced

This is marketed as a thriller but will leave you sorely disappointed as there are no plot twists. This would be best classified as a family drama. As someone who loves psychological thrillers, I was highly disappointed. The writing is good and the characters and perspectives are well written but the dilemmas are understandable to a degree but holy cow, I don’t know anyone so obsessive over their own birthday party that they plan for it 20 years in advance… I was annoyed from page 3 and remained annoyed throughout.