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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
This book was a bit too dramatic for me and I feel like It was at least 100 pages too long. Each chapter did feel like a cliff hanger though. Everyone had a secret. It was a lot to keep track of at times.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the gifted copy.
I had high hopes for this book, as I loved a few of this author's previous novels. When I saw she was writing out of her genre, I thought "ok, well, it might still be good."
No. It was not.
This would have been a good short story. Instead, it dragged on and on and on and on.
The chapters alternate between the POV of the husband and wife. The wife spends the entire book super excited about her GINORMOUS 40th birthday party, which is that night. However, she has found something out about her daughter (that is in Hong Kong and not coming to the party, or so she thinks) and after the party, she is going to tell her husband. So that's her dilemma. The husband and daughter have made secret plans to fly her in to surprise the mom at the party. Except...there's a plane crash. Is Marnie on it? or did she miss her flight? He spends the entire book a) wondering if his daughter perished in the crash and b) wondering if he should tell his wife and ruin her party. Dilemma.
I kept waiting for something to happen. Like a big plot twist. But no. Nothing happened. It just went back and forth, the secret keeping, the drama, the "do I tell now or wait". The only reason I kept reading was because I was SO SURE something was going to happen.
But it didn't.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because I'm feeling generous and also because I was gullible enough to actually finish the book.
I had high hopes for this book, as I loved a few of this author's previous novels. When I saw she was writing out of her genre, I thought "ok, well, it might still be good."
No. It was not.
This would have been a good short story. Instead, it dragged on and on and on and on.
The chapters alternate between the POV of the husband and wife. The wife spends the entire book super excited about her GINORMOUS 40th birthday party, which is that night. However, she has found something out about her daughter (that is in Hong Kong and not coming to the party, or so she thinks) and after the party, she is going to tell her husband. So that's her dilemma. The husband and daughter have made secret plans to fly her in to surprise the mom at the party. Except...there's a plane crash. Is Marnie on it? or did she miss her flight? He spends the entire book a) wondering if his daughter perished in the crash and b) wondering if he should tell his wife and ruin her party. Dilemma.
I kept waiting for something to happen. Like a big plot twist. But no. Nothing happened. It just went back and forth, the secret keeping, the drama, the "do I tell now or wait". The only reason I kept reading was because I was SO SURE something was going to happen.
But it didn't.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because I'm feeling generous and also because I was gullible enough to actually finish the book.
3.5 Stars. I really liked this and I like B. A. Paris but there was a tiny bit in the middle that seemed repetitive. Would I recommend? Yes!!!
I binged this book in one day, and by the last 100 pages I knew I was not going to put this book down until I had some answers.
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When the forward of this book mentioned that this book was going to be a bit different from the author's previous books, I was wary but intrigued. One of the things I've loved about some of B.A. Paris's other books was the creepy, psychological thriller atmosphere that she's created that really keeps you on edge the whole time. While this book is pretty different, I enjoyed it just the same and am so happy to find that she can successfully keep me on the edge with a domestic thriller as well.
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This book is full of secrets. Secrets that swirl around and around the heads of each character until you think they are going to burst out. At first I was a bit put off by Livia's obsession with this 40th birthday party - that she had been planning it for 20 years seemed absolutely ridiculous to me. However, as we learn more about her, we not only learn her background, but also her slightly obsessive personality shine through. I also didn't particularly care for her husband Adam (especially when we learn more about his past), and while I found some of his choices VERY questionable, he definitely grew on me.
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This book did a really great job of showing how keeping a secret can eat you up from the inside and the more it swirls around in your head, the more it takes over your thoughts and actions, until you cannot focus on anything else. The book stakes place in one day and there was a bit of a repetitive nature to the story - we spend A LOT of time in the characters' heads as the think and analyze and go round and round in circles, and by the end you want to scream at them to JUST SPILL IT ALREADY. So year, the tension building is there!
Even though it is not the most face paced story and not a lot honestly happens with the plot, it was a very quick, bingeable read.
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Thank you to the publishers for a review copy; my thoughts are my own.
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When the forward of this book mentioned that this book was going to be a bit different from the author's previous books, I was wary but intrigued. One of the things I've loved about some of B.A. Paris's other books was the creepy, psychological thriller atmosphere that she's created that really keeps you on edge the whole time. While this book is pretty different, I enjoyed it just the same and am so happy to find that she can successfully keep me on the edge with a domestic thriller as well.
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This book is full of secrets. Secrets that swirl around and around the heads of each character until you think they are going to burst out. At first I was a bit put off by Livia's obsession with this 40th birthday party - that she had been planning it for 20 years seemed absolutely ridiculous to me. However, as we learn more about her, we not only learn her background, but also her slightly obsessive personality shine through. I also didn't particularly care for her husband Adam (especially when we learn more about his past), and while I found some of his choices VERY questionable, he definitely grew on me.
_
This book did a really great job of showing how keeping a secret can eat you up from the inside and the more it swirls around in your head, the more it takes over your thoughts and actions, until you cannot focus on anything else. The book stakes place in one day and there was a bit of a repetitive nature to the story - we spend A LOT of time in the characters' heads as the think and analyze and go round and round in circles, and by the end you want to scream at them to JUST SPILL IT ALREADY. So year, the tension building is there!
Even though it is not the most face paced story and not a lot honestly happens with the plot, it was a very quick, bingeable read.
_
Thank you to the publishers for a review copy; my thoughts are my own.
While this was an incredible page turner, I was expecting a typical B.A. Paris style thriller and was disappointed that it was instead a family drama. However, the characters were generally well written and the story was compelling. The story itself though gave me awful anxiety and dread, and the ending was so incredibly disturbing that it made me sick to my stomach.
This was my first B A Paris novel and omg it definitely won’t be my last. I devoured this book in just a few hours. The chapters are short and the suspense building it’s brilliant.
What I loved about the narrative style is that the reader knew the two reveals so by switching between the narratives of Adam and Livia was so intriguing. Seeing how each work through their dilemma was so good. I and liked that even after their secrets are revealed we keep the two narrative voices to continue that journey
Overall although we only know these characters and families for 24hrs in the book it feels like I’ve read so much about them and know their history so much better.
What I loved about the narrative style is that the reader knew the two reveals so by switching between the narratives of Adam and Livia was so intriguing. Seeing how each work through their dilemma was so good. I and liked that even after their secrets are revealed we keep the two narrative voices to continue that journey
Overall although we only know these characters and families for 24hrs in the book it feels like I’ve read so much about them and know their history so much better.
Not sure what kind of book this was supposed to be?
It wasn’t a thriller. Or really a suspense. I’m confused.
It was well written. But I’m confused as to the point of it.
It wasn’t a thriller. Or really a suspense. I’m confused.
It was well written. But I’m confused as to the point of it.
Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the advanced ebook of The Dilemma by B.A. Paris. I am a huge Paris fan like I still think about Behind Closed Doors and get chills. But I will say if you’re expected that same vibe from this book, you may be disappointed. Paris is known for the twisty wtf domestic/family thriller and this book to me was more family drama (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
She has a knack for the suspense and because this story takes place over 24 hours it’ll definitely keep you following along. Livia has been waiting to have the party of her dreams her whole life and her 40th is the perfect chance! Her husband Adam knows the importance of the day so he’s working to make it great. Problem is these people have all the secrets in the world and they all start sneaking out in the 24 hours of this big day. The story alternates between Livia and Adam as they both are trying to share the perfect night, and put off all the bad stuff until the day is over.
It’s never that simple though... tbh there wasn’t much of a twist but the secrets were decently juicy. If you’re in the mood for a quick drama with people you’re not sure if you like, I definitely recommend this one!
She has a knack for the suspense and because this story takes place over 24 hours it’ll definitely keep you following along. Livia has been waiting to have the party of her dreams her whole life and her 40th is the perfect chance! Her husband Adam knows the importance of the day so he’s working to make it great. Problem is these people have all the secrets in the world and they all start sneaking out in the 24 hours of this big day. The story alternates between Livia and Adam as they both are trying to share the perfect night, and put off all the bad stuff until the day is over.
It’s never that simple though... tbh there wasn’t much of a twist but the secrets were decently juicy. If you’re in the mood for a quick drama with people you’re not sure if you like, I definitely recommend this one!
A very generous 1 star. The story was ridiculous, there was no 'dilemma' in my opinion, unlikeable characters, terrible writing. Not a book I will be recommending!
A little repetitive with should I speak up or wait - but what Adam is struggling with gave me physical anxiety!