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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
Na Dilema jsem se neskutečně, ale bohužel přišlo hodně těžké zklamání. Přemýšlím, jestli i ty 3 hvězdy nejsou moc. B. A. Paris je autorka psychothrillerů, a i Dilema je propagováno jako thriller. Tak si to ujasníme - tohle není thriller ani náhodou. Rodinné psychologické drama to vystihuje mnohem lépe, a kdybych do toho šla s touto informací, možná by ten zážitek byl jiný. Ale já jsem celou knihu čekala na nějaký zvrat, překvapení, šok, nebezpečí, prostě něco, ale ono to nepřišlo a asi ani přijít nemělo. Ale i z pohledu toho psychologického románu to je docela průměrné, vlastně se tam opakuje pořád dokola to samé, postavy jsou zralé na pár facek a vlastně jediná dobrá věc je ta čtivost, která vás nutí číst dál, asi proto ty tři hvězdy, plus je to teda B. A. Paris a asi neumím hodnotit níž. Asi ne všechny knížky můžou být takové pecky jako Za zavřenými dveřmi nebo V pasti lží, ale bohužel se to absolutně nedá srovnávat.
Marnie! Marnie! Marnie! Marnie’s name appears in this book 574 times. I know because I did a search on my Kindle app. I really should have rated this only two stars, but because I’ve been in a reading rut lately and the fact that I was able to at least tolerate this one I’m going to be generous and give three. Don’t read this one if you’re expecting a can’t-put-down page turner, you will surely be disappointed. It was only okay for me.
Release Date - June 30, 2020
I have read and enjoyed the author’s first three books and was eagerly anticipating this one. However, it just didn’t work for me and I ended up disliking it, unfortunately.
For one, this book relies heavily on what is probably my least favorite trope of all time - the Secret-Keeping Trope - where one or both of the characters know they should reveal something of Vital Importance to another character, but keeps the secret instead. In this novel, both Adam and Livia are keeping something from each other and spend the entire book justifying why they can’t/shouldn’t tell. I despise this trope. Not only is honesty the best policy, but keeping the secret always, always, ALWAYS blows up in their faces.
I also didn’t care for the characters. Livia is obsessed with having an elaborate, over the top 40th birthday party. She has been fixated on this and has been planning this party for 20 years, even choosing the house they bought because the garden would be the perfect place for her 40th birthday party. Who thinks like this, planning a birthday party 20 years in the future???? I certainly don’t, so I couldn’t relate to her at all. She wants a big blowout birthday party because their wedding was small which also made no sense to me. If that is the case, why didn’t they do a vow renewal ceremony instead? It was odd that she was consumed with this birthday party and basically couldn’t think of anything else.
I liked Adam more than Livia, but keeping his secret just because he didn’t want to spoil the party seemed ridiculous, especially when a life or death situation was involved.
I have this shelved on my mystery/thriller shelf, but it’s not really a mystery or a thriller. It’s more centered around family drama. It reminded me a lot of The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz which I read last year and also hated. I guess the “secrets revealed at a big shindig” plotline is not for me.
Overall this was a big disappointment. 1.5 stars
I have read and enjoyed the author’s first three books and was eagerly anticipating this one. However, it just didn’t work for me and I ended up disliking it, unfortunately.
For one, this book relies heavily on what is probably my least favorite trope of all time - the Secret-Keeping Trope - where one or both of the characters know they should reveal something of Vital Importance to another character, but keeps the secret instead. In this novel, both Adam and Livia are keeping something from each other and spend the entire book justifying why they can’t/shouldn’t tell. I despise this trope. Not only is honesty the best policy, but keeping the secret always, always, ALWAYS blows up in their faces.
I also didn’t care for the characters. Livia is obsessed with having an elaborate, over the top 40th birthday party. She has been fixated on this and has been planning this party for 20 years, even choosing the house they bought because the garden would be the perfect place for her 40th birthday party. Who thinks like this, planning a birthday party 20 years in the future???? I certainly don’t, so I couldn’t relate to her at all. She wants a big blowout birthday party because their wedding was small which also made no sense to me. If that is the case, why didn’t they do a vow renewal ceremony instead? It was odd that she was consumed with this birthday party and basically couldn’t think of anything else.
I liked Adam more than Livia, but keeping his secret just because he didn’t want to spoil the party seemed ridiculous, especially when a life or death situation was involved.
I have this shelved on my mystery/thriller shelf, but it’s not really a mystery or a thriller. It’s more centered around family drama. It reminded me a lot of The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz which I read last year and also hated. I guess the “secrets revealed at a big shindig” plotline is not for me.
Overall this was a big disappointment. 1.5 stars
I read this in only two days as it kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The highlight of this book was that, according to my Kindle app, it only took me 2.5 hours to read. I hate to leave a bad review when a publisher has generously given me an advanced copy to read for review, but there was no getting around it with this one. There is no "dilemma" in this book, just two adults not willing to talk to one another. The craziest part is...neither party did anything wrong! No one was admitting to an affair or a crime or some act they wrongly committed. The reveal of the two secrets being kept happens super early in the book so the ENTIRE book is told from the perspective of two characters who are ruminating endlessly on the secrets they know and when they'll tell the other person. Unreal. This entire book was so contrived and a total disappointment. I've tried B.A. Paris in the past and not been a fan so I don't know why I continue to? This will definitely be my last. I can't even bump it up for quality of writing. The dialogue was so stilted and weird. Do yourself a favor and don't even bother! Too many fish (books) in the sea (bookstore).
Having read and enjoyed BA Paris's two previous books, Behind Closed Doors and Bring Me Back (except for that ridiculous conclusion), I was really looking forward to The Dilemma, but sadly this one didn't work for me.
First, the positives. The cover is gorgeous and relevant to the story. The chapters are short and the writing is compulsively readable in signature BA Paris's style but only up until the halfway mark, after which it drags too much.
Now, for all that didn't work. I went into it looking for a thriller, but it turned out to be a character oriented family drama. From the blurb it seemed like there would be plenty of secrets and mysteries in the story, but there was neither. It was also a 100 pages too long and I was seriously wishing for it to just finish. The characterization wasn't as in depth as one would expect in a character oriented story, and I had a hard time believing how the characters behaved half the time. And finally, the so called "dilemma" didn't even feel like one, it was more like a colossal lack of communication.
So, yeah this was sadly a disappointment and I wouldn't recommend. I hope the author goes back to writing thrillers because she does them so much better.
**An e-ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
First, the positives. The cover is gorgeous and relevant to the story. The chapters are short and the writing is compulsively readable in signature BA Paris's style but only up until the halfway mark, after which it drags too much.
Now, for all that didn't work. I went into it looking for a thriller, but it turned out to be a character oriented family drama. From the blurb it seemed like there would be plenty of secrets and mysteries in the story, but there was neither. It was also a 100 pages too long and I was seriously wishing for it to just finish. The characterization wasn't as in depth as one would expect in a character oriented story, and I had a hard time believing how the characters behaved half the time. And finally, the so called "dilemma" didn't even feel like one, it was more like a colossal lack of communication.
So, yeah this was sadly a disappointment and I wouldn't recommend. I hope the author goes back to writing thrillers because she does them so much better.
**An e-ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I loved Behind Closed Doors- I thought it was so well-paced and full of tension & suspense, and I have recommended it to so many people over the past few years. I was thrilled to get an ARC from the publisher for B.A. Paris's new book, and finished it in just over 24 hours.
I really liked the book, but be warned that's it very different from Behind Closed Doors. Focused on family & emotions, the things that go unsaid between parents & children, between spouses.
Not a five star read because I anticipated a couple of the twists ahead of time, but what it may lack in nail-biting suspense or never-saw-it-coming twists, the compelx emotions dealt with in the book are so well-written, especially in the last third of the book.
I really liked the book, but be warned that's it very different from Behind Closed Doors. Focused on family & emotions, the things that go unsaid between parents & children, between spouses.
Not a five star read because I anticipated a couple of the twists ahead of time, but what it may lack in nail-biting suspense or never-saw-it-coming twists, the compelx emotions dealt with in the book are so well-written, especially in the last third of the book.
**3.5 stars**
This is quite different than B.A. Paris' other works - so go in with an open mind that although it still touches on the complex layers of relationships - it pares it down narrowly to one evening rather than a span of a longer timeline like we are used to.
"The dilemma" in question is a trope us readers either love or hate - couples who simply aren't telling each other what they need to and the story pulls on those threads with help of character study from flashbacks. I found that their past was interesting, it didn't add much value to the story onhand.
The "secrets" they hid were serious and heavy - it made for an emotional read and I finished this in one sitting. If you enjoyed her other books, this is an interesting way to see her evolve as an author. If you are looking for a fast paced thriller read to get your heart thumping, you may want to skip this one.
This is quite different than B.A. Paris' other works - so go in with an open mind that although it still touches on the complex layers of relationships - it pares it down narrowly to one evening rather than a span of a longer timeline like we are used to.
"The dilemma" in question is a trope us readers either love or hate - couples who simply aren't telling each other what they need to and the story pulls on those threads with help of character study from flashbacks. I found that their past was interesting, it didn't add much value to the story onhand.
The "secrets" they hid were serious and heavy - it made for an emotional read and I finished this in one sitting. If you enjoyed her other books, this is an interesting way to see her evolve as an author. If you are looking for a fast paced thriller read to get your heart thumping, you may want to skip this one.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated