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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
There is a big special 40th party planned for the wife as she didn't have the wedding day she wanted. Both partners have something to tell the other afterwards but dosent want to ruin the day as its been a long awaited party 20 years in the making.
Seriously the husband does my head it as to why he doesn't call sooner to know for sure either way....its all based over 24hrs.....it seems like a long 24hrs!!! Finished in one sitting as I had to know what happened and couldn't sleep
Seriously the husband does my head it as to why he doesn't call sooner to know for sure either way....its all based over 24hrs.....it seems like a long 24hrs!!! Finished in one sitting as I had to know what happened and couldn't sleep
Whew. I thought for sure the ending was going to disappoint me. It didn’t.
This book is a really unique book. It’s not like any other book I can recall. It’s painful and emotional and a bit melodramatic. Neither main character was terribly enjoyable. Both were neurotic, selfish, and incapable of proper communication. Which means they were normal people, living normal lives. And then the story of each making a major decision over the course of 24 hours was just an exercise in internal tension. But in that way you can’t help, you relate to their unique decision-making process and evaluate the entire time what you would be doing in that situation. It sticks you right in the middle of the evening, wishing Adam would just stop walking to his damn shed and wishing Livia would stop flitting around so chaotically. It was a very psychological book. My guess is that if you’re looking for a mystery or a thriller or a twisting and turning who-dun-it, this is going to disappoint. If you go in expecting to really delve into yucky emotions, this is for you.
This book is a really unique book. It’s not like any other book I can recall. It’s painful and emotional and a bit melodramatic. Neither main character was terribly enjoyable. Both were neurotic, selfish, and incapable of proper communication. Which means they were normal people, living normal lives. And then the story of each making a major decision over the course of 24 hours was just an exercise in internal tension. But in that way you can’t help, you relate to their unique decision-making process and evaluate the entire time what you would be doing in that situation. It sticks you right in the middle of the evening, wishing Adam would just stop walking to his damn shed and wishing Livia would stop flitting around so chaotically. It was a very psychological book. My guess is that if you’re looking for a mystery or a thriller or a twisting and turning who-dun-it, this is going to disappoint. If you go in expecting to really delve into yucky emotions, this is for you.
B.A. Paris is one of my favorite authors. I loved ‘Behind Closed Doors’ and ‘Bring Me Back’. However, I did not like this book.
To be fair, I did go into this novel knowing it was a family drama and not her typical thrillers she’s known for. I applaud her for branching out into a different genre. But the book fell flat for me.
The characters were extremely unlikeable. Their actions were implausible. I find it extremely unlikely that Adam (or any father) would hide such a monumental piece of news about his daughter and let hundreds of people drink & dance the night away.
Something else that bothered me was the repetition. Every section of time (i.e 7pm-8pm) contained two chapters alternating between Adam and Livia narrating. However, the chapters became the same thing over and over. Each parent kept silently rehashing the secret they knew about their daughter and arguing internally on whether to tell the other person. The arguments for/against telling kept being repeated over and over for the entirety of the party. Adam’s part, in particular, felt like a phonograph stuck on the same song.
This book was just ‘okay’ for me. I think Ms. Paris’ true talent is in suspense writing. I look forward to her return to the genre with her next release.
To be fair, I did go into this novel knowing it was a family drama and not her typical thrillers she’s known for. I applaud her for branching out into a different genre. But the book fell flat for me.
The characters were extremely unlikeable. Their actions were implausible. I find it extremely unlikely that Adam (or any father) would hide such a monumental piece of news about his daughter and let hundreds of people drink & dance the night away.
Something else that bothered me was the repetition. Every section of time (i.e 7pm-8pm) contained two chapters alternating between Adam and Livia narrating. However, the chapters became the same thing over and over. Each parent kept silently rehashing the secret they knew about their daughter and arguing internally on whether to tell the other person. The arguments for/against telling kept being repeated over and over for the entirety of the party. Adam’s part, in particular, felt like a phonograph stuck on the same song.
This book was just ‘okay’ for me. I think Ms. Paris’ true talent is in suspense writing. I look forward to her return to the genre with her next release.
B A Paris became one of my favorites when I found behind closed doors. Every book since then has been incredible. This one didn’t disappoint.
In the start I wasn’t sure how this story would pan out. But it was a good one.
Boy meets girl. Boy gets girl pregnant and her family disown her. Fast forward to 22 years later and it’s the party Liv has been looking forward to her whole life. Her 40th!
Everything leading up to this day has been tough but this was supposed to be a celebration of her life and the wedding she never had. Adam is acting weird. She knows she has to tell her husband her daughter secrets however she’s not sure how.
The surprise present didn’t make it and Adam has to pretend that everything is fine. Not knowing if it will be. The ending of this brought me to tears, I’m so happy after everything Adam and Liv have each other.
In the start I wasn’t sure how this story would pan out. But it was a good one.
Boy meets girl. Boy gets girl pregnant and her family disown her. Fast forward to 22 years later and it’s the party Liv has been looking forward to her whole life. Her 40th!
Everything leading up to this day has been tough but this was supposed to be a celebration of her life and the wedding she never had. Adam is acting weird. She knows she has to tell her husband her daughter secrets however she’s not sure how.
The surprise present didn’t make it and Adam has to pretend that everything is fine. Not knowing if it will be. The ending of this brought me to tears, I’m so happy after everything Adam and Liv have each other.
I love BA Paris’s other books and think she has a really strong and easy-to-read writing style. I was really excited about this book, but once she reveals what the dilemmas actually are (which is about 1/4 into the book), the book is basically done and the last 250 pages drag on forever.
To me this was less of a thriller and more of a family drama. Since it covered a 24 hour period, I feel like the book could have possibly been shorter since some chapters (especially Livia’s) seemed to drag on.
The author seems to have a good idea with this story but hasn’t executed it very well. The story follows Adam and Livia, whilst Livia is absorbed by the fact Marnie was having an affair with a married man, Adam knows her plane has crashed and she is dead. The problem with this is that you were supposed to be kept guessing whether Marnie had actually been on the plane but to me it was obvious from the start.
The character of Livia was definitely undeveloped, she was a bit nothingy. In the end, she blames Adam saying she hates him-I just can’t fathom how she thinks it could possibly be his fault?? She was so obsessed with having the perfect birthday party that he felt he couldn’t speak to her !!
The author seems to have a good idea with this story but hasn’t executed it very well. The story follows Adam and Livia, whilst Livia is absorbed by the fact Marnie was having an affair with a married man, Adam knows her plane has crashed and she is dead. The problem with this is that you were supposed to be kept guessing whether Marnie had actually been on the plane but to me it was obvious from the start.
The character of Livia was definitely undeveloped, she was a bit nothingy. In the end, she blames Adam saying she hates him-I just can’t fathom how she thinks it could possibly be his fault?? She was so obsessed with having the perfect birthday party that he felt he couldn’t speak to her !!
No likable characters, it would have made a better short story than long one.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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The Dilemma is unfortunately a book I didn’t enjoy and one I won’t be recommending to anyone, ever. I dived in expecting a thriller, a mystery, a suspenseful novel. What I got was everything but.
Synopsis:
It’s Livia’s 40th birthday and she’s having the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding she never had. Everyone she loves will be there except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But although Livia loves Marnie, she’s secretly glad she won’t be at the party. She needs to tell Adam something about their daughter but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.
Adam wants everything to be perfect for Livia so he’s secretly arranged for Marnie to come home and surprise her on her birthday. During the day, he hears some terrible news. He needs to tell Livia, because how can the party go on? 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?
One day that will change a family forever.
My Thoughts:
In the Dilemma, we follow the life of what seems like a normal family, and we slowly start to uncover their secrets. The mum is busy planning her 40th birthday party – a huge celebration to make up for the fact that she never had a wedding ceremony. Her husband is slightly annoyed at this, but tries to make her happy. Whilst planning a surprise, he learns that something bad may have happened – and this is where the dilemma appears. Should he tell his wife now, or wait until the party is over. At the same time, the mum also learns a secret, and she is also doubting whether she needs to tell her husband.
And that’s one of the main issues with this book. The couple spend all the book not talking to each other.
I am sorry, but what kind of relationship is that? What kind of a marriage?
The other issue is that the dad is not even sure that something bad happened – but he also refuses to find out more. There were so many ways he could have checked if that information was true, but instead he chose to spend all day worrying about it.
Then, we also have a woman who has been dreaming for a 40th birthday celebration to replace the wedding she never had. I will never be able to understand her obsession to push something into happening, to force a celebration in which she makes all guests believe she is the bride. Let’s just conclude this to be a desperate need for attention and just leave it there…
I was so frustrated with every character’s decision and their decision making process as well. There was no logic in some of the actions they were taking, and it felt like the book was dragged to be much longer than is actually needed. There was also little to no mystery in this book – just some weird “secret-hiding-family-drama” scenarios that were mediocre at best.
But I’ll give credit where credit is due – I liked the writing. The scene descriptions were vivid and the chapters ended on a note that made you want to keep going – and that is the sole reason I managed to finish this book.
If you’re ever in a Dilemma (see what I did there?) as to whether to pick this book up, I suggest you pass.
The Dilemma is unfortunately a book I didn’t enjoy and one I won’t be recommending to anyone, ever. I dived in expecting a thriller, a mystery, a suspenseful novel. What I got was everything but.
Synopsis:
It’s Livia’s 40th birthday and she’s having the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding she never had. Everyone she loves will be there except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But although Livia loves Marnie, she’s secretly glad she won’t be at the party. She needs to tell Adam something about their daughter but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.
Adam wants everything to be perfect for Livia so he’s secretly arranged for Marnie to come home and surprise her on her birthday. During the day, he hears some terrible news. He needs to tell Livia, because how can the party go on? 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?
One day that will change a family forever.
My Thoughts:
In the Dilemma, we follow the life of what seems like a normal family, and we slowly start to uncover their secrets. The mum is busy planning her 40th birthday party – a huge celebration to make up for the fact that she never had a wedding ceremony. Her husband is slightly annoyed at this, but tries to make her happy. Whilst planning a surprise, he learns that something bad may have happened – and this is where the dilemma appears. Should he tell his wife now, or wait until the party is over. At the same time, the mum also learns a secret, and she is also doubting whether she needs to tell her husband.
And that’s one of the main issues with this book. The couple spend all the book not talking to each other.
I am sorry, but what kind of relationship is that? What kind of a marriage?
The other issue is that the dad is not even sure that something bad happened – but he also refuses to find out more. There were so many ways he could have checked if that information was true, but instead he chose to spend all day worrying about it.
Then, we also have a woman who has been dreaming for a 40th birthday celebration to replace the wedding she never had. I will never be able to understand her obsession to push something into happening, to force a celebration in which she makes all guests believe she is the bride. Let’s just conclude this to be a desperate need for attention and just leave it there…
I was so frustrated with every character’s decision and their decision making process as well. There was no logic in some of the actions they were taking, and it felt like the book was dragged to be much longer than is actually needed. There was also little to no mystery in this book – just some weird “secret-hiding-family-drama” scenarios that were mediocre at best.
But I’ll give credit where credit is due – I liked the writing. The scene descriptions were vivid and the chapters ended on a note that made you want to keep going – and that is the sole reason I managed to finish this book.
If you’re ever in a Dilemma (see what I did there?) as to whether to pick this book up, I suggest you pass.