Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
I love B.A. Paris but this turned into a hate read. Interesting premise and characters - disliked the way it actually came together. Would not recommend.
I received an ARC of The Dilemma in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited to receive this book. I love B.A. Paris. She is one of my favorite thriller authors and always look forward to a new book from her. However, this book was not what I would classify as a thriller. There was suspense and it definitely catches your attention. In fact, I read this book in a very short period of time. Livia and Adam both have a secret that they are keeping from each other. Each one knows that their secret will change their family's life. I want to give this book a 4 star rating since it wasn't a thriller but I had too much trouble putting the book down to do that. Any book you have trouble putting down is a definite 5 star.
I’m thinking that the main character of this book is “The Party.” Livia is throwing herself a big 40th birthday party to make up for the big wedding she never got to have. I found it sad that both she and her husband are still nursing the old wounds of the unexpected pregnancy and shotgun wedding that set their lives on another course.
At any rate, the events leading up to the party have caused Livia and her husband, Adam to keep some big secrets from each other so as not to ruin The Party. Livia knows there is something bothering Adam, but he puts her off claiming it’s just a migraine.
They make it through the night and as soon as the guests leave, things start to implode. I won’t go into the details so as not to spoil the story, but trust me, it’s some heavy stuff.
There are no happy endings here and this is not a feel good story.
This story would make for great discussion for book clubs and has some serious topics concerning making the right decisions and which secrets are the kind that need to be kept and which secrets need to be told and to whom.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give an honest review.
At any rate, the events leading up to the party have caused Livia and her husband, Adam to keep some big secrets from each other so as not to ruin The Party. Livia knows there is something bothering Adam, but he puts her off claiming it’s just a migraine.
They make it through the night and as soon as the guests leave, things start to implode. I won’t go into the details so as not to spoil the story, but trust me, it’s some heavy stuff.
There are no happy endings here and this is not a feel good story.
This story would make for great discussion for book clubs and has some serious topics concerning making the right decisions and which secrets are the kind that need to be kept and which secrets need to be told and to whom.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give an honest review.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Blegh. There was something off and incomplete about the premise of the story and the development of it. Parts didn’t feel genuine or realistically thought out. I love her thrillers and will keep reading her stuff but this was a miss.
Best book of 2020 that I have read!! It was heartwarming, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, forgiving, and even suspenseful! I couldn’t put it down! It is truly a must read!
This book made me stabby! It’s not a thriller. There is no dilemma. Everything that happened in this book could have been prevented with a 5-minute-conversation. The characters were wretched. The plot was slow and boring. And I thought Livia’s obsession with her 40th birthday party was super weird. I’ve turned 40 before - it wasn’t that exciting. It certainly wasn’t an event I would have wanted to fixate on for 20 years.
When I was younger, my friends and I would talk about how old we would be in the year 2000 because we thought it was going to be a cool year. This woman’s poor kids did the same thing - except they were obsessed with how old they would be when their mom turned 40. She picked out her house because she thought it would be a good location for her stupid party.
I usually like BA Paris books a lot - if you’re a fan, don’t waste your time with this one. It gets two giant
When I was younger, my friends and I would talk about how old we would be in the year 2000 because we thought it was going to be a cool year. This woman’s poor kids did the same thing - except they were obsessed with how old they would be when their mom turned 40. She picked out her house because she thought it would be a good location for her stupid party.
I usually like BA Paris books a lot - if you’re a fan, don’t waste your time with this one. It gets two giant
Livia and Adam have been married for more than 20 years. They had their two children, Josh and Marnie, who they love dearly. They were teenage parents so they spent most of their adult lives focused on their children, while putting their passions and dreams aside.
❀✈︎★☽
Now, approaching her 40th birthday Livia has planned herself a birthday party. She never had the wedding of her dreams, so this party is very important to her. Something just for her.
❀✈︎★☽
She’s invited all of her friends and family. Josh is in from his internship in NY, but her daughter, Marnie is stuck in China with exams that she can’t miss. It’s ok, she’ll be home in a couple weeks.
❀✈︎★☽
The day of the party, Livia has a shocking secret and Adam has a gut wrenching secret that is eating him alive. Each of them plan to share their respective secret after the party. The special day can’t be ruined. Just one more day of happiness before their world comes tumbling down.
❀✈︎★☽
I read this book with anxiety, sweaty palms and a heavy heart. Waiting for the “dilemmas” to be exposed, and slowly getting through the day of events with your worst fears, heightened emotions was painful and agonizing.
❀✈︎★☽
Although I feel the couple should’ve immediately discussed their “dilemmas” with each other, I appreciated Liv’s story of being a mother so engrossed with her family for so long that she now wants to do something special just for herself.
I appreciated Adam’s willingness and selflessness to endure such turmoil so that his wife could have something she really wanted for once. I appreciated the raw emotion and once everything was revealed. And I especially appreciate @goodreads and @stmartinspress for selecting me as a winner of the giveaway, in exchange for my honest review.
❀✈︎★☽
Now, approaching her 40th birthday Livia has planned herself a birthday party. She never had the wedding of her dreams, so this party is very important to her. Something just for her.
❀✈︎★☽
She’s invited all of her friends and family. Josh is in from his internship in NY, but her daughter, Marnie is stuck in China with exams that she can’t miss. It’s ok, she’ll be home in a couple weeks.
❀✈︎★☽
The day of the party, Livia has a shocking secret and Adam has a gut wrenching secret that is eating him alive. Each of them plan to share their respective secret after the party. The special day can’t be ruined. Just one more day of happiness before their world comes tumbling down.
❀✈︎★☽
I read this book with anxiety, sweaty palms and a heavy heart. Waiting for the “dilemmas” to be exposed, and slowly getting through the day of events with your worst fears, heightened emotions was painful and agonizing.
❀✈︎★☽
Although I feel the couple should’ve immediately discussed their “dilemmas” with each other, I appreciated Liv’s story of being a mother so engrossed with her family for so long that she now wants to do something special just for herself.
I appreciated Adam’s willingness and selflessness to endure such turmoil so that his wife could have something she really wanted for once. I appreciated the raw emotion and once everything was revealed. And I especially appreciate @goodreads and @stmartinspress for selecting me as a winner of the giveaway, in exchange for my honest review.
I recently read B.A. Paris’ collaboration novel, The Understudy, so was excited to read one of her solo books and ai am so glad I did.
The Dilemma is a wonderful character study of a family trying to keep things from one another so as not to spoil a perfect day. Livid has dreamt of her 40th birthday party for years, after not getting the wedding she had hoped for. However, she is keeping a huge secret from her husband Adam, and doesn’t want it to come out and spoil the day. Adam meanwhile, has his own devastating secret to keep from everyone at the party, as he wasn’t everyone to have this final happy moment.
I loved the characters in this book, and seeing them struggle with not only their secrets, but whether they are right to keep it from those they love so they can enjoy the party. Would they want that final day of happiness, or would they want to know as soon as possible and feel guilty for enjoying themselves?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book.
The Dilemma is a wonderful character study of a family trying to keep things from one another so as not to spoil a perfect day. Livid has dreamt of her 40th birthday party for years, after not getting the wedding she had hoped for. However, she is keeping a huge secret from her husband Adam, and doesn’t want it to come out and spoil the day. Adam meanwhile, has his own devastating secret to keep from everyone at the party, as he wasn’t everyone to have this final happy moment.
I loved the characters in this book, and seeing them struggle with not only their secrets, but whether they are right to keep it from those they love so they can enjoy the party. Would they want that final day of happiness, or would they want to know as soon as possible and feel guilty for enjoying themselves?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book.