Book Review: The Dilemma by B.A. Paris

Book: 36/100

Rating: 3/5

Summary: Knowing the truth will destroy her. Keeping it secret will destroy him. It’s Livia’s 40th birthday, and her husband Adam is throwing her the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding they never had. Everyone she loves will be there, except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But Livia is secretly glad Marnie won’t be there.

Livia has recently uncovered a secret about their daughter which, if revealed, will shake the foundation of their family to its core. She needs to tell Adam, but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.

Adam, meanwhile, has his own surprise for Livia: he’s arranged for Marnie to secretly fly back for the party. But before Marnie arrives, Adam hears some terrible news. Now he too is faced with a dilemma: Does he share what he's learned with his wife? Is hiding the truth the same as telling a lie? And how far are Adam and Livia willing to go to protect eh ones they love—and give each other a last few hours of happiness?

Thoughts: Okay, I really don't know how I feel about this book. It was very readable, I read it within 24 hours, but I didn't have any characters I was really rooting for and was pretty annoyed by them most of the time (which I'm sure was the author's intent). I read 'Behind Closed Doors' by Paris and I assumed this one would be along the same genre, but I was wrong. This is more of a family drama, and a "what would you do?" book that makes you think. I liked the twists that were thrown at you over the course of the book, but was expecting a little more climactic at the end. Overall, I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, not sure I would recommend it. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.