Take a photo of a barcode or cover
wordsofclover 's review for:
The Dilemma
by B.A. Paris
4.5 stars
A fast-paced, addictive domestic suspense novel that honestly left me on the edge of my seat until I had read every last page!
Livia and Adam married young, and have struggled for a long time before settling into the comfortable life they have now with their two children Josh and Marnie. Livia is about to celebrate her fortieth birthday with a lavish party - the type of celebration she's been dreaming off for years - and her daughter is planning to return home from studying abroad to surprise her. But Livia is praying that Marnie won't come because she knows something terrible about her daughter. In the hours of the party, Adam also learns a different, terrible, secret and the two dance around each other for the whole night, holding inside of them bombs that could ruin their family forever.
This was such a good book with such a pleasant, innocent setting - the family home - but with two people who know and love each other so much but are afraid to communicate in case they ruin each other's lives forever. I loved the back and forth style of the narrative, and how it jumped from character to character as we learn everything Livia and Adam know about different family secrets. I honestly felt for them both so much, particularly Adam as the truth he was holding was so awfully tragic, I couldn't blame him for not saying anything.
I really liked the emotion that came out in this story. I really felt the love in the family unit - particularly between Livia and Adam who have had a tough start to life becoming pregnant very young and forced into a marriage before they were ready.
While this isn't a psychological thriller like other BA Paris books I've loved, like The Break Down, it like all of her books just grasped me and didn't let me go until I had devoured the entire book whole.
This book, in my opinion, would also make an excellent screenplay for an on-stage adaption as there would only be the need for one set - the house and the garden - and different lighting for past and present. It would be so, so, good and I need this to happen!
A fast-paced, addictive domestic suspense novel that honestly left me on the edge of my seat until I had read every last page!
Livia and Adam married young, and have struggled for a long time before settling into the comfortable life they have now with their two children Josh and Marnie. Livia is about to celebrate her fortieth birthday with a lavish party - the type of celebration she's been dreaming off for years - and her daughter is planning to return home from studying abroad to surprise her. But Livia is praying that Marnie won't come because she knows something terrible about her daughter. In the hours of the party, Adam also learns a different, terrible, secret and the two dance around each other for the whole night, holding inside of them bombs that could ruin their family forever.
This was such a good book with such a pleasant, innocent setting - the family home - but with two people who know and love each other so much but are afraid to communicate in case they ruin each other's lives forever. I loved the back and forth style of the narrative, and how it jumped from character to character as we learn everything Livia and Adam know about different family secrets. I honestly felt for them both so much, particularly Adam as the truth he was holding was so awfully tragic, I couldn't blame him for not saying anything.
I really liked the emotion that came out in this story. I really felt the love in the family unit - particularly between Livia and Adam who have had a tough start to life becoming pregnant very young and forced into a marriage before they were ready.
While this isn't a psychological thriller like other BA Paris books I've loved, like The Break Down, it like all of her books just grasped me and didn't let me go until I had devoured the entire book whole.
This book, in my opinion, would also make an excellent screenplay for an on-stage adaption as there would only be the need for one set - the house and the garden - and different lighting for past and present. It would be so, so, good and I need this to happen!