The Dilemma is a novel by B.A. Paris that was released in 2019 and received fantastic reviews. It’s one that had been on my TBR pile for a while and I finally got around to reading it this month.
T.M. Logan described it as “A powerful, beautifully crafted story that ratchets up the tension with every page and packs a huge emotional punch”.
It sounded different to other thrillers I’d read recently so I was excited to get stuck in.
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Plot
To say Livia is excited about her 40th birthday would be a massive understatement. This party has been meticulously planned for years, to make up for the big wedding she never had. Her daughter, Marnie, can’t be there as she’s studying abroad. Although she loves her daughter, Livia is secretly pleased 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 before everything changes.
Meanwhile, Adam has arranged for Marnie to come home for the party to surprise Livia. He is so desperate for her to have the party she always dreamed of. But when he receives some awful news, he doesn’t know what to do. He knows he needs to tell Livia but doesn’t want to ruin her day of happiness.
The Dilemma asks the question – how far would you go to give someone you love the last few hours of happiness?
The Dilemma Book Review
I hate to say this, but I really did not enjoy this book. I found the whole thing absurd.
As someone in my mid-to-late 30s, I cannot wrap my head around a 40-year-old woman being so obsessed over a birthday party. I frequently felt like shaking her and telling her to get a grip. What woman (and mother!) would be so self-absorbed that she would keep huge, life-altering secrets from her family just to not jeopardise a party. She’s an absolute narcissist and a completely unrelatable character.
The fact her whole family and friendship group seem to indulge her in this nonsense is also baffling. Adam’s reaction to receiving devastating news about their daughter is even worse. In what universe would you keep news like that a secret? Do people like this really exist? If they do, I’m glad I don’t know any of them.
It’s less of a thriller and more of a family drama, where sadly the family involved are all absolute morons.
I took no issue with the writing style and the story was well paced. I just couldn’t relate to any of the characters and despaired at the way they behaved.
Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me.
What to read next
If you’re looking for psychologial thrillers, you may also be interested in The Stranger by Karen Perry and Playing Nice by JP Delaney.