I enjoyed both Bring Me Back and Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris, so I am grateful to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of her latest book, The Dilemma, in return for my honest review.
I read this one yesterday, and I keep thinking about it, which ought to be worth at least one star…and the suspense is good—add another star. A third one for the fact that the story made me question what my own decision would be if I were faced with a similar dilemma, and another one for the fact that the characters were drawn well enough that I had some feelings for them (not always positive ones, however). So it should be a solid four star review, yes?
I think possibly I was expecting more of a psychological thriller, based on the description, but I realize it is more of a domestic drama. Perhaps I just prefer the woman-in-danger genre more, so that is why I keep thinking maybe I hated this? Or was it that the whole idea of one’s life and thoughts revolving around THE PARTY just is so foreign to me???
Then I realized that I just kept wanting to yell at Livia…and occasionally her husband, Adam. They were married when she was a (pregnant) teenager, a quickie wedding that prevented her having the storybook wedding she and her mother had planned together. Plus, her parents basically disowned her for her sins and have not seen her or spoken to her since, despite living fairly nearby and Livia sending them cards, invitations, etc.
Josh and Marnie, Adam and Livia’s two now young adult children, have never met their maternal grandparents, but the family of four is have a good life, and seem happy…except Livia, who is turning forty. She has been planning her 40th birthday party for OVER TWENTY YEARS, which I found really annoying. She may be more of her mother’s daughter than she realizes: “I think everything my mother has done has been out of duty. I don’t think there’s ever been any real joy in her life.” It’s not clear how she knows this since she hasn’t been in touch with her for over two decades, but anyway, this apparently narcissistic, spoiled woman…no, wait, she did most of the parenting while Adam frequently disappeared for days at a time, so he isn’t so likeable either.
The story is told is alternating points of view on the day of THE PARTY. Adam has planned to surprise Livia by having Marnie fly home to the U.K. from Hong Kong for the event, but during the day he gets some horrible news and doesn’t want to ruin the biggest day of Livia’s life (with THE PARTY taking the place of the wedding she never had – gag—sorry). Meanwhile, we find out that Livia has been thinking she is relieved that Marnie won’t be there, at THE PARTY, because she has learned a secret about Marnie that will tear the family apart. See what I mean? Domestic drama!
Adam’s got a big dilemma – to share his news and ruin THE PARTY or not? Livia has a similar dilemma…and we can see the collision coming hour by hour throughout the day of…THE PARTY.
Well written, as I expected from this author. And the fact that I kept reading far into the night to find out WTH happened to these people indicates it was a good book. But wow did I want to yell at both the parents and found them so unlikeable that it kept me from really liking it as I had hoped I would. I am tempted to go with three stars, but since I counted up four stars’ worth of “stuff” about it, I’m going with four. And I will look for her next book and hope not to see Livia and Adam again!