It’s Livia’s 40th birthday and she’s having the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding she never had. Everyone she loves will be there except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But although Livia loves Marnie, she’s secretly glad 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.
Adam wants everything to be perfect for Livia so he’s secretly arranged for Marnie to come home and surprise her on her birthday. During the day, he hears some terrible news. He needs to tell Livia, because how can the party go on? But she’s so happy, so excited – and the guests are about to arrive.
The Dilemma – how far would you go to give someone you love a last few hours of happiness?
Oh I LOVED this book but it was very traumatic!
It’s Livia’s 40th birthday party, a day she has planned for and obsessed over for years. But something she knows has thrown a dark cloud over things. Husband Adam is determined that Livia will have her dream day..But he has a secret of his own…
What an emotional rollercoaster of a read this was- jumping between Adam and Livia as things unfold you often want to clap your hands over your eyes in dismay for them as each reveals the thing they are hiding, to the reader but not to each other. The author manages the emotion of it pitch perfectly, her eye for quietly compelling characters is second to none and it’s utterly riveting and hugely thought provoking.
It’s an emotionally relevant human question- when do you give news that may tear your family apart, how long can you let your loved one remain happily oblivious- I honestly don’t know what I would do in either Adam or Livia’s situation. You spend the entire read waiting for those bombs to drop and when they do it is hugely heart breaking.
This is a love story. That’s what I think. Beautifully written and plotted to give full impact, The Dilemma will have you thinking about it for a long time after it’s done.
Excellent. Highly Recommended. But you may want to keep a box of tissues and some chocolate handy…
You can purchase The Dilemma (HQ) Here.
Happy Reading!
