I've only read The Spanish Love Deception, but I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read this early! Josie has had four failed engagements and when her famous father has decided to become a part of her life, her romantic past becomes part of a PR stunt. Matthew runs away to the small town his best friend calls home and runs in to Josie. This misunderstanding turns into a fake engagement arrangement, all for the PR stunt. I liked Josie and Matthew. Josie is a bit quirky and is definitely the sunshine character of the relationship. I did really like her character though and I liked that Matthew was the balance she needed. I love how he stands up for her as her father tries to take advantage her kind personality and tries to rehab his image as the absentee dad. I actually really loved the slow burn romance and that is not usually my favorite trope. The small town romance plot was also well done! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick romance read. I always look forward to the next Elena Armas and I can't wait to read more!

Elena Armas has done it again. While I still like the American Roommate Experiment more, everything I've read that she has written has been hilarious and romatic and lovely.

A book is bound to be good when it doesn’t fall victim to the dreaded third-act breakup or unnecessary miscommunication, and The Fiancé Dilemma delivers exactly that. The flow was seamless, the characters felt familiar yet refreshing, and, most importantly, it felt like Elena Armas was truly writing what she wanted.

Matthew might just be one of my new favorites—he’s the perfect balance of shy and deadly protective, with a wickedly sharp mouth. He made this book as enjoyable as it was. I love a male lead who is considerate, passionate, and actually cares. The scene where he tested different nicknames for Josie? Hilarious. The way he stood up for her in front of her dad and Bobby (her PR manager)? Perfection. Josie, on the other hand, left me conflicted. She made the book fun and bright, but her inner monologue occasionally drove me nuts. That’s the thing with quirky characters—sometimes they overdo it. But, overall, she was likable despite her vexing moments.

The romance was beautifully done! Armas excels at slow burn, and the tension, forced proximity, and emotional depth were all chef’s kiss. The fake dating arc was more than just a gimmick—it played a crucial role in the story and hit all the right notes. Their connection felt real, and I loved how they clung to each other in their darkest moments. As for the smut? It wasn’t the best, but it delivered when it mattered. And Matthew’s mouth—Armas did not disappoint in that department.

The plot itself was intriguing, with podcast scenes full of juicy drama and messy narrators. The fake dating aspect was woven seamlessly into the story, adding layers instead of feeling forced. Josie’s four failed engagements were brought up just enough to induce secondhand embarrassment but not overshadow the main plot. Green Oaks was another highlight—its cozy, small-town charm and strong sense of community made the setting feel alive. The familiar faces from previous books added a nostalgic touch, making it feel like revisiting old friends.

I can’t deny that Matthew-without-a-last-name worked his magic. And, as Armas herself wrote:
"Your expectations are not impossibly high. Never let anyone make you believe you're asking for too much."

what a messy messy woman - my favorite kind! I love the celeb dad angle and how chaotic this was. A quick fun read!

I read The Ling Game and was in love with this town and the people who live there already. When I heard that Matthew and Josie were getting a story I HAD to read it. I LOVED every moment of this story. My heart aches in parts and it soared in others. The connection these two had was amazing. I’ll definitely set this on my to read again list. Especially when I need a small town, fake Fiance romcom fix.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and a bit of chaos that kept me hooked from start to finish. As a fan of contemporary romance, I couldn’t get enough of this book—it has all the ingredients of a fun, feel-good read with a dash of unexpected twists.

The story revolves around the main character, who finds herself in a complicated situation involving an impromptu fake engagement. The premise was already intriguing, and Armas does a fantastic job of creating a story that’s both lighthearted and full of emotional depth. I loved how the characters’ relationship developed—there’s tension, humor, and real chemistry between them, making their interactions so enjoyable to read.

What I appreciated most about this book was the way Armas explored the dynamics between the characters. It’s not just a romance; it’s also about personal growth, self-discovery, and navigating complicated relationships. The fake engagement premise had me laughing, but as the story progressed, I was deeply invested in how the characters were dealing with their own insecurities and figuring out what they truly wanted.

Armas’ writing style is witty and engaging, which made this book so much fun to read. The pacing was great, with just the right balance of tension and lighthearted moments. I found myself both laughing out loud and getting emotionally invested in the characters’ journeys, which is always a sign of a well-rounded romance.

Overall, The Fiancé Dilemma is a delightful, feel-good read with the perfect mix of humor, romance, and emotional depth. If you’re looking for a lighthearted romance with a compelling story, charming characters, and a few unexpected surprises, this one is definitely worth picking up!

I DNF-ed this. Sorry I just couldn’t get through it. I was so bored. The characters were not interesting. I didn’t realize you really need to read the last book to understand this one.

This was a cute book. Your normal cheesy predictable romance. I enjoyed the main character. I thought she was fun.

The Fiancé Dilemma is a charming rom-com with plenty of chemistry and laughs. Armas’ writing brings the perfect balance of humor, romance, and a dash of drama.

Elena Armas has done it again! The Finance Dilemma is the perfect mix of swoony romance, sharp banter, and just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked from start to finish. If you love workplace rivals-to-lovers stories with undeniable chemistry, this one is a must-read!

The main characters are everything—our heroine is smart, ambitious, and totally relatable, while the love interest is the perfect mix of frustratingly arrogant and secretly soft. Their back-and-forth is chef’s kiss perfection, and the slow-burn tension is SO worth it.

Beyond the romance, this book has depth, heart, and some great moments of self-discovery. Plus, Armas’s writing is as witty and addictive as ever. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good, can't-put-it-down kind of read, The Finance Dilemma should be at the top of your list!

I was really excited for Josie's story after reading book 1 of this series.

In this book, Josie has her sister's best friend, Matthew, pretend to be her fake fiance. After five unsuccessful engagements, there's a lot of press due to her dad's social status on her lack of being able to go down the aisle. But Matthew is all in help her pretend that this one is going to stick.

But as all fake dating situations go, the feelings don't stay platonic for long.

I had very high hopes for this one, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. I switched back and forth between audio and ebook, And I just felt that the romance felt forced and a little too insta-love for my liking. Certain scenes felt cringy and just definitely not for me. But maybe this author just isn't for me!

2.5

A charming romantic comedy with the fake engagement trope, rich with humor and some sweet moments. MCs Josie and Matthew navigate their growing feelings and chemistry amidst the chaos of small-town gossip and family expectations. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read with lighthearted fun!

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a slow burn and took a little bit for me to become interested, but once it finally hit the sweet spot around halfway, I struggled to put it down, finding myself up at 1AM while still needing to work in less than 6 hours. This is a sure sign that I am thoroughly enjoying a book and that it's 100% worth my time! This is the first book I've attempted to read by Elena Armas and I think I will be picking up more most definitely! I do wish there was more explanation to why the weddings for Josie didn't work out, and have more back story, but I truly loved reading the interactions between Matthew and Josie and how much chemistry they had. Seeing from the back end how Matthew felt about Josie to begin with was honestly beautiful, and that he was all in on her to begin with. I truly enjoyed watching those aspects of the story play out while simultaneously getting so caught up in the will they won't they tension that I would hope would lead to a spicy scene only to have the tension bubble popped and have to wait for the next one to hit.

I will gladly read anything Elena Armas, and I really enjoyed this one! Looking forward to more from the author. Her characters and stories are always SO swoony!

I absolutely LOVE Elena Armas, with that being said, it was very hard for me to get into this book because I felt like I was missing something… which turns out I was 😂 this is the sequel to the Long Game, which I have not read yet. Regardless of that I still loved this book and will definitely read the long game now!

While I LOVED Elena Armas’s first series - and I mean the Spanish Love Deception and the American Roommate Experiment were 5 stars for me, this book was not my favorite. My main issue was Josie. Grandpa Moe and Matthew were amazing, no complaints!!! But Josie? Don’t get me wrong I LOVE a quirky fmc but sometimes she was a bit too much and I felt bad judging her but keeping all your old wedding dresses and rings??? I wanted to defend her but her lack of back bone and immaturity made it difficult to do so. And the whole reasoning for their “fake engagement” felt unrealistic. Why would a serial fiancée need another fiancée to help fix their image? And this book was made to be stand alone but I do not think it works as one. I had not read the long game prior so Matthew’s introduction was lacking. I didn’t really understand their prior connection.

A super cute read, great story and chemistry. This was a fun read. I really like Elena Armas' books.

I really, really wanted to love this book much more than I did. I found it very hard to connect with Josie - she was such a stereotypical overly quirky millennial girl, and it took away from what could have been a really authentic character. The book followed a really predictable formula, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I did feel as though I knew what step we were going to be taking next.

Some of the writing was really beautiful, and I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by this author in the future, but I fear this book just wasn't the one for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Fiancé Dilemma ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elena Armas has done it again. Such an enjoyable book! What is better than a fake dating, slow burn, trope?
I was so excited to get this ARC as I have been a fan of Elena’s other books. This one did not disappoint. I loved the characters and their interplay. I always enjoy clever banter and being able to feel the chemistry between the characters. I also enjoy when the support characters offer more interest and add to the story.
Blurb: Josie has had bad luck with engagements. Having struck out four times she is not keen for everyone to know this. However, when she learns that her father is a multimillionaire she realizes her life will no longer be private, so, for some reason, she decides to pretend she is engaged once again! Oh, but wait, the groom, Matthew, doesn’t know about the plan…

So much fun to read. Go get yourself a copy!

Many thanks to the author, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was a DNF for me at about 80% into the book. I absolutely loved Elena Armas's The Spanish Love Deception, and have liked her other contemporary romances, but The Fiance Dilemma felt very lacking in character development compared to her other books. In particular, the hero's personality felt very underdeveloped, and his willingness to go along with the fake engagement lacked enough reasoning behind it for the plot to be plausible. I really don't mind an implausible plot in a romance novel normally, but not when the characterization and chemistry are also lacking. I'll still be interested in what Elena Armas comes out with next, but this was a miss for me.