This was an even better slow burn than the first book of the series. So glad to have discovered the authors work - Josie and Matthew now rank among my fave couples in romance lit.

A PR nightmare causes Josie Moore to make a rash decision. It just so happens that Matthew Flanagan has perfect timing...
All. The. Feels. Completely obsessed. I read this book in less than 24 hours. I just couldn't put it down! I really loved the first book in this series, The Long Game, and this sequel which follows Josie the coffee shop owner and Matthew the best friend was just so perfect! Their fake dating felt so authentic, their chemistry was so strong, and the wittiness and banter was top tier. Josie and Matthew were such likable characters, and I loved getting to see so much of Adalyn and Cam in this one!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved the Spanish love deception! Unfortunately this series just didn’t engage me in the same way. However it was a really fun and cute read! 3.5 stars! ⭐️

This is lighthearted romance that brings a bit of charm to the workplace romance genre. The characters are likable, and the storyline is engaging, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. The chemistry between the protagonists is enjoyable, but there are moments when the pacing feels uneven, which affects the flow of the story.

While there are several funny and heartwarming scenes, some of the plot points feel predictable, and the character development could have been deeper. Despite these minor issues, Its still enjoyable read for anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a few laughs along the way.

Rating: 3/5

I really enjoyed getting to follow this character set again! Josie and Matthew were freakin’ adorable and I will always ride for a sweet man in glasses 😍 Gpa Mo was hilarious and sweet in his cantankerous attitudes and Pedro Pigscal has my full heart!! That being said, I kept waiting for the pair to tell all, including their feelings for each other, a lot sooner than they did. It felt a bit too rushed for all that ended up happening in the end, and I wish as much time had been set for that portion as everything in the beginning. Still, I love them together and I loved the text story and that brought it all to a solid 4 for me!

Elena Armas is one of my favorite romance authors and this book definitely delivered! I got the return of some of my favorite characters and the small town from The Long Game with the love story between Josie and Matt, starting with a fake engagement (and fake dating is a trope I just adore). It’s got heart and humor and I couldn’t recommend it more.

4 stars

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Give this one a try if you like: small town, slow burn, fake dating, no third act breakup, sunshine x2 couple tropes!
Though this idea had so much potential, this one missed the mark for me. I simply couldn't keep my attention on it. I could not relate and/or understand the FMC at all. I also had trouble seeing a real connection between the two characters. I just think the plot and characters needed a little more development and depth. I definitely preferred The Spanish Love Deception!

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!

Fake relationship and.m second chance romance?! Sign me up! There was no way I wasn’t going to love this book!

This book actively annoyed me.

After four failed engagements, Josie Moore has given up on marriage. (Un?)Fortunately for her, her famous and wealthy father decides to visit after being MIA her entire life. Since being single would be a PR scandal(?), she quickly recruits friend-of-a-friend, Matthew Flanagan, to be her new (fake) fiancé while her father is in town. One thing leads to another and I think you can guess the rest.

I'm not categorically opposed to fake dating/fake engagement, but there were so many things about this that didn't work. The biggest issue is that this is a 432-page book and it is in no way a slow burn. There is no tension and its exhausting to read. Josie acts like a child—annoying, irresponsible, obtuse. On the surface, Matthew is devoted, kind, etc., but he's so weirdly possessive/defensive of her it's practically a red flag. They start fake dating the second they see each other for the very first time. But apparently Matthew has been considering her his future wife since he saw her picture? That's not cute—it's stalker behavior. Not to mention the amount of PUBLIC indecency enacted by this couple. The whole town needs to file a class action suit for compensation.

There's really nothing I can recommend about this book.

In The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas, Josie Moore’s had a rough track record with love—four failed engagements and a complicated family history. When her influential father’s PR team decides her messy love life needs a fix, Josie’s thrown into a fake engagement with her sister’s best friend, Matthew, who just happens to show up at the perfect moment. As they play the part of the perfect couple in her small town, sparks start to fly, and they’re left wondering if this staged romance could actually be the real deal.

I’d give this one a solid 3.5 stars. It’s a fun, lighthearted take on the fake engagement trope with a good mix of humor and romance, even if a bit predictable at times. Josie’s journey to find her footing is relatable, and Matthew is definitely swoon-worthy with his loyal, sweet personality. They have cute chemistry, though I found myself wanting more depth in their connection and a bit more of Matthew’s perspective to balance out Josie’s narrative. While it may not be groundbreaking, it’s an easy read that fans of small-town, fake-dating romance will likely enjoy.

😭😭😭😭
AMAZING
HEARTWARMING & HEART-WRENCHING!
Elena always pulls the most unique and fun storylines, and then breaks my heart and puts it back together!
I love Josie!
I feel for Josie's character development and everything she's about, I understand why she is the way that she is!
Then there's Matthew who makes everything AMAZING. Every scene he makes an entrance, every scene I fall more in love with him! He is perfect for her!
Ugh. Absolutely loved this book! Mad it took me so long to finish it, but so worth the loooong read! 😅
Absolutely love a good FAKE ENGAGEMENT & SECOND CHANCE, and this book BLEW those tropes out of the water!
Big thanks to NetGalley and S&S for this e-arc opportunity! 🫶🏼

Love love love this book. I couldn’t get enough. I finished and had to restart it over again. It was so easy to get swept away with these characters & their story.

I highly recommend.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Fake dating - would have loved the male main characters POV to help balance out the story that was a little confusing at times

I absolutely loved Elena Adams book, The Spanish Deception and she did it again with The Fiancé Dilemma. I love a fake dating trope so much! The Fiancé Dilemma is about Josie, the book version of Runaway Bride. Josie has tried time and time again to get married and every time she calls it off for some reason. Now she is taking care of an elderly family member and living in a small town. Josie recently found out that she has a sister and her biological father has kept her existence quiet for her entire life. Her father is a big wig and Josie’s failure to commit by cancelling multiple weddings has come to the light, causing big problems for her father's PR team. Her Dads PR shows up and under the microscope she says a random (not so random) person that is passing by is her new fiancé (Matthew). Matthew plays along and gets thrown into the insane story, having to commit to his role and do all the wedding planning things. Josie and Matthew start to actually catch feelings, but will Josie actually tie the knot? What is actually making her pull a runaway bride over and over? This book was adorable, the relationship between Josie and Matthew was great, watching his stick up for her, and them learn about each other. I highly recommend reading, Elena Adams never fails!

Although this authors books have been hit or miss for me in the last, I feel confident saying I enjoyed this one. When I found out Josie from The Long Game was going to be the main character, I was so excited!! Josie was definitely my favorite part! I loved her journey to finding her voice. I also really liked her relationship with Adalyn. I love interconnected standalones and hope the author will continue writing them!!! You almost feel invested in the books even before you open them!

This was a fun romantic comedy with a fake engagement! Josie has been engaged 4 times and she did not expect her 5th to be one that was staged! But in order to save her and her father’s reputation, she asks her sister’s best friend Matthew to pretend to be her fiancee.

We all know how this turns out, but what I will say is that Matthew has got a dirty mouth on him and I do not have any complaints. So far this is my favourite book in this series!

Thanks so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.

3.75 ⭐️

Elena Armas never misses with her cute love stories and fun characters! Josie and Matthew are no exception. Overall I was super entertained by this story and there was just so much going on that had me invested. I feel like we definitely get to go a little deeper on both of their characters, but I would have loved to see a bit more. I liked how we got to explore Josie's family dynamics, especially in relation to her father. And I truly did like the way her love life was approached, in the end particularly. Matthew was such a sweet, golden retriever mmc that always made me smile. Were there some cringe moments? Yes. Was I a bit confused by Adalyn and Josie's dynamics in this book? Also yes. But nevertheless, I still enjoyed reading this book and to those who are fans of Elena Armas and the types of stories she writes, I absolutely recommend giving this one (and the first book) a try!

Thank you to netgalley & atria books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!!

Settling on a 4 star rating for this fake engagement, small town romance with funny side characters and the king that is Matthew 💖 I really enjoyed his character and how he treats Josie. Josie wasn’t my favorite character but I get how she acts because of her trauma with losing her mom and then having a very absent famous father and being exploited by him and his publicists.

I think this book of course was a little unbelievable in how fast they fall in love & how easy it was for them to be together but honestly isn’t that why we read romance books sometimes? 🫶🏻

I will read anything Elena Armas writes. The Fiance Dilemma was no exception. I loved this book so much. Once I read this, I ordered the copy right away. I can always count on her to appeal to all of my emotions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the advanced copy. All the above opinions are my own.

I loved The Long Game so much, so I was so excited to get an ARC of Josie's story, The Fiance Dilemma. It did not disappoint!!! Fake dating, slow burn, spice all entangled in Josie's heart wrenching story. Matthew was a complete gem of a man too. I look forward to Elena Armas next book and anything she writes to be honest!

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, and Elena Armas for the eARC.

The Fiance Dilemma is out now.