3⭐️
"Because i only ever wanted you, Josie."

I think I just have to finally admit defeat that EA's books just aren't for me. I've read a few, and they're all fine? But to be honest I don't see the huge hype about them

I feel like I'm saying this for the hundredth time, but fake dating stories have to have a really solid reason in my opinion or they just come off silly. Fake dating so you don't look like bad PR to the dad you've only just found out exists? Not a good enough reason. Like why did Matthew even agree to this?!

This had some cute moments and if you're a fan of EA's previous works, you'll probably enjoy this
Thank you to Netgalley and publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Fiancé Dilemma ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ever since I read The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas, she has become one of my auto-read authors. It became one of my favorite books so I was excited that she was releasing a new book, The Fiancé Dilemma. Even though it is listed as a sequel to The Long Game, it can be read as a standalone. It just takes place in the same location. Also, the main characters from the first book are side characters in the sequel and vice versa.

The Fiancé Dilemma was exactly what I needed right now: a rom-com with loveable characters and some spice (actually more than I expected). The main characters, Josie and Matthew, have major chemistry from their first meeting. They have such a connection with one another physically and emotionally. I especially love their fun and joking manner to one another which made me smile and laugh so much throughout the book. I enjoyed how their relationship developed and the characters within the story. Many characters from the first book, The Long Game, also appear in this one. It was fun revisiting some of these amusing characters.

I also really liked how the story flowed and was formatted. We start right into the action right away. There are a few recallings of the past but most of the time it stays in the present. There is also an ongoing podcast throughout the story, and we get to read the transcript of it all. The only thing I wish about this book is that it was a dual POV so that we could get more of Matthew's perspective of the story rather than just one chapter.

Overall I think Elena Armas hit it out of the park again with The Fiancé Dilemma. She is just so great at making loveable characters with great chemistry and developing a fun rom-com with plenty of spice throughout.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Another hit from Elena Armas! I enjoyed The Long Game (despite being rather not into sports lol) and particularly loved Matthew so was super excited to dive in to his book.
I have to admit, I got pretty annoyed with Josie in the end and think if Armas had gone a bit deeper with her childhood trauma and why she is the way she is it would’ve read better, but who am I kidding I still fell for this book. It was definitely because of Matthew though what an excellent excellent book boyfriend/fiance! Armas knows how to write em

The swooooooon is real.

Josie and Matthew had my heart from the first chapter and I have no doubt they’ll have yours also. Elena Armas is so great at providing a story that makes you laugh, swoon, and maybe even shed a tear.

I would definitely recommend picking up this book!

The others haven't quite measured up for me, unfortunately, including this newest book The Fiance Dilemma.

I liked the premise of this book, the cover is super cute, and was excited for it to come out. I really wanted to like it more than I did. I felt it was a little long and drawn out. The characters were ok, but I didn't feel a very strong connection to Matthew or Josie.

The positives to this book included the set up to the fake engagement and the cameos by Cam and Adalyn from The Long Game. In the end, this was a 2.5 rounded up to 3. However, if you really liked The Long Game I think you would enjoy this book as well.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

First of all, I want to say thank you to Net Galley and Atria Publishers for giving me an ARC of this book. Now, onto the review.

I wanted to love this book, I really did. Maybe I read it at the wrong time so I wasn’t in the mood, but unfortunately I didn’t love this book. We have Josie and Matthew who are thrown into a fake engagement as a solution to a press monstrosity. And while I don’t mind the fake dating or fake fiancée trope, this just rubbed me the wrong way. It felt FAKE, which was the problem.

Matthew fell first, and I love him. He wants to make life better for Josie and will do anything to help and protect her. Josie on the other hand…. I found her to be so unlikable. It felt like her failed engagements was the main chunk of her personality. I needed more from her.

I’m not going to lie, I got about 60% through and skimmed the last 40% of the book. I hate to say it, but I got BORED. I absolutely loved the American Roomate Experience, but this book did not do it for me. Also, the ending, in my opinion, was beyond disappointing. There was all this build up, and SPOILER, she calls the wedding off, AGAIN. I kept reading for their happily ever after and it didn’t really happen.

A more accurate rating would be a 2.5-3 stars.

I expect nothing less than excellence from Elena Armas because I already loved her previous books and this one was even more amazing than I expected. The world is not ready for The Fiance Dilemma. Buckle up.

I enjoyed my ARC copy - Thank you Netgalley!
Wow - Elena Aramas delivers again. Quite spicy, and fun! Looking forward to more books of hers over the years.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

If you had told me 2 years ago that Elena Armas would write a mmc that I would love as much as Aaron Blackford, let alone a BLOND man, I would have never believed you. But Matthew Flanagan has entered the chat!!

I have adored each and everyone one of Elena Armas’ books, and this one is no different. I loved Josie in the long game, and so glad we got to hear her story!!

The Fiancé dilemma follows Josie, mayor of Green Oak, coffee shop owner, small town organizer— she basically does it all. What she doesn’t do is complete the walk down the aisle— which is how she finds herself single after 4 failed engagements. When her absentee (very rich, very powerful) father decides to come back into her life, Josie is told her romantic history is hurting her (and therefore her father’s) image- so she decides to do what any other girl would do, and that is to pretend she’s engaged to the first man she sees— who happens to be her sister’s best friend.

a fake engagement, he falls first, touch her and die (in a sweet, small town kinda way) — I couldn’t put this book down!! The podcast to get Josie’s backstory was genius, and of course, getting more of Cam and Adalyn was icing on the cake!! (Highly recommend reading The Long Game before picking this one up!!)

The book does start fairly quickly- before you know it Josie is a fiancée again. I also wish we had more about her dad- I feel like he was more of a background character throughout, when the whole dilemma is due to him, but thought that the ending rounded it out well!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc— pick this up when it comes out in July!!!!

I loved The Long Game so so much. And I was so excited for this book because it continues with some of the characters. But this was so difficult to read and enjoy. I wasn't interested in the characters, Matthew was especially dull and one-dimensional, or the plot. Also, I had such a hard time reading this, I kept losing my place and forgetting what I read

3.5 Stars

I enjoyed the overall story but also found myself skimming the book. I just wanted to know what happens and didnt really care about some of the side characters and even the situation with Andrew. I didnt really feel the daddy issues. He just wasnt around and there was nothing really to go off on. I just think it was pointless. I understand the basis of Josie and Adalyn is because of Andrew but his parts in the book felt like filler. We barely get any interactions.

I did like Matthew as the romatic interest. The way he feels and loves Josie is what every girl wants. Reading Josie’s dialogue and thoughts made me really feel when she was anxious or just spewing words when nervous. The book was fast paced for sure. Some parts I thought were kind of superfluous, but I understand it was needed to support the chemistry of the two main characters. When Josie was having her panic attack in her dress and Matthew came in to help her, that made me cry and miss my own boyfriend. I wish we could have seen Josie meet Matthew’s family.

Thank you to Netgally and the publishers for letting me read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love Elena armada’s writing. I was so excited to see a sequel book to the first. The characters are well developed and the storyline is adorable.

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. The plot felt super forced and unrealistic. I can suspend disbelief only so far. I love Elena Armas work and I will definitely read more of her work in the future as the writing was good - I just kept getting thrown out of the story

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Josie and Matthew fake an engagement to address her father’s PR situation and in the midst of fake wedding planning and small town hijinks feelings shift and their relationship changes. The Fiancé Dilemma is a classic Elena Armas slow burn romance.

Slow burn fake fiance contemplating rom com single point of view (except the last chapter. From the cover I thought it was a why choose romance, but I wasn't disappointed at only one male main character. The mmc was a fantastic book boyfriend; a sexy golden retriever with just a little bit of bite (when protecting his female lead), very physically affectionate, and a dirty mouth. The plot was VERY rom com and sometimes a bit much (and the story a bit long) but overall a fun read. I enjoyed the characters and will definitely read The Long Game (the first book that stars the bffs) next. Even though these are standalone books I think I would've preferred reading that first.

Still processing my thoughts on this one. The Fiance Dilemma is a follow-up to The Long Game, so the characters are not new; however, unlike some series, if you haven't read the first book, it will be very difficult to get into this one.

This book portrays Josie as super flighty and irresponsible almost without really diving into the pain of her childhood - I think the why of this is because it was covered in the first book. Without that context, I think readers will find her a difficult character to empathize with.

I think that my biggest issues are that it felt like there were a lot of missing parts to this story. Ideas or topics that seemed relevant were glossed over and my only guess is because I've forgotten something that I read in the first book...or I'm just looking for answers t0 round out a plot.

Where do I even begin. I was alittle weary about reading this was I wasn’t a huge fan of the roommate agreement. However, after I read the long game I just couldn’t wait to read Mathew and Josie’s story .Let me tell you she did not disappoint in this book.
I couldn’t put this book down. Absolutely adored every second of it. Mathew and Josie are just the cutest and I love the chemistry with every interaction they have is to die for. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year. I can’t wait to have all my friends read ❤️❤️
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Elena Armas for an opportunity to read an eARC of this amazing book.

Boy oh boy, when I found out this was Josie and Matthew's love story, I immediately began reading! I was thrilled to be back in Green Oak, with these characters.

We start out with Josie in her bathrobe, face mask on, and covered in strawberry jam. And oh yeah, also with a ring from a previous engagement stuck on her finger. She answers the door and begins being criticized by Bobbi Shark, her father's PR agent, for her four broken engagements, which is causing commotion on a popular podcast. After seeing the ring on Josie's finger, Bobbi realizes another engagement could be the solution to the PR crisis.

Matthew, who came into town for a breather after losing his job, just so happens to be in the right place at the right time. Josie sees him walking by her house, covered in mud after getting his car stuck. He doesn't even recognize her, after all, they'd only ever talked over FaceTime and in a group chat created by Adalyn. But Josie acts like Matthew is her fiancé, and Matthew, being the sweet guy that he is, plays along.

As it happens, the solution to the PR solution is not just another engagement, but a wedding. That will happen in under two months. Planned by Bobbi, funded by Josie's father, Andrew. With Josie and the totally-not-fake fiancé, Matthew, as the couple to be married.

Of course, we follow the pair as they go through wedding preparations, but it was even more beautiful to see Josie wrestle with her past and how she thinks her reputation has shaped her, and we get to see the transformation as she realizes that what other people think or say might not always be true. And of course, her faithful "fiancé" is by her side through it all, not letting her walk away from her own love story.

I love Matthew so much. He honestly could do no wrong in my eyes. Josie was a bit harder to like, but I grew to understand her and want the very best for her (which obviously was Matthew, duhh).

Elena Armas is basically an auto read for me, I adore the way her characters interact and the way that they grow. Not only in ther character or as people, but they also seem to grow on me as a reader. Thank you Elena, for yet another beautiful story ❤️

And thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas is a charming and heartwarming romance. With a mix of humor and drama, the author writes of fake engagements and second chances. The characters are relatable and well developed, and the chemistry between Josie and Matthew is sizzling! The story is engaging, with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you hooked until the very end.

I did enjoy book 2, Josie and Matthew’s story. However, there were some cringe moments lol. After finding out her dad is a millionaire public figure, Josie accidentally wrangles in Matthew (Adalyns bff) to pretend to be her fiance for a PR scheme. I feel they left off on a weird note and we didn’t get a final feel to Adalyn/Cam’s story either.