The Fiancée Dilemma might just be Elena De Armas best book yet. This fake fiancée best friend’s sister had me kicking my feet and giggling.

Matthew and Josie just make sense together and I found myself wanting a Matthew of my own. Glass and doesn’t take himself seriously? I’ll take one.

Returning to the Long Game universe was a treat, particularly as supporting characters Josie—Adalyn’s stepsister—and Matthew—Adalyn’s writer bestie—were given the spotlight in their own book, offering a deeper exploration of their romance.

Admittedly, this sequel isn't flawless. We're left wanting more insight into Josie's past and her tendency to flee commitments, and I wished for a glimpse into Matthew's perspective earlier in the story. Matthew, who charmed us in Long Game, remains supportive and endearing, with his quirky crush on Cameron reminiscent of a lovable Roy Kent. It would have been enriching to delve into his thoughts, understanding what makes him such an enchanting book boyfriend. Nevertheless, his caring nature and unwavering charm are evident from the start, never failing to captivate readers.

Josie, the sweet girl-next-door with her small-town allure, already had us smitten with her kindness and resilience. She may be a touch naive, but her strength shines through as she navigates life's challenges.

Both main characters captured my heart, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the appearances of Grandpa Mo/Maurice, a standout supporting character whose presence added depth to the story.

Another highlight was the undeniable chemistry between Josie and Matthew, igniting each page with passion and intensity.

Recalling the events of the first book, Josie's world is turned upside down upon discovering the identity of her father, Andrew, a wealthy sports mogul secretly supporting their small North Carolina town for years. The story kicks off with Josie struggling to remove her old engagement ring, resulting in a comical mishap involving strawberry jam and a visit from Bobbi Shark, a PR executive aiming to salvage her father's reputation by arranging Josie's fifth engagement.

Enter Matthew, covered in mud after getting his car stuck in her garden. Unaware of Josie's identity, he finds himself unwittingly thrust into the role of her fiancé. Despite having only interacted through Zoom calls and messages, Matthew agrees to play along, propelled by his innate kindness and shock from his car ordeal.

As Bobbi pushes for a rushed wedding to quell the PR storm, Josie and Matthew find themselves entangled in a web of lies, with the entire town rooting for their happiness. Amidst the chaos, two nosy podcasters delve into Josie's past relationships, while Andrew's unexpected involvement further complicates matters.

Caught in the whirlwind, Josie and Matthew's chemistry deepens, blurring the line between pretense and reality. Josie grapples with her growing feelings, fearing rejection or abandonment, while Matthew faces the looming deadline of his departure from town. Will they succumb to their feelings, or will Josie's fear of commitment drive her to flee once more?

Despite my minor qualms, I'm inclined to round up my rating to a solid 5 stars. The undeniable chemistry between Josie and Matthew, coupled with Armas' captivating storytelling, makes this a standout romance novel. Plus, the dynamic between Josie and Matthew surpasses that of Adalyn and Cameron, in my opinion.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with the opportunity to review this highly anticipated romance novel.

The Fiancé Dilemma explores the story of Josie, a beloved figure in Green Oak, North Carolina, facing the fallout of her multiple broken engagements. When her father's high-profile identity sparks unwanted attention, Josie orchestrates a fake engagement to her sister's best friend, Matthew, hoping to quell the ensuing public relations disaster.

As Josie and Matthew navigate their faux relationship, they confront her personal insecurities and moments of both humor and tenderness. While the characters could benefit from further depth, the book offers an engaging portrayal of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of authenticity.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for granting me early access to this anticipated book.

I have not read The Long Game, which is the first book in this series. I have read Elena Armas’s other books but somehow missed the publication of that one! The Fiancé Dilemma can definitely be read as a standalone, but it was obvious to me from the first chapter or two that there was another book about someone named Adalyn that introduced this book’s main characters and setting. I read romances out of order pretty often so this didn’t bother me, but others may want to read The Long Game first. I’ll be adding it to my TBR because this book piqued my interest.

Personally, “fake engagement” is a pretty blah trope for me. I generally won’t pick up a fake engagement book unless it’s by an author I already know I enjoy and/or if the book is part of a series with other books I’m interested in. A trope I’m lukewarm about can still be turned into a great book in the right author’s hands. Since I’ve liked Ms. Armas’s other books I decided to give this one a try. I think this book would have made a lot more sense as a marriage of convenience. The premise is that the heroine has broken 4 engagements and it’s causing bad PR for her family. She gets fake engaged and repeatedly insists they don’t actually have to go through with the wedding and can break up once the gossip dies down. It just made no sense to me that a fifth broken engagement would solve anyone’s problems. It felt like this trope was chosen because it’s a fan favorite and not because it actually made sense with the story.

I also struggle with heroines who have what I’d call “nervous energy” and are prone to saying every thought that pops into their head. It makes for a great rom-com but I get way too much secondhand embarrassment. I did not like the heroine at all at the beginning and frankly sympathized with the hero for having to put up with her. I liked the heroine more by the end of the book and the relationship became more believable as things progressed. I liked hero Matthew from the start. As he began to show his feelings for Josie, her character improved.

I have enjoyed Ms. Armas’s other books and despite not checking my boxes for preferred trope and character traits, I was entertained by this one too.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC so I could write this review.

After reading <i>The Long Game</i>, I was really excited for Josie and Matthew's book. This book did not disappoint and was even better than I expected. I loved returning to the small town of Green Oak, North Carolina and get this twist on <i>Runaway Bride</i>, featuring Adalyn's sister, Josie, and Adalyn's best friend, Matthew. I also really love a good fake dating or fake engagement book and I think Elena Armas did so well with this trope. In the first several chapters, I sorely wished for Matthew's POV along with Josie's, but I'm glad I trusted the author because it was so worth it. Matthew is seriously a top tier book boyfriend; he's incredibly sweet, supportive, and sexy. The way he gets that SOS text from Josie because she needs him, and he literally runs across town half naked to be there for her? Oh, my goodness. Also, the wedding dress shopping scene? I'm not lying when I say I don't think any scene in any other book could top this one for me. I'm STILL thinking about this and I know I will be for a really long time. I also loved the small town and all of its side characters and you really feel immersed in the setting. I loved Josie's journey of self-realization and how Matthew supported her every step of the way. It was so clear just how connected they were, despite being very different people. I also think that this was Elena's most hot and horny book and I truly appreciated that. She kept us fed and happy with this one! I'm so obesessed with this book and I cannot wait for others to read it because it's just so good!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Elena Armas for an eARC of this amazing book.

So around Ch 9, I felt myself hoping we would get Matthew’s POV soon. I was wondering why he’s agreed to this. Then as we kept going, I found myself wanting it more and more. “What is Matthew thinking?” “What’s happening?” I felt like we were only getting Josie’s experience and the girl was all over the place. It was very chaotic.

That being said.. I’m kicking myself for not trusting Elena.

What we have in this book is a fake engagement between Josie and her sister’s best friend Matthew. But what starts out as fake, with rules and boundaries and the like very quickly starts to feel not so fake. There is a very slow burn (which is Elena’s style) but it only makes for delicious, simmering, toe curling tension. By the time we get Matthew’s POV, the reader feels breathless with anticipation. And it was WORTH. THE. WAIT. Matthew ended up being completely swoonworthy. The story was full of twists and turns, interesting side characters. I really enjoyed getting a lot of background information through the podcast format.

Elena has definitely become an auto-buy author for me. Job well done. 5 stars.

WOW! I absolutely loved this book! I am convinced that Elena Armas just keeps getting better and better and I truly cannot wait for her next book (whenever that is - no pressure!)

This series has been my favorite one of hers, and this book did not disappoint! The world she has built is amazing and I feel like we get relatable, fleshed-out characters who show growth while also staying true to themselves.

I will say, at first I was disappointed we weren't getting a dual POV book like the Long Game, but then at the end, the pay off was INCREDIBLE and I can't wait to purchase this when it is released!

If you're a fan of Elena Armas's other books, you are sure to like The Fiance Dilemma, which is a cute, chaotic fake engagement romp.

Wow! Might be by favorite Elena Armas to date. Matthew is honestly my favorite book boyfriend I’ve ever read, I loved reading about Josie and Matthew in the Long Game and was so excited when I learned they were getting their own love story. I loved this book so much and the slow burn and the chemistry between Matthew and Josie was impeccable. Also, I loved how much we saw Cam and Adalyn throughout this book, A top read of 2024 for me.

₊ ⊹”because i only ever wanted you, josie.”₊ ⊹

*:･ﾟmy thoughts┊well, i was a little distracted with this one. it wasn’t bad, but it definitely wasn’t for me, sadly.

i thought the writing in the previous book had been a good improvement, and i was excited to see it (hopefully) progress with this one. however, this one felt like a backslide writing wise. very reminiscent of ‘the american roommate experience’ which wasn’t a favorite of mine, either. it just felt really underdeveloped and filled with questionable humor.

i sort of liked josie’s character in the first book, but i honestly didn’t see her as being worthy of her own book. and then i found out matthew was her love interest, and it just felt like a really weird pairing to me, ngl. they did have a lot of cute moments, but i didn’t really buy into the romance i guess.

i’m personally not a fan of the fake engagement trope, i think. fake dating is fine, but i feel like a whole ass engagement and wedding planning is a little too far. it’s hard for me to imagine a scenario in which that’s not an insane thing to fake, and this book definitely didn’t hit that. there was really no reason for that, especially when you could just tell it wasn’t going to actually happen? like it was kind of crazy to me that they made it all the way to the rehearsal dinner before stopping it lmao i feel like at the very least they should have told adalyn.

i just wasn’t a fan of how josie presented it to matthew, and thought it was weird that matthew agreed. we didn’t get his perspective in this book, which i think could’ve helped, but it was just odd to me how quickly he seemed to love josie. then he claims he’s felt that way since they first started “talking,” which i use lightly because josie mentions in the beginning how they never texted outside of a groupchat. so that just felt… really unbelievable to me

overall, i was pretty sad with this book. i really enjoyed ‘the long game’ and was hoping this would follow in its footsteps. unfortunately, it was a bit of a miss for me, but i do think this book encompasses a lot that other people will really enjoy. ultimately it just wasn’t for me!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an arc of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness, this book made me so happy. I adored Josie, Matthew and their journey. Yes, this was a fake dating romance. Yes, sister’s best friend to lovers. Yes, runaway bride. Yes, absentee father. But … it was so much more. It was about love, growth, acceptance, and hope. This book really is something special.

Josie is the mayor of Green Oak and Adalyn’s sister (who we met in The Long Game. No need to read that one first, but I highly recommend doing so.) She has been engaged four times, and now her rich father has caused some … drama. People know about Josie and her past now. So, enter fake dating scheme.

Matthew is Adalyn’s best friend and needed a change in his life. After some shenanigans, he is now Josie’s fifth fiancé.

These two were such an amazing couple to get to know, root for, and hope for a happily ever after. Josie is kind, thoughtful, and outstanding member of her community, but is lonely. Matthew is dealing with <stuff I won’t mention but is hinted at in The Long Game>. The more Matthew is on the page, the more I liked him. Green flag energy. He is smart, caring, and puts Josie and her feelings first.

The secondary characters in this one were a laugh riot. Grandpa Moe was ridiculous and fun. Bobbi … literal shark. Plus, we got to catch up with characters we already know. And … Maria has a new pet. Super adorable.

If you want a book that will leave you feeling hopeful, this is the one for you. Solid five stars.

Elena Armas never misses! The Fiance Dilemma is further proof of that! She has written hit after hit after hit.

Elena Armas does it again! Her books are cancel-all-plans-and-read affairs for me. If you’ve read The Long Game, you’ll love this book also set in the charming town of Greek Oak, NC.

Green Oak’s mayor/coffee shop owner/friendly personality Josie becomes a PR problem for her millionaire father when reporters dig up her romantic history. Podcasters can’t get enough of her four (yup, FOUR) previous broken engagements and the fear is they’ll use her commitment issues to drag good ol’ dad the mud. The solution to fix her image? Fake an engagement with her sister’s bestie, Matthew. Bobbi Shark is the cold, no BS PR expert shipped in by Josie’s dad.

This book (first 10%) was a bit hard for me to get into because it all revved up very quickly so this would realistically be a 4.5 ⭐️. BUT I was totally hooked after that. Josie and Matthew’s relationship is simultaneously gentle and steamy. I love rooting for two characters who are so different but bring out the best in each other.

Josie’s the sweet, small-town girl next door who chatters when she’s nervous. Matthew is a glasses-clad goofball who tells it like it is. They have distinct personalities and a ton of chemistry. Add in grumpy Grandpa Moe as a supporting character and I was sold.

I also enjoyed when the temperature ramped up and we got several very spicy chapters that proved just how perfect a fit these two characters are together 🌶️

I loved watching all the characters (even starchy Bobbi) melt a bit because of Josie’s enthusiasm and kindness. By the end, I was rooting so hard for Josie and Matthew that I stayed awake until 2 a.m. to find out how it ends.

Thanks to Atria Books, Elena Armas & NetGalley for this ARC!

It was a pleasure to return back to Green Oak, NC for this book! Josie learned of her father's identity a year prior to to the start of the book. Josie is the fun loving town mayor, Batista, community advocate that she was in The Long Game, but we get to delve deeper into her past and her four previous engagements. When a PR executive representing her father shows up on her front porch. In an effort not to be a "misstep" of her father's, she concocts plan consisting of a fake engagement to Matthew who is her sister Adalyn's best friend. Matthew and Josie get to know one another through planning a wedding and pre wedding events. Will Matthew finally be the fiancé that Josie makes it to the end of the aisle for?

This book was very enjoyable! I loved Matthew as an MMC. I thought after seeing his silly, quirky best friend side in The Long Game that it was nice to see his loyalty and sincerity in The Fiancé Dilemma. Josie was a fun character, but at times hard to keep up with everything going on in her head, which is also ironically part of her charm! I loved returning to Green Oak and revisiting characters from TLG. It was also great to see Adalyn and Cam and what they have been up to! Highly recommend!

A thank you to Atria Books for the ARC!

I’m already calling it: this is my favorite read of 2024. There is not beating this one. 10million stars!⭐️

I’ve loved Elena Armas since I picked up her novel The American Roommate Experiment. I loved Matthew since his appearance in The Long Game. I just knew this book was going to be a hit!

It would be easier to list the things I didn’t like in this novel: Bobbi and Andrew Underwood. However, We are supposed to hate these two people. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the podcast script sections. I know they added to the story, but Nick and Sam were irritating (probably because they were bashing my girl Josie).

Now, on to the things I loved: everything. This book was sheer perfection. I didn’t think this could beat Adalyn and Cam’s love story, but oh my it did!! It was sheer perfection. I cried, laughed, fanned my face from all the heat, and said “aw” more times than I can count.

Matthew is 100% book boyfriend material. I don’t know how no one scooped him up before Josie did. Lucky girl. Not only does he go along with the crazy fiancé story, but he becomes Josie’s friend. In chapter nine when she texts him SOS and he literally runs (half naked) all the way to town to make sure she is okay, that is when I knew he was perfection. Where can I find myself a Matthew?

This novel is filed with Hero Matthew moments, but I also loved how Josie was a mother hen to everyone in town. She was constantly bringing people muffins baskets to say thanks or if they were having a rough day. It’s the little things people remember, and Josie is always there.

I do admit that I would have liked Matthew’s POV like we had with Cam in The Long Game. I wanted into the adorable head.

You NEED to add this book to your TBR. Even if you’ve never touched an Armas novel before, DO IT!

*An ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publishing company in exchange for an honest review.

elena armas never dies me wrong i swear. i loved this book so much. i knew i would and i cannot wait i make everyone read this

Small town girl has been engaged and run at the altar four times before. To save her famous biological father from a PR disaster, she fakes another engagement. Nonsense ensues.

I have enjoyed Elena Aramas's other books, but this one couldn't be saved. Not even starting to skim it could keep me invested.

To quote the main character, "on a scale from zero being a golden retriever to ten being a rabid raccoon with a taste for pie," this book started out like the rabid raccoon. It was a zero-to-sixty immediate hot mess. It felt chaotic and cluttered to read. The premise was incredibly flimsy and far-fetched, and unfortunately the plot after that and the scant characterizations didn't make up for it. No one was likeable, and their decisions didn't feel realistic in any situation. I think the book was trying to pull off "quirky," but it felt spastic instead.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this advanced manuscript.

Matthew’s one and only POV at the end was equivalent to a grand gesture, I’ll forgive the lack of Matthew POVs at the beginning. Josie was an anxiety energy ball, I do not know how she does it. Matthew was always there flirting to help her not spiral and standing up for her when she froze.

This was super cute! I was curious about Josie's story after reading The Long Game, and this didn't disappoint. I love fake dating/fake engagement/marriage of convenience tropes, so this was right down my alley. Not to mention, Elena Armas always writes good spice!

Having heard so much about Elena Armas’ work and how amazing it is, I decided to request an ARC and dive right in. This is marketed as a stand alone, however after reading this and then its predecessor, I do feel like you’ll get a little more backstory that makes things clearer!
Onto the book itself though. Small town, engagement of convenience, with an heavy dash of the 90’s Runaway Bride vibes. All things I adore!
Elena’s MC’s Josie and Matthew are engaging and interesting to read and I loved their banter. It was nice to read Josie’s character arc, as I really felt she was really guided along by Matthew and turned former insecurities into confidence.
Matthew was just *chef’s kiss*. Sexy, incredibly sweet and supportive. Everything that you’d want in a book boyfriend!
The only thing I wished for was Matthew’s POV as I felt that could have really solidified and given more context to how and why this great guy was going along with the engagement. Still a great read and one I’d recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!