i’ve been going back and forth ALL over the ratings board from 2-4 stars, so i think landing solidly in the middle is fair. this book was close to being a SLOG to get through. josie is such a tough character to be in the head of. every time she got herself into wacky situations, without thinking anything through, had me wanting to pull out my head. i mean, truly, i was close to calling it a quits early on with just her narration style.

i switched over to audio about a quarter of the way through, not because of the writing per se (rather because i was on a road trip and needed to listen something. so two birds, one stone). but man did that make so much of the difference. the ditziness definitely became a bit easier to stomach. i mean i was still like “girl what the actual fuck are you doing!” but those moments were definitely fewer than in the front end.

i also think as their plot progresses and as matt and josie’s relationship develops, him being around more also helped the case. matthew was truly the saving grace of this book. the way he went with all of josie’s dumb decisions,,, he really is what made this book worth continuing on. and now, while i really didn’t find myself loving josie (and i’m still irked we still never really get any clarification into WHY she was engaged 4 times, or what happened so that they’d all still be friendly with her) their relationship was still lovely to see develop.

It was through sheer will that I finished this. It did not feel swoony or romantic. It felt really awkward and the main characters had no chemistry whatsoever. The MMC just went along with eveyrthing because he had already been in love with this oblivious, shallow woman who kept making the same mistakes instead of going to some therapy and working through any of her issues in a healthy way. The premise is ridiculous and I just kept thinking... if this is the expectation for people to call romance in their lives, I'm not sure I want any part of it. The characters really had no chemistry, no banter that was cute, it was just this woman trauma dumping on a guy who sat passively and took it - maybe that's the dream now? Not working through your issues, not growing as a person, just being a gremlin and a man being absolutely smitten for it.

Elena Armas’s The Fiancé Dilemma is a charming yet somewhat uneven romantic comedy that explores the intricacies of love, family, and the complexities of personal growth. Following the success of her previous works, Armas delivers a story filled with wit and warmth, but it doesn't quite hit the mark as perfectly as some of her earlier novels.

The novel follows Josie Moore, who, facing a PR nightmare due to her series of failed engagements, recruits an unexpected ally to help salvage her family’s reputation. Enter Matthew Flanagan, who, after a series of unfortunate events, finds himself accidentally engaged to Josie in a bid to clean up his own mess.

The premise is undeniably engaging: Josie, desperate to repair her public image, and Matthew, who’s stuck in a rut, find themselves in a fake engagement that quickly spirals out of control. The initial misunderstanding between the characters provides a strong foundation for both comedic moments and romantic tension, and Armas’s writing shines in these early interactions. The chemistry between Josie and Matthew is palpable, and their witty exchanges are a highlight of the novel.

However, while the setup is promising, the execution falls somewhat short. The plot occasionally feels predictable, as the fake engagement trope is familiar territory for romance readers. Despite Armas’s efforts to inject fresh twists into the narrative, the storyline sometimes settles into expected patterns, making some of the plot developments feel a bit formulaic.

I love a good fake dating trope, so a fake engagement seemed like a good time. I was very disappointed. There are very obvious signs that point to this being a take on Runaway Bride, like a scene in which Matthew, the fake Fiance, tells Josie that she doesn't have an aesthetic of her own, she just co-ops the aesthetic of whatever man she's with at the time. This should be a moment in which Josie either opens up to him or gets mad and refuses to admit that he's right, but instead she just gets confused and changes the subject. Which felt a little flat.
But that's fair because the author seems a little confused about what direction she wants the book to take. Is Josie running away from love runaway bride style because she never really opens up to her men, or is she being constantly rejected for failing to meet some absurd standard her previous men have set for her.
The bad PR implies that Josie is the one at fault, but Josie herself goes around through the whole book acting insecure and unable to believe that Matthew is falling for her. Which I could get behind if she'd been engaged and then dumped 4 times, but she repeatedly says that her breakups were amicable and she's still friends with all her ex-fiances. AND everyone in this book, which the exception of the PR chick and Josie's father, is obsessed with this girl. Everyone in her town loves her and fawns over her and wants to know every intimate detail about her life and is convinced that she can do no wrong. You don't become an insecure, scared of love girl by being openly and lavishly loved and accepted for your entire life. So Josie's insecurity thing that kept her from believing Matthew actually liked her and had feelings for her was just annoying and felt gimmicky.
I liked the concept of this one, and the first chapter was wild and unhinged fun. But the rest of the book was a complete let down.

Dnf at 65%
I requested this arc because I really enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception and wanted to try more by this author! I didn’t realize that it was a sequel to one of her other books, The Long Game. She does have a note at before the book begins explaining this but that these were just interconnected and could be read as a standalone, but I really don’t think that’s the case. There were tons of references to the characters in the previous books so I was left very confused. That part’s on me, however this book was still a little dull and difficult to follow along with. The entire plot was just so absurd the romance was dead. I mean who leave FIVE men at the altar???

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At some point I should accept that Elena Armas is not the author for me, her plots always sound so fun and quirky and laugh out loud and like something I would enjoy and I always keep getting disappointed within the first few pages.
Her dialogues and internal monologues are always so cringey and like a third-rate romcom with zero character chemistry. I truly don’t get the hype.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was wonderful!

The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas is another fantastic romance, set in the same world as The Long Game. Josie and Matthew find themselves fake-engaged because of a series of unfortunate events involving a stuck ring, a jar of jam, ignored emails, and an uninvited guest. But their fake engagement suddenly feels very real when they begin planning an actual wedding--what?! Their chemistry is super hot, and I love how naturally they transitioned from acquaintances to friends to lovers...their whole vibe gave me so many warm fuzzies. If you loved Armas' other romances, you'll definitely enjoy this one too. So many characters from The Long Game make appearances in this one, and it was great being back in Green Oak, North Carolina. Thanks, Atria Books, for my advance review copy.

The fiancée dilemma was equal parts funny and heartfelt. I loved reading Josie and Matthew’s story. My only issue was that the slow burning nature of their relationship felt too slow in quite a few parts.

I loved Green Oak and its cast of colorful characters so much in Armas' "The Long Game" that I leapt at the chance to follow up with Josie, Matthew, and the rest of Green Oak in "The Fiance Dilemma." Quite frankly, it was everything I'd hoped it would be, with the same incisively-witty banter and the same heart of gold. I'm especially thrilled that Josie gets a chance to shine on her own, because she was one of my favorite characters from "The Long Game," and she and Matthew are just so stinking cute together that I might have actually pulled a muscle in my face from smiling so hard. MVP though - despite tough competition - is no doubt Grandpa Moe, who is a glorious curmudgeonly marshmallow who must be protected at all costs.

okay, my new fav Elena Armas book! i read the american roommate experiment and really liked it but Josie and Matthew 😩😩😩 i looooove them. their banter was the cutest and just their chemistry together made my heart swell and smile and do all the things. i was chuckling so often and the freaking tension was killin me. we love an assertive man in glasses, and let me tell you, Matthew is that guy. he’s one of my new fav book boyfriends for sure. we also love good spice. it was v nice and not something i was expecting from a blonde in glasses lmao. this whole review is just about how much i love them together lol. but also how sad i was for Josie and how ppl were seeing her and just knowing her by her engagements. anyway, 5/5
thank you Atria books and netgalley for this e arc in exchange for my honest review!

I had a really hard time connecting to this story. I couldn't get into the characters and the slow burn made me lose interest. It was a really sweet story, just not for me. I really loved Elena Armas' previous book and I will keep reading her future work.

The only other Elena Armas book that I have read was the American Roommate Experiment. I know that her books are all connected but I obviously have no read them all! I believe I missed the story of Cam and Adalyn?

I loved Matthew and Josie. From the very first time we see them interact in this story, I was in love. The small town setting was perfect. I was getting Stars Hollow vibes and also some Done and Dusted vibes. I felt immediately pulled into this story. The setting felt incredibly cozy and I just wanted to live in this little town.

Anyway, this was a really fun book!! If I’m being honest, I got a little bored towards the end. It felt like it dragged on a bit and I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go.

I loved the fake dating trope in this story. I loved the side characters (Grandpa Moe ❤️) This was a lovely romance book!

I appreciate the opportunity to read this book early, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite resonate with me. I struggled to connect with the main character, which made the story feel a bit lackluster. I found myself not as engaged with Josie and Matthew's journey as I usually am with romances. While this one wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I’m grateful for the chance to read it.

Elena Armas has done it again. This was such a great book and had my favorite trope fake dating in it. The only down fall in my opinion was that it was such a slow burn. The chemistry was there but it took so long to actually occur.

Going into this book I had never read any other Elena Armas books before, so I had no notions of what to expect. I really ended up thoroughly enjoying every aspect of this book, and really fell in love with all the characters and the story. Matthew is an amazing MMC, and the thing he does for Josie really make my heart melt. I would love to get more of Matthew’s perspective, and could read a whole book from his side. Regardless, I loved this book, and will now be looking to read some more Elena Armas books.

Fake engagement? Baby pigs named Pedro? A hilarious PR crisis manager? This book is the perfect amount of romance, humor, and heartwarming!

Josie Moore is a runaway bride. With four failed engagements and a complicated family history, she seizes the opportunity to help her father’s PR crisis by pretending to be engaged. Meanwhile, Matthew Flanagan, freshly fired and stranded in Green Oak, North Carolina, unexpectedly finds himself playing the role of Josie's fiancé when he runs into her. As they navigate their fake relationship, unexpected sparks fly. Will they actually make it to the altar or will their situationship end in heartbreak?

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Elena Armas for allowing me access to this book. All opinions are my own.

(3.5/5) This book took me a little longer to get to as I love a series, so I went back and read The Long Game first. I'll be honest, TLG did not give Josie the setup she deserved, and I feel like actually going back and reading TLG didn't really hype me up that Josie was the main character in this book. The four fiance premise on top of the fake engagement on top of the public intrigue was a bit much, and it took me a bit to get into it, but it did pick up for me and I ended up enjoying this book more than TLG overall. Elena Armas is truly gifted at writing romantic tension between her characters, and although her books are slow burns, once they burn they burn brightly! I think when I can buy into the plot a bit more, Elena Armas' writing is a home run for me (The Spanish Love Deception). This book is a solid romance, but was not my favorite I read this summer.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for my advanced eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. The plot kept me interested and the author did a good job with the back and forth banter that makes all books good

A well written romance between 2 fake fiance's. The story was well written and the scenes were steamy. It was a pleasure to read.