I really enjoyed this story. Josie was a girl so used to making herself smaller so she could fit in without needing anything else to shift. Matthew wanted her to shift everything in his world if it meant she knew it’s where she fit best.

I loved “A Long Game” so much and I wanted to go back to Green Oak asap!

“The Fiancé Dilemma” was like revisiting our home town and seeing familiar faces and scenarios everywhere - like a big family reunion.

Elena Armas knows how to write a romcom and I adored every single moment in this book because of that - there’s nothing like a good laugh!

The book was also, like always, a good slow-burn with a lot of tension between Josie and Matthew - with the fake engagement plot - gave us a lot of “just pretending<” moments and who doesn't love that?

Long short story, I will love everything Elena gives us and DEVOUR IT - there’s nothing like a funny love story.

4 stars!!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Okay, so I've had an up and down relationship with Elena Armas's books in the past. I really disliked The Spanish Love Deception and ended up loving The Long Game (even though I definitely had my issues with that one at first, too). However, I can confidently say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Was it perfect? No. But it really didn't have to be. It's a fun, cute, quirky little small town romance, and it really gave me everything I could've hoped for in a book like that. The setting of this book is perfection (I'm a sucker for anything set in North or South Carolina, idk why, it's just my weakness) and the small town vibes just add to its charm. The cast of supporting characters is also very strong (Grandpa Moe, I'm looking at you) and I personally feel like Josie and Matthew are the most likeable main characters that I've read so far from Armas. Like, I don't think either one ever really annoyed me (they definitely made me cringe sometimes, but not too much, tbh and what's a romance book without a little cringe?). I do wish we dove a little more into Josie's past, specifically her relationship with her mother, as well as gotten a little more backstory on her past relationships and why exactly they ended. I mean, we definitely get a little of this info, but I maybe just wanted a few more scenes that really explored her past. Especially with her past fiancés being on the cover, I guess I was just expecting them to play a bigger part in the story. Matthew, though, was.... honestly, great (I just get the ick because he has the same name as my brother, which is really gross when reading certain scenes, ya know 🙃), but that's a personal problem, lol. Name aside, he really is the dream guy. Kind, caring, always putting everyone else before him, knows how to lighten the mood when he has to.... And I really thought him and Josie worked really well together, and the chemistry was definitely there, in my opinion. Even the whole finding the right pet name between the two of them was cute, and I usually hate pet names for anyone other than you know.... pets. I also loved how easily the writing flowed in this book. I never really got bored, and I personally see improvement in that since Armas's past books. Overall, this was a very fun read, and I'm glad I got to revisit the cutie little town of Green Oak, North Carolina, and its cast of characters. And I can confidently say that this was my favorite book yet from Elena Armas, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Elena Armas for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy. The Fiancé Dilemma is the second book in the Long Game series. It follows the story told in The Long Game but it could be read as a stand alone novel. Josie is the main character. Josie’s newly discovered father is a rich business man who does not want Josie’s past getting in the way of his plans. Josie ends up pretending to be engaged to Matthew. I had a tough time making it through the end of the book. I found myself losing interest throughout multiple points of the book. I didn’t really connect to any of the characters either.

Elena Armas writes excellent slow burn romances. This is a fake dating, small town romance with a host of quirky characters and animals. Love a blonde hero in glasses! Josie is the sweetest too. Family drama and found family are important to this novel too. I found it long at times but the worth the wait for Matthew and Josie's happy ending. Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARC!

I’m a big fan of Elena Armas’ books, she doesn’t disappoint! I love the fake dating trope, it’s done very well in this book. It’s set in Green Oaks, the site of “The Long Game”. The characters of Cam the soccer player and Adalyn, Josie’s half sister, appear in this book.
Josie is the veteran of 4 broken engagements. She’s the mayor of her small town and is supported by people of Green Oak. Her father, who she never knew, turns out to be a rich man who wants to meet her.
Matthew is friends with Cam and Addy and has heard about Josie.
When they meet, she introduces him as her fiancé. He goes along with it and turns out to be an amazing guy who acts as Josie’s support system. They develop real feelings as they plan a wedding and deal with her dad and his controlling staff. Will Josie go through with this engagement?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I don’t even know where to start! This book was beyond adorable. I love a good fake dating trope add in a fake engagement and I am almost as giddy as I am when enemies find out they have to share a bed. I absolutely loved The Fiancé Dilemma. Plus a book based a few hours away from my hometown is always a win in my book!

I will admit the book started really slow for me, I did have some trouble finding a grove and I am not sure if it’s because I was in a reading slump or the slowish burn was the issue. But once the story began to pick up and the fake relationship started to shift I was hooked.

I absolutely adored Josie. She has a lot of the same qualities I do which made her really relatable to me and her awkwardness endearing. I could see how it could come across as insecure to some people but seeing as how that’s my natural state on any given day of the week, I thought she was a great character and her character development realistic.

Matthew…. Matthew could get it. He is so swoon worthy it’s not even funny. I enjoyed everything about his character from his physical description to his personality. He qualifies for a book boyfriend award for sure. He is sweet, and sexy, and has that air of confidence surrounding him that makes him not only likable but someone who truly root for as the lovers get closer to becoming official… and the ending. SWOON!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC! All opinions expressed are my own.

TROPES
Small Town
Fake Engagement
Slow Burn
He Falls First
Sister's Best Friend
Blonde MMC
City Boy x Small Town Girl

Cute rom-com. The first third of the book was way over the top mad cap which I did not enjoy. But the rest of the story made up for it. When the characters started becoming multi-dimensional, it all came together Josie is a woman who leads with her heart and kindness even though I never totally bought into her runaway bride x4 antics. And Matthew may be one of my favorite male characters. A true case of he falls first.

3.5 ⭐

I was really looking forward to reading this book since I read and loved Elena Armas’ first two books but unfortunately I was disappointed.

So The Fiancé Dilemma is the second book in the Long Game series but can be read as a standalone. My first major issue was that a lot of things that happened in this book either started in or were a result of things that happened in book one. As someone who did not read The Long Game I was extremely confused about a lot of things that were happening in the first 15% ish of the book. I would definitely recommend reading book one before you read this.

My second major issue was with the pacing. Some parts were really drawn out and I ended up getting bored several times. Then, towards the end, everything happened way too quickly and a lot of things/events that I think should have been a main focus were either entirely skipped or “resolved” too quickly leaving me with lots of questions.

My third and final issue that also kind of relates to pacing was the abrupt end of chapters. Several chapters ended very abruptly and usually when that happens, the issue is brought up in the next chapter or later in the book. However, this wasn’t the case in this book, several chapters ended very abruptly and then their content was never brought up again throughout the whole book.

While I did have some issues with the book, it wasn’t all bad. There were a lot of entertaining parts and I did laugh a couple of times. I also really liked Matthew’s character and the relationship between him and Josie. I loved how supportive and understanding he was, being there for her when she needed him and staying away when he knew she needed space. I loved Pedro Pigscal and the whole Kale chips thing. I loved Josie’s relationship with Grandpa Moe and the small town vibe.

Overall, while I was disappointed, this wasn’t a bad book. If you have read The Long Game and enjoy small town romance, fake dating, and cute (or speedy) farm animals, you might enjoy this book.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas is book 2 in the Long Game series, but you don’t need to read them in order.
I was super excited for this one, I loved Matthew, and I loved Josie in The Long Game.
Unfortunately, the characters in The Fiancé Dilemma fell flat for me.
I enjoyed the slow burn of this novel and I felt like Josie and Matthew did have good chemistry and I did enjoy them together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book for my honest thoughts.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5

Josie Moore, a young woman with a complicated romantic history, finds herself in a weird situation. After four failed engagements and an absent father who has recently appeared in her life, Josie faces a new challenge: her father did an interview to announce his retirement that put her in the spotlight.

In this context, Matthew Flanagan enters the scene. Arriving in Green Oak, North Carolina, during a moment of personal crisis, Matthew gets involved in a misunderstanding that leads him to pose as Josie’s fiancé.

What begins as a farce to keep up appearances soon turns into a mutual agreement.

I adore Elena with all my heart because her first book was one of the first that pulled me out of a reading slump. This book is the second in this series, and I enjoyed reading it despite having a hard time getting started with it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of slow-burn romances, but since Elena’s previous book, I’ve found it a bit challenging to follow the story of her books, although that doesn’t stop me from enjoying them to the point of finishing them in a day.

It was really interesting to read because even though I had read fake relationships before, I was surprised by the multiple failed engagements on the Josie’s side, and it certainly intrigued me.

There’s a lovely story here, and the small-town atmosphere and chemistry between the characters were enchanting.

I liked both characters, and they were pleasant to read about, just like all of Elena’s books, but this is my point of view. At this point, I would read anything Elena writes.

Thanks to @atriabooks, @NetGalley, and @thebibliotheque for giving me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had so much fun reading this! Josie was my favorite character in the first book and getting to learn more about her and seeing her get her happily ever after, just absolutely warmed my little heart.

Josie is the type of woman I inspire to be, independent and furiously compassionate and caring for those around her. Whereas, Matthew is her perfect equal, constantly pushing her to be the best version of herself and to see herself through his eyes.

I loved getting to watch them slowly fall for each other, while learning more about themselves as individuals and as a couple.

This book was not for me.

I typically prefer dual POV romances but don’t mind single POV. But not having Matthew’s POV made this book feel like it was Missing something. I felt like this started very abruptly and I thought the whole reason for the whole farce was a bit flimsy. This book also felt like it drug In some parts.

Some people may really enjoy this but it was not my favorite.

This book was absolutely SPECTACULAR. I don’t even know where to begin.

For starters, I absolutely loved the characters. Matthew and Josie, of course, but everyone else too. The entire town was so lovable, and I can’t wait to jump into “The Long Game” to find these characters yet again.

I’m a sucker for every single trop in this book. Small town romance? Check. Forced proximity? Check. Slow burn? Check. Marriage of convenience? CHECK. And the tension, the chemistry, the way Matthew was SMITTEN. Gosh, it was perfect.

I absolutely LVOED the friendship Matthew and Josie developed, and the light flirting that started at the beginning and very quickly became a regular occurrence between the two of them.

Looking at Matthew only for a second, he was amazing. Sweet, funny, caring (my gosh so caring), and the mouth on that man - OOMPH.

Thank you so very much to S&S/Atria Books for the e-ARC of “The Fiancé Dilemma.” You and Elena have healed a piece of my heart with this one.

I think it's time for me and Elena Armas to part ways. Her books are just too long and rambling to me. I didn't like this first one from this series for that reason, but this synopsis once again sucked me in.

Josie is thrown a curve ball when her father and crew show up to repair his image after hiding her for her entire life. Josie's personal life is a bit of a mess though. She's had 4 failed engagements in the past few years. When that news becomes public fodder, Josie panics and ropes Matthew, her sister's best friend, into being man #5. Matthew is in North Carolina after losing his job and he's happy to help Josie out. As they act as a couple, the tension builds and their relationship becomes real.

This book was just slow. Too slow and meandering. The first book in this series suffered from the same problem. Cut out 100 pages and we would have a very cute rom-com. I think this is just Elena Armas's style and that's fine, but it's time for me to put her in the Not For Me pile.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Let's start with the good....I liked it more then her first book (which I REALLY struggled to get into because it dragged on) and I really liked the banter between the two characters. But, I found that many of the big events in the book just flew by or weren't described in as much depth as they should have? Maybe I hold a grudge more than most, but not sure how we ended up forgiving dad at the end. Overall, didn't hate it but just wished scenes were given the length they deserved! Thank you to NetGalley, Elena Armas, and Atria Books for the complimentary ARC of this book.

This is one of Elena Armas's best novels. The two main characters are relatable flawed and not over the top stick people. Even though they play a main part in the previous novel of the series, I felt like I was getting to know them as their own people and not filtered through other characters' perspectives.

I would not call this book a slow burn, but they do get to know each other before romantic feelings are introduced. But when they are....the burn is like fire.

I adored this book. It is absolutely delightful and while there is a lot of arranged marriage books, not often do we get a twist on a common romance trope.

I found the main characters charming and people I wish I knew in real life. The family dysfunction and destructiveness/power of gossip and what that they can do to someone’s life, is shown so well in this book.

I cannot imagine having the pressure that Josie had on staying within the lines of what the public feels like you can do.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas is a charming romantic comedy that explores the complexities of love, family pressures, and the sometimes chaotic path to finding true happiness. The novel centers around Josie Moore, a woman with a history of failed engagements, who finds herself in a fake relationship that might just turn out to be the real deal. Armas does a fantastic job of blending humor and heart, creating characters that are relatable and a story that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

The chemistry between the protagonists is undeniable, and their journey from a staged romance to something more genuine is both entertaining and emotionally satisfying. Armas’s portrayal of small-town life adds an extra layer of warmth and authenticity to the narrative, making The Fiancé Dilemma a delightful and feel-good read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted romantic comedy.

Small town. Fake dating.

Im in love immediately. Matthew and Josie are amazing characters and just so perfect.

Lots of drama, humor and cuteness.