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.

Could have been a great story. The concept was there & some parts were fun, sweet and spicy. However it just didn’t all come together for me. Most of the book was a slog to get through. It felt quite long, full of details that didn’t further the plot. It often felt disjointed and a bunch of the chapters ended in the middle of the scene. The book had some bright moments but not enough to make it work for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are mine alone.

Overall it was a fine read, it just didn't grab me the way I was expecting it to. I'm always a fan of the "fake dating/fake relationship" trope, but this one missed the mark a bit for me. I really enjoyed Matthew's character, but Josie rubbed me the wrong way. Which isn't the best thing to feel when they're the MC. The way they fell into the "fake fiancé" situation was a huge stretch for me as well.

The beginning was also very clunky and awkward for me; it took me a while to get through about 70% of this book, and then it kind of sped up from there. The spice in this was... okay. Some of it was also pretty clunky and some lines during the spicy times would pull me out of it.

3 out of 5 stars.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas was an okay read, overall. While not my favorite, it had its moments that made me smile (and blush!).

I had a hard time getting through this novel. The beginning felt forced and quick, which lead to the pacing of the first half of the book to be completely off. I only started to enjoy it at the 50% mark.

I had high hopes for this one given how much I loved Josie from The Long Game, but, alas, this one is not for me.

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.

I’ve been reading Elena Armas’s books since she released THE SPANISH LOVE DECEPTION. My favorite so far is THE LONG GAME — so I was super excited to see that it was going to be a series and couldn’t wait to pick this one up.

THE FIANCÉ DILEMMA was a fun fake dating book, but I wasn’t fully invested in the romance.

What I loved were the cameos from the characters we met in THE LONG GAME. I also loved the small town, everyone knows everyone, meddling neighbors dynamics.

💜 engagement of convenience
💜 small town romance
💜 family dynamics

This was such a fun take on the runaway bride trope. I'm a sucker for a good nineties/noughties rewrite and Elena Armas did not disappoint, Though I enjoyed The Long Game, this book was more my speed. I love Josie's quirkiness and Matthew's protectiveness and sweetness. This was a sweet and spicy book.

I swear her books get better and better each time. Elena Armas is the slow-burn queen. She'll have you on the edge of your seat just waiting for them to get it on already. A slow-burn fake dating trope is what you get in The Fiance Dilemma. To clean up a PR disaster Josie ropes Matthew into being her fake fiance. Let's just say things don't go as planned. I LOVED Matthew. He had big "that’s my wife" energy, and I loved every second of it. I was a sucker for the small-town aspect of this story, I loved all the nosy side characters. All in all, I thought it was a great book, I can't wait for the next one.