Thank you to NetGalley, Atria, and Elena Armas for this ARC! This book pleasantly surprised me! I liked The Long Game, but I liked this book so much more! Series just always get me. You have time to build your love for the small town and all the characters in it. It was wonderful! I was afraid the story would drag a bit because it is a longer romance book, but the second half went by so fast!

Both of the characters were so sweet and just genuinely cared about each other from the start. They both had tough things they were dealing with but had great character development through the story. I think that Matthew was such a sweetie pie and you could just tell he was down bad for most of the book. I love it when the guy falls first! Hahahaa. I was obsessed with how he would just be 100% honest and just say what was on his mind and how he felt. It was up to Josie what she wanted to do with that information. Thank God there was no miscommunication.

Also, I was really craving a slow burn romance and this was just what I needed. I wanted to read something with some tension and build-up. This was perfect for that! This was definitely a hit for me and I will be sat waiting for Elena Armas’ next book 💗

I love the town of Green Oak and I loved Josie and Matthew’s romance!!

Josie is Green Oak’s town mayor and she has quite the history of being a runaway bride (4 times). In a wild turn of events, Josie’s famous father (who just recently announced himself to Josie) announces his retirement and Josie’s image as a runner doesn’t look so good. A PR agent is brought in and fake engagement is fabricated between Josie and Matthew, our MMC who is so dreamy (glasses, muscles and a belief in true love)!

The small town of Green Oak and its residents had me laughing out loud, baby pigs, roosters, town gossipers and all.

Fake engagement
Small town
He falls first

well yes i fear i did eat this right up! after loving the long game, i was SO excited for the fiancé dilemma, and girrrrrrl elena armas did not disappoint. this was such a cute fake dating, he falls first, small town romance and i loved everything about it. matthew flanagan is everything actually! i thought i was down bad for cam but matthew just took the gold medal. seriously. and i loved that we saw josie face a lot of anxiety and worries and push through the labels placed on her in order to find peace and happiness. she deserves it. i really enjoyed getting little glimpses of the vasquez family again (especially my baby maría) and just the town of green oak in general. i literally don’t care what anyone says, this book was 🌟😊🧚‍♀️🩷🌞

4 ⭐️

Advanced reading copy courtesy of NetGalley 🥰

I truly did love this book, I practically devoured it. It checked a lot of my boxes; heart, wit, banter and a slowburn.

Runaway Bride part 2 anyone? Josie finds herself in a PR disaster when her estranged father’s assistant shows up while she’s in her robe, face mask and an engagement ring covered in jam. The kicker? She’s not engaged anymore. Josie has never made it down the aisle despite being engaged 4 times. When her father’s bossy assistant surveys the scene she instantly hones in on the ring, asking who the lucky man is that is going to save them from the public relations nightmares. Lucky for Josie, her sister’s best friend happens to stumble by. Josie not so suavely convinces Mathew to be her groom-to-be. Only problem? They’ve never actually met.

Synopsis aside, I haven’t been this down bad for a blonde man in a WHILE. Matthew is not only kind but fiercely protective, with a dirty mouth. The BANTER was so so good. The way this man talked about soulmates and love, I was ready to walk down the aisle.

Tropes: fake engagement, he fell first, sister’s best friend

The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas truly hit all the right notes for me! Josie and Matthew had such great chemistry and I loved all their interactions. Fake engagement is a fun trope and Elena does it justice here. Josie was a bit of a quirky character so I did have a harder time warming up to her. There was nothing about Matthew to dislike. Just a great character. I loved reading his POVs. Another great job by Elena! Can’t wait for her next book.

I love Josie and Mathew so much 😭😭

I love a slow burn but this one was like a slow burn that was BURNING. I love that their relationship was so sweet to progress but still had some intimate moments. Gosh Mathew. The glasses. The touching. The number of times he called Josie his fiance with so much possession. 😭 I love it so much.

I loved the bits of Cam and Adaline too.

The whole time I really wanted to yell through the book at Bobbi🙄 god that woman angered me.

Overall could not have loved this story more.

🫶🏼🫶🏼

I adored The Spanish Love Inquisition by Elena Armas. So I was very excited to get this ARC! Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.

I struggled to get into it. I don't love books that have a lot of dialogue, which was the case here.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

If you are a fan of the Julia Robert’s movie ‘Runway Bride’ then you’ll enjoy this story. It follows Josie who is the mayor of her small-town, has an estranged father, recently discovered she had a long lost half sister and has had multiple failed engagements.

As she tries to start an odd relationship with her father, things turn to the worse when she tells his PR that she’s engaged again with lucky number 5. Queue in her sister’s best friend Matthew, who was in the right place at the most awkward time.

Matthew is probably the star of the book, definitely your next book boyfriend. He will do anything to help Josie out of the mess she’s gotten herself into. Josie is just a hot mess through out most of the book, she does have moment where you want to tell her to chill the heck out.

Overall, it was definitely a cute rom-com to add to your read list if you love a slow burn/faking dating trope. However, I recommend to read the first book in the series to get the whole picture of all characters in this story.

- Small-town
- Slow Burn
- Runaway Bride
- Fake Fiance
- Sister’s Best Friend
- He Falls First
- Golden Retriever MMC
- Slow Burn
- Adorable Nicknames
- Swoony
- Family Drama
- Single POV

I loved the first book in this series so I was really excited for Matthew and Josie's book.

THE FIANCÉE DILEMMA is a very slow burn, sister's best friend, small town, fake relationship book. I loved Matthew's character, but Josie was hard for me. She is very much a doormat who stays a doormat the entire book.

Matthew's character is directly responsible for everything good in this read. All of the other characters are a bit one dimensional, including the 2 characters I adored from the previous book.

And while I understand that books can be inspired by other well-known media, THE FIANCÉE DILEMMA was way too close to the film Runaway Bride. Just replace eggs with wedding venues. IYKYK.

Having said that, the chemistry between these characters was as hot as the eventual steamy scenes and Matthew is a book boyfriend you will absolutely adore.

SPICE LEVEL: Rated R / 2-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language.
CONTENT WARNING: past parent affair, death of parent
FEELS: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.

A very cute book, quick read and definitely a book that made me want to cheer for a happy ending. Love, fake love and family drama pull you in from the beginning.

I liked this book but I didn't love it. It was funny for sure but it didn't wow me. Will I read other books by Elena Armas, absolutely!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

I received this book as an arc but didn't get a chance to read it until the day it released, and boy do I regret waiting. This is my new favorite Elena Armas book!

We've got it all:
*small town
*fake engagement
*sister's best friend
*wedding planning shenanigans
*daddy issues
*hot guy in glasses
*sexual tension x 1000 (see: hot guy in glasses)
*nosy neighbors
*cute farm animals

Josie is great. She is the mayor of the town and cares deeply, and she never shuts the F up. I mean that in the best way possible.

Matthew is swoooooon-worthy. He's come to town to stay in Cam's empty lodge whilst looking sexy and wearing glasses. This dude would walk on hot coals to get Josie to look at him. His world literally revolves around her. But never fear - besides his winning personality he obviously also has an 8 pack and sexily jumps rope shirtless. This IS a romance book after all!

Thanks to netgalley for the arc

A people pleaser, Josie finds herself in an impossible situation when faced with her newfound father's publicist. Thankfully, Matthew unexpectedly shows up in the nick of time to save the day, even if it's to play her fake fiancé.

I had high hopes for The Fiancé Dilemma because I loved Josie's character in The Long Game, the first book in this series. She was fun and lively, and everyone seemed to love her. When reading this book, I quickly realized that the backstory for Josie was a sad one, and the reason everyone loved her was because of the sacrifices she made in so many areas of her life.

Something I struggled with was Matthew's character. I felt like I never really connected with him and who he was or whether he would be a good match for Josie - maybe this would have come through stronger with a couple of chapters from his perspective, but then again, I am a sucker for multiple perspectives.

The heat in this book was 🥵 but also a little awkward. Josie and Matthew's attraction to one another is palpable a lot of the time, and they don't seem to mind some PDA… or PDO, if you know what I mean. 😉

Overall, I liked the story, but I felt like something was missing for me.

Thank you, Elena Armas, Atria Books, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book!

this book was kind of a slow start for me! I enjoyed it, but didn't really love it. I do love Elena's other books and I love her writing style but this just wasn't for me! I will be recommending it because the was cute and sweet moments!

3 stars.

"The Fiance Dilemma" by Elena Armas is.... fine. It's not the worst book I've ever read, but it's not the best, either. It is a small-town romance featuring an ever-evolving fake dating scheme where he falls first (and may have been in love for quite some time??). As with all of Armas's novels, there is some good banter here and there, as well as some decent spice. At its essence, though, there is hardly a reason for Josie and Matthew, the main characters, to like each other, let alone pretend to love each other. Josie is supposed to be this strong, independent main female character who is a sort of jack-of-all-trades in her town (she's apparently the mayor!), but she comes off as way too manic pixie dream girl. You know what I mean, you know the type: quirky for the sake of quirk because without it, she would have no personality. Matthew is supposed to be daddy AF, but I didn't get that from him at all. He has apparently kept tabs on Josie for a while because he is her sister's best friend, and that's the only thing standing in this book's way from being insta-love. No, I take it back, even with this premise, it's *still* insta-love-y (derogatory). When Matthew gets coerced into agreeing to be Josie's fiance, he does so willingly..... because feelings! It's sort of a mess, and all of this is before we get into the plot line about how her father, Andrew, has sent a PR representative to her town to throw her a lavish wedding to make up for the years of fatherly neglect and pain. Big-time daddy issues abound, which I am not averse to reading about, but she lets these people she swears she doesn't care about (and frankly doesn't know) bully her into a wedding she doesn't want for....????? reasons! And she's expected to save her dad from an impending PR nightmare when she literally just found out about him?!? Uhhhh, NO??????!!!! This book unfolds so freaking slowly, but simultaneously, happens way too fast! The important stuff whizzes by in a flash, while the unimportant details seem to linger for pages and chapters. It's way too rushed where it needed to takes its time, and way too lazily paced where it doesn't count. A mixed bag for me. Nothing to do with the book itself per se, but the cover makes it look like a "why choose" novel when, in reality, several of Josie's exes have nothing to do with this story apart from being mentioned.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elena Armas, and Atria Books for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

"The Fiancé Dilemma" by Elena Armas is a slow burn romance that delivers equal parts laughs and swoon-worthy moments. Sometimes the best part about a slow burn romance is the building tension between the two romantic leads. In this case, the “will they or won’t they” energy between Matthew and Josie as they try to sell their fake engagement is the cherry on top of this delightful romance. The fireworks really kick into gear when they finally drop the charade with each other, and it is so, so good.

Having read all of Elena Armas's books, I can confidently say that Matthew may be my favorite lead of hers yet. Josie has been through the relationship wringer, with many failed attempts at making it down the aisle with other men. Yet, Matthew doesn't buy into characterizing her as a "runaway bride" like everyone else does. Instead, he faces all her fears head-on and always has her back, which is incredibly refreshing and endearing.

However, I do wish we had explored more of the reasoning behind Josie’s failed relationships. This missing element could have added more depth to her character and given us a better understanding of her struggles and growth throughout the story.

Another plus to this book? The colourful cast of side characters that add some quirky charm… characters like Grandpa Moe really bring extra layers of humor and heart to the story, making it even more enjoyable.

Overall, I had such a fun time with "The Fiancé Dilemma." It's definitely a read worth adding to your summer beach bag. If you're looking for a romance that combines tension, humor, and heartfelt moments, this one is for you.

*E-ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Josie Moore has been “always the bride, never the wife” having been previously engaged 4 times but jilted by the groom each time. Her billionaire father plans to publish a tell-all book and considers Josie a PR problem. What's a girl to do? Fake Fiancé! That is one of my favorite tropes when it is done well. Elena Armas doesn't doing it amazingly, however. Her books a fast paced, entertaining, and high on comedy, but the writing style and character development leave a lot to be desired. This one was just ok to me.

I cannot believe it took me this long to read an Elena Armas book. This was a fun one! Although at times it felt a bit predictable and cheesy, it is the perfect palette cleanser after a heavier read. The spice was chef’s kiss too. I was definitely swooning for Matthew from the moment he came into the picture. Grab this one if you are in the mood for a funny and spicy rom-com. Now headed to read more Elena!

Happy release week to ‘The Fiancé Dilemma’ by Elena Armas!🌷⭐️📖
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Thanks to @netgalley, @atriabooks and @thebibliotheque for allowing me a sneak peek at this one. It was cute! 🐐🐐🐐
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Complicated family dynamics, fake relationship, runaway bride, sibling’s best friend…so many things happen in this book! I was here for all of them. 👏🥰
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If you are looking for a new release, go grab a copy now! 📗
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#netgalley #netgalleyreads #elenaarmas #thefiancedilemma #getlitwithaimee #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookreview

I have read two of the previous books by Elena Armas and adored them both. I have not read The Long Game and went into this book knowing it could be read as a standalone. I did really like this book; however, I think it could have been more enjoyable and easier to follow if I had read the previous title. First of all, the main characters had me hooked within the first two chapters. I loved the quick wit and banter between them. Secondly, Grandpa Moe is hilarious. How can you not instantly just connect with him and his personality? He had the perfect amount of comedic relief when needed. The main dislike/con for me is that I wish there was more backstory for certain aspects of Josie. Her "daddy issues" and previous fiancés were reasoning for why she made several of the decisions in the story, but I just kept feeling like I needed and wanted more depth on those parts of her life. Why did the previous engagements end?? There just wasn't much detail on that for me. It may have felt unnecessary to the overall story, but I kept finding myself wanting to truly understand more of her past. I also think It would have been more enjoyable if the reader was able to get Matthew's point of view. Overall, it is a cute rom com with small town vibes and a great MMC. It is not my favorite from Armas, but I do look forward to reading future releases from her.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

I don't think Elena Armas is for me. I've tried reading a few and they've all be good but not great. They never wow me. I wanted to love this so much, though.