Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of The Fiancé Dilemma in exchange for an honest review.

Elena Armas has done it once again. And this time, with a blond MMC.

The Fiancé Dilemma is the follow up to The Long Game and is set in the same small town of Green Oak, North Carolina and takes place about a year after the events of that book. This book is best enjoyed if you have first read The Long Game or many of the events and people will not make sense.

Our FMC is Josie, the de facto town mayor and (surprise) half-sister of Adalyn, the FMC from The Long Game. Jose has a lot of baggage in her past, which includes four "failed" engagements. When Adalyn's best friend, Matthew, loses his job and comes to Green Oak, Josie enlists him to fake an engagement with her to help her fix a PR problem her and Adalyn's father is having - which is a direct result of his horrible actions in The Long Game.

Where I felt the book flourished was in the main characters themselves. As with all books from Elena Armas, we got a lot of fun, witty banter, and an MMC who is absolutely, 100% in love with the FMC from the start. A favorite runner of mine from this book was Matthew's continued testing of different pet names for Josie. And his continued use of calling her is fiancé whenever he got the chance? Swoon.

This beginning plot point is where I struggle with this book. Why does Josie give a single fuck about the PR problem of the man who abandoned her and her mother? And how exactly does her getting engaged and then married in a short time fix this problem? It only gets worse when a popular podcast catches wind of the story of Josie and her engagements and becomes absolutely obsessed with her - why? And don't even get me started on the PR person, Bobbi, who is supposed to be helping Josie. She was awful to Josie the entire book and was never actually helpful.

I also feel that the Adalyn we met in The Long Game is way too smart to buy the lie of the sham engagement. I wish she had done a little more to protect Josie from their father since she had first-hand experience.

Overall, after what felt like a chaotic start, and then a slowdown in the pace, I enjoyed reading The Fiancé Dilemma. Bonus - there was no third-act breakup!

4 stars

I knew I wanted to read Josie and Matthew’s story after getting clips of them in The Long Game but this was more adorable than I could’ve dreamed. Elena is the QUEEN of slow burn and I couldn’t wait for them to finally make the fake engagement real! I don’t normally like blonde MMC’s but Matthew may have just changed my mind. From his swoony declarations to his Chandler Bing-like jokes, I was rooting for him the whole time.
This is the book for you if you love Runaway Bride, fake dating/engagement, slow burn romance, butterfly inducing declarations of love, farm animals named after Sebastian Stan and Pedro Pascal, hilarious hijinks, and soulmates. 🤍

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC!

DNF at 19%. I was SO bored. I tried to read this for over a month. And based on her previous books I just don’t foresee it getting better, especially because I don’t like the main character. This is just so formulaic and predictable. But it also doesn’t make sense? Like there is no good reason for Josie to actually be in a fake engagement. Elena tried to make it make sense, but it just doesn’t.

I really quite liked her first book, but her second was so boring I skimmed the back half of it. I enjoyed her third book enough. But I just don’t see this one getting better.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the chance to read this e-ARC.

This book was quite hard for me to get through and I was finding myself not wanting to pick it up. 😔 Compared to other Elenas Armas books (The Spanish Love Deception, The American Roommate Experiment and The Long Game) this has been the only one that was in a singular point of view (Josie). I would have LOVED to have gotten the point of view from Matthew.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC!

I enjoyed reading this book. Right away, we’re introduced to Josie and the fake relationship, which I thought was a little quick. I really enjoyed Josie at the beginning because she was quirky and funny, but I felt like she was just kind of a pushover, but little by little she started to stick up for herself. There were times where I did get a little frustrated that she didn’t just say what she felt. However, in the end, she does end up sticking up for herself and I was so happy she did..

Matthew was such a great guy. From day one, he helped Josie through everything from planning the wedding to her panic attacks. I love that towards the end of the book, we get his point of view. He was always honest, up front and stuck up for Josie.

I’m glad we got to see Adalyn and Cam in this book too. It was great to see how they are adjusting to their new reality and how Adalyn stuck up for Josie when she was able to. I also liked the ending because not everything was perfect, especially with her dad.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc for an honest review.

I received an ARC for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book. I liked Elena Armas's other books, but this was messy. The main character's motivations were not logical. She begged her sister's best friend into pretending she was engaged because she didnt want to let anyone down, but not realizing that calling a wedding off before the ceremony would let people down more? He kept telling her that he did not want to fake an engagement with her and when he finally relents she says that he made his own decision and she didnt force him. WHAT?

At times I thought that AI helped write it because the dialogue between characters did not flow well. It felt like a bad rip off of the Runaway Bride.

3/5 ⭐️

Idk how to feel about this. This was probably my least favorite of Armas's books. There were aspects I really enjoyed about the book but there were also moments I wanted to DNF it out of boredom.

Things I liked:
- Matthew and Josie's chemistry. They had some really sweet and steamy moments that motivated me to continue reading.
- The small town vibes were cute.

Things I disliked:
- The slow burn romance. It took soooo long to get things moving with the romance and the pay off once they did get together, wasn't all that great.
- The drama around her dad, the PR person (Billie?), and the fake wedding itself. I love a fake fiancé situation, and I'm pretty generous with jumping into a ridiculous scenario with why two people would agree to be in a fake relationship, but the reasons for why they should be fake engaged made no sense to me. The stuff with Josie's dad could have been more meaningful if it were set up better, but it fell flat for me. And I found the PR person to be unbearably annoying, which was maybe the point, but moments with her just dragged on and there seemed to be almost no point as to why she was even in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Elena Armas, and Atria Books for my early access to this.

*squeeeeeel*

All my favorite tropes!!

Elena Armas knows how to write romance, as simple as that. Josie and Matthew are officially one of my new favorite book couples. The spunk, the sass, the banter, the silliness! As much as I loved Cameron & Adalyn, this second book was better. Green Oak is even more charming, and I loved getting to know Grandpa Moe. My tiny complaint is the same with all EA books: the pacing is a bit *too* drawn out at times. Otherwise, loved it! Go read it!

4.5⭐️

Golden retriever energy, he falls first, and no third act breakup/miscommunication; sign me up! I loved The Long Game and this was a beautiful sequel to that story. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Elena Armas has once again delivered a heartwarming and enchanting romance with The Fiancé Dilemma. The story follows Josie Moore, a woman with a complicated romantic history, and Matthew Flanagan, a man who finds himself in an unexpected role as Josie’s fake fiancé. Set in the charming small town of Green Oak, North Carolina, the plot is sculpted around the classic fake dating trope, but with a fresh and inviting atmosphere that makes it feel new and exciting. We already met these characters in the author’s previous novel, The Long Game; however, each novel can be read on its own.

Josie is an extremely likable heroine. She’s funny, caring, a bit quirky, and someone who just wants to be loved. She does have her own set of insecurities, past trauma, and daddy issues, which are a prominent part of her character, making her relatable and endearing at the same time. Also, after having suffered many losses, her bond with her ‘grandpa’ Mo and her sister Adalyn is also quite touching, adding an extra layer of warmth to the story.

Matthew, the male lead, is the epitome of a golden retriever-like romantic interest. He’s charming, patient, protective, and always puts Josie first. However, underneath all that, there’s a more complex and layered personality making him a compelling and lovable character. The chemistry between Josie and Matthew is unmistakable, and their hilarious and brilliant banter makes their fake engagement feel surprisingly real.

The plot is filled with humour, sensitivity, and a touch of spice. Josie and Matthew’s relationship is well-crafted and nuanced, with their interactions ranging from tender to fiery. The supporting characters, most of which we already met in the previous book, also add depth and charm to the story.

While the novel is not without its flaws—such as a lack of depth in explaining Josie’s past engagements and a desire for maybe more of Matthew’s perspective—The Fiancé Dilemma is a delightful and heartwarming read. The small-town setting, a strong sense of community, and well-developed characters make it stand out.

Armas has once again proven her ability to create drool-worthy romances that hit you right in the feels and will have you giggling at all times. The Fiancé Dilemma offers a beautiful balance of humour, heart, and heat, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary romance this summer.

Thank you Atria Books & netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think this is my favourite Elena Armas yet!!! I loved Matthew and Josie's story 🥺🥺 AND THERE WAS NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP!!!!! *cheers*
Bobbie was ANNOYING!!!! but the way Matthew would stand up for Josie, the way he supported her and was always there for her makes my heart melt!! I am a sucker for an "it's always been you" type of book 🥺 Also cameo's from Adalyn and Cam 🥺🥺 This book was so good, I couldn't put it down!! WHEN HE CALLS HER "BABY BLUE" 😭😭😭😭😭😭 and the whole thing about her ring 😭😭😭😭😭😭

I would recommend everybody read this book, If you enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception, I think you would love this one too!!

Tropes:
- fake engagement
- he falls first AND HARDER
- "it's always been you" vibes

The Fiance Dilemma: ★★★★☆ (4.5)

Pub date: July 30 - preorder your copy now!

"What if I can't give you any fucking firsts, so I want to make sure I get a chance at being your last?" AHHHHHH

This is a fake dating, grumpy x sunshine, protective mmc, he falls first and harder, small town, golden retriever mmc, and healing fmc trope filled book. I was lucky enough to be given a chance to read this book before its release, so thank you Elena, Net Galley, and atria books!

josie's father is a rich man who has never been in her life. She lost her mother at a young age and decades later her father's past catches up to him and everyone knows about Josie. She's not exactly good for his image because she's been engaged four times and has called off every single one of them. So, a PR specialist randomly arrives to her hometown in an attempt to deal with the "scandal". She hasn't been treated right in some of her past relationships and has insecurities of being left/not good enough because of her father. She goes through a long journey of learning to accept the idea of someone loving her for her and learning to love someone and trusting that they won't leave.

Matthew is our fmc's sisters' best friend, but they had never met in person, until one night when he showed up at the perfect moment. He showed up when the PR specialist was talking with Josie, and she said he was her fiancé. Matthew is a very sweet and understanding character. He was always there for her and would help ease her anxiety in any way he could. It was literally never fake, that man was so clearly in love with her from the beginning. He shows her that love can be gentle :( (emotionally).

This book gets 5 stars, it was so perfect. It was an easy, fun and lovely read.

This book was such a fun read! Armas masterfully blends humor, romance, and relatable characters into a captivating story. The chemistry between the protagonists is electric, and the plot twists keep you hooked until the very end. Perfect for anyone looking for a fun and heartwarming romance. Highly recommend!"

5 ⭐ 3 🌶

Gahhhh I love them so much! Matthew and Josie were so dang sweet, and the spice was angsty, dreamy goodness. I really loved the whole story too and I had such a hard time putting this book down, gobbling it up any chance I got.

Matthew was a got danged dream boat. I knew from the start he felt something for Josie, but as the story went on and he started to show her, it had me in a freaking puddle. And the text exchange between him and Adalyn, it had me close to tears it was so sweet and so perfect.

Grandpa Moe was everything. I love a good gpa/gma with no filter and Maurice was amazing. I adored seeing Cam and Ada again, especially in the roles they played. The podcast guys, Bobbi and 98% of Andrew can kick rocks, but overall this cast of characters had me swooning and cackling for days.

I'm guessing both series are done at this point (although I'd love to see Matthew's sisters in a book or two!), but I'm so excited to see what Elena has for us next. She has very quickly become a one click read for me.

This book was everything. I always get nervous the second book in a series won’t live up to the first. This one may have actually been better!! And I loved the first!!

This was so much better than the 1st book of this series! I loved the first 2 books I read by Elena but The Long Game was a bit of a let down so I was nervous this one would be a bust too but it was so good! I have a feeling Matt would have committed murder for Josie if she had asked because he had no issues doing whatever she needed of him. There was great banter and flirting, a decent amount of spice, and a great surprise from Cam and Adalyn from the first book. So glad that Maria hasn't changed a bit from the first book, that little girl is hilarious!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The whole premise of a romance novel is knowing there is going to be a happily ever after at the end. This happily ever after was absolutely everything! I don’t want to give too much away but the journey was so amazing and heartfelt and real. Elena Armas is so incredibly talented that you feel like you never want to leave the world created and once you do finish the book, you are in such a better place than when you started.

Elena Armas has done it again with *The Fiancé Dilemma*, delivering a delightful romantic comedy that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The story follows the classic trope of a fake engagement, but Armas injects it with fresh humor and heartfelt moments that make it stand out in the genre.

The characters are well-developed, with the protagonist, Lina, being both relatable and endearing. Her chemistry with her fake fiancé, Mateo, is palpable and their witty banter adds a fun dynamic to the narrative.

The pacing of the novel is just right, balancing moments of comedic mishaps with deeper, emotional scenes that explore themes of love, family, and personal growth. The secondary characters also add depth to the story, making the fictional world feel vibrant and real.

While the plot is somewhat predictable, it's executed with such charm and skill that it doesn't detract from the enjoyment. If anything, the predictability provides a comforting framework that allows the characters and their relationships to shine.

Overall, *The Fiancé Dilemma* is a charming, light-hearted read that's perfect for fans of contemporary romance. Elena Armas continues to prove herself as a talented storyteller who knows how to tug at the heartstrings while making you laugh. Highly recommended for a cozy weekend read!

Josie Moore has had an unfortunate past surrounding her previous engagements. And when her newly discovered, absentee father works with a magazine on a piece about his family, Josie’s past comes to light and becomes a PR nightmare. Matthew Flanagan lost his job and decides to pack his things and head to Green Oak where he find himself being introduced as his best friend’s sister’s fiancé. Josie’s plan to deter her father’s PR team only creates more buzz about her (now very public) love life. Matthew and Josie continue on with their ruse and plan a fake wedding for a fake relationship… even if it doesn’t feel so fake anymore.

The Fiancé Dilemma was nothing I expected and everything I needed. Matthew Flanagan has such a fun personality and he has become one of my favorite book boyfriends. The romance and tension between the main characters was incredible, but the plot itself had its flaws. I felt that mose of the conflicts were very avoidable, but I pushed those thoughts aside and thoroughly enjoyed the relationship building between Josie and Matthew.

The Fiancé Dilemma is the second book in the Long Game series but it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend reading The Long Game first to really get the full experience. Much thanks to Atria books for providing an early copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

small town deliciousness reminiscent of Stars Hollow with all the quirky townspeople. Insta love with a slow burn pay off that's worth the wait.