This story had all the spice and emotion that I've come to expect from an Elena Armas book! I love the fake dating trope, especially when one of the characters clearly doesn't want it to be fake the entire time. This was a sweet and spicy story and very enjoyable!

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is for the girls who have always taken care of others and sacrificed their own comfort and choices to make sure other people get what they want. And that girl finally finds someone who cares about what they want and makes it happen.

I just loved this book so much. This is a perfect fake engagement but he’s secretly in love in the entire time and falls so hard.

Love the connection of these characters! A enjoyable read! Definitely pick up more books by this author

This one wasn’t my favorite but still a fun, light read! Mainly, I struggled with the reason for the fake engagement, but once I got past the first 20-30%, I enjoyed it. Matthew Flanagan was by far the best part - I wish we would have gotten to know more about him and his backstory. Overall, it's worth giving this book a chance, especially if you love the author's other books!

The Fiance Dilemna introduces us to 29 year old bakery owner and town mayor Josie, who has a unique habit “so to say” of leaving men at the alter. After her 4th engagement and failed marriage attempt it’s kind of become a thing. The problem- she recently discovered her billionaire father, whose whole team considers her a PR nightmare, is back in her town and life. Solution- get Joise married while her father makes it all happen. Happy ending right? When Matthew arrives at her house, he’s picked as the lucky groom.

This is the first book I’ve read by Elena Armas and boy does she know how to write male leads. Matthew is a peach, with an occasional Boston accent. Josie is an ( at times) frustrating character but I definitely related to her social anxiety. This book is a slow burn, it took me a WHILE to get into it. Lots of almost maybes, I wanted to shake both characters multiple times. Once I got there though I truly enjoyed their story. It’s cute but also very spicy! I enjoyed the writing style- the including of the podcast characters was a fun side story! The ending was absolutely beautiful, I cannot stress enough how much I loved the last half of this book!

I wish I would have read Adalyn and Cams story prior but definitely will be doing so. Overall I gave this book 4 stars and look forward to more from the author!

I want to thank NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, & Elena Armas for the opportunity to read this book! All thoughts are my own!

My first Elena Armas book and I loved it. Loved the chemistry between the characters and the one liners. Overall just a fun summer romance read. Would definitely recommend if these types of books are your style.

What can I say without spoiling…

AHSKHASKHAWKRHSKENASDLD

That’s what I can say.

Okay in all seriousness this might be my favorite Elena Armas book (I will need to reread Spanish Love Deception to check)

This is not your typical fake engagement story, from the very first beginning but it was more than I could have known I could wish for.

Josie is hilarious and I cared about her from the start. I knew I liked her from The Long Game but her own book made her stand out even more.

Matthew 🥹 is there more I have to say about HIM. He’s really HIM. Might be one of my favorite MMC of all time.

This book revives contemporary romance’s understanding of soulmates and that I’m very thankful for.

P.S

The text message group with him and his sisters … I CANNOT HANDLE THOSE EMOTIONS

Elena Armas is a staple on my shelf. I’ve read every book she has had published. I absolutely adored The Long Game and was elated to be given the opportunity to check out the Fiancé Dilemma early. It certainly did not disappoint. I love living in the town of Green Oak, NC for a while longer. The characters are so lovable and Josie and Matthew were such fun main characters to get to know. I love the quiet support Matthew gives Josie to come around and grow herself to get in a place where she is open to loving him. The book took me a bit to get into but was such a perfect slow burn. The spice was amazing when we finally reached that point. Overall another grand slam from Elena Armas. I can’t wait to recommend this book to my friends and family.

The Fiance Dilemma was a fun romance filled with tension, humor and self-development. After four failed engagements, Josie finds herself engaged once again, but this time it isn't real and it's to her sister's best friend, Matthew. Josie and Matthew's chemistry was apparent from the very start but this book takes you through a very slow burn until about 75% of the way through. Matthew becomes the support that Josie has always needed and it was amazing all the different ways he lifted her up and made her feel like she was worth it.

Now, if you've read The Long Game, you already know that Josie has some daddy issues and this book dives into the relationship with her father and all the ways it has impacted her. You get to see Josie find her voice though out the book when it comes to standing up for herself and Matthew is always there to back her up.

I definitely liked this one more than The Long Game but at times it did drag. I also thought that some of the secondary characters weren't very likable which made it difficult to enjoy the book at times. However, I am looking forward to see if another story comes out of a few of the secondary characters, especially a certain single father!

Read if You Like:
- Fake Engagement
- Best Friend's Sister
- He Falls First
- Slow Burn
- Funny Pet Names

OMG! I loved this book. I wish the MC wasn’t so against herself sometimes but overall such a good fun romance! I loveeee Matthew! I wish we got a dual POV from Matthew before the end of the book!!

OMG! I absolutely loved this book! Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for letting me read this. The slow burn in this book is so much! Matthew is everything and a book boyfriend for the ages. I love the connection between Josie and Matthew right away. I also loved the underlying lessons of loving who you are, accepting your mistakes and finding that one person who accepts you for everything you are! I connected with these characters on another level. I can't give this book enough praise. I truly didn't want this book to end because I was loving their story soooo much! I was laughing, crying, and swooning throughout this book. This book is from Josie's perspective and I would have loved more from Matthew's perspective. I was dying to get inside his head! Such a great read if you love the slow burn rom com. 5 Stars from me!

Josie and Matthew find themselves faking an engagement after Josie is recently discovered to be a famous man’s estranged daughter. Josie has already been engaged 4 times previously, but has never walked down the aisle and many begin to speculate that she has unresolved daddy issues that prevent her from taking the big leap. So, of course, faking an engagement to her sister’s best friend should certainly solve that problem. 😊

I’m so glad I gave this book a chance. I enjoyed it so much more than the first book in this series (The Long Game). The relationship between Josie and Matthew seemed much more authentic and their chemistry was great.

This book featured a lot of spicy scenes and I love me a good fake dating/fake marriage trope. I think Elena Armas writes this trope so well.

I loved the scenes from the podcast. Some of them made me laugh out loud. And I loved the side characters – Bobbi Shark, Grandpa Moe, Otto Higgins.

This book is advertised as a stand-alone, and while I don’t think you need to read The Long Game, it does provide a lot of context for this book.

A big thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on 7/30/24 and it’s definitely a fun one.

I'm convinced that Elena writes pure magic. Her novels are so full of sweetness and moments that take your breath away. That's what this book did to me. It made my heart hurt in the best way possible.

Josie and Matthew were the most beautiful examples of meant to be. I fell in love with Josie the moment I met her in The Long Game. I was so happy that we were getting a book for her and Elena gave her such a beautiful story. I couldn't stop reading. Everytime I had to close the book, I immediately wanted to open it back up. Josie and Matthew were absolute gold. They were sweet and romantic and the chemistry between them was so delicious. Matthew is a gem and he made me so giddy! He is THE book boyfriend and just when you think he is only filled with sweetness BAM! He is so possessive and commanding with Josie.

Elena can do no wrong. She knows how to write a slow burn that delivers in just the best way!

I'm typically a big fan of Elena Armas, but The Fiance Dilemma was a bit of a let down. I really wanted to love it, but it was just sort of mediocre. I wanted more tension and banter from Josie and Matthew, and a deeper connection between their characters, but nope. This just fell a bit flat for me

To start off, the dedication is perfect. "To my readers(Yes, you. Hi, babe) Your expectations are not impossibly high. Never let anyone make you believe you're asking for too much."

Josie is quirky and funny, sweet and caring. She recently found out that her father is a wealthy businessman and when the press finds out she exists, her past is dredged up and put on display for the whole world. She's dubbed a "Runaway Bride" when the press finds out that she's been engaged 4 times. When her father sends his PR manager to clean up the mess, Josie says the first thing that comes to mind: that she's engaged to the first man she lays eyes on. This is where Matthew comes in. He's her sister's best friend and is in town for a break following being let go from his job. Matthew is perfection. He's kind, patient, playful, he sticks up for Josie, but also let's Josie take the lead. He gives off major golden retriever energy, but his mouth 🥵 The spice was great; it's a slow burn, but the build up complete with dirty talk is perfection.

"Beautiful things shouldn't be boxed. It eventually dims their light."

I would have loved a bit more insight into Josie's issues and why she does things. Matthew's point of view would have been so fun to read too!

I really appreciated how the book ends. It's still a HEA, but it's different than what you may expect. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

4.75 stars.

“Beautiful things shouldn’t be boxed. It eventually dims their light.”

Thank you to Netgalley & Atria Books for sharing an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

•he falls fast…and harder
•slowburn
•small town
•fake dating
•sister’s best friend
•no third act break up (🙏🏼)

After finishing this book, I was in awe. I couldn’t believe how well Elena did this book. I enjoyed every little bit of this book, from the nature of Josie & Matthew’s relationship, to the interviews online. My favorite book of Elena’s was The Spanish Love Deception, which I read in 2021, but I’m thrilled to say that this one was a very close second! Matthew gave Aaron Blackford a run for his money.
Speaking of Aaron, did everyone catch the quote from Matthew that was similar to Aaron’s famous line? You know which one. “Grab on to the headboard.” Yup! Matthew had a similar one.
“Hands back on the wall.”
Oh, yes sir! When I read that, I was like Aaron Blackford who?! It reminded me of him so much & I loved it.
Matthew was….everything. Sexy, smart, kind, compassionate, beautiful, funny, and just so swoon worthy.
He perfectly enraptured the audience with his protective nature, his charm, his FILTHY mouth, & his “complex personality.” He had hidden things about him that the audience discovered as the book went on.

“You’re not running, Josie,” he said, planting kisses all over the side of my face, hips rocking, slowing down. “I’m not them. I’m not anyone. I’m not fucking letting you.”

Josie absolutely stole the show. She was so resilient, despite all of the craziness surrounding her life. She handled it with bravery, strength, and happiness. You can’t steal her sunshine, she just radiates it.
From her many losses in life, I thought it was so heartwarming to read about her relationship with Grandpa Moe, the man who, although not her biological grandfather, treated her like he was nothing less.
Josie went through so much. From being ransacked at her own house by a lady she didn’t even know, only to find out that the internet was calling her a “mishap” in her estranged “father’s life.” She handled it in the way any sane person would, explaining that your sister’s best friend who happened to be in your driveway at the exact moment, was your fiancé & he was “the one.” The one you’d marry.
I mean, wouldn’t we all do the same? No?

I thought the fake dating trope was done wonderfully, it developed at a great & natural pace. Their chemistry was undeniable. I loved their friendship and loved even more getting to see their relationship develop into more than a facade.

“Perhaps to love was to leave a mark. And perhaps I no longer wanted to run from that.”

Again, thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books & Elena Armas for the early access to this book! I enjoyed reading this book & I can’t wait for everyone else to enjoy it!
“The Fiancé Dilemma” releases July 30!

Josie has been engaged four times before and each time she has left her potential groom hanging, choosing to run from the altar. Matthew is Josie's best friend's sister and when he is in town, wires get crossed and he is assumed to be Josie's new fiance. With Josie playing the role as her small town's mayor, she has all eyes on her this time. Can she make it work?

I'll be honest, Josie having the past that she did really did kind of put me off her character at the start. I didn't understand why she did the same thing so many times and even by the end of the book, I still didn't understand her way of thinking. Josie was a quirky character while Matthew was a sweetheart. I enjoyed their romance even though it was quite a slow burn. Funny in parts too, I found myself laughing a lot throughout this one

This is a fun, easy read that I really enjoyed. I liked how it ties into the "long game" plot thread, which adds an extra layer of depth and intrigue. Even though I feel bad for Matthew getting dragged into this fake engagement situation, it's an entertaining and satisfying romance overall. I struggled reading the Long Game so I’m glad I enjoyed this one more.

The Gist:
Josie is the “mayor” & small business owner in her small town. Her fancy pants father puts her in a tough situation requiring a PR strategist. The meet-cute with Matthew puts him head first in a wild ride with the whole bunch.

Things I loved:
I really felt for Josie and her life story! She had a lot of life events that led to where we were.

My Reflection:
I really wanted more dialogue and banter between Matthew & Josie. I really don’t feel like we got to know Matthew well enough. The two of them just unfortunately were a little flat.

Read if you like:
Small town charm
Fake Dating
Guy falls first

I *loved* The Long Game and got so happy to see the little teaser of Matthew and Josie’s story at the end of Adalyn and Cameron’s, so was absolutely THRILLED to see the announcement for The Fiance Dilemma! Fake dating, mutual pining, he falls first… all set in a picturesque small town with baby goats, a rogue rooster and teacup pig… what’s not to love!? Matthew arrives to town at the at the worst possible moment, and somehow without realizing it’s Josie, wmds up being fake-engaged to help her avoid a PR scandal. He goes along with it, having secretly had feeling for her before they even met, but she feels guilty for dragging him into her drama. But with a relentless publicist of her father’s breathing down their necks to get them down the aisle, since Josie had been a runaway bride four times before. As the big day gets closer, they find it harder and harder to admit that it was never real between them, except that the attraction and chemistry between them couldn’t be more real. If only they could admit it. Josie is sweet and complicated with a lot of complex feelings and emotions and yet is still so generous and kind. Matthew is lighthearted and playful with a filthy mouth. Their banter was well-written and sweet but sexy. And I loved the glimpses at our previous couple!