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!

In "The Fiancé Dilemma," New York Times bestselling author Elena Armas weaves a delightful tale of second chances, familial revelations, and unexpected romance. Josie Moore, no stranger to failed engagements, finds herself in a predicament when her absentee father's retirement plans threaten to expose her tumultuous romantic history to the public eye.

Enter Matthew Flanagan, down on his luck after losing his job and stranded in Green Oak, North Carolina. In a twist of fate, he crosses paths with Josie, who proposes a solution to their mutual problems—a fake engagement. What starts as a pragmatic arrangement soon evolves into a whirlwind of public relations and community expectations.

As Matthew steps into the role of Josie's devoted fiancé, both navigate the complexities of their fake relationship, bound by strict rules that promise no real emotional entanglements. However, as they navigate the intricacies of small-town life and the growing chemistry between them, lines blur and feelings deepen.

Josie, initially repelled by the idea of another engagement, finds herself questioning her own reservations as Matthew proves to be more than just a convenient ally. Meanwhile, Matthew discovers unexpected solace and belonging in Josie's family circle, redefining his notions of home and commitment.

"" is a charming blend of humor, heart, and a touch of whimsy, as Josie and Matthew confront their pasts and embrace the possibilities of a future together. With its endearing characters and heartfelt narrative, [Author's Name] once again delivers a romance that is as enchanting as it is uplifting, reminding readers that love often finds its way in the most unexpected of circumstances.

💐The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

General Thoughts:
Wow, I genuinely have no words. I love all of Elena Armas’ books, but The Fiancé Dilemma quickly became my favorite. This book was sweet, spicy, hilarious, and such a fun read. Let me tell you, it got me right out of my reading slump. All of the characters are to die for, and I really loved the storyline. And Mr. Matthew Flanagan… Whew. That man is so hot and literally the sweetest ever. Moral of the story, please read this book!!

Tropes:
🌷Fake dating
🤍No 3rd act break-up
🌷Small town
🤍He falls first and harder
🌷Slow burn

What I loved:
🌷The entire book. I seriously was into it by the second chapter and my attention didn’t waver until I finished. I thought about t constantly even when I wasn’t reading 😂
🤍Matthew Flanagan. This man is blonde, wears glasses, and he’s literally the sweetest ever. What more could you want?
🌷Seeing Josie and Matthew’s relationship progress through the story and seeing them learn things about each other the entire time.
🤍Sort of a new twist on fake dating! It really isn’t my favorite trope, but Elena Armas put a fresh new spin on it I personally haven’t seen before, and I loved it!

Spice: 🌶🌶 2

Thank you so much to Elena Armas and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review <3

I have loved her writing since Spanish Love Deception. Her books are consistently good but they are missing growth in my opinion. They are fun, light hearted reads but nothing that will stay with me past the end. I want to feel a little more emotionally attached to the plot but this was more surface level fun.

You have to earn a reader’s trust early on - and, unfortunately, the Fiancé Dilemma just didn't do that.

I think many of us, myself included, gave this book more leeway because Armas had already earned our trust with another novel. And, before I go any further, you should know I gave The Spanish Love Deception 5-stars and it's still one of my top romance reads -- years later.

Having adored her other work, I am confused by this release. I wanted to love this one, but there was no amount of mental gymnastics that made the premise of this book plausible. Yes, it’s fiction - but, in the contemporary romance genre, there has to be something realistic that a reader can connect to (or at least understand the motivation behind). Not everything, but something we can understand.

Throughout the first few chapters I kept thinking, “exactly no one behaves like this" for both the FMC and MMC.  When the dialogue continued to make me cringe and neither of the main characters' motivations were clear, I had to DNF.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. 5⭐️. This book was soo good i’m obsessed with anything Elena writes at this point. The fake engagement trope had me on the edge of my seat. One thing i do wish we got was an epilogue showing how Josie and Andrew fixed their father daughter relationship, besides that this book was perfect. The way she wrote Matthew in this book is amazing he’s those super sweet hopeless romantics from romcoms and i loved it. I also really liked that we got to hear what Cam and Ada had been doing since the book Long Game. This book quite literally had me giggling and kicking my feet. I can’t wait to read more of her books!

Your honor, I fell in love with Matthew and Josie and I fell hard!

“The Fiancé Dilemma” follows Josie Moore after a big messy misunderstanding results in Matthew Flanagan, her sister’s best friend, playing the role as doting fiancé to resolve a complicated PR issue. Despite the ring on her finger and Matthew not seeming to mind, Josie knows this is only temporary, even if the rest of the small town believes that the fifth times the charm.

This book found me when I needed it most! Having been introduced to Josie in “The Long Game”, I was excited to read from her point-of-view. Armas adds so much depth to her character and unsurprisingly I found myself connecting with Josie on a deep level as a result. I saw so much of myself in the way she prioritized the needs of other people over herself and overextended herself as the mayor of Green Oaks just because it is in her nature to lend a helping hand. Seeing her raw emotions laid out on the page as she grapples with her failed engagements becoming the topic of conversation in the media, her absentee father wanting to be a part of her life, and her mother’s passing is gut-wrenching, but also extremely validating. I think what makes her character so powerful is that she has the ability to make anyone who is struggling feel less alone and I love that about her.

Matthew truly showed up on Josie’s doorstep when she needed him most. Let me tell you…my heart belongs to this glasses-wearing man!!! He is not shy at all about how attracted he is to Josie (he practically worships the ground that she walks on) and I adore that about him. More than that though, I love how he makes sure Josie comes first. He has her back throughout their stunt, shows up for her in more ways than one, bakes for her, keeps her company, and, most importantly, loves her for who she is. He is perfect for her and watching Josie come to that realization on her own made my heart so full!

I am not kidding when I say that Matthew and Josie are my new favorite couple and that Green Oaks will always be my happy place. The array of characters and animals feel like home to me.

I enjoy a good Rom-Com!
From GR:
Josie Moore has given the opposite sex—and love—plenty of chances. Four exactly, if you count all her failed engagements, and five if you include the absentee father who kept her existence a secret until very recently. So when her father decides to announce his retirement with a splashy magazine piece about the family, Josie realizes her romantic history is a complicated PR issue.

This is #2 in the Long Game series.

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of the ARC. My review is based on the plot, and I look forward to providing more details on this review later.

This book is hot nonsense. There is absolutely no way any of this would happen. BUT I enjoyed the hell out of it. The characters were lovable, the small town setting is so fun, and Elena Armas always writes a great love story. Join me in suspending disbelief and enjoy some steamy silly gossip.

4 stars.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.