I normally have more to say on books generally, but when I tell you I LOVED The Fiance Dilemma I am not exaggerating. From the introduction of both Josie and Matthew in The Long Game I was in love with both their characters and the tiny hints that Elena Armas gives that they would be book 2 had me screaming, laughing, crying. This book was my most anticipated for 2024 and it did not disappoint! My favorite part about this book was that the author managed to write a couple of really quirky characters without making it seem forced or faked. Their personalities are dynamic and their chemistry is sizzling. I love the small town settings, the wide cast of characters, and the overall vibe that the author gives in this world that makes it feel lived in and cozy. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves romance! I can't think of two characters who deserved their HEA than Josie and Matthew.

3.5 Stars -
This book took me until over 50% to really be committed to the plot. I enjoyed Josie in book 1, but felt like her story came from left field and honestly was a little unexplained. It felt had to connect to her, like there wasn’t a depth there and I kept waiting for the shoe to drop as to why Matthew just ended up in town and left his job.

By the time we hit 50%, the answers started rolling in but weren’t fully revealed until the last few chapters where they became more redeeming which is why I put this book at 3.5 stars. I am curious to see if this will remain a 2 book series or if there will be more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for the ARC of this ebook, in exchange for my honest review

Josie & Matthew
• Fake engagement
• He falls first
• Slow burn romance

Josie and Matthew find themselves in a mess of a situation when they fake their engagement after Josie finds out about her long estranged father. There is only one problem, Josie is a chronic runaway bride. She has 4 previous, failed engagements.

Will Josie and Matthew make it to the altar? Or will history repeat itself?

This was my first Elena Armas book and I thought it was overall cute! I felt like the pacing was a little off?? And also Matthew kind of gave me the ick with how he talked to Josie in the spicy scenes. I found myself bored more often than not. Perhaps I would’ve enjoyed it more had I read The Long Game first? I just felt like there was something missing from this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am officially done with Elena Armas books. One can only read so many heroines that feel so far from real people and heroes that all feel the same.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this earc in exchange for an honest review

I DESPERATELY needed a 5 star read, and Elena 1000% delivered that to me. A book has not made me this giddy in a long time. The couple in this book; Josie and Matthew, were just so cute! While my favourite book boyfriend by Elena will always be my king Aaron Blackford, Matthew is a very very very close second. Thanks Elena for another slow burn banger.

Thank you netgalley and Artria for a chance to read this eARC of this book.

Although I loved love loved Spanish Love Deception and this was one of my most anticipated reads for this year. I had an extremely hard time relating to this MC...in fact...she was insufferable at times. Her quirks was just too much and her reactions to every situation was always too big for the situtation. It is hard to believe that I am not reading a book about a women in her late teens/very early twenties with how impulsive her character was.

Regretfully, I DNF at about 43%. I just couldn't continue on with the the story.

I would also like to note that I didn't realize that this book was a second in a series and states it is a standalone, but I did not feel as this was the case. I felt like I started in the middle of the story. Perhaps I will read the first and feel the need to pick this one up.

hooked from page one!!! I looove Elena Armas's writing style and how she always jumps right into the main story line. I like that we get background and learn about the characters as the chapters go on!
I relate to the main girl in so many ways! From struggling to find love (I finally found mine) and just the clumsiness. I also love the MMC, he was thoughtful and caring. From the beginning I knew they were meant for each other!

The Fiancé Dilemma is the second book in the Long Games series, and while not my favorite Armas book, it is an enjoyable read. Matthew is by far the best part of the book, and possibly my favorite Armas character to date. He’s sweet, goofy, caring, funny, and seriously romantic. Matthew, while reluctant at first to engage in the fake dating scheme, jumps in full steam ahead pretty quickly. He stood up for Josie throughout the book and was intent on letting her decide her feelings at her own pace. The tension and friendship between the two really hooks you. Definitely recommend a read.

Thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its release.
As someone who was not a fan of 'The Long Game', I wanted to give this author another chance, and I am so glad I did!
I loved this book. Elena Armas is known for a good slow burn, and she did not disappoint.
This title is fake dating, marriage of convenience at its finest.
Josie and Matt have amazing chemistry and Elena makes us work for their first kiss. The buildup is EVERYTHING!!
Josie is a runaway bride of sorts,and has been engaged 5 times. We never really find out what happened in the previous engagements, which was disappointing considering this was a major plot point.
Josie is quirky, smart, and talks so much. I absolutely loved her. I don't see how anyone wouldn't fall in love with her as a MFC.
She is a kind and genuine person, but I am unsure why Josie felt the need to get this raveled into a lie for the sake of her father's good name. Those daddy issues are running strong.

Other than wishing there was a bit more backstory here, I loved this one and would highly recommend!

Elena Armas is great at slow-burn. I was practically begging for the leads to just kiss already!

I loved the small-town vibes and now I want to visit Green Oak to pet goats and piggies.

The fake dating plot was fun, with real chemistry and witty banter between Josie and Matthew. It was a perfect summer read. I enjoy a male lead who believes in soulmates and happily ever afters. Both leads were easy to like and relate to.

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the arc!

4 stars

I enjoyed this book and I loved the flirty banter between the MCs. I also liked this more than The Long Game. However, I felt some things were missing, particularly more information about the backstory of the 4 ex fiancées. And some things were mentioned but never expanded on(where was the senator on September 15th?!?). I also think the book could’ve been 5 stars if it had been dual POV because I would’ve LOVED to see the MMCs intense pining from his side, I think it would’ve made me kick my feet endlessly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down! It had me laughing and crying and falling for Matthew myself! I don’t normally reread books but this one I would over and over again!

4.5 stars!

Thank you to the publisher and Elena Armas for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this! I fell in love with Josie and all her quirks in The Long Game and I was so happy to know that The Fiancé Dilemma would center around her and Matthew.

Just like Josie, this book was a whirlwind that kept you guessing. I loved Matthew and Josie together and the fact that Matthew was always in her corner from day one - especially considering how their first meeting went!

I also loved seeing Adalyn and Cam again!

WOW I loved this so so much.

Matthew was so perfect and the way he showed up for Josie just had me swooning nonstop. I’m a sucker for a good fake dating trope and this book just did things so so so right.

I’m literally already itching to read this again.

Thank you to Atria Books + NetGalley for this eARC!

The obsession I have with this book. Matthew coming to Josie’s help randomly at first and then continuing to try to show Josie that she is worth more than what everyone expects of her or what the media is saying melted my heart. Also the fact that he’s her newfound sister’s best friend who can’t stand the deadbeat dad (for Josie) and isn’t afraid to go against him or the people’s he’s hired to “fix the mess” that is his new daughter’s PR nightmare of almost weddings? Love him. Josie is a sweetheart who deserves protecting and I’m glad Matthew recognized that

I didn't read the first book in the series before this one and I feel like I should have to fully get this one. I think this book could still be a stand-alone, but background and context was missed without the first. I think I had a hard time understanding Matthew and Josie's dynamic because he likes her almost immediately. I wish we got to see more growth there because I kept thinking "was I supposed to read the one before this to get it?". I also think Cam and Adalyn were mentioned too little for them to hold any emotional stakes to me as someone who is reading this stand-alone, but too often that it made me confused on if I actually HAD to read that book before.

I liked Josie as a character, but I wish we got more depth on her role as mayor. Like I said, maybe they do that in the last book, but it felt more like something that was occasionally said in this one. I also think we never saw her coffeeshop again after about halfway through.

Matthew felt pretty one-dimensional to me. I only learned that Matthew loves Josie, Boston, and not his old job. I'm not sure I know much else about him than his feelings for Josie.

We also never found out why her engagements ended before. At one point, I thought it was hinting that it would be like a big reveal later but it just... wasn't. I think there were too many half baked antagonists: Bobbi (who I actually enjoyed lol), Andrew, Otto (is he one? idek!), Duncan.

Fake dating is my favorite trope and I don't mind formulaic aspects about it. I think, however, that this one just didn't do it for me. I'm rating this 2.75 stars!

i absolutely loved this book! i was in a reading slump for a while and this was the book that broke me out of it. Josie and Matthew’s story literally made me tear up, i kid you not. i laughed, i cried, this made me feel everything. Fake Dating is one of my favourite tropes and Elena Armas captured it perfectly. I started this book on the way to work and i wasn’t able to continue reading until I got home, where I finished it in one sitting. It was a fast paced book and I loved every moment of it. Thank you for the opportunity to give me an ARC!

💜Fake Engagement
💜He Falls First
💜Small Town
💜Slow Burn

This was such a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed the fake dating aspect and that Matthew went along with Josie’s hare brained idea…going along with her telling her dad she was engaged to him. I loved that he stood up for her and fell hard for her. Josie was an endearing character that I loved from the get go. She was down to earth and relatable as well as funny. These two had me cracking up multiple times! Over all I really enjoyed this book. The only thing was I wish that we had gotten more of Matthews point of view.

From Spanish Love Deception to The Long Game Elena Armas has had an incredible way with words and has become a writer whose works I enjoy greatly. The Fiancée Dilemma was absolutely no different.
First I would like to give a huge thank you to #NetGallery and #Atria Books for an Arc copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I truly am grateful for having an opportunity to read this story.
The Fiancée Dilemma is an extreme good time. For fans of The Long Game you are definitely going to want to read about Josie and Matthew’s story.
What I loved about this story was how funny it was. Grandpa Moe, Adalyn and Maria do not disappoint. There is no third act breakup and he falls first. I also love the idea that along the way Matthew and Josie fall in love and he sees her for who she truly is. Josie for along time hasn’t been seen or heard by the men in her life. Matthew accepts and loves her for everything she is and everything she stands for. Matthew was a man you would definitely need in your own relationship.
Overall i thoroughly enjoyed this story. My overall rating is 4 stars. The only wish i had was to get more of Matthew’s p.o.v but even though we didn’t this story was overall a good time

The Fiancé Dilemma

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the advanced readers copy of The Fiancé Dilemma.
This was a different plot than I’m used to: Josie has been engaged four times and this book highlights the story of her fifth engagement. I mistakenly did not read The Long Game, which is this book’s predecessor. I assume I would have more background story if I had read it prior.

Josie and Matthew were a cute story, but not the most believable, even for a fiction novel. I enjoyed my time reading this and I suggest fans of Elena Armas add this book to their reading list!