Josie Moore's love life has been a series of failed engagements.
Matthew Flanagan is down on his luck. After losing his job and getting his car stuck in mud he unexpectedly walks right into the mig mess Josie is in and finding himself posing as her fiancé. What starts as a misunderstanding turns into a complicated arrangement,
While this story was a bit too insta-love for me it still delivers on charm and heart.
My favorite of hers is still The Spanish Love Deception
3.5 rounded up


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

This book was a miss for me 😢.
Honestly I just found myself kind of bored. I felt like everything I wanted more of was left out of the book. I kept waiting to hear more about her ex fiancés and that never came. Every time a chapter ended on a juicy cliff hanger, the next chapter would just skip to two days later?? Um rewind and tell me what happened next!
Also some of the dialogue felt very awkward and clunky to me, the responses unnatural.
This book was the slowest of slow burns which normally doesn’t bother me much but I also felt like it wasn’t really building to anything? I wasn’t feeling any real building tension between the characters. And their reasoning for a fake engagement was just so stupid lol.
I liked Matthew enough, but Josie was so helpless. I like my female characters to be bold and outspoken and she was constantly looking to him to save the day.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC. I really wanted to like it but it was not for me.

This book is a tough one. The premise seemed promising but it lacked execution.

Honestly, I haven't read any of Elena's books since her debut which I loved. But everything else I've heard was a letdown.

This book seemed to drag through a short engagement that seemed so long. I feel like I've missed something and maybe that's because I didn't read The Long Game but it also felt like I didn't need to. I think I just didn't understand Josie and why she's had 4 failed engagements.

Matthew is sweet and I liked him in the second half. Seemed swoony.

I think the switch to them loving each other seemed so sudden with everything going on that the ending felt rushed but with no conclusion.

This is probably good if you're a fan of Elena and her books but I was not a fan. It was okay and hit the mark for her books. I just want something new and surprising rather than predictable.

I absolutely DEVOURED this book!

Elena Armas has done it again with her quirky characters that leave me giggling.

Matthew was absolutely adorable and I loved how supportive he was of Josie. The way you can see him truly caring and falling for her kept me going 'awe'.

I really enjoyed this one! Matthew was my favourite of the whole book by far. He is so sweet, such a gentleman and so caring. He’s also goofy, funny, loving and very hot book boyfriend. I really liked the aspect of fake marriage and how it brought them closer together. I liked all the little scenes where we knew Matthew was just so obsessed but he was letting Josie decide her feelings at her own pace. The tension and friendship between them hooked me and I loved every second. Overall, I definitely recommend.

The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas is a delightful read. Josie, a business owner and the mayor of her small town, has been engaged not once, not twice, but four times. And to four different men. After her estranged (and famous) father makes his way into her life, her love life is thrown under the microscope. That is how Josie finds herself on her front porch in a robe, covered in strawberry jelly, with an old engagement ring on her finger, pretending to be engaged to her sister’s best friend. Before she could clear up the misunderstanding, the whole town knows and is excited for the upcoming wedding. Matthew agrees to play along, but the deeper they get into this lie, the more their chemistry is undeniable.

5⭐ 100% obsessed 
Matthew is a top tier book boyfriend, and you cannot convince me otherwise. I love him so much. He and Josie together are everything I could have ever wanted. The way Matthew just says the perfect things 🥺 
I despised Bobbi until probably 85%, maybe. She was doing the most, and I wanted to slap her. Andrew may have redeemed himself this book, but again not until the last few chapters. 
Loved getting to see Adelynn and Cam again. 
This is a slowwww burn, so keep that in mind.

Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes. Throw in an engagement of convenience with him falling first and some witty banter and I’m all in. Such a fun, delicious summer read!

I don’t love super slow burns, which Armas excels at, but she does them incredibly well.

Thank you Atria Books for the advance copy.

Our FMC, Josie has quite the engagement history with four failed ones under her belt. When her famous father announces his retirement, she finds out her family is embarrassed of her romantic history. When a misunderstanding with her brother's best friend, Michael, has her family believing he is her new fiance, Elena convinces him to play along. While everyone believes this fifth engagement will end in marriage, Elena and Michael try to navigate their fake relationship that starts to feel all too real. Armas' follow up to The Spanish Love Deception did not disappoint.

This is a romantic comedy in which Josie, our lovely/quirky small-town mayor, lies that she is engaged for the 5th time to better her and her absentee father's reputation. When Josie is faced with the knowledge that the world has been given an inside look into her complicated romantic history and that can mean bad PR for her father, she feels as if her world is upside down. Thinking quickly, she spots Matthew stuck in the rain, and introduces him as her fiance. Thus beginning the fake engagement.

Josie and Matthew's story was fun and light. The will they-won't they of their conversations and sexual tension builds with each interaction and lie of their fake engagement. Josie's quirky and light energy was entertaining to read. Matthew's ability to keep up with her and also find her belief in magic and soulmates endearing was very sweet. I love how the author developed their chemistry into a seemingly strong relationship in which they both could read each other so well.

I enjoyed this book, but I did feel like it was too long. The scenes changed and seemed to end abruptly between chapters making the book feel choppy and lacking flow. I did take my time reading this arc and I feel like that's why I like it as much as I do.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

"The Fiance Dilemma" by Elena Armas is a delightful romantic comedy that expertly combines humor, heart, and a dash of drama. The story revolves around Josie Moore, a woman with a string of failed engagements, and Matthew Flanagan, a man in need of a fresh start. Their paths cross in an unexpected and humorous twist of fate when Matthew finds himself stuck in the mud, both literally and metaphorically, and Josie impulsively introduces him as her fiancé.

Armas crafts a charming tale filled with engaging characters and a setting that comes alive with the vibrant small-town dynamics of Green Oak, North Carolina. Josie is a relatable and endearing protagonist whose past romantic misadventures make her desperate for a solution to her family's PR crisis. Her quick-thinking decision to pass off Matthew as her fiancé sets the stage for a series of comedic and heartfelt moments.

Matthew, on the other hand, is a refreshing contrast to Josie's chaotic love life. His down-to-earth nature and the personal challenges he faces make him a perfect foil for Josie. The chemistry between the two is palpable, and their interactions are filled with witty banter and genuine warmth. As they navigate the complexities of their fake engagement, the lines between pretense and reality begin to blur, leading to a captivating and emotionally satisfying romance.

The supporting characters, including Josie's influential father and the nosy yet lovable townsfolk, add depth and richness to the story. Armas skillfully uses these characters to create humorous scenarios and to highlight the evolving relationship between Josie and Matthew. The town's belief in the authenticity of the engagement adds an extra layer of tension and humor, making the narrative even more engaging.

"The Fiance Dilemma" is a testament to Elena Armas's talent for writing romantic comedies that are both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The plot, while familiar in its use of the fake engagement trope, feels fresh and original due to the well-crafted characters and the heartfelt exploration of their personal journeys. Armas's writing is lively and engaging, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last.

Overall, "The Fiance Dilemma" is a enjoyable read that will leave readers with a smile on their faces. It's a perfect blend of humor, romance, and the heartwarming message that sometimes, the most unexpected turns in life can lead to the most beautiful destinations. Fans of romantic comedies and feel-good love stories will find this book an absolute delight.

I loved "The Long Game" so was excited to dive back into this world. But ultimately this book just wasn’t for me. The beginning was way too chaotic and the main character lost control of the situation too fast and was just plain frustrating to read. I am a fan of the fake dating/fake engagement/marriage of convenience trope but this felt like a poorly done example of it. I’ve never read a main character in a fake dating trope say "No" so many times to the plan or so vehemently and still continue to get steamrolled into going along with it. It felt unbelievable and cringey at times. There always has to be some incentive for the other character to go along with it (prior feelings, money, something they want or are getting out of the deal). However, in this case the MMC didn’t have anything to gain and didn't even want to do it. Also, this book could have benefitted greatly from more editing - over 430 pages? That feels about 100+ pages too long.

Elena Armas is an auto-buy author for me. Throw in a little fake dating trope? or engagement of convince? Double sold. Josie and Matthew might be my favorite couple yet. Josie has some trauma when it comes to engagements - so instigating her own fake one? its definitely a ride. If you love angst and the brothers best friend trope, you'll love this one!!

I had to think about this for a bit before deciding how to rate and review it. I really enjoyed this, probably more than the American Roommate Experiment and the Long Game but not as much as the Spanish Love Deception. I think my primarily issue with not making it five stars was that I struggled a little with the FMC’s personality. I found it a bit grating. Which I hate saying as a girl’s girl but I struggled with it as far as connecting with her as a main character. I also found the lack of communication at times to be equal parts frustrating and also adding to the tension. It was clear that he fell first and hardest, which is a trope I enjoy. And their personalities clearly worked well together. I did also appreciate that the third act climax was not a break up, which is rare in a romance. I also liked that her sidekick in this one was a grumpy old man. Several interesting side characters. A plot and a dilemma I found to be pretty far fetched, but had fun running around Josie’s home town with her and everything that entailed.
All in all, probaby 4.25 stars for me.

4.5 stars!!

Elena always hits, and this is near the peak of her for me (The American Roommate Experiment might have just been surpassed as my favorite of hers)!! And if this had been dual POV or if we had gotten a bit more of Matthew's inner world and thoughts, this would have absolutely been 5 stars for me! While I absolutely adored Josie and getting to go along for the ride of her journey in realizing that life isn't all about leaving or getting left, I needed to know what was going on inside Matthew's smug, goofy blonde head.

The small town of Green Oak is the perfect setting for a small town fake engagement story- everyone's already extra nosy and up in each others' business- and all the events can be town-centric. While The Long Game introduced us to this lovely little world, The Fiance Dilemma really made it more into a home!

This book was swoonworthy, joyful, and a perfect summer read. Check it out on July 30th!!

Thank you so much to Elena Armas, Atria Books, and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review- and shoutout to goodreads for the physical copy from a giveaway :)

I've found my new book boyfriend! Mathew wears glasses, is playful, sweet, protective, can be serious when needed, and an alpha in bed. What more could you ask for. I really enjoyed reading Josie and Mathews story. You could feel the attraction on page. An emotional and fun read.

4.75🌟 Thank you so very much to Elena Armas and Atria books for the ARC copy of The Fiance Dilemma.

The Fiance Dilemma follows Josie, who has recently found herself as the center of a possible PR disaster, at least according to a podcast for Page Nine. After an unexpected run in with her sister's best friend, Matthew, she decides to try to fix her PR problems by convincing him to pretend to be her fiance so that all her past run-ins with near marriage fade into the background.

I had such a good time reading this book. Elena Armas did such an amazing job at creating chemistry and a true sense of care between the two main characters. I was so wildly invested in Josie and Matthew's relationship that my heart was hurting at certain points in this book. I have not loved a couple this much in a very long time and I am soooo hoping there will be another book in this series so that I can see them again. The author evoked so much emotion out of me, and I loved even the smallest side characters in this wonderful book (looking at you, Pedro).

If you are looking for a fun, small town, romance book that will make you laugh, cry, and most definitely swoon, I would highly recommend The Fiance Dilemma.

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

Vibes:
Fake Engagement
Sister's Best Friend
He Falls First
Slow Burn
Spice: 2/5

𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒅.

Thoughts: The book had many cute parts. It was a little bit of a slow burn. I wish we had Matthew's POV some of the time. The chemistry on Josie's side seemed to not be there for most of the book. The book was hilarious at times, especially Grandpa Mo.

𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔.
- same honestly

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was truly a gem. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel following Josie’s story but as the book went on and I learned more about her character, I fell in love with her strength and candidness. Matthew is such a swoon worthy love interest and the definition of an emotionally intelligent man. I loved reading this slow burn, fake dating book. This has easily become a favorite book of Elena Armas for me.

This was my first experience with a fake engagement trope, and this book was a pleasant surprise!

I found Josie's character pretty relatable -- constantly getting lost in her head, her thoughts overwhelming, and doubting herself. I enjoyed seeing how her character progressed and took control of the situation with Andrew, and the boundaries she put in place.

Matthew's character was *chef's kiss*. I just loved him. He made me laugh, he made me smile, and he tugged at my heartstrings. He was fiercely protective of Josie, and so, so sweet to her.

The slow burn was slooow, but I believe it was perfectly timed given the premise of their story. The spice had me grinning and kicking my feet.

I absolutely loved this book!! Thank you so much NetGalley!