Elena Armas does it again! A funny, easy read. This is a great palate cleanser with a predictable plot line but still tons of fun. I did not enjoy the "quirkiness" of the VERY millennial-coded FMC.

It took a little bit of time for me to get invested in this story. Although the author’s note says you don’t need to read The Long Game first, I was a little confused in the beginning and I wonder if it would have been helpful to know the side characters and some of the drama with Josie’s father already.

Josie is adorable, and the runaway bride aspect is very fun. We don’t learn more about Matthew until the end, and I wished I knew more upfront.

Overall, this is a cute read and perfect for you if you adore the idea of soulmates.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was another great read by Elena Armas. I read The Long Game, the first book in this series last year. I had to know what happened to Josie in this book. I enjoyed the fake engagement and the characters' antics throughout this story. I liked that we saw Adalyn and Cameron's relationship in this book even though they were not in it much.

"The Fiance Dilemma" by Elena Armas presents a charming and endearing small-town story. However, the characters feel somewhat unrealistic, and the cheesiness sometimes borders on being overly saccharine, which might not appeal to those who prefer more nuanced character development and interactions. Despite some of the absurdity, the story does still have a narrative that makes you giggle and stick with it. Would recommend to the right person. Thanks for the arc!!!!

If you love the quirky chaos that is an Elena Armas book then you'll like this one! I love a fake dating trope, but I just had a tough time believing this one. It felt like all of the pivotal moments happened "off page". I think the small town setting was fun, but it was just too chaotic for my liking.

WOW - I have fall head over heels for Josie and Matthew.

The Fiancé Dilemma showcases two supporting characters from The Long Game. Quirky, sweet, and small town gal Josie and blunt, sexy, and endearing best friend Matthew find themselves in an awkward situation — pretending to be engaged and head over heels for each other in this funny, steamy and spicier-by-the-chapter story.

TFD hops right into the storyline, not giving you a moment to think twice and sucks you right in until the absolute very end. This book was told one-sided, by Josie. I would have loved to read Matthews’s POV through this story, which is why I would give this a 4.5 stars. But I digress.

Josie has a hilarious personality where she speaks before her mind has caught up, making you laugh out loud, and really putting into perspective her character in the first book of the series. Matthew brings a jaw dropping bluntness mixed with flirtatious banter that makes you want to fan yourself as you keep reading, but reading his sweetness on Josie was really the cherry on top.

Elena Armas really does it again with her writing style and enjoyable characters! This was yet another book I absolutely devoured by her!

This book can be read as a standalone, but you get so much more backstory and lead up if you read The Long Game first (which I highly recommend as well). Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read The Fiancé Dilemma!

Thank you to Atria Books and Elena Armas for a digital copy of this book via Netgalley. My thoughts are my own.

If you enjoy a love story filled with laughter and a touch of chaos, this book is a must-read! It features a fake engagement, second chances, and plenty of family drama.

The main character, Josie, has been engaged four times—yes, four times! Her rich father, who abandoned her and her mother (even when her mom passed away), suddenly reappears in her life. He's only back because his reputation is at stake due to Josie's multiple engagements.

Enter Matthew, her sister’s friend, who visits town. In an attempt to fix her father’s tarnished reputation, Josie pretends that Matthew is her fiancé. The second-hand embarrassment was real, but I loved every moment of it. It was cheesy and light-hearted, exactly what I expected and needed. This book felt like a big, warm hug.

Even though their engagement was a façade, Matthew’s genuine warmth and protectiveness towards Josie shone through. He steps up when needed, making him a truly endearing character.

I absolutely loved this book. This chick-lit kept me hooked from start to finish. Sure, it was cheesy, but that's precisely the charm!

I can’t put my finger on why I didn’t enjoy this book but it was a slog.

Could it be the inconceivable plot? Possible. I tried to suspend belief but it just fell flat for me.

The cute quirky community of the small town didn’t play nearly as big of a part in this book as it did in The Long Game and that was disappointing as well.

The story kind of got more fast paced and interesting toward the end, but this is a genre of book where I need to be drawn in early.

As a huge fan of Elena Armas's work, I dove into "The Fiancé Dilemma" with sky-high expectations. Her previous books, with their charming characters and witty banter, have been pure delight. However, this one left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.
The plot should have been a recipe for hilarity and heart. But something felt off.
Josie's character was the biggest stumbling block. Her quirkiness, which in the other books in the series feels endearing, came across as forced and immature in Josie. Her reactions and decisions often made me cringe rather than laugh or empathize. It felt like Armas was trying too hard to make her unique, and it overshadowed the romance.
That said, there were still moments of Armas's signature charm. The small-town setting was cozy, and Matthew had his moments of swoon-worthy sweetness. But overall, "The Fiancé Dilemma" didn't live up to its predecessors. Still, I have faith in Armas's talent and look forward to her next book.

✨✨ Hot off the press! ✨✨

Get ready to dive into the latest must-read from the sizzling Armas universe: The Fiance Dilemma. This small-town romance is packed with all the ingredients for a perfect summer read. Picture this: a swoon-worthy main character whose charm will make your heart race, and a fake engagement plot that’s as irresistible as your favorite cup of coffee!

Set in a quaint, picturesque town, the story captures all the cute moments that make small-town life so endearing. With mild spice to keep things interesting, you won't be able to put it down. And did we mention the happy endings? Yes, dear readers, this book promises a feel-good conclusion that will leave you smiling for days.

So, grab your coffee, cozy up, and get ready to be swept off your feet by this delightful, romantic tale. Happy reading, lovelies! 💖📚

I really wanted to love this book because I really enjoyed The Long Game, but it just didn't work for me. I enjoyed Josie as a side character in Adalyn's story, so I was looking forward to reading her book, but I didn't love her as the main character. She felt really immature for her age and the quirkiness was a little forced. And Matthew was just *too* perfect and didn't feel like a real person, so the love story wasn't very compelling. I did enjoy seeing more of the small town community that was introduced in The Long Game and honestly, I would've preferred to read more of that than the family and wedding drama. And there were some funny moments as well, but overall, I wasn't a big fan of this one.

Okay to start I need to get this off my chest: Maybe it was intentionally cringey but I died a little more inside everytime a character said “it’s giving ________.” Books need to stay away from trendy slang, it dated this book before it even came out.

Okay on to the main positive: I would die for Matthew. I thought he was a total sweetheart and pretty much everything I’m looking for in a MMC. He was charming, attentive, funny, and soo unbelievably sweet and understanding. To the point that I almost didn’t get what he saw in Josie. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked Josie as a character but some parts of her were confusing and annoying. She’s supposed to be this super empath people pleaser and yet she can’t bother to ask Matthew about his family and how he’s doing with the situation, she doesn’t check in with her sister or Cameron about why they’re so stressed and doesn’t check in with her sister after she has to miss an event because she’s sick. You know who did do all those things? Matthew. I fully get what she sees in him but I didn’t always buy his complete devotion to her, especially early on.

Overall, I really liked this book as a standalone entity but its connection to the long game felt nonexistent. Josie feels like an entirely different person. I love an extended universe for the chance to dive further into characters we met in the first book and see characters we loved again. This book didn’t really deliver on either. Josie feels like an entirely different person. In the first book she came across as witty and confident, and while I think it’s natural to see more flaws and insecurities in a book dedicated to her, she felt barely recognizable to me. Even her interactions with Adalyn didn’t feel familiar at all. And speaking of Adalyn, I felt like she was barely present. I was really hoping to see more of the friendship between Adalyn and Matthew. I barely felt it in the first book and this book didn’t really give me the more I was desperate for. Similarly, after the big reveal that Josie and Adalyn are sisters, I was looking forward to seeing them develop their relationship and I didn’t get that. I would have even taken seeing more of the girls from the soccer team. It’s a compliment that Elena made me fall in love with her characters in the first book so much that I was disappointed I didn’t get to see them again.

First off I wanna thank net galley and atria for allowing me to read this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review. I have just finished this book and I just want to say that Elena never misses for me and I’m convinced that she could never write a bad book. I have loved all her characters so much and I love Josie and Matthew with my whole heart. Everything about this book was chefs kiss. The way that the actual fake engagement was done was great. It was a slow burn but I am one for a slow burn and especially in this context it just makes sense. I cannot stress how much I loved this book. I’m so happy I got to read it.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas is a captivating romance novel that explores the complexities of love, family, and self-discovery. Protagonist Josie Moore has had her fair share of failed engagements, and when her absentee father's retirement announcement threatens to tarnish the family's image, she concocts a plan to salvage their reputation. Enter Matthew Flanagan, Josie's best friend's brother, who finds himself in a sticky situation after losing his job and getting stranded in Green Oak, North Carolina. Mistaken for Josie's fiancé, Matthew reluctantly agrees to play along, setting off a chain of events that neither of them could have anticipated.

Armas masterfully crafts a story filled with humor, heart, and palpable chemistry between Josie and Matthew. As their fake engagement takes on a life of its own, the lines between reality and pretense blur, leading to moments of genuine connection and introspection. The dynamic between the characters is richly developed, with Josie's reluctance to commit contrasting with Matthew's easygoing charm. Their journey from reluctant partners to genuine friends is both heartwarming and believable, making their eventual romantic entanglement all the more satisfying.

What sets The Fiancé Dilemma apart is its exploration of identity and authenticity amidst societal expectations. Josie grapples with her family's image and her own desire for independence, while Matthew navigates his own insecurities and aspirations. The small-town setting adds depth to the narrative, with the tight-knit community serving as both a backdrop and catalyst for the protagonists' growth. Fans of the romance genre will be drawn to the novel's engaging plot, well-developed characters, and emotionally resonant themes. Armas delivers a delightful tale of love, self-discovery, and second chances that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

4.5 stars!!!

elena seriously has a skill at making the most “normal/mundane” scenes HOT & packing tension into every single interaction !!!! i mean WOW! this book is funny, sweet and so entertaining. if you enjoyed the long game & fake dating, you’ll definitely enjoy this.

i really enjoyed this book! both josie & matthew are so outgoing and funny in the long game, i just knew they would be SO FUN together. i was giggling so much in this book!! but also we got some really sweet and serious moments. loved the whole premise — four previous fiancé’s, a fake fiancé & a PR scandal…what could go wrong?? i thought elena did a great job at keeping things entertaining while also bringing the two main characters together in an authentic way. also! she writes characters SO WELL! you love them. you relate to them. you maybe hate them too….

matthew: WHAT A MAN!!!! that's honestly all i have to say…. well… and the way he supports and cares for josie is actually incredible. the way he stands by her side and encourages her to go after what she wants! loooove it!
josie: actually a sweetheart & she deserves the BIGGEST hug!!
grandpa moe: I love him! he's hilarious, supportive & sweet!
bobbi: I have a love-hate relationship with her. there were moments i wanted to fight her & moments i was genuinely impressed by her….

Freaking Matthew making me WEEP over here.

Lord, give me a man with this level of attention. A man who NOTICES. And understands. And believes in magic and true love like that.

This might be my favorite Elena Armas book by a mile. And I loved the others.

The Fiancé Dilemma is honestly the most fun twist on the Runaway Bride trope I’ve ever come across and I absolutely ADORED it.

He falls first, both fall HARD, and the absolute chaos of a fake engagement make this book an absolute delight.

100% recommend for my romance fan friends! (Though I do recommend reading The Long Game first).

I received an advance copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own, and a review was not required.

Elena Armas knocks it out of the park again, ensuring that she will be a name to remember in the contemporary romance field. If you love fake engagements, learning to be vulnerable, and sweet romances, this will be your jam. Loved the small town vibes, the side cast of characters, and seeing some familiar faces pop back up. Recommend!

WOW. This was my first Elena Armas read and it did NOT disappoint. The build up between Matthew and Josie was the perfect amount of slow burn, and all of the little hints dropped through the story about Matthew’s real feelings towards Josie are so perfect when you finally reach the end and get to see them all piece together like a perfect puzzle. I have never loved a fake fiancé story as much as this one! I HIGHLY recommend this and will be running to Amazon to buy all of Armas’ other books ASAP!

I got this as an Arc from NetGalley.

Sweet nibblets. I did not want this book to end. I loved every bit of it. I loved the main characters. I love a good fake engagement trope. From the drop it was so obvious that Matthew loved her and I was so obsessed with it. I’m talking smiling, giggling, kicking my feet. I want my own Matthew. Everyone should read this book. I can’t wait to get a physical copy.

omg omg omg!!!!!! I love the marriage of convenience trope BADDDDD. first of all, mr. matthew flanagan is HIM. he's blonde but it's fine you can just ignore that LOL. he's the most perf ever. josie, the fmc, is so real i can't even handle it!!! it's like Elena Armas reached inside my brain and made josie, my rambling fear-of-commitment queen. ALSO LET ME JUST SAY!!!! NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WON SO HARD. this was perfect in every sense of the word!!!!!!!!!!! thank you netgalley and elena armas's team for allowing me the privilege of reading this early :) this is my first review on here so I apologize if its not as thorough as it should be lol!!!!