What a fantastic book! Such a great continuation of the story in The Long Game! I absolutely love Josie and her weirdness is just the best.

DNF at 30%

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. I thought that maybe it was because I haven't read the first installment of The Long Game books (even though the posting made it seem like I didn't need to read it), but I just didn't feel a spark with the two main characters and didn't love the withholding of information as to how they had previously met/interacted/whatever. I felt like there was a lot of information randomly thrown out there without anything anchoring them, and I just couldn't find myself interested enough to continue. I'm pretty bummed this one wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another small town romance for the win! Josie is a classic "quirky" small town girl. Beloved by all the townspeople, running a coffee shop and volunteering as town mayor. Come to find out, she is the daughter of a well-known millionaire and now needs to rectify her public image as she becomes known as a chronic relationship runner, having left 4 men at the alter in her past. In order to save her reputation, she sells the lie that she is engaged to Matthew, her sister's best friend.

I haven't read the first book in this series knowing that it was able to be read as a stand-alone, but almost wish I would have read The Long Game first. I loved Josie's character and thought she was hilarious, but I never felt like I got to know Matthew outside of being Josie's love interest. Maybe reading the Long Game could have helped this? Grandpa Mo was one of the best side characters of any romance books I've read so far this year.

I love Elena Armas' work and this one is another great addition! Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for an advanced copy of this title.

I had a blast reading The Fiance Dilemma. It was fun and hard to put down. Our main character is a silly, lovable, small-town girl who has had a few too many weddings, and our love interest is the yearning type. The author did a great job creating tension between the two, and the slow burn was everything. I appreciated the fact that each intimate moment was intentional and not just thrown wherever. I also was happy with how the dreaded third act played out. It was, for once, not frustrating to read. I think every romance reader will LOVE the author for that alone,

Some gripes:

- Okay, so there's this jumping off the ladder scene. I found it funny and confusing. How tall is this ladder? And why would you jump off one into a man's arms when you have a hammer in your tool belt????? That seems like extremely dangerous. What if you killed him???? LOL. I think this scene needed so much more context. Maybe forget the hammer? I had to re-read it to make sure I wasn't missing something. I feel like you shouldn't just jump off a ladder (of unknown height) into a man's arms when you have a hammer all willy-nilly in your tool belt.

- The Gen Z TikTok brain rot podcast is a bit much at times. I get that the overuse of internet language is supposed to show how ridiculous and petty the show is, but it's distracting at times and takes away from what they are actually saying. Plus, it kind of comes across as hating on Gen Z (a big demographic of this book).

- I think there needed to be more conversation between our two MCs in the beginning. Sure, they talked. But it wasn't anything substantial enough for the male mc to have such strong feelings so early on (IMO). Based on my reading it felt like they met and he already was extremely interested in her both physically and emotionally, despite not even knowing much about her at all.

These things didn't ruin the book for me. I would say they acted more as small distractions from the actual story.

Readers who love a yearning man, a slow burn, and NO third-act breakup will love this one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book!

3.5 stars. It’s my second favorite book from Elena Armas (yes, I have read all of the others). I actually even stayed up till 2am to finish it. <- not sure it meets my general standard for losing sleep but I really just wanted to finish.

I would put this in the category of slow(ish) burn and he is obviously head over heels for her from the start and she is absolutely clueless.

Josie and Matthew have chemistry during this fake dating/ engagement story. Some of the dialogue is awkward which I think might get polished in the final version.

The personal conflict between Josie and her father was handled in a satisfying way.

Just my initial thoughts a fuller review to come!

Josephine Moore is the mayor of Green Oak, a little town in North Carolina. Her life was simple until she founds out that the father who abandoned her, was the powerful businessman Andrew Underwood. That’s why the media gets interested in her life and her record as a runaway bride. The press and the public assume that she being a runaway bride is because she has daddy issues. This gives Andrew a bad image and a desire to clean his reputation. To do that, Josie seeks help in Matthew Flanagan, her sister’s best friend. Both are going to fake being engaged, and then break the engagement before the wedding day. However, the more they fake, the more their feelings become real. The question that is left is, if the fifth engagement would be the last one?

I must admit that this book is what I expected and more. It’s been a while since I laugh a lot reading a romantic comedy. I swear that I was in the 10% of my reading and I couldn’t stop laughing. I was engaged to Josie and Matthew’s story because it was simple and without complications. Elena Armas used all the correct clichés and left out the misunderstandings. Likewise, the chemistry and the tension of the characters was undeniable. They complement each other to perfection and make a perfect balance.

What to say about Matthew Flanagan? Sorry Aaron Blackford, but Flanagan become my favorite man of Elena Arma’s universe. Since his first appearance I was loving him. His honest and blunt personality made me fall in love with him. Maybe his bluntness would be rude in other characters, but in Matthew it was his trademark. Until I read the acknowledgements I didn’t though of how much Matthew reminds me of my favorite character of Friends, Chandler. Moreover, I loved that Flanagan knew what he wanted and went for it. The way he treated Josie is how everyone should love their partner, in every way possible and without limits. Sincerely, every woman in the world deserves a man like Matthew Flanagan.

For me, Josie was a surprise. At the beginning, she was presented as this poor nervous girl that got caught up in her dad’s world. However, while you keep reading, you realize that she is more than her fears. Josie is the mayor of her town, and everyone trust her. Moreover, she has her own successful business. What everyone sees like failed relationships, they aren’t her fault. All the men in her life never considered her, and they always expected her to mold herself to what they wanted. It isn’t until she meets Matthew that she begins to know what true love is, to give and receive. He helps her understand that she’s special and that who loves you fights to stay by your side.

The Fiancé Dilemma is the perfect book to forget your troubles and enjoy the moment. Elena Armas gives us a romantic comedy that gives justice to the genre, and lets you wanting more. This is a book that you would not want to put down until you finish it, and when you do it, you would not want to say goodbye to the characters. Without any doubt, reading a book from this writer is always a good decision. Imagine if I like it so much that, even though I received the digital advance copy, I decide to preorder the paperback because I need to have Matthew Flanagan in my bookshelf. Also, remember that the book would go on sale on July 30 of this year. This is today’s review. I hope you like it!

Elena Armas brings us back to the enchanting town of Green Oak in The Fiancé Dilemma. Josie starts off as a wonderfully strong and independent character, which I absolutely loved. However, as the story progressed, she seemed to lose some of that fierce independence, which was a bit disappointing. Another minor gripe was the overuse of "f-bombs" in what were meant to be epic romantic moments.

That being said, the charm of Green Oak and its quirky, lovable residents made up for these small issues. The setting and community add a warm, comforting backdrop to the romance. Fans of small-town love stories will find much to enjoy here. Despite its minor flaws, The Fiancé Dilemma is a heartfelt, engaging read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley & Atria Books for the E-ARC! This was so cute! Loved the characters & the banter. Really enjoyed the concept too. Definitely will read more from this author.

What I liked:
- Faves from book 1 were back (María is the wisest 11 year old I’ve ever met)
- Chemistry between Josie and Matt is great later on
- I really did love the ending, won’t say what happens, but will be happy to discuss :)
- The nicknames are so cute

Disliked:
- Hypermodern references, just not my thing! the word “slay” does not belong in a book
- Slow burn was almost too slow
- Matt felt like a flat character, I wish we had his POV
- The beginning was so slow, then hit 70% through and it felt so rushed!

The Fiance Dilemma was a fun, light rom-com following Josie, who is fake dating her "fiance" Matthew in order to distract the press from her past. Matthew is a good sport and immediately plays along. This was a very formulaic read, but funny enough to distract me from that. There is a pig named Pedro Pigscal, and that alone was delightful enough to be rated a whole extra star.

I didn't love some of the ways Matthew spoke to Josie. There was a lot of calling her "good girl" which just felt patronizing. But overall, it was a sweet relationship with very little drama. The quirky levels were turned up to 11 for the whole town, and that was super.

Read this one when you want to turn your brain off & just relax with a super chill romance! Thanks to NetGalley, Elena Armas, and Atria books for the chance to read and review!

This is my favorite Armas book yet! A captivating small-town romance with all the best tropes: he falls first, fake dating, no 3rd act breakup. This is a slow-burn done right with tons of angst and chemistry between the main characters. Thank you so much for this advanced copy!

I LOVE Elena Armas, and was SO EXCITED to get approved for this ARC! I devoured it immediately! This book follows Josie, who has 4 failed engagements. Her long lost father shows up, and he’s kind of a big deal. In order to save face with the press and avoid scandal, Josie teams up with Matthew for a fake engagement.

I LOVE a fake dating romance!! I also loved Matthew. He is perfect. He is Josie’s biggest cheerleader, and is constantly validating her feelings while putting her first. I loved him SO much!! Josie is quirky, insecure, and oh so relatable!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Atria publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Publication date- July 30, 2024

OMG I had such a great time reading this book! Elena never fails to make you laugh, swoon, and fan yourself all in the same chapter, it's truly a gift. This book had everything I love in a romance: small town, found family, adorable side characters, a swoon worthy hero, a badass heroine, and chemistry that jumps right off the page. Oh and I can’t forget about all the tension and edging 🥵 These characters were so relatable and I loved seeing them develop both individually and as a couple while navigating their "fake" engagement, and the way they both cheered each other on had me 🥹🥹If all of this hasn't convinced you to preorder this book, I’ll let you know they have SO much fun breaking all the rules they set when they started their engagement 😜

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the E-ARC🤍🤍

She never fails! Another good book❤️ I loved seeing these two fall in love and let down there walls. Everyone is so rude to her but he doesn't let them knock her down. Instead, he builds her up everyday and shows her what love is. This couple is perfect!

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book knowing that her previous books had not been my favorite, but I have also loved following authors on their journeys to see how they are able to progress and create stories and characters as they fine tune their craft. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.

This book felt like it was lacking in a lot of areas. Josie was soooooo in her head, which means she was in our heads and it was not a fun place to be. The repetitive thoughts and dialogue throughout the entire book were excruciating. Was Matthew a total daddy? Yes. Was I able to fall in love with him because of the depth to his character and relationship with Josie? Not even a little bit. These two had ZERO chemistry. He felt like a melting pot of everything that creates "the perfect book boyfriend" without giving him any legs to stand on. I feel like we were supposed to remember him from his time in The Long Game, which I did not.

If you have enjoyed Elena's other books, I do think you would enjoy this because it felt right in line with the other books she has written.

I really enjoyed this one! I liked this one more than book 1 for sure. 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. I do feel like we don’t get much closure or dive deep into the problems such as her four first engagements so that’s why I am ranking lower. Some parts were a bit slower and I felt less interested with the podcast aspect of this book. Josie and Matthew really were fun to read about. The tension and friendship between them hooked me and I loved every second. Overall, I definitely recommend.

I just reviewed The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
This was my first book from Elena Armas. I haven't her other books yet. I plan on reading more. I loved the fake dating troupe in this. It was kinda of a slow burn for me. Over it had funny banter it and kept interested.

3.2 ⭐️
I’m a big fan of Elena’s writings and worlds! I realized I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first- I’m a sucker for fake engagements, but the stakes here weren’t quite right for me. I don’t think they were *wrong*, but more in the sense that not every book is going to be perfectly for me.
I did enjoy getting to know Matthew more though!

🚨save the release date of July 30th🚨

Elena Armas is 4/4 on the hits! Thank you to @netgalley for giving me the privilege of reading this ARC. This is the 4th book of Elena Armas I’ve read and she does not miss. This woman is the queen of the sloooowwest burns.

I am more than positive if it hadn’t been for my traveling I would have been able to finish this in one sitting. I loved the FMC Josie. We met her in The Long Game, and I would absolutely love to be friends with a Josie. When we meet Josie (small business owner, mayor, girl boss) her 4th failed engagement is over and she’s trying to navigate her new relationships with her found sister and long lost rich father. In order to save her family from a PR night she finds herself in a 5th (fake) engagement with Matthew 😍🥰🥵 in order to save her reputation and keep her father and herself from a spoiled public image.

Armas knows how to write a MAN. Aaron Blackford, Cameron Caldini, and Matthew Flanagan are some of my favorite book boyfriends of all time. After my binge watching of Bridgerton I was craving a man who yearns and the MMC of The Fiancé Dilemma did not disappoint me 👏🏻

4/5⭐️

I will always be an Elena Armas stan and will forever read whatever she writes. Do not sleep on her! Please pick up The Long Game before reading The Fiancé Dilemma, it will help fill in some gaps.

Josie is a woman on a mission - she's just not sure what that mission is ;-)
I love the relationship between Josie and Matthew and the growth they experience throughout the book - both together and apart. I thought Elena Armas did a perfect job of wrapping up the book without giving a predictable ending. Josie and Matthew's relationship was clear - although not stereotypical - so it was not a disappointment. I think I actually would have been disappointed if it ended any differently. Armas has a way of making the outlandish seem believable (hello, small town characters and animals). This was a fun romance that held some deeper messages as well. My only complaint(?) was the UNBELIEVABLE amount of angst and "will they won't they" moments. OMG I have never been so frustrated by constant interruptions of two characters. Josie and Matthew experienced so many mishaps - I would not have been sad to see one or two of them disappear. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. A definite must read!