This book is hilarious. I love this author’s humor. I read the first of this series as well and I do have to say I laughed out loud while reading both books.

Josie is the secret sister to Adalyn, who was in the first book. They are the daughters of Andrew Underwood, the owner of the Miami Heat soccer team, among other things. Josie is a small-town girl who didn’t know she was the daughter to a well-known multimillionaire. All of a sudden, everyone knows Josie’s business. Social media and the press have gotten ahold of all of Josie’s secrets, including the fact that she has been engaged FOUR times. They call her “the runner” as she has left each fiancé before the wedding or even at the altar. To redeem her reputation, Josie lies about being engaged AGAIN to Matthew, Adalyn’s best friend. It becomes too late to back out of this little white lie, so Matthew has no choice but to go along with the fake engagement.

I enjoyed this book. I gave the first one 3 stars, and this one is no different. While I did enjoy reading this book, the burn was slowwww. I got bored in some parts. I wish the romance was a bit more fast paced.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

So I read The Long Game, but it's been a minute and I couldn't really remember the details when I read this book. I'm wondering if that may have helped me understand the characters a bit more in this one. Don't get me wrong-I liked this book! I loved Josie, Grandpa Mo (hysterical), and Matthew! The backstory was a bit off for me, but it wasn't enough to spoil anything! I loved Josie and Matthew's chemistry, and their spice! Wow! This is a runaway bride/fake fiance/MAJOR slowburn book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exhange for my honest review!

This was absolutley adorible. I devoured this book in two sittings, but only becasue I was on a plane and had to make my connecting flight. This baby is a SLOW burn but when we finally get to the spicy bits it's worth it. I loved every chapter, right from the start. Highly recommend.

Small town setting, soul mates,

Josie Moore is the long-lost sister from The Long Game which is probably a good idea to read before diving into this one.
Matthew Flanagan shows up at her door at the *perfect* time, just in time for her to declare that he's her fiancé. But Josie doesn't know that he already has a thing for her. Well, they decide to be fake engaged for PR (Josie's dad is big time) and all of the town (and country) is following the story of Josie's 5th fiancé. They are especially interested because Daddy wants to pay for and be involved in the wedding.

Is Matthew the One???

Overall, I liked it but the storyline was predictable, they don't kiss until 83% (too slow of a burn although there is some spice earlier on) and it kind of dragged on toward the end. There's only so much self doubt I can read before it's repetitive.

Josie Moore has been engaged—for real—four times, so, what’s one more (fake) engagement if it helps put out a few public relations fires for her estranged father who suddenly wants to be part of her life? Fortunately, Matthew Flanagan just happens to be in the right place at the right time when Josie finds herself in need of a (fake) romantic hero. Soon, their upcoming nuptials are the talk of the town, but as the big day nears, the couple is forced to confront the age-old question: What’s real, and what’s just pretend?

One of the things I loved about this novel is how effortlessly it pulls from the first novel in the series, The Long Game. While either book can be read as a standalone, there is just enough crossover between the two to make it feel like one continuous story. I appreciated getting to visit the charming town of Green Oak again, and I loved seeing what Adalyn and Cameron were up to, though these ties never overwhelmed the story; the focus was clearly on Josie and Matthew, and it never strayed. Elena Armas explored Josie’s character beautifully and with nuance and care. While it was initially easy to judge Josie for being a little too trigger-happy when it came to engagements, Armas showed the reader exactly what led Josie to make the choices she did, in a sympathetic and understandable way. And Matthew, while seemingly too good to be true (in the way that most male romance leads are), also had many dimensions, ranging from his relationship with his family to his career aspirations and fears. The classic small-town supporting cast was delightful, and I found myself laughing out loud at their antics frequently. This was a perfect escape read and I was certainly disappointed when it was time to return to the real world! This book is perfect for readers who loved Armas’ other books or for fans of Emily Henry, Christina Lauren, and Abby Jimenez.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book by Elena Armas I have read and like the other books this one did not disappoint. I feel like I was Josie. I really connected with the character and the ups and downs.

Fake fiance, meddling PR agent, and a whole podcast series about your previous failed engagements this makes up the Fiance Dilemma. I loved the characters and their development throughout the story. Josie isn't sure about a lot of things but she realizes she can lean into her fake fiance if needed, especially during their very public fake engagement.

Elena Armas once again takes us to Glen Oaks with Josie's story. I enjoyed getting to know Josie more and her relationship with Matthew. It made me feel so happy when the feelings became more and Josie realized she was no longer alone.

Loved reading the highly recommended romance story. When Matthew's car get stuck, he finds himself at Josie's house, and before he knows what's happening, he is in a fake engagement to Josie. Read the wonderfully written and must read riveting love story.

I really wanted to like this book more. I think i had such high expectations that it’s my fault for not loving it? Some parts made me feel like I needed to reread the long game to remember who was who and what was going on. I enjoyed the book, but it just didn’t do it for me. And by that I mean it wasn’t knock it out of the park five stars and instead was just enjoyable. I’m hoping I like it more after a long game re-read and waiting a bit before I reread the fiancé dilemma. I’d still recommend the book if you like Elena’s other books!

I am obsessed with anything this author puts out, so naturally I was very excited to get my hands on an early copy of this!

I was even more excited to get another Green Oak story and I loved Josie from the previous books.

I enjoyed this one, the only negative is that I felt that we didn’t get to know enough about Matthew and what little we did get I LOVED.

What a fun Rom com, the second in The Long Game series. Josie and Matthew are such fun characters. I love a good fake date/engagement story.

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.

Matthew Flanagan is in the mud, literally. Not only has he been fired from his job, but also the tires of his car are stuck in the muck after taking a wrong turn as he enters Green Oak, North Carolina. So, he grabs a duffel with his essentials and goes in search of a place to crash until he gets his life back on track. But instead, he finds his best friend’s sister, Josie, greeting him as her fiancé.

What starts as a big messy misunderstanding quickly turns into an arrangement with Matthew playing a new role as doting fiancé. A fifth engagement—and a stunt, at that—makes Josie’s stomach turn, but every dilemma requires a choice between equally undesirable alternatives, and Matthew doesn’t seem to mind becoming one more number in a colorful list of grooms-that-never-were. Despite the ring on her finger, Josie knows this is only temporary, even if the rest of the small town believes that the fifth time’s the charm.

I was somehow unaware that this was a spin-off of one of the author’s other novels. I understand that this book is being marketed as a standalone and the author said you don’t have to read her previous book to enjoy this one, but man I wish I had. The beginning of The Fiancé Dilemma really seems like it’s counting on the reader already knowing all the characters right off the bat. As a result, everything feels incredibly accelerated. I’ll admit, until about the 30% mark of the book, I was not feeling it. However, it’s possible if I had read The Long Game first, that this would’ve been completely avoided. So, it could be a me problem! All that to say, if you read this, start with The Long Game. You'll avoid spoilers for that book and start The Fiancé Dilemma off on a much better foot than I did. Then you can sit back and really enjoy!

What I liked:
Matthew. The MMC was so fun and adorable. He was in on Josie’s charade from the jump, and he never looked back. I loved his confidence and how he worked with Josie to set boundaries in her life, instead of burning herself out people pleasing. Plus, after some initial plot growing pains, the chemistry between Josie and Matthew was through the roof! I do wish we had learned more about Matthew, though. Maybe we do in The Long Game, but that doesn’t help the book he’s a literal main character in. Matthew was the perfect book boyfriend and it’s because his only purpose was to support Josie. That sounds nice, but it ends up feeling a little hollow.

The cover is *beautiful* but, after seeing all the ex-fiancés lined up, I wish we had learned more about Josie’s previous relationships and how that shaped her.

We mostly avoided the miscommunication trope (amongst others) that tend to plague romance books. That alone made me overall happy with the story!

While I loved The Long Game, and Josie's character as the mayor of the small town, I did not feel that the characters had as much development in The Fiancé Dilemma. I enjoyed the story that I read the whole story, but it did not grab me like the first book did.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Trope: Fake Dating
Spice: 🔥🔥

Synopsis: Josie’s absentee father, who kept her existence a secret until recently, has stormed into her life and turn it upside down. The media latched on to the story and started digging, especially when the media got ahold of Josie’s four failed engagements. When the PR consultant shows up on Josie’s doorstep unannounced, Josie is a literal hot mess with a green face mask, a robe covered in jam, and an old engagement ring on her finger. The PR consultant takes this misunderstanding and finds with it. Now, Josie finds herself engaged to #5, who happens to be her sister’s best friend.

Thoughts: I struggled with why Josie felt she needed to follow through with the fake engagement. She barely knew her father and did owe him anything. She could have easily told the PR consultant that she wasn’t engaged and to go away. If you take away that detail, I enjoyed the book. I love it when a fake engagement turns real. Matthew was so sweet and patient with Josie. He knows how to make a girl feel special.

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

"Perfection is subjective."

"What if I can't give you any fucking firsts, so / want to make sure I get a chance at being your last?"

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, and I'd like to thank Elena Armas, Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.

Even though I hadn't read the first book, I was still able to get into the story, though I sensed I might have missed a few vague references. The romance between Josie and Matthew starts off with a slow burn that builds into a steamy connection creating a good build-up. Josie's journey of personal growth is a highlight of the book. She's a character you can't help but cheer on, especially as she learns to stand up for herself. Matthew, as the male lead, is the perfect mix of supportive and charming. The dynamic between the two is both humorous and heartwarming. The couple faces their challenges with maturity and open communication, which is refreshing and adds a touch of realism to the story. Although the premise of a fake engagement is familiar, the author manages to give it a fresh twist.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Elena Armas for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

I’ve been on a romance kick lately and this book did not disappoint. This is the first book by Elena Armas that I’ve read, but now I am searching out others. This is book #2 in The Long Game series, and there were parts that I could tell I was missing something by not reading The Long Game first, but overall this can be a standalone book.

It was a slow burn romance, but once the romance kicked in, it was steamy. Josie was a hilarious narrator and I loved the relationship dynamic between her and Matthew.

Fun summer read! Definitely recommend!

NetGalley granted me and advanced copy to this book and
O M G.
I had such a great time! I devoured this book in 24 hours. This book had me grinning, kicking my feet, blushing and at times emotional for the FMC.

I loved Josie as a one woman show. She’s kind, loves her town (so much she’s also mayor) and will bake you muffins to make you feel better.

Josie has a “reputation” as she likes to call it of being a runner. She’s skipped out on 4 engagements and is just trying to live her life. Enter rich absent daddy whose people think she is a PR nightmare and our story begins!

Mathew. My god, MATHEW. I love him. He’s an angel who is blond, wears glasses, has a dirty mouth and protects Josie with consent. Swooooooon ❤️

He (literally) storms in on our girl and in an anxious fit Josie creates an elaborate lie that they are in fact engaged. 😱
What’s a man to do except help a woman in need 👀😂
Also Mathew is our FMCs sisters best friend so there’s a little history there.

Ultimately this is a book of Josie growing, which I loved. There were times I wanted to shake her and tell her to stand up for herself but she gets there! Once she finally feels outside support (she’s suffered heavy loss) our girl really lands on her feet.

I really enjoyed the journey with these two. Sometimes in romance books I think the actual romance of the story suffers for smut. Not here. I absolutely loved this.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for sharing this ARC with me for review!

As someone who has not read The Long Game (which I will absolutely read now!), I did not find picking up The Fiance Dilemma difficult to follow at all. The story was fleshed out enough for me to follow along, despite there being a whole previous novel in this world. That is difficult to do and Elena Armas does it flawlessly!

Our FMC Josie is a Runaway Bride, having been engaged 4 times but never married. Her biological father, who has recently come into her life, is a very famous man and sends a PR specialist to do some damage control. In that meeting, Josie panics, and introduces the MMC Matthew (who she has never met in person) as her Fiance as he was getting into town. I love the fake engagement trope so much. It warms my heart and Josie and Matthew are lovely individual characters who complement each other so well. The difficulties with social media and celebrity are highlighted throughout this book, and I love how Matthew navigates them with and for Josie as they grow closer. When the spice started after a delectable slow burn, it was spicy! I love a MMC who takes control and makes the FMC feel safe. His dirty talk was 10/10.

This book was a great, cozy read and I would highly recommend.

Josie just found out who her dad is – a famous soccer team owner, Andrew Underwood. When he announces his retirement, reporters show up at her door wanting to write a piece about his family. When she answers the door, they see the ring that she was wearing (from a previous relationship) and assume she is engaged. Matthew was just fired from his job and decides to head to Green Oak to figure his life out. After getting his car stuck in the mud outside Josie’s house, he finds himself being introduced as Josie’s fiancé. The reporters discover that she was previously engaged four times before always running away at the altar. Even though a messy misunderstanding turns into an arrangement with Matthew serving as her doting fiancé which he doesn’t seem to mind becoming just another failed engagement. Will Josie finally make it to the altar, or will she just run away again?

I really enjoyed the Spanish Love Deception, but Elena Armas’ books seemed to fall a little flat for me. I liked this much better than The Long Game though. The start of the book was a bit chaotic and slow start but the last half of the story got better and I couldn’t put the book down. I loved the characters together and Matthew is the epitome of the perfect man. I would recommend the book to anyone that loves a slow burn and fake dating troupe.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I adored this book! Josie is such a fun female main character. She's easy to root for and so endearing. Matthew is all we could want from a male main character. He's tenacious in his support for Josie, and they both exist in the fullness of the small town community. As per Elena Armas' usual, this was a can't-put-it-down read that had me deeply invested in the main characters. I appreciated that a simple miscommunication wasn't driving the third act conflict. Instead, we saw the couple navigate external conflict with honesty and clear communication, which helped even fiction feel more realistic. Will read again and have already recommended to multiple friends!