DNF, I didn't love the first in this series so I'm not too surprised that I couldn't get into this one. I just couldn't really get behind the FMC unfortunately, it all felt really juvenile. I think at this point this author just isn't for me but I can see how this series will be loved by many!

Thank you for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

Josie and Matthew made the sweetest couple even if I didn’t see the chemistry at first. I felt that this book was so much better than the first book in this series. The fake dating trope has always been one of my favorites and I feel that Elena executed it perfectly with this book. If you’re looking for a sweet small town rom com with a misunderstood fmc and a passionate and considerate mmc (did I mention he’s blonde) then this is the book for you

Elena Armas does it again with The Fiancé Dilemma! This book is pure romantic comedy gold. Josie’s chaotic love life and her “perfect” PR solution lead to a hilarious fake engagement with Matthew, and the chemistry between them is off the charts. What starts as a simple misunderstanding evolves into a heartwarming second-chance romance, and Armas expertly builds the tension and emotional depth. The characters are so lovable, from the quirky small-town vibes to the sweet (and sometimes awkward) moments between Josie and Matthew. Their banter is witty, the storyline is fresh, and I loved the unexpected twists, especially with how the community gets involved. If you’re a fan of fake engagements and second chances, this book is an absolute must-read. I couldn’t put it down!

A testament to a second chance at true love when you’ve all but go one up on it…or maybe the fifth chance?! Unfortunately Josie has been plagued with failed engagements (plural!), and after a big miscommunication she now finds herself in a fake engagement with her brother’s best friend, Matthew. They are forced to work through many obstacles that come undoubtedly comes with the fib, which adds humor, the way they get to their HEA is well deserved and provides a satisfying ending too. A cute, lighthearted romance that provides hope for those waiting to find “the one.” 3.5 stars

This was a good book that had me very intrigued at various points in the story, but I will admit that I did end up taking breaks throughout my read. I really loved Matthew as the MMC, but I feel like much was left unsaid about Josie and her history with love and engagements. I also didn’t always like how she handled things, with Matthew especially, but I think she redeemed herself in the end for me. I believe many who love the romance genre would enjoy this story, and I would love to read more from this author in the future, with this being the second book I have read from her thus far.

Thank you so much to Elena Armas, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the amazing opportunity to read and review this as an eARC!

~A.R.

The Fiancé Dilemma had all the makings of a swoony rom-com— a fake engagement, simmering tension, and the kind of banter Elena Armas is known for! I was both intrigued but confused by the premise (as I'm not sure why her fathers PR nightmare was her problem or why she was so willing to help him due to their lack of relationship) but yet thought there was potential!

There was plenty of forced proximity and slow-burn moments to keep romance readers intrigued. However, the pacing felt inconsistent, and some plot twists leaned more dramatic than believable. At times, the emotional development lagged behind the physical attraction, leaving certain scenes feeling a bit rushed or unearned. Supporting characters were charming but underused, and a few subplots could’ve used more resolution.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC and the chance to read and review. All opinions are my own**

I loved this book so much! It was the perfect mix of spice and fun! Definitely would read this author again!

This left me so bewildered

This plot is shaky at best! Who would care enough about this family and Josie's reputation that this elaborate scheme would be warranted? There was no reason for Josie and Matthew to go to the lengths that they did. They are a good match and relatively likeable, engaging characters, but I just could not take anything seriously. Everything was so exaggerated. The story was trying to establish such high stakes, but fell so short. Matthew and Josie, who could have just been perfectly acceptable characters, turned into such cheesy caricatures.

Summary:
Josie Moore has been engaged four times and broken the engagement each time. Her absentee father's identity has recently been publicly revealed; it turns out her father is a wealthy owner of a professional sports team and is very much considered a public figure. Her father wants to announce his retirement in a coveted magazine, accompanied by a fluffy article about his family. As it turns out, Josie is causing a bit of a PR issue, especially her uniquely rocky relationship history.

Matthew Flanagan is down on his luck. After his car gets suck in the mud as he is on the way to his best friend's place. He goes looking for somewhere to crash. Matthew and Josie's chance meeting (she's his best friend's recently discovered half-sister) somehow results in a fake engagement plot. Maybe the fifth time's the charm?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Josie recently found out that her long-absent father is famous and rich. She doesn't much care, but it catapults her not-so-good history of running from her weddings (4 and counting) into the limelight, and it's making the family look bad. The accidental solution is to pretend she's once again engaged, this time to her newly discovered sister's best friend, Matthew. It's all pretend and everyone involved knows they're only acting, but is it really as fake as Josie keeps insisting?

I'm giving this one 3.5 upward-leaning stars because, between the quirky town vibes and Josie's tendencies to let people walk all over her and to lose all brain cells when she's flustered, there were moments when I didn't particularly like this book. But I'm a sucker for fake fiancé stories and this eventually won me over. I particularly liked how Armas made it so that Matthew was always there to support Josie and inspire her to stand up for what she wants. That show of support and inspiration to speak for herself is what tipped this into a book I enjoyed rather than one I finished just because I started it.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the fun romance!

This was a great book with an intriguing plot. I loved the slow burn.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this novel!

This book was an absolute delight!! I went in totally blind but had just finished The Long Game right before -I'm glad I read that book first because it gave helpful background about the characters and the small town.
What I loved: the flirting, chemistry and slowwww burn, fake engagement/engagement of convenience (my favorites!!!), Matthew
What I didn't love: I was hoping to see more of Adalyn and Cam in this story, I feel like they could've been more involved with the fake engagement scenario, and multiple times it felt like the book was trying to lean into "it's always been you" for Matthew and Josie but they e known each other for like a year?? Every time something like that was mentioned I felt like I had missed a part of their past or something.

Overall I really enjoyed this one!! Such a pleasant surprise and a true delight!

Cute read for a fake fiance trope. Josie finds out her real dad is somewhat famous, making her reality news. At a desperate moment she gets Matthew to pretend to be her fiance. Josie is a little cooky, and that adds to the funniness of the book. This was an easy read, since you know they'll work it out in the end somehow.

This book was absolutely amazing, i’ve always loved Elena’s writing and this book did not disappointed me

Josie Moore, a woman with four failed engagements under her belt and a complicated relationship with her newly reappeared father. When her dad’s PR team decides her romantic history is bad for the family brand, Josie blurts out that she’s engaged—again. Enter Matthew Flanagan, her half-sister’s best friend, who just happens to show up in town at the worst (or best?) possible moment. One misunderstanding later, and he’s playing the role of fiancé number five.

What starts as a PR stunt quickly spirals into something deeper, with fake wedding plans, real feelings, and a town full of nosy neighbors watching it all unfold. Expect snappy banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a pet named Pedro Pigscal (yes, really).

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this arc!

I really liked this, but I felt like something was missing or on the contrary it just had too much going on at the same time.

This is a slow burn which I like, but it dragged on too much, it was longer than it needed to be.

I did like the characters together though, even when some scenes were kind of cringe.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas is a charming and heartwarming fake-engagement romance set in the cozy town of Green Oak, North Carolina. Josie Moore, known for walking away from four almost-weddings, becomes the center of unwanted attention when her estranged father decides to reenter her life with a PR stunt to fix her image. That’s when Matthew Flanagan—grumpy, stranded, and conveniently available—agrees to play her doting fiancé. What starts as a temporary arrangement for show quickly becomes tangled with real emotions, past wounds, and unexpected connection.

Josie is endearingly chaotic, navigating family pressure and her fear of commitment with a mix of vulnerability and humor. Matthew is the perfect soft-hearted counterpart, offering support, quiet strength, and slow-burn chemistry that steadily builds into genuine affection. Their banter is quick and delightful, and the emotional development between them feels natural and grounded. The small-town setting adds a warm backdrop filled with quirky locals and heartfelt moments that bring depth to the story.

While the plot follows familiar rom-com beats, Elena Armas elevates it with emotional sincerity, well-paced tension, and a heroine you can’t help but root for. Some backstories could have been explored more deeply, but the story doesn’t rely on unnecessary drama to move forward. Instead, it leans into healing, honesty, and trust—making the resolution all the more satisfying.

The Fiancé Dilemma is perfect for fans of fake-dating tropes, soft grumpy-sunshine pairings, and slow-burn romance with a wholesome yet steamy payoff. It’s a feel-good read with heart, humor, and just the right amount of heat.

It’s a story about learning to trust, confronting the ghosts of your past, and discovering that love doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be real. A fantastic pick for fans of slow-burn romance with substance

This was a fun read. I enjoy Elena's writing and find her stories to be ones that I want to read. Thank you for this ARC.

Did not read. Have way too many books on my shelf - need to cut back. Hoping to get to it in the future though.

I really enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception, so I was excited to start this book by an author that I already enjoyed. The Fiance Dilemma is the second book in The Green Oak series. I was not aware of this when I started reading it, and there are some characters from book one that show up in this book. Unfortunately, I had a really hard time getting into this book, and I don't know if that is because I didn't read the first book or if I just couldn't connect with the characters. Are Josie and Matthew introduced in the first book? I find it weird that Josie saw an acquaintance on the sidewalk in front of her house and tried to convince a stranger that they were engaged. I also find it weird that he goes along with it. I ended up having to DNF this book at about 7 chapters in (22%) because I felt like I was missing something about these characters, like I should have read the first book in this series or something. I also found it weird that Josie was engaged 4 times before the age of 30. This gal needs to go to therapy and her friends need to encourage her to do that, not just blindly accept that she's engaged to someone they had no idea she was even seeing (as this was their story since the engagement is actually fake). It's a no for me on this book.