I always love Elena Armas and The Fiancé Dilemma was no exception. Matthew was truly a dream male lead and the pacing of his and Josie’s relationship was really well done. I also enjoyed the role that the supporting characters played and I always love when we get to know a village. The conflict was really well written and was a good mix of internal and external. The book definitely is cheesy at times, but it’s a romcom! It’s a given for the genre and I personally love it! Highly recommend this book for romance lovers and romance newbies alike

Once again, Elena Armas has written a masterpiece! The moment it was announced we were getting a spin-off for Josie and would get to know Matthew's character in-depth, I was ready.

Josie, known mayor of her small town, has a dark romantic history: she's been engaged four times and ran from the altar every time.

After Josie finds herself confronted by her newfound father's PR strategist, she panics and deems a confused, approaching Matthew her fiance to make the Shark go away. What's supposed to be a harmless lie turns into a national spectacle and Josie and Matthew find themselves thrown deeper into the lie and planning a wedding only a month away.

As Josie and Matthew learn how to navigate their friendship amongst the chaos, they find themselves falling for each other faster than they could ever dream. While the internet is betting on whether Josie is going to finally walk down the aisle, Josie has to figure out if she really does want to marry Matthew.

The Fiance Dilemma is a hilarious romantic book that shows the realism of trying to keep your head up and remain happy when coming from a broken family. There's the perfect amount of family angst, learning about oneself, comedy, and steamy romantic tension. When Elena said there was a lot of sexual tension in this book, SHE WAS NOT JOKING. Matthew and Josie had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. (Matthew also had me on my knees but we don't need to talk about that).

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas is the second in The Long Game series. Josie Moore has had bad luck with the opposite sex with four broken engagements. Her love life has suddenly become a PR nightmare for her rich and famous absentee father and what starts as a big misunderstanding turns into an accidental fake engagement between Josie and the best friend of her sister Matthew. They play along, hoping the gossip will die down before they are to be married, but Josie and Matthew find themselves second guessing how fake their feelings are for each other.

I did not read the first book in this series (The Long Game). Most contemporary romance series don't require to be read in order however I feel like I did not have enough backstory for some of the supporting characters that book #1 focused on. I also thought that the characters' backstory/personalities, especially Matthew, could have been fleshed out a little more. That being said, overall this was a fun read and I think fans of this author and contemporary romance will generally enjoy this story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for granting me an advanced reader copy of the eBook. My review was not influenced by receiving this ARC. The Fiancé Dilemma is expected to be published on July 30, 2024.

The Fiancé Dilemma is a standalone romance novel set in the same world as the previous book The Long Game.

~Tropes:~
- fake engagement
- small town romance
- sister’s best friend
- slow burn
- he falls first and harder

~Plot~
Josie was engaged four times, but she was never able to change the status from bride to wife. After her recently discovered multi-billionaire father Andrew Underwood decides to publish a book, he enlists the help of PR strategist Bobbi Shark to improve Josie's public image. The ridiculous situation at their first meeting leads to Josie getting engaged to an attractive stranger (who turns out to be her sister's best friend Matthew Flanagan) who happens to be standing on her doorstep.

Bobbi sees the upcoming wedding as an opportunity to present Andrew as a caring parent so Josie and Matthew become caught up in wedding fever, thinking their fake engagement will end before the big day. But as they spend more time together, they realize they are too comfortable breaking up. Will they make fake engagement real? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

Josie left mixed impressions. I liked that she was very active, lively, ready to help. But at the same time, she was clumsy, overly vulnerable, insecure and I couldn’t understand her actions in some situations.
Matthew was a complete mystery, but as the story progressed, he began to reveal himself more. He is patient, strong, confident and knows exactly what and who he wants. I particularly liked that at the end of the book we got his POV (almost two) and some of the questions that I had during the reading were answered.

However, I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters. Slowburn and hot scenes were written really well, but I didn't understand where their attraction originally came from, as we hadn’t enough scenes with their interaction. Without spoilers, I'll just say that Matthew's feelings were somehow justified, while Josie's feelings seemed to come out from nowhere. Nevertheless, I liked the ending of their romantic story, which turned out to be not exactly we used to, and I personally did not expect such a twist.

I really loved Bobbi as the main side character, her surname speaks for itself. She’s so professional and strong woman and a real jewel of this story. Can we please get her book next? I’d like to see a man who can tame her!

The novel is a standalone, but I still feel that I’d better read Long Game first, as moments from the previous book were not explained and I felt that I’m missing a part of the story. If you are a fan of Elena Armas books then I’ll definitely recommend to read The Fiancé Dilemma, but if you are new to her writing then it’s better to start with previous titles.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book.

I love a new spin on an old trope, and this one was so much fun. Our heroine never could've predicted that the near-stranger who saved her from an awkward situation - by faking an engagement - would end up being the one. That means they're quickly falling for each other as a very real wedding day approaches, and that is terrifying to a woman who has been a runway bride (on more than one occasion!) in the past. It kept both the reader and the couple on their toes, ratcheting up the tension in such an interesting way. What I loved the most was the hero though - he was rock steady throughout it all, acting as such an amazing support system to our skittish heroine. I wouldn't quite call it a black cat/golden retriever romance (our heroine is too sweet), but it's definitely close. The hero is an absolute sweetheart who knows exactly what his girl needs, and that made this such an entertaining, unpredictable read - I loved it!

The story follows Josie, a woman who is known as a runaway bride. She's called off multiple engagements in the past, and that's left her with a bit of a reputation. So when her estranged father's PR person accidentally catches her wearing an old engagement ring (it was a lonely moment of longing), Josie has to think fast. And when she sees her sister's best guy friend - a man she's only met via text - Josie claims him as the groom. Josie never meant for it to lead to more, but suddenly her dad's PR person is planning a very real wedding in just a few weeks. Not wanting to tarnish her reputation further, Josie and Matthew play along with the wedding planning, even though they know they'll never make it to the altar. But they make a better team than Josie could've anticipated, and soon she's developing feelings for the man she's set to leave in a few short weeks.

I've enjoyed all of Armas' books, but this is the first of the newer ones that's given me The Spanish Love Deception vibes in such a big way - and that's a major compliment. I kinda loved that we only got Josie's perspective, and were forced to puzzle out how Matthew was feeling for ourselves. He is such a great guy, this incorrigible flirt who seems to genuinely enjoy his time with Josie. Never has a blonde man with glasses worked so well for me, lol, and he was definitely one of the best parts of the book. I enjoyed the first third quite a bit, but once the sexual tension kicked in, this was elevated to a whole other level. Josie and Matthew had TONS of chemistry, which presented itself in some seriously delicious ways. That man is not a golden retriever in the bedroom, even if he is eager to please. Ahem. Anyways, I really loved the direction this took in the back half, and it truly grabbed my attention once it hit its stride. The slow burn to SIZZLE worked so well, and I loved that I really wasn't sure how things would work out. I'm very pleased to report that it's one of my new favorites from the author, and such a fantastic read.

I am a huge Elena Armas fan & The Fiance Dilemma is absolute perfection!! A fake engagement, second chance romance, and family drama combine to make this an amazing 5 star read!! The characters and witty banter in this book are spot on & I actually caught myself laughing out loud. This is an extremely quick, easy read but still had substance. Move this one to the top of your summer TBR!

Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

Um,yes! This book was amazing and had me laughing out loud! I loved Josie and Matthew, especially how defensive Matthew always was for a Josie. If fake dating is your trope and you are looking for a sweet romance- this is for you!

I was SO excited when I saw I got an Elena Armas eARC, and I like to think that I had reasonable (but not ridiculously high!) expectations for this story. TLDR: I just don't think that this book was for me.

My main reason for (strongly) disliking it was knowing that not only the relationship, but JOSIE, would have absolutely benefitted from maybe taking a pause until Josie went to therapy and figured herself (and her daddy issues) out rather than having a relationship that's so unstable, it's impossible to root for. I couldn't find any character that was likeable enough for me to care what happened to them, and this was not helped by the millennial-cringe dialogue (which has never annoyed me in past books! I promise I'm not usually a hater of goofy dialogue!)

These two stars are for Pedro Pigscal, and Pedro Pigscal only.

I'd genuinely like to thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly I’d like to thank Atria and NetGalley for the eARC and the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review.

This book was so fun and cute. I was giggling and kicking my feet. I loved how Matthew and Josie grew together. I loved how fiercely protective he was over her. And lord the mouth on that man??? He’s described so innocently, he’s definitely not.

Overall I loved seeing previous characters and getting to see the town from Josie’s perspective. I wish we could’ve met Matthew’s family. They sounded so fun and I would’ve loved to see them mingle in the town. I also wanted more Andrew content by the end.

Elena always writes books that make me smile. I’ll never not be excited to read her next book.

I have never laughed so hard. Elena Armas knows how to pull a reader in from the get go. The characters are so relatable in their own ways.

Elena Armas this might be your best one yet!! I am completely obsessed with Matthew and Josie. This is a fake engagement in the best way. Matthew is so sweet and funny and Josie is just the best. Of course the cameo's from Cameron and Adalyn are amazing as well!! I'm ready for the next book in The Long Game series ASAP. Perfect for lovers of Abby Jimenez, Christina Lauren, and Lynn Painter. I cannot recommend this book enough. I do recommend reading The Long Game first!

The romantic comedy vibes in this book were spot on! I love a good fake engagement trope, and this one truly delivered. There's something thrilling about watching two people who clearly like each other pretend that they don’t. Plus, the way it delves into the complexities of family relationships and their impact is beautifully done. Highly recommend!

So grateful for NetGalley and the Atria Books or the advance copy of The Fiancé Dilemma!

This was my first Elena Armas book and I wasn’t disappointed! I LOVE a good story with the fake dating/engagement trope. Josie has been engaged 4 times but never has made it to the “I do” part. Her father’s PR team arrives and sees the engagement ring on Josie’s finger things snowball quickly. Matthew, who just arrived into Green Oak, gets wrangled into being fiancé number 5.

The commencement of the fake engagement did feel rushed. I was always skeptical of Bobbi and her motives. She was so pushy and struck me as someone who would do anything to ensure her job was done, even at the expense of others. Josie’s quirkiness took some getting used to but I love how having anxiety was covered by Elena. Matthew took me by surprise. He was always on Josie’s side. I love how Josie’s and Matthew’s friendship evolved throughout the story. The story of their very first texting interaction made me swoon! The side characters were lovable and added more to the story as they were all rooting for Josie to get her HEA.

For me the pacing of the book was a little all over the place but overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it!

The Fiancé Dilemma is the second book in The Long Game Series by author of The Spanish Love Deception, Elena Armas. You don’t need to read this series in order to keep up but for those who have, this is Josie’s story.

Josie Moore is a Jill of All Trades small town Mayor who has had four failed engagements (think Julia Roberts a la Runaway Bride). Raised by a single mom, she finally finds out who her dad is and that he happens to also be the well known MLS mogul father of her best friend now half sister. Talk about drama! To dodge a PR scandal, she lands herself right in the middle of a fake engagement with her new half sister’s best friend. Will she finally make it down the aisle? Pick up The Fiancé Dilemma on July 30th to find out!

This was a fun rom com, though raunchier than my preference. The books in this series are also very long with a lot of detail around non essential situations and characters. If you like wedding planning and spicy rom coms, this one is for you!

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book covers so much from anxiety to family trauma to a beautiful golden retriever man who just really believes in true love. I ate it all up. I had some small issues at the start where I felt like she pressured him a little too much to agree to her wild plan, but it all worked out in the end. We've got: he falls first and falls harder, she has a panic attack and only asks for him to help, fake dating, small town, and that incredible "hey don't talk to her like that" moment. This book is incredibly sweet and just makes me want to be held.

This book makes you feel all warm and fuzzy! It’s a classic fake “fiancé” trope with so much more back story from the characters history. The main characters are relatable and kind making you want to keep reading until the very end! I found myself laughing out loud and falling in love with even the supporting characters in the charming small town.

The Fiance Dilemma

I really enjoyed this romance novel by Elena Armas!

The female main character, Josie, was lovable and super quirky, and I loved that she wore so many hats and was essentially a Jack of all trades. I could easily see us being friends if she were an actual person and found different parts of her to be relatable at times. And MATTHEW! (insert swoon)! Matthew was everything you want a MMC to be. He was caring, protective, and understanding, handsome! My only wish, is that I could’ve read more from his POV, so I could fully understand what he was thinking and felt more of a connection to him, rather than relying solely on what Josie saw through her eyes.

This was also my first time reading a book with the “runaway bride” concept, and after reading this one, I’d love to find others. This book surprised me in the best way, and the ending was not predictable for me at all!

Some of the things you'll find in this book are:

-sister’s bestfriend trope

-grumpy but secretively a cinnamon roll mmc

-rich daddy who’s trying to return to his daughter’s life

-small town romance

-slow burn


Thank you so much Atria Books for sending me this e-arc through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to read more by Elena Armas in the future!

I was really excited to read this book after The Long Game, but I admit I liked the first book a bit more. This book was good- it was emotional when it needed to be and spicy when I wanted it to be, but I didn’t vibe with the characters as much as I did in the first book. Still very good, and like other reviewers have said, it wraps up very nicely in the end.

Fake engagement turned true love ❤️

Josie has had 4 broken engagements and her romance history becomes the center of a podcast show. Always the bride, but never a wife. To clear her reputation she decides on a whim to pretend to be engaged for a 5th time. Only the lucky man is completely unaware. This book was filled with so many funny moments and the tension was definitely strong.

While this book is based in the same universe as The Long Game, it can be read as a stand alone which I read it as.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Fiancé Dilemma will be published July 30th.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of “The Fiancé Dilemma” by Elena Armas

I’m still debating on eating this 3.5-4 stars

The beginning was not ideal. It was very “I’m so quirky” millennial which irked me. Also the whole fake engagement plan seemed to happen quick into the book.

As the book continues it gets more interesting and Josie gets less quirky. Either that or I just got used to it but anyways I’m feeling better about her. She can just be a lot at times.

This book has more spice than I thought it would so that was a plus for sure
And man those scenes were making me sweat!

Matthew was your perfect blonde golden retriever man with a filthy mouth that I absolutely adored! Oh and he also wears glasses which is even better.

I loved the ending of this book it was all wrapped up perfectly in a little bow!

Overall I did enjoy reading this and I MAYBE she’s a tear or two!

I recommended for a great summer beach read