Josie Moore is living her best life in Green Oak, North Carolina. She is the town mayor and runs a local coffee shop. She is beloved by everyone in the town. She is strong and independent. And everyone knows that she’s engaged to be married.

Josie isn’t, really. Not this time. This time her engagement is fake. It was a impulse based on the fact that her father’s PR rep appeared suddenly on her doorstep, needing some good news to counteract how Josie had become a media liability to her father. Andrew hadn’t been a part of her life, but he’d had a short relationship with her mother. He is an important, wealthy businessman in Florida, and a year ago he had admitted to Josie that he was, indeed, her father.

Just like that, Josie was a part of her father’s world (although not too closely, since he didn’t take the time to go back to North Carolina to see her in person). That meant she also had a sister, Adalyn, who had come to Green Oak on a assignment from her father. And it meant Josie had also became a part of the news stories about him, the paparazzi digging into her background without any consent from her. That’s how it became part of the story that Josie had been engaged four times, and never been married. She just kept leaving them at the altar.

That article brought Bobbi to her front porch, to fix the PR problem that is Josie. Josie looked up from that conversation to see Matthew Flanagan walking towards her. She knew who he was because he was Adalyn’s best friend. Josie panicked and told Bobbi that Matthew was her new fiancé. Matthew had come to Green Oak after being fired from his job. He had gotten his car stuck in the mud and was looking for someone to help him. What he found was Josie announcing that they were engaged. It took him only a second to decide to play along.

After Bobbi leaves, Josie apologizes to Matthew about dragging him into her mess, and she promises she wouldn’t make him get married. She helps him get to his house and get his car out of the mud. And when she goes into her coffee shop to offer up pastries and tasty coffee drinks for the town, she finds out that word has gotten out. Everyone in the town already knows that she’s engaged.

Josie decides to keep up the façade for a little while longer, and Matthew agrees to help her. But then Bobbi comes back with a plan for them to get married in about a month. She will work as their wedding planner, and Andrew will pay for everything. Josie keeps trying to stop this wedding train that seems to be coming for her, but she can’t figure out how to make it stop. And Matthew is there for her, asking what he can do to help and protecting her from the media. Josie feels safe when he’s around, and she can’t deny that he’s really hot. But she still has to find a way out of the wedding. Right?

The Fiancé Dilemma is the latest spicy rom com from beloved author Elena Armas. It’s set in the world of her last book, The Long Game (which I loved, so I will say to read that one too if you haven’t already), but you don’t need to read The Long Game to understand what’s happening here. The characters overlap a little, but the two stories are completely independent and wonderfully human. Josie and Matthew are a match made in heaven, and watching them come together and be strong against a world of gossip mongers and preening rich men is one I will read over and over. I fell in love with Josie when I first met her, and she just gets better the more you get to know her.

I am a big fan of the film The Runaway Bride, and it’s easy to make comparisons to this book because of Josie’s four previous engagements. There is some of the same feeling in this book, like Josie has finally met someone who sees her for herself, but paparazzi aside, there is less of the shaming and mean-spirited comments in this story, and I think that is an excellent storytelling choice. I was surprised at how readily Matthew went along with Josie’s idea of a fake engagement, but his reasons become more clear as the story goes along. I loved The Fiancé Dilemma, and I cannot wait to see what Armas comes up with next. I am all in on Elena Armas!

Egalleys for The Fiancé Dilemma were provided by Atria Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I enjoyed reading The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

If you like slow burn then this is the book for you! If you thought the Spanish Love Deception was slow then you will be pleasantly surprised by how much you have to work for this romance. Fans of Mariana Zapata’s writing will love this book. This is the second book in the series (the first is a Long Game) but it can also be read as a standalone. This has the classic Elena writing: cheesy, banter and spice.

Fifth times the charm. Right? Josie has had a series of failed engagements but life throws her another curveball -so a fifth (but fake!) engagement will fix it. I’m a sucker for fake dating/fake engagement trope so I was very excited for this one and it delivered. Add in the small town, sisters best friend and slow burn tropes and this is the perfect romance recipe.
I adored Matthew and his considerate nature with a side of dirty talk. I didn’t know how I would feel about the podcasts and things with the plot but I really enjoyed it. The only major issue I had was with Josie - some of her inner monologues were annoying.
With no third act break up this book took the top spot in this series for me. Definitely recommend.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas was a breath of fresh air. The MCs in this book are just so refreshingly sweet and good in a way that I don't feel like I've seen for a while. Josie is just trying to make everyone happy, and the people pleasing FMCs typically stress me out, but it worked for me in this book. Matthew may be the perfect MC. He is the type of guy you wish you could meet and fall for in real life but don't actually believe exists. If you had had four failed engagements, Matthew would be the guy to restore your faith in happily ever afters.

Josie finds herself in a bit of a PR situation (her father's PR situation really) and decides in a panicked moment that the way out is to pretend she is engaged for a fifth time. This time to her sister's best friend, Matthew, who happened to be walking by at the moment of said panic. It is small town, fake fiancés/engagement of convenience, slow burn (but actually burns), and just an absolute pleasure to read,

Thank you to Elena Armas, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Book 2 in the Long Game series.
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💍fake engagement
💍sister’s best friend
💍small town
💍slow burn
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Is the 5th time the charm for Josie? With 4 previous failed engagements, Matt somehow finds himself Josie’s fake fiancé. Josie’s failed engagements are a PR nightmare, so a misunderstanding turns into Matthew stepping in as Josie’s newest love.
Josie definitely gives me run away bride vibes and she’s a bit of a messy character.
Overall, I enjoyed it!
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Thank you netgalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read this book!

The Fiancé Dilemma is a charming romantic comedy full of unique quirks set in the captivating town of Green Oaks, North Carolina. It follows Josie Moore, coffee enthusiast, and small-town mayor turned PR nightmare. To rectify her unseemly scandal and improve her billionaire father's and her own reputation, she publicly announces her newest engagement, after a long string of broken ones, to none other than Matthew Flanagan, her sister's best friend, and her fake fiancé.

Josie is a bundle of pure sunshine. Despite all the challenges and losses thrown her way, she still manages to find the energy to smile and be an inspiring and radiating force in her small town. However, against her father and the utter shark, who is his PR strategist, Josie is an utter doormat. I don't understand why she'd let them walk all over her when I didn't get the sense she was this type of character in The Long Game. As much as I love Matthew's protectiveness, girlie, you got to fight those battles for yourself, especially to a man you OWE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO BECAUSE HE WAS ABSENT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF YOUR LIFE.

Furthermore, I absolutely hate the resolution because it took about four-hundred pages just for Josie to realize, "Oh yes, I don't owe my absentee father anything, and if this man wants a relationship, he must work for it." Girl, ISN'T THAT A LOGICAL THING? WHY DID IT TAKE YOU THIS LONG TO REALISE THAT? I get you're a people-pleaser, but I wanted to smack a reality check into you.

Glasses-wearing Mattsie-boo is somehow a perfect dichotomy of that golden retriever type we all obsess over and a possessive one that we can't help but drool for. He served almost all of my favorite quotes from this book.

First, he's already a hero in my book for dealing with all of Josie's ramblings. You can ramble when you're nervous; sure, I do get that, but I would have personally smacked her in the mouth and not just stood there listening to her go on and on. Second, the amount of patience this man has, like, oh god, how? I would have thrown up and taken the first bus out of Green Oaks immediately.

I wish we could have gotten more Matthew chapters rather than just one at the very end because why did Cameron 'Cardboard' Caldani get more in his book than Matthew did in this one?

Honestly, it's a solid work for Elena Armas, and I understand that ARCs can get messy, so I don't know if all this will make it into the final copy, but this book was all over the place. I'll forgive it because it's an ARC. I also wanted a more in-depth understanding of Matthew and Josie's characters through a backstory and a stronger foundation for their romantic feelings. However, I did find it unrealistic that the feelings happened literally out of nowhere. They weren't there for one chapter, and in the next, they punched me in the face.

But there was no third-act breakup, and I nearly cried because I love books with no third-act breakups.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed the fake dating aspect and that Matthew went along with Josie’s hare brained idea…going along with her telling her dad she was engaged to him. I loved that he stood up for her and fell hard for her. Josie was an endearing character that I loved from the get go. She was down to earth and relatable as well as funny. These two had me cracking up multiple times and the connection between them was amazing! Over all I really enjoyed this book. The only thing was I wish is that we had gotten more of Matthews point of view.

The Fiancé Dilemma is SO good! I was excited, invested, and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen the whole book. I love Elena Armas books and The Fiancé Dilemma is now the number one book in my rankings.

Fake engagement! Pining! Slow burn! The Fiancé Dilemma has it all & so much more. I loved the back and forth between Josie and Matthew, plus the interaction with characters we have met before in The Long Game.

Elena Armas has done it again. This book was fantastic. I love catching up with characters from other books. Josie and Matthew were on fire the whole book. This is a fake engagement trope that doesn't seem so fake.

I usually enjoy dual POV but the way that she writes the point of view from the FMC and you have to guess what the MMC is thinking adds to the layers and fire in the book. The way the looks Matthew gives Josie are described had my blood thrumming. I do love MMC with glasses. They do make a man look sexier, lol.

There is such a build up that really gives the book a punch of spiciness. Elena does a wonderful job with the looks, touches, and words that you are anticipating that first kiss. I would totally recommend this book to anyone who loves fake dating/engagement tropes or romance in general.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Elena Armas for the e-ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.

I want to start off by saying that I was incredibly excited to read this book. All three previous books by Elena Armas are top tier 5 star reads for me that I could reread over and over and over again. Unfortunately, The Fiance Dilemma didn't feel like any of her previous books and missed the mark for me, which is why I ended up DNFing it. These characters felt completely different from the ones that were introduced in The Long Game, it would have greatly benefited from dual POV and the pacing was slow/a bit off for me. Still excited to see what Elena comes up with next! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.

I’m such a sucker for a fate dating/fake engagement trope! It always sucks me in every 👏🏽 single 👏🏽 time!! 👏🏽

I thought this book had that incredible Elena Armas flair with some quirky characters, funny moments and of course a sloooooooow burn! 🔥 It was very intriguing to get to know Matthew and Josie and seeing them work through this fake engagement together. There were many moments that had me giggling, some that had me swooning, and some that had me needing to cool off. 🥵

I did enjoy parts of the romance between Josie and Matthew, but I found the slow burn to be incredibly slow in this one! I found some parts dragged and were a little too slow burn-y for my taste. Elena Armas always does a fantastic job at creating tension between her MCs, where even the brush of a hand will have you swooning. I would have really loved this book even more if this still had all of that tension but at a little bit of a faster pace. If you’re a fan of slow burns though, then this one is it for you (or any of her books for that matter)!!

Side note: that bathtub scene?!? 🥵🫣👀 iykyk!

Thank you to Elena Armas, Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Let me start by saying if you liked Spanish Love Deception and The Long Game, then I think you’ll love this. Elena’s books are long, so if you’re either all in or all out.

The main character is this one is Josie who is Adalyn’s sister if you’ve read The Long Game. Their father Andrew has just resurfaced in their life, not really having anything to do with them in the past. He had a one night stand with Josie’s mom and had never been in their life at all. He is a wealthy, powerful man and he is writing a book about his life which is where Josie comes in, his “misstep” as she’s called.

Josie is trying to save her reputation from this PR nightmare as the media quickly gets wind of Josie’s Runaway Bride act. She’s been engaged and to the alter 4 times but can never manage to seal the deal. Cue Matthew, Adalyn’s best friend who breezes into town and is at the right place at the right time for our fake fiancée trope to begin.

As a romance lover, no spoilers here as people develop feelings into this fake relationship. I loved Matthew’s character in this book and how he went to bat for her every time; Josie finally does stand up for herself at the end with things that happen her father and his publicist, so I was a little disappointed she needed Matthew to do that, but think she just needed someone in her corner.

Be warned fans of Armas, this is very different than Spanish Love Deception; I think it reads more like The Long Game. 4.25 stars from me!

Thanks to NetGalley for this amazing ARC.

This was such a fun read! I Lol’d at some parts & it was just what every good feel good romance book needs! This is book 2 in a series but I don’t honestly think you need to read book 1 because Elena gives good info in this book about the previous main characters in book 1 (which these 2 main characters in this book are in book 1 too).

Josie (FMC) is hilarious & all over the place. She is such a fun character & will do anything for anyone. Matthew (MMC) is quite possibly one of the best book boyfriends I’ve ever met. He was seriously THE SWEETEST & smitten kitten with Josie. Watching their relationship grow was so fun & swoon worthy!

This gives Runaway Bride vibes and I lived for it. The small town vibes also with all the different characters added so much fun to all the drama that was going on!

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Alright alright alright let’s get into this one. First of all. I really loved the plot. While some things were convenient, I still enjoyed it anyway. It reminded me of a 90s Romcom for sure. Even referenced Runaway Bride. But the fake finance part was gold. Listen, when you read these books you know how it’s going to end. You just don’t know the journey which hello, is why we read it in the first place. I liked the MMC and FMC. Here and there I felt like their conversations were slightly inorganic but I’ve read way worse so I brushed it off. HOWEVER. I almost wanted to rate this lower because of the spicy scenes. I legit had to read them to my husband to make sure I wasn’t crazy but the dialogue was SO cringey. Every spicy scene was cringey. And the fact that their first kiss happened so late in the game while other things had happened was so weird to me. Which I’m glad the MMC at least admitted haha but still… weird. But the convos just seemed like nothing that would ever actually happen during a romantic moment between two real people. I get that this is really more someone’s fantasy or what they think people want to read, but I can assure you the way their first real love scene ends…. That would NOT make my fantasy list and I refuse to believe any woman wants that… mess. Hahahaha see I can’t even type without laughing uncomfortably about it. ANYWAYS the spice just wasn’t for me. And unfortunately while you can skip, there are some things said that you miss if you do. Just skim my friends. Trust. Also. Words that do not ever belong in ANY love scene: folds. Poking. Please. Never again.

Another thing I had a hard time with? Her repeating what people said immediately after CONSTANTLY. I heard what they said, I do not need the FMC to rethink it on the next line in italics. Here and there sure. BUT NOT EVERY TIME SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING SWEET OR MOVING. And I feel like the author repeated some phrases a lot in this book. I can’t remember what but.. WAIT OMG HOW DID I ALMOST FORGET.

Baby blue. No. Absolutely not. Not sexy. Maybe cute the first time he said it. But to default to that as what he called her? Dry heave. And calling someone “my sweet f@$;@ girl” during an intimate scene… maybe it’s because I have kids but it gave me the ICK. Don’t call me your sweet girl. Please. Okay okay I’m sorry I’m done.

Side note, I did NOT read the first book and felt like I was able to get enough of a read on everything through details given in the book that I wasn’t totally lost.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for providing me with an ARC read in exchange for my honest review!

No third act breakup!!!! That alone had me jazzed, but Elena Armas had to go and write some of the loveliest MCs too. Her newest work is a tour de force of the romance genre. I can't wait to read what she writes next.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

The Fiancé Dilemma
4.5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️

I thought this was great! Loved the banter and tension between the characters. I loved Josie’s POV and appreciated how the story went throughout the book. The last chapter was in Matthew’s POV and I so wish I could have seen more of his chapters. His feelings are easily expressed in Josie’s POV, but I still would have loved his. 😂
I really enjoyed that Adalyn and Cameron were major side characters in this book - they were in it just the right amount.
I thought the podcast was an interesting storyline, and loved how that was entwined and then the twist I did not see coming! 😱

Read if you like:
Fake fiancé 💍
Runway Bride Vibes
Small town romance
Slow burn 🔥
Sister’s best friend
Teacup pig 🫠
Single POV

The Fiancé Dilemma is in the same universe as The Long Game (she is the town’s mayor/coffee shop owner, he is Adalyn’s best friend), but can be read as a standalone.

This book was missing some things for me, but it was still worth the read. I enjoyed all of the characters and the friend relationships the story portrays. I wanted some back story about Josie and her previous relationships because it was hard to feel sympathetic for her 4 failed engagements. She was described as an independent woman, but let herself be easily manipulated by her father and the PR scandal.

Josie and Matthew were adorable together, but it was a little instant-love for my taste. Some of their history was touched on, but not fully explored to understand how their connection built so fast. I appreciated Matthew’s patience with Josie’s hesitation about a relationship, and I thought they were really sweet to each other. I just fully didn’t buy in to the fast timeline. Overall, it was a cute story and a fun read, just not one that will stick out in my memory.

Thank you to Atria, Elena Armas, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

ELENA FREAKING ARMAS!
You did it again.
You created the most delectable MMC, who is undeniably perfect for the FMC.
Witty banter, nicknames, S P I C E, tension… I’m obsessed. I’ll be thinking about this for a long time.
4.5 ⭐️

“You’re too honorable, Josie girl. A true unicorn.”

“Oversharing was one of my love languages.”

“I always liked this part of a relationship. It’s what I miss the most.”
“That’s a dangerous green light you’re giving me.”

“I didn’t think I’d ever date a blond. Not that I was dating one now. I- I was probably ovulating.”

“I was in an obvious rush to see my… Josie. My fiancée, Josie.”

“You didn’t leave me on read?”

“My face was flaming. I didn’t even know why, just that apparently I wasn’t in control of simple bodily functions when this man called me beautiful.”

“Only a fool would wait when there’s something so precious to be claimed.”

“Matthew. Are you the jealous, possessive type?”
“Yes. I can be. But I’m easily swayed to be nice and proper.”

“Maybe I would help any stranger. But it’s you I’m going this far for, Josie.”

“Beautiful things shouldn’t be boxed. It eventually dims their light.”

“He was all growly and grouchy over me being up here. Over something I could do with my eyes closed, I’d done it so many times.”

“You’re important. You have me. And there’s nothing about you I want to fix. There’s nothing about you that needs fixing.”

“It was truly unfair how much he loved to eat and how happy it made me to watch him.”

“His dream should have been getting married to you.”

“I’m needy, I guess. I’m not cool enough to act like I don’t care, when I’ve been moping around.”

“Nah, Blue. It makes you the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”

“Your fiancé is a hands man. What’s anyone going to say? I’m yours to do as you want.”

“Give me what I want. Let me have you all to myself.”

“What if I can’t give you any f*$%ing firsts, so I want to make sure I get a chance at being your last?”

“You’re perfect.”
“Wrong. I’m perfect for you.”

“I got you, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”

“You don’t have a reputation. You have a heart that chose to believe in love.”

“Josie, baby.” A sob exploded out of me. As if yanked by those two words. Him, being with me.

“My heart is not broken. And I’m not leaving you. Hear me?”

“You good? That was a lot, and you were so brave.”

“It had always been difficult not to come off too strong around Josie.”

“Go on, Baby Blue. It’s me you’re running to.”

I don’t know what it about wild and chaotic characters in books but I love them so much… maybe I’m wild at heart and just don’t know yet? 😏

But Josephine was a whole vibe that had be laughing from the very beginning. I just loved her free spirit! When she loves , she loves and when she hurts, she hurts- and you can’t help but to just feel all of those emotions right there with her.

And Matthew??? Oh Matthew… a pretty boy with a mouth that will bring you to your knees 🥵. He was something else, and i absolutely loved him! He’s not scared to give it to you straight and he will love you like there’s no tomorrow.

The Fiancé Dilemma by @thebibliotheque was such a fun, heartwarming, sexy and emotional story. Towards the end I definitely shed a couple of tears. The chemistry between the characters, the slow burn, the tension was perfection 🤌🏽. Oh, and Grandpa Moe- I loved him so much!! 🥹

My girlies who are in their romance era who loves a good heartfelt and sexy story- this one is for you! 🫶🏽

Tropes:

🌼 Small Town
💜 Fake Dating
🌼 Sister’s Best Friend
💜 He Falls First
🌼 No Third Act Breakup
💜 Slow burn
🌼 Spice

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Available now at your favorite bookstore.

Thank you so much @thebibliotheque and @netgalley for an e-arc of The Fiancé Dilemma. I now need to go read The Long Game because I need to know all about Cam, Adalyn and Josie 🥹.