This book was a slow burn and took a little bit for me to become interested, but once it finally hit the sweet spot around halfway, I struggled to put it down, finding myself up at 1AM while still needing to work in less than 6 hours. This is a sure sign that I am thoroughly enjoying a book and that it's 100% worth my time! This is the first book I've attempted to read by Elena Armas and I think I will be picking up more most definitely! I do wish there was more explanation to why the weddings for Josie didn't work out, and have more back story, but I truly loved reading the interactions between Matthew and Josie and how much chemistry they had. Seeing from the back end how Matthew felt about Josie to begin with was honestly beautiful, and that he was all in on her to begin with. I truly enjoyed watching those aspects of the story play out while simultaneously getting so caught up in the will they won't they tension that I would hope would lead to a spicy scene only to have the tension bubble popped and have to wait for the next one to hit.

I will gladly read anything Elena Armas, and I really enjoyed this one! Looking forward to more from the author. Her characters and stories are always SO swoony!

I absolutely LOVE Elena Armas, with that being said, it was very hard for me to get into this book because I felt like I was missing something… which turns out I was 😂 this is the sequel to the Long Game, which I have not read yet. Regardless of that I still loved this book and will definitely read the long game now!

While I LOVED Elena Armas’s first series - and I mean the Spanish Love Deception and the American Roommate Experiment were 5 stars for me, this book was not my favorite. My main issue was Josie. Grandpa Moe and Matthew were amazing, no complaints!!! But Josie? Don’t get me wrong I LOVE a quirky fmc but sometimes she was a bit too much and I felt bad judging her but keeping all your old wedding dresses and rings??? I wanted to defend her but her lack of back bone and immaturity made it difficult to do so. And the whole reasoning for their “fake engagement” felt unrealistic. Why would a serial fiancée need another fiancée to help fix their image? And this book was made to be stand alone but I do not think it works as one. I had not read the long game prior so Matthew’s introduction was lacking. I didn’t really understand their prior connection.

A super cute read, great story and chemistry. This was a fun read. I really like Elena Armas' books.

I really, really wanted to love this book much more than I did. I found it very hard to connect with Josie - she was such a stereotypical overly quirky millennial girl, and it took away from what could have been a really authentic character. The book followed a really predictable formula, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I did feel as though I knew what step we were going to be taking next.

Some of the writing was really beautiful, and I wouldn't hesitate to read something else by this author in the future, but I fear this book just wasn't the one for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Fiancé Dilemma ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elena Armas has done it again. Such an enjoyable book! What is better than a fake dating, slow burn, trope?
I was so excited to get this ARC as I have been a fan of Elena’s other books. This one did not disappoint. I loved the characters and their interplay. I always enjoy clever banter and being able to feel the chemistry between the characters. I also enjoy when the support characters offer more interest and add to the story.
Blurb: Josie has had bad luck with engagements. Having struck out four times she is not keen for everyone to know this. However, when she learns that her father is a multimillionaire she realizes her life will no longer be private, so, for some reason, she decides to pretend she is engaged once again! Oh, but wait, the groom, Matthew, doesn’t know about the plan…

So much fun to read. Go get yourself a copy!

Many thanks to the author, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book was a DNF for me at about 80% into the book. I absolutely loved Elena Armas's The Spanish Love Deception, and have liked her other contemporary romances, but The Fiance Dilemma felt very lacking in character development compared to her other books. In particular, the hero's personality felt very underdeveloped, and his willingness to go along with the fake engagement lacked enough reasoning behind it for the plot to be plausible. I really don't mind an implausible plot in a romance novel normally, but not when the characterization and chemistry are also lacking. I'll still be interested in what Elena Armas comes out with next, but this was a miss for me.

If Elena Armas writes something I am 100000% going to read it! TFD was no different and I felt privileged to dive back into this world

Thank you net galley for the advance reader of this novel. This was a contemporary romance and had all the usual themes in a fake romance story. Cute and quick read. I would try for other things by this author.

This was not my favourite of her books but I still enjoyed it.

Love seeing previous main characters but considering how much she was involved in the previous book I would have expected her sister to have more book time. Didn’t care too much for the presence of the father but the assistant was great

Loved theses two together

This was not my favorite Elena Armas book. I struggled to get into it and ended up waiting for the audiobook be to released to finish it. Disappointing, because her books are usually auto-reads for me.

Thank you to everyone for the early copy of The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas.

I read the first book in this series last year when it came out and enjoyed the small town feel of the story, and was excited to go back. Elena's writing isn't my favorite, and I find that I struggle to stay interested in the story after a bit. Unfortunately, that happened again.

I love the main characters in this book, and the fake dating storyline captivated my interest at the start. But there were parts of it that felt too rushed, to forced upon you as the reader. Like why does it all have to happen so fast? I hated that the estranged dad became a main character, yet he wasn't really involved, and that you didn't really see much of the towns people you came to love in the pervious book.

Overall I liked this story, but I found myself wishing it was over too soon.

i loved this book! elena armas is an auto buy author for me and this one did not disappoint. i loved the characters and their relationship. the slow burn is perfection 😍 i can’t wait to read more of her books!

The Fiancé Dilemma was SO cute, I adored learning more about Josie and their story was so sweet! Elena Armas doesn’t miss and as a reader who has gone through a broken engagement, I really felt for Josie!

I have tried finishing this book multiple times and sadly cannot get into it enough after about 30-40 percent to continue reading. Thank you for the advanced copy.

This was a really cute rom com with a bit of spice!
I liked main characters and the side characters as well!
It was kind of interesting that Matthew just jumped in to help Josie without really thinking about it.
I guess it does make sense though at the end,when he explains why he did it and why he was there in the first place.
I felt that there wasn't a whole lot of depth to their lives. We never really got to figure out what Josies problems were.
Matthew's family really had no depth either.
It was just a fun romance.
I do feel like it dragged just a little, though. It didn't really need that end monologue, lol.
I did like how the conclusion was that you don't have to be legally married to be happy. The person you choose is what matters most.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Charming Fake Dating Romance with Heart

"The Fiance Dilemma," the second installment in the Green Oak series (though perfectly readable as a standalone), follows Josie, whose string of failed engagements threatens to derail her father's retirement announcement. To salvage her reputation, her absentee father enlists her in a fake
engagement with Matthew, a man seeking refuge from his own personal struggles.

What begins as a calculated arrangement unexpectedly blossoms into a genuine connection. While the "misunderstanding" trope is often overused, Armas masterfully avoids it, allowing for a slow burn romance that builds palpable tension and culminates in a satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion.

Josie, though fiercely independent, can occasionally be frustrating with her inner monologue. However, her resilience and strength shine through. Matthew, initially shy, emerges as a complex and intriguing character, offering unwavering support to Josie. Their chemistry is undeniable, fueled by witty banter and a genuine affection that deepens over time.

Armas's writing style is captivating, blending complex prose with moments of humor and poignant introspection. The narrative seamlessly weaves together character development, plot progression, and a simmering romance, creating a truly immersive reading experience.

"The Fiance Dilemma" is a delightful addition to the romantic comedy genre. Fans of slow-burn romances and those who appreciate well-developed characters and engaging storylines will undoubtedly enjoy this charming and heartwarming tale.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #atriabooks #thefiancedilemma #elenaarmas

I have not gotten bored with a fake relationship trope. This was cute. I enjoyed the whole book. The slow burn was written well. Thank you to Atria Books for the arc.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.