you guysss, this was really sweet! this was one of the first times in a LONG time that i stayed up finishing a book.

i didn't love the long game, so i was a little hesitant to dive into greek oak #2, but i ended up really, really enjoying this. josie was caring and funny and optimistic and.. flawed. matthew was the sweetest golden retriever who protects the one he loves and loves dropping a "good girl" from time to time. 🥵 they were PERFECT together and both provided exactly what the other people needed. truly soul-mates!

🎧 i highly recommend the audiobook. brittany pressley (who i've listened to and loved before) did a fantastic job bringing josie's high energy, peppy personality, and kindness to life. she also gave me goosebumps delivering some of matthew's lines! a really great narration!

read if you like:
-fake engagement
-small-town romances
-sister's best friend
-golden retriever mmc
-family drama
-soul-mates
-he falls first

thank you so much to atria books for the arc even though it took me so long to read it. 🫣

4.5/5

I’m so glad I didn’t wait to dive into this one—it's a perfect combination of swoon, spice, and small-town charm.

Josie is the heroine you’ll instantly love. She's funny, caring, and a little quirky, but most of all, she just wants to be loved. As the mayor of her small town, she’s always putting others first—especially her grandfather Mo, who will have you laughing out loud. Josie’s relationship with her father, her daddy issues, and her struggles with love after four failed engagements made her character so relatable and grounded.

Then we have Matthew, the MMC, who had me swooning hard. He's the embodiment of a golden retriever with a filthy mouth. He’s patient, sweet, and protective of Josie in the most endearing way. I adored how he stood up for her at every turn and how he truly cared for her. His dirty talk was spicy (and I mean spicy 🔥), and his possessiveness was the perfect touch. I also loved the originality of having a blonde MMC—thank you, Armas, for breaking the dark-haired hero mold!

The fake engagement trope here was executed so well. What started as a misunderstanding (Matthew turning up in Green Oak and being mistaken for Josie’s fiancé) quickly turns into a heartfelt and hilarious fake relationship. The slow burn was absolutely worth the wait, and the sexual tension between them was a chef’s kiss. The spice was delivered just right, with a buildup that had me on the edge of my seat.

The plot was full of drama, personal growth, and juicy moments. The podcast scenes added a fun layer, and I loved how Josie’s past failed engagements kept coming up, adding both humor and secondhand embarrassment (in a good way!). The ending was just perfect—no unnecessary drama, just a sweet and satisfying resolution.

This book made me feel all the feels, and I can’t recommend it enough! If you're a fan of small-town romance, fake dating, slow burns, and swoon-worthy heroes, The Fiancé Dilemma is a must-read. Elena Armas has firmly cemented herself as one of my auto-buy authors. This is definitely one of my favorites from her!

Overall, an incredibly enjoyable read that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even fan yourself a few times. Go read it—you won’t regret it!

This is such a great series of books made better by reading them in order, but also just as wonderful in their own. I loved the back and forth banter of this book and how the characters grow together and seperate. I did wish the story moved a long quicker, it seemed to repeat the same pattern for too long I felt myself rushing through skipping over words because I knew the outcome and wanted to get to the final status. Overall Will recommend to friends!

I loved everything about this book…except the female main character. The story itself was great, the quirky small town cast of characters were a dream, and the male main character? Swoon. And it was almost enough to sell me…almost. The problem? No character arc. She started as whiny and insecure with no backbone. Aaaand ended exactly the same way. Those things are fine at the beginning when the journey is still to come, but by the end when you still can’t stand up for yourself you’ve lost me. This has so much potential but for me, ultimately wasn’t my favorite.

The Fiancé Dilemma gave me everything I didn’t know I needed: fake dating, sister’s best friend, emotional chaos, and so much more. ughhhh so good.

Josie is a hot mess in the most lovable way—literally engaged FOUR time and suddenly fake-engaged to a guy she barely knows for PR reasons?? I was hooked. And Matthew?? So sweet I was obsessed with him. The way he shows up for her even when she’s spiraling?? Ugh. I’m in love.

This book felt like a warm hug with a chaotic edge. 10/10 would fake date a broody Irishman if it ended like this.

This book was so cute and fun and I loved it!

I’m still new-ish to this author, but the books I’ve read so far have been so amazing!

This book had THE BEST TROPES. Omg. Fake engagement? Best friend’s sister? Second chances? I. Ate. This. Up.

Thank you so much for this arc! I highly recommend this book to everyone!

The Fiance Dilemma is Armas's best book yet, in my opinion. Some of the storyline seemed forced, but overall it flowed well. Love a good fake dating trope. The slow-burn build of tension between Jose and Matthew is excellent - the wine tasting scene....swoon.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I loved the middle and end of this book, but the beginning fell flat for me. It moved REALLY fast, and just didn’t seem believable that Josie would want to cover for her dad in this way. There wasn’t enough substance between Josie and Andrew to warrant this. I would have loved to see that fleshed out more. I did love Matthew and Josie’s relationship once they got into their fake engagement, however. And no third act breakup! I was worried in the wedding dress shop that we’d be hitting that, but I love that she called for him instead and they walked out together.

Overall this book has its cute moments and if you’re looking for an easy summer read with an HEA then this one should be right up your alley.

Such a charming and feel-good read! Josie and Matthew’s fake engagement had all the right ingredients—fun banter, undeniable chemistry, and just the right amount of small-town chaos. Josie’s messy romantic history made her super relatable, and I loved watching her grow past it with Matthew (who is totally swoon-worthy, by the way). The found-family angle and second-chance themes gave it a little extra heart, too. It dragged a tiny bit in the middle, but overall, it was sweet, funny, and full of those “aww” moments I love in a romance. Definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of fake dating done right!

I absolutely love this book and this was my first read by this author! I think that the way the story came out was so cute and sweet, but not innocent lol I loved the level of spice in this book! The romance seemed a little quick, but it was also very genuine and real and that’s what I loved the most about this book! Will continue reading more books by the author!

Elena Armas’ *The Fiancé Dilemma* takes a fresh look at modern love, diving into the struggle between personal freedom and the desire to commit to someone. Josie faces a dilemma that many of us can relate to, and Armas does a great job of mixing humor, vulnerability, and emotional tension to make her characters feel real and relatable. It’s not your typical love story—there’s no easy answer about love or commitment, and the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery is just as important as the romance. Armas blends light, funny moments with deeper themes about choice and sacrifice, showing how tough it can be to make life’s big decisions. In the end, *The Fiancé Dilemma* makes you think not just about who you choose to love, but how you love yourself, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.

From the very first chapter of this book I was hooked! Josie Moore has four failed engagements. This wouldn't be a normal issue however her father is wealthy and well known and has hired a PR Strategist to handle Josie... Just as I loved Josie from the first page, I couldn't stand Bobbi Shark from the moment she knocked on Josie's door. Bobbi mistakenly believe that Josie is engaged yet again and to none other than the lovable Matthew Flanagan....Josie's sisters best friend. Instead of handling the PR crisis Bobbi thought she was assigned to, she now begins to help plan the best PR wedding for Josie and Matthew.
The Fiance Dilemma is such a good spring time read! I loved getting to know Josie and Matthew and was rooting for them to actually be engaged! This is the perfect small town romance mixed with friends to lovers!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When you think of a RomCom this is the type of book that comes to mind. This was such a cute book. The characters were likeable and charming. Josie and Matthew had such great chemistry and I loved their story. This is the second book I have read from this author and I think I am becoming a fan. Recommended for those who like fake dating, runaway bride, and small town romance.

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 3/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) I usually bump up for public places/outdoor spaces, but it’s one of only a few steamy scenes (with lovely details) so I’ll leave it at three.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 The characterization is written very well.
🤩 I liked the MMC, but I’m on the fence about the FMC.
🤩 Brittany Pressley is a fabulous narrator. She changes her voice well for conversations and is enjoyable to listen to.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Do not choose this audiobook for your Zachary Webber fix—he only narrated one chapter.
💫 Fake is usually my favorite, but the whole reason behind this fake engagement just wasn’t my favorite, all wound up in weird daddy issues.
💫 There’s an overall feeling of miscommunication/misunderstanding that annoys me about this book.
💫 The slow-burn has slow-burn that I’m just not sure I believe. Then all of the sudden it’s not slow burning anymore—the timing is surprising.
💫 I would have liked this to have been written with more standalone characteristics. There were times I was confused even having read The Long Game. I think readers might be extra confused if they haven’t read the first book in the Green Oak series.

Elena Armas is truly a master of her craft! The Fiancé Dilemma altered my brain chemistry, and I want nothing more in this universe but to find a man like Matthew. This story was a slow burn, and it was SWOONWORTHY!! She does a great job of developing Josie and Matthew's love story and honestly this one will have you laughing and crying, and all around this is a feel good book!

Such a cute, fun read! Super easy to digest, too. I'd describe this book as a charming and heartfelt romcom. I loved the chemistry between Josie and Matthew, since Josie was more quirky and impulsive while Matthew had a more steady and protective demeanor. Overall, I've been a fan of Elena Armas for a while and love how she writes.

I love Elena Armas & her spicy romances & this one doesn't disappoint for a quick read. Definitely has some Runaway Bride vibes & some moments where I questioned the characters & their decision making - but all in all I enjoyed the book which is the whole point of reading in my opinion. Did I have fun while reading this? Did I finish the book with a small and some laughs along the way? Yup :)

I slept on this one for a good while, but it ended up being a super cute read. I enjoyed the two main characters and following their unconventional love story.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas is a charming and heartfelt romantic comedy that delves into themes of self-discovery, love, and the complexities of family dynamics. Set in the picturesque small town of Green Oak, North Carolina, the story centers on Josie Moore, a spirited and endearing protagonist known for her four previous failed engagements. Her life takes an unexpected turn when a misunderstanding leads her to introduce Matthew Flanagan, her half-sister Adalyn’s best friend, as her fiancé. Matthew, recently unemployed and seeking a fresh start, agrees to the charade, setting the stage for a delightful exploration of fake dating and the blurred lines between pretense and genuine affection.  

Armas masterfully crafts the chemistry between Josie and Matthew, making their evolving relationship both believable and engaging. Josie’s quirky and impulsive nature contrasts beautifully with Matthew’s steady and protective demeanor, creating a dynamic that is both humorous and deeply touching. The narrative is enriched by the vibrant community of Green Oak, whose residents add depth and charm to the story, enhancing the small-town atmosphere that fans of the genre will appreciate. 

Overall, The Fiancé Dilemma is a delightful read that combines the allure of a small-town romance with the complexities of personal growth and familial expectations. Elena Armas delivers a story that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

This was a fun read, love that the Armas humor is alive and well! The couple was fun a I like that we stayed in the same universe as her other books. I didn't really care for the daddy storyline to be honest. Otherwise, this was a great story.