Book Review: The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas

A fake engagement, second chances, and newfound family members come together in The Fiance Dilemma from the New York Times bestselling author Elena Armas.
The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas
Josie Moore has given the opposite sex—and love—plenty of chances. Four exactly, if you count all her failed engagements, and five if you include her no-longer-absentee father. Nonetheless, when the influential man decides to announce his retirement with a splashy magazine piece and Josie learns that her romantic history isn’t great PR for the family, she jumps at the chance to offer a solution.
Matthew Flanagan is in the mud. Literally. Not only has he been fired from his job, but after taking a wrong turn on his way to Green Oak, North Carolina, his car is stuck. So, he grabs a duffel bag with his essentials and goes in search of a place to crash until he gets his life (and vehicle) back on track. But instead, he stumbles upon his best friend’s sister, Josie, greeting him as her fiancé.
What starts as a big misunderstanding quickly turns into a fake engagement, with Matthew playing the role of the doting fiancé as he and Josie are swept into a PR whirlwind. The ring on Josie’s finger makes her stomach turn, but she knows this is only temporary. They have rules in place, and one of them is that no matter what, there will be no exchange of “I dos.” But that’s easier said than done, as lines soon start to blur, and the rest of the small town comes to believe the fifth fiancé is truly The One.
Book Review
I received an advance review copy from @atriabooks on @netgalley for my honest review.
“The Fiance Dilemma” by Elena Armas is a delightful and heartwarming small-town romance that beautifully executes my favorite trope—fake dating (ok, fake engagement but close enough). Josie Moore’s complicated romantic history and Matthew Flanagan’s unexpected arrival create the perfect setup for this “engaging” and swoon-worthy story. Think “Runaway Bride” meets “The Proposal.”
Josie’s multiple failed engagements and a family PR nightmare lead to a brilliant scheme: a fake engagement with Matthew, her sister’s best friend. The dynamic between Josie and Matthew is hilarious and entertaining from the start. Armas skillfully navigates their transition from a fabricated relationship to something more genuine, blurring the lines between pretense and reality.
Elena Armas has crafted another romantic gem with “The Fiance Dilemma.” I finished it in one weekend and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a feel-good romance. Get your copy Tuesday, July 30th!
Read if you like:
💚✨ Friends to Lovers
💚✨ Slow Burn
💚✨ Body Positivity
💚✨ Second Chance
