Book Review: The Fiancé Dilemma

Last year I read and really enjoyed The Long Game by Elena Armas. Her latest novel, The Fiancé Dilemma, is the follow up featuring Josie (Adalyn’s half sister and Cam’s friend) and Matthew (Adalyn’s best friend).

I really liked this book and Matthew Flanagan is top tier book boyfriend material. The novel follows Josie, coffee shop owner and mayor of Green Oak. She’s also been engaged 4 times. One day she’s taken by surprise by an unexpected visitor on her front porch. Bobbie Shark is a PR specialist who works for her rich and estranged father. Her multiple failed engagements could cause problems for her father’s image. Bobbie sees an engagement ring on Josie’s finger (unfortunately she’d been trying on her old rings when Bobbie showed up), assumes she’s engaged for a 5th time, and goes into full-on planning mode because this could be an image saver. As Josie scrambles to figure out how to deal with Bobbie, she sees Matthew – Adalyn’s best friend – walking down the street after arriving in town. She makes a split second decision to pretend he is her fiancé. Josie thought the lie would just have to last one evening and Bobbie would go back to Miami. Little did she know that a nosy neighbor overheard her talking to Bobbie so now all of Green Oak think she’s engaged and now all of social media is abuzz with the engagement and wondering if she’ll actually make it down the aisle this time.

Josie and Matthew decide to play along and pretend they’re actually engaged for the time being and hope things will die down. But the friends who are just meeting in person for the first time turned fake fiancés have so much chemistry and already get along great from all their texting that they don’t need to convince anyone they’re a real couple.

Josie has been through a lot in her life. Losing her mom, learning her father is a famous and rich businessman who owns a professional soccer team, and multiple broken engagements. She has spent a lot of her life being sunny on the outside but feeling like she’s not good enough or measuring up on the inside. Until she meets Matthew, who thinks she’s the most amazing person in the world.

The book took me a little bit to get hooked, but Matthew’s unfailing love for Josie really drew me in. Josie is herself with him and he sees she’s not perfect, but he still supports her and loves everything about her. He really has her back no matter what and I loved that. It made my heart happy that Josie finally had someone who put her first and she could rely on because she’s so used to taking care of everyone else.

I loved Josie and Matthew together so much. Their chemistry was off the charts and the slow burn was full of tension and angst and was so worthwhile!

I’m crossing my fingers that we got a Bobbie and Robbie novel because I think that would be so entertaining. Bobbie is such an intense, serious city girl and Robbie is more laidback, a farmer, and single dad. Plus, his daughter, Maria, would probably steal the show!

Read this book if you’re looking for a spicy romcom with the fake dating, friends to lovers tropes.

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