This was a cute lighthearted romance, it kind of reminded me of The Hating Game so if you liked that book this might be up your alley.

While this story was adorable, it felt like it dragged on too long. It could have used 100 less pages and I think it still would have been a great story.

Catalina CANNOT show up to her sister's wedding without her "boyfriend." The only option she has is the annoying guy from work that drives her up the wall, Aaron. When she gets to Spain, she starts to see him in a different light and feelings start to change.
Opinion
I love romances where the main character does a 180 on their feelings. This book gave me all the warm feelings while I read it. I would recommend this 100% to anyone looking for a good romance. There is not too much spice and the angst between Cat and Aaron is off the charts.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. Many apologies for taking so long to review it.

Such a good, fun summer read. Well written and plot and character developments were strong. Maybe the conflict in the end was a bit unbelievable and had me rolling my eyes a bit, but it was at least resolved quickly. Aaron had me a bit twisted in the beginning with the way he treated Catalina and how he didn't stand up for her in that one scene, (we know which one). He redeemed himself as the story went on though. We love a hopeless and miserable man when it comes to his object of his desire.

[RECOMMENDATION] For fans of fake dating and spicy books that make you smile from ear to ear as you read.

[SYNOPSIS] Catalina needs a date for her sister's wedding, because she might've accidentally told them she has an American boyfriend and they all can't wait to meet him (including her ex and his new fiancee). Now she has four weeks to find someone, get their stories straight, and convince them to travel with her to Spain. Easy, breezy, right? Enter booktok's favorite boyfriend, Aaron Blackford. He's tall, handsome, and grumpy asf. But he might be her only option.

[REVIEW] I understand the hype - this book is SO much fun!! I would love to see it get made into a movie, this is the energy of romcom movies I love, in book form. Their chemistry is fun, and I love the way Elena Armas writes.

**Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for my free e-book copy, all opinions are my own.

This was a nice light and easy read. I typically read darker romance, and it's refreshing to read something a little lighter, and on the contemporary side. I also do love the fake dating trope, as it can really bring the best character moments, and getting to the "aha" moment is always great, even in this one.

A long slow burn type of romance book. LOVED her characters. Great connection to the reader. Hard to put down. I will definitely pick up her next book!

Thank you NetGalley.

"The Spanish Love Deception" by Elena Armas is a light and breezy romance novel that offers a predictable storyline and familiar tropes. While the premise of the fake relationship trope has potential, the execution feels formulaic and lacks depth. The characters, while likable, often fall into clichés, and their development feels superficial. Additionally, the plot relies heavily on misunderstandings and miscommunication, which can be frustrating for readers seeking more substantial conflict. It also drags on unnecessarily. There is no need for this book to be over 400 pages, and it could have benefitted from a lot of editing, making for a tighter storyline with better pacing. While the book provides an enjoyable escape for those looking for a quick read, it ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression or offer anything particularly memorable or original. I would be interested to see something else from this author, but ultimately this book just wasn't for me.

I am SO glad that I finally got around to reading this book. It was funny, charming, and sexy, and Aaron Blackford is pretty much my dream man. As someone with a huge, crazy, family, it was cool to read about one similar to my own. I felt that the first half was pretty slow and redundant, and Lina sort of annoyed me at times, but the trip to Spain and the days following made up for those lulls. Honestly, this book had me smiling like an idiot even through the sappy cringey parts, and it felt like a breath of fresh air. I definitely recommend.

I just reviewed The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas. #TheSpanishLoveDeception #NetGalley

I started this book and ended up DNF'ing it. I got bored and lost interest halfway through. I would look into other books by this author.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

The travel component of this was one of my favorite parts! I loved the setting and how the characters were exploring the place and each other.

Catalina needs a date for her sister's wedding in Spain, where her ex will be the best man. Her office nemesis, Aaron, volunteers, and she has no choice but to take him up on it. Catalina's family is hilarious.

This is a fun book to read. The narrator is sassy and strong. The male lead is brooding and appealing. They have a slow-burn journey to getting together, but once they do it is HOT. The sex was a bit graphic for my taste, but the relationship is sweet. Aaron turns out not to be as grumpy as he seems!

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas has everything that I love about a romcom. Close proximity, fake dating, one bed, so why didn't I like it more than I did? Well maybe because it comes in at over 450 pages? This novel was so drawn out that I lost interest quite a few times throughout the reading. I loved the setting and characters but there was something about this book that made it "meh" for me. I know that others loved this one but I think it was just very wordy and could have been condensed a lot more to make for a more page turning read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was alright - I feel it was hyped a lot and was just not something I enjoyed. The characters were okay, the plot was good, but it overall just fell flat for me.

Not my typical type of book,but I fell in love with the characters and was invested in their story. I laughed and cried!

I really wanted to love this one but I just struggled with it. The main character was not for me. I didn't like how she made constant jokes and how that would ruin a serious moment. It made me chuckle the first couple times but then it just kept going and going. Which is another issue I had with the book, it felt unnecessarily long. I think it would have benefited if it was cut in half. Overall, this book had some cute moments but I think due to the hype I was just expecting more.

"The Spanish Love Deception" by Elena Armas delivers an enthralling blend of romance and suspense that sweeps readers into the passionate world of Elena and Alex, whose chemistry sizzles from their very first encounter. As their connection deepens, so does the complexity of the obstacles. Armas skillfully develops her characters, allowing readers to feel their desires, fears, and uncertainties, making their journey all the more relatable and engaging.

All in all, "The Spanish Love Deception" is a romantic page-turner that whisks readers away to a world of captivating characters and secrets - this book is definitely worth a read.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Catalina Martín needs someone to pretend to be her boyfriend at her sister’s wedding—but she doesn’t expect her work enemy, Aaron Blackford, to volunteer.

Okay, first things first, I would straight-up marry Aaron Blackford if he was real. He’s an absolutely flawless man and easily one of my top five book boyfriends of all time (to be fair that list changes a lot but I’m confident he’ll live there for a long time). The man bought her five tacos when she only asked for four. How she didn’t realize in that moment he loved her and she loved him I will never know.

On to the rest of the book—it was so sweet, and cute, and fun, and made me smile. All of the tropes here are absolute catnip to me, and Elena executed them PERFECTLY. I could go on, but I know I’m late to the party on this one, so I’ll just say I fully expect that Elena Armas will take her place as one of my all-time favorite romance authors very soon (and she might be there already).

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: enemies to lovers; workplace romance; fake dating

CW: Mentions of terminal illness; sexual harassment/sexism

I loved this book so so so so much. The whole setup was perfectly plotted and the spice was next level amazing. News favorite author!