The Spanish Love Deception

by Elena Armas

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A TikTok sensation, this rom-com about a young woman who agrees to fake date a colleague and bring him to her sister’s wedding has “everything you could want in a romance” (Helen Hoang, New York Times bestselling author).

Catalina Martín desperately needs a date to her sister’s wedding. Especially since her little white lie about her American boyfriend has spiralled out of control. Now everyone she knows—including her ex and his fiancée—will be there and eager to meet him.

She only has four weeks to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic and aid in her deception. New York to Spain is no short flight and her raucous family won’t be easy to fool.

Enter Aaron Blackford—her tall, handsome, condescending colleague—who surprisingly offers to step in. She’d rather refuse; never has there been a more aggravating, blood-boiling, and insufferable man.

But Catalina is desperate, and as the wedding draws nearer, Aaron looks like her best option. And she begins to realize he might not be as terrible in the real world as he is at the office.

• ISBN10: 1668002523
• ISBN13: 9781668002520
• Publish Date: 8 February 2022 (first published 22 February 2021)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Atria Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 448
• Language: English

Reviews

[Ashley]

DNF after 3%.

Just couldn't stand the dialogue/characters. The first few pages were pure dialogue – just really childish fighting. Imagine two people fighting, and refusing to speak to each other, so they communicate via a third person standing with them:

Catalina: "Please tell Aaron that I do not need a date!"

Friend: “Aaron, Catalina says that she doesn't need a date.”

Aaron: “Please tell Catalina that she obviously does need a date and that she won't find anyone else in time.”

Friend: “Aaron says that he thinks you do need a date and that you won't find anyone else in time.”

I couldn't stand it.

Maybe it gets better, but I'm ready to move on to something else…

[marciemarie]

This is one of those books I reaalllly wish I could give partial stars to so I could give it a 4.5. I was really delighted by this, especially since I picked it up because I'd hear good things, not because I found the premise particularly exciting. The plot is pretty standard for the genre, but was executed so well that it stood out regardless. The best part about this book? It doesn't rely on miscommunication!!! While there is a third act breakup (how could there not be??), it isn't based off of two people being utterly and bizarrely unable to communicate simple things. Catalina is a *little* unable to communicate, but in a normal way for someone trying to protect their feelings, not the insane amount we see in romance. Such a small thing, but it was such a relief to not just be screaming "JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER" the entire last 1/3 of the book.