Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - The Spanish Love Deception

Reviews tagging Adult/minor relationship

The Spanish Love Deception, by Elena Armas

18 reviews

tsar's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

“When I finally kiss you, there won’t be any doubt in your mind that it is real.”

When someone says that a certain romance novel has some of my favorite tropes: enemies-to-lovers and fake dating, I will devour them in a heartbeat without further thinking. Another plus point if it sets in a workplace environment as it's relatable to my status as a career woman. Thus, that's how I fell into the rabbit hole of The Spanish Love Deception, and I'm happy that it doesn't disappoint my expectations.

The novel revolves around Catalina Martins, a late 20ish career woman who struggles to find a fake date for her sister's wedding in her home country Spain, so she can avoid the family's assumptions about her single status. Without her expecting it, Aaron Blackford offers his hand to be her fake boyfriend; the cold and aloof work rival who 'hates' her existence in the office. Even more surprising, he has no ill-advised intention or secret agenda in his proposal. And while Lina stubbornly refuses his hand at the beginning, she might've realized that Aaron is the perfect choice for her desperate attempt to fool her rambunctious family.

In a fake dating or enemies-to-lovers trope, the narrative has a peculiar pattern to build the tension between the characters before they officially become a couple. We will see both of them slowly appreciate the gestures of one another and then fall in love, or one of the pairs is already in love, and they only have to wait for their fake date to be in love with them as well. It's a delicious theme that stands against the time, providing a mix of emotions from happiness to humor to the pain from assuming that they can't get the other to love them.

Armas learns this trope very well: she introduces the animosity between Lina and Aaron in their office, deliberately presenting that the hostile feelings are one-sided on Lina's side to the point where her best friend can see it herself. And it isn't just a silly hostility over something so minuscule but a justified reaction from Lina ever since she is indirectly shamed for her personality and ethics as a co-worker in the same place. Armas gradually conveys her characters a chance to relearn one another beyond their given perspective at their respective desks, allowing them to mend their misunderstandings and build mutual respect that is almost nonexistent at the beginning of the story. It's quite a slow process since Armas utilizes their changing perspectives not only to accelerate their romantic fall but also to influence their personality development, mainly the protagonist.

It turns fruitful in Armas' case. As the main protagonist, Catalina can be considered annoying—this is one point I've found from several readers and reviewers. Her stubbornness is almost beyond the norm, despite the fact that she isn't an arrogant person by any means. She's introduced to be mouthy and quick to assume, and they are mostly negative presumptions about someone else. However, as Armas forces Lina to open up more about herself due to having Aaron as her only ally during this fake relationship fiasco, she expands the backstory that impacts the headstrong attitude she exhibits in her work environment; a brown-skinned immigrant with constant pressure to prove herself in academic and career field that can strip her off of the public stereotypes, and the trauma she still harbors from a fatal incident that prompts her to move away from her home country.

Without counting Rosie as her best friend, it is a presumably lonely lifestyle in a city like New York. It shapes her independence and fear of incompetence, rebuffing help, especially from someone she genuinely dislikes. However, the all-around uncompromising personality is proven not to be the only thing that defines Catalina; Armas writes her to be capable of having fun and letting loose, owing to the familiar comfort of her family. Furthermore, she writes her to be skittish, numerously displaying uneasy gestures that indicate that her trauma from her hometown is not fully gone even after years of migrating to America. It's a dynamic character writing that Armas successfully appeals to in gouging the emotions of empathy, frustration, happiness, and support towards her main character. So, her initial 'annoying-ness' is perhaps justified, as I've stated earlier.

Armas' dynamic characterization also appears in Aaron Blackford's writing; he's introduced as a distant person, coming off as a straight arrow and guarded whose sole focus is only on his works. Even at times of uneasiness, Armas seems to be occupied in making his reactions so in control as if he's only slightly bothered about it. Yet, he has tender moments reserved personally for him and his loved ones, such as his love for Disney animated films, his surprisingly easy going interaction with Catalina's family, or the moment he can finally open up about his relationship with his father as well as his mother's death. However, the revelation of Aaron's 'new' side doesn't contribute much to his character development, unlike how it vastly opens up Catalina's shell. His personality still seems to be the same as his initial introduction in the first chapter, albeit he's a bit more sentimental. Maybe it's because we see him from Catalina's perspective in the narrative, so at the end of the day, his growth simply shows how much he's been in love with her for years.

Does that make their romance any less sizzling? It doesn't. As I've mentioned above, it is a slow-burn one between both of them, but it's a satisfying journey to watch Aaron and Catalina become head over heels with each other, from the way they mix some truths and lies in their fake romantic history to Lina's family to their sexual and romantic struggle not to jump each other—and their sexcapades? Gold. I was honestly hot and bothered when I read how Aaron keeps goading Lina every time they have intercourse.

Another highlight, which I could say is the most significant substory, is that Armas keeps it authentic in describing the workplace bigotry against Catalina. Her scuffle with the male co-workers in the office, particularly Gerald, is not only an example of sexism against a career woman who is in the potential position of a leader or an equal (both Catalina and Gerald are project team leaders), but it's also an example of racial aggression. She is a full-blooded Spanish immigrant living in America with a penchant for exploding to strings of Spanish sentences and hinted to have light-tan or brown skin color that will still consider her exotic in the eyes of men like Gerald. It's one thing that I can say to be realistic and painfully relatable examples for students or working adults who move from their countries to America.

And if there's one thing that I feel a bit disconnected with aside from Aaron's characterization is the numerous Spanish lines in the novel. I appreciate that Armas keeps the authenticity of her ethnicity alive in the book, but I also struggle to understand what Catalina says in Spanish because very few of them include a direct or paraphrased translation. I wish that Armas provides a glossary for all the words she uses, so readers can understand since not all of her global audience are familiar with the Spanish language.

As an author newly introduced to me, I am impressed with her debut. It's fun, sexy, and exhilarating. I am looking forward to seeing the follow-up of this book and her future releases!

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georginainvisablestring22's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Content Warnings

livelyghost's review against another edition

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challenging emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Catalina Martín works with Aaron Bradford at an engineering consulting company, but after getting off on the wrong foot they’ve been quietly antagonizing each other for months. When Catalina wants a date for her sister’s wedding, Aaron volunteers himself. Catalina doesn’t necessarily trust him but ultimately agrees and an adventure begins.

I question every single decision the characters in this book make. Catalina says she absolutely loathes this dude but decides to trust him with her reputation and international travel. We learn that Aaron has been obsessed with her and remembers seemingly everything she’s ever said in a way that gives me the ick. It’s cool that he’s being “polite” and asking for permission before trying anything but the overall impression I get is that if he didn’t get his way he’d end up as one of those guys whose favorite movies is The Joker and constantly laments about being “misunderstood.” Catalina doesn’t pick up on any of this and/or denies it’s happening which is like, girl, you’re a woman in the 21st century, a better radar for the people who are uncomfortably hot for you would be immensely helpful.

This book hits so many tropes in such an unsatisfying way. The girl who doesn’t eat and faints so a man gives her a granola bar and then has to coach her into eating for 50 pages, the man who doesn’t know how to express his emotions and just never bothers to be outwardly nice in public to this girl so they can stop being turds to each other, an ex who is a literal predator with no repercussions, miscommunications, entire sentences being exchanged through a glance, a plot that centers around a wedding that we see approximately 10 seconds of, one bed only, fake dating. It tries to giveth, but it mostly taketh away. I feel like Lina got oddly Stockholm syndromed into horniness.

Also I have no idea what the author has against conjunctions but what 28 year old seriously only speaks with an apostrophe only twice in 400+ pages??

Also also I never want to hear a man say “milk me” ever again thank u.

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goddaniiit's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I don't know if I went in with too much expectations with all the hype BookTok was giving it or if it just came off a little lackluster to me. Some choices were made and it felt like it was just done for the sake of plot convenience. Not gonna lie, there were certain scenes wherein I had to take a break from reading because of secondhand embarrassment. In addition, I also thought that Aaron Blackfort is such a bland love interest. Catalina Martín could do so much better!

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fabichirinos's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

AAA I COULDN'T GET MY HANDS OFF THIS BOOKK i loved it so much, it was sexy, funny and had some intercultural perks it's my kind of cliche and THE DIALOGUE so sexy, really fun read and light to have a good time

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jfield351's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.75

I hated this book :(. All my friends love it and theres a major hype around this book but i vehemently despise it. The writing style was good, and thats the only praise I have for it.

Spoiler

The characters were dreadful. So unrealistic and horrible people. Everything they said and did was completely stupid. Aaron was an insane, controlling, horrible alpha male which did not get better at the end, it was very uncomfortable to read. Catalina told him no SO many times and he kept pushing which i find disgusting, not romantic. But then, Catalina magically falls in love with him? And all they do is have sex nothing else happens. Catalina is also quite dumb and shoves off her 'best friend' Rosie a few times. She also starves herself and does all this stupid stuff that is so unrealistic. For example, apparently she hated him for 2 years but then he gets a promotion and she's all like "I'm genuinely happy for Aaron!'. What? Definitely does not pass the Bechdel test. Catalina and also the plot are very inconsistent.

. the main thing i got from the title was deception. this was not love.

Content Warnings

arthur_ant18's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

asha_m's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Content Warnings

imlaurenshelton's review against another edition

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funny tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

DNF. It just got increasingly sexual and vulgar towards the end which completely ruins a lighthearted read. I also think the graphic nature of some of these scenes should have warranted a warning, I tried skipping through the scenes, for my own personal reasons, but ended up just ending the book where I was at. Why? Because I’m sure it’s the same enemies to lovers cliche that there’s a misunderstanding and they break up but eventually get back together and I don’t need to trudge through chapters of ick to get there. Also, I did not like how possessive and demanding the love interest was - I’m sure that’s because it’s a sexual fantasy of some kind but I just, BLEH. I didn’t find either main character likable. I think my favorite character was the mom, maybe TJ. This reading experience soured me, I feel like it was built up to be such a good book and then heavily relied on cursing and sex to sell. If you want to read a book similar to this without the graphic nature (smut), I recommend The Unhoneymooners (fade to black) and I’m still looking for sex-free options.

Edit: Someone said Aaron is the reason they raised their standards for men and I am sobbing. 😭 What planet do we live on now? I don’t want to be here anymore. Good men exist, and they are not love-bombing, possessive, borderline stalkers like Aaron. “But he really loves her!” No- he’s obsessed with her! Find better, don’t settle for the first guy who says he’ll do anything for you, or the second, or the third. 🙄 Know your worth.

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rayofhope7's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Maybe 3.5? Idk?

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