mirandap442's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol, Cancer, Eating disorder, Grief, Bullying, and Cursing
Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, and Pregnancy
tsar's review against another edition
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Racial slurs, and Grief
Moderate: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Bullying
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
katherine20's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Misogyny, Grief, and Sexism
cassie12_21's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Cute but why did it take half the book to get to Spain? 🌶️🌶️/5.
Spoiler
smut doesn’t happen until about 80% through 😢
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Violence, and Death of parent
megcarrick's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Grief, Alcohol, Cancer, Cursing, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Medical content, Misogyny, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Pregnancy
marveloustime's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK 💞 I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT AND AARON BLACKFORD SUCH A BOYFRIEND AND HUSBAND MATERIAL HE IS 😩💗
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Bullying, Sexism, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, and Grief
hannah_hall's review against another edition
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Grief
hannibanani29's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Cursing, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Cancer
Minor: Xenophobia, Grief, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
4.0
I'd seen mixed reviews on this, so didn't know what to expect. The dialogue was a bit forced/unnatural at times, but when you get into the story, that isn't as prominent. Fake dating, there was only one bed...<3 Oh and miscommunication between the MC/LI didn't cause a huge misunderstanding!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny and Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, and Medical content
takarakei's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is the best fake dating trope I've read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Eating disorder, Grief, and Death of parent