Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

6 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

3.5

I was ready to hate my book and took my eyes start to finish. I had tried to read this book once before, but I’d DNFd it the first time. But it kept coming back to me from one must read list to another, so I gave it another chance. So glad I did. Aaron is the perfect man in so many ways. Despite my desire to hate the book, I kept finding myself charmed. I even laughed hard at few times. And OMG, the first sex scene in the book - I was fully present and there for it and for quite a while afterward. That was an unexpected and delicious surprise. But then, after that, I started liking him less. It was almost like he was a different character - less attuned, less perfect. He got crass, insensitive, patronizing, closed off, and needy. Carolina went from smart and respectable to a hero to root for, to needy herself and simpering. But they eventually became two characters I could like and respect by the end of the story and my disappointment was lifted. For all these reasons, the book started out a 2, climbed to a 4, and landed as a 3.5.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Cancer, Bullying, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism

ankiaisreading's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content, Bullying, Cancer, Misogyny, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Sexism, and Xenophobia

hannibanani29's review against another edition

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

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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

larxene_castellan's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Cancer, Death of parent, Misogyny, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia

hayleyw's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, and Misogyny

Moderate: Terminal illness, Death of parent, Medical content, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual harassment

allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

4.0

I LOVE a long-winded romance because it can give you the slowest burn and the deepest feels. I have never been weak-in-the-knees about coffee shop banter before but OK. I have been ENTRAPPED. This romance serves up fake dating, workplace enemies-to-lovers, only one bed, sunshine & grump, and a cinnamon roll that's pretending he's not. There's even a charity bachelor auction to get your heart racing.

I'll admit for the first hundred pages I wasn't convinced. The back-and-forth about Catalina needing a date for her sister's wedding didn't draw me in right away. I retroactively understood the urgency once we reached Spain and saw the situation, learned her history. BUT all it took to completely rattle me and make me a believer was one fake date. The tension was sublime, and it unfurled through the rest of the story to great effect. Aka I was freaking out and very invested.

So there was some rough-around-the-edges pacing, but it didn't ultimately detract from my enjoyment. I will be delighted to pick up more books from this author and see what else she has to throw at me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Eating disorder, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Xenophobia