The Spanish Love Deception: A Novel

Written by Elena Armas

Narrated by Scarlette Hayes

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Nov 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781797141329

Elena Armas

Elena Armas is a Spanish writer, self-confessed hopeless romantic, and proud book hoarder. Now, she’s also the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Spanish Love Deception, The American Roommate Experiment, and The Long Game. Her books are being translated to over thirty languages—which is bananas, if you ask her.

Reviews for The Spanish Love Deception

[Tyler156 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Had to really fight to get through it. The narrator was really good but the character was really off putting.
It’s like being in an over-thinkers brain. She over analyzed EVERYTHING! At one point I was screaming YOLO. If you wanna hear self doubt this is it. This would make an awesome movie though.
Wish it would have focused more on her Spanish family.

[Amanda Johnson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book by this author that I've read/listened to and I'm HOOKED. This story about Lena and Aaron is EVERYTHING you need. I really hope she has more coming about Rosie and the cousins. I'll be on the lookout for more by this author. Amazing job!

[Abbey Scott · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It’s really…tropey. I also didn’t love Catalina’s characterization. It felt a lot like she was just there for Aaron’s taking. I wanted to know something about Catalina that didn’t involve her relationship to a man and all we got is that she likes brownies and Disney movies. Um..okay give us nothing queen. The trope that the man always eventually wins over the woman is just not my thing even though I usually don’t mind/actually enjoy a good enemies to lovers. IMO it’s enemies to lovers done wrong.

[Cassandra Bocanegra · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Actually loved it. Only bad thing I have to said was the audio would randomly stop for a min or so then continue on like it didn’t just skip a whole min. Overall it was eh about it until one of the more intimate scenes and I didn’t like that I missed out in some of the details

[Andy Alvarez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great slow burn, super satisfying ending. Though sometimes I wish the back and forth would get to the point quicker. Other than that, supe enjoyable read!

[Shealea · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Listen, is The Spanish Love Deception the worst book I've ever read? Not really.

But honestly speaking, I found (a whole lot more) value, quality writing, and unadulterated entertainment in reading the 1-star reviews of this book. And I think that speaks volumes.

[Clista Seals · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Spicy fun read. Workplace romance. Enemies to lovers. Fake boyfriend. Travel for wedding. Loads of tropes that I enjoy, you will too!

[cristina Ramos · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The book is too slow. Skit to chapter 21. :/

[Queen lexus Ross · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was so cute I recommend anybody to read this book that loves romance!

[Sierra Suniga · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Such a slow read. The book doesn’t get good till page 263 out of 460-ish pages.
This book romance did not make sense to me. Catalina seems a lot more childish then a normal 30 year old women with a good job would be. I do not recommend this book to anyone.

[Edda Räther · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was cute, sometimes a bit cringey but still fun to listen to

[Emilia Márquez · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Slow, cliche, ridiculous. A cheap copy of The Hating Game

[Ekene Ogbue · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While I didn't love it love it the way most people did, I still found it charming

[steph · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Blah. So clique and unnecessarily "stubborn". Reads like a YA novel. Children being allowed to do adult things.

[lzndraaa · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Over hyped. Could not get into. 4 hours in and still couldn’t care less. The Spanish usage is awkward and stereotypical. As Latina and Hispanic myself, we don’t just start throwing Spanish phrases when we’re mad. Overall, it’s a no for me.

[Jenna Vaughn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enemies to lovers trope but a good one. ☺️
Lena realizes that her ex, who will be the best man at her sister's wedding, is now engaged. It becomes more important than ever that she bring a plus one to the event. When her surly coworker Aaron volunteers for the job, she immediately declines. However, where else would she find a New York man willing to fly to Spain?? So the deal is struck and that's when sparks start to fly. Aaron was a little too perfect and Catalina seems a little two dimensional and defined by men and others in her life, but it was a good light-hearted read.

[Jennifer Fields · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I’d actually give this zero stars. Why did I finish this book?? I’m disappointed because it has so many good reviews, but it’s terrible. Read the Hating Game if you want a grumpy/ sunshine workplace story with great banter.

[Melissa Settle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was really cute and was a great slow burn with lots of good banter. My only complaints would be the heroine’s constant inner dialogue that would drag a 2 second moment into 10 minutes. Inner dialogue is important to get across feelings and plot but not the same inner dialogue over and over! It was like a broken record and got annoying. It was also VERY obvious that the hero was into her and she kept denying it and discounting his words which made her look downright ignorant at times!

[cocoarper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read this book! It took me way too long to do it! It was perfect! It has everything, a lil hate to love, lil friends to love, fake dating, lil office romance, one bed, a slow burn that pays off. Aaron now is my top book guy. The writing was just perfect. I held on to every word. Finished this book in one day. I absolutely loved it!

[anacatarinanpf98 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3,5 ✨
Very sweet and light romance, it’s not really breathtaking, but still a good read.

[sarah · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Aaron Blackford ruined me. That’s all, that’s the review.

I loved the book!

[XxGravity BreakxX · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just over all an Absolutely amazing book. Honestly I recommend reading this

[SofiaGonzalez · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Catalina is INSUFFERABLE. the rest of the book is good :)

[corey Payton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved the Book but wish they would find a replacement for the use of G** D****
Makes me cringe…

[valentina · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

It felt basically unbearable, I mean Aaron is so so so so so very much unbelievably imposible,the construction of the story... every line that he sad was just such a cliché. The author gave him this mind reading power... which is unnatural and as much as perceptive as anyone might be it is not like this.............. it just feel way to forced and the author just left me hanging and the sex scenes... c'mon!

[Emily S · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this enemies to lovers office romance! 5/5 stars for me

[Nallely Gutierrez · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It was pretty much like a bunch of movies i have watched

[Raquel Wester · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this! I listened to the audio book and read the ebook. The narrator was super fun and really conveyed the emotions the characters were feeling. Without too much spoilers, this is a slow burn. While lots action (you know ?) happening in the latter half of the book. However, unlike what others say, I feel this appropriate. Yes it happens like a whirlwind and is fast, but its supposed to be that way. Lina even (FMC) comments on that at the end, that her stubborness and fears were what was holding her back from the life she could've had with Aaron a lot earlier. Plus, Aaron (MMC) is such an amazing person that it takes away any doubts you may have.

[Helen · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I simply could not stand the way the narrator did Aaron's voice. Sorry, but it was truly unbearable. DNF. Unfortunately cannot read the book because of sight related issues. Sucks.

[Kaitlyn Corona · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cheng by the end. Should have stopped by Spain. Ya