‘The Spanish Love Deception,’ will make you fall in love

The first book review of March is here and I can believe I’m already late for this one. Especially when we are talking about a book that made me fall head over heels in love with a fictional character. I’d already heard a lot of good things about his book before reading it, but.. oh…man, I was not expecting this type of narrative. The Spanish Love Deception definitely captures the attention of the reader from the first page when you are dropped in the middle of a conversation with no context, which makes everything more intriguing. Bit by bit, the author starts teasing the reader and involving us in an addictive game where everything is fair in love and war.

Can you already see how much I liked this story? I’ll tell you one thing, this book will be responsible if I have to change my glasses prescription again because I read it everywhere: the subway, the bus, even walking, but that was too much. However, do I regret any of it? No, not one bit. But, before I say too much, let’s get started.d.

Author

Elena Armas is the author of this incredible book and I must say it surprised me to learn she has a degree in chemical engineering. Reading the book I always picture her studying English and devouring books all the time. Seems like only one of my assumptions was right, the part about loving books. One could say that Armas’s career started as a bookstagrammer with her handle @thebiblioteque. But, after some time, she finally decided to start writing. This I’m really thankful for because she has incredible talent.

Overview

Once I read the title, I made a lot of assumptions regarding the story I was about to read. I knew it was going to be good because many people have talked about it. But, once I finished it, I heard myself sigh because I had been holding the air inside my lungs for so long. Those last few chapters were everything and made me remember those other characters I’ve fallen in love with. I hope after reading this review, all readers will rush to the bookstore because let me tell you, this is a once-in-a-lifetime love story.

In the first few chapters of the book, as a reader, you almost feel like you are tumbling around passages with no context. But quickly, you learn that it is always going to be this way, especially with Catalina Martín, our main character. A Spanish girl who has left her country behind and had ended up working at InTech, where she met Aaron Blackford.

We learn that Catalina and Aaron had been coworkers for several years, but that didn’t mean they liked each other. In fact, every time they were together, it was like a fire ignited, and neither of them could stop fighting with the other. In the middle of this hell relationship at work, Catalina is also stressed about her sister’s wedding. Not only because she will have to travel all the way to Spain, but it was the fact she had to do it all alone. The scenario became even darker when she found out that her ex, Daniel, was engaged while she had remained single since she arrived in New York.

However, this was not the worst part of the whole thing. The worst part was she had told her family she had a boyfriend who would attend the wedding. Was she insane? Maybe, but there was no turning back. Here in the middle of the hole, she had dug herself, Catalina gets rescued by the most unexpected person, Aaron.

The two coworkers decide to make a deal, or should I say a ‘Spanish Love Deception’? Aaron will pretend to be her boyfriend and go to Spain. But in return, Catalina has to accompany him to a gala. Seems simple enough. But, as time passes, Catalina notices the effect that Aaron has on her body, the tension in the air, and those deep blue eyes get under her skin.

Ignoring all this, Catalina thinks there is nothing to worry about since they are just pretending, right? However, how much can a human pretend before feeling? Is everything really a deception, or is there some truth within it? Those are answers I can’t spoil, but if you are truly intrigued, read the book and follow Catalina while she tries to figure out this mess in her head and possibly in her heart.

Personal Thoughts

I must say I really feel sad about finishing this book because by the end I wanted to follow the characters a little longer. I would have loved to see their story after that last page. Not that anything was missing in the book itself, but I was just so enamoured with the story I wanted to hold on to it a little longer. Everything about his book fits perfectly, from the characters to the narrative and extra details that make you believe this world is real.

Being a native Spanish speaker myself, I really loved those small random thoughts of phrases Catalina will throw in Spanish. I believe it is very difficult for a writer to merge both languages in one book, but Armas did it. This bilingual structure made me feel my two worlds, Spanish and English, collapsed in what I now hope will be my future love story.

Even though Catalina is a great main character, I have to pause a bit and talk about Aaron, because what a man. After reading about him, I had to stop looking for the one because that’s him, a fictional character. I know you might think I’m crazy, but before judging me, read him. All of him. Armas has created the man that any girl will want, a man anyone could fall for.

Reading Aaron, I will always surprise myself holding my breath or my heart pumping faster on my chest. At the same time, I felt kind of nostalgic because I had that kind of love before. A love that leaves you breathless, that makes your heart skip a beat, and I didn’t know how much I missed it until I read this book. However, it was the good kind of sadness, the one that comes with memories, lots of them.

Plot & Structure 10/10

The structure of this book is chronological, though we get some hints to the past through memories or thoughts Catalina has during the first few chapters. Even though at the beginning the reader might get a bit lost because a lot of information is missing, that’s one of the features that make this book unique.

The same goes for the plot of the story, since it is a book that is easy to follow. Once Catalina’s family enters the plot, there are a lot of names the reader needs to remember, but the way the chapters are organized eases this. Also, there are no big time jumps, which means the reader can relax and enjoy the narrative.

Character Development 10/10

I feel that especially in romance novels, the character development must be excellent since that’s what will attract readers the most. The chemistry between the characters needs to fit in with their personality. Plus, even when they are presented as a couple, we still need to perceive them as different beings on the page. Armas excelled at this task. Not only she created incredible secondary characters, but the main ones are so fascinating that they make you fall in love.

This pair that Armas has created seems more real than anything else I have read before. We are presented with two people who have flaws and some scars from the past, but there is no extra drama. That’s just life, and through the book, they help each other get over those situations.

Dialogue 10/10

This is a big 10/10 because the dialogue was the part of the book that made my heart skip a beat. Yes, I will hold my breath every time Aaron talked with Catalina as if I was in the room instead of her. The words are so carefully crafted it is easy to get lost on the pages and read until you are suddenly at the beginning of another chapter.

However, that is not my favourite part. As I mentioned above, I loved those little bits in which Catalina will comment on something in Spanish. This only gets better when she visits her family in Spain, and I can see how this second language adds another level to the character, to who she is. As a reader, it allows you to understand a bit of her past.

Unanswered Questions 10/10

When can I read more? A book with no plot holes, excellent character description and an enticing story only leaves one question in my mind. When can I read more from Armas? It might sound like I’m exaggerating, but it’s been a long time since I’ve read a romance book that actually resembles reality. And isn’t that what we all want? Looking up to a love story that could happen to us? One that is made out of two ordinary people with the same problems we have, the same fears and dreams?

Voice 10/10

Sometimes romance books tend to be the same because the voices of the authors are all very similar. That means it is hard to stand out in this genre if you don’t have something new to offer. Armas was smart enough to find something no other author had before. That bilingual element. Who would be crazy enough to insert something like this in a book and succeed? Well, Armas did it.

I must add that looking back at all the books I’ve read this year, I hope we get more and more young authors because they are doing something right; they are revolutionizing the industry.

Personal Note

Looking at the statistics for the best performing genres throughout the years, romance was always on top, and though I’ve always preferred fantasy, books like this one help me understand why romance has been at the top for such a long time. Bravo, Elena Armas. The Spanish Love Deception is definitely one of my favourite books now.

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