Elena Armas’s literary career took off when her debut novel, The Spanish Love Deception (2021), became a New York Times Bestseller. The romance novel acquired 100 million views on BookTok, received the 2021 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Debut Novel, and accepted a bid from BCDF Picture for motion picture rights. The story follows the stormy relationship of Catalina “Lina” Martín, a small-town girl from Spain, and Aaron Blackford, a former star athlete from Seattle, who work as mid-management colleagues at a New York City engineering firm. Lina must return to Spain to serve as the maid of honor in her sister’s wedding. Circumstances dictate she must bring an American boyfriend and the only volunteer is the aloof Aaron, whom she calls “Mr. Robot.” Armas understands the backdrop of the story as she is a chemical engineer from Spain and a lifelong lover of romance. Though written in English, the story also contains occasional uses of Spanish words and phrases.

This guide is based on the original Atria Books (Simon & Schuster) version published in 2021.

Content Warning: The Spanish Love Deception frequently references alcohol and explicit sexual content. Elena Armas occasionally uses English and Spanish expletives, including variations of the f-word. However, when the f-word is used, it is never used in a sexual context.

Plot Summary

Catalina “Lina” Martín speaks to her colleague and friend Rosie, saying she needs an American boyfriend to accompany her to her Spanish hometown for her sister’s wedding. Lina doesn’t know who to ask. Overhearing this conversation is Aaron Blackford, a colleague who has had a contentious relationship with Lina at their New York City engineering firm for 20 months. Lina discounts his offer as a joke.

In a directors’ meeting, Lina learns that her boss has instructed her to plan a special event for new clients. Already overworked, Lina resists. Gerald, a director, baits her, implying she can easily throw an all-day party since she is a woman.

As Lina works late, Aaron enters her office with materials from a previous employer for a similar event. Lina tells him that she does not want his help, but Aaron persists until she grudgingly accepts. They discuss Gerald’s abusive behavior. Lina points out that none of the other directors spoke up in her defense.

Lina speaks to her mother on the phone about her sister’s wedding, and her mother asks if she is still bringing her boyfriend. Torn because she does not want to lie, Lina almost confesses. Her mother voices others’ suspicion that Lina’s boyfriend is nonexistent. Lina affirms that he does exist and will bring him. Her mother asks for his name, and Aaron enters the office unannounced. Lina unconsciously speaks his name, which her mother hears. This compounds her dilemma, as she is unwilling to accept Aaron’s offer.

A thunderstorm over Manhattan traps Lina as she walks from her office to the subway. Aaron stops along the curb, insisting she get in his car. As they argue about the ride, cars honk. Lina gets in, and Aaron drives her to her apartment. He asks Lina if she will accept his offer to accompany her to Spain. In return, she can be his date at a charity event the next evening. Reluctantly, she agrees.

Lina is uncertain how to dress and sends Aaron an email asking for more details on the charity event. He replies that he will be at her apartment in an hour. He arrives wearing a well-tailored tux and explains that they are going to a charity auction. Lina finds a suitable dress and spends 45 minutes getting ready.

Aaron explains the event as bachelors being auctioned for a one-time date; the money goes to an animal rescue. Former teammate TJ greets Aaron and flirts with Lina, asking her to bid on him. Aaron tells Lina to ensure she wins his own auction; he will pay her back for the bid. Many women bid for Aaron, as he is considered the most eligible bachelor. As the bids increase, only Lina and an older woman persist. Eventually, the other woman relents and Lina wins. Grateful, Aaron asks Lina to dance. The topic of friendship comes up. Lina is uncertain if she wants Aaron to be her friend; Aaron says he never intended to be her friend.

The next Monday, all employees gather for a staff meeting. Jeff, the boss, plans many significant changes. The first change is the coming promotion of Aaron to replace Jeff. Lina follows Aaron to his office following the meeting and tells him that their arrangement is off, that she is uncomfortable taking her new boss to Spain. He replies that he committed to the trip and their deal remains in effect.

After working late into the evening and not having eaten all day, Lina passes out in the hallway. Aaron carries her to Jeff’s office, where he gives her a snack and water. Once in his car, she dozes off. Lina hears him talking on her phone with her sister, Isabel. She demands to know what was said. Lina’s mother and Isabel text her, wanting to know more about Aaron. Lina accepts the reality that Aaron is her only option and must accompany her to Spain.

The day before they leave, Lina bumps into Aaron at her favorite coffee shop. He offers to pay for her treats, provoking another dispute. Lina orders one of each pastry item, which Aaron pays for without comment.

When Lina gets to the airport before Aaron, she assumes he is not going. But upon hearing his voice, she turns and throws her arms around him. During the flight, Lina schools Aaron on her family and how to behave. When they arrive in Spain, Lina panics. She tells Aaron that she cannot go through with the deception. He holds her and tells her that she is not alone; they are working together and they will succeed.

Lina’s parents take the couple to a two-bedroom apartment that they rent to vacationers. Lina tells Aaron to sleep in the smaller bedroom. When he lies on the twin bed, the frame collapses. Charo, Lina’s cousin, enters and tells Lina that she must stay with them. Lina and Aaron realize they must sleep together.

The next day, while the wedding party participates in a series of contests, best man and Lina’s former lover, Daniel, arrives (as Isabel is marrying Daniel’s brother Gonzalo). Though their breakup had been bitter, Lina feels surprisingly unaffected by his presence. The final contest is a soccer match where the men take off their shirts. Aaron’s physique becomes the focus of the women’s attention. With the score tied near the end of the match, Aaron dribbles the ball toward the women’s goal. Running to stop him, Lina trips and falls but Aaron catches and carries her as he races toward the goal and scores.

That evening, the wedding party wanders from one club to another. Isabel demands that Lina describe how she and Aaron met. Lina’s simplistic explanation does not satisfy her sister, who orders Aaron to share how they fell in love. Aaron’s rendition of meeting Lina and regretting his brusque treatment of her is so tender that a weeping Isabel calls it her best wedding gift. Lina and Aaron end up sitting on a curb outside a bar. She asks him why he gave up his promising football career. Aaron explains that his father, Richard, was his coach. Aaron’s mother died the year before his last season, resulting in estrangement with his father. When he chose not to become a professional, his father cut him off.

The couple returns to their apartment. Lina has become attracted to Aaron and does not trust herself to sleep with him platonically. They hear a noise in another room. While Aaron goes to check the source, Lina lies down and falls asleep. Lina wakes the next day and leaves Aaron sleeping as she goes to the kitchen. Charo has made coffee and asks Lina many questions. Aaron enters the kitchen and fields Charo’s questions. Soon, Charo’s mother arrives, followed by Lina’s mother and grandmother. They all want to know Aaron’s intention for Lina.

At a wedding banquet, Lina emerges from the restroom and bumps into Daniel. He apologizes for the way their relationship ended. The longer they speak, the more clueless and condescending he becomes. Lina dresses him down, leaving him speechless. In the bedroom that evening, Aaron coaxes Lina to tell him about her breakup with Daniel, which directly led to her decision to move to New York.

The day of the wedding, Lina and Aaron are separated until after the ceremony. At the reception, Isabel operates a kiss cam. Aaron and Lina go outside in the dark so their first kiss will be just for them. They kiss, then decide to return to the reception, promising to be intimate later that night. That evening, they make love.

The next morning is a whirlwind of the couple getting ready for their return to New York. On the trip, Aaron asks Lina to come to his apartment and spend the night with him. When they go out for dinner, a coworker on Gerald’s team sees them.

The next day at lunch, Rosie demands that Lina tell her everything about her trip. Gerald interrupts their meal by accusing Lina of trying to get ahead by sleeping with the boss. Aaron arrives and has a tense confrontation with Gerald. Shocked, Lina walks away. Aaron finds her and begs her not to give up on their relationship. Lina is convinced she will experience another bitter breakup. Receiving a phone call, Aaron silently walks away.

Lina walks through the motions of work for three days. Sharon, the HR manager, calls Lina to her office to ask if she wishes to pursue a case against Gerald. She says Aaron has gone to Seattle to see his father Richard, who is in critical condition.

Immediately booking a flight to Seattle, Lina searches hospitals until she finds Aaron sitting in a waiting room. Richard is in a coma and may not survive. Lina tells Aaron that they are together and, as a couple, will face and conquer their issues. Richard wakes up and rejoices at seeing Aaron and the woman he loves.

The story skips forward a year in the Epilogue. Aaron is now the head of directors. Gerald has been fired and Rosie has taken his position. Lina and Aaron head to the airport to pick up the former’s parents, a pregnant Isabel, and her husband.