A review by carefulfearanddeaddevotion
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

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

2.25

 Unsure how this is the same lady who wrote The Long Game. I really enjoyed that book, but the writing in this one was just fuuuucking terrible omg???? Like literally wasn't even 5 pages in and already was dreading having to read the rest of it. Literally was brought to tears (and I'm not being dramatic -- ok well, maybe the fact that I was brought to tears is dramatic, but I am not lying about it happening) by how bad it was. Which is actually really sad and frustrating because I thought the romance was so cute/fun and I liked the characters! It was so obvious from like the very first interaction that that man was like hopelessly in love with her meanwhile she was like "ugh he hates me and I hate him" girl.....Rosie had some sense but miss Lina refused to listen.

Absolutely hated that they said each others' names every sentence. Soo annoying. Which is really my only complaint about the romance itself. I love a (not so) enemies to lovers / fake dating romance. I believed that they fell in love over a weekend,
given that he was in love with her for 2 years, and the only reason she didn't realize her feelings is cause she was holding a grudge (so true of her, tbh)


Small thing to get stuck on, but I hate that she described an (American) football as "melonlike." Has this lady ever seen a football? or a melon???? they're two completely different shapes!!! wtf! google if you're not sure!

This book was a study in gaslighting fr. On one page, Aaron curses. The next page, "Aaron never curses." On one page, Aaron smiles. The next page, "Aaron never smiles." HELLO????? Why are you trying to convince me I'm insane??? This, more than the unnecessary metaphors and run-on sentences (and I love a run on sentence - my reviews are evidence), was my least favorite part of the book.

If the writing wasn't so shit, this book could have easily been a 4. What a sad sad case of wasted potential.
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