It would never have crossed my mind to bring a coworker as my fake boyfriend to my sister’s wedding. However, The Spanish Love Deception made this scenario feel oddly tempting, to see if my arrangement could also turn into something real. Elena Armas’s debut novel follows an enemies-to-lovers storyline across her home country of Spain, where the protagonist, Lina, convinces her insufferable coworker to pose as her boyfriend at her sister’s wedding in Spain. She quickly discovers that what starts off as fake becomes indistinguishable from genuine feelings.
The Spanish Love Deception completely surprised me; going into the book, I was expecting a cheesy romance (which it was at times), but I was surprised by how compelling the fake relationship dynamic became. The mix of humor, awkward moments, and emotional scenes makes the story far more engaging than its premise suggests.
And it really brings Spain alive… and makes you want to travel across that beautiful country. Here, then, are ten locations in Spain that are tied to key themes and settings of the book so you can go on your own Spanish journey…
Spain Travel Guide
Food and Drink
Restaurante Auga – Gijón
Lina and Aaron’s relationship is put to the ultimate test at the wedding dinner reception with her family members, where they’re forced to maintain the illusion of a happy couple. However, Lina is completely struck by how Aaron effortlessly navigates all her family’s questions with confidence and genuine care. In this moment, Lina is questioning everything because Aaron shows deep emotions that reflect authenticity when highlighting their shared moments.
Restaurante Auga, a Michelin 5-star establishment, overlooking the Cantabrian Sea in Gijón, is a perfect example of the intimate dinner that Lina and her family experience. The restaurant offers a fine-dining experience. Their multi-course meal reflects the nature of a wedding dinner in a beautiful, sophisticated setting.
Taquería Mi Ciudad – Madrid
“Five tacos. Aaron had gotten me five and not four, as I had told him” (p184).
A partner who remembers the little things, without being asked and needing credit, is someone worth keeping. This simple gesture reveals so much to Lina about the type of person he is. He paid attention to her likes and dislikes, and he provided without announcement. Getting tacos together was the first time they really got to know each other outside of a work setting, and Lina starts to see him as more than a colleague she doesn’t like.
While visiting Spain, I know they would love to visit Taquería Mi Ciudad (with two locations in Madrid), the first taqueria established in Europe in 2006. If you visit, you can get traditional recipes such as carnitas, placero Tinga, beef tongue, and much more! Much like Aaron, you’ll leave with your expectations exceeded and wanting more.
Historical
Barrio de Santa Cruz – Seville
Seville’s medieval Jewish quarter dates to the 12th century and is one of the most preserved barrios in Andalucia. Barrio de Santa Cruz is a maze of narrow streets and alleys, and is exactly the kind of place Lina and Aaron would wander through. Narrow alleys where the walls are close enough to touch match Aaron’s and Lina’s relationship: proximity that unmasks every hidden feeling.
If you’re interested in visiting this neighborhood, you’ll probably get lost and find many amazing hidden restaurants or courtyards!
Roman Baths of Campo Valdes – Gijón
Lina dismisses Aaron early on because she didn’t take the opportunity to understand him, because of her grudge. She assumes his distance for coldness, silence for absence, and restraint for indifference, but she was ultimately wrong about his intentions. Throughout their fake relationship, she begins to see what’s hidden in plain sight. He was never cold, just guarded and afraid his feelings wouldn’t be reciprocated. Once she starts to see this, it changes everything between them. Lina slowly starts to put her guard down and ignores all the reasons why they wouldn’t work.
Their story mirrors the Roman Baths of Campo Valdes, a historic site in Gijon with deep human connections that was rediscovered in 1903. What appeared to be ruined was never lost but only buried and waiting for the moment someone looked closely enough and found it. Today, it’s a museum near the coast where you can see the public baths!
Arts and culture
Teatro Jovellanos – Gijón
Lina and Aaron need to pull off the performance of a lifetime to go from co-workers who avoid each other to two people who fall in love. Like any good actors, they had to prepare. While on their flight to Spain, Lina gives him a breakdown of her large family, running through their names and behavior. However, despite their preparation, they have to improvise and think quickly on their feet when unexpected questions and scenarios arise.
Teatro Jovellanos, a theater in Gijón, reflects the central idea of performance in The Spanish Love Deception. Lina and Aaron’s every glance, touch, and smile are constantly being watched by others. Every gesture and emotion must land right to convince the audience (her family) that she’s happy and in love. Over time, both the characters and audiences become captivated by the storyline, and the lines between fiction and reality get blurred.
If you’re interested in visiting Teatro Jovellanos, you can purchase tickets online or at the box office. Make sure to bring your ID, as it may be required to enter the theater.
Semana Grande – Bilbao
Learning Spanish was never a part of their arrangement. However, Aaron understands that loving Lina means immersing himself in her culture by making efforts to communicate with her family. This unprompted effort reveals his commitment to loving her and understanding where she comes from.
I believe Lina would take him to Semana Grande, a major 9-day festival held in Bilbao in northern Spain. Also called Aste Nagusia, the days of the fiesta have a variety of cultural and sporting events, traditional games, fireworks, and much more! This would be a perfect place for Lina and Aaron to connect, and for Aaron to understand where she comes from. This year, the festival runs from August 8th to 15th, if you want to visit!
Finca La Concepción – Marbella
In The Spanish Love Deception, the wedding is the central event that fuels Lina and Aaron’s love story. A place that reflects this atmosphere is Finca La Concepción. The magnificent garden of La Concepcion spans an area about two and a half acres, divided into various zones where you can appreciate its centuries-old palm trees and numerous tropical plants. This setting captures the essence of a novel’s wedding: immersive, romantic, and impossible to escape.
Sala Sonora – Bilbao
A pivotal turning point in Aaron’s and Lina’s relationship is when the wedding party heads to the bar. Lina gets drunk, dances with Aaron, and almost kisses him. After constantly fighting her feelings for him, she just wants to give in and kiss him. Aaron takes her outside to give her water and asks nothing from her. In this moment, she begins to realize the kind of man Aaron is – caring and compassionate.
Sala Sonora, in the Astrabudua area of Erandio in the Bilbao metro area, is loud and vibrant, exactly the type of setting where people’s guards drop, feelings emerge, and the line between pretending and real gets blurred. If you visit this high-energy club, it can match your various music and drink tastes. There are three different environments, with different musical offerings. There is a room for 80s, 90s, and 2000s music fans for those who need nostalgia to loosen them up. Another room features tech house producers, and one that plays popular current music options. Perhaps you can also experience a moment like Aaron and Lina, where a night out becomes the moment everything changes.
Nature
Asturias – Oviedo/Uviéu, Gijón/Xixón, and Avilés
Lina describes her hometown as
“The small city where I had come from stood on the most northern coast of the peninsula, wedged between the often fierce and ivory-topped Cantabrian sea and emerald mountains” (p. 229).
The region of Asturias in Northern Spain perfectly matches her description of her hometown’s coastal landscapes with beautiful mountains and powerful waters. This contrasts drastically with Aaron and Lina’s NYC lifestyle. The slowness and openness of this environment play a key role in how their relationship blurs from fake or real, as they can escape the conflicts and distractions from work, which prevents them from truly connecting.
Asturias is home to “200 beautiful beaches, charming fishing villages and fascinating lighthouse route.” There are three cities here to pick from here: Oviedo/Uviéu, Gijón/Xixón, and Avilés. Together they “form a friendly and vibrant urban landscape with a rich past and present,” according to Asturias’ tourism website. “Gijón/Xixón and Avilés, due to their maritime and port character, have their own coastal features, while Oviedo/Uviéu – the capital of the Principality – is an inland city surrounded by noble and historic hills and mountains.”
Here, you can connect with Lina’s upbringing and see how the mix of beauty and peace influences her views on love and belonging.
Parque Senda Fluvial del Piles – Gijon
The wedding festivities for the weekend start not with champagne and partying but with something far more competitive. The groomsmen and bridesmaids face off in an intense soccer match that sets an energetic tone for the weekend, and is one of the first times Aaron and Lina’s tension is revealed. Every sprint, battle for the ball and goal carries a spark, especially when they’re on different teams.
Parque Senda Fluvial de Piles in Gijon has vast open fields, peaceful urban trails shaded by trees and lampposts. It offers a relaxed, peaceful environment to participate in activities such as soccer, biking, and walking. It’s the kind of place where you can let loose and be playful. This is the perfect setting to go to if you’re seeking competition with friends or to explore your relationship and allow real emotions to emerge.
you Should read this book!
The BookTok hype, for once, is justified. The Spanish Love Deception is a perfect feel-good read – it’s lighthearted, funny, romantic, and most importantly, you will fall in love with Aaron Blackford. Fair warning: he will ruin your standards for men, and you will probably fail to find a man as amazing as him in real life.
I really enjoyed this book. I was totally consumed by the characters’ chemistry, and the fake relationship dynamic was well executed. This is the type of book that makes you forget your own life and completely pulls you into another universe before turning you back to reality. “This is a book you read for enjoyment and when you want something light in between all the serious reading stuff,” says a fellow book reviewer. And I totally agree.
However, I wish the author had made the enemies-to-lovers dynamic a bit more convincing. I was frustrated with Lina because she dragged one single misread interaction and held a grudge against Aaron for half the book. This contrasts with other enemies-to-lovers books I’ve read, such as Demon’s Dream by Elle Kayson, where the rivalry dynamic is electric and fuels their love story. This book played it a bit too safe.
The setting, however, is what I loved most. The north of Spain is filled with beautiful coastal beaches, mountains, and nature, offering a peaceful escape from their fast-paced, high-pressure NYC lifestyle , which allows them to let their guard down. Another book I loved, where the beautiful setting allows the character to lower their guard, is Beach Read by Emily Henry.
And if you enjoyed Armas’ writing, check out The American Roommate Experiment, as this book is the prequel to that one.
That said, you should read this book. There are some negative aspects, but Aaron Blackford alone is worth every page!
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