“His touch lingered on my skin, setting fire to every nerve ending in its wake.”

Wondering exactly how steamy Elena Armas’s bestseller really is? You’ve come to the right place.In this article, I’ll break down the exact spice level on a 1-5 scale, where and when the steamy scenes happen, how it compares to other popular romance books, and who should (and shouldn’t) read it

I’ve read this book twice, taking detailed notes and analyzing what readers are saying on Goodreads, BookTok, and book clubs.

By the time you finish reading, you’ll know exactly what to expect before turning the first page. No more guessing if this enemies-to-lovers romance is too mild or too spicy for your taste.

Trust me – whether you’re new to romance novels or a veteran reader, this guide will help you decide if The Spanish Love Deception belongs on your TBR list.

With its massive popularity and viral status on #BookTok, this is one romance that continues to spark discussion about just how steamy it really gets.

Plot Summary

Catalina Martín needs a date for her sister’s wedding in Spain. The problem is that she told her family she has an American boyfriend who doesn’t actually exist.

When her cold, annoying coworker Aaron Blackford offers to be her fake boyfriend, she reluctantly agrees. What starts as a business arrangement slowly transforms as they spend time together. Soon, the line between pretending and real feelings becomes very blurry.

The story follows their journey from New York to Spain, where they must convince Catalina’s family and friends that their relationship is genuine. As they keep up the charade, Aaron shows surprising sides of his personality that Catalina never noticed at work.

Their forced closeness creates opportunities for tension, misunderstandings, and those small moments that build a genuine connection. The question becomes not if they can pull off the fake relationship, but what will happen when they return to their real lives.

Genre and Tropes

This book fits firmly in the contemporary romance category with elements of romantic comedy. The main tropes include:

• Fake dating (the central setup)
• Enemies-to-lovers (they start off disliking each other)
• Office romance (they’re coworkers)
• Grumpy/sunshine dynamic
• Forced proximity (during their Spain trip)
• Slow burn romance

Who Will Enjoy The Spanish Love Deception

You’ll love this book if you enjoy:

• Slow-building tension that pays off
• Sharp banter between characters
• Strong emotional development before physical intimacy
• A balance of humor and heart

You might want to skip it if:

• You prefer instant attraction stories
• You want erotica-level explicit content from the start
• Slow burns make you impatient

Is the Spice Worth the Slow Burn?

The romantic tension in this book builds very gradually. For most of the story, we get meaningful glances, small touches, and heated arguments that mask deeper feelings.

Is the wait worth it? Yes! The slow pace makes the emotional impact much stronger when things finally heat up. By the time Catalina and Aaron crossed that line, I was so invested in their relationship that each moment felt significant and earned.

This book does contain spicy scenes, but they come after substantial character and relationship development.

Spice Rating

The rating of 3 out of 5 reflects moderate heat. The book contains explicit scenes, but they’re not frequent enough or graphic enough to push it into higher ratings. The focus balances physical descriptions with emotional connection.

Age Rating and Content Warnings

18+ is appropriate. While not extremely graphic, the content is clearly written for adult readers. Content warnings include:

• Sexual content (explicit but not extreme)
• Strong language
• Family pressure
• Work-related stress
• Some alcohol consumption

There are 2 fully described intimate scenes and several heated moments that build tension without going overboard.

The scenes don’t fade to black – they provide clear descriptions of what’s happening. However, they balance physical details with emotional reactions. The focus stays on how the characters feel during intimate moments rather than just mechanical descriptions.

Smut In The Spanish Love Deception

The main spicy content appears in the last third of the book, after substantial character development. This placement makes the scenes more meaningful as they represent a major shift in the relationship.

“Every touch from him felt like a brand, marking me as his in ways I never thought I’d want.”

“His eyes darkened as they met mine, his voice dropping to a whisper. ‘Tell me what you want, Catalina.’ The way he said my name—like a prayer and a sin wrapped into one—sent shivers down my spine.”

For those wanting specifics:

The first major scene occurs in chapter 28, after a particularly emotional moment when their fake relationship begins feeling very real. This scene involves:

• Their first time together
• A mix of tender and passionate moments
• Clear consent and communication
• Emotional Revelations During Intimacy

The second scene in chapter 35 shows their relationship deepening with:

• More confidence between them
• More playful interaction
• Emotional vulnerability
• A focus on mutual pleasure

What makes these scenes effective isn’t just the physical descriptions but how they reveal character growth. Aaron shows his hidden gentle side, while Catalina embraces desires she’s been suppressing. The scenes are explicit without being crude, focusing on the emotional connection as much as the physical acts.

How Does The Spanish Love Deception Measure Up to the Author’s Other Spicy Works?

This book has very similar spice levels to The American Roommate Experiment. Elena Armas maintains a consistent approach across her works: first, she focuses on character development, then delivers satisfying, intimate scenes that feel natural rather than forced.

The American Roommate Experiment features Rosie Graham and Lucas Martín (who happens to be related to Catalina from The Spanish Love Deception). Their story follows a similar pattern of emotional build-up leading to physical intimacy. However, the tension is built differently – instead of enemies-to-lovers, it’s more of a friends-to-lovers situation with forced proximity.

Armas’s newer release, The Long Game, continues this pattern of character-first, spice-second approach, though with some subtle variations in how she paces the romantic development. If you enjoy the balance she strikes in The Spanish Love Deception, her other works will likely hit the same sweet spot for you.

Comparison to Other Popular Spicy Romance Books

If you’re trying to place this on the broader romance spice spectrum:

• Less spicy than Most Tessa Bailey books, Sierra Simone works
• Similar spice level to Emily Henry’s books and The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
• Spicier than Most Colleen Hoover books, Christina Lauren’s recent works

What Readers Love About This Book

Based on reviews across platforms, readers consistently praise:

• The authentic chemistry between Catalina and Aaron
• The slow-building tension that makes the payoff satisfying
• The emotional depth behind what starts as a simple fake dating plot

“The tension was so well-crafted that I couldn’t put it down even though it took time to get to the steamy parts.”

“Aaron Blackford may start off seeming cold, but the way his character unfolds makes him one of the most swoon-worthy male leads I’ve read in contemporary romance.”

The book currently maintains a 4.2/5 rating on Goodreads with over 500,000 ratings, showing its widespread appeal despite (or perhaps because of) its approach to balancing story and steam.

Conclusion

The Spanish Love Deception hits the sweet spot between story and steam with its 3/5 spice rating. What makes this book special isn’t the number of steamy scenes but how well they’re integrated into the emotional journey.

The payoff feels earned after the slow-burning tension between Catalina and Aaron. Their chemistry builds naturally through witty exchanges and small moments that make the intimate scenes more meaningful.

For readers who love enemies-to-lovers with actual character growth, emotional depth with your steam and romance that takes its time.

This book delivers perfectly. The spice enhances rather than overshadows the story, making it an excellent choice for both romance newcomers and longtime fans.