The Spanish Love Deception

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-12

Chapters 13-21

Chapter 22-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Background

New York, New York

One way in which Elena Armas depicts Lina’s competence is through her navigating the bustle of New York City. Lina knows her 45-minute subway commute by heart, naming local eateries and neighborhoods with ease. She never expresses awe at the city rush or the sight of towering skyscrapers, instead focusing on subtle distinctions such as a good pastry shop or the elements that make Aaron’s apartment luxurious. She is a New Yorker through and through, with Aaron recalling her critique of people’s attitudes in early winter, saying the first snow puts everyone in a bad mood.

These insights are significant because of Lina’s background as a small-town girl from coastal Spain. In showing Lina’s casual adaptation to the complex life of New York, Armas demonstrates just how capable and quick she is.

The Coastal Town in Northern Spain

Having shown how adept and relaxed Lina is in New York City, Armas contrasts this lifestyle to that of Lina’s original home—an unnamed Spanish town along the northern seacoast. Welcomed by her family, Lina quickly slips back into the old habits and practices of her childhood, introducing Aaron to staples of rural Spanish life, such as abundant kiosks that sell ham sandwiches and dance crowds that flow from one nightspot to another.

The customs of small Spanish communities, particularly those related to betrothals and weddings, give Armas an opportunity to explain Lina’s background to the reader. She reveals that, while these communities may appear more cloistered than city dwellers, they prove just as worldly.

Cultural Memes

Throughout the novel are references to past and present cultural memes. Lina joking refers to iconic movies and television shows, often without naming them—such as The Lion King, Game of Thrones, Moulin Rouge, and One Tree Hill—in conversations with Aaron and Rosie. In addition to popular media, Lina discusses social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. These platforms can be problematic, as she deems it necessary to close her accounts so she will not be subjected to accusations and gossip. She also casually mentions cultural bromides such as coffee shops, triple chocolate pastries, granola, and the best fish tacos in Brooklyn.

Armas uses cultural memes for several reasons. Her references to older American media, such as One Tree Hill, show their influence in Lina’s life, even when the young woman was living in Spain. They also fuel humorous moments, such as Lina’s correction of her mother: She tells her that the popular photo-and-video-sharing platform is not “Prinstanam,” “It’s called Instagram” (47).