Where to Start Reading Elena Armas
If you are new to Elena Armas, the absolute best place to start is with her breakout debut, The Spanish Love Deception. Not only is it the book that turned her from a bookstagrammer into a New York Times bestselling author, but it also establishes her signature writing style: ultra-slow-burn romance, witty banter, and high-tension emotional arcs. Starting here also sets you up perfectly for her companion books, as characters frequently cross over into subsequent novels.
While her novels can technicality be read as standalones, you will get the most enjoyment by reading them in publication order. This allows you to appreciate the subtle nods, cameo appearances, and character updates that Armas weaves into her interconnected universes.
The Love Deception Series
This is the duology that launched Armas into the contemporary romance spotlight. Centered around family, career struggles, and highly addictive romance tropes, these two books should be read in order.
1. The Spanish Love Deception (2021)
Catalina Martín desperately needs a date to her sister's wedding in Spain, especially since her ex-fiancé will be there with his new partner. Enter Aaron Blackford, her insufferable, condescending colleague who offers to step in as her fake boyfriend. What begins as a desperate arrangement in the corporate world turns into a trip to Spain filled with fake-dating tension, family drama, and an enemies-to-lovers transition that keeps readers hooked until the very end.
2. The American Roommate Experiment (2022)
This companion novel shifts the focus to Catalina's best friend, Rosie Graham, who has secretly left her corporate job to write romance novels. When her ceiling literally collapses, she finds shelter in Catalina's apartment—only to discover Catalina's cousin, Lucas Martín (Rosie's secret Instagram crush), is also staying there. The two end up sharing the space, leading to a forced-proximity scenario where Lucas offers to take Rosie on "experimental" dates to help cure her writer's block.
The Green Oak Series
Moving away from New York City and Spain, Armas’s next books take readers to the charming, fictional small town of Green Oak, North Carolina. These books are companion standalones, meaning they share a setting and secondary characters but focus on entirely different couples.
1. The Long Game (2023)
Adalyn Reyes is a soccer executive who gets exiled to Green Oak after a highly public PR disaster involving a team mascot. Her task is to turn around the local children's soccer team, the Green Warriors. There, she runs headfirst into Cameron Caldani, a retired professional goalkeeper who wants nothing to do with her. This enemies-to-lovers sports romance is packed with small-town charm, grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamics, and plenty of banter.
2. The Fiancé Dilemma (2024)
Josie Moore is a Green Oak local known for her four failed engagements and a complicated relationship with her estranged, wealthy father. When a public misunderstanding leads the town to believe she is engaged to Matthew Flanagan—her sister's best friend—she decides to go along with it to save face and secure her family heritage. The fake engagement trope shines here as the line between pretend and reality begins to blur.
Novellas and Audio Originals
In addition to her full-length novels, Armas has expanded her writing portfolio into audio-first productions. It is important to know the difference between what she wrote and what she simply produced.
- I'm Gonna Get You Back (2025): Released on October 14, 2025, this audio-first romantic comedy novella showcases Armas's signature romantic tension in a shorter, fast-paced format.
- Know Your Newlywed (2024): Many online databases list this as a book by Elena Armas. However, this full-cast romantic comedy audio original was written by Heather Taylor and Hillary Nussbaum. Elena Armas served as the executive producer, not the author.
Entering a New Era: The Icarus University Series
Fans of Armas should prepare for a major genre shift. In late 2026, Armas is scheduled to release her first paranormal romance novel, marking a transition from realistic contemporary rom-coms to speculative fantasy romance.
1. Alma Vampires (Scheduled for November 17, 2026)
The first book in the Icarus University series introduces Valle "Val" Cepeda, an Ivy League scholarship student who inherits a powerful fashion empire called "Alma" from her estranged mother. To survive her new position, she must accept the protection of Hadrian Cruz, a dangerous vampire bound to her family by a historic blood debt. This release is highly anticipated as it blends dark academia, gothic mystery, and paranormal romance.
Chronological vs. Publication Order
Since Elena Armas does not write complex chronological prequels, her publication order is identical to the internal timeline of her books. Readers are strongly encouraged to follow the order in which they were published to avoid minor spoilers regarding who ends up together in previous books.
- The Spanish Love Deception (2021)
- The American Roommate Experiment (2022)
- The Long Game (2023)
- The Fiancé Dilemma (2024)
- I'm Gonna Get You Back (2025 - Novella)
- Alma Vampires (Expected late 2026)