I read and listened to A Perfect Story in English. While it translated well, as a Spanish speaker - I can’t help but wonder if I would’ve enjoyed this more in Spanish. I really couldn’t connect with any of the characters but I might’ve liked them more reading in Spanish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc ebook and arc audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.

I've been thinking about what to write for this review and honestly, I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. While I enjoyed the read and wanted to see what happened to the main characters, I'm not totally sure how much I liked the book. At times the pacing and wording felt off, but I think that was because of it being a translation and tried not to judge the book by that. I also think the book was a little too long for the story it told and could've been done without being 600 pages and some of the side characters felt like they were extra and unnecessary. That said I would recommend the book I know there is an audience for it. I want to thank NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a sweet, yet spicy book!
Elísabet Benavent's novel "A Perfect Story" begins at a measured pace, but the narrative accelerates as Margot and David's lives intertwine. Their concocted dating scheme is ingeniously crafted, sparking an unmistakable chemistry between them.
Margot's journey from the idealized 'perfect princess' to a woman in pursuit of her joy resonates deeply. Meanwhile, David emerges as an enthralling figure of desire, ensuring the audience is invested in their unfolding love story.

The narrative's odyssey across Greece is bound to stir a longing for sun-drenched escapades, mirroring the fervor found in Margot and David's romantic saga.

The explicit scenes may disturb some readers, and the narrative's length may feel excessive at times. However, these are minor concerns considering the novel's overall charm. The conclusion is surprising and emotionally moving.
Despite occasional hiccups in the translation, "A Perfect Story" is recommended for those who enjoy a romantic comedy blending humor with heartfelt moments, promising to elicit laughter, tears, and the excitement of falling in love.

Let me say up front that I'm rating this book a 4.5. I want to be clear on that before I mention the things that originally had me thinking I hated it.

A Perfect Story is about Margot, a poor little rich girl who leaves her Prince Charming at the altar, and David, a free-spirited, barely-making-it underachiever. Despite their vastly different worlds and lives, when Margot ends up in the dive bar where David works, they recognize the sadness in each other's eyes. It's probably their differences and the fact that they have nothing to lose with each other that frees them up to become delightfully honest, supportive friends as they both seek to rekindle relationships with their exes. Fake dating leads to a Greek holiday which leads to something so much deeper that it challenges their ability to even figure out what they want, much less be honest with themselves and each other about it.

It was this premise that attracted me to the story. What nearly lost me as a reader:
- 640 pages seems way too long for this story. I had to drag myself through the first big section before Margot & David become friends. It seemed way too slow for me.
- Another problem for me in that first big chunk of the book was culture shock. The story was set in Spain and Greece. I knew the characters were Spanish, so I suspected going in that the book might have been translated from Spanish. No problem. There were lots of cultural references I didn't get--names and bands and songs--but that's fine. But Margot's relationship with her sisters and mother seemed wildly over-dramatic, and the things they said to each other seemed cruel and didn't make sense to me. It was hard to figure out what they meant and how they actually felt about each other. I don't know whether the issue was the translation or some combination of cultural and social class differences between me and them, but it was really difficult for me at first to feel any liking or sympathy for any of them, including Margot. This compounded my difficulty in getting through the first part of the book.

But THEN, Margot and David become friends, and from the moment she goes back into that bar to retrieve her sister's phone, I love them together. They are so sweet, so funny, so honest and supportive with each other, it's just a delight. Their dialogue is simultaneously hilarious and touching. They're clearly the best thing in each other's lives.

And I ended up loving them and the book, and enjoying their adventures together, and being terrified that they wouldn't end up together. It was a tough road for them, with fraught choices and a lot of doubt about whether they COULD make it, despite their obvious love. They both had a lot of growing to do. A lot of tears to shed and tough truths to face.

So, A Perfect Story was NOT perfect. It put me through a damn wringer ... and I love it.
My review and opinions are entirely my own. Thanks very much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book; it was a pleasure.

"A Perfect Story" follows Margot and David as they embark on a fake-dating vacation to escape their heartbreak. Margot, who seemingly had everything, experiences a major setback on her wedding day and meets David, a bartender recently dumped by his girlfriend for not being stable or successful. They bond over their similar sad eyes and decide to pretend to be a couple to make their exes jealous. During their trip to Greece, their fake romance turns into genuine intimacy, leading them to confront their true feelings and make life-changing decisions. The story is a heartfelt tale of love, humor, and self-discovery, told from dual perspectives and featuring an opposites-attract dynamic.

At first I wasn’t sure what to think of this book but it didn’t take long to get sucked in. The friendship was so sweet and the chemistry between the sisters made the book an easy read. By the time the connection gets more complicated I was so invested I had a hard time putting down the book. It honestly felt so real, even with the tumultuous aspects of the relationship. By the end I had to know how it all played out and I liked the ending although I’m sure plenty of people may not. It was a good read that I will most definitely be picking up. I’m hoping to get the chance to read more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

What happens when two strangers with broken heart make a plan together to get back their ex and go on an impulsive vacation and ...end up falling for each other? Will there be a happily ever after?or not? That's the journey in A Perfect Story by Elísabet Benavent. This story throws you into a whirlwind of romance and you never know what emotion is going to hit next.

Margot Ortega is almost a princess. Coming from a rich influential family, being part of the business, soon getting married with a dreamy Italian man..she has it all. At least people think so. But she isn't OK. She run away on her wedding day and her life is a mess. Her sisters take her to a bar after much persuasion and there she meets David. Younger, crazier, funnier..everything she isn't. He has been left by his love of life too. Together they form a very unique friendship. Margot invites him to go to Greece with her..because she doesn't want to be alone and David makes her feel free. But this vacation starts something complicated because they start falling for each other while also trying to get back their ex...

The story is one of my favorite tropes where angst can kill you. I could love it so much more if the book wasn't so long. Like so so long. All the setting up of the wedding and the run away and the meeting..it was almost 20% in before Margot and David even met. Same for the vacation time. I understand the author was trying to set up their bond and trying to set up in a way that you feel the connection but it was still too long. It's a translation and the language can get awkward. And why so many exclamation marks?

I loved Margot and David and their connection. They were both stuck in their own pattern. Margot is always worrying about what others will think and what others will blame her for and what other will be disappointed with. And she lost herself. She is so pretty and smart and compassionate but she lost the way. Then came David. He doesn't have a fancy degree. He is doing three jobs just to stay afloat. He is exactly opposite of Margot. He taught Margot to fly. And Margot made him more grounded, more focused and more determined to sort his life. The vacation is Greece was so thrilling and messy and sexy and heartbreaking. How could they fall in love and lust when they were both hung up? There is no real answers. And with messy choices come messy complication. Now what's interesting was the ending. The author wrote two endings here. What will you choose? I chose plan B. Because I am a hardcore romantic.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

Elisabet Benavent has been on my tbr for a while now, I’ve watch most of her book adaptions on Netflix and have been wanting to read one of her books. This was an enjoyable read, rich girl/poor boy and fake dating to make an ex jealous with a Greek getaway. The MCs were strangers to friends to lovers and also there is an age gap. Lots of tropes that are very well represented and executed to perfection.

A Perfect Story by Elísabet Benavent is one of those books where once you start it, you will find it hard to put it down for even a second.

Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

It is one of my favorite books in Spanish and I really liked reading and hearing the story in English and for everyone to get to know David and Margot. I am aware that for some it may be a very long book, but I have enjoyed it as if it were the first time I have read it. Plus, it's a little different to find stories with two alternative endings that everyone can choose from. I like that in other countries people can now know and read Elisabet Benavent.

The audiobook is spectacular, I like the narrations and voices that David and Margot have, I liked it even much more than the Spanish audio version.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinion are completely my own.

I'm ashamed to say this, but I almost did pick this book because of the length . Lately the longer romantic based book have been filler with a bit of relevant story.

That is not the case with The Perfect Story. It is a marvelous tale that may become my comfort book. A fun temporary escape from reality.

Didn't realize this was a re-release, but still a good read and excited to watch the show. A long read for a romance, but beautiful characters.

Margot Ortiz de Zarate has always struggled to be the princess in her own a successful career, a huge salary, a gorgeous apartment, and a perfect fiancé. But on her wedding day, she suffers a major panic attack and runs out. Deciding to drown her sorrows, she goes out with her two sisters to a sleazy club, only to return the next day, to collect her older sister’s phone. There she meets David Sanchez Rodrigo, the handsome, fun-loving bartender who persuades her to pretend to be his new girlfriend in order to make his ex-jealous. David recognizes the sadness in her eyes, and together they conspire to help each other get their exes back. Little do they know how much fun they'll have and how much they'll complicate their lives. On a trip to Greece together, Margot sees as a means to get away from the pressures to pick up the pieces of her perfect life, but in doing so, finds her feelings for David growing. What begins as a way to make their exes jealous, soon makes them realise that they will have to make life-altering decisions.
The journey for both David and Margot begins innocently but as they explore their feelings, it becomes obvious that they will be forced to confront their futures. Together these two make so much sense, and it is a feeling repeated by them both, where they feel better together than when they are apart. There is no need to justify who they are to each other, a feeling that is obvious when they speak of her exes. I also enjoyed the relationship between Margot and her sisters, and how together they support each other in their dysfunctional relationship with their mother. A truly beautiful read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Casablanca books for the ARC of this book! I really enjoyed this one and felt that it was a beautiful story of both love and self discovery. I liked the dual point of view and It was very entertaining to read. For me, a few things got lost in translation due to the fact that this was translated to English from the original Spanish but I still felt that i connected to the story.
The two main characters were complete opposites and their very different circumstances led them to each other in a very unexpected way. The love was both beautiful and believable. Also, I truly enjoyed the way the author wrote the ending. I would recommend it!

4.5 stars!

Thanks to Netgallery and SourceCasa Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, this book took me on a very unexpected emotional journey, and maybe reviewing it won’t be the easiest of tasks but I will do my best.

Quick summary:
Margot has it all—a successful career, a high salary, a great apartment, and a perfect fiancé— but when her wedding day arrives, she finds herself running out of the hotel, leaving all behind. David, just got his heart broken by the girl he thought was the love of his life, so when in a drunken night at a bar, he meets Margot, the two of them start an unexpected friendship and plan to help each other out to win back their exes. However, their scheme leads them to a fun escape that turns complicated as their growing feelings force them to make significant life choices.

Read if you like:
- "Sorta" fake dating
- HIGH angst
- Friends with benefits
- Age gap (FMC is 5 yrs older)
- Opposites attract


Review:

Like I said before, reviewing this book can be complicated because for one, the book is better to be read without expectations or really knowing much about it. Things happen that can make you either love or hate the story. For the most part I really, really enjoyed it. Did I cry? yes, a lot. Did I laugh? also yes! Was I frustrated and scared the whole time? Yes! Yet I am glad I gave the book a chance. I found the writing to be BEAUTIFUL, with such emotional moments, and very real and raw situations that made me think a lot. I adored, ADORED David, and I really really liked Margot. I was mad at them at times, and the book does get a bit redundant towards the 70-75% but still I found myself caring for both of them and wanting nothing but the best for them. I do feel the book is not for everyone, for reasons I won't discuss here (nothing to do with TW, but its a big spoiler so I will just not say anything), but if you ever in the mood to read a very angsty book, with great writing and overall lovable characters, check this one out.

Again...thanks to Netgallery and SourceCasa Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was fun! I enjoyed this read and the characters. Their story and their chemistry was great! I didn’t fully connect to the story personally but that will not prevent me from recommending to other readers! I thought it was still written well and kept you immersed.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 2 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

dnf. unfortunately this book seems to be too long for me and i just couldn't connect with the characters. also, i don't like the writing style but that could be because this book was translated.

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley and Elísabet Benavent for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

I really liked the story and this book really got me thinking about the way we are living our lives. However, the book could've easily been 200 pages shorter and it took way too long for the love interests to even meet each other. After they finally crossed paths, the book got so much better and I felt like I couldn't put it down. The translation felt a bit clunky at times but that didn't bother me too much. I really recommend reading this and please do not give up at the start of the book even though it starts super slow! I can't wait to watch the Netflix show based on this book next.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I love a story with the fake dating trope and A Perfect Story gave me that along with a great destination and surrounding characters that built the perfect little world to nip away to when I picked this up.

Following Margot and David we get caught up in their little conspiracy to fake date. This was a load of fun, but the second part was a bit overlong and I found my attention wandering more and more as the resolution got closer. I loved the shenanigans but I think a cleaner path to wrap up would have made this a slam dunk for me.

i've been waiting for the english translation to release ever since i watched the netflix adaptation last summer and SQUEALED when i got the email saying i was approved for this. margo and david's story has been on my mind ever since i watched the last episode and to be back in it was so fun! the first half of the book had me giggling and kicking my feet like a crazy person BUT the second half was.. a bit....... of a drag? as soon as they 'got together' everything i was loving about their story just stopped and got thrown out the window. i wasn't as invested and kept wondering how much longer until we get a resolution, which could be a side effect of a romance being 600 pages (almost 20 hours worth of audio) 🙃 overall though, i really did have such a good time and can't wait to go back for a rewatch of the adaptation (which did a fantastic job at staying true to the book!) i'd give this one a solid 3.5 stars