We are on a roll with ARCs recently! We decided to jump into a duel review of The Long Game, by Elena Armas (author of The Spanish Love Deception), a cross between Ted Lasso and the Mighty Ducks. We received an advanced reader copy for an unbiased review.

A Little Bit of Plot
It all begins with Sparkles. Sparkles’ feathered mascot head, that is and it being launched unceremoniously from the remainder of it’s overly comedic plushy body. After a video of an altercation between said mascot, and Adalyn Reyes, Director of Marketing for the Miami Flames FC, becomes a viral sensation overnight, Adalyn is shipped off to ‘out in the woods’ North Carolina.

Her job is to manage the local soccer team, the Green Warriors, as a means to ascending back into the good graces of her father (the Flames owner). A comedy of errors ensues as the Warriors are a hyperactive group of 9-year-old girls who have never won a game let alone a league final.

In addition, their coach just happens to be Cameron Caldani, retired MLS goalkeeper and all around brooding recluse. After a particularly disastrous meet cute, both discover that they are also unlikely coworkers and neighbors. When a charismatic yet grumpy former pro athlete and prim and fastidious corporate good girl join forces, will it be a quick and disastrous shut out or are they playing the long game?

The Compliment Sandwich:

The Top Bun (The Pro)

Rae: Adalyn's Growth

I warned Veronica when she started the novel (I was ahead of her) that Adalyn was hard to warm up to and I’m not exaggerating. She, herself, will tell you she has no friends (with the exception of Matthew) and so intent on seeking attention from her father she gets tunnel vision. It’s extremely difficult to not want to shake her and give her a “you are enough” speeches.

As the novel progresses, however, you begin to understand why she’s so uptight and standoffish, and awkward…soooooo awkward. Your heart will break for her. About halfway through the novel we start to get an idea of what happened that led to the career ruining altercation with Sparkles, and it will infuriate you to no end. What I did appreciate though was how Adalyn dealt with the compounding embarrassment that springs from this one moment.

While at first Adalyn sees the team as a means to show she ‘give back’ and to extinguish the social media firestorm by participating in community service, in a way. But the longer she spends time in this small town with a group of supportive and loving 9-year-old girls, she begins to realize that she’s not alone and that she’s more than just her father’s daughter. With the help of Cam she also realizes that she deserves someone who will really care for her and want to do things for her because they want to and without ulterior motives.

After she calls Cam ‘grandmotherly’, he says “Maybe she’d call me a nonna again, just like she had the other day when I shoved more food on her plate without asking her first. ..But I didn’t care. I was too old and too set in my ways to change that. I didn’t think I could, either. Just like I couldn't help the need to take care of her. Especially when she didn’t herself. Or worse yet, when she didn’t expect anybody else to.”

Veronica: The 9-year-olds
Kids can be really hit or miss in books and I think it has a lot to do with the author’s understanding of a couple of things:
The purpose of the characters themselves
The age group of the children

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve read books and thought the actual behavior and skills of the children in quest far exceeded all realistic expectations. 18-month-olds being able to articulate their desires and needs? Have you met an 18-month old? They’re pointing and grabbing and making mostly incoherent sounds. They’re walking trolls. At that point in a child’s life, you’re still waiting for them to get to 100 words.

My point is that Armas did it right. These kids are awesome. They’re quirky, funny, empathetic, lovely children who experience ups and downs both on the field and off. In particular, I loved Maria. That child, who has already experienced more awful things than she should have to at the ripe old age of nine, is a golden ray of sunshine who likes to hang out with Brandy the blind baby goat. She’s the first one who really starts to crack Adalyn’s hard exterior. She’s the one who shows Adalyn that she has actual worth as a human being beyond what she can do for anyone. She likes Adalyn from the very start and her opinion doesn’t change after that wretched video.

The Meat (The Con)

Rae: The wrong person got their head knocked off their shoulders….just saying. Also, Ada was doing so well with her growth and yet the decision she makes at the end of the novel after Matthews email made me sad and frustrated.

Veronica: Adalyn’s dad. Good lord. He was horrible. We’ve discussed a lot about whether or not a villain is a pro or a con (because if you dislike them so much, they were clearly written well), but Adalyn deserved better. He didn’t even try to exhibit empathy when that video went viral and instead banished her to the back woods of North Carolina without even warning her of what she was walking into. And that’s without even getting into his later treatment of her. Eff that dude.




The Bottom Bun (The Pro)

Cameron. Caldani.

Folx, what is it with these amazing cinnamon roll grumpy heroes that make me want to melt into a pile of goo and declare existence nothing but a wasteland full of unattained want?

No one else? Just me?

Cameron has some beautiful lines in this book, for sure, and his usage of “the long game” is just delightful. It’s almost instalove for him when it comes to Adalyn…except for her hitting him with a car, but he gets over that. He’s still a grump though and gradually begins to show his interest with little actions and nicknames (darling, princess, Ada, love…take your pick—for Veronica, it’s Ada darling). But when he decides to pursue her in earnest? Wowzer, wowzer, wowzer. The man has mad game.

“I don’t intend on slaying your dragons for you. Not because I don’t want to, believe me, I do. But because you would hate it, and you don’t need me to.”

“Let it go,” he said before kissing me hard and fast on the lips. “Whatever is making you worried, make it disappear. There’s no use for it now.” He touched his forehead with mine for an instant. Just a touch. “I’m here.”

“That’s more than one secret,” I told him. “And I only asked for one.”...when he spoke again, I brought his words with me. Into my dreams. “I’ll always give you more than what you ask, love. Even when you don’t know what you want.”

And he makes a pretty big offer at the end of the novel that I would consider a grand gesture which places him so high in my estimation. He will give her more than she wants, always.

Cameron is also a dirty talker. I’m not going to cite more of the caliente bits, because I want you to read them yourself, but this line is just a taste (TWSS):

“I’m going to knock down every wall left standing,” he said against my ear, his other hand moving, climbing up my side, and taking the fabric of my sweater and shirt with it. “And once I’m inside,” he rasped the pads of his thumbs reaching the underside of my breast. He moved his fingers over my bra, roughly , desperately. “I’m going to bury myself so deep into you” - he brought the lace down, making my breast topple down - “that you won’t be able to tell where you end and where I start”

What I love about this paragraph is that yes, it’s meant sensually, but in essence, Cam is doing this with Ada’s entire person. He’s breaking down the barriers she’s put around her ability to love, to relate, and to aspire for more.

He tells her “You are who you are. And I love that. Let those goddamn smiles be rare as long as they’re mine”. Swoon.

Veronica: I’m not trying to cop out here, but I cosign on Rae’s assessment. For me, there were a couple of instances that really stood out. While I don’t know that it was “instalove,” he definitely fell for her first and he fell real hard.

The first one is when he finally gets a glimpse of how she’s been living in that decrepit cabin. Adalyn recounts his behavior after he emits a long string of curses, “‘I’ve gone a long life without this,’ he said, as if he was talking to himself. I opened my mouth, but he turned around. ‘First the dungarees, now this. I’m unprepared.’”

The second is a few days later after a disappointing match. His attempt at cheering the girls up does not go well, but Maria’s brother suggests sno-cones to cheer them up, which Cameron happily obliges. Adalyn does something awkward and embarrassing (before immediately doing something else awkward and embarrassing), and we get Cam’s inner dialogue at the time.

“And as my curmudgeons were quickly and luckily forgotten, the team’s mood picked up, and the cones disappeared, my eyes remained on the woman sitting by my side. This usually exasperating and outwardly prim woman, who had just snorted ice out her nose and looked thoroughly pleased after getting the kids’ approval. The tug in my gut intensified, pulling so tight that I had to catch my breath for a second. Something in my chest shifted. Warmed. Making me…
I froze.
‘F–k.’”

Cameron Caldani is top tier. Not only is he talented and compassionate, but he’s the type of book boyfriend that real men could aspire to be if they only put in a fraction of effort. Let Cam pick the bar off the floor for you, ladies.

I absolutely enjoy Elena Armas writing. The Long Game did not disappoint me. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. I love reading anything that takes place in a small town and have a strong community that look out for one another. I adored reading about Cameron and Adalyn. I love reading anything with a slow burn romance but this one did take a great while. I am not much of a soccer fan but I did enjoy reading about it. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity. Can’t wait to have a physical copy for my personal library.

Aww I think this is my favorite Elena Armas book to date! I fell head over heels for this one and binged it in under a day because I couldn't get enough of it! It's like a warm hug in a book!

This book started out a little slow even though it started out with a sucker punch for our main character, Adalyn.

While it took me a bit to get into this book, boy am I glad I stuck around! These characters are outstanding.

I felt terrible for Adalyn in the beginning of this story. She was prim and proper with a love of binders to keep everything orderly. Once she set foot in Green Oak, NC, all that was turned upside down, starting with her first interaction with Cameron.

I loved, loved, loved Cameron, but who couldn’t love a grumpy guy who coaches a children’s soccer team, refers to his two cats as family, and is scared of goats but will still attend goat yoga? Cam’s a total swoon. He reminded me a lot of Roy Kent from Ted Lasso and that’s who I ended up picturing most throughout the book.

And the spice in this book? The banter back and forth between Adalyn and Cameron was fiery and filled with a ton of tension. The pottery scene in this book might rival the pottery scene in Ghost if entered into the same, steamy competition. And oh my god, that was some first kiss… 🥵

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 Spice Rating

I can’t forget mentioning Josie, another amazing character. She’s like a one-person welcoming committee and the biggest sweetheart. I think I saw there’s a book coming out with a storyline just for her and I’m telling you, I’m here for it!

I also loved the unexpected twist at the end of this book. I didn’t see it coming and I didn’t see the cliffhanger coming either. I’m hooked, whether I like it or not.

Snag your copy of The Long Game today, friends!

Thank you Elena Armas, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Also, looking for recipes for what might be Jose’s Campfire Fizz or Cocoa Apple Heart, if anyone knows if they’re real drinks or not!

3.5 stars

"The Long Game" is perfectly fine. It's occasionally cute, steamy, and a very (almost painfully and not in the fun way) slow burn. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it.

Some exposition and plot points are superfluous and gunk up the flow. The premise is flimsy. Secondary characters you should fall in love with aren't particularly memorable or as charming as they were intended. The antagonists (her father and ex) are awful almost to the point of cruelty (I remember their plot points and behavior with much more clarity than anyone else and that's a shame because they're the worst). This isn't an Elena Armas book I'll recommend very often (she's penned better).

NetGalley provided the review copy, opinion 100% my own.

Out today! [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy for review!]

Adalyn is a soccer executive facing scandal when she’s sent to rural Green Oak, North Carolina to manage a children’s soccer team—alongside retired goalkeeper Cameron Caldani.

Cameron Caldani is the perfect man. That’s it, that’s the review.

No but seriously—I LOVED this book. The vibes (Ted Lasso meets Schitt’s Creek) are impeccable, the characters are amazing, and the small touches (the goats! The cats!) add a layer of depth that just makes you want to sink into this novel and live there forever. The ending was also perfection (even though I didn’t want it to ever end) and I adore the way the third act conflict was handled—which is one of the biggest compliments I can give a romance novel, honestly.

Elena Armas is one of my favorite authors, and she’s proven why all over again with THE LONG GAME.

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: sports romance, small town romance, grumpy hot cat dads with British accents

CW: Panic attacks/mental health; mentions of death of parent

There is a lot that should work in this book. A brash, Roy Kent like male love interest and a small town setting filled with precocious children and even cuter goats, there more than enough cute moments that should satiate the purest of romance readers looking for a fun, fine time.

There was just a little something missing for me, particularly with the female main character, Adalyn. She gets "banished" from the MLS team she works at (and that her daddy owns) after a video of her decapitating the mascot goes viral. This stains credibility a little bit, but we'll go with it. We are supposed to think of Adalyn as this big boss lady because she only wears high heels (literally only for some reason she's so good at research but she doesn't think to bring warmer clothing or shoes that aren't heels to the middle of the country?) and she's sent to help manage (?) a little league soccer team only to be confronted with the very hot coach of the team.

There's very little soccer in this book. Instead of focusing where I think it should have (on the very cute children and the soccer of it all), we get Adalyn and Cameron going on a series of ridiculous dates that while sort of charming, do nothing to really bring them together.

When they finally do get together (like 78% through) the sex is admittedly very hot. But nothing really worked for me or came together and it seems a lot of missed opportunities.

There is a nice set up for the next book and I am very curious.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Slow burn, enemies to lovers, a Brit, & goats? It’s like all the favorites rolled into one! The story follows exiled soccer exec Adalyn, ousted from her father’s club Miami Flames FC, following a PR incident…in which she becomes a viral video. Yikes! Sent to middle-of-nowhere North Carolina for charity to help the club’s image, she’s recruited to help a different soccer team…of girls under 10. An even bigger surprise -it’s coached by recently-retired MLS star player Cameron, who disappeared from the public eye pretty suddenly. Personalities clash, naturally, but soon they find a common goal in turning this ragtag team of girls into winners, while helping each other heal through their own traumas that led them to NC.
I couldn’t put this down and loved it, though the ending definitely felt rushed and could’ve used maybe an extra 20 pages to flush things out a bit with how the story wrapped (no spoilers!) Also loved the final pages alluding to book #2 in this series…can’t wait to see where it goes!
Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is out now!

Following a (justified) public meltdown that went viral, Adalyn is exiled to the wilds of North Carolina to assist a struggling soccer team. She’s horrified to learn that not only is the gorgeous on-line accommodation she booked actually borderline condemned, but her new job is to organize a team full of spirited little girls. To add insult to injury, she’s forced to work with and live next to a very grouchy retired soccer star in hiding, Cameron. Cameron fairly quickly sees that Adalyn isn’t the princess he originally believed her to be and then it’s game on—he’s fallen and now he just needs to convince her to do the same.
Am I going through Ted Lasso withdrawal and ready to latch on to anything that will allow me to chase that high? Yes, yes I am. Thankfully in this case I really did get the high. I’ve loved Elena Armas’ two prior books and this one is no different. Adalyn is driven and in a constant quest to impress her dad, to no avail. She first sees Cameron as just one more man in her life who won’t take her seriously and will absolutely make her life more difficult. This is one of those books that you can just see so clearly as a movie. Both MCs are great but the people in the town might be even better. Thanks to Atria Books for the eARC. Available today. If you’re in STL, join me and see Elena at the J this Friday!!

My favorite book from Elena! The slow burn, the grumpy soccer man a la Roy Kent, the slightly emotionally stunted mc's.. I love them to bits. This was such a fun read even delving into Adalyn and Cameron's different emotional baggage, demons, and insecurities.

The side characters added so much to this story and really made the small town come to life. I always feel a kindred-ness with "ice queen" characters and Adalyn is no exception. Her struggle to accept her life imploding, her subsequent exile, and her feelings for a man who scares her with how much she feels, I felt all of that so deeply. I loved this book, it truly was such a fun ride and I can't wait to see what Elena writes next.

A big thank you to Netgalley, Elena, and Atria for providing me with an eARC.

⚽ Sports romance - soccer
🐐 Cabin neighbors
⚽ Small town
🐐 He falls first
⚽ Grumpy & Grumpier
🐐 SLOW 🦥 BURN
⚽ Forced proximity
🐐 Goat yoga + goats all around 🐐
⚽ Great side characters
🐈 Cat dad (Willow + Pierogi 😍)
🐐 Dual pov/ 1st person!

💕Cameron Caldani + Adalyn Reyes💕

Phew y'all this one is a slowwwww burn. I've deemed it a 🦥 burn 🤣. BUT I think knowing that when you go in you will LOVE it. Cameron is officially my favorite Elena Armas MMC 😍.

He's grumpy as can be, but also a cat dad who's scared of goats and loves yoga?! Oh an did I mention he's British!

Adalyn is that city girl who has no clue what to do out in the wilderness. She has an exterior as hard as a rock and I just know the best RBF 🤣.

I really enjoyed this one and think it's a great palette cleanser 🫶.

Thank you for this Arc all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the early copy of this book 💜

This book was what I needed The American Roomate Experience to be. After recently reading TARE I was super hesitant on if I would enjoy this or not but this book did not disappoint!!

Cameron Caldini was the perfect grump. He was everything Adalyn needed. I loved how he saw her for who she really was and saw her as a person and not just what she could do for everyone else like everybody else did. Adalyn was a badass boss b**** and I was here for it. I loved how she was confident enough in who she was and how she pushed Cam out of his shell. How she stuck up for her team.

And can I just say it was the perfect t slow burn? It was so well done and had some of my favorite tropes. Slowburn. Forced proximity. Friends to lovers. Grumpy sunshine. Just so much goodness in one place 💜

Cameron Caldini is my new book boyfriend and I can't wait to return to this adorable and quirky little town

*thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!!!*


This is my first Elena Armas book (I’ve had her others on my TBR forever but never got around to them) and WOW how did I go so long without her in my life???!!

Cameron. Freakin. Caldani. A whole ass man. I never knew I needed a soccer romance but HERE WE ARE and I’m obsessed.

"You want a man that won't run away scared? A man that'll leave his bloody skin in the game?" My heart tripped. "I'll be your man, then." HELLO?????


The way Elena Armas tells as story, makes you fall in love with the characters, AND writes dual perspectives???? Perfection.

Absolute. Freakin. Perfection. I can’t wait to recommend this book to everyone with I pulse I ever come in contact with.

This review might be divisive but I have to be honest… Elena Armas books are not for me.

The Long Game by Elena Armas comes out September 5th. It has all the tropes I love- slow burn, enemies to lovers, small town, grumpy/sunshine- but it just didn’t deliver… on any of it.

Adalyn Reyes is the PR person for and American pro soccer team that is owned by her father. After accosting the team’s mascot, she is exiled to a middle of nowhere North Carolina town to pump up the local soccer team. Turns out the team is a bunch of nine year girls, coached by a famous pro soccer player who is incognito— Cameron Caldani.
Adalyn and Cameron initially bump heads but come to a reasonable working relationship as attraction sparks between them.
There is a small town cast of supporting characters- the girls on the soccer team are funny but are mainly a plot device.
The story fell apart about halfway through the book. The slow burn culminated in very cringey, poorly written scenes. Adalyn was unlikable for the entire book and Cameron was written like two different people. The ending was predictable. Overall, I think there needed to be more editing.
If you liked The Spanish Love Deception but found yourself liking it despite its flaws, and there were many, I think The Long Game will frustrate you because the writing and editing hasn’t gotten better.
This was two (2) stars. ⭐️⭐️
I just want to thank Atria books for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I wish I had better things to say.

Thank you thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

CAMERON IS MY BOYFRIEND, CAMERON IS A GOD, CAMERON IS THE BREEZE IN MY HAIR ON THE WEEKEND

Okay but seriously, Cameron Caldani is my new book boyfriend. What a delicious grump of a man with the perfect secret softness. A surly, tattooed, ex-soccer player out of my dreams. This is my favorite of Elena Armas’ yet. Slow burn sports romance perfection. And Adalyn! Our darling Adalyn who has been treated so poorly! And GOAT YOGA! AND THE TENSION! Just endless goodness.

I’m so thankful I got to read this as an ARC, but I may need a physical copy to keep on my nightstand and kiss before bed, that’s how much I loved this book.

Forced proximity is my jam and had me rushing to request this title. I enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception. I merely liked The American Roommate Experience. This one, "The Long Game," was merely a meh. I just did not connect with either of the main characters. I definitely preferred Cam over Adalyn. The soccer aspect was enjoyable. The communication barriers in place definitely wasn't preferred.

Overall, this was a miss for me. I will most likely continue reading Elena Armas books because I just adore her as a human. This book however, wasn't for me.
Thank you to Atria for the opportunity to read an advanced ecopy of this read. All thoughts are my own.

After a video of Adalyn goes viral and gets bad press for the pro soccer team she works for, the Miami Flames FC executives (which includes her own father) send her to a small town in the middle of nowhere North Carolina. Her assignment? To get good press for the team and redeem herself by helping the local kids’ soccer team, the Green Warriors. When Adalyn arrives, this assignment is not at all what she expected. And to make things worse, the coach of the team is Cameron Caldani, a grumpy former star goalkeeper who is keeping a low profile in this small town. From the moment they meet, Adalyn and Cam don’t get along, but Adalyn is determined to stick to the job she’s been given and save her image.

I got total Roy Kent vibes from Cam and I loved it. Adalyn brought chaos to his orderly life from the moment they met (which was a hilarious moment by the way) but her heart is in the right place and she is strong and sunshine mixed all into one. While they pushed each other’s buttons, they had clear chemistry from the beginning that just kept building until there was no denying their feelings any longer. In addition to the amazing chemistry and romance, this book did an incredible job touching on some deeper issues and allowing room for amazing character development. However, my favorite part of this book were the side characters - from the overly involved small town neighbors to the various animals featured, and especially the kids on the soccer team, the characters were a great addition that added so much fun to the story!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers romance and it was very easy to root for Adalyn and Cameron to get together. I'm a sucker for a slow burn tension filled narrative and this was that to a tee! While I felt like the narrative jumped quickly in places and fell flat this was, overall, a fantastic read and would recommend to anyone that enjoys a cute, banter-filled, sports romance!

Is it time to go back to Green Oaks yet? Elena Armas’s newest romance, The Long Game, isn’t even out yet and I am already craving more of this rural North Carolina town with its young but determined soccer team, amazing neighbors, and deliciously hawt half English half Italian former soccer superstar.

Adalyn Reyes has dedicated her life to the Miam Flames FC, determined to show the team, and her father, the struggling team’s owner, her true value. When a video of an altercation between her and the team’s mascot goes viral, Adalyn finds herself sent to Green Oaks, North Carolina, tasked with turning around the struggling Green Warriors soccer team. She never expected the Green Warriors to be an under 10 team full of chaotic energy coached by the retired Cameron Caldani, a grumpy Englishman who wants to be as far from the spotlight, and the success story Adalyn is determined to make of the Warriors, as possible. But Adalyn will not be regulated to the sidelines and will turn the Warriors around with or without his help.

I am such a sucker for an enemies to lovers, slow burn, dual perspective romance. It may be an obsession at this point, but I need them all! In The Long Game by Elena Armas, we are treated to my personal winning trifecta, yet the “enemies” portion resolves itself rather quickly with Cameron’s fiery banter being replaced with lingering looks and flirtatious touches. His transition was rather abrupt and seemed like it came from nowhere. The dual perspective could have worked favorably here with us being treated to more time in his head to see what his thought process was, helping to lay the groundwork for a beautiful romance. The slow burn romance and storyline of Adalyn’s banishment took up the majority of the novel, taking away valuable pages from the soccer team, Green Oaks, and Adalyn and Cam’s character development and growth. It felt like there was too much time devoted to Adalyn’s walls coming down for something that seemed like a quick process to the reader. Because we were in Adalyn’s head, we saw how quickly her walls came down, but the text on the page kept repeating how guarded she was. There were also scenes that should have been in the novel that were omitted in favor of a storyline that felt repetitive. For example, including the scene of Adalyn and Josie going out would have strengthened the character bond and made the readers more invested in the story.

Overall, The Long Game was a cute romance, but could have benefitted from more character development. Does this mean that I am any less excited about returning to Green Oaks to read Josie and Matthew’s story? Absolutely not! My bags are already packed!

*Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.