Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: anxiety, panic attacks (on page), family tensions, PTSD (MMC experienced a breaking and entering in the past), internet bullying, cheating (past, non-MCs)

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-frenemies to lovers
-hard one and soft one
-forced proximity
-former soccer star turned children's soccer coach
-sloooow burn
-rooster for a pet
-horny goat yoga

This was a fun read. I loved the sports adjacent nature of it. Adayln has been fighting to impress her sports team owner dad and ends up in exile in a small town. With an epic meet cute of whoops I ran over your rooster (which lives don't worry) and then whoops I then hit you with my car Adalyn is a competent, independent woman who has learned to always and only rely on herself but she is struggling. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is just trying.

Cam, gruff Cam in hiding as a former sports star, now just living in a cabin and coaching a girls soccer team. He's protecting himself from his past with so many walls up, and Adalyn just stomps over every single one in those heels of hers. I am just trash for watching a LI turn into a feral mess because they just fall, fall hard and fast. He never doubts it once he realizes it he's just all in on Adalyn. This man is an A+ corning steam talker. Gosh that pottery scene, try not to be sweating I dare you.

I adored how these two really got to know each other even as they were fighting some spectacular sexual tension. They pushed every button for the other but it only brought them closer. How they just saw each other and said, you can be what you need in the world but I'm your soft spot. They were tender, amazing chemistry and I was just rooting for them. But that epilogue has me so intrigued for what's coming next to that small town.

Steam: 3

AHHHHHHH...After reading The Spanish Love Deception, I thought an E Armas book could never reach the same bar again. I was wrong. The Long Game is the perfect mix of enemies to lovers and slow burn. This is a must read and you can bet I will own this physically. Cam and Adalyn are the perfect match. Both are a little grumpy at first but clearly they just need a little love...from each other! I'd also like to thank NetGalley, Atria Books, and Elena Armas for letting me read this book ahead of the release. And as I am sure Adalyn's mom was thinking, "¡YA ERA TIEMPO!"

A fun romance with likable characters and cute setting. While some of the plot was a little predictable, it satiated the need for a slow burn romance.

2.75 stars

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t a favorite for me. After reading a few of the other reviews, I can see that I am in the minority here! I think this book will work for many other readers, it just wasn’t a great fit for me.

I loved the premise, but there were so many important character motivations that were unnecessarily cloaked in mystery for too much of the story (Why send Adalyn out to this particular team? Why did she actually attack the mascot? Why is Cam there? What is the reason for this small town & team being an “exile” location for both of these prominent figures in MLS?) Hiding the motivations for so long just took the gas out of the story for me. Like I said, this is probably just an issue for me as a reader, because I know many others loved it!

This one didn’t work for me, but I will definitely try out another read from this author at some point in the future.

I desperately wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t hit for me. I’ve loved Armas’s previous books, but this one could’ve used another round of edits. Maybe because I got an early digital copy to read, but there were too many typos and fumbled figures-of-speech to make it an enjoyable read.
Also, instead of ‘um’ in sentences they say ‘hum’ which is just odd to me.
I also didnt love Adalyn until later in the books. I couldn’t tell if she was truly spoiled and naïve or if her character just wasn’t well flushed out enough… I just didn’t click with her or with her reasons for “hating” Cameron at first. That truly made no sense.
Also, you cannot tell me there’s intense sexual tension between these two, they’re living together, he touches her face a lot…and they haven’t kissed once until 76% in?? You can just cut off an almost scene and then be like “days later”… that’s just not believable at all.

This was not for me. I’d heard that Elena Armas’s other books were great and so I was excited to get this ARC. I did not enjoy this at all. The writing was disjointed, there was little to no actual chemistry, it was marketed as enemies to lovers, but there was no buildup to Them falling in love. One day they were enemies and the next, insta-love. Just all around was not a good reading experience for me.

Such a cute and fine read. A perfect take to the beach or park for the day and sit back and relax and enjoy.

Adalyn and Cameron!

Adalyn works for her father, the owner of the professional soccer club the Miami Flames FC. She goes viral online and gets banned to a small town in North Carolina. Her project, to help one of the team's charity projects, an U10 girls soccer team. Also in the small town, is recently retired soccer star Cameron. Who is mysteriously hiding out in this small town where no one knows who he is. Together they will help the team and in doing so get to actually know each other beyond what they allow others to see.

Elena Armas writes yet another amazing book! This has enemies to lovers vibes with a hint of grumpy sunshine and forced proximity. It took me a couple chapters to really get into the story but once I did, I could not put the book down. It ended in such a good place that it left me wanting more and more. Not only more of Adalyn and Cam but more of the whole town and the soccer team girls. The secondary characters were just as lovable as our Grumpy MMC and our sweet but firey FMC.

Elena has a beautiful way of letting you feel what the characters are struggling with and allowing her characters to shine brightly amongst a supporting cast. The banter was great and the girls had some of the best lines that just made me laugh out loud!

Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads review posted: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/35648421

IG story and review to be posted prior to publishing day

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Adalyn Reyes had it all together - until she attacked the mascot of her father/boss’s baseball club during a rare moment of vulnerability and was subsequently exiled to middle-of-nowhere North Carolina to manage a 10U girls soccer team. To make matters worse, Adalyn’s new head coach is none other than Cameron Caldani, a legendary professional goalkeeper who has been dodging public appearances ever since his mysteriously premature retirement. Though Cam and Adalyn get off to a rough start, they are able to agree on one thing: the Green Warriors need to win. As they embark on a journey of reluctant collaboration for the sake of the team, both Adalyn and Cam are forced to reevaluate their plans for the future.

The Long Game is the first Elena Armas book that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Cam is the perfect combination of grumpy and overprotective (You know, the guy you would absolutely not put up with in real life but swoon over in a book?) and Adalyn is a tough independent lead who grew on me as the book went on. I loved the supporting characters, especially the girls, even if their maturity level was slightly unrealistic. I did find the dialogue to be repetitive toward the second half of the book, but it didn’t take away from the overall quality of the storyline. I would definitely recommend this to fans of contemporary romance and Ted Lasso, even if the book was a little short on the actual soccer.

The Long Game
by Elena Armas
Review Score: 3 1/2 Stars

Five Key Feels
-This book definitely opened with a bang!

-I loved Adalyn’s interpretation of small town life.

-It was fun to learn more about Cameron, and how he ended up where he did.

-I loved the support both Adalyn and Cameron gave to the girls on the team.

-While I felt this book was a bit all over the place, it did have a very satisfying ending.

——

The Long Game was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Atria Books. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 9/5/23

As a lover of Armas’ “The Spanish Love Deception”, I could not wait to read her newest book, “The Long Game”.

While I did enjoy this book, I did not love it. Armas always does a great job of building layers to a story, but this one felt a bit all over the place. I also questioned the chemistry between Adalyn and Cameron, and if they are truly compatible long term.

With that being said, I still enjoyed this book. There were a ton of funny moments that I did not see coming, and I loved the outcome of the book.

#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #fivekeyfeels #audiobooks #audiobook #fiction #arcreview #netgalley #thelonggame #elenaarmas #atriabooks

The Long Game, by Elena Armas

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0

This surprised me!!! I really didn’t like her other two books, but this one felt more developed. I loved the premise of a soccer expert and a former MLS player teaming up reluctantly to coach a girls’ team. The tension felt like it developed naturally and I am a sucker for a small town. I thought the two main characters had thought out backstories and problems and that they faced them well. I loved the banter and the sarcasm throughout. The spice was just right. It is a slow burn but I didn’t mind it here — I think it worked well for the story. It wasn’t perfect — it was a little confusing at first to be thrown into the viral video and reaction and then consequence of that — but it was a fun read.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

As a huge fan of The Spanish Love Deception and slow burn romance in general, I was beyond excited for this one! Add in the fact that it was sports-related and I was a goner. I might’ve gone in with too high of expectations because it didn’t give me the same warm, fuzzy feeling that TSLD did and I couldn’t help but be bummed out. The first couple chapters were fantastic and I felt immediately invested, but by the end of the book I still didn’t feel invested in the romance and didn’t have a great sense of the characters. The dialogue also felt stilted and repetitive, not what I expected from Armas. Very trope heavy. I also wanted more soccer! The kids in the soccer team and the small town shenanigans were definitely the highlight of the book. Overall, not my favorite but I’ll continue to read Armas’ work and hope the next one works for me. Still worth checking out if you enjoy small town romances, forced proximity, city girl, enemies to lover, and workplace (kinda?) romances.

She’s done it again!

The Long Game is a tour de force of literary prowess, compelling storytelling, and unforgettable characters. It’s a book that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page. Fans of her previous work will not be disappointed! If you're seeking an immersive and enthralling reading experience, The Long Game is an absolute must-read.

I really enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception so I was super excited when I got an email asking to read The Long Game. Sadly, though, this one was a letdown for me. I just could not get into it. Halfway into the book, I still felt like I didn’t have a good sense of who Adalyn and Cameron were and I didn’t understand their initial animosity and subsequent interest in each other. I found Cameron’s anger and lack of communication problematic and his use of “darling” grating. That said, it clearly has a ton of great reviews so don’t let me deter you from giving it a try! This book just wasn’t for me.

I had the BEST TIME reading this book!!!!! The little twist at the end i never saw coming and then the little cliffhanger?! I need the next book STAT (assuming we get a companion book with this one.) WELL DONE, I am in love. I love love loved Cameron and Adalyn. Grumpy x Grumpy is my favorite trope. Book was a delight start to end!

The title completely lives up to the name. The MC Cameron is desperately trying to play the long game for Adalyn's affection. Elena Reynas always does great job cultivating a well thought out story, excellent side characters, and humor.

Overall, this book gave me The Big Green (excellent kid movie from the 90s) vibes. It didn't feel very romantic so if you enjoy books with just a smidgen of romance this might be for you.

A disgraced soccer exec finds herself being exiled after her scandal to coach a girls soccer team with a retired soccer star who gets on her nerves in this small town romance with a touch of Ted Lasso and It Happened One Summer! Adalyn Reyes was determined to make her dad proud, she’s a former model and daughter of the owner of the Miami Flames soccer team...however after a video of her attacking the mascot goes viral and her father essentially fires her, she finds her entire life turned upside down as she is now exiled to the middle of nowhere North Carolina where her dad tasks her with turning around a local soccer team... the Green Warriors. Yet the moment she drives to her new space she hits a guy with her car and basically runs over his pet chicken all the while crashing and then refusing any help and not giving any apology... and said grumpy neighbor? The current coach of the Green Warriors and a famous retired soccer star, Cameron Caldani. Cameron and Adalyn immediately get off on the wrong foot, they both hate being wrong, refuse to acknowledge that they might be wrong, and get under each other’s skin, yet when they are forced to work together and spend time together, they begin to realize that all the animosity between them might lead to some very real sexual tension. Can they find a way to help their team win while trying to work out their feelings for each other? This one unfortunately fell off the mark for me, I found myself disliking Adalyn and Cameron so much, they were just so insufferable and I really was not rooting for their romance at all. They were giving me Rebekah and Roy from Ted Lasso vibes but without any of the charm of either of the characters. The romance was bland and honestly, I was happy I even finished reading this book. I really wanted to DNF it but just kept reading it until the end and honestly, I just did not have a good time. While this one didn’t work for me if you enjoy romances with two characters who get under each other’s skin and has a soccer team, give this one a go, maybe you’ll have a better time with it than i did!

*Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

DNF @ 46%

While I was not the biggest fan of THE SPANISH LOVE DECEPTION a couple of years ago, I was willing to give Armas another shot! So when I was offered the opportunity read an ARC of THE LONG GAME, I was excited for the opportunity.

Unfortunately, that shot did not pay off. The further I got into this novel, the more questions I had and the more I didn’t really love the FMC. Why did Adalyn freak out on a mascot? Why was a famous soccer player hiding out in the woods? What's up with the soccer ad who seems to hate Adalyn's father?

At 40%, I still didn’t know the catalyst for either the MMC or the FMC’s story arc and the character I found I liked the most was tied between an eccentric mayor and a goat. This book just took way too long to make me care about the characters, and as such, it's a no from me.

As always, just because it’s not for me, it might be for you!

This was my first book from Elena Armas so I'm not sure if it's in her typical writing style. The Long Game is an enemies to lovers romance that reminded me a bit of some of the characters from Ted Lasso. Cameron had me picturing Roy Kent when he would growl or pick up Adalyn, but his character was kind of hard to grasp.

Overall, this book was a bit of a miss for me. I wanted more out of the main characters and felt like there were a lot of clunky interactions that didn't make sense.

My main issue with the book was that it was awkward and sometimes the plot just jumped around. The spice scenes were kind of cringe-y and I am not a fan of "darling" and "love" being used non stop.

Perhaps more of a "not for me" than a "not a good book" scenario, but I did enjoy parts of it.

I would probably read a follow up book about Josie and Matthew if the author decides to write one. 😉

Thanks to netgalley for an eARC to review.

So, I’ve never seen Ted Lasso and I’ll show my age here when I say the synopsis had me thinking of The Mighty Ducks with someone having to coach a ragtag team. Although it wasn’t super heavy on the sports and didn’t give me the same Mighty Ducks vibes, I absolutely loved this story! I’ve read The Spanish Love Deception and I loved it and honestly, I may love this book even more. The characters were so well written and I loved that! The story and plot were adorable and I felt myself rooting for Adalyn the entire time! Great, fun romance and perfect read for summer!