literally the perfect blend of slow-burn romance, small-town charm, & character development. i absolutely adored cameron & adalyn's chemistry & how their relationship blossomed. just such a fun, wonderful read!

I really REALLY wanted to like this book. I've met the author and often receive these ARCS yet this novel truly disappointed me. I ended up DNFing it over half way. I love myself an easy, goofy read but the writing style has gradually declined. It seems that, in order of the books Armas has written, my love for them mirrors that order. As each novel comes out, the more it seems to pander at a younger audience probably because of the popularity on Booktok. I sadly think I may be putting down her novels in the future. They have become shallow, poorly written, and overall aimed at a younger audience.

The Long Game sure lived up to its title—it felt long, and not in a good way.

At this point, I’m starting to wonder if The Spanish Love Deception was lightning in a bottle. That book had everything: magic, charm, incredible chemistry, and one of the most swoon-worthy book boyfriends of all time—Aaron Blackford. Unfortunately, neither The American Roommate Experiment nor The Long Game come close to capturing that same spark. While it’s unfair to expect every book to live up to a breakout hit, it’s hard not to compare when the drop in engagement and quality is this steep.

Let’s start with the tropes, which, on paper, should’ve worked beautifully:

Dual POV

Sports romance (and yes, it’s football, not soccer)

Slow burn

Grumpy x grumpy

Small-town setting

Forced proximity

Enemies to lovers

All solid ingredients for a compelling romance. But despite the promising setup, the result was frustratingly dull.

The book starts off strong and genuinely fun—I was invested up until around page 130. Then the energy started to fade, fast. My first red flag should have been the classic “I’m not like other girls” declaration from the heroine. Sadly, she wasn’t. She was worse. Adalyn came off as spoiled, self-absorbed, and deeply unlikable, with no meaningful growth throughout the book.

The romance, the supposed heart of the story, fell completely flat. As an enemies-to-lovers arc, the enemies phase dragged on for far too long—and worse, the reason for their animosity felt flimsy at best. When the relationship suddenly shifted gears, it didn’t feel earned. There was no build-up, no emotional foundation—just surface-level attraction and a whole lot of eye contact. Lust without chemistry. The slow burn lacked spark, and even the steamier moments were forgettable.

As for the characters, I’ve already forgotten their last names, and that about sums it up.

Adalyn felt entitled and immature. While some backstory hinted at past hardship, it didn’t excuse her bratty behavior or justify her inflated sense of self. I kept waiting for real development that never came. Also, her constant use of Cameron’s full name in every line was grating.

Cameron was disappointingly bland. Aside from being attractive and owning a cat, he brought very little to the table. The overuse of the word “darling” during their enemies phase was cringeworthy, and the switch to “love” later on didn’t help. These typically endearing nicknames felt hollow coming from him. He didn’t earn the emotional depth those words usually carry.

Were there a few sweet or funny moments? Sure. But they were scattered and quickly drowned out by an otherwise sluggish and predictable story. I found myself increasingly bored and disappointed as the pages went on.

If you’re planning to read this, go in with low expectations. I truly wanted to enjoy it—especially after waiting so long—but this one was a letdown. Honestly, this review might be kinder than the book deserves.

This was such a fun, cute story! It had some of the most adorable side characters, who honestly stole the show. The enemies-to-lovers setup, with the main characters thrown together as neighbors and co-coaches, delivered tons of great banter. This is definitely a very slow burn romance. The love story doesn’t dominate the plot - it creeps along in the background while the charming small town, baby goats, and spunky girls’ soccer team truly shine and give the story so much heart.

I absolutely adored the relationships between Cam, Adalyn, and the girls on the soccer team. Cam is a broody grump, but I think I swooned every time the girls called him “Coach Cam.” He was sweet to them in his own quiet way…plus, he’s a cat dad!

Does it follow the blueprint of every other Elena Armas book out there? Yes. Do I fall for it and eat it up every time? Also yes, with a sports romance twist!

The author did a great job of having two grumpies who hate each other to live together in a cabin in the middle of nowhere.

It's a very slow burn, but the couple has an undeniable chemistry throughout the book.

I found the female character in this book to be one of the most interesting the author has ever written. The romance also evolved in a very natural way.

I really liked it.

Thanks Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy.

I'm not sure what to think of this book. It wasn't bad but I also didn't love it. I did love the animals and little girls but the MMC was just okay. He was a great guy and perfect for the FMC but wasn't my new book boyfriend. The irony of going to a small town to help a soccer team and having a famous soccer player coaching them isn't lost on me. This screams Hallmark movie but open door sex scenes.

I wasn't crazy about Adalyn or Cam but they somehow work so well together. Props to those girls and animals though! They made the book IMO.

The Long Game by Elena Armas was such a great read! I really enjoyed the slow-burn romance and the depth of the characters. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and the plot had just the right mix of tension and heart. It kept me hooked from start to finish!

Elena Armas is a sensational author. I literally get giddy anytime she has something new coming out. The Long Game is nothing short of her previous work in terms of character building, falling in love with the small-town vibes, and her standard laugh-inducing entertainment. Armas was the first author to actually make me cackle out loud when reading, and she continues to do so. Highly recommend.

This book was such a fun read. I loved the plot and the characters. This was a slow burn, sports romance, grumpy sunshine [on both sides], small town romance and forced proximity, and I loved every minute of it.

Cameron Caldani was swoon worthy and the banter between him and Adalyn was amazing. They were forced to not only work together but live right next door to each other which was like a never ending nightmare for Adalyn - and I ate it up! This was a dual POV and it added so much to the story being able to get both perspective and seeing each side's walls come down little by little.

Cameron is a retired soccer star that moved to a small town in the middle of nowhere where no one would recognize him until Adalyn came into town - she was exiled by her father after an altercation she had while working for her dad. She was forced to write about a soccer team in the same small town Cameron was hiding out in. Excited for this new opportunity to get back on her dads good side, she arrived to this small town with more than one bad surprise. The soccer team she was covering was a team of little girls and to her surprise she was also expected to live in welll a shoe box would be a step up to where she was forced to sleep. BUT she had to stick it out and prove to her dad that, that altercation she had was just a really bad day. Being in proximity to Cameron didn't make things easy for her and he was not thrilled to have her there either.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Publishing and Elena Armas for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! I felt that some of the dialogue was somewhat cringey, but I was still rooting for our two main characters. The flow of the story wasn't the smoothest, but it wasn't unreadable. I did find this book SO funny and found myself laughing out loud at times! I also love a good slow-burn, so the first half of the book was amazing. Overall, the story was cute and the plot was solid, I just didn't love the execution at times. I will, however, read anything Elena Armas writes!

I read this book when it came out and I have no idea how I missed reviewing it!

HOWEVER. This was my first Elena Armas book and it was delightful. Adalyn and Cam are just so...cool. Truly. They are cool, caring, and passionate about what they believe in and care about. Adalyn's situation in the beginning stressed me out, I'm not going to lie, but ultimately I was mad at all of the men at her job who were misogynistic pigs. Cam is a dream. I had a major reader crush on him! Plus, the idea that these two have to somehow work together (even though OBVIOUSLY they dislike each other) to help a 9-year-old girl's soccer team is adorable and perfect.

I definitely recommend this for fans of contemporary romance. This book is a great blend of sweet and spicy moments and I love the growth of both characters!

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Charming Rom-Com with Heart and Humor

Elena Armas once again delivers a delightful romantic comedy with "The Long Game," showcasing her signature blend of humor, heart, and a healthy dose of sports-themed banter.

Following the success of "The Spanish Love Deception," Armas proves her ability to craft engaging and relatable characters. Adalyn, a driven young woman determined to inherit her family's soccer franchise, finds her meticulously planned life thrown into disarray after a disastrous incident involving the team mascot. Exiled to a small town in North Carolina to manage a minor league team, she encounters a world vastly different from her glamorous life in the city.

The story introduces a charming cast of eccentric townsfolk, adding a delightful layer of humor and warmth to the narrative. The slow-burn romance between Adalyn and the enigmatic coach of the minor league team is a highlight, brimming with witty banter and a genuine connection that blossoms amidst unexpected circumstances.

"The Long Game" is a refreshing and entertaining read that celebrates the power of perseverance, the importance of embracing unexpected opportunities, and the enduring magic of finding love in the most unexpected places.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #atriabooks #thelonggame #elenaarmas

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

The Long Game is a fun romance between disgraced soccer exec Adalyn Reyes, whose father (who is also her boss) sends her to a small town in North Carolina to wait out the storm after her disastrous disgraceful moment and a retired soccer star who moved to the small town for peace. It's an interesting romance with several important details that completely change Adalyn's life.

I had mixed feelings about this book. While I did like the story and want to know what was going to happen between Ada and Cam, I did feel like it dragged out a bit. I also didn't find either of the characters to be totally likable but I do feel like that was on purpose. Cam really gave off Roy Kent (from Ted Lasso) vibes and I could only picture him as Cam the entire time. Ada did have a little bit of character growth towards the end too. While I had mixed feelings, I did like it enough to want to give book 2 a shot.

The long game was quite long and drawn out, I just needed more of a spark to feel drawn and invested.

Such a fun book for fans of Ted Lasso (especially if you’re a fan of Roy Kent!)

Thank you to net galley for the ARC!

I am a huge fan of the Spanish Love Deception, which was why I was drawn to read another one of her books.

I enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception, so I could not wait to read The Long Game. Plus, I am down for any version of a sports romance. Elena Armas does it again with this one!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.