Serious Ted Lasso vibes in this one...and I kinda liked it.

Cameron Caldani is hiding away in rural North Carolina after leaving professional soccer. When Adalyn Reyes arrives in town, she's running from a viral video that got her dismissed from The Miami Flames FC, where she worked for her father (the owner) alongside her dirtbag former fiance. She's tasked with turning around a small town soccer club in order to redeem herself. What she thinks is a women's team turns out to be a bunch of nine year olds. These kids deliver some of the biggest laughs, and some of the greatest wisdom.

It's an enemies-to-lovers slow burn which is really Armas' strength. Cameron is a grump who has yet to decide where he fits after his MLS career is over. He sees and admires Adalyn's intelligence, and her work ethic in giving her all to her job, even if it is just for a bunch of kids. Adalyn's actions allow him to see his own way forward. Adalyn's desire to please her dad is so misguided but I loved how her time in Green Oak, NC gave her the space to realize she can fight her own battles, and slay her own dragons.

The epilogue leaves the series open for another book in this universe, and I'm not mad about it.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE LONG GAME gave me high hopes after reading the synopsis, but I ran into the same issue with this book that other Elena Armas "enemies to lovers" or "dislike to like" troped books have had for me, which is that the conflict between the characters just feels pointless and frustrating rather than fruitfully leading to the development of a deeper connection between the two of them by the later portion of the book. The whole first half of this book just annoyed me because I couldn't understand the grumpiness being portrayed by both the FMC and MMC. Maybe it was miscommunication, or maybe it was the author's attempt at building tension into the plot, but it didn't work for me, whatever it was.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. This book dragged on wayyyy too long. Not much even happens in it. The story itself is fine but it could have been done in 300 or less pages

This was 2.5 Stars, maybe 3. I wanted to like it more, but I found it pretty boring. 😔

I'm grateful for the ARC, but this wasn't for me.

I enjoy books by Elena Armas, and The Long Game was pretty much what I wanted it to be. It gave me Ted Lasso style vibes. It's a fun read especially when you want something light.

I was extremely disappointed by this book. The characters weren't likable, it was way too long and extremely boring. I'm not sure if I'll be reading anymore from this author.

This was a tale of two halves for me. The first half was slow and long - I couldn't get into the story, didn't like the female MC, almost DNF'd. The second half of the book, however, redeemed the first. If you can stick with it, this is a very worthwhile read.

This book wasn't for me. I hate to say it but I found it boring. This is supposed to be an enemies to lovers trope but there was not a very good reason for them to be enemies in the first place. I didn't like the characters and felt they needed more work.

The Long Game
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Elena Armas

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Atria Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Adalyn Reyes has spent years perfecting her daily routine: wake up at dawn, drive to the Miami Flames FC offices, try her hardest to leave a mark, go home, and repeat.

But her routine is disrupted when a video of her in an altercation with the team’s mascot goes viral. Rather than fire her, the team’s owner—who happens to be her father—sends Adalyn to middle-of-nowhere North Carolina, where she’s tasked with turning around the struggling local soccer team, the Green Warriors, as a way to redeem herself. Her plans crumble upon discovering that the players wear tutus to practice (impractical), keep pet goats (messy), and are terrified of Adalyn (counterproductive), and are nine-year-old kids.

To make things worse, also in town is Cameron Caldani, goalkeeping prodigy whose presence is somewhat of a mystery. Cam is the perfect candidate to help Adalyn, but after one very unfortunate first encounter involving a rooster, Cam’s leg, and Adalyn’s bumper, he’s also set on running her out of town. But banishment is not an option for Adalyn. Not again. Helping this ragtag children’s team is her road to redemption, and she is playing the long game. With or without Cam’s help.

My Thoughts: This is the first book in the Long Game series and the series has started with a bang! Adalyn Reyes had the ‘perfect’ life until a complete meltdown goes viral and she is shipped off to a small town in North Carolina to rejuvenate a kid’s soccer team. Also in town is Cameron Caldani, famous goaltender, who is in hiding, so to speak. Adalyn and Cam’s initial encounter was not pretty and he is hoping that she will go home. However, Adalyn needs this redemption to “get her life back.” Adalyn is in it for the long game, by herself, or with Cam’s help. This follows the tropes of enemies to lovers, small town romance, forced proximity, and sports romance.

While this story is a slow burn romance, it heats up relatively quickly with the pace and flow on point, working very well for this storyline. The story is a dual narration with both Adalyn and Cam, in their respective perspectives. Adalyn is fiercely independent, has been deeply hurt, and lives in the shadow of her father. Cam has a tough exterior but when you get to know him, he has a soft middle. Adalyn was not initially relatable, or even likable, however, she does undergo some tremendous character growth and I grew to love her. Cam was likable from the first word he spoke. Their fierce love story will warm you from the inside out, tug at your heart, and you will root for their HEA. Their meet cute was an absolute disaster but in the best fire fueling way. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, definite chemistry, spice, and intriguing. The supporting animals were truly amazing, especially Brandy, the blind goat. The one supporting character that has my heart is Maria, she is brilliant, engaging, funny, and the cutest little girl. I also adored Josie and really hope she gets a book with Matthew in this series, I would love to see how their story would unfold and captivate. The author’s writing style was complex, layered, steamy 🌶️, swoony, humorous, and engaging. The characters are not only memorable, but captivating with the small town setting with a love story that will truly sweep you off your feet.

This is a great kickoff to a series. The story was swoon-worthy, spicy, funny, emotional, and a perfect blend of romance. I have read other books by Armas and she does not disappoint in the spice department and elevates it to the next level with this story. Armas really creates a storyline that will captivate you, swoon you into next year, make you laugh, and leave you wanting more. I would highly recommend, especially if you liked the Spanish Love Deception series.

In Armas' third book (and first in a new series...?) we see Adalyn exiled to a small town after her attack of an MLS team mascot goes viral. Her dad--and boss, owner the of the team--sends her to work with an up-and-coming team there, but Adalyn is shocked to find out (1) it's actually a team of children, and (2) their coach is a former MLS goalkeeper in hiding, Cameron. The two start out at odds but learn to work together to make the team a success.

I have a lot of mixed thoughts on this book. As a whole, stepping back and looking at the broader strokes, it's quite good. I enjoyed reading it, the chemistry was there, and I love a good sports romance. But it also had some downsides. It was too long. I cared more about why Adalyn attached the mascot than her romance with Cameron. The balance of chapters from Adalyn's POV versus Cameron's POV was off. The payoff to the extremely built-up romantic tension could have steamier. Some portions of the ending didn't really make sense. In general--and I REALLY hate to say this--it felt like a really good indie book. But it didn't feel like it had a Big Four editor reviewing it. I mean no shade to indie books--they are some of my favorites--but it just feels like a second, or third, or fourth pair of eyes should have caught some of these issues. I still LIKED the book--thus the four stars--but I wish it could have been tweaked a bit. I love Armas, and will certainly read whatever books is next in this series.

Thanks to Atria for my eARC and Book Club Favorites for my finished copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 7/10

Sports romance is right up my alley so I was excited for The Long Game. Small town romance vibes, Rivals to lovers with great chemistry and banter. This novel was a good time.

I thought this was a fun, easy read. Adalyn is working for her father's soccer team, when an unfortunate video of her losing it with the mascot gets out... He sends her from Miami to the middle of nowhere south Carolina. Coach Cam is teaching soccer to cute little girls, in tutus and with blind goats, while trying to break from his professional soccer past. They work together to help the girls win, and of course, the enemies to lovers ensues. This was a sweet book, cute moments, and an easy read. Really enjoyed!

The perfect soccer romance, with absolutely fun Roy Kent / Keely Jones vibes for any ted lasso fans! This is my favorite Elena Armas book to date, with fun small town hijinx and a cute strangers to rivals to lovers romance that will leave readers swooning.

Adalyn is banished to nowhere North Carolina to help a struggling soccer team after an incident at her father's company (where she also works). Cameron, a former soccer pro, is coaching the soccer team and wants nothing to do with Adalyn. Adalyn has no option to quit, so these two have to find a way to work together and turn this soccer team around.

I love some close proximity, a little bit of grumpy/sunshine romance, although I think both Adalyn and Cameron could qualify as grumpy. There is a character who "hired" both of them who inserts the sunshine into their day. Cameron just wants Adalyn to go away and she just keeps showing up in her work attire. She is just determined to make her situation work. My heart hurts for Adalyn and Armas really has written a character who has been kicked and betrayed, but she's not going to take it anymore. She has such growth in this book. That is what I wanted to see when I started reading from the start.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book, but I think sports romance just isn't my thing. I also really struggled with the characterization with Adalyn being really unlikable and Cameron being a knock-off Roy Kent (who I felt missed the mark).

Armas nailed her characters and settings with a sure pen. A fun and entertaining read.
Many thanks to Atria and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 Stars
This was cute. Adalyn and Cameron are a least likely to kind of couple. He's looking to get out of the world of soccer fame and Adalyn is doing anything she can to get back into it. The small town, quirky residents, and roaming animals really sets the scene right for a romantic comedy read. The one thing we'd dread happening to us happens to Adalyn every other page, from spilled drinks and borrowing ill fitting clothes to broken heels and of course, snarky men who want you to disappear. It's all part of the quintessential romcom and Elena Armas hits the check boxes perfectly. Unfortunately, it's also lengthy, and the background to the story is given to readers too late into the book. I stopped caring about the story and just enjoyed the antics, but it left the book a bit unmemorable for me. A solid release, I do think some readers will absolutely eat this up, but it was just too much quirk and dragging pace for me.

I hadn’t read either of Elena Armas’ other books, but I’d heard good things about them. After reading, and loving, The Long Game, I’ll definitely have to pick them up.

The set up for the next book in the series in the epilogue of this book almost sucked me back in, but I spent my entire time reading The Long Game feeling like I couldn’t be sure if the two MCs were even attracted to each other and that there were parts of their back stories that needed to be more fleshed out.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for my chance to review.

"A disgraced soccer exec reluctantly enlists the help of a retired soccer star in coaching a children’s team in this small-town love story"

Soccer, rom com, enemies to lovers, cheeky kids, small towns...what could go wrong?

Unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me. I just thought Adalyn and Cameron were waaaaaaaaaay too hard-headed, convinced the other was EVIL with no real basis for doing so. The animosity and bad behavior in the beginning was just hard to get through.

Overall, I thought this book had TONS of potential but just missed something in the execution. It was ....fine. But I didn't love it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.