The author really made me care about her characters, and surprisingly, about soccer. I really loved the way that Adalyn and Cameron communicated, even when they weren't seeing eye to eye. Fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope, competent characters, and/or Roy Kent will love this book!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this arc!

I think I'm hovering around the 2.5 - 3 star range for this book, which really bums me out. I thought this book was a lot of fun in the beginning. Adalyn was an interesting heroine to me because we don't often have an "ice queen" in that role and I was very intrigued by reverse grump. I really liked the banter between Cameron and Adalyn and I was proud of her for sticking to her guns about the cottage.

However, I felt like things started to get really muddled and confusing around the 50% mark and the rest of the book felt a little bit of a slog to get through for me personally. I think this book could have been way more successful if we cut out like, 30-40% of the background plot. We didn't need them doing the fall activities together in my opinion. I felt like Adalyn really regressed in terms of personality, I get that she was "growing" but I honestly felt like she was shrinking. We lost all the bite and snark that made her so fun in the first place and by the end, it felt like she was an entirely different character.

I also felt like we were missing a lot of the motivation behind the characters. Why was Adalyn passionate about someday owning the club? Did she even like soccer? Why did she have such a strained relationship with her mother? Why was Matthew almost nonexistent? Why were the girls qualified in a little league but they seemed to not even know how to play? What was Cameron's motivation to say yes to coaching when he wanted to be on the down low? This book left me with a lot of unanswered questions and I felt like I was skimming at the end just to finish. The ending didn't even make sense to me and didn't clear up anything about Adalyn's father's intentions.

I did enjoy the town of Green Oak and Josie as a character and you can definitely tell Elena plans on setting up a sequel with her which I might read even though I didn't like this book as much.

Overall, maybe not a book for me and that's okay! I'll try again with another Elena Armas and we'll see how it goes.

This might be the best romance yet by this author!

I found the differences between the main characters to be fun but still realistic. The banter and funny situations added a lightness to the story that I loved. The book was a little long for my liking and I felt like it could have been edited down in the middle. I also found the main character to be really infuriating at times. She was difficult to relate to because she seemed so clueless and unwilling to stand up for herself. I just wanted to shake her at times! But, she showed great character growth throughout the story which was interesting to see unfold alongside the relationship.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to romance readers who like enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, sports romance, fun banter, and quirky scenarios!

The plot reads a little like Ted Lasso fan fiction: imagine if Roy and Keely didn’t like each other and got paired up to coach a U-10 girls soccer team, but with less swearing, goat yoga, and a caffeine-hawking mayor. Disgraced after her takedown of the mascot of her father’s pro-soccer team goes viral, Adalyn Reyes–no nicknames or terms of endearment, thank you very much–is exiled to take on a charitable project. When she arrives in Green Oaks, a series of unfortunate events unfold, and it turns out the hot, grumpy, incognito UK pro soccer star Cameron Caldani (who lives in the Pinterest-worthy cabin next door to her AirBNB hovel) is the coach of her rec league team, having been voluntold by the mayor to take over the role. Adalyn fires Cameron fairly immediately, but given the PR nightmare she incited, the local PTA doesn’t trust her moral influence on their impressionable girls, so Cam stays on to help, even though he and Adalyn gravely dislike one another. The dialogue is witty and there are a couple of funny “out of the mouths of babes” moments where the girls are innocuously and unintentionally hilarious.

Armas’s enemies-to-lovers romances are notable for their slow burn, angst, banter, and a lovely influx of Spanish culture and language. I really appreciate that she doesn’t do a straight translation, but writes so well you can glean the meaning from context and from how the other characters respond to the dialogue. I was a little muddled by Cameron declaring Adalyn is a game, pursing her, and then telling her it wasn’t a game; and by his refusal to call her by her name, without endearments; BUT he also becomes her champion and supporter. She’s irritable and buttoned up, and it’s borne of guilt, shame, and anxiety, but the rudeness off the bat was a little hard to take (sidenote: this might be the first grumpy/grumpy pairing I’ve read). The characters were not entirely likeable at first, but they grew on me, and it was worth sticking with.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #TheLongGame from #NetGalley.

Thank you @atriabooks @netgalley for a copy of this slow burn romance. Adalyn is shipped to a small town to manage a rec soccer team and she meets Cameron, a goal keeper that is laying low there. Their interaction in the beginning is very contentious and I wasn't a fan of Adalyn. She starts losing her tough exterior and when her and Cameron gets together, the story picks up and I really enjoyed it from that point on. There's a lot of going on in the story which I felt sort id distracted me from their story.

The Long Game is the small town, slow burn soccer romance I didn't know I needed. It has a strong dislike to lovers dynamic between Adalyn and Cameron and I loooooved their chemistry together. Elena Armas nailed the slow burn in this -- nothing felt forced and having both of their POVs was magic.

I was really frustrated with Adalyn in the first half of the book, and couldn't seem to understand her until you realize that there's a lot of self-resentment, guilt, and shame from her pov. I really resonated with the way she felt undeserving of people's kindness. My soft spot is for characters who feel undeserving of love and felt like they needed to earn others' kindness, friendship, or affection. Seeing Cameron break down her walls and slowly gain her trust through tiny acts is chefs kiss. He takes care of her in a way that made me feel cared for.

Cameron Caldani is my fave of the Elena Armas men. He was hot, competitive, a little mean which I love, and so thoughtful. If there's one line/trope that will bring me to my knees, it's the "I could bury whoever made you feel unlovable" "I could kill whoever made you feel like you don't deserve to be fussed over." I hope there's a book for Josie/Matthew in this universe.

I think this was Elena's best so far! While it was a tad longer than I usually like in a book, I genuinely loved the characters and thought there connection was so good! The girls team was amazing, I loved Josie and Matthew (please heaven above give us a Josie and Matthew story!), I loved the goats, I loved all of Maria's nicknames for Cameron, and I loved Green Oak! The only drawback for me was that I felt like it took too long to understand why Cameron was in Green Oak and I wanted to know that a lot sooner than I got it. Overall, 10/10.

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for the arc. 4.5 stars. The first half gave me the 4 star feeling but the last half gave me that 5 star feeling.
Cameron and Adalyn are so so cute. I loved the banter between the two. It was a very slow burn but I’m a fan of slow burn so it didn’t bother me. I loved that it’s about their relationship but also their own personal growth. Overall this was a good book.

I love a grumpy sunshine couple. This book was really cute read. Great book to read end of of summer headed into soccer season. WAs definitely a little slow at first. But it picked up and finished strong.

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

“I'll always give you more than what you ask, love. Even when you don't know what you want."

The Long Game follows Adalyn Reyes. She loved working for her dad’s soccer club, the Miami Flames. After an incredibly embarrassing video of Adalyn goes viral, her dad sends her to a small town in North Carolina to help out a small local soccer team. She’s surprised to find that the soccer team is for girls 10 years and under and that major league goalie, Cam Caldani is the teams coach.

✨I really enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception so when I received this e-ARC, I was so excited!

I feel like this story started off a bit slow which made it a little difficult for me to be invested. I think it definitely picked up about half way through and once it did, I enjoyed it a lot more.

Adalyn and Cam’s relationship started off extremely rocky. I loved their banter. I feel like their romance was a slow burn, but you could definitely feel tension between them throughout the book. Adalyn really annoyed me at first but her character development was amazing and I finished this book loving her! I loved Cam. Even though he’s 100% the “no bullshit” type, his soft and sweet side always found it’s way out. The star of the show for me was Maria. She had some of my favorite moments in this book!

Overall, it’s not my favorite rom-com I’ve ever read but I thought this book was good. I feel like the slow start really threw me off, but the ending was really strong. If you’re into small town romances, I would give this book a shot.✨

This is the newest book by Elena Armas, author of The Spanish Love Deception and The American Roommate Experiment. I think this is my favorite book of hers so far! The enemies to lovers tension and dual POV is *chefs kiss.*

Read this book if you enjoy
⚽️sports romance
⚽️enemies to lovers
⚽️forced proximity
⚽️famous person in “hiding”
⚽️family drama
⚽️trying to prove yourself
⚽️big city girl in a small town
⚽️grumpy/sunshine(ish)
⚽️a little spice

I could not put this book down. I absolutely loved meeting Adalyn and Cameron. Their banter, chemistry and stubbornness made a great story. Maria is my spirit child.

this is the PERFECT book to bring to the beach. who doesn't love a small town romance? thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for my gifted arc in exchange for an honest review!!

Such a slow burn, but absolutely worth it!!! I loved Elena’s first two books, but do you know what’s even better about this one? It has dual pov!!!!!

This one had me cracking up. Chelsea is hands down my favorite character and not just because I share the same name!! I wanted more of her and loved when she got her skort. Maria was another favorite. This whole soccer team was adorable.

Cameron and Adalyn had amazing chemistry. There were many honest conversations and communication between them. I wish there was a little more in the end with her dad and David, but overall I still enjoyed the ending.

I’m hoping Matthew and Josie get their story next!

After an unfortunate incident involving attacking the team mascot, Adalyn is put on leave from her job with the Miami Flames and sent to NC for a side job by her father (the team owner) and her ex boyfriend. She doesn’t know what awaits her in North Carolina, but quickly learns that it’s a 9 year old soccer team that she is supposed to help. Oh and she lives next door to a curmudgeonly soccer star that infuriates her as much as she does him. She is determined to prove her worth and stick it out though….so he is just going to have to get used to her!

He’s here! He’s there! He’s every fucking where! Roy Kent! Roy Kent! Ok fine, Roy Kent isn’t actually in this book, but he might as well have been! Every time Cameron opened his mouth all I heard was Roy Kent! I didn’t love that her called Adalyn Darling so much in the beginning of the book when she clearly asked him to call her by her name, but obviously as the story went on it was ok. For reals though, besides her mom, everyone in Adalyn’s life in Miami sucked so hard, but I ADORED the people she met in Green Oaks. All the side characters were just fantastic, but I have to say Maria might be my favorite! She was so sweet and just an absolute doll! If you enjoyed Ted Lasso, I think you would love this book! It’s a great story, and a fun romance, but has the added benefit of some wonderful characters besides the main couple!

I was really excited to get my hands on this book because I so enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception. I am a mood reader, so when I didn't immediately fall in love with the storyline - or the characters - in The Long Game, I chalked it up to my being in the mood for something else, and decided to come back to it later.

It's now later, and I'm still having a really hard time settling into the story. I have zero warm feelings toward Adalyn, and I'm not vibing with the storyline at all. I think this might just be too "romcommy" for me and unfortunately, it's a DNF for me at 30%.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review.

Elena Armas just keeps writing books that fuel my romance loving soul, and I'm loving it!

Adalyn has just gone viral and not in a good way. When she is filmed fighting with the Miami soccer team's mascot, her job with the team comes into jeopardy, and she is sent away on another project until the heat dies down. Little does she realize that instead of working with a national team, she is now the team manager for a girl's soccer team of 7-10 year olds.

Cameron is lying low in the small town of Green Oak, and has been roped into coaching the girl's soccer team by the town mayor. When Adalyn drives up, hits his rooster with her car and then hits him too, he isn't her biggest fan. (How much do you love a Meet Cute where there is a rooster involved -I mean come on!)

Let me just say that this book was a slow burn of sexual tension in the best way. Both of our main characters are fighters to the end and have competitive spirits and fiery personalities. Adalyn has always had to push for herself because nobody else ever has, and when Cam comes along and wants to slay her dragons for her, I couldn't help but swoon, and swoon hard! Then you add in a rag tag bunch of adorable girls, a rooster being stalked by a cat, and a blind goat with anxiety, and how could you help but fall in love with this book?!?

Reading Elena Armas is cozy pajamas in the fall with a hot cup of your favorite pjs in the world's comfiest chair. Not many things can top it, and her writing just is like coming home to all my favorite things about romance. I love reading her books, and can never wait for the next one!

Thank you so much to Megan Rudloff with Aria Books for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Adalyn is sent to run a young girl’s soccer team in NC after a media incident involving her father’s soccer team. What she doesn’t need is grumpy firmer footballer Cameron making things worse.

This book was a roller coaster for me. I liked the promise and was really excited to get into it. I also like Adalyn, some of the time. And I liked Cam, some of the time. Cam was a great mix between Roy and Jamie from Ted Lasso. He had a lot of appeal. I thought the fact that he was coaching a young girls team was funny and that comic relief helped a lot. This is also a forced proximity story since they are living on the same property. That helped tell their story more. I also enjoyed the small town.

On the other side, I wanted the story to progress at a different pace. Adalyn and Cam were at each others throats for too long. I wanted to see them navigating as a couple more.

All in all, this was a cute sports, spicy romcom!

-soccer
-enemies to lovers
-small town
-forced proximity.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted copy! My reviews are always honest.

Thank you so much to Atria Books for an advance copy of this book!

"I can hardly see you underneath the mess."

Oh where do I begin. I was really excited to read my first Elena Armas books and I know people have felt one way or another about her writing style and books.

I don't want to be super negative for this review but there were things that just didn't work for me. I know I'm not a fan of slow burn but this was a bit much. The characters didn't kiss until 3/4 of the way through, then we had to wait more for them to be intimate for the first time and not even a day later there is the conflict which now led them being apart. It was just too much at once. Cam joked that he was playing the long game but I just wish the long game started earlier and gave more of a tease earlier on then having all the action right in the last quarter of the book.

I also just thought that Armas tried tooo hard to make them enemies. It just felt force and wasn't natural. I haven't read many soccer or sports romances but I already feel the Roy Kent effect has already been overdone. There was a lot of grunting from Cam in this and all I could think of is Roy Kent. I understand why Adalyn was immature as she was kind of in this rich girl bubble and needed an awakening. But even with that I still found some parts hard to follow and understand?

"Fuck everyone who has made you feel like you're not worth everything you desire."

Once Cam and Adalyn got together, those sex scenes were so good! I just wish I had more of it! There was a moment where they connected out in a tent and I was just waiting for it to happen and then nothing. And I really thought they complimented well with one another once Adalyn put her angst aside. I just really wish it would've happened sooner at least with the flirting and the gentle touches. Granted I know we got small teases like when Cam was assisting Adalyn with goat yoga and I just wanted more of that! Sorry for repeating myself but I really just needed a tad more.

One thing that I loved about this book that I kept wanting more of is the conversations with the kids. It made me smile and laugh every time they interacted with the kids. One of my favorite moments came towards the end of the book between Cam and Maria that I thought was so genuine and reminds you that kids are smart and are aware of things.

I have heard Armas prior books are also slow burns and now I am debating on whether I should go back and read them? Perhaps I will but I am not in any rush at the moment.

This may not have fully worked for me but that doesn't mean it won't work for you. If you are a fan of a slow slow burn mix with small town, soccer & forced proximity - this may be for you!

I’d say 3.5….

I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. And the first half of the book took me way too long to get through. I kept getting frustrated at how slow their burn was! I mean, COME ON!

Once they officially got together, talk about spice!

Pros: Cam. And Maria. I love that kid.
Cons: I really was not a fan of Adalyn. I just had a really hard time with her.

One of my favorite tropes is grumpy/sunshine. This was grumpy/grumpy. Grumpy and scorned? It’s hard to even decipher Adalyn’s character. Defeated maybe?

I liked the book. Not love, not hate, just like.

The Spanish Love Deception was the bees knees. I had high hopes for this. I felt let down.

Y’all, I can read a book in a day or two if I’m invested. This took close to a month!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!