Dual POV

This book made my heart sing. I fell in love with Cameron a page at a time, and by the last word I was done for. 🥰 Adalyn was a complex character, and while I often found her frustrating, her growth and understanding of herself and those around her kept me unable to put this book down. Cameron is perfection of a hero. His strength, vulnerability, and determination (stubbornness) was no match for the fortress around Adalyn’s heart.

The secondary characters rank in the top 10%, and I REALLY am hoping we get to see more (hint hint Josie and Matthew). The girls (especially Maria) made me laugh out loud and cry tears of sweetness.

My kindle highlighter was exhausted by the end of The Long Game, and I also have a rather long note on my phone with my favorites (something I have never done before)…and TLG should be read without direct quote spoilers! 🤗✨💕

Elana Armas never fails! These small town characters are interesting, funny... & Cameron *swoon*! This book is the perfect mix of funny, charming & sexy!

What a fantastic read! I absolutely loved the small-town setting and the banter between Cameron and Adalyn. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and am intrigued to see what happens next!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC of The Long Game! This is a first-time sports romance for Elena Armas, and I enjoyed it! I think at times, I felt really bored but in general, it's one of those books that if you enjoyed The Spanish Love Deception and The American Roommate Experiment, I really think you'll enjoy this one the same way. This was an epic slow-burn, and while I personally felt like it lagged at times, it overall was a really cute story and paid off!

"Long Game" by Elena Armas is a beautifully crafted contemporary romance novel that masterfully weaves together passion, strategy, and personal growth. Set against the backdrop of the competitive world of chess, this novel takes readers on an emotionally charged journey that transcends the confines of the game board.

Armas delivers a fresh and captivating narrative that centers around the lives of the two protagonists, Alex and Emilia. Alex is a renowned chess grandmaster with a strategic mind and a guarded heart. Emilia, on the other hand, is a strong-willed journalist with a deep-seated curiosity. Their paths cross in a whirlwind of emotions when Emilia is assigned to cover Alex's career-defining chess tournament.

One of the novel's strengths lies in Armas' ability to create well-developed and relatable characters. Alex and Emilia are not mere stereotypes; they are multifaceted individuals with insecurities, dreams, and pasts that shape their decisions. Their chemistry is palpable from the first encounter, and their interactions are filled with witty banter and genuine vulnerability.

The pacing of the story is spot on, with the tension and anticipation building as the chess tournament progresses. Armas strikes a delicate balance between the intricacies of the chess matches and the emotional growth of the characters. Readers will find themselves on the edge of their seats during the high-stakes games, experiencing the rush of each move and the psychological battles between the players.

What truly sets "Long Game" apart is its exploration of the parallels between love and chess. The strategic thinking required for both endeavors becomes a metaphor for the characters' navigation of their feelings and desires. Armas skillfully delves into the complexities of trust, vulnerability, and the fear of losing both on the board and in matters of the heart.

Elena Armas' writing style is elegant and evocative, painting vivid imagery and drawing readers into the characters' world. The dialogue is natural and engaging, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their stories. Furthermore, the author's attention to detail in describing the chess matches showcases her thorough research and expertise on the subject.

In "Long Game," Elena Armas presents a powerful tale that encompasses not only the intensity of competitive chess but also the emotional intricacies of love and personal growth. With its unique premise, well-crafted characters, and insightful exploration of human relationships, this novel is a triumph in the genre of contemporary romance. Fans of romance, as well as those with an interest in strategic thinking, will find themselves thoroughly enchanted by this book. "Long Game" is a must-read that proves love is indeed the most intricate and rewarding game of all.

A fun sports romance and my first by this author. I really enjoyed the dynamic, .main characters and plot. This was my first by this author and I look forward to reading more as this author grows. Highly recommended if you are looking for a cute romance.

When I say I loved this with my whole heart, I’m not exaggerating at all. This was such a fun, cute ride and I haven’t shipped a couple this hard in awhile. I’m not usually big into sport’s romance, but this was very well done, especially as someone coming into it with zero knowledge on soccer. Armas does a wonderful job creating multifaceted characters that feel like real people. Seeing two people come together that find support and safety in each other is so heart warming and I’m forever rooting for Cam and Adalyn. I would love to see more from this cast of characters and how each of them find a happy ending. The only reason I didn’t rate this 5 stars was because some chapters ended a tad abruptly and the following chapter would be a time skip from a few days or a week - I want to know what’s happening and the resolutions in real time, not told after the fact. Overall, I adored The Long Game and is a definite must read for anyone who loves love and warm fuzzy feelings wrapped up with a perfect bow of wholesomeness.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so fun and had me crying (in a good way!) by the end. These characters really came to life for me, and I so so appreciate some of the risks that Armas took here. What a sweet and loving story - this is a romance novel for tough girls who crave a soft love. I would read this one over and over and over again.

When I say that I devoured this one, I mean I ate it up. I couldn't put it down. I thought that the writing was smooth enough to get lost in (another sunburn was obtained on the beach while reading). The humor was perfect, but the spice could have been more spicy.

It reminded me of the movie New In Town with Renée Zellweger. You know the one where she's an executive and is sent to a backwoods town in Minnesota to turn around a factory in hopes of a big promotion.

Well, Adalyn is sent to small town in the mountains because of an incident that was caught on video, went viral, and in turn made a laughing stock of her father's soccer club - where she's an executive - to turn around a struggling under 10 soccer team. She is nothing but serious about this redemption opportunity and wants nothing more than to get recognition from her dad.

But of course, her new neighbor, Cameron, a recently retired pro goalkeeper, wants her to pack her bags and get gone. Soon, she finds out that he is also the coach for the little league soccer team.

They're both kinda grumpy, which makes their banter entertaining. Brandy, the blind and anxious goat, also helps with some of the entertainment as well. Love her.

I liked this book better than Spanish Love Deception! I haven’t read American Roommate Experiment so can’t compare yet but it’s on my tbr. Anyways, this book was hilarious and 🔥. What more could I ask for? I’m not a soccer person but this didn’t have any confusing lingo that left me in the dust. It wasn’t all encompassing. Just the right amount.
Also can we talk about what Armas did with the character of Adalyn?? She was bold, she was loud, she didn’t take no for an answer. A true boss babe 💅
I will say that this book was the SLOWEST of the slow burns, which seems to be what Elena Armas does best. I don’t have a problem with it, but if you’re not a fan of slow burns I’d probably go in a different direction

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

The Long Game is the newest steamy romance from auto-buy author Elena Armas. It follows a disgraced soccer exec banished to a small town to help coach a children’s team with a retired soccer player. Hijinks ensue and sparks fly.

This was such a cute read. Adalyn and Cameron had excellent chemistry and banter. The soccer players were just an added bonus of adorableness. Then there are BABY GOATS. It is so fun and I had a smile on my face while reading. Another hit for Armas.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I REALLY wanted to like this, I thoroughly enjoyed Armas’ other books. However, the first 60% was so choppy and confusing. The viral video wasn’t very believable, and the enemies bit never fully made since. He was calling her “darling” and “love” from their first meeting. He never came across as grumpy. I also felt very disconnected from the characters. Adalyn (I also disliked the name choice here), had no redeeming qualities and was overall a very flat character.
I could go on, but underwhelmed is the best word to summarize. I only finished because it was a NetGalley arc.

Spanish love deception and the American Roommate Experiment was some of my favorite books last year so I was very much looking forward to another book from Elena Armas. Especially since it was likened to Ted Lasso!!!

Adalyn and Cameron weren't my favorite characters (probably because the control freak component struck a little too close to home for me). I did really enjoy their romance and witty banter.

Overall great read that incorporated the classic Rom-Com tropes.

Thank you Atria Books for this ARC!
This was the slowest of burns with the grumpiest MMC and independent FMC. It took me a second to get into but I was hooked. the perfect romance to read while watching the World Cup.
Everyone needs to run when 9/5 rolls around🤩🌶️⚽️

Elena Armas has done it again! I stayed up until 3 AM to finish the Spanish Love Deception, finished The American Roomate Experiment in 2 days and the Long Game was binged in a weekend as well. I love Elena Armas books because the characters are so funny and their awkward relationships are funny to read. The Long Game was great because it had the spoiled rich girl sent away and the enemies to lovers trope. Just perfect and I didn't expect anything less,

Elena Armas' The Long Game initially left me with mixed feelings because there were aspects of the story that I enjoyed more than others.

I enjoyed Cam's determination to take care of Adalyn and break through her tough exterior. I enjoyed Adalyn's tenacity and willingness to make the best of less-than-ideal circumstances. I liked Josie and her small-town shenanigans. And, I really liked Maria, her family, her pets and her teammates; they were all adorable.

I had trouble with the pacing of the story, it was slow to start and the slowest of slow burns. I also had difficulty understanding Cameron and Adalyn’s continued antagonism towards each other. The main characters were both stubborn to a fault and for every step forward they seemed to take two steps back; it became frustrating at times.

Things did pick up after the halfway point and saved this story for me. Once Cam and Adalyn stopped fighting and admitted their feelings their story became super sweet. I feel that The Long Game had a lot of potential that, in my opinion, it did not quite reach. Overall, I did enjoy the Cam and Adalyn’s story and I feel that if you enjoyed Armas' previous novels, you too would enjoy The Long Game

I was looking forward to this book because I really enjoyed Armas’ two other books, but it missed the mark for me.

I loved Cam’s character and found him interesting, while Adalyn really ruined this book for me. She was so immature despite not being super young. The immaturity made this a tough read for me.

4.5 stars

Slooooow burn romance! Whew!

Adalyn Reyes is an executive for a professional soccer team. After a PR nightmare that puts the team in a bad light, she is sent to help run a girls youth team in a small town far from Miami. She meets Cam/Cameron, the coach and retired pro soccer player who is trying to go unnoticed in the town.

Adalyn has trauma from her father (team owner) and past relationships. Cam has his own trauma that is revealed through the course of the novel as well. Their aversion to each other is the first obstacle they have to get through – and both are grumpy and prideful which adds funny banter. The alternating pov works well.

The Long Game also includes a cast of young characters – the girls on the Green Oak Warriors – who help Adalyn and Cam as they open up to each other. There’s nothing like the frankness of an 8-10 year old to offer perspective!

The epilogue at the end of the novel left me with questions when it finished. I hope there is more to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

This is a beautiful slow burn romance. Cam and Adalyn are great together, I loved seeing their story unfold. There were also some amazing side characters like Josie and Maria.
It had a twist in the end I did not see coming.
It is a slow burn so it takes some time for them to get together but when they do it's very good.

I adored the Ted Lasso vibes of this one! Hello Roy Kent, I mean Cameron.

If you’re a fan of soccer or slow burns this one is for you!

I struggled with the length of the book and thought it could be cut down. I also had a hard time feeling the connection between the couple.