When I heard this was compared to Ted Lasso, my Jason Sudekis loving heart couldn't request the ARC fast enough. I'd parsed NetGalley for days, then snagged it.

Adalyn is sent to North Carolina when a scandal breaks out at the Miami Heat soccer club her father owns. I never really did understand what the scandal was, but c'est la vie. When she gets to North Carolina, she meets Cameron, also sent to NC as a sort of recovery mission because of some things that are divulged in later in the book. Through truly rom com circumstances, they of course fall for one another. Fair warning: This one is a S L O W burn. And while I was feeling angsty for them, I also sort of loved it.

I didn't love the book as much as I thought I would. It was easy to put down and do things like... clean my dishwasher. I'd recommend it to romance lovers, but I don't think it will be a title I reread.

Thanks, NetGalley!

What drew me to this book was the appeal of it having similar "vibes" to the tv show, "Ted Lasso". What I didn't expect was to constantly feel like the main character was literally Roy Kent, and not in a good way. While I appreciated the development of the main characters, I couldn't get over the constant "love", and "darling", over and over and over again...was it supposed to be satire? Is this how all soccer/football players from London speak? It was so clunky and repetitive, I found myself skipping over sections when I saw it would be Cameron speaking.
The way that the chapters ended was also cumbersome. For instance, the two main character are by the lake, and the blind goat goes into the water...then the next chapter starts and its a day later, with something completely new happening.
While I've never read any of Elena Armas other works, starting off with this one would not draw me to read anymore of them.

I don’t think Elena Armas is for me. I read Spanish Love Deception and didn’t care for it. The same things that bothered me in that one bothered me here too. The main female character falls at least four times and the main male is always catching her. Same in SLD. Just not my cup of tea. Also, the book is a little long for my taste and could use some editing to get rid of some of the falling down instances and redundancies, especially in the beginning of the book.

Just not my favorite, but I feel like if you loved SLD, you’ll like this!

Thank you to @atriabooks for the ARC.

This was a fun enemies-to-lover story, fans of Elena Armas or Mia Sheridan's "Kulti" will be excited by this latest title.

I will purchase this for my library based on the popularity of Armas's previous books, but I don't think this one was as good as her other books. I enjoyed both main characters and the kids on the soccer team were really fun.

This was one of the best slow burn romances I’ve ever read. The pacing, the banter, the humor, and even the ongoing conflict and tension between the characters was so well done. The story itself had me absolutely locked in from the start, and then I fell in love with the characters, the town, the adorable misfit soccer team.

The Long Game has:
- Enemies to lovers
- Slow burn
- Soccer/sports stories in the vein of Ted Lasso
- Baby goats
- A HOT grumpy soccer coach that loves animals
- A hot mess executive on a mission
- Justified female rage
- Hilarious underdog soccer team of little girls
- Small town charm
- So much bantering

I was obsessed with this story and literally everything about it. When I saw in the blurb that the story was in the vein of It Happened One Summer and Ted Lasso my hopes were sky high, and then promptly blown out of the water. I knew I was going to give this five stars way before I was done reading because it was that much fun of an experience throughout.

<I> Thank you to the publisher for kindly providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. </I>

TW// panic attacks, mentions of bullying, mentions of death (mother and grandmother)

I have heard nothing but good things about Elena Armas’ books, so when I got an email saying I could read this book on NetGalley, I hopped on the opportunity. The synopsis sounded really cute and I was looking forward to reading a fun romance.

However, things started to feel disappointing with this book right away. I hated Adalyn and Cameron right off the bat. They were both cocky, controlling, and honestly really insufferable. Adalyn wanted extreme control of her life and I get that she needed to be confident to maintain that control, but she still got on my nerves with how full of herself she was. Cameron was worse than Adalyn. He was controlling of the relationship and it gave me massive ick. Cameron felt like he needed to be a knight in shining armor for Adalyn instead of letting her deal with her own problems. He claimed he didn’t want to do that, but all of his actions after he started falling for her really boiled down to his need to “save” her. It got on my nerves so much, especially since I have experience with guys who think they're a knight in shining armor.

I was also getting nonstop second hand embarassment from how physical they’d get around other people. I get that they want to be physical with each other, but they’re literally working with a kids soccer team in an extremely smalltown. They’ve got to control their desires in public a little better.

Speaking of romance, this was supposed to be an enemies-to-lovers, but their whole reason for being enemies frustrated me. They were both too stubborn to admit that they could be wrong, so because of that they feuded with each other nonstop. Their first encounter was definitely awkward, but it was no reason to be enemies for so long.

I was hoping that the side characters would carry the story for me, but they didn’t at all. I found all the side characters annoying, especially Josie and the kids. It was super unrealistic, too, to have a nine year old kid give a speech like what a therapist would give. What should’ve been a powerful moment in the book turned into a cringey moment for me because it was a freaking nine year old child giving the life advice.

I hated how Elena Armas would jump from scene to scene with her writing. I’m not sure if it’s like this in her other books, but a scene would occur that seemed like it would be the start of a steamy or powerful scene… but then it would abruptly fastfoward to a new day. I desperately needed those scenes to be completely finished because I was curious about what would happen next, but most of the scenes felt incomplete from all the time jumps.

There were some loose ends in this book that frustrated me. Whatever happened with the chicken? And where’s the resolution to the energy drink drama? Plus, it’s clear that Matthew had some romantic feelings for Adalyn - why didn’t the story ever address that?

One last criticism before I dive into my two positives to this book: I hated how much “darling” and “love” were used in here. I was on the verge of ripping out my hair from annoyance at all those pet names.

On a more positive note, I found the hurt/comfort scenes to be cute. I think Cameron went a little overboard with how much he wanted to care for Adalyn, but I’d never read such intense hurt/comfort scenes in a book before so I enjoyed seeing how that trope could play out in a contemporary romance.

The only other thing I liked about the book were the cats. I loved how the cats played into the story.

As you can probably tell, I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. Unless Elena Armas’ characters and writing are drastically different in her other stories, I don’t think her books are for me. I think some people will like this book, but I just couldn’t find myself enjoying the time that I spent reading this book.

After being devastated that Ted Lasso has come to an end, I was extremely excited to pick up this soccer based rom-com from Elena Armas.

The Long Game follows Adalyn as she is removed from her position at her soccer club with the Miami Flames and sent to the small town of Green Oaks North Caroline to work with a local soccer team. There, she bumps into former soccer star. Cameron Caladini (think Roy Kent) who is there to help. While their relationship definitely has a bumpy start, it ends up being so much more.

While I know so many people will love this book, this wasn't my cup of tea. There were definitely aspects I enjoyed (the soccer coaching of the children's team -- so cute, the exploration of a small town, Cam for the most part, the dual narrations) but some of the story just didn't leave me invested. It felt bumpy to me and a bit all over the place too.

if you're a big fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and Armas' previous books, however, you will LOVE this book! Check out on 9/6.

Thank you Net Galley and Atria books for the ARC!

3.5 ⭐️

I LOVED The Spanish Love Deception, so I will pretty much read anything Elena writes now! 🥰

I will say that this book was a bit of a miss for me. I didn’t connect with the characters and the story as much as I hoped too! But, reading is subjective and I will absolutely continue to read what she writes! ❤️

Love small town romance because of all the quirky characters, even the animal appearances were amazing. The girls soccer team stole my heart, they are cute so funny and amazing scene stealers. This is the kind of book that reads like a film. Read with a smile the entire time, I was fully entertained. Cameron the ultimate grump setting unrealistic expectations for any real life grumps. Cameron is perfection.

I almost hate to write this review... because I really did love The Spanish Love Deception and The American Roommate - but sadly, The Long Game completely missed the mark for me. There were SO many grammatical errors and typos - yes, I know this is an ARC, so I'm not lessening my rating based on this, but they were so blatant and plentiful that they were hard to ignore (and I really did try!)

Cam.... where do I start? He went from reclusive/socially anxious to town hero to dirty talking lover boy - it was all very confusing. And for.the.love, is he a human or an animal because he must have "growled" at least once on every other page. I'm all about a well-placed growl here and there (esp in those spicy scenes), but this was excessive.
The chemistry between the main characters was.... odd. They were't really enemies (or had no reason to be) but then seemed to turn to lovers pretty quickly. The entire story felt very choppy and unfinished. I was often left wanting more... there were several chapters that ended abruptly and the next would begin in a completely different day/time frame. It was frustrating because I wanted to know "HOW DID THEY GET THERE?!" It just felt like there were missing pieces - in the story, the characters, and the overall feel of the book. (And seriously - the ending... that felt so unnecessary and just... huh?!)
I love Elena Armas, but I did not love The Long Game.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Long Game is a dual POV contemporary centered around two very different people experiencing the fallout after traumatic events. Adalyn, our FMC, is organized, ambitious and desperate to prove to her father that she deserves to inherit their MLS team, the Miami Flames. This plan goes awry when *something* provokes professional, composed Adalyn to go full “Lady Birdinator” on the team’s mascot, Sparkles in a VERY public way. The ensuing publicity nightmare causes Adalyn’s dad to exile her to rural North Carolina where she meets Cameron, a former MLS star seemingly hiding out incognito for *mysterious reasons.* Sparks fly between Cam and Adalyn—but not in a hot way for most of the book where they bicker until enemies, well, ya know, become lovers. Cam is grumpy and pretty awful at the beginning, but eventually shows that he’s good-hearted. I loved the small-town setting, supporting cast (the girls’ soccer team, cats and goats were my fave!), and the when things FINALLY got swoony. Read the Long Game if you’re down for a character-driven contemporary, with two characters deserving of happiness and a fresh start.

The Long Game almost felt like it was written just for me. It was as close to perfect as it gets in regards to my taste.It was slow burn at its finest, but also had so much romance. The entire book was full of wonderful and romantic scenes.So yes, I'm a little bit in love with this novel. And I won't forget it anytime soon. It will go on my most favorite books of 2023 list.

I enjoyed this for the most part. The romance was cute once it kicked into the story but at first the chemistry was so "slow burn" it was almost non-existent, making the story more women's fiction than romance. Aspects of the story were a little gimmicky and surface level that I thought we get a more depth telling of but about half way through it really picked it up for me. I'm glad this author's writing is so engaging and I stuck with it and enjoyed it overall.

honestly didn’t really care for the first couple chapters—a bit over the top—but once things settled at lazy elk lodge it got harder and harder to put the book down! both cam & adalyn grew on me, and i couldn’t wait for them to find their happy ending. the little league kids and green oak residents (josie!) were great, too. can’t wait for the next one!

#netgalley

“I…You’re smiling really big.” Something took flight in my chest, and I made myself ask. “Why?” “Because you’ve just given me a reason.” “A reason for what?” “To play the longest game I ever have.”

Adalyn has worked tirelessly to impress her boss, who is also her father at her job. So when she makes a mistake that goes viral, it’s the first time she has ever let anyone down and she is sent away to a small-town. There she has a lovely meet cute (sarcasm) with Cameron. Her grumpy neighbor, who is also a famous football player. He is also the coach for the small town soccer team that she is being assigned to manage.

What starts as a lovely enemy with forced proximity dynamic turns into an unlikely friendship where both of them realize that they bring out something new in each other. Their chemistry is insane and the tension is STRONG. I really loved how much you get to see Adalyn evolve throughout the book, as you start to see her start to decide what she wants for herself.

I love Elena Armas’ writing style and this book did not disappoint. It is the perfect small-town, grumpy x grumpy, forced proximity book with a very satisfying payoff for a slow burn! It comes out September 5th and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy so I can annotate my heart out.

Also thank you to NetGalley and Elena Armas for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was SO excited to read The Long Game as a big fan of the author’s previous two novels. Unfortunately this book missed it’s mark.

The Long Game started a bit rough for me. It was hard to empathize with the main character, Adalyn as she is fairly unlikeable and one dimensional. When Adalyn meets Cameron, they are both so rude to each other it felt unrealistic. The whole enemies to lovers trope felt a bit forced to me and the book fell flat. Most adults don’t treat strangers with such venom upon meeting for no plausible reason and it came off as really childish. I just found this made me dislike the characters.

For a romance, there was no chemistry. The two characters hated each other and then fairly suddenly were in love. Even the conflict at the end was so stupid I found myself skimming and just wanting to be done. I also despised how much Cameron called Adalyn “darling” and treated her like a child or a helpless being. The amount of times that guy picked her up was insane and unnecessary.

I’m left confused how so many people rated this highly. I found it to honestly be terrible and I only finished it to write this review.

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

I might raise this to 2.75-3 stars, but for now, it's sitting at 2 stars. This was such a massive disappointment. I absolutely adore The Spanish Love Deception, but I'm starting to think that book was a fluke and Elena Armas just isn't for me. Both The American Roommate Experiment and The Long Game were so incredibly boring, cheesy, and one-dimensional. I didn't care about the romance, any of the side characters, or the plot. I did like both of the main characters, but they could've been fleshed out so much more, especially Cameron. Overall, I spent most of this book just wanted it to be over and found myself skimming a lot of it, and I'm massively disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!

I enjoyed this book by Elena Armas. The beginning was a bit slow for me to get into and the main female character was a bit dramatic and whiny but she quickly became a character I enjoyed reading. And the banter between Adalyn and Cameron was great.
The overall story was enjoyable. I liked the small town energy and all of the sweet characters we got to see like Maria and all our extra furry friends.
The twist at the end with Josie took me by surprise but I enjoyed it.
If you are a fan of Elena Armas you’ll want to pick up this book!

The Long Game ⚽️🐐🏕️💞
To start, I have read two of Elena's previous books and I felt happy and swoony after reading both of them. After reading her latest book, I felt the same, especially for the character of Mr. Cam Caldani. His yoga-loving, thermal-wearing self was irresistible. I adored his character and was moved by the things he did and said for Adalyn, such as getting her tea instead of coffee, getting her clothes and boots, and creating a little office for her in the shed.

Their initial meeting was not what I expected, and I found it hilarious. Cam, who was the coach of the Green Warriors, was adorable, and the team of sweet, funny, and adorable little girls stole the show. Maria and Brandy were especially endearing, and I loved how Maria encouraged Cam to pursue Adalyn. Maria's affection for Adalyn was touching.

Adalyn was a strong and independent woman who had an incident at work that she felt guilty about but had every right to do. I was surprised that she didn't do more or direct her anger towards David, but in the end, she did, and I applauded her for it.

I enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship, but there were times when I wanted them to kiss already, especially during goat yoga and pottery class. Overall, I loved the small gestures that Cam did for Adalyn, even when they weren't the best of friends at first. The twist in Josie and Adalyn's relationship was cute, and I hope Elena writes a book about Josie and Matty because that would be fun to read. I give this book a 4.5 rating as there was too much slow burn and not enough spice. Thank you, Elena and Atria Books, for letting me read and review this book honestly.


- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Small Town
- Slow Burn!
- Sports Romance ⚽️