I'm not sure I'd classify this one as a "sports romance," maybe "sports romance adjacent" though. It was cute but without a ton of substance. The romance was very sweet and they were kind and respectful to each other. I really appreciated that. So many romances contain characters who are just cruel to each other.

I would have rated this higher except for the FMC. She was hard to like and respect.

This was such a fun read! I really couldn't see how these two would finally find their way together, but I knew they'd get their happily ever after and I had great fun on the ride.

***I received this ARC via NetGalley from Atria Books in exchange for my honest review.***

Elena Armas is one of my favorite authors of all time and this book did not dispute that fact.

While I did have some trouble getting into the background and setting of the story, the relationships and dynamics between the characters mostly made up for it. In particular, Josie stole the show in every scene she was in and I am excited to follow her story in book 2 (assuming that's where the cliffhanger led to, that is).

Cameron was swoon-worthy, and Adalyn was as relatable as relatable can be. I'm usually not a fan of slow-burn romances, but this one wasn't so bad in the grand scheme of things.

Also, the really short and not over exaggerated at all third act breakup was a win in my book because I feel as though the usual, super dramatic ones ruin the momentum sometimes.

All in all, a good book to read if you're a romance novel lover, or an Elena Armas lover--or both.

This was cute! This read like an autumn Hallmark movie which, heading into fall, I loved once I got into it! It was a cute concept, with great tension.

However, this took a while for me to get into. The first half of the book was SLOW and drawn out. I also really wasn’t a fan of either of these characters at the start, but two grumpy characters is just not my thing when there’s no sunshine to balance it out.

About halfway through I became much more invested in the story, characters and tension that started building. But with an enemies to lovers trope, I would have liked to see at least a little tension from the beginning. Instead, it was like a switch being flipped halfway through the book, when the tension finally came in.

Overall, this was a good palette cleaner book for me. Light, fluffy, and overall a cute, feel-good fall themed romance. If you enjoy these kinds of books, it’s worth a go.

I wanted to love this like so bad but it was just too slow. I love a good slow burn but this was glacial. I really liked Cameron he is literally perfect and I love all the nicknames the girls give him throughout the book (my favorite is Mr. Chamomile). Adalyn was just kinda meh for me, too many pop culture refrances for me. This book had the components to be great bit something was missing, I can't put my finger on it though.

• Sports Romace
• Grumpy x Grumpier
• Dual POV
• Close/forced proximity
• Small town romace
• SLOW burn

3.5/ 5⭐️

This was such a joy to read! Elena's books are always so fun, and the long game was no exception! I loved everything about this - from the setting to the characters.

Read The Long Game for:
-Soccer romance
-Dual pov
-Slow burn
-Forced proximity
-Small Town
-Grumpy x grumpy

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review,

This story takes place in a charming small town and the slow burn was everything I needed. I can always count on Elena Armas to delivery a delicious slow burn and this was no different. As always, the characters had depth to them and kept me wanting more. I loved the small town aspect we received in this with all the typical small town spots.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Elena Armas remains the champion of the slow burn and executes it in The Long Game like a pro. In this charming small town romance set in North Carolina, Elena Armas introduces us to Cameron Caldani, a retired pro goalkeeper, and Adalyn Reyes, the daughter of a soccer club owner. There are farm animals and pottery classes that are somehow magical and perfect for the story. The depth of the characters, particularly the broody, tattooed Cameron and the complex Adalyn, chef's kiss. Their heartwarming involvement with the girls' soccer team adds a sweet layer to the story. This story blends romance, spice, and a dash of realism in a way that left me both satisfied and eager for more.

This one was cute! The best part? The audiobook narrator accent for Cameron! 😂😂 I was expecting more spice in this one to be honest so I was a little let down by that.

Rating:
A solid 4.5/5 ⭐️s

I really just loved this book so much.

☑️ Alternating POVs
☑️Small town romance
☑️Close proximity trope

These are some of my favorite things in a book and it had all three.

Also, really enjoyed that throughout the book both of the characters began to let their walls down and really let each other in.

I really liked Cam and Adalyn's relationship! I thought this lacked something... something to make it really memorable and a standout in the way that The Spanish Love Deception was. It was still good and I will absolutely be revisiting the town when the Matt's book comes out :)

I didn't love this one, unfortunately. I struggled to connect with the characters, humor, and romance. I hope her next book delivers for me like her previous ones!
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing this advance reader's copy for an honest review.

I loved this book! I loved the tension and thought it was so relatable yet fun and flirty. I can always count on Elena Armas to write spectacular romances!

I think I'm officially an Elena Armas girl.

The Long Game was such a lovely, pleasant surprise of a novel!! Between the cozy cabin, Cameron's two cats, and the little league team, I fell in love with this book. It was such a fast read that I devoured in two days, literally couldn't put down. I spent a majority of my day attached to my kindle, reading in every moment I could.

And the romance? Oh. my. goodness. The chemistry between these characters had me giggling and smiling!!! The slow burn was burninggg and I loved every moment between them. Getting to watch them open up to each other and fall in love was utterly beautiful.

I cannot explain how excited I was when I realized Elena Armas will be writing another book in this universe!! It's one of my most anticipated releases now :)

Elena Armas will always be an autobuy author for me. This grumpy/grumpy sports romance is fun and endearing. While I didn't enjoy it as much as her previous two books, I felt like the beginning was slow and I could've used a better build up on the romance between the two leads, overall it was filled with touching moments and steamy tension.

Listen, not only do I love a small town romance, but add in cute little animals with their own personalities and I’m sold! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book!

This book is great if you are looking for a fun, small town romance with a little spice.
Points for the British cat dad.

Slow burns aren’t usually my thing, but this one was much more tolerable than others I’ve read! Cameron is loving & supportive when it comes to Adalyn. The banter was so good and I loooove banter in books (when done right). The only issue I had was I felt like the wrap-up was a little too quick.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

📍 Read if you like:
• Small Town Romance
• Enemies To Lovers
• Ted Lasso
• Found Family
• Forced Proximity
• Soccer

Gah, I’m a huge Elena Armas fan after absolutely loving The Spanish Love Deception. I was even more eager to get my hands on this book, as I’m a huge soccer fan.

I’ve honestly seen so many readers not enjoying this book, but I’m quite surprised by how much I actually enjoyed it. Yes it did drag towards the middle and some scenes were a bit over the top, but the story as a whole was so good!!

Adalyn and Cameron were both such interesting characters. It took me a while to get used to them having a connection as it was so off-putting at first, but once the steamy scenes came, I fell in love with these characters.

I loved all the tropes in this book, it was a very slow burn and had a Dual POV. I also absolutely loved the setting in North Carolina. The soccer aspect of the book was so fun, I loved watching both of them come together to help this youth team and it was so swoony!

Cameron was such a fun character, he’s the main reason I connected with the story more. I honestly can’t get enough of this author’s writing and the characters she writes. First, it was Aaron and now it’s Cameron, I can’t wait to see if I have the same feelings with Lucas.

In conclusion, I’m a huge fan of Elena Armas and I just click so instantly with her writing and storytelling. I can’t wait to go back to read The American Roommate Experiment and look forward to The Short List. This book was extremely interesting, heartwarming, touching, swoony, and overall enjoyable! While this may not be for everyone, I would still recommend giving this one a try!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Atria Books for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Sexual Content, Panic Attacks/Disorders, Cursing, Emotional Abuse, Stalking, Gaslighting

In "The Long Game" by Elena Armas, readers are treated to a heartwarming and humorous tale of redemption, love, and soccer in a charming small town in North Carolina. Adalyn Reyes, a disgraced soccer executive, finds herself sent to this quaint locale by her father, the owner of a Miami football club, to turn around a struggling children's soccer team. Little does she know, her manager endeavors will be met with a delightful blend of eccentric practices, tutus, pet goats from her nine-year-old players, and encounters with the team's coach, Cameron Caldani, a retired soccer star with a mysterious past. Despite their initial clashes, Adalyn's determination to redeem herself and transform the team, coupled with the chemistry between her and Cam, propels the narrative forward, creating a captivating story that skillfully balances humor and heart.

Armas crafts a compelling narrative that captures the essence of small-town life, where community bonds and the pursuit of redemption intersect on the soccer field. The novel's strength lies in its ability to blend the amusing dynamics of coaching a quirky team with a romantic subplot that evolves from a love-hate relationship between Adalyn and Cam. "The Long Game" is a delightful read that showcases Armas's storytelling prowess, offering readers a perfect blend of laughter, heartwarming moments, and the universal theme of second chances.