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colorcrystals's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
librarybookfamily's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Slow burn romance set in a rural town in the US. A retired UK goalkeeper meets his match in a big league exec banished to the small town where he is hiding. Sparks fly, baggage is discussed, and love conquers all.
Spicy. 3/5 chili peppers
Spicy. 3/5 chili peppers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism
Minor: Stalking and Abandonment
manaledi's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The first third of this book I found everything frustrating. The characters were annoying shits to each other and there wasn't enough backstory or internal feelings to balance it out. I did learn to appreciate Cameron, but the why Adalyn was the way she was and her internal growth was not as developed as it needed to be. They also started to communicate with each other, which is my favorite part of a romance, but it was very glossed over without really showing they learned or listened. The best part of the book were the kids, both green warriors and goats, and the lighthearted moments.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
bee_wuud's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
F’ING HOT. 🥵 goat yoga, retired grumpy soccer star, stargazing, “Ghost”-like moment, and hard feelings….gimme more. Cameron Caldani 💚💚💚 good set up for the next book (I hope!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic relationship
fairynanook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The book is too long so it feels like a slow read because not much is happening. But the romance is cute enemies to lovers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
ekrobins98's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This book is good for those who don’t like reading sexual content. It has a small amount of sexual content that only last for one chapter late in the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content
emmieanna's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Objectively not the best book I’ve ever read, romance isn’t really my genre. But I would probably pick up another of Elena’s books to see.
I think the fact that I listened to this instead of read the print version wasn’t the best choice. Some of the narration was slightly cringe but I loved the plot and their relationship.
It was semi annoying that he didn’t call her by her name even though she asked him to repeatedly, idk it just irked me that she just accepted it.
I think the fact that I listened to this instead of read the print version wasn’t the best choice. Some of the narration was slightly cringe but I loved the plot and their relationship.
It was semi annoying that he didn’t call her by her name even though she asked him to repeatedly, idk it just irked me that she just accepted it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Stalking
readwithde's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I'm not a big fan of sports romance, but this story was amazing on so many levels! Honestly, the sports stuff was just window dressing.
I'm having trouble coming up with words because this man is the ultimate book boyfriend. He is grumpy, but soft. Athletic. Has an accent. Has tattoos and two cats. Has done emotional healing and work. Talks openly about his feelings. I know it's marked as contemporary, but it might should be fantasy.
I'm having trouble coming up with words because this man is the ultimate book boyfriend. He is grumpy, but soft. Athletic. Has an accent. Has tattoos and two cats. Has done emotional healing and work. Talks openly about his feelings. I know it's marked as contemporary, but it might should be fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kathis_wonderland's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Long Game by Elena Armas is the first book in the Long Game series. Adalyn lost her cool and a video of that goes viral. To save her reputation and her father's football club, she moves to a small town to manage a struggling soccer team. That the team is a group of nine-year-old girls and is coached by goalkeeping legend Cameron Caldani is a surprise for her. Adalyn and Cameron hated each other from the beginning, but there are other feelings as well.
I am turning out to be a big fan of Elena Armas' work! I love her writing style and the way she implements other language than English into the story. The Long Game was a really nice read. It was a little dark and challenging at times and my heart broke for Adalyn several times. Having to go through such things and having no real support system must be so hard. But she is fierce and strong. Cameron really worships Adalyn. I am sure he would do anything for her just to make her happy. There chemistry was so good! I couldn't wait for their first kiss! And that took ages! The book was not as steamy as I thought it would be. But it was sexy nonetheless.
I can highly recommend Elena Armas' books! The Long Game was a really nice read. Enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, romantic and spicy! I can't wait for the next book in this series.
I am turning out to be a big fan of Elena Armas' work! I love her writing style and the way she implements other language than English into the story. The Long Game was a really nice read. It was a little dark and challenging at times and my heart broke for Adalyn several times. Having to go through such things and having no real support system must be so hard. But she is fierce and strong. Cameron really worships Adalyn. I am sure he would do anything for her just to make her happy. There chemistry was so good! I couldn't wait for their first kiss! And that took ages! The book was not as steamy as I thought it would be. But it was sexy nonetheless.
I can highly recommend Elena Armas' books! The Long Game was a really nice read. Enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, romantic and spicy! I can't wait for the next book in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
tyras_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m a little conflicted by this book. I really liked the premise, a sorta spoiled Heiress type gets knocked on her ass by a mistake and has to deal with the consequences in a rural, remote area reluctantly aided by the hot, grumpy, town recluse. There’s banter, enemies to lovers, a logical third act breakup and a HEA. I laughed out loud on many occasion.
That said, on a petty level, the word choice through the book in crucial areas was off to me and distracting as a reader and the overuse of certain phrases took me from the story. Maybe it’s a personal brand of the author but some areas felt like they needed to be reviewed/edited again.
**spoilers ahead**
I appreciated Adalyn’s sense of responsibility and no nonsense attitude. It felt contradictory at first for people to see her as a “princess” knowing the truth of her character but the fact that Cameron operated off a stereotype only gave him a higher pedestal from which to fall deeply in love with her. Similarly, it was very fun to watch Cameron’s touch exterior get chipped away from the first encounter with Adalyn. I ate it up.
Adalyn’s arch was great (even if there were too many mentions of metaphors about dragons) and I’m so glad she healed that inner a child a bit to stand up to her terrible dad and ex.
I needed a bit more from Cameron’s arch but him getting the courage to be a full participant in life again and choosing to love someone when he never had before was nice to see. I think him giving up his big shiny footballer career as a response to his fear became easier to accept for him as he made a place for himself in Green Oak and eventually trusted himself enough to love someone.
I also loved that the third act conflict didn’t have a big toxic fight that characters wouldn’t recover from.
That said, on a petty level, the word choice through the book in crucial areas was off to me and distracting as a reader and the overuse of certain phrases took me from the story. Maybe it’s a personal brand of the author but some areas felt like they needed to be reviewed/edited again.
**spoilers ahead**
I appreciated Adalyn’s sense of responsibility and no nonsense attitude. It felt contradictory at first for people to see her as a “princess” knowing the truth of her character but the fact that Cameron operated off a stereotype only gave him a higher pedestal from which to fall deeply in love with her. Similarly, it was very fun to watch Cameron’s touch exterior get chipped away from the first encounter with Adalyn. I ate it up.
Adalyn’s arch was great (even if there were too many mentions of metaphors about dragons) and I’m so glad she healed that inner a child a bit to stand up to her terrible dad and ex.
I needed a bit more from Cameron’s arch but him getting the courage to be a full participant in life again and choosing to love someone when he never had before was nice to see. I think him giving up his big shiny footballer career as a response to his fear became easier to accept for him as he made a place for himself in Green Oak and eventually trusted himself enough to love someone.
I also loved that the third act conflict didn’t have a big toxic fight that characters wouldn’t recover from.
The book gave heavy Ted Lasso vibes, in a good way and maybe that’s just because it was about soccer but of well.
Definitely excited to read more from Armas!
Definitely excited to read more from Armas!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying and Panic attacks/disorders