lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I picked this up because it is the latest release from Elena Armas and I wanted to see if the magic of "The Spanish Love Deception" would be in this book.
"The Long Game" is a dual perspective romance that follows Adalyn Reyes and Cameron Caldani. After a messy PR disaster involving the mascot for the team she works for, the club owner, who is Adalyn's father, sends her to the middle of nowhere North Carolina to help whip a mystery team into shape. It is to her complete shock that this mystery team is actually a bunch of 9-year-old girls. Cameron is the couch of the girls' team, and he has a past he is running from as well. He used to be the star goal keep for a very successful team, but he left all of that behind so that he could live in anonymity.
This story took me about a third of the way to finally get into. Adalyn's and Cam's chemistry did not feel real until they started to get to know each other, because at the beginning they both truly lamented one another. Hate to love is such a delicate line to walk, but by the end of the book I was rooting for them to have their happily ever after.
My biggest gripe with this book is that the plot felt thin. Adalyn was sent to this place and given no preparations as to what she was getting into, but she dove headfirst because she wanted to appease her father and make amends for the team she loves. I found it infuriating and slightly unbelievable that her father did not try to defend her at all, and rather than talk to her or hear her out, he just sent her away. And even more shocking, Adalyn did not question him or try to fight to keep her job. Cam wanted to leave the world of professional sports behind and lead a quiet life, which is believable, but NO ONE recognized him in this small town. That I find highly unlikely, and the only real explanation the reader is given is that he has a beard now, so people do not recognize him. It did not take Adalyn long to realize who he was, and I think in retrospect that should have been happening more frequently for him.
Cam is a very possessive man, but in a good way. He wants to take care of Adalyn so that she can feel loved and protected, like someone is in her court. I did enjoy seeing him become so quickly invested in her and her well-being. This possessiveness also translated into some very hot scenes between the pair.
Adalyn felt unoriginal to me. She came from a wealthy family and because of that things were handed to her and now she wants to prove to everyone that she is independent and can make it on her own. Because of that, she continually puts herself in bad situations. She is really bad at asking for help, and believes she is unworthy of love. Rather than these qualities adding to the tension between her and Cam, I just felt annoyed by her because it was so cliche.
The end of the epilogue leaves a bit of a cliffhanger for a new character's story, and I am VERY intrigued and hopeful that we will get that book next.
Overall, this is my least favorite from Elena Armas, but I still had a good time reading it, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy sports romances.
"The Long Game" is a dual perspective romance that follows Adalyn Reyes and Cameron Caldani. After a messy PR disaster involving the mascot for the team she works for, the club owner, who is Adalyn's father, sends her to the middle of nowhere North Carolina to help whip a mystery team into shape. It is to her complete shock that this mystery team is actually a bunch of 9-year-old girls. Cameron is the couch of the girls' team, and he has a past he is running from as well. He used to be the star goal keep for a very successful team, but he left all of that behind so that he could live in anonymity.
This story took me about a third of the way to finally get into. Adalyn's and Cam's chemistry did not feel real until they started to get to know each other, because at the beginning they both truly lamented one another. Hate to love is such a delicate line to walk, but by the end of the book I was rooting for them to have their happily ever after.
My biggest gripe with this book is that the plot felt thin. Adalyn was sent to this place and given no preparations as to what she was getting into, but she dove headfirst because she wanted to appease her father and make amends for the team she loves. I found it infuriating and slightly unbelievable that her father did not try to defend her at all, and rather than talk to her or hear her out, he just sent her away. And even more shocking, Adalyn did not question him or try to fight to keep her job. Cam wanted to leave the world of professional sports behind and lead a quiet life, which is believable, but NO ONE recognized him in this small town. That I find highly unlikely, and the only real explanation the reader is given is that he has a beard now, so people do not recognize him. It did not take Adalyn long to realize who he was, and I think in retrospect that should have been happening more frequently for him.
Cam is a very possessive man, but in a good way. He wants to take care of Adalyn so that she can feel loved and protected, like someone is in her court. I did enjoy seeing him become so quickly invested in her and her well-being. This possessiveness also translated into some very hot scenes between the pair.
Adalyn felt unoriginal to me. She came from a wealthy family and because of that things were handed to her and now she wants to prove to everyone that she is independent and can make it on her own. Because of that, she continually puts herself in bad situations. She is really bad at asking for help, and believes she is unworthy of love. Rather than these qualities adding to the tension between her and Cam, I just felt annoyed by her because it was so cliche.
The end of the epilogue leaves a bit of a cliffhanger for a new character's story, and I am VERY intrigued and hopeful that we will get that book next.
Overall, this is my least favorite from Elena Armas, but I still had a good time reading it, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy sports romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Stalking
bgaffer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Love Elena Armas’ writing style and humor. Funny, sweet, and sappily romantic this book was a fun read for when you’re in the mood for something fluffy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship and Panic attacks/disorders
samchase112's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m always blessed to have another Elena Armas romance in my hands! While I didn’t enjoy this one as much as her last, and certainly not as much as her first, the chemistry between the characters and the slow-burn buildup were still top-notch. There was a lot going on here, and sometimes I think we lost the plot for a bit, but nevertheless I really enjoyed my time spent in Green Oak :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Stalking
Minor: Death of parent
rickireadss's review against another edition
4.0
ahhhh elena did it again. was it my favorite? no i think that it reserved for lucas and rosie, but i still had a great time with this one.
i really just wanted them to both get the f*ck out of their own ways because i just knew they would be fire together. i loved the small town aspect. LOVED the girls on the team so much, especially maria <3 i will say the ending??? through me for a curve, i did NOT see that coming
it was slow burn but boyyyyy was it hot
ALSO, i am very excited for the next book between josie and matthew - like i have a really good feeling about it because of their little interaction there at the end ;)
⚠️: panic attacks/disorders, emotional abuse, toxic relationship (FMC & father), gaslighting, misogyny, injury/injury detail, stalking, death of parent, violence, house break-in, car accident
i really just wanted them to both get the f*ck out of their own ways because i just knew they would be fire together. i loved the small town aspect. LOVED the girls on the team so much, especially maria <3 i will say the ending??? through me for a curve, i did NOT see that coming
Spoiler
the fact that adalyn and josie were still trying to talk to the a**hole they call a dad in the epilogue made me mad -like f*ck that dude but whateverit was slow burn but boyyyyy was it hot
Spoiler
i was taken out of the moment though when the whole discussion around protection came up and she was like "i'm clean" - like can we PLEASE change this wording in romance novels??? every time it happens, i'm instantly taken out of the scene. you can easily say "i'm negative" or "all my tests came back fine" - it''s just my hate for the stigmization of STDs/STIs, mini rant overALSO, i am very excited for the next book between josie and matthew - like i have a really good feeling about it because of their little interaction there at the end ;)
⚠️: panic attacks/disorders, emotional abuse, toxic relationship (FMC & father), gaslighting, misogyny, injury/injury detail, stalking, death of parent, violence, house break-in, car accident
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Stalking, Violence, and Car accident
katiejohns's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Sexism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
pagebypaigebks's review against another edition
3.0
“Like she can finally be at ease. Like she was scared but now she’s okay. Because with me, she’s always, always safe.”
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: panic attacks, toxic relationships, gaslighting, mention of stalking
The premise of this book had a lot of promise! I loved the idea of a high end executive helping out a kids team. My favourite parts were Adalyn and Cameron's interactions with the players! The kids and the other townspeople were fun to read about and had funny moments that made me smile. Unfortunately, I would have liked to see more development from our main characters. So I didn't connect with them as much as I would have liked. However, the side characters really captured my attention with their backstories and personalities! Overall, the writing style was easy to follow and made this a quick read.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: panic attacks, toxic relationships, gaslighting, mention of stalking
The premise of this book had a lot of promise! I loved the idea of a high end executive helping out a kids team. My favourite parts were Adalyn and Cameron's interactions with the players! The kids and the other townspeople were fun to read about and had funny moments that made me smile. Unfortunately, I would have liked to see more development from our main characters. So I didn't connect with them as much as I would have liked. However, the side characters really captured my attention with their backstories and personalities! Overall, the writing style was easy to follow and made this a quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting
Minor: Stalking
purplepenning's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Strong Roy Kent / brunch daddy vibes, but alas — the story as a whole didn't work for me. I'm not sure how a book with a growly retired soccer player coaching a quirky small town U10 girls team while dealing with a menagerie of mischievous farm animals managed to both bore and annoy me, but it did. I couldn't connect with the boss babe main character, thought the story was slow-going until the last quarter, yet still felt the characters were under-developed.
I think I'll just have to accept that this author isn't for me. A previous title was a DNF and this one was one goat and a spunky 8-year-old away from the same fate.
I think I'll just have to accept that this author isn't for me. A previous title was a DNF and this one was one goat and a spunky 8-year-old away from the same fate.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
drtx_bwt's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship and Stalking
britwalsh16's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I’ve loved Elena’s other books, & this one was no different. I have a new view & love of soccer from this book. Carmen is so perfect! From Darling to Love, I was hanging on every word he said! Where can I find a man like him? And I feel for Adalyn so much! Her dad is a piece of work, all she ever wanted was his love & he made it conditional, only ever caring about himself, she doesn’t deserve that! I’m so glad she found a man like Carmen! She deserves happiness!
Spoiler
and once he finally admitted his feelings for Ada, he never wavered & stood by her side no matter what!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Violence
readwithria's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Long Game was such a fun time!
I love Elena Armas’ writing so much, and The Long Game was another great book full of cute banter, lovable characters, and slow burn tension.
Read if you you love
⚽️ Sports romance
⚽️ Small town
⚽️ Grumpy/grumpy
⚽️ Forced proximity
⚽️ Caregiving
⚽️ Cute nicknames
⚽️ Even cuter animals
I will say that one of the reasons I don’t love “enemies” to lovers in contemporary romance is because the characters often don’t spend a lot of time actually liking each other because there has to be the setup of the meet messy, and this book was no exception. I think that the last 40 pages felt a bit rushed, and made the conflict and resolution feel like an afterthought.
This book was pretty much exactly what I’ve come to expect from Elena Armas, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next! 4 stars.
I love Elena Armas’ writing so much, and The Long Game was another great book full of cute banter, lovable characters, and slow burn tension.
Read if you you love
⚽️ Sports romance
⚽️ Small town
⚽️ Grumpy/grumpy
⚽️ Forced proximity
⚽️ Caregiving
⚽️ Cute nicknames
⚽️ Even cuter animals
I will say that one of the reasons I don’t love “enemies” to lovers in contemporary romance is because the characters often don’t spend a lot of time actually liking each other because there has to be the setup of the meet messy, and this book was no exception. I think that the last 40 pages felt a bit rushed, and made the conflict and resolution feel like an afterthought.
This book was pretty much exactly what I’ve come to expect from Elena Armas, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next! 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking