A review by beckyyreadss
The Long Game by Elena Armas

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

3.0

I loved the American Roommate Experiment and I've been waiting for Elena’s next work, so when this was announced I was jumping at the bit for it to be released and this book was slightly hit and miss for me.  

This book has two points of view, the first is Adalyn Reyes and she has spent years perfecting her daily routine: wake up at dawn, drive to the Miami Flames FC offices, try her hardest to leave a mark, go home and repeat. So when her routine is disrupted after a video of her in an altercation with the team’s mascot goes viral. Rather than fire hr, the team’s owner – who happens to be her father – sends Adalyn to middle-of-nowhere North Carolina, where she’s tasked with turning around the struggling local soccer team, the Green Warriors, as a way to redeem herself. Her plans start to crumble before she gets started as she discovers that the players wear tutus to practice, keep pet goats, and are terrified on Adalyn and are nine-year-old kids. The second point of view is Cameron Caldani, a goalkeeping prodigy whose presence in North Carolina is somewhat of a mystery. He is currently hiding away after his sudden retirement. Cameron is the perfect candidate to help Adalyn, but after one very unfortunate first encounter involving a rooster, Cam’s leg and Adalyn’s bumper, he is set on getting rid of her as soon as possible. But banishment is not an option for Adalyn. Not again. Helping this ragtag children’s team is her road to redemption, and she is playing the long game. With or without Cam’s help. 

It hurt me to say that this book dragged. I thought I would love it because it’s involving football and it’s a sexy British goalkeeper. This was supposed to be the book I enjoyed – it's British humour, broody dark man and I was just wanting more. Adalyn was all over the place – now I love messed up characters and usually relate to them often. But she was described as a mean Ice Queen but was then instantly crying the second that something nice happened to her or someone insulted her.  

One of my favourite things about this book is Josie. She was so funny and just such a small-town person where she’s in everyone’s business, but she only wants the best for everyone. I loved the girls football team in this. I am glad it was a girl’s football team and not a male football team where they are all pining over Adalyn. I love the tension in this book and Elena always manages to write the men that everyone is wanting, but I felt that the plot was just all over the place and that both of the MCs have personality disorder – both of their moods were giving me whiplash.  

I really hope the second book is to do with Josie. I love her and I want more of her and this town. 
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