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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, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
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: Sexual content, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying and Panic attacks/disorders
kcochrun1401's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying
callidoralblack's review against another edition
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Bullying
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
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
With The Long Game, Queen Elena Armas has gifted us with a woodsy small town romance featuring a strong but sensitive ex-pro footballer opposite a guarded girlboss who doesn’t know her worth. Both are running away and healing from something, whether they like it or not. He’s super competitive; she’s in crisis mode. I absolutely loved the setting, premise, and characters—the execution was a little clumsy at times, but it was so worth it in the end! Shane East’s narration of Cam—who is such a sweet and sexy caretaking hero—was *chef’s kiss*.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Stalking
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