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mlottermoser'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: Sexual content and Misogyny
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Sexism
Minor: Abandonment and Stalking
kottengoesbork's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
rickireadss's review
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 comingthe 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 whatever
it was slow burn but boyyyyy was it hoti 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 over
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
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
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
beckyyreadss'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
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Stalking
meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
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
3.25
What is it about Elena Armas’s mediocre romcoms that continue to draw me in!? I liked the Spanish Love Deception (despite it’s complete lack of editing) and absolutely despised The American Roommate Experiment (so much so that it is the only book I’ve ever rated one star). And yet, The Long Game caught my eye while in line at Barnes and Noble and the next thing I know, it is being rung up with my other purchases. Is it the fun candy color covers? Is it the cutesy descriptions on the back? Or is it my own unique combination of optimism and masochism? At this point, I don’t know!
Overall, The Long Game is consistent with much of Armas’s previous writing style. There are a lot of overused pet names, bad millennial humor, slap stick physical comedy, and overall lack of subtlety when it comes to the actual romance aspect of the book. However, I do think Armas wrote a much better character arc for the FMC in this novel than she has done for those in her other books. Adalyn was a much more developed character and I think the pacing of her emotional journey was well done. The logistics of the plot as a whole flowed much better in this novel. (Although I still have a few questions. For example, why is a random family mystery being brought up 320 pages in?) I also thought the small town setting and slow burn romance were spot on.
I would say this is the author’s best work, but is that really saying much? I think I need to accept that Armas’s style just isn’t my personal favorite. If you’re looking for a light fall read, I would recommend The Long Game, but just know that you’ll have to set the book aside every 50 pages or so to physically cringe.
Overall, The Long Game is consistent with much of Armas’s previous writing style. There are a lot of overused pet names, bad millennial humor, slap stick physical comedy, and overall lack of subtlety when it comes to the actual romance aspect of the book. However, I do think Armas wrote a much better character arc for the FMC in this novel than she has done for those in her other books. Adalyn was a much more developed character and I think the pacing of her emotional journey was well done. The logistics of the plot as a whole flowed much better in this novel. (Although I still have a few questions. For example, why is a random family mystery being brought up 320 pages in?) I also thought the small town setting and slow burn romance were spot on.
I would say this is the author’s best work, but is that really saying much? I think I need to accept that Armas’s style just isn’t my personal favorite. If you’re looking for a light fall read, I would recommend The Long Game, but just know that you’ll have to set the book aside every 50 pages or so to physically cringe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Cursing
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
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