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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.
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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
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
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! and once he finally admitted his feelings for Ada, he never wavered & stood by her side no matter what! 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!
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
kendra_taylors_version's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Stalking
Minor: Death of parent
sarahmcg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
2.5⭐️ This book took me so long to read and in the end it was …meh? The first 60% of the book bored me… both of the characters (especially Adalyn) were just acting a fool for literally no reason. The big bad conflict she was banished for didn’t really feel fleshed out. The pacing was just so… off. Everything felt kind of half-baked.
And I felt like Cameron called Adalyn “darling” one million times, it felt excessive, but when I did a word search on my kindle, I guess he only said it 56 times, so do with that what you will (I usually like nicknames! I just don’t feel this was executed well).
Things I enjoyed: the small town setting, the blind goat, the cats Willow & Pierogi, the smut (was actually very well-written), and the third-act drama was resolved rather quickly.
I haven’t read any of her other books but I hear people love the Spanish Love Deception, so I will probably give her another chance.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
And I felt like Cameron called Adalyn “darling” one million times, it felt excessive, but when I did a word search on my kindle, I guess he only said it 56 times, so do with that what you will (I usually like nicknames! I just don’t feel this was executed well).
Things I enjoyed: the small town setting, the blind goat, the cats Willow & Pierogi, the smut (was actually very well-written), and the third-act drama was resolved rather quickly.
I haven’t read any of her other books but I hear people love the Spanish Love Deception, so I will probably give her another chance.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Stalking and Infidelity
booksalacarte's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
2.75
The Long Game- 2.75⭐️ 3🌶️
Contemporary small town romance
City slicker
Grumpy/determined sunshine
Female rage
Slow burn
Soccer romance
Forced proximity
Miscommunication
Anxiety rep
This is a contemporary romance that isn not a part of the Spanish Love Deception cannon.
Right away you are thrown into the world and lingo of marketing and sports without knowing what sport or exactly what is being brought up. I don’t know if that was on purpose to disorient the reader as much as the FMC is, or not. Names are thrown at you without knowing who they are or how they are connected. I found myself having to read whole pages again to try to figure out who was who…. Only to have them barely matter to the plot.
The FMC’s was hard on the surface (calling herself the ice queen) but has major insecurities. A great combo generally, but it didn’t quite work for me. I found it more like someone completely out of their depth and grasping at straws while hiding under expensive shoes. It didn’t feel genuine.
The MMC’s PTSD was interesting but I wish it would have been revealed earlier in the story even if it was just in his own POV so it could have been a bigger part in explaining why he acted how he did, instead of looking like a celebrity just looking for an anonymous life after his career ended. His triggers were inconsistent, but it isn’t clear they were triggering something as chemically and mentally draining as PTSD.
The dialogue wasn’t all that realistic.
There were a lot of pop culture references. A lot. which aren’t my fav.
I found myself smiling while I read. The tension was good. The side characters were a little manic, but sufficient. And the twist was good!
Overall, maybe this just wasn’t a book for me? While I loved the Spanish Love Deception and The American Roommate Experience, (both solid 4 star reads with 3+++ spice) I just didn’t love this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a Advanced Reader E-Copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Contemporary small town romance
City slicker
Grumpy/determined sunshine
Female rage
Slow burn
Soccer romance
Forced proximity
Miscommunication
Anxiety rep
This is a contemporary romance that isn not a part of the Spanish Love Deception cannon.
Right away you are thrown into the world and lingo of marketing and sports without knowing what sport or exactly what is being brought up. I don’t know if that was on purpose to disorient the reader as much as the FMC is, or not. Names are thrown at you without knowing who they are or how they are connected. I found myself having to read whole pages again to try to figure out who was who…. Only to have them barely matter to the plot.
The FMC’s was hard on the surface (calling herself the ice queen) but has major insecurities. A great combo generally, but it didn’t quite work for me. I found it more like someone completely out of their depth and grasping at straws while hiding under expensive shoes. It didn’t feel genuine.
The MMC’s PTSD was interesting but I wish it would have been revealed earlier in the story even if it was just in his own POV so it could have been a bigger part in explaining why he acted how he did, instead of looking like a celebrity just looking for an anonymous life after his career ended. His triggers were inconsistent, but it isn’t clear they were triggering something as chemically and mentally draining as PTSD.
The dialogue wasn’t all that realistic.
There were a lot of pop culture references. A lot. which aren’t my fav.
I found myself smiling while I read. The tension was good. The side characters were a little manic, but sufficient. And the twist was good!
Overall, maybe this just wasn’t a book for me? While I loved the Spanish Love Deception and The American Roommate Experience, (both solid 4 star reads with 3+++ spice) I just didn’t love this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a Advanced Reader E-Copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
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