“You were looking at me the way you are now. Just like that. I didn’t want it to end. His words were soft, barely a whisper. Like what? Like I’m something precious. Worth looking at. His face fell. Why would you think otherwise? Because no one ever looks at me that way.”
The Long Game is a sweet and clever romantic book that centres on Adalyn Reyes, a football executive punished for a viral incident by being sent to coach a kids’ team in a rural North Carolina town. There, she meets former soccer player Cameron Caldani, who seems to be hiding a secret. Think of a mysterious Roy Kent! Although they have a lot of chemistry, their divergent views on life and football cause them to argue.
Elena Armas, the author, has a talent for developing likeable, realistic characters that you will cheer for. Adalyn is a driven, soccer-loving woman who aspires to be successful in a field where men predominate. Their conversation is witty, and they have an unbreakable chemistry. The supporting cast, particularly the goats and young members of the team, are incredibly endearing and give the narrative a lot of heart and humour.
I also enjoyed the “small town” feel, with a strong sense of community and interesting inhabitants. This novel also delves into the themes of self-discovery, forgiveness, friendship, and family.
Fans of small-town romance, sports romance, and enemies-to-lovers (or grumpy meets grumpy!) tropes will appreciate The Long Game. It’s a light-hearted and feel-good story.
Adalyn and Cam’s points of view alternate throughout the book’s dual point of view writing. This enables the reader to comprehend the motivations and emotions of both characters and to get to know them better. The narration and conversation in the novel are also full of irony and sarcasm, which adds to the book’s enjoyment and entertainment value.
The book is a part of the Long Game series, in which the primary protagonists will be other fictional characters. The Short List, Adalyn’s upcoming book, will centre on Lila, her closest friend and co-worker, and her relationship with a well-known actor. Fans of The Long Game should expect more heartwarming and entertaining stories from this series.
Thanks to Exclusive Books for this review copy.
Find Elena Armas’ other books at Exclusive Books as well:
Exclusive Books: The Spanish Love Deception
Exclusive Books: The American Roommate Experiment
About the book
Exclusive Books: The Long Game
