The Long Game by Elena Armas: A Book Review

When I bought this book, it had only just been released a couple months previous. Elena Armas is an author I honestly hadn't heard of before buying this book. Only after I bought The Long Game, I realised she'd written The Spanish Love Deception, a book I know that's been highly rated by so many. I will get around to reading it eventually! Anyway, back to the main topic of this book review - The Long Game.

Let's set the premise:

Adalyn Reyes is in a bit of trouble after a video goes viral of her doing something somewhat embarrassing. She works for her father's football club, The Miami Flames. After the video goes viral, her father sends her to Green Oak, a small town in North Carolina to turn around the soccer team. Little does she realise that the soccer team is a group of nine-year-old girls. 

When she arrives at her temporary home, she comes across Cameron Caldani, an English ex-goalkeeper who is also living in town. Again, little does she realise that Cameron coaches the girl's soccer team which she has to turn around. After an accident involving a rooster (yes, you read that right), the two of them end up on opposing sides. It's up to them to start getting along and work together for the sake of the team. But will they put their differences aside? 

When I first started reading the book, I was really unsure that I would like the two main characters as they both come across as a little patronising (Cameron) and spoilt (Adalyn). But as the story goes on, you get to see their softer, more vulnerable sides, which is nice. Throughout the book, the chapters alternate between Adalyn and Cameron's POV. You get to see Adalyn and Cameron's relationship thawing and developing into something more. When I finished reading The Long Game, I really liked both Adalyn and Cameron and I'm glad that the ending was what it was. 

Would I recommend The Long Game?

Now, this book gets a rare accolade for me personally. It's not very often I can definitely say that I would be happy to read this book again in a few months. There are only a couple of books that share that accolade - The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary and Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. This book was amazing. I absolutely loved it! 

Unfortunately, this book hasn't received too many kind reviews, but based on what I read, I absolutely adored this book. I would happily read it again if I ever got myself into a reading rut again. 

There are only very slight negatives I had with the book, but it wouldn't stop me from telling you guys to read it. The ending was slightly rushed, I felt like the ending could have happened a little earlier in the book and there could have been a different ending. Don't get me wrong, I was happy with the ending of the book, but with the twist at the end, I wish that twist was explored more. The side characters in this book are lovely, my favourite being Maria, the nine-year-old in the soccer team who makes a point of winding up Cameron (or coach Camomile as she calls him) and befriending Adalyn. 

As I said, during the story, we get to see both character's vulnerable sides. Adalyn had quite a sad life before heading to North Carolina, we get to explore that during the story. I did end up sympathising with her greatly halfway through the book. Cameron does show his vulnerable side also, but I wish that could have been explored more. 

I should also mention that there is goat yoga in this book. This book has made me realise I would love to attend a goat yoga session, even if it's just once in my life!

*Trigger warning - this book does deal with gaslighting, toxic relationships and manipulation. This book is for 18+ years. 

But honestly guys, this book is such a lovely read, a perfect book to cwtch up to during the colder months! 

Let me know your thoughts on The Long Game by Elena Armas!