Review: Armas’ slowest burning romance novel yet has the biggest pay off! 

 

“The Long Game” follows disgraced soccer exec Adalyn Reyes and retired goalkeeper Cameron Caldani as they begrudgingly work together to lead a small town children’s team to victory. 

 

Adalyn faces many hardships as a woman working in a very male-dominated sports industry. Her talents are often taken advantage of  and not fully appreciated. As a result, the novel centers around female rage and mental health — specifically anxiety and panic attacks. I really appreciate seeing this kind of representation because shame is often attributed to both feminine rage and anxiety when it should not. It is empowering and validating to see a character like Adalyn embrace her anger and seek out help when she needs it. 

 

In my opinion, Cameron Caldani is Armas’ best male lead thus far. Aside from his rugged good looks, mouthwatering thigh tattoo, sexy British accent, affinity for yoga in skintight, long sleeve thermals, and his mother hen-like tendencies, Cameron is a complex character with his own inner struggles that he tries to conceal by putting up a grumpy front. The chapters written from his point-of-view are my favorite because I loved watching him go from wanting nothing to do with Adalyn to worshipping her. Despite his initial reservations, Cameron becomes Adalyn’s support system when she needs one the most and loves her exactly for who she is. In turn, Adalyn gives Cameron the space he needs to heal and becomes someone he can confide in. 

 

Another reason why I love this book so much is because of the atmosphere Armas creates. She paints a beautiful picture of her fictional town of Green Oak, North Carolina through the seasonal activities Cameron and Adalyn attend, the compelling side characters that make up the town’s close knit community, and sensory imagery capturing the environment. 

 

I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this book in September!