The Long Game

I have very conflicting thoughts about this romance. I certainly enjoyed it more than The Roommate Experiment, and I might even like it more than The Spanish Love Deception, but I did not love it as a whole.What I loved about it:- I liked that they were both involved with a kid's football practice. The little girls were mostly adorable and a great addiction to the story.- Their interactions were quite good, with a easily flowing dialogue, and the tension was off the charts.- I am always a fan of the small-town settings, although here it does not affect the story much as we do not have all the small-town people shenanigans. We do have a lot of activities, and some of them were fire! This book just confirms I have a thing for couple's yoga, it works as a charm to me. And the intimate pottery scene? Uff. (If this is your thing as well, check out [b:Nobody Puts Romcoms In The Corner 65008541 Nobody Puts Romcoms In The Corner Kathryn Freeman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1670677591l/65008541.SY75.jpg 99272412] )- I loved every bit of the story after they succumb to their feelings and attraction. At that point, Cameron becomes my favourite Elena Armas MMC. He shows he is there always and for the Long Game: ”I'll always give you more than what you ask for, love. Even when you don't know what you want.”“You are who you are. And I love that. Let those goddamn smiles be rare as long as they're mine. Mine.” Elena certainly knows how to write fictional smitten men! What I think it could have been done better:- I did not particularly like Adalyn, which does not come off as a surprise since I did not like any of Elena Armas female characters so far. I've found her annoying, disrespectful, childish, and spoiled, and I wish we could have seen a greater character growth. - The middle was too slow, and I wish their interactions were shown in a more consistent way. Adalyn and Camero were spending most of their time together since they were living in the same property, working at the same place, and participating in the same activities. However, most of their interactions end suddenly, and often with Adalyn being quite vulnerable, followed by time jumps of 3 to 5 days, and no replies or thoughts by Cameron. This would certainly contribute to her insecurities and, personally, I did not feel it contributed positively for the romance.- Although the romance includes both POV, Cameron always feels distant and not at all attracted with Adalyn, until he is almost professing eternal love to her. I wished we could have seen his love grow throughout the book instead of just imagining his barriers breaking.The Long Game has great yoga and pottery scenes, good dialogue between the leads, and I liked the last third enough to be able to overlook all the bits that annoyed me until there. Read if you like Ted Lasso and can't get enough of grumpy Roy!