The First Move is a swoonworthy YA romance filled with characters you can’t help but root for. I don’t have arthritis but Juliet dealing with her chronic pain made me feel so seen, and I loved seeing a realistic portrayal of a teen girl struggling with her disability but trying her best anyway. I also don’t know anything about chess but I really enjoyed learning more about the game and the symbolism of the different chess pieces used in the story. I’m a sucker for a romance where the main characters are not only drawn to each other in real life but also connect online, and the banter between Juliet and Ronan while they’re playing chess online and chatting was definitely a highlight of the book. The First Move had the potential to be a new fave but it unfortunately didn’t check all of my boxes. It leaned a bit too heavily into the “bad boy with a traumatic past is emotionally unavailable and mysterious” trope for my tastes and some of the drama was just too much for me. The last third of the book felt unnecessarily dragged out and the pacing needed some work. I did overall quite enjoy it though and still recommend checking it out if you’re a fan of YA romance!

A beautiful romance with amazing disability rep, especially as it is something you don't hear much about, young people with arthritis, as it usually gets dismissed I love how this is a big part of the story. I read this so fast I could barely put it down, the characters were great, really dynamic and each with their own struggles. Also the romance was super cute I loved seeing them together and reading their chess messages it was adorable and I highly recommend for an amazing Contemporary YA romance.

Absolutely loved this one. Fell in love with the characters both Jules and Ronan were perfectly imperfect. Loved how we got both their perspectives to see how they experience the lives intertwining. Truly beautiful to read.

i really enjoyed the first move. it was sweet, had some brilliant side characters, and the main characters felt real and where written in a way that made me root for them to end up happy, whether in a romantic way or not.

unfortunately i did find myself enjoying them more separately than as a couple. they where good together, but i just didn’t care all that much about it. i feel like i struggled to see the connection between them, and there was also other minor love interests who i could also have been convinced they liked.

the way both disability and addiction where talked about in this seemed great to me, but i can see how addiction is talked about possibly being triggering for some readers (it does have a tw at the start) so be careful.

over all i recommend!

I love contemporary YA romance and, because I have an invisible disability myself, I love books with disability rep. So I was always going to love this book where a teenager with arthritis and the mysterious new boy at school connect over the messaging section of a virtual chess app. And what a treat it was. The characters jumped off the page. The portrayal of Jules’ arthritis and the impact that has on her growing up as a disabled teenager is well written. There’s a swoon worthy romantic interest and a fabulously supportive best friend. I was hooked! I raced through this book and now eagerly await more from this author. It deals with some serious topics, including drug abuse and parental mental illness, but they are all dealt with very sensitively. All in all, I highly recommend this novel if you enjoy contemporary YA.

The First Move is a book that reminded me of the power of love and the hope for the future YA embodies so well.

This was a pleasant surprise for me. It was a book that was slightly on my radar, but boy am I glad I picked it up. One thing I must commend Ireland for is the depiction of grief in its many forms. There is bereavement here and it is nuanced, devastating and impactful. But, there is also the grief for the life you could have had or the opportunities you have missed out on. It is so emotionally raw and tangible.

It is still so rare to see disability representation in YA and Ireland provides a vulnerable and honest look at it. There is frank discussion of the impacts it can have on everyday life and how it changes your entire perspective on life. However, this is no inspiration porn. Instead, Juliet lives with her disability, which does affect every aspect of her life, but she is not solely defined by it. She is a sweet, hopeful and somewhat naive teenage girl, learning to adapt to a world that does not want to adjust for her. It leads to some real moments of anger and frustration that hit home. Ronan is also a fractured, flawed and fantastically human character that I adored. His rage at the world reminds you how rarely you truly know what is going on with someone.

I absolutely adored how much of this book centred around chess. Often dismissed as a nerdy hobby, chess has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence following the popular success of shows like The Queen’s Gambit. The mix of gameplay and realistically awkward teenage flirting on the online platform is brilliant. Ireland includes these chat transcripts that hold so much joy, hope and chemistry that just pops off the page. You cannot help but root for these two to work everything out.

Ireland combines a sweet and highly enjoyable YA romance with a raw and emotionally vulnerable look at grief, disability and the way your life can be changed forever by the tiniest thing. More people need to add this to their radar immediately.

I thought that this was such a cute YA with some really important themes and I loved how inclusive it was with disability representation, young carers and grief. I think this is an amazing book for young people to read

I absolutely LOVED this book!!

Juliet is a teen who suffers from arthritis, and although she has loving parents, she feels bogged down by her disease. Unable to believe in herself, she finds her best friend slowly drifting away from her, and her confidence waning. Enter Ronan, quiet, mysterious new boy who left his old school after his brother dies, and he's living with the grief and managing his absentee mother who is also losing herself. Both Juliet and Ronan find solace in chess, namely an online game, where they end up talking and becoming friends.

This is a new favourite! I adored the chemistry and relationship between the two characters. They were raw, flawed and I enjoyed their banter so so much. The side characters were also so well done! Michael was the best friend anyone could ever have- I loved his jokes and witty dialogue!

Juliet and Ronan made decisions that were suitable for their age- both immature and sometimes quiet profoundly what I would do in such a situation. My favourite part was when Ronan found out that his online crush is actually Juliet, and when he meets her, and that moment was just EVERYTHING. This was the case of she fell first, but he fell harder. Ronan's feelings were definitely much stronger, and it showed in his actions. Juliet's ex-best friend was also interesting, she was dealing with her own problems, but she still acted so toxic to her friend, which I still don't forgive her for! She called her names and tried to act cool in front of her, despite borrowing her clothes, and just being so toxic and full of herself. I really felt angry whenever she was on-page.

I loved the short chapters in this book, and it was just such a fun and interesting read. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy and reread it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of this book.

'The First Move' is a dual perspective novel set in Ireland starring Juliet (who likes to be known as Jules) who has arthritis and Ronan, a new boy at Jules' school. On paper, Jules and Ronan might not have lots in common but they have one shared passion: chess.

The gorgeous front cover of this book is initially what drew me in but the story inside was equally gorgeous and lovely. The story moved along nicely with short chapters and the dual perspective was used effectively. I also really liked that Jules and Ronan were far from stereotypes. When you see girl with a disability and a bad boy on paper, you may think that it would go in a really cliche way but in fact Jules has lots of friends, is constantly complimented on how beautiful she is and lives a full life rather than her being a character for able bodied readers to feel sorry for. Ronan is sweet, sensitive and likeable rather than being a typical rude bad boy character. There are other elements to Ronan's character arc that are handled with sensitivity and unravels throughout the book in an effective way.

I'd recommend this story cautiously to Year 9s (there's quite a lot of swearing and some more some dark subject matter) but definitely year 10 and up. There are lots of fun contemporary and relevant references (not too many though) to be enjoyed. The characters felt realistic as well for the age that they are and the inclusion of the online chess element was an effective choice. I can't speak to the specifics of the arthritis representation as it's not something I have but as I have already mentioned it seemed extremely positive to me.

I had a good time reading this book and would definitely recommend it and look forward to seeing what Jenny writes next!

"The First Move" by Jenny Ireland is a delightful and heartwarming YA romance novel that tackles important topics with sensitivity and grace. The story follows Juliet, a girl with arthritis, who believes that love stories are not meant for girls like her. However, her life changes when she meets Ronan, a new student who is dealing with his own struggles.

The book is beautifully written, and the characters are well-developed and realistic. The portrayal of Juliet's disability is both accurate and respectful, shedding light on what it's like to live with a chronic illness as a young person, which personally I related too. The book also deals with delicate topics such as mental health, loss, and guilt, which are handled with care, nuance and dignity.

The romance between Juliet and Ronan is adorable and wholesome, and their chemistry is palpable from the beginning. The book is also filled with delightful secondary characters, such as Michael, Juliet's best friend, who is supportive and kind.

Overall, "The First Move" is an engaging and emotional read that will resonate with readers of all ages. It's a story about love, friendship, and self-discovery, and it tackles important issues in a way that is both accessible and impactful. Jenny Ireland's debut novel is a promising start to what will undoubtedly be a successful writing career.

The First Move by Jenny Ireland is a heartwarming and uplifting YA romance novel that breaks stereotypes about people with disabilities. The story is about Juliet, a teenage girl who has arthritis, and Ronan, a new student at her school who is dealing with his own struggles.

Ireland's writing style is engaging, easy to read and she creates believable and relatable characters. Juliet is a determined and intelligent protagonist who refuses to let her disability hold her back, which makes the read so uplifting. And Ronan is a complex character with a troubled past, but his vulnerability makes him all the more endearing which only helps you root for him even during his hard times throughout the characters progression.

I absolutely loved this read, and it was exactly what I was needing during this time in my reading. You do not need to have a background for chess to understand it, and even having an understanding of it, It didn't feel like I was gaining anything further from the book by having that extra-understanding. As I was rating it, I instantly went to give it a 4-star, and then was thinking of what I was going to say I disliked about the book during this review, and then realized there was nothing, so I had to give it the 5-star. I cant foresee a sequel for this, but I would absolutely love to revisit these characters again.

Overall, The First Move is an enjoyable and inspiring read that will appeal to anyone who loves a good romance with a strong message of empowerment. It challenges readers to look beyond appearances and to see people for who they truly are. Ireland's debut novel is a promising start to what will undoubtedly be a successful writing career.

i really enjoyable and refreshing enemies to lovers romance set in the chess world. thanks for the arc!

I'm a simple man I see chess and romance so I read.

What I like about this book most is the way that the author is able to write about so many different subject matters and intersect them to create such an amazing product. The first move follows Jules who has arthritis and the book doesn't shy away from that and instead acknowledges how arthritis affects her on both a physical and mental level as Jules is in secondary school. I think the book achieves this well and without spoiling it is just nice to read about her journey of self-acceptance throughout. I also like that all the other characters in this book have problems as well as it really shows that nobody's life is perfect.

As for romance I love how the author uses chess to connect the love interests. Chess is literally one of my favourite things so I loved every reference to grandmaster's and opening strategies. I think that many books fail to write young relationships but this book really shows two people who care for each other and honestly the chemistry between two people who met on a chess app is more than most romances I have read in the last couple years just shows that Ireland deserves their accolades (just realised her name is Ireland and this book is set in Dublin that is brilliant )

This book definitely is one to read for all lovers of romance, enemies to lovers and most importantly chess

Thank you to net galley and penguin for giving me the opportunity to read this

Such a clever, sweet romance! Juliet and Ronan are a lovely, compelling duo and are so very gorgeous together! Chess and teen angst with lovely, grounded characters and an insightful portrayal of a teenager with arthritis? All make for a wonderful read. I guarantee I will be picking up whatever Jenny Ireland delights us with next.

I started to read The First Move and immediately got caught up in the story and passed the book to my 14 yo daughter who devoured it in a weekend - She absolutely loved it and will recommend it to her friends!

I enjoyed the story and the romantic elements but this novel is much more than just a 'boy meets girl' story for teenagers. I loved the challenges presented by the author who clearly has done her researches on the subject and helped create awareness not only on Juliet's illness but also on how it impacted her confidence at the beginning and how she overcame her difficulties with the help of her friends. I love the diverse cast of characters that felt genuinely diverse and not just designed to create "representation".

I think this was a well written debut that deserve five stars!! Looking forward to read more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

**SPOILERS**

I enjoyed this cute and wholesome romance about our main characters Ronan, who is dealing with the loss of his brother, and Juliet, who struggles with arthritis (it's so nice to see good disability rep). I really believed in their chemistry though I found the 3rd act breakup to be a bit childish for my taste, but it's a book about teenagers so.. 🤷‍♀️ The characters felt well developed and I liked that Tara wasn't just a stereotypical mean girl and actually had her own struggles to deal with.

Overall I gave this book 4/5 ⭐ because whilst I enjoyed reading this, I'm just not a fan of the miscommunication trope.

Love the disability rep in this book! It was so good to see a teen character with a physical disability and I found her experiences of disability and the emotions involved to be really well incorporated into this book, and her acknowledgement of how she grieved for a life she could have had truly resonated with me, as did the feelings of being a burden, so kudos to Ireland for this!
I feel like these characters still have a long way to go with dealing with their problems and coming to accept themselves and their circumstances but at their age, that’s to be expected. Real life is messy and we’re not always in a position to move forward, though it’s clear that many of the characters are taking the steps they need to so they can do this.
This book did feel very lust-fueled to me and every conversation seemed to circle back to kissing or sex so I would have preferred it with a little less of that and a little more of other things - it’s honestly not all teens talk about. There’s also definitely a bad message about internet safety in here. They seem fully aware of the dangers of catfishing and revealing personal information to strangers online for all of 5 minutes before they’re throwing it out the window.
Michael’s character was great. He was such a supportive best friend and incredibly considerate of Juliet’s needs as well as being incredibly fun and full of life, but not afraid to call her out when needed. Their closeness was lovely to see!
There were definitely some great parts to this book but I do think it had more potential and would have loved to see that fulfilled.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

As someone who can suffer with their mobility, especially during my time through school, I really appreciated a female lead character that had a health issue that affected her mobility, and I only wished I’d have had access to this whilst I was in secondary school! I feel it’s important to shed light on characters that other teens can relate to that may not be as prominent in other works, and also some of the issues discussed with other characters opens up the bounds even more.
Ronan’s contained emotions, as well as his somewhat strained relationship with his mother, make starting at a completely new school daunting; the planning and approaching both his social life and school environment through chess makes for a niche but refreshing read, allowing more to be seen of his thought process as he references pieces moving or patterns/move sets of Grandmasters.
In some sections it was a little cheesy, but it is a teen romance novel so it’ll never go amiss!
Overall a good read, and one to recommend for teens with interests that aren’t defined by sports, or for those wanting characters who are easily to accept, as well as a representation of members of the disabled community.

I loved this book from start to finish - engaging characters with genuine issues and a sweet, romantic plot that had me rooting for Juliet and Ronan every step of the way. The chess game banter worked brilliantly too. A five star read!

A beautiful teenage love story with fantastic representation of a teenager with arthritis. It is great to read about the struggles of a young person with an illness so debilitating, as we often read books where teenagers are able-bodied and merely deal with emotional struggles. I really grew a sense of empathy for Juliet and also her family. The air of mystery surrounding Ciaran was heartbreaking, and I found myself really feeling for Ronan and his mum. Not only that, but the 'villain' persona, Tara, also earned my empathy too. It was fabulous to read a book set in my home country that had a different focus other than the Troubles and its aftermath. A thoroughly enjoyable read!