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!

The cover of Jenny Ireland's 'The First Move' caught my eye and the 'You've Got Mail' style blurb captured my interest. Juliet and Ronan are both teenagers with issues in their lives. Juliet has arthritis and is struggling to feel like a 'normal teenager', convinced she is a burden to her family. Ronan has transferred to a new school following what happened with his brother Ciaran (no spoilers here) and is still plagued by guilt. Unbeknownst to them both, they meet in school and become vague acquaintances with the real bonding happening on the virtual platform Chesslife. Chess acts as an escape for them both - they can be whoever they want to be.

I absolutely devoured this book, loving both of our central characters and hearing both of their perspectives on their burgeoning romance. The moment when they realised who they had been speaking to online was perfection, proving that they did not have to be weighted down by their 'issues' and deserved love. I also loved many of the supporting characters, particularly Juliet's relationship with her parents, and the way this develops, as well as lovely lovely best friend Michael.

This is an adorable YA romance which is not afraid to broach the heavier topics. 5 stars *****

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately it fell kind of flat for me, I felt the characters didn't really have much development and the main conflict felt a little childish. I wasn't a fan of the going back and forth between romantic interests at all.

Definitely did not read this because of the adorable cover. How shallow do you think I am? *wink wink*

I mean she's pretty amazing. And I think I'm a chess fan now.

Anyways, this was a quick and easy YA contemporary romance that I just flew through. It didn't blow me away and frankly, the writing and plot were pretty average. Though the banter and UK setting were pretty great. Excuse the pun hehe. But I adored the chronic pain rep, especially in YA, and how it discussed grief and addiction. The romance was sweet too, especially the Romeo & Juliet tidbit. She was cute and I recommend <3<3<3

First of all I would like to say thank you to net galley and penguin random house children's publishers for this arc !

This book was a breath of fresh air in the young adult genre dealing with more mature themes but yet still being appropriate for the audience I feel like it was done really well .
The pacing was good and the short chapters really kept my attention . The teenage cast was really believable and I can totally see some people from my secondary school days saying some of the stuff that Tara and her friends had said . Moving onto Tara I absolutely hated her in the beginning. I really just couldn't like her and I noticed that they were trying to make me like her although despite my best efforts at trying to hold a grudge they were successful … Tara, I began hoping to be different for her she really was just coping in the only way she knew how and growing up with home problems is bound to make you seek validation from somewhere else although I at times wish I could just tell her through the pages to be nicer I can totally see that she just needed a hug . MICHAEL !!! where do I start the ultimate best friend , I feel like we all need and want a michael in our lives . He managed to be comedic without just being the comedic relief he really had his own storyline and problems .
Juliet and her parents were frustrating at times as you could tell they all really loved each other but had their own struggles with Jules' diagnosis which was definitely realistic .
I did not rate this five stars only because I struggled with the realism of the relationship. It was almost one minute they had barely talked in real life and then instantly on the discovery they began to date I would've liked to see more progression between them and the awkwardness of the situation .

First of all, the cover of this book is amazing. It immediately caught my attention and made me want to read the book even before I read the synopsis. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The short chapters had a pulling effect that made me keep telling myself "just one more chapter," until I finished the book.

The characters are really well-developed, not just the main characters Juliet and Ronan, but also the secondary characters. Some were great friends to our main characters, while others were interesting and important to the story, even if they weren't necessarily likable.

Both Juliet and Ronan struggle with a lot of things. Juliet with her disability and how she's treated at school and by her parents (who are great). She's really struggling with growing up, wanting to be independent but also needing help because of her disability. I can't estimate whether this is "good" representation or not, but it read very nuanced and heartfelt, and it felt like the author put a lot of thought into Juliet's character. Ronan, on the other hand, has too many secrets that he feels like he can't talk to anyone about regarding his family. It was frustrating sometimes that he wouldn't tell Juliet the truth, and that created some drama because they're teenagers and emotions were high. But I also understood where he was coming from and felt sorry for him because of the things he was dealing with.

I also really enjoyed reading the text messages between Juliet and Ronan. It was fun to see them writing to each other without knowing they went to the same school. Their reaction when they found out was also really enjoyable to read because that’s often something I don’t like with this trope.

However, as an adult reader, I found the back-and-forth and hasty decisions without thinking to be a bit much at times. It felt appropriate for teenagers, but it made me enjoy the book a little bit less. Others may feel the same way, but it's something I know I wouldn't have minded as a teenager myself. I know I’m not the target audience and I’m not saying the book did anything wrong, I just wanted to say how I felt about this.

But still, overall, this book is a really fun but also emotional read about chess and teenagers who have to deal with too much and first love. I highly recommend picking it up!

I loved this story! As someone who deals with health issues I could really relate to Juliet’s storyline. I love how both her and Ronan are each dealing with issues and how they meet and come together. Ronan is your bad boy with a heart and I loved watching their relationship develop and how they heal each other along the way.

This book has all the ingredients for a YA book that I would love. A heroine dealing with issues that are beyond your usual teenage problems? Check. A falling out or growing apart with the best friend? Check. An interesting love interest with their own issues? Check. And a personal favourite for me, which is the "getting to know each other online and offline without knowing each other's identities"? BIG CHECK. So yeah, I was so hyped to start the book, because all of it sounds amazing and I just love the cover. It's honestly so pretty. That said, I gotta say that the story didn't deliver as much as I was hoping that it would. Maybe my expectations were too high and therefore couldn't be met, I don't know, but I'm not going to lie, because half way through the book I was growing impatient and a little bit disappointed. The first half was amazing and I was totally in the reading flow. The introductions to all the characters at play and the background where everything was taking place at were done rather well, in my opinion. And I like that the story was progressing rather fast, not dwelling on unnecessary stuff. But then, there was a point, where everything felt repetitive. Which means, that I felt like not much was going on, but at the same time a lot was happening, or it felt like there should've been a lot happening, since the characters each had a backstory that felt important and that were unfolding on page. But it didn't feel like enough. Those characters were dealing with grave problems and they needed more space to tell their stories, but this way everything fell a little bit short for me. Sure, Jules' problems were the main focus and that's totally ok, because she IS the main character. And I think the author did a good job with showing Jules frustration and how she dealt with everything that was thrown her way. I also loved that neither of the characters was perfect, they were all human and I liked that about them, but like I said, at times I felt like the other's stories weren't explored enough, which was my biggest issue with the book and that took a lot of the joy I felt while reading. That said, this book was following the general YA formula which I usually really enjoy and which you totally get with this book. If you ignore the little grievances, then the book is otherwise rather fun to read.

The First Move is incredible!

From the very first page, the wit and dialogue sparkled in this YA romance. Juliet and Ronan meet in real life and, without knowing it, online too. In the real world, they get off to a terrible start, but meeting online in a chess community each of them are drawn to as a way to escape the difficulties they face, they connect immediately. It's a premise that worked SO well. I loved their witty, flirty online exchanges and was desperate for them to work out who they were talking to and to connect the same way in real life.

Juliet, Ronan and their friends feel so real and are all so well developed it allows Ireland to delve deeper into what lies behind the fronts they put on to the outside world. As the main love interests, Juliet is living with adolescent arthritis and (totally believable) parents who struggle with the boundaries of helping her while giving her freedom to grow, and Ronan is dealing with a new school and a struggling family set-up. I loved how equally weighted both characters stories were, which left me caring about them both and rooting for them to get together as it was clear how amazing they would be as a couple and how much they'd help each other. Juliet's friends are also given hidden lives behind the quick banter and the ways they are perceived at school. Ireland does such a great job of showing that everyone has stuff going on in their lives, even seemingly perfect Tara, and it's important to remember that.

I loved this book so much, and I can't wait to see it fly when it's published!

You had me at e4!
What an absolutely great read. I fell in love with these characters, and their journey was one I had so much fun with. Both Jules and Ronan are perfectly imperfect, each learning to navigate life with the - well, I'd say 'hand they've been dealt, but the saying seems ill fitting for a book about chess players.
I was immediately drawn to this book, because aside from the fact that it has a stunning cover, the synopsis intrigued me. My surprise and delight when I discovered I'd been approved for an ARC sent me over the moon - and then to love the read so much?!
Jules has a type of arthritis at a very young age, which naturally impacts her life in a way it doesn't most teenagers. You really get to feel and see the relationship she has with herself, her parents, her friends - and oh boy, her friends! Michael, the fierce gay best friend, and Tara, you build such a love/hate relationship with.
Ronan officially owns my heart - the broody, mysterious, glasses wearing, chess playing, (cinnamon roll), won me over in a blink.
I loved that we got both their perspectives, to see they way they experience their lives intertwining and how it effect them individually. These kids meeting online and engaging in conversation you are eagerly waiting to spill over into their real life - all the excitement, all the feelings, all the angst, all the butterflies!
The book dives into some heavier topics (addiction, mental illness, grief & death of a loved one, etc) and adds to the gravity of the story beautifully. Life is messy, and complicated, and ugly, and beautiful, and scary, and amazing, and exciting, and fleeting, and everything wrapped into twenty-four hour increments - and we get on the ride and hold on for dear life!

With thanks to Netgalley and the author.

The first move is a YA romance book about Chess, arthritis and family.

The book hooked me from the first chapter and didn't let go until the final page. Juliet and Ronan are the two main characters that you can't help but root for. Juliet and Ronan are joined by friends and family that are just as important to the story.

The first move is a great YA love story that I'm sure will become a best seller.

I now need to learn how to play chess.

The First Move is a YA novel set in Northern Ireland, near Belfast. It tells a story of two teenagers, their friends and their struggles.
Juliet also known as Jules suffers from arthritis, at a very young age she deals with a lot of pain. She is also afraid that her condition makes not only her unhappy but also her loved ones.
Ronan, on the other hand, changes school for his senior year and tries to start his life with a clean slate. He wants to forget about his past and difficult situation at home.
Playing chess online brings these two together and gives them freedom to be themselves. Soon after it turns out that they know each other in real life which complicates the situation a lot. Will they be able to trust each other in real life? Can they be as open as online? Is Ronan’s secret going to destroy everything?
I really enjoyed reading this book. First of all,because it gives us perspective from two different narrators which makes it really interesting and secondly because it deals with uneasy topics such as addiction, illness, trust and relationships. Being a teenager isn’t easy, but being ill or facing a family tragedy makes it even more difficult. The novel portrays flash and bone characters, their struggles and they journey of finding themselves in the middle of it all.

I thought this was really cute whilst having such a lot of heart and thoughtfulness behind it in the messages it wanted to put across. It had important things to say about difficult topics and did it well. I really enjoyed it.

A joyous fun filled rom com with the Queen's Gambit influence makes this new title stand out above a very crowded genre - highly recommended