Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of Bold Moves! I enjoyed this read and it can be added to my niche pile of “Books That Made Me Want to Learn to Play Chess”, alongside The Queen’s Gambit and Intermezzo

I am a very cynical romance reader - it’s not my favourite genre. I neeeed my Romances to have a unique plot and/or setting, plus characters that intrigue me to keep me interested. I’m pleased to say that Bold Moves ticked most of my boxes!

Chess champion Scarlett is approached by her high school ex and now filmmaker Jaime, who asks to adapt her memoir into a TV series. Scarlett grants him permission but ONLY if she can co-produce and co-write. Jaime and Scarlett agree to three months of living together in their Appalachian hometown in order to get the show written, where they find themselves unable to resist each other… but Scarlett has a life-altering secret from their shared past which could ruin everything

Bold Moves is a sexy and funny read with some good insights into gender inequality in the chess world - a topic I knew nothing about. It was definitely steamier and smuttier than anticipated, which isn’t a problem for me but worth knowing before going into it.

I found parts of the story dragged, but other parts kept me gripped and intrigued. The miscommunication element of the story was mildly irritating but this tends to be the way with Romance reads!

Overall, a great second-chance Romance, with a gripping premise and intriguing characters. The ending was satisfying and I liked the Epilogue. Maybe not my ideal book, but it will definitely be someone’s!

3 stars overall

The Queen’s Kiss was one of the most devastating forms of checkmate. It was when you landed your queen squarely in front of your opponent’s king, but they couldn’t take it— because if they did, then their king would immediately be taken by another piece of yours. It was an absolute power play, and Scarlett adored delivering it.

Bold Moves is a sizzling second chance romance between high-school sweethearts, who meet again 17 years later. Though Scarlett, the main female character, is not the one you could call a sweetheart, quite the opposite, it is really hard to like her at the beginning of the story, it took some time to warm to her. Meanwhile, Jamie, the main male character, at first glance appears to be a perfect book-boyfriend, especially his older version, thanks God (or rather, the author) for the flaws and little insecurities that made him absolutely yummy. Loved the way the topics of the chess world as well as having imprisoned relatives were blended into the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

The romance had its ups and downs. The female main character was a bit rough around the edges—something I didn’t mind in some aspects, but overall, I found her somewhat unlikeable. The pacing was great, and the writing was well done, but unfortunately, the characters just didn’t resonate with me.

Jaime Croft wants to prove his directorial range, and Scarlett Arbuthnot’s biography is perfect, even though she broke his heart seventeen years ago. Scarlett is a chess grandmaster, and sure she can handle working closely with Jaime. She had reasons for ending things and is sure he would despise her if he knew her reasons. The two go over her memoir and remember the past, rekindling old feelings. Getting back together means letting go of their emotional walls, and neither is ready to make that move.

Jaime and Scarlett came from the same Appalachian town and had been in a relationship before she abruptly left. While he had been the rich kid and she was the poor one, he had given her opportunities to fulfill her dreams. His own life had been a struggle, but he wanted to turn her memoir about the chess world into a series. Scarlett can't give up control or her secrets, forcing them into close proximity for two months to write the scripts, and then for filming. The past is there with them the entire time, but they deal with it in different ways: she runs, and he helps others as penance.

Having read Emma Barry's prior novel, I was amused by the blink and you'll miss it shout outs to the world of the prior novel. The chemistry between them is always there, as is the frustrated love they still have for each other. Both have messy emotions, and Jaime is the one who tends to reveal them all. Both have their supporters, though Scarlett is shocked that she has one. Both of their views of the past and each other are flawed, for all that they're aware of their flaws and have been through therapy. Knowing something logically and feeling it as true are two separate things, and both have to come to the realization that is better together than apart. They are moving at different speeds, which heightens the tension between them. Overall, I really enjoyed this second-chance romance.

A second chance romance with chess! Jaime and Scarlett were in love as teens until circumstances (and a secret) pulled them apart. In the inbetween years, Scarlett became a grandmaster of chess and Jaime a director. Now they're together again because he's asked to direct an adaptation of her memoir and it opens both old wounds and old loves, It's a nice twist on the trope-I particularly liked the chess. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you Montlake). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was intrigued with the plot of this book. A second chance romance about a chess grand champion that had written a memoir and the producer who wanted to adapt it to screen.

It took me a while to warm to Scarlett the FMC - I am not sure why. But in the 10 or so years they had apart I didn't feel like she had grown as much as she possibly could have. In a way she was still the same closed off version of her teenage self. I only started to really understand her about 60% into the book.
Jaime (MMC) stepped up as a teenager and is still taking responsibility for way to many things. He likes being needed. This in itself should have caused some conflict as Scarlett is so independent.
I enjoyed learning more about chess and also more about making a show.

Overall I enjoyed this book and enjoyed learning more about chess and about writing scripts for a show. The second chance romance worked for me as the initial break up in high school was organic in a sense. They were on very different paths so it was almost a given. I loved that they found their way back to each other.

Bold Moves is such a refreshing read! Emma Barry does an amazing job of creating characters that feel modern, relatable, and unapologetically ambitious. The story balances romance and personal growth really well, and I loved how the protagonists were both driven and flawed in their own ways. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but that only makes the chemistry feel more believable and satisfying when it finally clicks. Plus, the dialogue is witty without feeling forced, which kept me invested in their journey.

What I really appreciated was how the book challenges the idea of playing it safe, both in love and in life. It’s about taking risks, whether it’s in your career, your relationships, or just being honest about what you want. I found myself rooting for the characters not just as a couple but as individuals trying to figure out their own paths. If you’re looking for a romance that’s both smart and heartfelt, this one’s a solid pick.

3.75 stars

This wasn't bad at all and there were parts I really loved. There were random times I felt things were a little slow or repetitive. At first I felt the main conflict throughout the second half was a bit crazy but then...I remembered men can be incredibly stubborn and hypocritical so it did actually represent reality. But even that bothered me because it lasted so long and there was not enough groveling. I liked the FMC a lot though, I felt she was real and showed some real growth throughout. Overall, I think people that love a more drama filled romance will really enjoy it but if you are looking for something a bit fluffier, this might not be it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

I loved how intricate the plot was and the complexity of the characters. I really appreciated this contribution to the romance genre, which gets a bad reputation for being corny or fluffy. This book was neither of those things! I really loved the chess elements and the subplot about the opioid epidemic in Appalachia (particularly as an Appalachian myself).

This book follows Scarlett, a competitive chess player, and Jaime, a filmmaker, who reunite after 17 years when Scarlett’s autobiography is adapted into a series. Despite their undeniable chemistry, their reunion is complicated by unresolved issues from their past, and Scarlett’s prickly, arrogant demeanor. While the story promotes female empowerment and the challenges Scarlett faces in a male-dominated field, her character’s “not-like-other-girls” attitude and emotional dysfunction make it hard to connect with her. Jaime, too, struggles with his role as the emotional caretaker in their dynamic. The relationship feels exhausting, with both characters repeatedly clashing without significant growth or resolution. Though well-written and engaging, with memorable supporting characters and witty moments, the novel’s emotional turbulence may be a turnoff for readers seeking growth and compromise in a second-chance romance.

[ARC review]
BOLD MOVES by Emma Barry is Sexy Chess!

Okay, there isn't a TON chess being played on page, although it does get sexy at one point. But Scarlett is a sexy chess grandmaster, and the story follows the adaptation of her memoir for streaming by Jaime, her high school...whatever you call it when you were Doing It and mad for each other but also she absolutely refused to be bf/gf.

Second chance romances can be tricky, because you need a breakup that makes sense, but also doesn't preclude getting back together. For Scarlett, she was getting the heck out of dodge (and poverty) with a chess competition in Tokyo. Even if she had asked Jaime to go with her, he couldn't have because his family needed him in the aftermath of his dad going to prison. (tw for the opioid abuse epidemic!)

It was great! Tons of big feelings, for sure--guilt and forgiveness and yearning--but also really sharp, funny writing. Lots of zingers, lots of fun.

This book was pretty interesting and I really liked it. You could truly see the characters grow and learn from their mistakes. The only reason it's four stars is because Jaime pissed me off. I needed him to get over it and tell Scarlett he loved her already.

I received an arc through netgalley.

"Bold Moves" by Emma Barry demonstrates that even the most beloved romance tropes can fall flat without the right execution. While second chance romances typically offer rich emotional territory to explore, this novel struggles to capitalize on the potential of its premise.

The book's structure proves to be its greatest weakness. Rather than developing the relationship through meaningful growth and evolution, the narrative becomes trapped in a cycle of repetitive conflicts. The characters revisit the same arguments throughout the story, creating a sense of stagnation rather than progression. This circular pattern makes the pacing feel unnecessarily drawn out, testing reader patience as the couple fails to move beyond familiar grievances.

Character development presents another significant hurdle. The female protagonist is constructed around a "not like other girls" mentality that feels dated and ultimately makes her difficult to root for. This characterization choice undermines her authenticity and limits reader investment in her journey. Meanwhile, her counterpart suffers from excessive self-pity that quickly becomes grating rather than endearing or sympathetic.

What's particularly disappointing is how these character flaws overshadow what could have been a compelling exploration of rekindled romance. Second chance stories thrive on the complex history between characters and their potential for growth, but when the protagonists remain locked in unchanging patterns, the emotional payoff never materializes.

The novel does contain moments that hint at what could have been a more engaging story with tighter editing and more nuanced character work. However, these glimpses aren't enough to overcome the fundamental issues with pacing and characterization.

Dedicated fans of second chance romances might find elements to appreciate, but readers seeking genuine character growth and emotional depth may want to look elsewhere.

I have tried three books by Emma Barry now and I have the same issue with all of them - I LOVE her ideas, and find the books too quiet/slow. The premises are extremely up my alley and then I find them very hard to get through because they're so internal. I love the idea of adapting a memoir and I just couldn't finish this. I know people love her and I'm glad they do; I just don't think we're a match writing-style-wise.

I love a good second chance romance - even more when there's mutual pining and a strong female main character and Scarlett - a world champion chess master looking for a comeback, was just that!!
When Jamie, her high school ex comes calling asking if he can adapt her memoir for the television, Scarlett is reluctant to agree knowing there's a dark secret she's been keeping from him for years. However, she does agree, wanting to be able to help tell her story her way which has them spending months together in their home town co-writing the script and falling back in love.

While this does have a lot of miscommunication and a third act break up, I still loved it a lot and enjoyed the fresh, unique characters and the insights into the limitations of the chess world when it comes to gender and equality. I'm also always a sucker for a meant to be love story and really enjoyed this opposites attract pairing set in Southern Appalachia. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. This is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood's Check & mate.

Scarlett and Jaime are ex-high school sweethearts. After a sudden breakup at 18 years old that ended badly, they become estranged until 17 years later when Scarlett (a famous competitive chess player) and Jaime (a filmmaker) reunite to adapt Scarlett's autobiography into a series. Once they're back in each other's orbits they find they clearly still have strong chemistry, but at the end of the day will it be enough for a second-chance romance? This is definitely not your standard straightforward romance, buckle up for a bumpy and tumultuous ride.

Look, I firmly support a badass fmc who is fighting misogyny and bias in a male-dominated field. And throughout the book there is a great message of female empowerment and trying to effect change in a broken system. But Scarlett's "not-like-other-girls" vibe as a character was over-done for me, especially in the beginning of the story. She's also arrogant and very prickly, which made it hard to warm up to her. The author takes a big risk in making Scarlett hard-edged and initially unlikable. I tried to trust that there's some payoff further in the story that would help me understand why she acts the way she does. And I did grow to understand that, but it didn't excuse her behavior and attitude towards someone (Jaime) she claimed to care deeply about. And unfortunately my initial dislike for Scarlett never eased up and it impacted my enjoyment of the book. Scarlett is written as someone who wasn't nurtured and never learned how to nurture. I get it, she's flip as a coping mechanism because she had a difficult childhood with a flighty mother that left her unable to develop healthy and lasting relationships and feeling that she couldn't and shouldn't depend on others. But much of the time she just comes off as selfish and unkind. There's limited honesty on Scarlett's part for a very long time, and then when she was honest with Jaime, she was defensive and deflective and blamed him for his reaction. What I wanted to see was Scarlett developing more compassion and awareness of why Jaime was upset, and to appreciate her role in it. But what I got was Jaime and Scarlett inevitably giving in to their decades-old chemistry then spending the bulk of the rest of the time pushing and pulling each other emotionally. After awhile it just got tedious, Jaime deeply and repeatedly questioning their compatibility but wanting Scarlett just the same, and Scarlett thinking she's right and Jaime’s an idiot for not seeing that and when is he going to just get over being mad? This relationship is exhausting. And I didn't enjoy Jaime’s portrayal as being the one who needed to accommodate Scarlett's emotional dysfunction, especially since it fed into his over-developed need to emotionally care-take everyone in his life. Not that he doesn't share responsibility for the relationship struggles, there's definitely a lot of trauma and drama and emotional upheaval from both of these damaged people. They are chaotic with each other and frankly, they needed couples therapy.

I do love a good second-chance romance, especially one with unresolved issues and feelings, but only as long as there's some resolution and movement towards growth and compromise on both sides. It was hard to feel that with this novel, and ultimately I think I wasn't the right audience. I will say that the book was written well: even though I was aggravated with Scarlett (and Jaime's reactive and capitulating behavior with her), I wanted to see how it ended. There are nice moments of wit, usually in each character's inner thoughts. The supporting characters were distinctive, and the writing was evocative and engaging with dual 3rd-person POVs. Obviously it's very chess-focused, but not so much that it over-shadows the other story elements. If you like second-chance romances that have a lot of emotional twists and turns and unresolved issues, with opposites-attract/will-they-won't-they energy and open-door scenes, then this is the book for you. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars. Publishes April 22, 2025. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Okay so. I love chess. :)

And I love romances.
So a romance with chess sounds perfect for me? Right. Well, I loved the idea, and both of MC's stories really touched me. Their background is fascinating, and how the author explored their past and how they grew up affected them. Howeverrrr. The romance wasn't working for me. I felt like they just wanted to hook up and that they reconnected because they're hot. That's it. I felt nothing else. :(

Still, the rest of the story was captivating. In general, 3 stars.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publishing for providing me with the ARC!

With Bold Moves Emma Barry delivers another great romance. It tells the story Scarlett, chess grand master and her high school boy friend Jaime who want to develop a tv series based on her memoirs. It’s a great premiss and Emma Barry executes it beautifully. The backstory around Jaime’s father is interesting and provides conflict. I love how both Scarlett and Jaime need to grow in order for a relationship between them to work. I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to Emma Barry’s next book.

I love to see a chess romance out in the world, and I especially love to see one where the female main character is the Grand Master. It allowed for a tension between ultra-focused and somewhat ruthless chess player Scarlett and gentle but equally focused docudrama creator Jaime that really carried this book.

That said, though, Bold Moves never totally grabbed me. I enjoyed reading it because it was a completely solid romance, but the ebb and flow of Scarlett and Jaime's relationship - constantly interrupted by new (or old) problems started to feel a little tiresome. I also found Scarlett's prickliness (to put it mildly) a little over the top sometimes. It felt like she was mean for the sake of being mean, even when the vibes didn't really warrant it. And Jaime's character stalled out a little 2/3 of the way through the book, forcing him to rapidly develop in the last couple chapters. Also, the writing felt a bit shaky at times, which hasn't been my experience with Emma Barry's work before. All together, this book just didn't quite come together for me.

But again, I still had a generally solid reading experience and overall enjoyed the book.

3.75/5

Bold Moves is an absolutely gorgeous book. Smart, sexy and quick, you are wrapped up in Jaime and Scarlett before you know it. I loved how we got to know their past and their present simultaneously without time jumps. I wanted to know more about their mothers and I thought the relationship between Jaime and his dad was done so tenderly and well.