Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC!

*3 stars*

This book is a bit of a conundrum to me. I enjoyed the characters for the most part and the plot was solid, but the book dragged hard at certain points for me.

The romance in this book felt too back and forth in a negative way for me to enjoy it. The lack of productive communication is always something that bothers me in a book, and this one was rife with it.

The characters were alright, but I find it hard to believe they’re in their 30s. I think this book would have been much stronger if they were in their mid-20s, but I understand that would change some aspects of the plot.

Something that kept throwing me for a loop was how much this book pushed me away and pulled me in. There would be moments where I had to push through, but there were other moments filled with a compelling plot arc and good writing.

This is also one of the rare times I felt the back half of the book was better than the first half, but really only the last 25% was enjoyable for me. I liked the ending of the book and the epilogue, but the events leading up to it were just not great for me.

Overall, I think some parts of this book just weren’t for me, but I don’t necessarily think this is a bad book by any means. If you think you’d enjoy the plot, I’d say give it a read!

Ah, Bold Moves by Emma Barry—what a ride that was! This book pulled me in right from the start with its witty, engaging prose and relatable characters. Here’s my take:Barry masterfully balances humor and heart in this contemporary romance. The story centers around two ambitious protagonists who find themselves at a career crossroads while navigating their undeniable chemistry. I was particularly impressed by the depth of the characters; they’re not just romantic leads, but real people with their own dreams, flaws, and struggles. The dialogue is snappy and realistic, making you feel like you're eavesdropping on a conversation between friends. I found myself laughing out loud at some moments and tearing up at others. The themes of career, ambition, and love are intricately woven together, making the plot not just about romance but about self-discovery and personal growth.

Bold Moves by Emma Barry is a compelling second-chance romance that blends passion with emotional depth. When director Jaime Croft teams up with his ex, chess champion Scarlett Arbuthnot, to work on her memoir, old wounds reopen, and unresolved feelings resurface. As they navigate their complicated history, Barry expertly explores themes of forgiveness, artistic integrity, and the difficulty of letting go. With sharp dialogue and a slow-burn romance, this book delves into the intricacies of love and trust, making it a must-read for fans of second-chance stories.

Really enjoyed this angsty rollercoaster of a second chance romance. The main characters were complex and flawed people that were doing the best with where their lives had taken them. Love an independent and outspoken woman and a man that believes she walks on water.

A character forward, second chance romance centered around the female protagonist’s love of, and career in, chess. This book has beautiful prose, and was very easy to read as far as pacing goes.

Scarlett (The MFC) is, at her core, a bit unlikeable. I think this was intentional and stems from her own self doubt and hard life - however, experiencing her character development felt less rewarding or important because ultimately I don’t think she really changed *that* much.

The MMC, Jaime, is pretty likable from the jump but does some questionable/unhealthy things to himself and Scarlett.

The overall ending of their story felt rushed and drawn out at the same time, and ultimately ended with him essentially changing everything and bowing down to her, without her having to do much changing at all besides saying “I love you”. In the end, I just wasn’t excited to see them get back together, and the “baring my soul and begging you to come back” scene felt disingenuous.

All of this being said - this story felt much more true to real life. Love stories aren’t always mushy and likeable, people aren’t always lovely and agreeable. I highlighted so many quotes from this book because the prose IS SO BEAUTIFUL!

Bold Moves is a fun short second chance romance and I really enjoyed it.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 22 April 2025

𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:

It is about Scarlett and Jaime, two adults who know each other and dated in high school.
Scarlett is now a professional chess player and the author of her own memoir and Jaime is a film director.
As they work on a new project, they must work together and overcome any obstacles to make it a success.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:

𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕:

Personally, I loved this book and FMC Scarlett. She was brave and independent and has learnt to stand up for herself since she was a child.

𝓙𝓪𝓲𝓶𝓮:

I liked his character and I understand his struggles because of his father, but sometimes I think he overreacted.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:

In conclusion, I loved the character development and the dynamics of Scarlett and Jaime's relationship. I would recommend this book but if you don't like spice it might not be for you or you could skip a few chapters.

This book had me imagining what would happen if I got paired with an old flame that was going to write my memoir! Wow! This premise of this story is really good. The writing was entertaining, and I liked both of the main characters and learning about their history. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

If you liked Queen’s Gambit and are looking for something similar, this book has a similar feeling with our main female character Scarlett who is also a young female grandmaster. However, while we do get glimpses of her in the world of chess, this book fell flat in the development and showcasing of the characters beyond the surface.

Throughout the book, we spend the majority reading about the push and pull between Scarlett and Jamie, which was heavily emotionally explained. And as the story progressed, personally I become more and more disconnected from the characters. Their prospective careers and personal life was briefly described and then over. I would have liked to see more of their past and maybe more moments showing an emotional connection beyond what felt like obsession and lust over each other.


Thank you NetGallet for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.

I love the underlying premise of this book, because, like the author I’ve had to watch my son in chess club without having any idea what is going on. It’s such a huge sport and while I don’t have time to fact-check her claims, I have no doubt of her claims of gender, race and LGBTQ discrimination.

Both the MMC and FMC are emotionally unavailable and petulant at times in this story. I would have liked both characters to have evolved on an emotional scale in the 17 years since they have last interacted. MMC talks about his therapist but let’s put it out there that FMC needs one too.

The chemistry was good but it was overshadowed by the pouting of the MMC and the FMC realizing she has friends.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ARC for my unbiased review.

Eeeekkkk I think this was super good and honestly, refreshing. As a chess player, I love this !

Emma Barry’s Bold Moves is a refreshing and captivating addition to the second-chance romance genre. With its blend of emotional depth, sharp dialogue, and undeniable chemistry between its protagonists, the novel masterfully navigates themes of love, regret, and the possibility of rediscovery.

The chess motif is woven thoughtfully throughout the narrative, mirroring the strategic push-and-pull of Jaime and Scarlett’s relationship. It also highlights Scarlett’s character as a woman of precision and resilience—a fitting metaphor for her journey to reconcile with her past and open herself to a future with Jaime.

While the emotional stakes are high, Barry infuses the story with humor and wit, making it an engaging and satisfying read. The pacing is brisk, and the characters’ growth feels organic, leaving readers rooting for their reconciliation until the very last page.

Bold Moves is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that will appeal to fans of character-driven romances with depth and intelligence. By leaning into the unique strengths of the second-chance romance trope, Emma Barry This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys stories of love, character development, and the courage it takes to make bold moves in life and in love.

If you liked the general vibes of Queen's Gambit, but you want it to be a romance book, I would recommend this.

I found the pacing to be really weird in this book. It really feels so rushed, even when characters are supposedly being super hesitant, they're really not. It's one of those "dang, I don't wanna do it...okay, I'll do it." With zero persuading needed, it feels like.

A second chance romance where our MMC is trying to convince our FMC to let him adapt her book into a film. And since they have to work so closely together (I forced myself to overlook film inaccuracies), they end up reconnecting.

I didn't find any characters in this book to be particularly likeable either. I think Scarlett was supposed to come across as a badass, but sometimes it just felt very pick-me.

And I feel like they could've done more with the chess thing. You can easily be so metaphorical with that kind of thing and it just wasn't done.

Overall, this was okay for me. But if that general premise sounds good to you, I would definitely give it a try!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTo (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I picked this book up because I love a book with a pro/genius and because I find women in chess interesting. When I started the book, I found myself comparing it to Queens Gambit, but the romance aspect of the book really set it apart. I was rooting for them and following along with the roller coaster of will-they-wont0they & please-can-they-just-get-together. There were some big words that I had to look up but I really enjoyed that in a book about chess. I loved the Scarlet, the FMC, was strategic in her work and life and I liked seeing her POV. I liked Jamie because he seemed soft, in love but also passionate in a way that only she saw. My favourite trope. I love a multi-POV especially when you can see the vulnerability and realness between the characters. The integration of chess to the story and to their story was well done. I have come to love reading romances about the one who got away and seeing what that is like BUT I did find myself against rooting for them when I saw that months had gone by without either of them talking to eachother. Atleast a whole full year gone after 17 years also gone. I would have loved to see a wee more from the epilogue about the move and their relationship, but all in all happy with the way it ended.

This story had second chance romance, HEA, banter, slow burn, enemies to lovers (kinda). There is A LOT angst and a some grovelling (a lot internally).

Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for the free ARC in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Scarlett and Jaime. Barry builds tension very well. The writing flowed well which made this a book I could not put down.

A certain YA chess romance inspired so much I started to play chess about a year ago, so the idea of an adult chess romance sounded fantastic. There's an interesting premise here--high achieving protagonists overlapping their respective fields for a joint project, romantic history between the two, lots of misunderstanding and secret keeping.

In practice, it was a letdown. Sort the same way Icebreaker felt like the author telling a person how therapy goes rather than showing characters actually engaging and growing and changing, this was a lot of emotional explication. The storytelling really let down the story. I'd have loved less explanation, more chess.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

This book tells the story of Scarlett and Jaime who have been reunited after almost two decades apart. Things didn't end so well the first time and now Jaime is trying to convince Scarlett to let him make a film adaptation of her book. Scarlett eventually agrees and the two are thrown together in a close working environment for a few months. Sparks ignite again and so begins the on/off relationship between the two.

I enjoyed the overall storyline. I loved the fact that Scarlett was a female chess champ! Following her journey to try and blaze a new trail in the world of chess was fun. The overall relationship between Scarlett and Jaime was what I just couldn't get behind. To be honest, neither one was a very likeable character, imo. The back and forth between the two just got redundant and made me wish they'd just break up and focus on the chess side of things.

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Scarlett Arbuthnot is a sexy Chess Grand Master (albeit I think of her as a bit like Anna Kournikova - looks better than her actual results) who upset the chess world and wrote an explosive biography exposing the sexism and general obstacles to anyone other than straight white men succeeding at the highest levels.

Jaime Croft (and can I say now how much I hate the spelling of his first name) was Scarlett's childhood sweetheart. He was their High School's golden boy, rich, clever, and good-looking, whereas she was was most definitely from the wrong side of town, daughter of a single mother who drifted from man to man and town to town with very little attempt at parenting. Then everything went to pot their senior year, Jaime's dad went to prison and Scarlett left their small town and never looked back.

Seventeen years later, Jaime is a successful film director, who made a critically acclaimed film about what happened with his father, and he wants to adapt Scarlett's book into a film. Can Scarlett go back to their small town and face her critics whilst working on the script with Jaime. With both of them having unresolved feelings (and secrets) about what happened back in the day can they ever recapture what they had or will their secrets tear them apart again?

I loved Queen's Gambit the TV series so I was very interested in reading this book. Unfortunately, other than the clothes, the glamorous female chess player, and the misogynist male players, this was nothing like as engaging as the TV series. The story dragged on (and on and on), I thought Jaime was a whiny martyr and Scarlett was so busy protecting her feelings that she lied almost constantly.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

4.5 shiny stars for this story that feels like a Taylor Swift song! Yes, it does!

*I was provided a free ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review*

I devoured this book! This was my first ever book by Emma Barry, and it will surely not be the last! From the very first page I was intrigued by the story. The characters were beautifully crafted, yet very realistic and relatable.

The writing was touching and so bewitching, I couldn't put it down. I've highlighted many poetic lines throughout the book, for instance: "She'd always made him feel like a butterfly pinned by a collector. He hadn't minded that before... "

If you're a fan of Julie Soto's or Ali Hazelwood's writing, then I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this story.

~What to expect~
*Second chance romance
*Enemies to lovers (in a way)
*Workplace romance
*Funny banter
*A smart, likable FMC with her own share of insecurities
*The MMC is so in love with the FMC, it's actually adorable
*Dual POV
*Insane chemistry
*Chess talk, our FMC is a chess genius

Still, I'd like more drama in the story, because in the third part of the book, the drama wasn't good enough for me, so it got slightly boring. Also, I'd love to have a better Epilogue, but it's just a preference, I realize, and it didn't stop me from enjoying the story.

~My Soundtrack for the Book~
'I Can Do It With a Broken Heart' by Taylor Swift
AND 'Lover' by Taylor Swift

Bold Moves by Emma Barry 3.5⭐️

I was really excited for this book because it was giving The Queen’s Gambit vibes but make it a romance book! This second chance romance was definitely steamy and entertaining.

I liked the premise of a second chance with “the one that got away” 17 years after their initial breakup. Jaime and Scarlett had obvious chemistry at the start and I was very curious to see what the big secret Scarlett was keeping for all those years. I did appreciate that this story took place over the course of about a year. I find that way more realistic than some books that happen entirely in a week.

The main characters however I couldn’t entirely get behind. I loved that Scarlett was the badass woman of chess. She was unapologetically independent, honest, and fought to help others which was fantastic. I did however find her to be unnecessarily mean and even cruel to Jaime at times. She broke his heart (albeit for legitimate reasons) the first time so I think she could’ve been a little gentler in the beginning. Jaime was definitely the lover and a genuine caretaker but he was also flawed in his own ways. He was almost too hung up on Scarlett’s appearance and I also think he blew the incident with the reporter way out of proportion. If he really loved Scarlett for the way she is he should’ve known she did that with the best intentions and she’s not going to change overnight. That could’ve just been a long conversation not an immediate hit the breakup button.

It also felt like they were just having the same fight over and over again. It was frustrating that they couldn’t just decide if they wanted to be together or not. Dragging it out for so long was unnecessary.

I did enjoy the roles the side characters played including Nate, Emery, Kit, and Martina. I also loved that Musgrove wasn’t necessarily the most idyllic small town but that Jaime and Scarlett both love it so much anyway.

This book definitely kept me entertained between their steamy scenes and exciting chess scenes/commentary. I would honestly watch the show they were making if it was real! Overall, I think I would give this book 3.5⭐️

Thank you so much NetGalley and Montlake for this advanced copy!

This was such a fun second-chance romance! The tension between Jaime and Scarlett was chef’s kiss—I loved their banter and the way their shared history kept pulling them back together. Scarlett being a chess prodigy was such a cool and unique detail, and I appreciated how it added layers to her character.

Jaime’s struggles with balancing his career ambitions and lingering feelings for Scarlett felt so real, and watching them unravel old wounds while collaborating on her memoir was such an emotional ride. The push and pull between them kept me hooked the entire time.

My only tiny gripe was that the ending felt a bit rushed—I wanted just a little more closure or maybe an epilogue to tie everything up. But overall, this was a heartfelt and steamy read that I’d absolutely recommend to anyone who loves exes-to-lovers tropes with plenty of angst!

Imagine you had found a way to somewhat inconspicuously check in on that ex that was "the one who got away", would you take the chance? Would you risk your heart and possibly your career? That question is the premise of this text. Enter Jaime and Scarlett, exes who are reunited 17 years after a disastrous goodbye.

I really enjoy enemies to lovers and truly character driven texts and this hit all the boxes for me! I also really enjoyed the multiple perspectives and I don't typically gravitate towards pieces that do that. I think because Barry did such a good job introducing and developing the different voices of these characters as well as making them emotionally vulnerable to the audience was why I enjoyed both of their perspectives so much.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC and the chance to read and review this book early!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7209615586