I loved this story. So unique and second chance is my favorite for this reason, I loved the writer connection and the buildup

The first five chapters of this book were beautifully written, even if the rest of the book was a flop (which it absolutely was not!) those i could have read over and over.

Starting with a Taylor Swift reference, followed by a description of a home which led my mind straight to Twilight, a few lines later a Cullen House reference my millennial heart was hooked.

As i continued into this book it was a little on the slow side but only because of the immense amount of emotion and life she described. This book truly read like a song, lyrics flowing off the page. Taylor Swift herself would have struggled to fill 331 pages with such story and emotion and real life.

This is not normally a book i would have picked up, and honestly this book changed my perspective on what i should be reading. The slower pace let you feel apart of the story, it kept you in even with out slamming the pages quickly to jump to the next.

If you’re into chess, cinematography, relationships, healing, forgiving, moving on, growing up, making your dreams a reality & expanding them into the later years of life. Read this book.

The book is about Scarlett, who is a chess champion - a Grand Master, and Jamie, who is a TV producer who wants to adapt her memoir into a TV show. Scarlett and Jamie have a lot of history, not all of it good, some of it great, from when they were teenagers. There's a cataclysmic event that happened when they split up, and the effects of this are still reverberating down Jamie's life, certainly, and possibly Scarlett’s as well.
Bold Moves is about a lot of things - hope, longing, healing, learning how not to be alone. It's also about chess and playing strategically, and how Scarlett sees the world as move and counter move and strategy. It’s about the stories we tell ourselves about our lives and whether or not we can change them.
These people have been deeply hurt and I genuinely cared for them. By the end of the book, I was desperate for them to get back together. It's a lovely, lovely story, really deeply written. (For those who need to know - it’s very spicy). As with all of Emma Barry’s books, it was wonderful, I really enjoyed it.

Such a well- written second chance romance. I loved the development of Scarlett and Jaime and appreciated how in depth the characters were. The tension was built up but I did feel a tad let down by the peak of it. But overall I would recommend this book!

a romance novel about chess. loved the time frame and that it took a while for the couple to come together. loved them together and her friends. Great book and loved his sister.

Bold Moves by Emma Barry is the kind of book that sneaks up on you in the best way. I went in expecting a fun, flirty romance, and while it is that, it’s also full of heart, ambition, and two characters who feel so real you could run into them at a coffee shop.

The dynamic between Katie and Ian crackles—she’s determined and fearless, he’s reserved but steady, and together they push each other in ways that feel both frustrating and deeply satisfying. Barry’s writing is sharp and engaging, making every interaction between them feel like a mix of challenge and chemistry.

What I loved most was how Bold Moves isn’t just about falling in love—it’s about finding yourself, taking risks, and figuring out what you really want. If you’re into smart, character-driven romances with a lot of heart, this one is definitely worth picking up.

This was an enjoyable read! The characters were well-developed, and the pace was good.

I'll be recommending it to anyone who likes:
- 2nd chance romance
- first love 2nd time around
- slow burn/spicy romance
- chess/strategy games
- filmmaking/celebrity behind the scenes

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

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.