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

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This second-chance romance between two complex, deeply imperfect people was an emotional rollercoaster—in the best way. Scarlett and Jaime are both dealing with heavy baggage: an incarcerated parent, emotional trauma, sexism, and the lingering pain of a devastating breakup. Their personal histories are so messy and complicated, which makes their journey all the more gripping.

The angst is real in this one. There were so many moments when I just wanted to shake them both and beg them to stop running from each other—and their feelings—and just talk. But that slow-burn tension is part of what makes their eventual reconnection so satisfying. Barry gives Scarlett and Jaime the time and space to grow into better, more open versions of themselves. Their journey toward honesty, communication, and acceptance feels hard-earned and genuine.

On top of that, the way chess is woven into the story is brilliant. It’s such a clever metaphor for the push and pull of their relationship. It wasn’t just about the game—it became a powerful symbol of strategy, patience, and the risks they had to take to truly reconnect after so many years apart.

If you love romance with depth, complexity, and a whole lot of angst, this one’s for you. It’s a slow burn, but it’s absolutely worth it.

Bold Move Review:

I love the title of this book! The reference, both to chess and the dynamic between Jaime and Scarlett, is clever and spot on. Right from the beginning of this book, I was hooked. The alternating perspectives gave us a look in the headspace for each character, and enhanced our understanding of the character actions. I was drawn in by the way that we were given hints about the trauma and hardships in both pasts, and that the mystery persisted as we watched them reconnect. I constantly found myself thinking, “What on EARTH could Scarlett have done?” and trying to brainstorm possibilities. I enjoyed the humor that was woven throughout this book- it was often unexpected humor found in Jaime’s self-deprecating thoughts or Scarlett’s stubbornness. Reading this book made me want to go on a documentary-watching tear, with a new appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work and effort.

Seventeen years after their devastating breakup, exes Jaime Croft and Scarlett Arbuthnot are forced back into each other's lives to work on adapting Scarlett’s memoir. Jaime, a film director desperate to prove his artistic range, sees the project as his chance to shine. For Scarlett, a chess grandmaster who’s faced endless pressure and scrutiny in her career, it’s just another challenge she can conquer—until the close quarters start stirring up old feelings.

As they dive into Scarlett’s story, the process unearths painful memories, unresolved emotions, and undeniable chemistry. Jaime still wrestles with the heartbreak Scarlett caused, while she hides a secret she’s sure would make him hate her even more.

This was my first read from this author and I really enjoyed this. As someone who has enjoyed chess-themed stories like Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, Check Mate by Ali Hazelwood, and The Queen’s Gambit, I loved how much chess was woven into this story. Scarlett’s role as a chess grandmaster was great, it's nice to see a woman representing in a typically male field. Jamie's terrible chess skills added a fun, lighthearted element.

The relationship between Scarlett and Jaime was beautifully layered. Reuniting after 17 years apart and working on her memoir, their interactions were full of tension, unresolved emotions, and undeniable chemistry. I appreciated the slow, deliberate way they confronted their past hurt and gradually found their way back to each other. Their sexual chemistry was intense and well-written, but what stood out most was the emotional growth both characters went through. Scarlett’s and Jaime’s differing natures sometimes clashed, but ultimately, they learned to meet each other in the middle.

The story also tackled some heavier themes, which added complexity without overwhelming the romance. Scarlett’s resilience in the face of systemic challenges made her an incredibly compelling protagonist, and I loved seeing her moments of vulnerability, too. Jaime’s need to prove himself in his career and his personal struggles felt equally well-developed, and watching him learn to trust Scarlett and step back when needed was deeply satisfying. This book had such a great balance of humor, spice, and emotional depth.

This was a fun premise and I enjoyed the chess involvement throughout the novel (thank you, Queen's Gambit, for giving me an overview before I read this!)
However I really struggled with Jamie's POVs as he was constantly describing Scarlett's appearance and this made their connection feel a lot less authentic.

This novel is incredibly well written. There is a lot of internal turmoil for the characters, and it drags out over a year in the book. But you’re still rooting for this second chance up until the end.

I thought this had a lot of promise at the beginning. At 50% I got bored and nothing was really happening… they finally got together and then nothing much was really happening again. I skimmed the last 40%.’

I just loved it, it's my favourite book by Emma Barry.

It's a high heat, emotionally intense romance that doesn't shy away from difficult topics - his father is in prison for life, her mother is the opposite of a caring parent, she is facing sexism in sports, he is under pressure to prove himself in the movie industry.

All this is just the background of their relationship and what a relationship it is. They started as high school lovers then went through a most devastating breakup, going no-contact for 15+ years, to a very intense, emotionally challenging, sexually explosive relationship in the present day. What I really liked how the author gave them time to come to terms with their feelings - feelings of hurt and hatred and disappointment, to I-can-no-longer-live-without-that-person feelings. There was nothing rushed, well the sexual chemistry was there from the start and they didn't shy away from it too long, but great sex didn't solve their issues. They both were not ready for a/that relationship.

She is strong and independent and I loved her for it. Yet, she also needed care and someone to lean on when things get rough, she just couldn't admit it, even to herself.

He, on the other hand, was all about taking care of people. This is his love language though can get too much, too smothering and he needed to learn how to let others be themselves, trust them to appreciate/love him for who he is.

I really, really liked how both of them grew and changed in order to have a healthy relationship, yet neither demanded that change from the other person. They realised they loved the other with all their faults and weaknesses. He, especially, put it very clearly that his life is infinitely better with her in it than without her. I found it so powerful, it's simply put but it very much fits with my understanding of love.

Oh, and there is chess, so much chess. I can't play myself though I know the rules in general and very much enjoyed how present was the game in the story. The heroine is a chess grand master and the games is very defining of her personality. And he is so bad at it, it's hilarious. I feel this fitted so well with their personalities- she is a strategist in life, as well as in sports, he is very much an open book, spur of the moment type of person.

CW: loved one in prison, parental neglect, sexism,

Adult contemporary romance. Jamie Croft still lives in his hometown, where he dealt with the fallout of his Dad's very public arrest as a teen. The girl he loved in high school, Scarlett Arbuthnot, left as soon as she could and hasn't been back. But now Jamie has become a successful independent producer and Scarlett has risen to fame as a chess grandmaster. She just released a memoir on her journey into the male-dominated world of chess. And Jamie wants to adapt it for film.

Scarlett and Jamie both have unresolved feelings for each other. Can they work together without falling in bed, or in love? This was a steamy second-chance romance with a full cast of characters. I couldn't put it down!

Advanced digital copy provided by Netgalley.