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The First Move
Juliet believes girls like her - girls with arthritis - don't get their own love stories. She exists at the edges of her friends' social lives, skipping parties to play online chess under a pseudonym with strangers around the world. There, she isn't just 'the girl with crutches'.
Ronan is the new kid: good looking, smart, a bad boy plagued by guilt over what happened to his brother Ciaran. Chesslife is his escape; there, he's not just 'the boy with the brother'.
Juliet thinks Ronan thinks someone like Ronan could never be interested in someone like her - and she wouldn't want him to be anyway because he always acts like he's cooler than everyone else. Whereas, Ronan thinks life is already too complicated for dating and just wants to keep his head down at school.
Little do they know they've already discovered each other online, and have more in common than they think . . .
Ronan is the new kid: good looking, smart, a bad boy plagued by guilt over what happened to his brother Ciaran. Chesslife is his escape; there, he's not just 'the boy with the brother'.
Juliet thinks Ronan thinks someone like Ronan could never be interested in someone like her - and she wouldn't want him to be anyway because he always acts like he's cooler than everyone else. Whereas, Ronan thinks life is already too complicated for dating and just wants to keep his head down at school.
Little do they know they've already discovered each other online, and have more in common than they think . . .
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2023
53 people are currently reading
2378 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
March 22, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
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!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for the eARC!
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!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for the eARC!
October 23, 2024
4.5 stars ⭐️
The symbolism in the final chess match actually changed lives I fear
The symbolism in the final chess match actually changed lives I fear
April 13, 2023
13/04/23
The First Move is a swoonworthy YA romance filled with characters you can’t help but root for.
I don’t have arthritis but Juliet dealing with her chronic pain made me feel so seen, and I loved seeing a realistic portrayal of a teen girl struggling with her disability but trying her best anyway.
I also don’t know anything about chess but I really enjoyed learning more about the game and the symbolism of the different chess pieces used in the story. I’m a sucker for a romance where the main characters are not only drawn to each other in real life but also connect online, and the banter between Juliet and Ronan while they’re playing chess online and chatting was definitely a highlight of the book.
The First Move had the potential to be a new fave but it unfortunately didn’t check all of my boxes. It leaned a bit too heavily into the “bad boy with a traumatic past is emotionally unavailable and mysterious” trope for my tastes and some of the drama was just too much for me. The last third of the book felt unnecessarily dragged out and the pacing needed some work.
I did overall quite enjoy it though and still recommend checking it out if you’re a fan of YA romance!
—
24/12/22:
the cover? gorgeous
the synopsis? spectacular
💸💸💸
The First Move is a swoonworthy YA romance filled with characters you can’t help but root for.
I don’t have arthritis but Juliet dealing with her chronic pain made me feel so seen, and I loved seeing a realistic portrayal of a teen girl struggling with her disability but trying her best anyway.
I also don’t know anything about chess but I really enjoyed learning more about the game and the symbolism of the different chess pieces used in the story. I’m a sucker for a romance where the main characters are not only drawn to each other in real life but also connect online, and the banter between Juliet and Ronan while they’re playing chess online and chatting was definitely a highlight of the book.
The First Move had the potential to be a new fave but it unfortunately didn’t check all of my boxes. It leaned a bit too heavily into the “bad boy with a traumatic past is emotionally unavailable and mysterious” trope for my tastes and some of the drama was just too much for me. The last third of the book felt unnecessarily dragged out and the pacing needed some work.
I did overall quite enjoy it though and still recommend checking it out if you’re a fan of YA romance!
—
24/12/22:
the cover? gorgeous
the synopsis? spectacular
💸💸💸
December 6, 2024
3.5 stars. very sweet :)
June 16, 2023
4.75/5 ⭐
This was the best book I have read this year so far ❤️ I got into the story really quickly. The characters felt so real to me with their individual background storys and just how Jenny Ireland described their actions/behavior.
I LOVED the both protagonists Ronan and Juliet as well as her best friend Micheal. The love story was absolutely cute and I would definitely recommend this book to others 😍😊
This was the best book I have read this year so far ❤️ I got into the story really quickly. The characters felt so real to me with their individual background storys and just how Jenny Ireland described their actions/behavior.
I LOVED the both protagonists Ronan and Juliet as well as her best friend Micheal. The love story was absolutely cute and I would definitely recommend this book to others 😍😊
July 11, 2023
urgh I loved this
March 12, 2024
Dnf at 60%
Some of the characters were so shallow and selfish it made me so mad 😭
Some of the characters were so shallow and selfish it made me so mad 😭
April 15, 2023
It was so cute, fluffy and sweet. I don’t really read YA but this makes me want to get into the genre more. This was definitely Cinderella story x Queen’s Gambit themed. That’s spot on. It was so good - like this is a book I’d recommend to a younger version of me. My problem with most YA books being that they’re cringy - this wasn’t at all. I love the rep. It’s great and not harmful. Sheds light on what it’s like living with the disease and what it’s like for the people around you- yes young people can have it too. Delicate topics were well handled. I didn’t think it would be such an emotional read. The characters are three dimensional and very loveable. Yes, there’s the cliché queen bee and the gay best friend but I ate it up. I loved Juliet and Micheal’s friendship. He was there for her and was a true friend to her. I loved the healthy portrayal of her relationship with her parents and how they supported her.
I definitely didn’t expect it to be a deep book. It wasn’t just romance. It deals with some dark topics and it hit so close to home. ( Check TWs). It was an emotional read for me.
I like how matters were handled , nothing too dramatic to thicken the plot. The romance was cute and wholesome. It was a great read.
ARC from NetGalley.
I definitely didn’t expect it to be a deep book. It wasn’t just romance. It deals with some dark topics and it hit so close to home. ( Check TWs). It was an emotional read for me.
I like how matters were handled , nothing too dramatic to thicken the plot. The romance was cute and wholesome. It was a great read.
ARC from NetGalley.
October 8, 2023
this is me being generous
August 30, 2023
this book was overall enjoyable
just wished juliet picked a different present for my sake 😭
just wished juliet picked a different present for my sake 😭
February 18, 2024
3.75 stars rounded up
it was cute.
until it wasn’t
it was cute.
until it wasn’t
June 24, 2023
This book started out super cute, I loved that she had a strong support system in her family and friend/s it was such a lovely set of dynamics to read about!!
The romantic build up could have been more fleshed out, I know there was a lot that happened online, but the moment they found out who the other person was they started dating immediately which felt a little rushed to me. When they were together though, it was ADORABLE!! This was my fave part of the whole book, it felt like peak YA coming of age romance - it was sweet, wholesome, a little flirty a lot awkward, I love them so so much I feel like they compliment each others personalities A LOT!! He encourages her to come out of her shell a little, try new things and take risks, and she grounds him, giving him that safe space to be vulnerable and transparent. The scene where he kisses all her sore joints has to be my fave scene in the whole book. It's written in a way that is tender and sweet and so so intimate without making it tragic, like yes this is a moment where they're acknowledging her pain but it's never made to be her defining characteristic.
That being said, I had a lot of issues with the second half. Most of the time I felt like I was reading about 15 year olds instead of 17/18- the dialogue and lack of emotional maturity felt juvenile at times with how awkward and cliche it was. The characters felt 2D and all followed the same sort of framework (troubled home life which made them act out) and all found resolutions at the same time towards the end which made it feel unnaturally resolved. Jules and her best friend had an incredibly toxic relationship (and yes Tara had a difficult home life which made her act out, obviously there's no right way to deal with that sort of thing) but it was resolved in one teary conversation, with heavy emphasis on the good memories they had from primary school. On top of that, the love interest had absolutely no concept of boundaries (setting them or respecting them) and his relationship with Tara felt very trauma-bond-y, it also could've been explained to Jules in a couple sentences and saved everyone a lot of distress. I considered Jules' bestie to be the one emotionally aware character but the scene where he blows his top because she's hung up on her breakup and is zoning out on their double date??? It felt very uncharacteristic and like a means to an end. Most of the conflicts (interpersonal or other) tended to be dealt with via rebounds and denial which?? I wasn't a fan.
Ronan in particular half the time read like someone extremely perceptive and with lots of lived experience that lent to emotional maturity or at least empathy and understanding, and the other half read like emo teen angst with no understanding of boundaries or how his actions could hurt others. During the break up he also made an off-hand comment about her moving on super fast etc. which felt very out of character but also kinda slut-shame-y, which left a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the book.
I did like that it was a YA romance that discussed deeper topics, but it felt like biting off more than the author could chew, giving every single character deep-seated trauma to work through in some 300 odd pages where the romance and teen drama took front and centre. The end was tied in a neat bow but I was left feeling dissatisfied with how almost all the conflicts were resolved, and not really liking any of the characters.
Thank you NetGalley UK for this e-arc 🖤
The romantic build up could have been more fleshed out, I know there was a lot that happened online, but the moment they found out who the other person was they started dating immediately which felt a little rushed to me. When they were together though, it was ADORABLE!! This was my fave part of the whole book, it felt like peak YA coming of age romance - it was sweet, wholesome, a little flirty a lot awkward, I love them so so much I feel like they compliment each others personalities A LOT!! He encourages her to come out of her shell a little, try new things and take risks, and she grounds him, giving him that safe space to be vulnerable and transparent. The scene where he kisses all her sore joints has to be my fave scene in the whole book. It's written in a way that is tender and sweet and so so intimate without making it tragic, like yes this is a moment where they're acknowledging her pain but it's never made to be her defining characteristic.
That being said, I had a lot of issues with the second half. Most of the time I felt like I was reading about 15 year olds instead of 17/18- the dialogue and lack of emotional maturity felt juvenile at times with how awkward and cliche it was. The characters felt 2D and all followed the same sort of framework (troubled home life which made them act out) and all found resolutions at the same time towards the end which made it feel unnaturally resolved. Jules and her best friend had an incredibly toxic relationship (and yes Tara had a difficult home life which made her act out, obviously there's no right way to deal with that sort of thing) but it was resolved in one teary conversation, with heavy emphasis on the good memories they had from primary school. On top of that, the love interest had absolutely no concept of boundaries (setting them or respecting them) and his relationship with Tara felt very trauma-bond-y, it also could've been explained to Jules in a couple sentences and saved everyone a lot of distress. I considered Jules' bestie to be the one emotionally aware character but the scene where he blows his top because she's hung up on her breakup and is zoning out on their double date??? It felt very uncharacteristic and like a means to an end. Most of the conflicts (interpersonal or other) tended to be dealt with via rebounds and denial which?? I wasn't a fan.
Ronan in particular half the time read like someone extremely perceptive and with lots of lived experience that lent to emotional maturity or at least empathy and understanding, and the other half read like emo teen angst with no understanding of boundaries or how his actions could hurt others. During the break up he also made an off-hand comment about her moving on super fast etc. which felt very out of character but also kinda slut-shame-y, which left a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the book.
I did like that it was a YA romance that discussed deeper topics, but it felt like biting off more than the author could chew, giving every single character deep-seated trauma to work through in some 300 odd pages where the romance and teen drama took front and centre. The end was tied in a neat bow but I was left feeling dissatisfied with how almost all the conflicts were resolved, and not really liking any of the characters.
Thank you NetGalley UK for this e-arc 🖤
July 26, 2023
For most of the story, I did think that I was really enjoying this, I love that old trope of two people chatting online only to find out they know each other in real life - but the third act break up made me reflect on what I'd read, and overall, I really couldn't be invested in this romance.
I initially liked the banter as Jules and Roman chatted online while playing chess, and I really wanted them to discover that they knew each other in real life. Jules is a witty, complex character that struggles to fit in with her ableist friend group.
New boy Roman seems sweet, but he seems to think he's better than Jules because he knows more named chess moves, which started to grate on my nerves. His toxic behavior to Jules during the Third Act Break Up was awful and he seemed to be one step away from calling her a whore for finding someone else after he dumped her online.
I really wanted to like Michael, but he really filled the role of the Gay Best Friend, and aside from liking fashion and supplying the story with sassy one liners, I didn't really get much else from him. He was the only Queer character in the story, apart from his boyfriend who turns up later.
The ending was fine, but I was really slogging through that break up and the messiness that followed, which made it difficult for me to root for them to get back together. A good amount of the story was resolved, but it didn't make me like the characters any more.
I initially liked the banter as Jules and Roman chatted online while playing chess, and I really wanted them to discover that they knew each other in real life. Jules is a witty, complex character that struggles to fit in with her ableist friend group.
New boy Roman seems sweet, but he seems to think he's better than Jules because he knows more named chess moves, which started to grate on my nerves. His toxic behavior to Jules during the Third Act Break Up was awful and he seemed to be one step away from calling her a whore for finding someone else after he dumped her online.
I really wanted to like Michael, but he really filled the role of the Gay Best Friend, and aside from liking fashion and supplying the story with sassy one liners, I didn't really get much else from him. He was the only Queer character in the story, apart from his boyfriend who turns up later.
The ending was fine, but I was really slogging through that break up and the messiness that followed, which made it difficult for me to root for them to get back together. A good amount of the story was resolved, but it didn't make me like the characters any more.
May 13, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! And I’m not even the target age group! The book is written in alternating chapters from the pov of Jules and Ronan, and online chats between them.
Juliet (Jules - she hates her Shakespeare inspired name) and Ronan. Oh yes I hadn’t missed the closeness to Romeo!
She is 17, and is ‘different’ to other girls her age as she has recently been diagnosed with arthritis and needs crutches to walk.
He is the same age and is the new, good looking, quiet boy in her class. They get off on the wrong foot as they misunderstand a situation - which is one of the ongoing themes of the book.
Unbeknownst to them, they have ‘met’ online on a virtual chess website where they play against each other and easily chat. No real names so they have no idea they know each other.
As the story develops, the author explores teenage relationships and the misunderstandings that happen. If only people would openly talk and understand each other. But kids can be cruel.
There are a host of brilliant characters in this book. Jules who is disabled. Michael her gay best friend who looks after her. Tara her best friend who is ‘Queen Bee’ at school (doesn’t every school have one?!) Fantastic characters who jump off the page.
I was completely absorbed by the will they / won’t they love story and I loved the online chats. Brilliant book I would definitely recommend to older teens.
Juliet (Jules - she hates her Shakespeare inspired name) and Ronan. Oh yes I hadn’t missed the closeness to Romeo!
She is 17, and is ‘different’ to other girls her age as she has recently been diagnosed with arthritis and needs crutches to walk.
He is the same age and is the new, good looking, quiet boy in her class. They get off on the wrong foot as they misunderstand a situation - which is one of the ongoing themes of the book.
Unbeknownst to them, they have ‘met’ online on a virtual chess website where they play against each other and easily chat. No real names so they have no idea they know each other.
As the story develops, the author explores teenage relationships and the misunderstandings that happen. If only people would openly talk and understand each other. But kids can be cruel.
There are a host of brilliant characters in this book. Jules who is disabled. Michael her gay best friend who looks after her. Tara her best friend who is ‘Queen Bee’ at school (doesn’t every school have one?!) Fantastic characters who jump off the page.
I was completely absorbed by the will they / won’t they love story and I loved the online chats. Brilliant book I would definitely recommend to older teens.
October 17, 2023
Juliet (Jules) was named after her mother's favourite Shakespeare play. She wants to be living a life filled with romance, but when she gets diagnosed with arthritis she decides that an epic romance is never going to be on the cards for her.
Then she meets a boy in an online chess chat room and sparks start to fly. Can she start to see herself as more than just "the girl with crutches"?
This book was so unbelievably cute. I really loved it. It reminded me a bit of A Cinderella Story, the one with Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. What I especially loved was how realistic the characters and their emotions felt. It really brought back some memories of what it feels like to be a teenager and grappling with first loves, friendships and all of life's issues.
Thank you to Penguin Randomhouse South Africa for gifting me with this review copy.
Then she meets a boy in an online chess chat room and sparks start to fly. Can she start to see herself as more than just "the girl with crutches"?
This book was so unbelievably cute. I really loved it. It reminded me a bit of A Cinderella Story, the one with Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. What I especially loved was how realistic the characters and their emotions felt. It really brought back some memories of what it feels like to be a teenager and grappling with first loves, friendships and all of life's issues.
Thank you to Penguin Randomhouse South Africa for gifting me with this review copy.
October 31, 2023
This was somewhat cute read, but also touched heavy subjects as arthritis, borderline mental disorder, and death of a family member and how to find a way to accept it. But, amongst that we had chess and two characters finding each other through it, which was sweet. But the romance felt rushed and random, it did not fit. It went from online talking to randomly decided to date in one big swoop. That dragged the stars for me, it could`ve been done more with. I also felt like we had too much going on when we added Tara and Michael to the mix, and some of their issues and struggles. It just became too much of it all. But how Juliet`s family was so supportive and helpful, that I really really enjoyed. They were so incredible understanding and kind.
April 9, 2024
A cute story that is full of hope without being flippant about the serious issues being dealt with - they aren't problems to be solved,maybe at all, but there is joy and possibility and romance. There were odd sections of people just not talking to each other or references that made me cringe but was a nice comfort read
April 26, 2023
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟 rounded up to 5.
As someone who was diagnosed with a chronic illness when I was 13, I could really relate to Jules and appreciated the rep so much.
Full review to come.
Thank you to @penguinbooksya and @netgalley for the eARC.
In terms of writing style and storyline, the book is fairly basic and formulaic. That isn’t to say it’s a bad thing. It’s an easy read and flows well. What really grabbed me though, was the chronic illness rep.
I felt I could relate to Juliet so well and could understand her thought processes, bitterness and front of hardness.
She’s 17 and I’m 37, how could I possibly relate? I’ve been there. I was 13 when I was diagnosed with ME/CFS and it was hard to come to terms with the limitations it put on me and how I thought about my future. I can entirely understand Juliet’s perspective.
I think it’s great for teens and young adults to have to this kind of rep; to feel seen and understood. And also to help their friends and loved ones to understand.
Overall an entirely enjoyable read and I love this for YA.
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
As someone who was diagnosed with a chronic illness when I was 13, I could really relate to Jules and appreciated the rep so much.
Full review to come.
Thank you to @penguinbooksya and @netgalley for the eARC.
In terms of writing style and storyline, the book is fairly basic and formulaic. That isn’t to say it’s a bad thing. It’s an easy read and flows well. What really grabbed me though, was the chronic illness rep.
I felt I could relate to Juliet so well and could understand her thought processes, bitterness and front of hardness.
She’s 17 and I’m 37, how could I possibly relate? I’ve been there. I was 13 when I was diagnosed with ME/CFS and it was hard to come to terms with the limitations it put on me and how I thought about my future. I can entirely understand Juliet’s perspective.
I think it’s great for teens and young adults to have to this kind of rep; to feel seen and understood. And also to help their friends and loved ones to understand.
Overall an entirely enjoyable read and I love this for YA.
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
December 29, 2023
4.75⭐️
rep: arthritis, addiction, gay sc’s
ugh this was SUCH a good ya book ?!!!! like I ATE IT UP I READ IT IN LESS THAN A DAY I JUST WAS SO INVESTED AND ALL THE CHARACTERS WERE SO ADORABLE AND I WAS ROOTING FOR THEM SO HARD AND AKDJKD PLEASEEEE
the romance was literally top tier 😭😭 IM UNWELL. ronan sweet baby boy who deserves the world I WANNA SQUISH HIM SO DAMN BAD HE DESERVES ALL THE HUGS !!! i sometimes didn’t love juliet, but i do understand her struggles so i’m not too hard on her. she was a teen finding out she was disabled (same here, bestie) and realizing that made her different and fighting all that comes with it. so, ik many people will think she was annoying, but i won’t say i agree bc I GET IT. it’s tough. and the portrayal in here was imo, pretty accurate to how it can feel like irl.
THE BEST FRIEND WAS DELIGHTFUL TOO I FUCKING LOVE MICHAEL HE TOO DESERVES THE WORLD UGHHHH.
all in all, i truly truly loved this 😭😭
rep: arthritis, addiction, gay sc’s
ugh this was SUCH a good ya book ?!!!! like I ATE IT UP I READ IT IN LESS THAN A DAY I JUST WAS SO INVESTED AND ALL THE CHARACTERS WERE SO ADORABLE AND I WAS ROOTING FOR THEM SO HARD AND AKDJKD PLEASEEEE
the romance was literally top tier 😭😭 IM UNWELL. ronan sweet baby boy who deserves the world I WANNA SQUISH HIM SO DAMN BAD HE DESERVES ALL THE HUGS !!! i sometimes didn’t love juliet, but i do understand her struggles so i’m not too hard on her. she was a teen finding out she was disabled (same here, bestie) and realizing that made her different and fighting all that comes with it. so, ik many people will think she was annoying, but i won’t say i agree bc I GET IT. it’s tough. and the portrayal in here was imo, pretty accurate to how it can feel like irl.
THE BEST FRIEND WAS DELIGHTFUL TOO I FUCKING LOVE MICHAEL HE TOO DESERVES THE WORLD UGHHHH.
all in all, i truly truly loved this 😭😭
June 18, 2023
I'm afraid I couldn't finish this one. I love YA but the teens in this were all so shallow and vapid and self-centred that it was unbearable. I was excited for more disabled representation but this needed more edits to turn the characters into something approximating human beings as opposed to emo sex driven nightmare creatures.
I read this for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
I read this for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
March 28, 2025
I loved The First Move!
What really stood out, though, was the representation of Juliet, the main character. She has juvenile arthritis, and I really appreciated how Jenny Ireland handled it. it’s a part of her life, but it doesn’t define her. Juliet is sharp, witty, and stubborn in the best way, and I loved how her disability was written with honesty rather than being treated as an obstacle in the romance. Then there’s Ronan, the love interest, charming, a little frustrating at times, but so easy to root for. Their chemistry was on point, and their text exchanges had me grinning like an idiot.
This book had everything I wanted: a unique love story, a strong and complex FMC, and an Irish setting that made it feel even more personal. If you love contemporary YA romance with depth, The First Move is a must-read!
What really stood out, though, was the representation of Juliet, the main character. She has juvenile arthritis, and I really appreciated how Jenny Ireland handled it. it’s a part of her life, but it doesn’t define her. Juliet is sharp, witty, and stubborn in the best way, and I loved how her disability was written with honesty rather than being treated as an obstacle in the romance. Then there’s Ronan, the love interest, charming, a little frustrating at times, but so easy to root for. Their chemistry was on point, and their text exchanges had me grinning like an idiot.
This book had everything I wanted: a unique love story, a strong and complex FMC, and an Irish setting that made it feel even more personal. If you love contemporary YA romance with depth, The First Move is a must-read!
March 18, 2024
Actually whizzed through listening to this book because I loved it so much and couldn't stop!! They are such a perfect couple but also the writing was so good, the characters were very well developed!! (Would recommend the audiobook because I loved their Irish accents)
October 11, 2024
This was a let down to YA romance. it was wayyyy to cliché. Like I don't mind cliché, but I saw everything coming
January 19, 2025
A for effort
May 24, 2025
My favourite thing about this book was its portrayal of the idea that we all think someone has a perfect life, when in reality we are all struggling with something.
Yes this book is a romance, but to me that didn't feel like the central plot. Or maybe not the one I valued the most. To me, it was about learning how to find happiness in other people despite having your own struggles. About how to share them, and love despite them.
Yes this book is a romance, but to me that didn't feel like the central plot. Or maybe not the one I valued the most. To me, it was about learning how to find happiness in other people despite having your own struggles. About how to share them, and love despite them.
November 29, 2023
Almost 4 definitely 3.5
Very cute and light story
Very cute and light story
April 16, 2024
it was good until the ending
April 2, 2024
Well para salir del bloqueo no estuvo mal. La primera mitad es re divertida pero después se vuelve bastante denso. Igual que decirles hermanas yo lo leí porque el chabon tenía anteojos: soy esto.
August 13, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. first half was really cute, but the miscommunication in the second half almost killed me and was kinda annoying at times.
July 19, 2023
Ugh. Okay. So I haven’t read a straight YA romance in FOREVER but the combination of chess and arthritis intrigued me.
Plus Ronan is described as a ‘bad boy’ in the blurb and I like a baddie who plays chess.
But ‘bad boy’ actually meant ‘walking red flag’.
Like, okay, spoilers… but he dumps Jules seconds after kissing her swollen joints with no explanation whatsoever, leaving her to (obviously) fear the worst. I think the reasoning behind it was a pile of steaming crap, not to mention how he acted with Tara.
And she says she’s not ready to have sex with him and he keeps sexting her.
I just did not want them to end up together. Ronan didn’t deserve Jules. He just seemed like a pushy dick.
As for the rest of the book - I enjoyed the side plots, and Michael was a great best friend. The Tara drama was interesting for a little while.
But honestly, someone stop me buying YA.
Plus Ronan is described as a ‘bad boy’ in the blurb and I like a baddie who plays chess.
But ‘bad boy’ actually meant ‘walking red flag’.
Like, okay, spoilers… but he dumps Jules seconds after kissing her swollen joints with no explanation whatsoever, leaving her to (obviously) fear the worst. I think the reasoning behind it was a pile of steaming crap, not to mention how he acted with Tara.
And she says she’s not ready to have sex with him and he keeps sexting her.
I just did not want them to end up together. Ronan didn’t deserve Jules. He just seemed like a pushy dick.
As for the rest of the book - I enjoyed the side plots, and Michael was a great best friend. The Tara drama was interesting for a little while.
But honestly, someone stop me buying YA.
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