REVIEW: Bold Moves by Emma Barry

Bold Moves by Emma Barry: Working with your ex is never the ideal situation, however when both of your names and reputations hang in the balance, Jaime and Scarlett have little to no choice but to put on a professional brave face and hope for the best. Director Jaime Croft needs his next project to make a statement and adapting chess prodigy Scarlett Arbuthnot’s memoir is the perfect opportunity. Only problem being Scarlett was once his great love, the person who understood him best, that is until she walked away without explanation seventeen years ago. He’s convinced he’s over her. Probably. Hopefully…

Scarlett has faced the fiercest minds on the chessboard, so really collaborating with Jaime should be easy by comparison. But the proximity dredges up more than old memories; it brings back the ache of a heartbreak she never truly mended. She had her reasons for leaving, ones she couldn’t share but if Jaime ever learns the truth, she doubts he’ll ever forgive her. Though as they dive deeper into Scarlett’s past, the lines between story and reality blur, old feelings resurface and trust is tested. Now both must decide if risking their hearts again is worth the boldest move of all.

I have to say I really enjoyed reading Bold Moves, Barry delivers a thoughtful, emotionally resonant second chance romance that explores not just the rekindling of love, but also the complexity of ambition, regret and vulnerability. I loved the way that Barry crafts this second chance story of the one that got away, but also coming back together with more emotional maturity.

Both of our main characters were really easy to get invested in and root on for a happily ever after. I really liked how complex and dynamic Scarlett came across, we get to see her really open up and dive into her inner feelings as the book progresses. We also get to see how she has been shaped by early life pressures and performance and how she is now learning how to exist without needing to win every encounter. In some aspects Scarlett can come across as an ice queen but most of her motives are done out of fear and wanting to protect her heart. I found that she was actually a really relatable leading lady and that she just needed to be given a chance to open up and to really warm to people.

Now for our hero, Jaime’s character walks a fine line between professional detachment and personal wants. He was complex in many ways but when it really came down to it, his motives and hang ups were simple, he desperately wants to feel true happiness. We really get to see him struggle with letting go of this idea of Scarlett that he had created in his mind and relating to the real life version of her that he is now working with. Though the thing that I really liked about Jaime was that he learns growth lies in learning that love is less about perfection and more about honesty.

I love a good slow burn, second chance love story and this is definitely what we get with Jaime and Scarlett. We really get to see these two characters learning that these versions of themselves are not the same people that they knew all those years ago. While the lingering hurt and feelings are very much still alive, we get to see them realise that to a large extent they need to re-meet each other.

Bold Moves was such a satisfying and emotional read. Barry doesn’t just write a love story; she digs into all the messy stuff like regret, ambition and what it really takes to open your heart again. Scarlett and Jaime’s relationship is sweet, mature and full of that quiet, slow-burn tension. If you’re into second-chance romances with heart then this one’s a must-read!
 

Book Info:

Publication: April 22, 2025 | Montlake |

Working with your ex isn’t that bad an idea—not with artistic integrity on the line. Jaime Croft is determined to prove his directorial range, and Scarlett Arbuthnot’s biography is the perfect project. He once thought Scarlett was his perfect match too, but it’s been seventeen years. Surely he’s over it by now.

Or maybe not.

Scarlett is a grand master taking the chess world by storm. If she can handle that pressure, she can handle Jaime Croft. Even if that means working together in close quarters…and constant reminders of how she broke his heart. She didn’t do it without reason, but if he knew the details, he would despise her even more.

As Jaime and Scarlett pore over her memoir, they unlock their own memories, and old feelings rise to the surface. But giving in means abandoning the walls they’ve built to protect themselves, and that’s a move neither one seems ready to make.