This was a relatively cute, well written and enjoyable read. The plot is following seventeen year old Jules who’s going into her final year of high school. She has a rather rare and debilitating form of arthritis that causes her to use crutches most of the day - something not in tune to her plans. A new boy Ronan enters and we get chapters from both POVs as the book develops. Jules thinks he’s rather nonchalant, will get whatever he wants and someone who’ll easily breeze though the year as is good looking and already popular - her friends Michael and Tara both fancy him already but she thinks he’ll never like her. Despite his persona, Ronan actually has his own ‘baggage’ plaguing him and his family life and as an escape from reality both, unbeknownst, start playing chess and chatting together which… 

For the most part, these are two likeable and fleshed out characters that you do genuinely want the best for. Michael I found was such an amazing friend and their bond was lovely to read. Tara is beginning to distance herself with another group and has her own issues which as the book develops throws up hurdles in their friendship. Jules experiences some bullying and ableism surrounding her arthritis, mobility and use of crutches which I think was handled very well - it’s good to have such representation which I don’t think I’ve ever read before. Other topics including mental illness, drug use/abuse, addiction and grief are also integrated and again I felt were given the appropriate time and discussion for the intended YA audience. I think some of the issues were that as the book went along I just felt some of the actions made were rather frustrating. There’s miscommunication which was quite unnecessary and some ‘pick me’ petty aspects which made it seem a bit juvenile that I wasn’t a fan of and sadly soured my reading experience. 

I listened to the audiobook which was very well narrated (I love Irish accents) and bough the plot and characters to life so would recommend.