Ruth Ennis talks to Jenny Ireland about perspective, supporting characters and what makes a great love story
Jenny Ireland is a law and French law graduate turned Young Adult writer, who lives outside Belfast with her husband, 2 children and border collie. She is she author of The Next Move (2023), The Boy Next Door (2024), and her upcoming book Matched Up (2025).
How do you approach writing young voices as they navigate mature and difficult circumstances that come with being chronically ill?
Like many writers trying to find their voice, I experimented across genres and age groups. But it wasn’t until I read Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places that I started writing YA, and found my home in young adult fiction. Writing teenage voices seems to come naturally to me. In both of these novels, because I drew from personal experience, I let my own journey decide how the characters dealt with these challenges while taking their age into account. Since I write without plotting, I found it fascinating to watch these characters make their own way through familiar territory.
Both of your books are written with dual perspectives—what draws you to write two sides to the one story?
I’m captivated by how differently people interpret the same situation. The saying “there are two sides to every story” resonates deeply with me, especially as someone who lives with (a lot of) anxiety – that constant wondering if something you said weeks ago might have offended someone, while they’ve likely forgotten it entirely. Writing the same scene from different perspectives definitely presents technical issues, like keeping track of physical positions, dialogue and action. But I also believe that memories themselves are subjective. Two people can experience the same moment totally differently, which makes dual perspectives both challenging and rewarding to write.
How important are secondary characters?
Character is the heart of every story I write. When I’m creating a world, I treat every character as a real person with their own complete story, even if we only see parts of it on the page. I’ve always been drawn to secondary characters in books and movies – Evil from the movie Fright Night is one of my favourites. For me, supporting characters help create a believable world that feels lived-in.
In your opinion, what makes a great love story?
I’ve always adored love stories, and growing up I mostly got my fix from movies. Sweet Home Alabama, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, The Notebook. These movies took me on emotional rollercoasters that I fell in love with. The “will-they-won’t-they” trope particularly fascinates me, and I think it’s imperative for intrigue. There’s something magical about that first meeting, the misunderstandings that follow, and the tension that builds. When reading or watching anything romantic, I’m most invested when I truly care about the characters and feel genuine uncertainty about their happy ending. So, I try and create that uncertainty in my writing too.
In The First Move, Juliet and Ronan bond over virtual games of chess and an online chatroom—why was it important for them to first connect in this way?
I think the online connection between Juliet and Ronan reflects modern relationships. Many of us present carefully curated versions of ourselves online, sharing selected parts of our lives while keeping others private. Like you said, in the book, the online space allows the protagonists to express thoughts and feelings they might struggle to voice face to face. Through their virtual chess games and chatroom conversations, Juliet and Ronan can be vulnerable in ways they might not be ready for in person, creating a connection before navigating their real-world interactions.
In The Boy Next Door, Molly struggles with her self-image while recovering from a seizure and brain surgery. Why was it important to make space for Molly’s mental health in the book?
Including Molly’s mental health journey alongside her physical recovery wasn’t just important, it was necessary. Having experienced brain surgery in my own life, I know that recovery impacts not just your body but your entire sense of self. Through online research on other experiences, I’ve found that identity struggles are almost universal. Omitting the mental health aspect would have done a disservice to readers going through similar challenges. It was crucial to show that healing isn’t just about physical recovery. It’s about rebuilding a sense of who you are.
What are you working on next?
My next book, Matched Up, coming out in April 2025, is a sports romance. It follows Lexie, whose life becomes complicated when Shane arrives at her football club and takes her twin brother Niall’s position. The story weaves together family loyalty, sporting rivalry, and a secret relationship. The challenges of keeping a relationship hidden while navigating family tensions creates the kind of emotional journey I love exploring in my writing.
