The Right Move Summary, Characters and Themes
The Right Move by Liz Tomforde is a contemporary romance about Ryan Shay, the disciplined captain of the Chicago Devils NBA team, and Indy, his sister’s best friend who moves in with him after a breakup. Their story unfolds in the tight spaces of shared living, arranged public appearances, and the emotional storms that follow two people learning to trust and let go of past wounds.
Through playful agreements, soft moments, and hard conversations, Ryan and Indy learn how love can fit into a life driven by ambition and one recovering from betrayal, proving that connection can coexist with dreams and discipline.
Summary
Ryan Shay, at 27, becomes the captain of the Chicago Devils, embracing the weight of leading a team that does not match his disciplined standards. He is focused on becoming one of basketball’s greats through relentless effort and structured living, while struggling to form personal connections with teammates who respect but do not fully understand him.
His carefully managed world of minimalism and control is disrupted when his sister, Stevie, asks him to let her best friend Indy move in temporarily after a breakup leaves Indy without a home.
Indy brings chaos and warmth into Ryan’s cold, organized space with her books, plants, and emotional openness. Ryan tries to maintain distance, setting rules to protect his space and routine, while Indy challenges his stoicism with her questions and quiet vulnerability.
Their early days as roommates are filled with tension as Ryan is irritated by her messiness, and Indy, while attracted to him, feels out of place but determined to regain control of her life.
Their arrangement evolves when Ryan needs Indy to be his fake girlfriend for a team banquet to present a stable personal life, which is important for his career stability. In exchange, Ryan agrees to accompany Indy to a wedding where she must face her cheating ex.
To prepare, they create lists for each other, with Ryan tasked to learn affection and Indy focusing on regaining her independence. Despite their agreement to keep things strictly fake, they experience moments of closeness and warmth, hinting at deeper feelings.
At the banquet, Indy’s ease with people and public settings contrasts with Ryan’s discomfort, but her presence allows him to soften publicly. He begins to feel possessive when other men interact with Indy, indicating his growing attachment despite his attempts to maintain boundaries.
Meanwhile, Indy struggles with the lingering impact of her past relationship, facing difficulties in reclaiming her physical and emotional confidence, and feels the tension of wanting Ryan while knowing their arrangement has an end.
During a game, Ryan’s protectiveness surfaces when he defends Indy publicly after another player spills a drink on her, revealing the emotional layers beneath his composed exterior. After the game, Indy’s encounter with her ex leaves her hurt, and Ryan, sensing her distress, kisses her in front of her ex, turning their fake relationship into a moment filled with genuine emotion.
While Ryan tries to brush it off as part of their act, Indy is left conflicted, craving more.
As they continue living together, Indy’s attraction to Ryan grows, but she grapples with the fear of repeating past mistakes. Ryan’s quiet acts of care, like letting Indy keep her belongings in his apartment and showing genuine concern for her, contrast with his earlier detachment.
The tension between them peaks when Indy admits her struggles with intimacy since her breakup, leading to a vulnerable moment where Ryan kisses her, grounding them both in the reality of their feelings. This moment shifts their dynamic from surface-level tension to a deeper connection.
Their physical closeness becomes a reflection of their emotional growth, with Ryan allowing himself to express feelings he previously hid, and Indy rediscovering her confidence and sense of self through their bond. Despite Ryan’s fear of losing control, he begins to embrace the warmth and unpredictability Indy brings into his life.
At a wedding where Indy’s ex is present, Ryan battles his insecurities and fear of losing Indy while navigating the attention that comes with his public persona. Indy, despite the orchestrated attempts of her friends to push her back toward her past, keeps her focus on Ryan, who remains a steady presence in her life.
In a quiet moment away from the crowd, Ryan confesses his love to Indy, expressing his desire for her and the life they have built together. Indy responds with her own confession, affirming her love for him and her commitment to their shared future.
This confession brings them peace, leading to a deepening of their relationship where their intimacy becomes an extension of their emotional connection. They establish a new rhythm of life together, filled with shared breakfasts, support, and quiet moments that solidify their bond.
Ryan’s willingness to embrace Indy’s world, including learning sign language for her family, showcases his commitment to their partnership.
Ryan’s return to the basketball court is marked by a new sense of balance, with Indy cheering for him courtside, embodying the life they have created together. His public acknowledgment of their relationship reflects his growth, showing he is no longer afraid to let the world see who holds his heart.
The story concludes with Ryan surprising Indy with a house he had bought months earlier, symbolizing his commitment to building a family and a future with her. Indy, moved by the depth of his love, imagines their future in the house, filled with family gatherings and warmth.
Ryan’s actions and words reassure her of the life they will share, rooted in love, support, and genuine partnership.
In the epilogue, four years later, they have two children and live out the dreams they once only imagined. The home they built together is now filled with laughter, love, and the presence of family and friends, reflecting the life they created through shared choices and quiet moments of connection.
Ryan’s continued commitment to family and community through his foundation further underscores the transformation in his life, showcasing a man who found completeness in the chaos and color Indy brought into his world.
Through The Right Move, Ryan and Indy’s journey shows how love can grow in the spaces where discipline meets warmth, and where ambition and vulnerability coexist, proving that true connection can heal past wounds and create a life rooted in mutual respect and unwavering support.
Characters
Ryan Shay
Ryan Shay, the newly appointed captain of the Chicago Devils NBA team in The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, embodies the disciplined, structured, and intensely driven athlete whose singular focus on excellence isolates him both professionally and personally. At twenty-seven, Ryan’s life is dictated by meticulous routines, strict diet, relentless workouts, and an obsessive need for control, all of which he believes are essential for earning success rather than waiting for fate to deliver it.
His minimalist, sterile apartment mirrors his inner world: organized and precise, protecting him from distractions and chaos while reflecting the emotional barriers he erects to maintain his mental clarity for his career. Yet beneath this hard exterior lies a man grappling with the loneliness his discipline has cultivated, evident when he agrees to let Indy, his sister’s best friend, move in despite his discomfort, prioritizing family over his rigid comfort.
Ryan’s leadership journey within the team pushes him to realize that discipline alone cannot command respect; connection and empathy are required to unify his team, challenging his ingrained habits. His evolving dynamic with Indy forces him to confront vulnerability, as her emotional transparency, warmth, and chaos infiltrate his carefully curated world, making him aware of his capacity for care and desire for genuine connection.
Through his slow transformation, Ryan learns to soften, embracing imperfection, emotional risk, and the vibrancy Indy brings into his life, discovering that true strength includes the courage to be emotionally present and to love fully.
Indy
Indy, the resilient, emotionally open, and quietly courageous best friend of Ryan’s sister in The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, represents color, chaos, and vulnerability in contrast to Ryan’s rigidly structured existence. Having endured betrayal and emotional neglect from her ex, Alex, Indy struggles with reclaiming her sense of worth, autonomy, and the ability to trust herself with intimacy and connection again.
Her arrival in Ryan’s sterile apartment disrupts his strict order, as she brings warmth, plants, romance novels, and an emotional vibrancy that challenges his stoic detachment, pushing her to navigate the discomfort of living with a man she finds deeply attractive yet emotionally distant. Despite her bruised heart, Indy remains perceptive and empathetic, recognizing the cracks in Ryan’s armor while simultaneously confronting her own fear of being seen as needy or broken.
Her agreement to be Ryan’s fake girlfriend starts as a practical arrangement but evolves into a layered exploration of desire, healing, and emotional growth as she confronts her trauma and longing for connection. Indy’s candidness about her struggles with intimacy becomes a catalyst for her and Ryan to acknowledge their hidden desires, leading to a passionate connection that validates her worth and reaffirms her capability to embrace love.
Her humor, kindness, and ability to create a lived-in, welcoming environment allow her to transform Ryan’s world, while her own journey with him helps her reclaim joy, confidence, and the possibility of a future filled with the love she has always longed to experience.
Ethan
Ethan, Ryan’s former captain in The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, is a quiet yet influential figure whose mentorship shapes Ryan’s path as a leader. Though not as prominently featured as Ryan and Indy, Ethan’s advice to Ryan about the importance of connection and respect beyond performance marks a critical turning point in Ryan’s leadership journey.
He recognizes Ryan’s isolating intensity and guides him to understand that true leadership involves fostering trust and empathy within the team, pushing Ryan to grow beyond the confines of his performance-centric mindset. Ethan’s presence underscores the book’s theme that leadership is not solely about discipline and hard work but also about relational intelligence, leaving a lasting impact on Ryan’s evolution.
Stevie
Stevie, Ryan’s younger sister and Indy’s best friend in The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, serves as the gentle force that nudges Ryan toward vulnerability and human connection. Her close bond with Ryan is one of the few personal relationships he maintains, and it is Stevie’s trust in Ryan that leads to Indy moving in, setting the stage for the emotional journey that follows.
Stevie’s vibrant personality, compassion, and ability to speak truth into Ryan’s life act as a bridge between Ryan’s structured world and the emotional messiness he avoids. Through her protective love for Indy and subtle challenges to Ryan’s rigid boundaries, Stevie plays a key role in facilitating the changes necessary for Ryan’s growth, embodying the familial love that grounds both Ryan and Indy.
Alex
Alex, Indy’s ex-boyfriend in The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, represents the betrayal and emotional manipulation that haunt Indy’s sense of self-worth and ability to trust. His casual attitude towards their breakup and infidelity leaves Indy struggling with feelings of inadequacy and brokenness, especially regarding her ability to find pleasure and fulfillment after their relationship.
Alex’s presence at pivotal moments in the story, particularly during Maggie’s wedding, tests Indy’s emotional growth and resilience, serving as a stark contrast to Ryan’s quiet, protective, and consistent love. Through Indy’s interactions with Alex, her journey of reclaiming autonomy and demanding respect from herself and others becomes evident, reinforcing her path towards healing.
Kai
Kai, Ryan’s friend and teammate in The Right Move by Liz Tomforde, contributes warmth and gentle humor to the narrative while indirectly highlighting Ryan’s evolving feelings for Indy. His interactions with Indy, which trigger Ryan’s possessiveness, help Ryan confront the depth of his emotions and challenge his claims of detachment.
Though not a central figure, Kai’s friendly presence and supportive nature add to the team’s dynamic, serving as a subtle reflection of the family Ryan finds within his team as he learns to let down his walls.
Themes
Discipline and Structure Versus Chaos and Vulnerability
Ryan’s life in The Right Move is marked by a strict devotion to discipline and structure, serving as the armor that shields him from distractions, emotional entanglements, and perceived weakness. His approach to basketball, characterized by relentless early mornings, rigorous training, and a minimalistic personal environment, represents his belief that greatness can only be achieved through consistent, disciplined action rather than wishful thinking.
This rigidity, however, is continuously tested as Indy enters his meticulously organized world, bringing with her a sense of chaos in the form of emotional expressiveness, clutter, and unfiltered honesty. Her presence in his life disrupts his sense of control, confronting him with the discomfort of dealing with emotions he has long suppressed.
Ryan’s struggle to maintain his routine while navigating the unpredictable nature of human connection highlights the cost of living within such narrow confines. The theme illustrates how Ryan’s structure, once a source of comfort and progress, slowly becomes a cage that limits his growth, pushing him to consider that vulnerability and openness are not threats to discipline but necessary complements to a fulfilled, balanced life.
This gradual, often uncomfortable shift in Ryan’s perspective is a central narrative driver, showing that embracing emotional messiness does not weaken ambition but humanizes it, creating space for genuine connection and resilience that enrich both his personal relationships and his identity as a leader.
The Evolution of Leadership Beyond Performance
In The Right Move, Ryan’s initial view of leadership is rooted firmly in performance, believing that respect is earned solely through excellence on the court and rigid personal discipline. His appointment as team captain validates his athletic prowess but exposes the hollowness in his approach when faced with the team’s collective needs for connection and inspiration.
His interactions with his teammates, who respect him yet struggle to relate to his isolating intensity, force Ryan to confront the limitations of performance-based leadership. The advice from his former captain, Ethan, and the subsequent challenges with his team push him to consider the human aspects of leadership: the need to foster trust, encourage vulnerability, and cultivate camaraderie.
As Ryan navigates these realizations, his connection with Indy becomes a parallel lesson, revealing the necessity of empathy and emotional availability in building meaningful relationships. This transformation is not instantaneous but marked by internal conflicts where Ryan fears that softening his strict persona may undermine his authority or dilute his focus.
However, as he slowly learns to engage with his teammates on a personal level while balancing his high standards, Ryan discovers that effective leadership is a synthesis of excellence and compassion. It is through embracing this duality that he moves from being a solitary figure driven by individual ambition to a leader capable of inspiring collective success, demonstrating that leadership’s true strength lies not only in performance but also in the courage to connect.
Healing from Past Wounds and Reclaiming Identity
Indy’s journey in The Right Move is a powerful exploration of healing from emotional wounds and reclaiming one’s identity after betrayal and loss of control. Her past, defined by a toxic relationship where her autonomy and self-worth were eroded, shapes her initial struggles with independence and intimacy.
Her move into Ryan’s home, initially out of necessity, becomes a symbolic reclamation of space and identity as she gradually infuses the lifeless apartment with her personality, plants, and colors. Each act of claiming space reflects her attempt to regain a sense of self in a world that once silenced her.
Her struggle with physical intimacy and desire, deeply tied to the betrayal she experienced, underscores the emotional aftermath of infidelity, where reclaiming bodily autonomy becomes as significant as emotional healing. Her evolving relationship with Ryan, filled with moments of conflict and tenderness, becomes a safe space for her to confront these fears without judgment, illustrating that healing often requires connection and the freedom to express needs without fear of rejection.
Indy’s growth, marked by her gradual rediscovery of independence while learning to accept support, emphasizes that reclaiming identity after trauma is not about isolating oneself but about finding the strength to define oneself on new, healthier terms while embracing vulnerability as a path to empowerment.
Love as a Practice of Daily Commitment
Love in The Right Move is portrayed not as grand, cinematic gestures but as a quiet, consistent practice of choosing each other every day, even in mundane moments. Ryan and Indy’s evolving relationship reflects this theme, showing how small acts—watering plants, building a bookshelf, learning sign language for family, sharing breakfast—hold greater significance than dramatic declarations.
Their journey highlights that true love thrives on consistent presence, understanding, and the willingness to share vulnerabilities without fear of judgment. Ryan’s transition from a man who sees relationships as distractions to someone who actively chooses to let Indy into his world represents a deep understanding that love, at its core, is about participation in the everyday moments that build a shared life.
Similarly, Indy’s acceptance of Ryan’s structured world while gently challenging it with her warmth and spontaneity reflects how love involves embracing the differences that initially seem disruptive but ultimately lead to growth and deeper connection. The theme is reinforced by their quiet rituals, shared laughter, and mutual support, underscoring that love’s depth is found in the intentional, repeated choice to show up for each other despite fears and past wounds.
This practice of daily commitment transforms their lives from isolated existences into a partnership rooted in trust and emotional safety, emphasizing that real love is a shared effort of building a life together through small, consistent actions.