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emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Car accident
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Out November 7 [Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy to review!]
Rating: 5/5 stars
In Ali Hazelwood’s YA debut, Mallory Greenleaf is a chess prodigy who hasn’t played in four years—until she wipes the board with reigning world champion Nolan Sawyer at a charity tournament.
There are some universal truths in this world: the sky is blue, water tastes better in the middle of the night, the USB charger will never be facing the right way to plug in on the first try, and I love every word that Ali Hazelwood writes. Given this, I wasn’t at all surprised to enjoy Check & Mate, but what caught me off guard was how thoroughly I LOVED it. It consumed me so much that I didn’t want to stop reading and never wanted it to end, and as much as it shocks me to say it (solely because I’ve loved her prior books so much): this is my favorite Ali Hazelwood novel.
Everything about this book is perfection—the high stakes competitive aspect, the he-falls-first adorableness, the way the characters feel like real people who, while young, are making mature decisions and behaving in realistic ways. The plot is engrossing and entertaining, with all the right romance-y trope moments you’d expect but also plenty of heart and angst and reflection.
I truly can’t say enough good things, but I’ll run out of room in the caption if I keep going. Suffice to say you NEED this one in your hands come November.
I also had the supreme honor of gushing about this book directly to Ali recently, which was truly a highlight of my life.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: rivals to lovers; competition plots; he falls first
CW: Loss of parent; dementia; alcoholism; mental health; infidelity
Rating: 5/5 stars
In Ali Hazelwood’s YA debut, Mallory Greenleaf is a chess prodigy who hasn’t played in four years—until she wipes the board with reigning world champion Nolan Sawyer at a charity tournament.
There are some universal truths in this world: the sky is blue, water tastes better in the middle of the night, the USB charger will never be facing the right way to plug in on the first try, and I love every word that Ali Hazelwood writes. Given this, I wasn’t at all surprised to enjoy Check & Mate, but what caught me off guard was how thoroughly I LOVED it. It consumed me so much that I didn’t want to stop reading and never wanted it to end, and as much as it shocks me to say it (solely because I’ve loved her prior books so much): this is my favorite Ali Hazelwood novel.
Everything about this book is perfection—the high stakes competitive aspect, the he-falls-first adorableness, the way the characters feel like real people who, while young, are making mature decisions and behaving in realistic ways. The plot is engrossing and entertaining, with all the right romance-y trope moments you’d expect but also plenty of heart and angst and reflection.
I truly can’t say enough good things, but I’ll run out of room in the caption if I keep going. Suffice to say you NEED this one in your hands come November.
I also had the supreme honor of gushing about this book directly to Ali recently, which was truly a highlight of my life.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: rivals to lovers; competition plots; he falls first
CW: Loss of parent; dementia; alcoholism; mental health; infidelity
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Mental illness
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There’s a few elite YA books that work well for an adult reader, and this is one of them. This book is DIVINE! It is my new favorite Hazelwood book— the romance is swoony and as usual she deftly explores sexism in the most perfect way possible. This is my favorite Hazelwood MC— Mallory is IT!!! Any former parentified child with a guilt complex will feel SEEN!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’ve been a fan of Ali Hazelwood since The Love Hypothesis and have loved all her books! Normally there are one or two small things I would prefer to be different, but I would not change a single thing about this book! Seriously, it’s perfection. I did not put it down and I already want to go back and reread it. The characters, backstories, plot, the romantic chemistry, the tiny nerd jokes - it was all perfection. There is closed-door romance (which is probably my preference), but it doesn’t take away from the romance. There is still palpable tension and the build-up is just lovely. You’ll have an enjoyable knight if you pick up this chess- themed YA romance when it comes out in November! 5⭐️, 1.5🌶
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Death of parent