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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Super cute & fun read! I loved how Nolan was just so into playing a good game of chess. Still not a fan of Ali’s side comments (mentioned fyre fest…a true test of how the book is related to current events) which is why I deducted a Star.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-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
it feels like ali hazelwood writes specifically for me. i get her so bad. i can never stop reading her books.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
finally done reading all of ali hazelwood's books (excluding novellas)!!! i liked this, but it didn't really resonate with me as much as her other novels. i'm just not particularly interested in chess lol. i thought mallory and nolan were cute tho! i wish we got a bit more of their relationship stage, but the epilogue wrapped things up nicely :)
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Check & Mate is a multi-layered, funny, emotional and complex YA novel following Mallory as she re-enters the world of competitive chess. I am simply at a loss for words. It is clear to me that anyone who speaks down on Ali Hazelwood has not read her work, and has definitely not read Check & Mate.
Never did I think I would read a book based so strongly on chess, let alone that it would make me cry and feel so much. Ali just has such a way with words. I love her humour and the witty banter between characters. More so, I love how she expertly switches to comment on more serious topics such as grief and complicated family dynamics.
While people love to joke/criticise that the MMCs in Ali’s stories tend to be very similar, the same cannot be said for her FMCs. Mallory has to be one of my favourite characters in the Ali Hazelwood universe. Perhaps I am biased because I see myself in her and relate so strongly to aspects of her life. Mallory is so complex yet she is perfectly written for a YA setting. While she has her flaws, her unwavering dedication to her family is admirable. I do not have the words to describe how I felt reading about the burden she had being a sole provider and the bread-winner, and also the sacrifices she made in her personal life because of this.
As a young woman, reading Mallory’s POV as she navigated a male dominated industry and constant scrutiny about whether she belonged or deserved to be there had me feeling every emotion from inspired to furious. Ali’s ability to talk about sexism, gender gaps and misogyny will never cease to captivate me everytime.
On top of older sister guilt, financial and family trauma - what else is there left for a YA chess book to discuss? Well, I could go on forever about the themes of Check & Mate if I had the time. But, another major theme that stood out to me was friendship and growing pains. The depiction of Mallory’s relationship with Easton and how it changed throughout the story was also very dear to me (again, I am a bit biased because I relate very much to this plot). For a YA story, I thought it was a nice touch to illustrate how friends grow apart but can come together again.
The pace and ending of Check & Mate cannot be described as anything other than perfect. The descriptions of each chess game were just enough for you to understand what was going on but never get bored. Also, while I was surprised that the championship match was not included, I thought it was a perfect and open ending so you could imagine what happened. It would have been too cheesy for it to be included. And as always, you can rely on Ali for a HEA!!
Never did I think I would read a book based so strongly on chess, let alone that it would make me cry and feel so much. Ali just has such a way with words. I love her humour and the witty banter between characters. More so, I love how she expertly switches to comment on more serious topics such as grief and complicated family dynamics.
While people love to joke/criticise that the MMCs in Ali’s stories tend to be very similar, the same cannot be said for her FMCs. Mallory has to be one of my favourite characters in the Ali Hazelwood universe. Perhaps I am biased because I see myself in her and relate so strongly to aspects of her life. Mallory is so complex yet she is perfectly written for a YA setting. While she has her flaws, her unwavering dedication to her family is admirable. I do not have the words to describe how I felt reading about the burden she had being a sole provider and the bread-winner, and also the sacrifices she made in her personal life because of this.
As a young woman, reading Mallory’s POV as she navigated a male dominated industry and constant scrutiny about whether she belonged or deserved to be there had me feeling every emotion from inspired to furious. Ali’s ability to talk about sexism, gender gaps and misogyny will never cease to captivate me everytime.
On top of older sister guilt, financial and family trauma - what else is there left for a YA chess book to discuss? Well, I could go on forever about the themes of Check & Mate if I had the time. But, another major theme that stood out to me was friendship and growing pains. The depiction of Mallory’s relationship with Easton and how it changed throughout the story was also very dear to me (again, I am a bit biased because I relate very much to this plot). For a YA story, I thought it was a nice touch to illustrate how friends grow apart but can come together again.
The pace and ending of Check & Mate cannot be described as anything other than perfect. The descriptions of each chess game were just enough for you to understand what was going on but never get bored. Also, while I was surprised that the championship match was not included, I thought it was a perfect and open ending so you could imagine what happened. It would have been too cheesy for it to be included. And as always, you can rely on Ali for a HEA!!
5/5 stars!
i absolutely loved this book!! i could not put it down and just wanted to keep reading!! while i don’t understand chess, i still loved the connection and chemistry we saw unfold between mallory and nolan!!
i absolutely loved this book!! i could not put it down and just wanted to keep reading!! while i don’t understand chess, i still loved the connection and chemistry we saw unfold between mallory and nolan!!
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
1. So do I rewatch Queen’s Gambit now? Cause omg this got me so into chess and thankfully wasn’t totally bogged down by chess strategy. Dare I say that chess is lowkey a romantic game? Haha maybe cause my only run in with chess is either this book or Queen’s gambit which are both romance(ish).
2. I liked the lack of smut here. I get it’s YA but yeah. Sometimes smut can be too much or weird or idk… I was not complaining of the lack thereof in this book.
3. But speaking of YA, this definitely was written like a child. Like so cringy at some points. ESPECIALLY any interaction between Mal and her sisters. I had to keep reminding myself that Mal was in fact 18 cause sometimes she acted so immature. But then again, her sisters were supposed to be like 12 but we’re talking to Mal about sex and cursing up a storm and yeah… any scene with the sisters, I had to not physically cringe. It felt unrealistic? Idk maybe kids are like that nowadays. Also her mom def should’ve stepped in there more (not physically like I know she was sick) but when her sister was acting SO mean and the mom was just standing there?!?
4. Mal as a character was fine. She was both mature and also immature which ok is probs typical of an 18 year old. But I really liked Nolan like I liked his quiet nature.
5. Overall the romance was cute. But felt that it was nothing and then bam they’re making out? The whole rivals to lovers wasn’t fully developed I don’t think.
6. Don’t even me started on the fact that we NEVER got to see them play professionally against each other. The very first time doesn’t count…. But I was WAITINGGG the whole book for some details of them playing together, of them looking at each other during the match/making eyes or whatnot or playing footsies (lol this is how I was imagining the hypothetical match). Anyways, we didn’t get that and I’m mad. They skipped right over that and just told us who won. Like wtf???
BUTTT typical Ari saying all the bad things about a book but forgetting to say all the things I do love. I mean I gave it 4 stars for goodness sake. It was a very fast read. Like so pleasant and just an easy read. Read it in 2 days. Could’ve devoured it in a day if I had time. It was just a cute story you know? It’s sometimes fun to read a non serious romance and this just hit the spot! Not as good as love hypothesis or Deep End but still good! I think the characters immaturity was the biggest negative of the whole thing and by the end I was getting tired of cringing lol
2. I liked the lack of smut here. I get it’s YA but yeah. Sometimes smut can be too much or weird or idk… I was not complaining of the lack thereof in this book.
3. But speaking of YA, this definitely was written like a child. Like so cringy at some points. ESPECIALLY any interaction between Mal and her sisters. I had to keep reminding myself that Mal was in fact 18 cause sometimes she acted so immature. But then again, her sisters were supposed to be like 12 but we’re talking to Mal about sex and cursing up a storm and yeah… any scene with the sisters, I had to not physically cringe. It felt unrealistic? Idk maybe kids are like that nowadays. Also her mom def should’ve stepped in there more (not physically like I know she was sick) but when her sister was acting SO mean and the mom was just standing there?!?
4. Mal as a character was fine. She was both mature and also immature which ok is probs typical of an 18 year old. But I really liked Nolan like I liked his quiet nature.
5. Overall the romance was cute. But felt that it was nothing and then bam they’re making out? The whole rivals to lovers wasn’t fully developed I don’t think.
6. Don’t even me started on the fact that we NEVER got to see them play professionally against each other. The very first time doesn’t count…. But I was WAITINGGG the whole book for some details of them playing together, of them looking at each other during the match/making eyes or whatnot or playing footsies (lol this is how I was imagining the hypothetical match). Anyways, we didn’t get that and I’m mad. They skipped right over that and just told us who won. Like wtf???
BUTTT typical Ari saying all the bad things about a book but forgetting to say all the things I do love. I mean I gave it 4 stars for goodness sake. It was a very fast read. Like so pleasant and just an easy read. Read it in 2 days. Could’ve devoured it in a day if I had time. It was just a cute story you know? It’s sometimes fun to read a non serious romance and this just hit the spot! Not as good as love hypothesis or Deep End but still good! I think the characters immaturity was the biggest negative of the whole thing and by the end I was getting tired of cringing lol
