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lilawsahar's review
emotional
lighthearted
sad
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
4.0
Mallory Mallory Mallory. I really related to her as an eldest daughter. I feel like there are a lot of responsibilities taken on as an eldest daughter that aren’t acknowledged, but taken advantage of. I think the mom could have helped by not putting the burden of the whole household onto her. It was weird how the mom crushed off Mallory’s troubles by her not asking for help when the mom depended on her to make money, buy groceries, and take care of her younger sisters. Like can you take responsibility for not helping or getting help yourself? I feel like the friend did the same thing. She blamed Mallory for not reaching out enough, but you didn’t even respond to her text messages??? Shitty friend. The only one who was kind to Mallory was her chess community. Nolan literally saved her from a shitty situation.
I love how this romance also includes the importance of friendship, family, and having safe sex. Great book for teens to read and relate to.
I love how this romance also includes the importance of friendship, family, and having safe sex. Great book for teens to read and relate to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Sexism, Misogyny, and Grief
lovelymisanthrope's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.0
After reading Ali Hazelwood's other books, I was excited to pick up her first venture into Young Adult.
"Check & Mate" follows Mallory Grennleaf, a young adult who has put her life on hold to try to take care of her mom and sisters. When she was a younger teenager, she was on track to become a chess champion, unfortunately, after an incident involving her father, she vowed to give up chess forever. That is, until opportunity knocks on her door, and she is offered a chance to get paid to play the game she loves so much. At a charity competition, Mallory beats the best chess player in the world, Nolan Sawyer. Should Mallory return to the world of competitive chess? And should she give into her desire to see Nolan again?
This was a really sweet love story, with two really lovable characters. Nolan is such a good guy, and he is so humble despite being an exceptional chess player. He is flawed, and doubts himself, but Mallory is so good for him and really helps him to see that there is more to life than chess. Nolan helps Mallory accept her love of chess and helps her become an even better player.
We know early on that something happened to Mallory's dad, and that is why she does not want to play, but the author really drags out the "reveal" of what actually did happen. I understand the significance of this event and why it is important to Mallory's story and character development, but I feel like the author did not have to leave so many frequent breadcrumbs, she could have just waited and reveled it in the same way. I also find it slightly unbelievable how much Mallory blamed herself for what happened. Her guilt seemed a little extreme and unnatural to me, and more of a plot point to make the story seem higher stakes.
As with all of Ali Hazelwood's books, there are great feminist undertones to this book. Women in chess are often heavily discriminated against, and it was empowering to see strong women characters fighting back on these groundless claims. I almost feel like Ali Hazelwood's writing style is better suited in the Young Adult sphere.
I will, of course, read more from Ali Hazelwood in the future, and I highly recommend this title!
"Check & Mate" follows Mallory Grennleaf, a young adult who has put her life on hold to try to take care of her mom and sisters. When she was a younger teenager, she was on track to become a chess champion, unfortunately, after an incident involving her father, she vowed to give up chess forever. That is, until opportunity knocks on her door, and she is offered a chance to get paid to play the game she loves so much. At a charity competition, Mallory beats the best chess player in the world, Nolan Sawyer. Should Mallory return to the world of competitive chess? And should she give into her desire to see Nolan again?
This was a really sweet love story, with two really lovable characters. Nolan is such a good guy, and he is so humble despite being an exceptional chess player. He is flawed, and doubts himself, but Mallory is so good for him and really helps him to see that there is more to life than chess. Nolan helps Mallory accept her love of chess and helps her become an even better player.
We know early on that something happened to Mallory's dad, and that is why she does not want to play, but the author really drags out the "reveal" of what actually did happen. I understand the significance of this event and why it is important to Mallory's story and character development, but I feel like the author did not have to leave so many frequent breadcrumbs, she could have just waited and reveled it in the same way. I also find it slightly unbelievable how much Mallory blamed herself for what happened. Her guilt seemed a little extreme and unnatural to me, and more of a plot point to make the story seem higher stakes.
As with all of Ali Hazelwood's books, there are great feminist undertones to this book. Women in chess are often heavily discriminated against, and it was empowering to see strong women characters fighting back on these groundless claims. I almost feel like Ali Hazelwood's writing style is better suited in the Young Adult sphere.
I will, of course, read more from Ali Hazelwood in the future, and I highly recommend this title!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual content
ktdakotareads's review
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Chronic illness, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
why913's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
NO ONE, not even the character’s MOTHER, even acknowledges that what the MP does is manipulative and that mallory is allowed to feel like her life and choices were out of her control
It’s just a lot of characters being like “well you never asked who the donors were that sponsored your fellowship, so that’s on you, and boo-hoo you get to make money because of him, doing what you love. It must be so hard to be you when others don’t have a dude they sat across from once throw money at them because they ‘love you’. None of this is weird and stop thinking it’s weird and making it all about you”
“Your family of minors and an ailing disabled mother never asked for you to quit school to work and pay the mortgage, that’s your own savior complex you need to get over”
Then who was gonna pay the mortgage, karen?!
And, like, her best friend who she is growing apart from the whole book shows up to support her at the world championship and of course she’s annoyed because all the messages she’s been sending to her have been left unread the whole book but her friend has the balls to say “i thought you grew out of me, being famous now”
And these texts were being ignored from early on in the plot, before mallory is even in the spotlight, so… explain that, though? No, won’t? Just gonna go “i should have remembered from when we were little that you’re an idiot who won’t want to burden anyone so you threw me away before i could potentially do it to you”
NO MA’AM - you left her on read for CHAPTERS, this is not her fault!!
Ugh - like, we’re being *told* mallory is surrounded by this loving network of family and friends and that she’s so seen, but… is she though??
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Dementia
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