A review by lizgriffinwords
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative 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

5.0

I love Ali Hazelwood with my whole chest and I truly consider this book her best work yet!! The vulnerability and rawness of Mallory’s POV hit me so deeply, as someone who played tons of chess with my own dad. And as a woman in a male dominated career field, I ached and raged alongside her with all the sexism she puts up with.

And Nolan is glorious. Chess > sex always.

CW: parental abandonment, family member death (in past), chronic illness, realistic sexism, infrequent strong language
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