Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Check & Mate

Ali Hazelwood has done it again, & though it isn’t my favorite book of hers. I absolutely could not put it down.
I loved Mallory and her struggle with dealing with her guilt & grief throughout the book, but who was she kidding when she said she wouldn’t get sucked back into the world she never stopped loving! Lol
And Nolan! Omg! I LOVE Nolan! He isn’t what you expect when you are told all the stories about him near the beginning. But the love at first sight that he got for Mal when he finally looked up from the chess board when she beat him, what girl wouldn’t want him to fall for them! He fell so hard, & he tried so hard to win Mal over! He is just the sweetest!!! I want a Nolan for myself!!! 🥰🥰🥰

Content Warnings

coffeekitaab's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Ali Hazelwood books can do no wrong in my mind - there's always something I take away, just a calm and breezy read. This one was a really sweet story and I loved the characters, representation of gender fluidity, LGBTQ+ , I just felt some development may have been lacking with the male protagonist but it came together at the end for me..plus a new intrigue surrounding the chess world! I really want to explore the resources credited at the end and also watch The Queens Gambit! As a YA this was a pleasant, quick read.

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uranaishi's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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kayceeisbookish's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-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

4.25

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meganpbell's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

The DRAMA of the international chess scene, a reluctant heroine SLAYING the game, and a demisexual KING who only has dark eyes for her?? This romance between a chess prodigy who gave up the game years ago and the bad boy™️ World Champion she trashes at her first game back…it checkmated my heart and made me absolutely rabid to read more! Have you ever heard of the touch-move rule? You’re about to learn. Pick this up, and you won’t put it down til you finish!

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