Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

29 reviews

btg's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.75

Gosh darn it, Hazelwood, you've done it again. This is an absolutely FABULOUS deconstruction of a parentified caretaker character that hit me hard. As per usual, Hazelwood's male protagonist takes absolutely none of the very relatable female protagonist's bullshit -- it's still a little unrealistic, but it has this fantasy element to it that I eat for breakfast. The main characters are so cute together and they have a fast-progressing relationship. The pacing of this book is lightning fast; I could not put it down. I hate chess and Ali Hazelwood actually made me love it for the span of this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment

Minor: Homophobia, Medical content, and Lesbophobia

lauramparis's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Infidelity, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

4.0

another banger by ali hazelwood. i loved these characters and reading this after just bingeing the queen’s gambit for the first time was the perfect pairing. it was sweet and emotional and funny and enjoyable like all of ali’s books.
the only difference is that there was no spice, it was more of a fade-to-black. which i was initially disappointed by as i enjoy ali’s spice but then i remembered that she wrote the fmc to be 18. 
to be honest i completely forgot until i was reminded, as the way she wrote character felt more early to mid 20s as i related to a lot of what she did and felt and the character wasn’t in school, had a full time job and was the parent of the household so she felt much older than she was. but it didn’t take away from the story at all and i really enjoyed it, even all the chess!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Car accident, Outing, and Alcohol

nasuha's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

I think it's okay and it did get me out of my slump. The ending was a bit rushed and I would like it better if it was not. The concept is kind of "I know you — no, you don't know anything about me" angst yknow.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, and Abandonment

kshertz's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Ali Hazelwood can do no wrong for me. I was hesitant to read because I knew it was Ya and it would be closed door romance but it was so fantastic. She just has this way of writing where I will not stop reading. I read this book in one evening. I fell in love with the characters almost immediately and rooted for them the whole time. I love the ending and the Epilogue too. Definitely a must read

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Content Warnings

Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment

britwalsh16's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

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!!! 🥰🥰🥰

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Outing, and Abandonment

coffeekitaab's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment

uranaishi's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Car accident, Abandonment, and Alcohol

lizgriffinwords's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cursing and Sexual content