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!!! 🥰🥰🥰
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
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent, Dementia, Bullying, Car accident, Grief, Infidelity, and Chronic illness
Minor: Violence, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Outing, Abandonment, Car accident, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
cassmills's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity and Forced institutionalization
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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
5.0
This book simultaneously wrecked me and was everything to me. Mallory is no stranger to being female in male-dominated spaces. Before she secretly re-entered the chess world after a four-year hiatus, she supported her family as a mechanic. But a surprise checkmate against the world’s top player upends her life in ways she never expected. A queer queen of hookups and avoider of emotional connection, Mallory may have finally found her perfect match—Nolan, the only person who sees chess the way she does: beautiful, artistic, all-consuming. The sexual tension between them is unrivaled, and each is healing from family trauma. This is a story of a gifted young woman who dares to follow her dream.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, and Chronic illness
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Car accident, Infidelity, Sexual content, Dementia, and Violence
jillwedemeier's review against another edition
funny
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
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes her debut YA novel, Check & Mate.
Eighteen-year-old former chess prodigy Mallory Greenleaf is done with the sport. After it led to the destruction of her family four years ago, Mallory’s new focus is on her sick mom, her two younger sisters, and her dead-end job as an auto-mechanic. But then, Mallory begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity chess tournament and inadvertently beats the current World Champion, Nolan Sawyer, also known as “the bad boy of chess.“ Her victory leads to a job opportunity she can’t pass up and opens the door to cash-prizes that her family sorely needs. It also leads to more run-ins with Nolan. Will they become chess rivals or something more?
I know absolutely nothing about chess and have never even played, but having recently read and loved “The Queen’s Gambit,” I couldn’t wait to read this book. It was a fun romantic comedy, and I enjoyed it overall. However, I don’t think this book should be classified as a YA novel. It straddled the line between juvenile (too many fart jokes and TikTok references) and adult (we get it, Mallory likes sex), so I would not recommend it to a younger audience. I also had a hard time reading any chapter with Mallory’s 12-year-old and 14-year-old sisters. They were horrible to her, even though she worked so hard to give them everything they needed and keep the bills paid. They did redeem themselves in the end, though. Overall, a fun read, and I look forward to reading more from Ali Hazelwood.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Chronic illness
ryanbada's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Outing, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Physical abuse, and Mental illness
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