A review by vividaway
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 I like how the book starts out showing how much the family sacrifices for their moms disability. The chess tournament between Nolan and Mallory is really nice, and it displays the different capabilities of chess to people like me. Mallory getting fired (for being a good person) was shocking but also goes to show how much she relied on her father to existing in the world, and it shows how deep her loss of him goes. Mall meeting all the different chess players was really interesting, like Emile and Oz. The tournament was really engaging and I like that Mallory still won $10k even though she wasn’t THE winner. The spat between Sabrina and Mallory was very realistic towards familial relationships and I love how it played out. Nolan being asexual coded is also REALLY CUTE representation. I love how all the flirting is chess related, and very tense, and it’s so fucking adorable to me. The sick part of the book was also adorable, and i love how Mallory took care of Nolan. Just very sweet. The talk about how woman are chosen in the industry to uphold image and not progress the standards is also really interesting and important to talk about, and I’m glad it was touched on. The challengers scene was fascinating and Mallory having to resign to Cox was tense as fuck. The impact of it afterwards was sad and seeing Mallory slightly give up on chess was impactful to me. The kiss between Nolan and Mallory was cute, and i love how the Touch-Take rule was played out. The reveal that Cox was cheating was a big twist, along with the relationship divide that happens. Nolan was paying for Mallory’s fellowship, and she couldn’t handle it. This makes sense, and i sympathize with both parties. Mallory blaming herself for her fathers death is also a tough topic to introduce to the novel, but it was thoroughly needed and well done. I love that Mallory’s mother comes in and helps after her outburst, and doesn’t blame her for it. She understands that she’s grieving, and taking on a parental role. Her sisters apologizing, and her apologizing to them was sweet, and i liked how everything was resolved. This was great representation for Rheumatoid Arthritis and i really like how it was handled. The confession scene was sweet and i liked how everything happened. It was a little hard to connect because it felt like everything happened so fast, but Nolan and Mallory getting together and sorting out their problems was needed, especially after everything she accused him of. The ending of this book was so sweet and had me swinging and kicking my feet. I love their relationship so much and idc what anyone else says about this book, it is SO cute.