A review by alexxmichelle
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

I really really enjoyed this book! I picked it up cause I like romance but I honestly would have enjoyed it without the romance. This is a weird pull but Nolans dominance reminded me of 2023 Max Verstappen specifically when during the challengers the other players say that they don't even think about beating him cause no one can. Sweet romance, interesting plot, good character development, and I learned a little about chess. Lost a star because I don’t think this should be classified as YA. I would not give this book to anyone under 14. There is no graphic sex but sex is talked about quite a lot and there are some more adult themes. <There is also a third act breakup that felt silly and unnecessary> My inly other critique is that she does tend to use the same basic formula for all her books. But ya know if it works it works cause I (and plenty of other people) eat it up every time. That being said overall a lovely book! 
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