A review by thenaptimewriter
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
4.5
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
Ali Hazelwood’s switching it up with a YA romance that also has some of the things she’s known for, including a reserved hero who’s hard for the heroine to read.
Check & Mate has a lot to offer and Hazelwood’s voice translates to YA *so* well.
Protagonist Mallory Greenleaf is a witty delight of a heroine who can play chess with tremendous skill, though she’s chosen not to play in years after some family turmoil.
But life intervenes & she ends up making grandmaster Nolan Sawyer’s jaw fall to the floor, quite a feat since he is—as I said earlier—reserved, implacable, & doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve.
For a bit at least.
Mallory is a powerhouse lead, doing what she can to provide for her family & take care of her mother who has Rheumatoid Arthritis. She’s a boss & the way she does whatever it takes is admirable, even more so when she follows her heart.
There’s bisexual rep in this one, a hero who makes some pretty sweet gestures, & an exploration of misogyny in the world of chess.
I don’t know anything about chess but this is a really great read that made me excited to see what Ali Hazelwood will write next!
4.5⭐️. Out 11/07.
Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.
Ali Hazelwood’s switching it up with a YA romance that also has some of the things she’s known for, including a reserved hero who’s hard for the heroine to read.
Check & Mate has a lot to offer and Hazelwood’s voice translates to YA *so* well.
Protagonist Mallory Greenleaf is a witty delight of a heroine who can play chess with tremendous skill, though she’s chosen not to play in years after some family turmoil.
But life intervenes & she ends up making grandmaster Nolan Sawyer’s jaw fall to the floor, quite a feat since he is—as I said earlier—reserved, implacable, & doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve.
For a bit at least.
Mallory is a powerhouse lead, doing what she can to provide for her family & take care of her mother who has Rheumatoid Arthritis. She’s a boss & the way she does whatever it takes is admirable, even more so when she follows her heart.
There’s bisexual rep in this one, a hero who makes some pretty sweet gestures, & an exploration of misogyny in the world of chess.
I don’t know anything about chess but this is a really great read that made me excited to see what Ali Hazelwood will write next!
4.5⭐️. Out 11/07.
Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.