Check & Mate
2023
Ratings20
Average rating4
15
Ratings20
Average rating4
In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart. Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess. Nolan’s loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist.... As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent…and infuriating…)
Reviews with the most likes.
I didn???t like Mallory. Nolan was great but not much more than a side character.
Also, I may be old fashioned but I found Mallory???s use of hookup apps and casual sex (no need to remember their names) to be out of place in a ya romance.
The book was closed door, so there wasn???t really much difference when she slept with Nolan than the guys in earlier chapters.
Feel like this would???ve been better as NA including some steamy scenes with the main love interest. As it was, they didn???t have much chemistry and I had no idea why he liked her.
The chess plot was okay, but all very unrealistic. I struggled to believe someone who hadn???t played chess for a long time would so easily beat the best in the world.
This book had me giggling and kicking my feet. The characters were real and had true depth to them. Their story is intricately woven together. It’s posed as an enemies to lovers but rather the game was the “enemy” all along.
Of course Ali does it again - another 5 star read that she wrote. I just love her writing style so much, it's so easy and nice to read, it's empowering and it always makes me FEEL. I loved the characters in this new book, especially Nolan, he is such a sweetheart.
3.5/5 ⭐
This book got me obsessed with chess for a second there. The book wasn't one of my favorites but it wasn't bad. Nolan was ok but I hated Mallory so much. She had no right to be pissed at Nolan. And what was wrong with her sisters?
