A review by jwilson4444
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I actually really liked this! 

I was probably the most skeptical of this book out of all of Ali’s others because I have been slowly drifting away from YA butttttt this was actually very good. Mallory (although frustrating at times) was a very relatable and sympathetic character and the romance between her and Nolan was built up so well in such a short period of time. 

Plus, even though I know nothing about competitive chess, I really appreciated the chess elements! It was different and fun and presented in a way that didn’t make the reader feel stupid for not knowing what “knight to E4” means. 

Overall = a big yes for this book! The family relationships alone were enough for me to enjoy and then the romance was the cherry on top :)