Check & Mate
Ratings179
Average rating3.9
This one was a fun light-hearted read. Filled with lots of typical young adult drama, peppered with some romance.
The story is about the lead girl who happens to be a chess prodigy but has stoped playing the game due to some traumatic background story relating to her Dad and her family.
The lead guy is this unbeaten world chess champion who is described as some hot shot celebrity genius, which reminds me somewhat of Magnus Carlsen. The story begins when somehow the protagonist enters an open chess tournament with reluctance and somehow ends up beating this lead guy. This makes the lead guy fall for her and keeps on trying to "play chess with her", throughout the novel.
The plot revolves around their everyday lives, their emotional back story, family dynamics, friendships and yes, chess. Mostly chess. I enjoyed reading this book as it reminded me of my college days when I was pursuing my master's and also pursuing the love of my life, who's now my wife. We used to play chess online during covid lockdown where I used to teach her how to play and eventually she ended up mastering it and started defeating me regularly. Fun times indeed!
It's a simple read with the language and narration catering to a young audience. The dialogue sounded teensy to me but that's alright as that's how young adult romance is I guess.
The book also highlights the gender gap in chess and lack of women representation and the issues they have had to face with casual sexism. That part was interestingly eye opening.
Would like to explore more of Ali Hazelwood's works. Maybe something that's more mature.
Overall, I'lll give this 3.5 out of 5.
This one was a fun light-hearted read. Filled with lots of typical young adult drama, peppered with some romance.
The story is about the lead girl who happens to be a chess prodigy but has stoped playing the game due to some traumatic background story relating to her Dad and her family.
The lead guy is this unbeaten world chess champion who is described as some hot shot celebrity genius, which reminds me somewhat of Magnus Carlsen. The story begins when somehow the protagonist enters an open chess tournament with reluctance and somehow ends up beating this lead guy. This makes the lead guy fall for her and keeps on trying to "play chess with her", throughout the novel.
The plot revolves around their everyday lives, their emotional back story, family dynamics, friendships and yes, chess. Mostly chess. I enjoyed reading this book as it reminded me of my college days when I was pursuing my master's and also pursuing the love of my life, who's now my wife. We used to play chess online during covid lockdown where I used to teach her how to play and eventually she ended up mastering it and started defeating me regularly. Fun times indeed!
It's a simple read with the language and narration catering to a young audience. The dialogue sounded teensy to me but that's alright as that's how young adult romance is I guess.
The book also highlights the gender gap in chess and lack of women representation and the issues they have had to face with casual sexism. That part was interestingly eye opening.
Would like to explore more of Ali Hazelwood's works. Maybe something that's more mature.
Overall, I'lll give this 3.5 out of 5.
Added to listLOS MEJORESSSwith 9 books.
*more like 3.75
I was a bit unsure about wanting to read this, because it's YA and I was afraid it would feel very young and teenage-y and I was not feeling that, but I actually enjoyed it, I think it helps the characters are not super young (18&20). They're both very likeable, Mallory's relationship with her family was interesting and I liked their dynamic, I also really liked how confident/straightforward Nolan was. I also liked all the side characters, they were all fun and I would not have minded seeing more of them.
I don't know a lot about chess, so not sure how accurate that part is. It's probably a bit unrealistic how good Mallory is, but I didn't mind it personally.
*more like 3.75
I was a bit unsure about wanting to read this, because it's YA and I was afraid it would feel very young and teenage-y and I was not feeling that, but I actually enjoyed it, I think it helps the characters are not super young (18&20). They're both very likeable, Mallory's relationship with her family was interesting and I liked their dynamic, I also really liked how confident/straightforward Nolan was. I also liked all the side characters, they were all fun and I would not have minded seeing more of them.
I don't know a lot about chess, so not sure how accurate that part is. It's probably a bit unrealistic how good Mallory is, but I didn't mind it personally.
