**Review will be published on my site and socials November 2nd!**

NEW FAV.

Alright, I absolutely adored this. Couldn’t put it down. Binge read this beauty. Ali Hazelwood definitely has a spot in the upper YA & NA category.

While at times I was frustrated with Mallory, I could honestly see how warped her thoughts had become because of her past. This felt very true to the age group as well and I liked seeing the up’s and down’s of her decisions. I ESPECIALLY loved her sisters and Mom. I love a close family, flawed and all. Not one person had it all figured out, but they had each other and I found myself misty eyed when they were all able to come together and reconnect.

The roooomance. Oh, it was sweet. Perfectly swoony. I LOVE NOLAN. He is this cinnamon roll hero that just needed someone in his corner. I loved the banter and the build. I was chomping at the bit to see them kiss. I loved seeing Mallory and Nolan argue and work together and all the things that make that fated connection last.

All of the chess things went way over my head (I have only a basic understanding of the game), but I never found it overwhelming Mallory’s character arc or the romance. It added great balance and I liked learning so much about competitions and ratings and how the whole system works.

This was a gem of a read and I hope there’s more YA/NA books in the future!

Overall audience notes:

Upper YA/NA Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong throughout
Romance: light innuendo throughout; one fade to black
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a father (recounted, drunk driving), cheating (recounted; side character), estranged family members

Thank you to NetGalley and Ali Hazelwood for my advance readers copy. I going to start off by saying I love Ali Hazelwood as a writer and a person, when I saw this cover I was so excited for this one I could hardly handle it. I love chess so much and no one has done a romance with this before. Now my favorite parts were the scene with the chess players and tournaments. I loved those scene so much. But unfortunately I was super disappointed in the romance. I know this is YA and I love YA romances but for me the heroine just throw me off. I am just not feeling the romance element. Like this book would have been better if you took the romance out completely. Along with there were just to many scene that were not believable for example the family dinner scene. I can’t image my 12 year old little sister asking my co worker about his sexual preferences. Just things like this popping up all over the book. And lastly the female main character just felt very immature at times which made the romance impossible to believe. One of the statements from the heroine was because the hero is a virgin he is useless in the sack 🫣 I don’t think it should matter it someone is sexually active or not but the author really focused the book around these topics. Also for those calling this enemies to lovers I would definitely say that is a stretch. All I see is a heroine continually running away from the hero, and not giving him any encouragement. And the hero is so intrigued by her because she beat him one time at chess. You have to wonder why the hero even likes the heroine 🤔 I saw in someone review #justicefornolan and I agree😂🤣 I wanted to love this book but so far it was the bust of the year. So heart broken I can’t even tell you.

Mallory Greenleaf is an inspirational icon, granted I am rubbish at chess but this book makes me want to give it a try! The tension, the excitement and the story keeps you gripped from the get go. Ali Hazelwood is one of my top authors and she just keeps putting out fabulous books.

I am obsessed with Ali Hazelwood’s books and I was so excited to read her debut young adult novel! The cover is sooo beautiful!!! This was such a fun and smart book! It has Ali’s signature hilarious, laugh out loud writing style. I loved the characters and learning more about their backstories. I enjoyed seeing Mallory’s growth throughout the book. I’m not super familiar with chess but I was definitely invested in the story and was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen. This book is multidimensional and deals with family, grief, loss, and finding yourself.

Read if you like:
Young adult books
Queen’s gambit vibes
Witty banter
Rivals to lovers

Ali hazel wood did it again! I actually liked this one more than the mini series I read from her. those were a little goofy but this one was super sweet and exactly what I needed. it was light and fluffy with a ton of spice!

I absolutely devoured this book! I have been a big fan of Ali Hazelwood and immediately jumped on the opportunity to review one of her books. I was interested in what the content and vibes of this story would be since it is marketed as a young adult book. After reading, I would say this book fits more into the emerging genre of "new adult" books. Nolan and Mal's chemistry was out of this world. I loved all of the chess talk and the sly ways that they engaged with one another. There was delicious chemistry, just like Ali's other books, but the intimacy scenes were closed door or fade to black. I honestly loved everything about this book. Ali Hazelwood is great at what she does.

This was simply amazing. I loved the characters and the story was absolutely swoon-worthy. To be perfectly honest, I do not know how to play chess (not for lack of trying) but I don't feel that that took away from my love of this book. As always, I highly recommend this book, and all of her others. 😍
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Despite knowing NOTHING about the game of chess, this is hands down my favorite Ali Hazelwood book. While marketed as a YA read, I definitely think it sways more towards the new adult genre as the main character is 18 and the love interest is 20. There is also a lot of cursing and implied sexual scenes.

Synopsis: Mallory Greenleaf had been done with chess for the past four years. That is, until she gets coerced into competing in a charity tournament for her best friend and ends up beating the number one chess player in the world, Nolan Sawyer. Back on the map, Mallory receives a fellowship offer to train and study the game and despite her hesitation, she needs the money to support her family. Now, she is back on Nolan’s radar, and he is ready for a rematch.

Thoughts: While this book is 100% a romance, I loved how there was so much to Mallory outside her relationship with Nolan. We got to see Mallory’s relationship with her family and the pressure she felt always needing to support them, her relationship with her best friend who was going off to college and beginning a new chapter, and her relationship with her new work life and feelings around a sport she thought she’d never plan again. The biggest win for me was how this book followed a woman in a male dominated field and explored the gender stereotypes within this sport. I can definitely see Mallory becoming a role model for many, and even I feel encouraged to learn how to now play chess. I will say, there were some things about the story that irked me (e.g., Mallory thinking everything is her fault, the lashing out and constant cursing), but then I had to remember that she was only 18 and still maturing/ learning about herself.

Read if you like:
-Chess/ competitive sports
-Rivals to lovers
-Mature YA reads
-Great cast of side characters
-Pop culture references
-Family relationships
-Queen’s Gambit

Thank you Putnam Young Readers for the ARC. Pub 11/7

Ali Hazelwood has a way with creating characters that I am just enamored with. If you enjoyed the Queens Gambit show on Netflix, this is something you need to read. 5/5 fantastic book!

I can't say enough good things about this book. I read it in like a day and can't stop thinking about it. Ali Hazelwood has a way with creating characters that I am just enamored with. If you enjoyed the Queens Gambit show on Netflix, this is something you need to read. 5/5 fantastic book!

Mallory Greenleaf is an 18-year-old trying to take care of her family (2 sisters, Mom with rheumatoid arthritis & Goliath the guinea pig.) Years earlier her father left and has shaped her family life. Her childhood obsession was chess, but she's given that up for a new dream, being a mechanic...until she is fired.

She agrees to play in a charity chess tournament, as a favor to a friend. She plays a great game and ends up winning, but she doesn't realize she was playing against “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer, the #1 player in the world & chess poster boy.

She gets pulled back into the world of chess by accepting a yearlong "job" learning and playing chess. But that also means interacting with Nolan, and she's trying to avoid him.

This is a hilarious, serious, YA novel - but I'd say more like New Adult due to swearing/sex - that you absolutely do not need to know anything about chess to enjoy.

Didn’t expect to binge this. Did it anyway. Should have known I would since that’s my MO with literally any Ali Hazelwood.

This was such a delightful and fun YA romance. Smart girls abound in Hazelwood’s books, and this one is no different—just take STEM and make it chess.

The character development and growth was fantastic. Mallory has the weight of so much on her shoulders, and seeing her react to it, grow through it, and lean into her growth was inspirational. I also loved seeing her grow in other ways—through her non-family relationships, through her interactions with friends/colleagues, and her confidence.

There were definitely parts I laughed out loud, just like there were parts I cringed outwardly at her awkwardness or head-in-the-sand situations. In the end, I was so chuffed with the ending.

Ali Hazelwood is my favorite romance author and I'm thrilled to now be able to share her with my mature readers!! I can't wait to recommend to my friends and older students!!

I’m not a huge fan of YA romance, but I will say that I’m a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood. Though this is her first foray into YA, let me tell you… SHE DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I loved this book- the tension, the challenges, the smart FMC… 🤌🏽. I flew through this book and cannot wait for my daughter ti be old enough to read this book. PLEASE PLEASE READ IT, EVERYONE.

I enjoyed this book! Ali Hazelwood is a brilliant author. This book is a rivals to lovers dream! This book has me giggling and kicking my feet! The character development between the two characters flowed beautifully. Ali Hazelwood is my forever auto-buy author!

This book was cute. All the things we love about Ali Hazelwood's book but on a YA scale (aka less spice and young adult MC). As per the norm, Ali writes swoon-worthy MMC. The book focuses on chess (obviously) but is written in a way that is still interesting and easy to read for people who don't play or understand chess (hi - it's me). I look forward to reading more YA books from Ali Hazelwood.

I was given an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley for an honest review.

Thanks so much for this arc! I always enjoy an Ali Hazelwood!

Mallory has quite alot on her plate for being 18. Her mother is sick & her father isn’t around anymore. Instead of joining her classmates and heading to college she has the pressure of taking care of her family. She is always worried about how she’s going to pay for her sisters activities. She’s offered a deal to play chess for a job. She used to be a wonderful chess player but quit when something happened with her father.

She wants to treat this as “just a job” but deep down she has a strong passion for chess. Oh she’s also hiding this job from her mother & sisters. But she’s so good at it & some parts land on social media & tv. She becomes very intimidated when she plays the worlds greatest player- who happens to be close in age to her & very attractive. That is until they develop a friendship & more. Mallory needs quite a wake up call as she attempts to harbor way too many responsibilities.

This book was cute! It kept my attention and I wanted to know what was going to happen. The way Mallory & her family discuss sex surprised me. It also drove me a little crazy that she was leading this secret life as an 18 year old. As a 36 year old- I’m sure I’m not the intended demographic for this book. But I always enjoy Hazelwoods writing. This is best for a recent HS grad/college age reader.

Ali Hazelwood's adult novels tend of have a YA feel to them, so it's no surprise her YA debut is great. I'll read anything with Ali Hazelwood's name on it. She reliably delivers a fun, nerdy romance.

BOOK REVIEW 💯 📚

Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this ARC of my first ever Ali Hazelwood novel!!
I couldn't love this book more! It was the perfect rival to lover novel with a perfect mix of chess.
Couldn't recommend this book more!!

#alliesbookreads #bookrecommendations #bookworm #books #followforfollowback #booklove #booklover #bookstagram #botm #bookreview #bookreviewer
#alliesbookreads #bookrecommendations #bookworm #books #followforfollowback #booklove #booklover #bookstagram #botm #bookreview #bookreviewer

Thank you, NetGalley & Penguin for the ARC! What an emotional, invigorating, delightful read. I was all in.

The plot at times felt a little forced (the reveal that leads to the couple's breakup), but I really felt for both of these characters and cheered for their love story.

Highly recommend!