Ali Hazelwood has recently become one of my favorite romance authors. Her women in stem/steminist contemporary romances have topped my list of favorites for the past several years. It wouldn't take much to convince me to read her new YA novel, but, after reading this First Look, I think this could be her best yet! I'm already invested in Mallory's story and curious about her past. Also, I'm completely obsessed with her sisters. (Flat side characters are a huge pet peeve of mine, and Sabrina and Darcy are the opposite of flat.) Hazelwood's humor is sharp and her character's Gen Z voice is crystal clear. The chess backdrop feels fresh and new to me--not like anything I've read before. I can't wait to read the rest of this one!