A romance about chess? Sign me up! Okay, full disclosure: I don't actually know how to play chess. But I do know Ali Hazelwood, and this book is something new and different for her--I love it when authors break their own molds. The main characters, Mallory and Nolan, have great chemistry as a chess prodigy and chess champion, respectively. The side characters are also awesome; they are fully developed and memorable, even Mallory's obnoxious and ungrateful sisters. As an added bonus, I learned a lot about the world of professional chess! If I had to pick something to complain about, it would be that the beginning was a little slow and the ending was a bit abrupt and predictable. But in between was pure entertainment, a quick read that kept me completely engaged. If you liked the show Queen's Gambit, Check & Mate is definitely the book for you.