Despite the main character having a great name (I never get to read books with my name in them!) I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this one. I have enjoyed Ali Hazelwood a lot, but I wasn’t that interested in a book about chess (although I think my favorite line in the book is when Mallory’s sister called it “smart checkers”). I really liked both of the main characters and even though this book has a blurb on the cover calling it a perfect rivals to lovers I don’t think that’s accurate since there wasn’t ever any hate with the competition. Mallory Greenleaf hasn’t played chess in years and she doesn’t want to talk about why. When her best friend asks her to help out by playing in a charity tournament right before she leaves for college Mallory can’t help but agree to spend a little more time with her. Until she beats the world champion and the chess world erupts into chaos. I liked that this story was about chess but also about family, responsibility, grief, guilt, and relationships. This one definitely kept me up past my bedtime. I gave it 4.5 stars rounded out for being delightfully cute.