Bookish Challenges discussion

The book of the month February 2024 is Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood.

Please discuss the book in this thread, making sure to mark spoilers and stay friendly and respectful at all times.

At the end of the month, 10 points will be awarded for everyone who read the book and discussed it here!

I put this on hold at the library and I am number 141 in line. The estimated time is 8 weeks. I am hoping that it goes quicker than that because I am curious to find out how chess led to the destruction of Mallory's family.

me to!! I've gone from 111th in line to 87th this week, fingers crossed xx

I will probably get the audiobook once I'm done with my current read :)

I am also finishing a few books before I start this

I got the audiobook now and will probably start later today :)

I got to chapter 5 so far but I was sick this week and my notes are at work :( will share my thoughts to that point on Monday :)

I'm 1st in line for ebook and 58th in line for audio with my library.

Sounds good!!

I started reading this one and I have finished Chapter 6. This book is going surprisingly well so far. I was extremely hesitant to give AH's writing another chance due to my experience with Love on the Brain.

(view spoiler)[ I quite like how they started with the female MC's background and just introduced the male MC in bits. I wonder when he will come into play. I also want to know why she did not want to get into chess so much even when it was a solution to her financial problems. I don't like her siblings who have no regard to how hard she is working. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished Chapter 5. First thoughts i'm glad it improves 100% after chapter one as the immature conversations were painful to read. I've never read a book where a guinea pig needs a girl friend before!!!
Also never thought i'd read Tapioca balls, grizzly bear and guinea pig in the same sentence!!!
The Dad mystery has me hooked though.....

I finished Chapter 11. Oh, there were so many nice moments!

(view spoiler)[ I can't believe I am quite enjoying the book. It was very cute when Nolan took revenge for Mal in the chess tournament. I love the inappropriate dinner table conversation Nolan had with Mal's family - outrageous but sign me up for these! I also wonder why Nolan wants to play with her and it seems he was about to quit before Mal came about. Is he too bored of winning? (hide spoiler)]

I loved the dinner also was very funny.

Part 1: Openings (Chapter 1-5)
(view spoiler)[I'm definitely intrigued by the mystery surrounding the dad and what let Mallory to stop playing chess. It seems like something very bad happened and I want to find out.
Otherwise I don't know if I like it yet, it feels a tiny bit boring to me at the moment but maybe it just takes a bit to get into the story.
I only read The Love Hypothesis by AH before and I liked it but I'm also prepared for it potentially being bad. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2: Middle Game (Chapter 6-12)
(view spoiler)[Okay, now it's starting to pick up. The tension between the two in chapter 8 before the chess match, damn!
And the dinner at Mallory's house was really hillarious.
I definitely like were all of this is going and I can't wait to find out more! (hide spoiler)]

young love, will they won't they. I got to the dad issue which wasn't quite what I was expecting. Nolan's grandads story was sad too.

Just finished, wasn't expecting the ending quite like that but I really enjoyed the chess story lines and MCs fam were cray cray!! Could see this as a rom-com.

Chapter 13-25
(view spoiler)[The book is really getting better and better for me. I was giggling and doing a tippy toe dance at my desk at work.
I really like Mal and Nolan together and I just like how the story develops. I really like the whole chess component too. I only know the basic rules of chess but I find it very fascinating.
I think Mal overreacted a bit regarding Nolan being the one who paid for her fellowship. Sure, it wasn't great that he kept it a secret but her reaction was a bit too much for me. (hide spoiler)]

Expecting to finish it today :)

I reached chapter 15. (view spoiler)[ Well the in-between chapters were spent in the chess tournament which was fun to read but did not tell a lot. I like their chemistry building up gradually. To be honest, I don't think I like Mallory a lot - i don't hate her but I don't particularly like her - in the sense I wouldn't want to be friends with her haha. (hide spoiler)]

Finished yesterday
(view spoiler)[I really liked this book. The scene in which they all started calling each other bitch was hillarious to me. So far, AH's books were only hits to me and I'm happy I read this book. I ended up rating it 4 stars, as I didn't like the beginning as much but really got into it from part 2 onwards. (hide spoiler)]

Nistha wrote: "I reached chapter 15. [spoilers removed]"

I feel the same about Mallory (view spoiler)[but I still found that their chemistry was really cute and that's all that mattered to me then lol (hide spoiler)]

I finished till chapter 25. I love their chemistry but I despise Mal so much! She is so frustrating ughhh that I want to get into the book and shake her. I like Nolan so much - he is a simple man.

(view spoiler)[

Oz's dialogue when Mal says she is done with chess. "Boo-hoo, your bf paid for your salary without asking for anything in return and didn't tell you. Cry me the fucking Nile" had me laughing.

Her family is so understanding as well. Everyone is great other than Mal haha!

But I am loving it so far, it has got me hooked.

(hide spoiler)]

Fiona wrote: "Finished yesterday
[spoilers removed]"

Haha, I love that bit too. It was unexpectedly funny and heartwarming.

I finished the book and I liked it a lot. I would have given it 5 stars if I did not hate Mal so much haha. She just got on my nerves. But the chemistry was undeniably sexy and nerdy. I can't believe I had banned Ali Hazelwood after reading Love on the Brain. Maybe I need to give her other books a try as well. I really enjoyed this one!

Nistha wrote: "I finished till chapter 25. I love their chemistry but I despise Mal so much! She is so frustrating ughhh that I want to get into the book and shake her. I like Nolan so much - he is a simple man. ..."

Hahaha yes you're right about that, I feel the same. I found Oz pretty funny in general.

Nistha wrote: "I finished the book and I liked it a lot. I would have given it 5 stars if I did not hate Mal so much haha. She just got on my nerves. But the chemistry was undeniably sexy and nerdy. I can't belie..."

I'm happy you liked it! This was only the second book of hers that I read and I enjoyed both so far.

Points have been awarded :)