One of the things I love most about Hazelwood’s writing is that it always pulls me in immediately and gives me those 5-star vibes right away, which is how I knew this one was going to be different. It’s VERY focused on the chess, and the romance is secondary. Not necessarily a bad thing, but this romance reader was disappointed to discover that the hero is largely absent from the first half of the book. The romance definitely picks up in the second half, but I’d already started zoning out at all of the chess talk by that point, so I can’t bump up my rating. It’s Hazelwood’s first book geared towards a younger audience, and it’s easy to see the subtle differences in vibes (more on than in a minute). It still feels like a “Hazelwood” romance in a lot of ways – the focus on women in STEM, the single perspective, the boy obsessed, the kinda broody/kinda awkward hero, the playfulness and rivals to lovers scenario. Considering this is the first full-length book of hers that I haven’t given a very enthusiastic 5 stars to, those are all great things. If you’re up for learning more about chess and don’t mind your romance as a subplot, then chances are this will be a more successful read for you.
The story follows Mallory (18), a young woman who shoulders a lot of responsibility. Her dad passed away, her mom is chronically ill, and her two younger sisters need someone to help support them in all ways. She’s doing the best she can, but it’s taking a toll on her. So when Mallory unexpectedly re-enters the world of competitive chess, she does so with a huge amount of hesitation. The game has become a little toxic for her since the death of her father, but it’s a way to make the money she needs to support her family. Mallory is aware that she’s got a natural talent for the sport though, which becomes exceedingly clear when she beats the reigning World Champion, Nolan (20). Mallory has followed Nolan’s career for years, and the former child prodigy has developed quite the reputation. But Nolan doesn’t seem to be the angry, broody heartthrob that the chess community considers him to be, and it’s not long before Mallory is seeing an entirely different side of him.
This is Hazelwood’s YA debut, though I’d only recommend it for readers near the top of that demographic. Mallory uses casual sex as a crutch, so there is a lot of discussion about her hookups (including one after meeting Nolan), swearing, and quite a few mentions of sex in general. Though I liked that there was a variety of queer representation in this, I didn’t love that Mallory was bisexual and seemed willing to hook up with anyone who showed interest in the past, which perpetuates some troubling stereotypes. In terms of the heat level, we know what the characters were up to, but the descriptions stop when the pants come off. And there is also a focus on Mallory’s messy family situation, with heavy elements in both characters’ pasts, as well as some misogynistic conversations. So this really rides the line between YA and New Adult romance, especially given the characters’ ages.
I loved some of the topics at play, and I liked that Hazelwood made the sport of chess sound so interesting. We’re immersed in the competitive nature of the game, and I feel like I learned a lot (even if it got to be too much at times). I also loved Nolan, and I probably would’ve eaten up this book with more of him from the start. We get these quick moments with him that shape the relationship, and I loved when we started to spend more time with his character. It was also so adorable that he fell for Mallory’s brain first, and it was easy to see that he genuinely just wanted her to shine. I loved that he wasn’t threatened by her skill or talent, and actively encouraged her to grow it. He was such a sweetheart who was clearly gone for his girl, which is why I wanted more from the romance. In the end, this had a ton of great elements, and I think it would’ve been stronger with less technical talk and more time spent with this couple.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3M7YV7m
Audio Note:
The audio was excellent! Since the story is told exclusively from Mallory’s perspective, there is a single narrator. It’s my first experience with Karissa Vacker, but she does a fantastic job. Her voice was easy to listen to, and I had no trouble distinguishing between the characters. The runtime (around 9 hours) meant I could binge this in a single day, and it was just fine for the office. The heat level is low enough that I didn’t have to worry about that, and the overall vibe is light enough that it worked well for the setting. I’m very glad I was able to experience this on audio, and recommend the format.
Find it on Libro.fm here!
Audible: https://amzn.to/465ltwl
Blurb:
In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.
Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.
Nolan’s loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist….
As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent…and infuriating…)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3M7YV7m
Want more from Hazelwood?
If you’re looking for an adult romance from Hazelwood, her full-length books are all standalones and all excellent. Love, Theoretically will be making my Best of the Year list in December, and it’s another STEM romance, with a storyline that hooked me in immediately.
Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain.
The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By otherday, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.
Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And he’s the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.
Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?
Read the audiobook review here
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w2xfrR
About the Author:
Ali Hazelwood is a multi-published author—alas, of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies her. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, crocheting, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her two feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).
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Jeeves Reads Romance 
Well, that does sounds a bit disappointing. I’ll still give it a try. I’m less a fan of YA these days, so we’ll see.
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You can definitely see how she changed the vibe for YA, and it just wasn’t for me. Still a lot of good stuff going on if you’re a fan of Hazelwood though, so worth a try – hope you enjoy it!
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