️ 4/5
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I've said it before and I'll say it again: I will read anything Ali writes, even her grocery list! Her writing is unique, it has you hooked even if it's a YA book about chess! Let's talk about Checkmate, a book I finished in 4 days, which is rare for me.

The story follows Mallory, whose life at 18 has turned upside down after a tragic accident, and she stops doing what she loves most in the world: playing chess. Nolan has been a world chess champion for years and at 20, he is the most successful player. Of course, he has his demons too, and the cameras always capture him looking annoyed. After a bet with her best friend, Mallory agrees to participate as an amateur in an open tournament for charity. And then she promises herself that she will never play again. But she doesn't expect to be captivated by a boy with dark eyes and to defeat him in 4 moves! Could it be that after this, her life will change?

Honestly, I can't describe how quickly I turned the pages! The book reminded me of a favorite series, The Queen's Gambit, and had me captivated from the first pages. I loved the thrill of the chess matches, Nolan's friends, and Mallory's sisters; I got angry, smiled, and squealed. The only thing I missed was the romantic element. Since it's pure YA, it bothered me that I couldn't see it as a romance in the end. But that didn't take away from its charm as a book, and I enjoyed every page, that's for sure! I highly recommend it!