I'm on the fence with this book. I read it quickly - mainly because Ali Hazelwood's writing is so easy to read - but I feel like I was not invested in the romance at all, which is such a big part of this book, and much of the plot felt a little too easy.

Mallory has left the world of chess when she was fourteen. We meet her when she's a jaded 18, trying to support her family - her mother, who has rheumatoid arthritis, and her two younger sisters, Sabrina and Darcy - with her meagre beginner mechanic salary. When she's offered a chess fellowship after a surprising win at a charity chess tournament, she is hesitant to go back to the sport she left behind, but what other option does she have when the money is good?

I related a lot to Mallory's elder sister mentality - taking on too much of the reality of the family and the burdens of knowing that your family is struggling, while hoping your siblings can be spared the thoughts. I loved her side of things. Despite her flaws, I loved her as a character and related to her a lot. She had a lot to contend with and I appreciate that we get to see so much of her family life and dynamics throughout the story.

Enter the LI, Nolan Sawyer. 20, world champion, and ranked number 1 in chess, he's a god within the chess community. However, I found him as interesting as a cardboard cutout. He's thoughtful and I did feel like he was able to parse Mallory's BS pretty well to get her to see reality, but outside of Mallory's orbit, he was just... there. We never really get to know him that well and anything he does or say is related to chess or Mallory. There's nothing that's just HIM and maybe it's because he's given so much to the sport, but I felt like his best friends, who are tertiary characters, secondary at times, had more personality to them than he did.

Then there was the chess side of things. Yes, Mallory puts in the work to learn and study, plus she has the advantage of being a prodigy of sorts, but it all felt so easy. I saw the twist coming from a mile away, and while I loved how it worked out, it did feel like an idealized, rosy, fairytale end that was wholly unrealistic. The message was heartwarming, but I wish it had been a bit more realistic.

All in all, it's a good and easy read, but I wanted a bit more from it. I'm curious to see what else Hazelwood has up her sleeve, but I do wish she'd leave the broody, unknowable LI behind and start working to develop them more.

Rep: MC's mother has rheumatoid arthritis

TW: sexism, misogyny, financial trouble, chronic illness; mentions sexual content, infidelity, death of a parent, death of a grandparent, institutionalization, dementia, ableism, car accident, alcoholism

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers via PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review.