Book Title: Check & Mate
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Length: 368 pages
Genre: Ya, Contemporary Romance, Sports Fiction
My Rating: 1/5
My Age Rating: 18+
Content Notes: LGBTQ themes, sex and other inappropriate content, swearing, Chronic illness, sexism/misogyny, (didn’t finish book, could be more)
Book Review:
At first glance, Check & Mate seems harmless. The cover, the title, and the synopsis all give off cute, YA vibes. That is exactly why, after seeing it recommended everywhere, I decided to buy it.
Long story short, I could not finish this book.
This book contains a significant amount of inappropriate sexual content and profanity. I felt uncomfortable multiple times while reading, and I did not even make it halfway through. Much of the sexual content felt forced and unnecessary, and the book would have been better without it.
The story portrays a very unhealthy hookup lifestyle, which is especially concerning given that the main character is barely 18 years old. The book also includes bisexual content (main character and best friend), which I felt uncomfortable reading about and thought was completely unnecessary. It added nothing meaningful to the story and instead led to even more inappropriate material. This aspect was not mentioned in the synopsis or marketing at all, which caught me completely off guard and was very frustrating.
Overall, this book was a major letdown. I am disappointed that I wasted both time and money on it. Trust me when I say:
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
There are so many better options out there. Feel free to check out some of my other blog posts for much better recommendations.
What makes this even more concerning is that Check & Mate is rated 14+ on most websites. In my opinion, that rating is extremely inaccurate. I would personally rate this book 18+, as it is packed with sexual content and swearing. After flipping through the rest of the book, it appears that the content only becomes more explicit as the story continues.
Although I am genuinely unhappy about this book and frustrated that I spent time on it when I could have been reading something far better, I do think some good came from the experience. I can now warn others that this is a book best left on the shelf. I hope this review helps the next time you are browsing the teen section and looking for something wholesome and worthwhile to read.
Happy reading,
Ava
It is so frustrating when a book is marketed one way and completely falls short when you pick it up to read. Thanks for sharing your honest feedback and saving other YA readers from the disappointment.