What to read next
10 books like Check & Mate
Mallory's family responsibility, return to competition, and rivalry with Nolan give attraction a shared language of preparation, risk, and public expectation. The picks below take that appeal in different directions.
Read our review of Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood.
Best matches
Three strong places to start
If you only want three picks, start here.
Best overall
Fastest read
Best alternative
Choose by reading mood
Where to start
For the fastest read
Loathe to Love You
BriskFor the darkest read
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
DarkFor the strongest romance
Love on the Brain
CentralFor the easiest entry
Funny Story
AccessibleThe full shortlist
Why each book belongs here
See what each pick shares with Check & Mate, and where it goes in a different direction.
1
Love on the Brain
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Why this matches
- Different because
- Love on the Brain is adult STEM romance with more explicit attraction and workplace conspiracy.
2
Deep End
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Why this matches
- Different because
- Deep End is adult college romance with athletics, kink, and heavier emotional material.
3
Divine Rivals
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Significant
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Why this matches
- Different because
- Divine Rivals offers gentler fantasy war, letters, and richer lyrical atmosphere.
4
Loathe to Love You
- Pace
- Brisk
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
5
Pride and Prejudice
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Moderate
6
Funny Story
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
7
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Dark
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
8
Promise Me Sunshine
- Pace
- Measured
- Darkness
- Moderate
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
9
Love by the Book
- Pace
- Brisk
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
10
People We Meet on Vacation
- Pace
- Balanced
- Darkness
- Gentle
- Romance
- Central
- Difficulty
- Accessible
Side-by-side
Pace, darkness, romance, and difficulty
| Book | Pace | Darkness | Romance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check & Mate | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Love on the Brain | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Deep End | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Divine Rivals | Balanced | Gentle | Significant | Accessible |
| Loathe to Love You | Brisk | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Pride and Prejudice | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Moderate |
| Funny Story | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| Someone You Can Build a Nest In | Balanced | Dark | Central | Accessible |
| Promise Me Sunshine | Measured | Moderate | Central | Accessible |
| Love by the Book | Brisk | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
| People We Meet on Vacation | Balanced | Gentle | Central | Accessible |
Keep exploring
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