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Chess Not Checkers
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Things to look forward chess rivals, roommates that become like sisters, football, banter, and appearances from past characters!
Things to look forward chess rivals, roommates that become like sisters, football, banter, and appearances from past characters!
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
314 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
November 18, 2025
4.5 stars and so close to being five, that I don't mind rounding it up here. This was SO CUTE! Like I-can-barely-take-it-I'm-getting-cute-aggression-and-want-to-throw-this-book-it's-so-cute.
I enjoyed the storytelling from cover to cover. Jasmine and Shepherd are both well-defined characters. I loved them both instantly. I could picture this writing vividly. I devoured the banter. This book made me laugh out loud with it's deadpan humor. And I loved being introduced to the dynamic between Jasmine and her roommates. I cannot wait for each of their books.
This totally captured that nostalgic college campus feeling. It made me miss college just for the sake of getting to experience that setting one last time in the busyness of an undergrad fall semester. I was in an informal chess club a few years ago, fresh out of undergrad at my first big-girl job so the chess thing took me back to that, but I digress. While the chemistry was off the charts, this lost half a star for me because the first kissing scene was too much for my preferences. That is my only complaint, otherwise this was so fun! The dash of depth in this did actually make me shed a few tears! And the ending wrapped up nicely. I recommend!
In this book:
-rivals to more (via chess club)
-off-limits
-found family
-dual-POV
-forced proximity (they also have a class together)
-star QB/football captain MMC
-cheerleader/aspiring chef FMC
Content Guide:
-romance: clean/some innuendo
-language: clean
-violence: one instance/non-descriptive
Potential Content Warnings
-college-age/underage drinking (not the main characters)
-brief unwanted advances
I enjoyed the storytelling from cover to cover. Jasmine and Shepherd are both well-defined characters. I loved them both instantly. I could picture this writing vividly. I devoured the banter. This book made me laugh out loud with it's deadpan humor. And I loved being introduced to the dynamic between Jasmine and her roommates. I cannot wait for each of their books.
This totally captured that nostalgic college campus feeling. It made me miss college just for the sake of getting to experience that setting one last time in the busyness of an undergrad fall semester. I was in an informal chess club a few years ago, fresh out of undergrad at my first big-girl job so the chess thing took me back to that, but I digress. While the chemistry was off the charts, this lost half a star for me because the first kissing scene was too much for my preferences. That is my only complaint, otherwise this was so fun! The dash of depth in this did actually make me shed a few tears! And the ending wrapped up nicely. I recommend!
In this book:
-rivals to more (via chess club)
-off-limits
-found family
-dual-POV
-forced proximity (they also have a class together)
-star QB/football captain MMC
-cheerleader/aspiring chef FMC
Content Guide:
-romance: clean/some innuendo
-language: clean
-violence: one instance/non-descriptive
Potential Content Warnings
-college-age/underage drinking (not the main characters)
-brief unwanted advances
November 17, 2025
OMG STOP. This book ate and left no crumbs. Annah Conwell, you have once again snatched my heart and run off with it.
Jasmine and Shepherd have completely stolen my heart. Their banter was top-tier, their chemistry was chemistry-ing, and when they eventually opened up to each other?? I was DONE. They’re honestly one of the cutest duos Annah has ever written.
On top of all the swoon, Annah handled Jasmine’s grief and Shepherd’s pressure so beautifully. It added so much depth without ever feeling heavy. Just… chef’s kiss.
I also loved seeing the overlapping characters from her other series. The cameos from the Carter family felt like a reunion. I’ve missed them so much.
The college setting, the Chef/Captain nicknames, the tension, the vibes… everything was just adorable. I’m already counting down for the next books, especially Marigold’s story.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Star Quarterback MMC
❤️🔥 Cheerleader FMC
❤️🔥 College Romance
❤️🔥 Rivals to Lovers
❤️🔥 Found Family
Jasmine and Shepherd have completely stolen my heart. Their banter was top-tier, their chemistry was chemistry-ing, and when they eventually opened up to each other?? I was DONE. They’re honestly one of the cutest duos Annah has ever written.
On top of all the swoon, Annah handled Jasmine’s grief and Shepherd’s pressure so beautifully. It added so much depth without ever feeling heavy. Just… chef’s kiss.
I also loved seeing the overlapping characters from her other series. The cameos from the Carter family felt like a reunion. I’ve missed them so much.
The college setting, the Chef/Captain nicknames, the tension, the vibes… everything was just adorable. I’m already counting down for the next books, especially Marigold’s story.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Star Quarterback MMC
❤️🔥 Cheerleader FMC
❤️🔥 College Romance
❤️🔥 Rivals to Lovers
❤️🔥 Found Family
November 5, 2025
I have the privilege of being on Annah’s ARC team and I just gotta say that this first entry in the “Rom Com University” series is a touchdown. Having met the love of my life in college, I have a soft spot for sweet, closed door (kissing only) stories where sparks fly between 18 year olds who just happen to be smart enough to know they’ve found “the one” and hold onto them. The fall-in love moments, the banter, and the pet names are all darling in “Checkers Not Chess” but what I appreciate even more are the family and friend dynamics which surround the main characters– this is definitely a group of people you’d want to know in real life. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed it (releases 11/13) and would recommend it to love-story lovers out there!
November 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shepherd Kingsley & Jasmine Chamberlain
- Dual POV
- College romcom
- Chess club rivals
- Forced proximity (classes together)
- Star Quarterback MMC
- Cheerleader, aspiring chef FMC
- Big, loving family
✨ a few of my favorite things:
- All of the girls together, & their bond
- Delilah & Jasmine’s moment
- How the Carters love big
- Chef & Captain
- Him teaching her chess
- Her fighting for him
- Shepherd’s protective moment
- the marriage muffins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 1 of RomCom University - This book had everything I could ask for in a romcom. They had teasing, flirty banter. There were best friends who we got to see grow closer through the book. Each roommate has her own distinct personality and stuff going on. I loved getting little bits of each of their stories (can’t wait for Marigold and Jameson) and I was able to be invested in all the girls. Shepherd and Jasmine had deeper moments of connection and comforted each other through hard emotions. Their chemistry is also clear from their very first interaction. They worked as a team and taught one another. They have friend and family who surround them and support them.
This is a fun college age book that is easy to read and so heartwarming. If you’ve read Annah’s other books you’ll appreciate the cameos from past main characters more but it’s still easy to enjoy with no prior Annah book knowledge.
This is a closed door romance with no cursing and kissing/makeouts.
**Thank you so much to Annah for letting me read this gifted ARC. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**
November 17, 2025
4.5 so cute! I love seeing old characters
November 2, 2025
“Win or lose, I love you”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-college romance
-enemies/friends to lovers
-baking
-football
-he falls first
Shepherd:
A hardworking guy who puts so much pressure on himself to be the best and get out from under his brother Jason’s shadow. He’s a chess prodigy, star football player, and a horrible cook. His humour is 👌
Jasmine:
A curly haired freshman (sister of Dahlia) who loves to bake/cook, enjoys playing chess, and cheers. She hates always hearing about how great Shepherd is. She also struggles with feeling like she needs to repay people for their gifts.
Plot:
Jasmine moves into her new college dorm, and finds that everyone is always talking about Shepherd Kingsley. She believes he’s a popular idiot with a big ego and finds herself extremely displeased when shes paired up with him for chess club and has to sit next to him in class. Overtime, they begin to hang out and get to know each other. Jasmine realizes her assumptions about Shepherd are totally wrong. Feelings start brewing but it gets complicated since the football players were told they aren’t allowed to date cheerleaders.
My opinion:
This was such a good book and if I could rate it higher I totally would. I loved how the characters balanced each other out and helped each other through their feelings and hard parts of life. The bonbon part was so cute 😫 Overall, 10/10 it was a amazing read and it really warmed my heart.
Warnings:
Loss of parents
Drinking
A guy getting touchy with a girl (it was ended before it got bad)
My favorite quotes ❤️
“Being a prodigy is not as fun as it sounds. In theory, I should be living the high life. My cheeks should constantly be aching from smiling so much. Sometimes that’s the case. But most of the time, the pressure to perform feels like hands wrapped around my neck in a vise grip, squeezing tighter and tighter.”
“That’s going to make this situation worse, so I shouldn’t add fuel to the fire. Unfortunately for Jasmine, I’ve always been fond of watching flames dance.”
“I play till the end. Always.”
“Worth the risk. And right now? Jasmine seems more than worth it.”
“Always. The word feels more like a promise than banter.”
“Trust me, once the secret is out, I’m telling everyone you’re mine.”
“Thank you for fighting for me.” She smiles and I feel as though I’m being lit from within. “Always.”
“Together,” she murmurs. “Always,” I repeat her sentiment from the other day in my room.
“I love you.” He brushes his nose against mine again. “I love you too, Chef.” “For the last time, I’m not a chef,” I groan. He smiles as he whispers, “Yet.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-college romance
-enemies/friends to lovers
-baking
-football
-he falls first
Shepherd:
A hardworking guy who puts so much pressure on himself to be the best and get out from under his brother Jason’s shadow. He’s a chess prodigy, star football player, and a horrible cook. His humour is 👌
Jasmine:
A curly haired freshman (sister of Dahlia) who loves to bake/cook, enjoys playing chess, and cheers. She hates always hearing about how great Shepherd is. She also struggles with feeling like she needs to repay people for their gifts.
Plot:
Jasmine moves into her new college dorm, and finds that everyone is always talking about Shepherd Kingsley. She believes he’s a popular idiot with a big ego and finds herself extremely displeased when shes paired up with him for chess club and has to sit next to him in class. Overtime, they begin to hang out and get to know each other. Jasmine realizes her assumptions about Shepherd are totally wrong. Feelings start brewing but it gets complicated since the football players were told they aren’t allowed to date cheerleaders.
My opinion:
This was such a good book and if I could rate it higher I totally would. I loved how the characters balanced each other out and helped each other through their feelings and hard parts of life. The bonbon part was so cute 😫 Overall, 10/10 it was a amazing read and it really warmed my heart.
Warnings:
Loss of parents
Drinking
A guy getting touchy with a girl (it was ended before it got bad)
My favorite quotes ❤️
“Being a prodigy is not as fun as it sounds. In theory, I should be living the high life. My cheeks should constantly be aching from smiling so much. Sometimes that’s the case. But most of the time, the pressure to perform feels like hands wrapped around my neck in a vise grip, squeezing tighter and tighter.”
“That’s going to make this situation worse, so I shouldn’t add fuel to the fire. Unfortunately for Jasmine, I’ve always been fond of watching flames dance.”
“I play till the end. Always.”
“Worth the risk. And right now? Jasmine seems more than worth it.”
“Always. The word feels more like a promise than banter.”
“Trust me, once the secret is out, I’m telling everyone you’re mine.”
“Thank you for fighting for me.” She smiles and I feel as though I’m being lit from within. “Always.”
“Together,” she murmurs. “Always,” I repeat her sentiment from the other day in my room.
“I love you.” He brushes his nose against mine again. “I love you too, Chef.” “For the last time, I’m not a chef,” I groan. He smiles as he whispers, “Yet.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
OMG, I loved this! 🥰🥹 Annah Conwell, you’ve really outdone yourself! I love how this story was a spinoff of two different characters from previous books by this author. I gotta catch up! 😂 There’s so many connections throughout this story. The Carters/Holt families are HUGE! I LOVED Jasmine and Shepherd! Like, one minute I’m giggling and kicking my feet, then the next minute I’m feeling ALL of the emotions! 🥹 Jasmine’s roommates, Aurora, Marigold, and Saylor were a joy to read about, too! They all have their different personalities to them, and they all have a sisterly bond, which was so sweet to see. The tropes throughout this story??! LOVED! The “I love you” scene?!! LOVED! Just everything about this story made my heart swoon and I want more! I cannot wait for Marigold’s story! Thank you to the author and BookFunnel for the e-ARC! 🩷 All opinions are my own.
November 15, 2025
OH. MY. HEART. 🥹🥰😆💕🤩
Jasmine and Shepherd have STOLEN MY HEART. The key is gone! I’ll probably never find it because I love these two SO MUCH!!!!!!
This is my all time favorite read from Annah. Hands down my favorite rom com ever!!!!! I don’t think I’ll ever get over how stinkin cute Jaz and Shep were. Their banter?!?!? Their chemistry?!?! And then they like poured out their hearts to each other???? I was dead. I adored it so much!!!!
As always, Annah delivered a sweet and swoony rom com with delicate issues wrapped under the surface. The way she handles Jasmine’s grief in the story, as well as the pressure that Shepherd is under, was so. well. done!!!
Honestly I can’t wait for the rest of this series! It’s gonna be one I come back to over and over again I can already tell!!!!!
Jasmine and Shepherd have STOLEN MY HEART. The key is gone! I’ll probably never find it because I love these two SO MUCH!!!!!!
This is my all time favorite read from Annah. Hands down my favorite rom com ever!!!!! I don’t think I’ll ever get over how stinkin cute Jaz and Shep were. Their banter?!?!? Their chemistry?!?! And then they like poured out their hearts to each other???? I was dead. I adored it so much!!!!
As always, Annah delivered a sweet and swoony rom com with delicate issues wrapped under the surface. The way she handles Jasmine’s grief in the story, as well as the pressure that Shepherd is under, was so. well. done!!!
Honestly I can’t wait for the rest of this series! It’s gonna be one I come back to over and over again I can already tell!!!!!
November 1, 2025
Oh my goodness, I absolutely LOVED this book! I even gave up some sleep just to keep reading! If you love a good rivals to friends to more story, this one is absolutely for you. Add in a college setting, roommates, and the promise of future romances with the side characters...Annah had me hooked from the start and excited for all the books to come!
When Jasmine meets Shepherd, she’s anything but thrilled. She’s SO tired of hearing his name everywhere he’s the hotshot college quarterback, after all. But if that’s not annoying enough, he’s also in her chess class, paired with her, and beats her every time! She finds him arrogant and infuriating; he finds her beautiful and can’t resist pushing her buttons. Before long, their chess sessions become something they both look forward to... and maybe, just maybe, they start looking forward to EACH OTHER, too.
As Jasmine and Shepherd slowly move from rivals to friends, and possibly more, they begin to unpack their insecurities and the reasons behind their constant drive to prove themselves. But just as they grow closer, the truth hits hard... they’re not supposed to be together. If they cross that line, Shepherd risks being benched, and Jasmine feels she can’t go against the coach’s rules either. So where does that leave them?
They’ve finally found something real... each other.. but they’re not allowed to have it.
I LOVED this story, the banter, the raw emotion, and the deeper themes of acceptance and belonging. It’s fun, sweet, and unexpectedly heartfelt, with plenty of swoony moments and kisses that made me melt... into a puddle? lol!
I cannot wait for Marigold’s story next, and I’m already counting down to what happens with the rest of the roommates!
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
When Jasmine meets Shepherd, she’s anything but thrilled. She’s SO tired of hearing his name everywhere he’s the hotshot college quarterback, after all. But if that’s not annoying enough, he’s also in her chess class, paired with her, and beats her every time! She finds him arrogant and infuriating; he finds her beautiful and can’t resist pushing her buttons. Before long, their chess sessions become something they both look forward to... and maybe, just maybe, they start looking forward to EACH OTHER, too.
As Jasmine and Shepherd slowly move from rivals to friends, and possibly more, they begin to unpack their insecurities and the reasons behind their constant drive to prove themselves. But just as they grow closer, the truth hits hard... they’re not supposed to be together. If they cross that line, Shepherd risks being benched, and Jasmine feels she can’t go against the coach’s rules either. So where does that leave them?
They’ve finally found something real... each other.. but they’re not allowed to have it.
I LOVED this story, the banter, the raw emotion, and the deeper themes of acceptance and belonging. It’s fun, sweet, and unexpectedly heartfelt, with plenty of swoony moments and kisses that made me melt... into a puddle? lol!
I cannot wait for Marigold’s story next, and I’m already counting down to what happens with the rest of the roommates!
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
November 14, 2025
Eee!! I love everything Annah Conwell has written and this book is such a fun addition to her stories! I loved the overlapping characters from her other series and how they tied together with a grown up Jasmine!
Jasmine, a college cheerleader and Shepherd, the star quarterback. don’t exactly start off on the right foot when their first interaction is at their college chess club. So, when they end up sitting next to each other in class as well as seeing each other at chess, Jasmine’s distain for Shepherd quickly turns into something entirely different!
This was such a fun college romance and I’m definitely excited for the future books in the series! Jasmine and Shepherd had such fun chemistry, and their banter at the beginning of the story kept me smiling! I Ioved it when they both finally let their guards down and got to know each other! I loved how he called her Chef and how she called him Captain and how they were just so dang cute together!!
Favorite quotes:
“Did you know you get two little lines between your eyebrows when you’re angry?” I ask as I move one of my pawns. Her scowl deepens while my smile grows. If there was an award for the cutest scowl, Jasmine would win it.”
“It probably means there’s something wrong with me that I enjoy her disdain for my general personhood, but every insult from her is like drinking from a water hose after a long day of playing backyard football in the summer: utterly refreshing.”
“Logically I know I shouldn’t let myself feel this way. The more time we spend together, the more I want. And I’m not allowed to want her.”
Jasmine, a college cheerleader and Shepherd, the star quarterback. don’t exactly start off on the right foot when their first interaction is at their college chess club. So, when they end up sitting next to each other in class as well as seeing each other at chess, Jasmine’s distain for Shepherd quickly turns into something entirely different!
This was such a fun college romance and I’m definitely excited for the future books in the series! Jasmine and Shepherd had such fun chemistry, and their banter at the beginning of the story kept me smiling! I Ioved it when they both finally let their guards down and got to know each other! I loved how he called her Chef and how she called him Captain and how they were just so dang cute together!!
Favorite quotes:
“Did you know you get two little lines between your eyebrows when you’re angry?” I ask as I move one of my pawns. Her scowl deepens while my smile grows. If there was an award for the cutest scowl, Jasmine would win it.”
“It probably means there’s something wrong with me that I enjoy her disdain for my general personhood, but every insult from her is like drinking from a water hose after a long day of playing backyard football in the summer: utterly refreshing.”
“Logically I know I shouldn’t let myself feel this way. The more time we spend together, the more I want. And I’m not allowed to want her.”
November 18, 2025
ARC Review
Chess Not Checkers
Annah Conwell
5/5 stars
Publication date: out now!
Is there anything Annah Conwell can’t write? I loved this closed door college romance! Jasmine is finding her own way after leaving for college determined to make her family proud. She decides to join chess club only to discover the beloved quarterback, Shepherd Kingsley is also a chess player. Is Shepherd the arrogant football player Jasmine thinks he is or is there more than meets the eye?
Annah has truly mastered the art of swoon without the spice to the point that I was so excited that their knees touched while sitting next to each other (iykyk!). I loved the found family aspect of this book and how the characters truly complimented each other. It’s fun if you have read But He’s a Carter Brother series to recognize other characters but definitely not needed to enjoy as a standalone! Can’t wait for the next book!
I highly recommend this book! You can find it on kindle unlimited 🎉
Chess Not Checkers
Annah Conwell
5/5 stars
Publication date: out now!
Is there anything Annah Conwell can’t write? I loved this closed door college romance! Jasmine is finding her own way after leaving for college determined to make her family proud. She decides to join chess club only to discover the beloved quarterback, Shepherd Kingsley is also a chess player. Is Shepherd the arrogant football player Jasmine thinks he is or is there more than meets the eye?
Annah has truly mastered the art of swoon without the spice to the point that I was so excited that their knees touched while sitting next to each other (iykyk!). I loved the found family aspect of this book and how the characters truly complimented each other. It’s fun if you have read But He’s a Carter Brother series to recognize other characters but definitely not needed to enjoy as a standalone! Can’t wait for the next book!
I highly recommend this book! You can find it on kindle unlimited 🎉
November 13, 2025
Annah Conwell knocks it completely out of the park with her college romance debut! (someone give me a football term idk sports)
I’m like 100% serious when i say that though, this book was fantastic, the yearning, the tension, the chemistry, THE BANTER?!? INSANE!!!
Shepard and Jasmine were everything and more, so adorable, i literally can’t with them, i was GIGGLING the entire time no joke, i love them so much. And the vulnerability was so sweet, and they shared things with each and i ate it up.
I really adored the college background for this, i feel like it’s so rare to get good clean college romances and she delivered sooo well with this one.
This book had be shouting GIRLHOOD at least 10 times! I love girls! I loved the friendships so much and i’m hyped for their books!!!
Also, the cameos were fantastic i miss all my babies from the Carter fam!
And omg “Yes chef” “Not a chef” “YET” KILLS ME
I’m like 100% serious when i say that though, this book was fantastic, the yearning, the tension, the chemistry, THE BANTER?!? INSANE!!!
Shepard and Jasmine were everything and more, so adorable, i literally can’t with them, i was GIGGLING the entire time no joke, i love them so much. And the vulnerability was so sweet, and they shared things with each and i ate it up.
I really adored the college background for this, i feel like it’s so rare to get good clean college romances and she delivered sooo well with this one.
This book had be shouting GIRLHOOD at least 10 times! I love girls! I loved the friendships so much and i’m hyped for their books!!!
Also, the cameos were fantastic i miss all my babies from the Carter fam!
And omg “Yes chef” “Not a chef” “YET” KILLS ME
November 18, 2025
4.5 Stars! 🏈🍂
After reading the entire But He's a Carter Brother series in a weekend, I was surprised (and thrilled) to discover Annah was soon releasing a fall-themed book about characters from that series! Of course, I picked up the book on the morning it released and sped through it! This book was so perfectly fall; it felt like drinking a cinnamon latte and eating pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (if you know, you know).
As for the story itself, it was cute and deep in a way only Annah Conwell can write! Both of the main characters had vivid personalities and interests unrelated to the love story, which I always love to see. The chess and cooking scenes were so cute. I also smiled over the roommates' friendship dynamic, and can't wait for Marigold's book to release in the spring.
With all that said, if you like football, chess, cooking, and/or cute romance, check out this book! If you're a Taylor Swift fan, think of it like the football lyrics of TTPD's "The Alchemy" with the melody of Speak Now's "Long Live".
🏈 Rivals-to-Lovers
🍂 Forbidden Love
🏈 Found Family
🍂 Baker FMC + Athlete MMC
🏈 Nicknames
🍂 Past Character Cameos
After reading the entire But He's a Carter Brother series in a weekend, I was surprised (and thrilled) to discover Annah was soon releasing a fall-themed book about characters from that series! Of course, I picked up the book on the morning it released and sped through it! This book was so perfectly fall; it felt like drinking a cinnamon latte and eating pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (if you know, you know).
As for the story itself, it was cute and deep in a way only Annah Conwell can write! Both of the main characters had vivid personalities and interests unrelated to the love story, which I always love to see. The chess and cooking scenes were so cute. I also smiled over the roommates' friendship dynamic, and can't wait for Marigold's book to release in the spring.
With all that said, if you like football, chess, cooking, and/or cute romance, check out this book! If you're a Taylor Swift fan, think of it like the football lyrics of TTPD's "The Alchemy" with the melody of Speak Now's "Long Live".
🏈 Rivals-to-Lovers
🍂 Forbidden Love
🏈 Found Family
🍂 Baker FMC + Athlete MMC
🏈 Nicknames
🍂 Past Character Cameos
November 20, 2025
Chess Not Checkers absolutely stole my heart!
If you love rivals-to-lovers, college vibes, and closed-door romance with tons of chemistry, this one needs to be on your TBR ASAP.
Jasmine and Shepherd had me hooked from their very first snarky, competitive, button-pushing interaction. Shepard trying to outrun his brother’s legacy and Jasmine trying to carry her family’s expectations brought so much emotional depth to this story without ever making it heavy.
I adore a romcom with strong friendships, and the roommate dynamics in this book were perfection. The girl gang feels like a real found family, and now I’m counting down the days for future books—Marigold, I’m looking at you!
The campus atmosphere, the flirty pet names, the chess matches (aka foreplay), and the supportive side characters—everything worked together to make this story completely addictive. Annah created a world I didn’t want to leave.
ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
If you love rivals-to-lovers, college vibes, and closed-door romance with tons of chemistry, this one needs to be on your TBR ASAP.
Jasmine and Shepherd had me hooked from their very first snarky, competitive, button-pushing interaction. Shepard trying to outrun his brother’s legacy and Jasmine trying to carry her family’s expectations brought so much emotional depth to this story without ever making it heavy.
I adore a romcom with strong friendships, and the roommate dynamics in this book were perfection. The girl gang feels like a real found family, and now I’m counting down the days for future books—Marigold, I’m looking at you!
The campus atmosphere, the flirty pet names, the chess matches (aka foreplay), and the supportive side characters—everything worked together to make this story completely addictive. Annah created a world I didn’t want to leave.
ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
November 16, 2025
Such a fun and addictive read! I loved how sweet and entertaining this story was — the characters were well-written, charming, and full of personality. The plot flowed so easily, and I’m always a sucker for a good college romance, so this hit all the right notes for me.
A perfect mix of light drama, cute moments, and that classic Annah Conwell vibe that keeps you turning the pages!
#chessnotcheckers #annahconwell #collegeromance #romancereads #bookreview #bookstagram #readersofinstagram
A perfect mix of light drama, cute moments, and that classic Annah Conwell vibe that keeps you turning the pages!
#chessnotcheckers #annahconwell #collegeromance #romancereads #bookreview #bookstagram #readersofinstagram
November 2, 2025
I LOVED this book! Jasmin and Shepherd were the perfect characters to write a spinoff about, combining characters from 2 different series, But He’s a Carter Brother and More Than a Game. I loved their banter and chemistry from the beginning. I laughed, I cried (yep, it hit some tough topics of acceptance and being enough and family), and I swooned. The cameos from the Carter family was like seeing family again after a long time away. I missed them. ❤️ Now for a new generation of friends to find love; I can’t wait to read about Marigold next.
November 11, 2025
ARC review: 5 stars!! such a sweet college romance💗 I absolutely loved this book. The banter between Jasmine and Shepherd was so fun! I loved the friendships and getting to see the Carters again. I can't wait to read Marigold's story next! 📚🩵
definitely add this to your tbr! It's out November 13!
Thank you, Annah, for the opportunity to read this early. ✨️
definitely add this to your tbr! It's out November 13!
Thank you, Annah, for the opportunity to read this early. ✨️
November 9, 2025
I love all of Annah's stories. They are just so gorgeous. I am excited for this whole series so I can share it with my teens. The characters are obviously younger than I usually read but I loved every second of it. This family!!! It's just like coming home.
Brilliant, I feel so lucky to be part of Annah's ARC team.
Brilliant, I feel so lucky to be part of Annah's ARC team.
November 15, 2025
RomCom University’s first installment had me in my feels. It was so fun to see glimpses of beloved characters from previous books, but I equally enjoyed seeing Jasmine and Shepherd’s story develop. The pressure to perform at your best all the time is a familiar feeling. There’s also something about a rivals to more romance— I can’t get enough! I loved the academia vibes for the nostalgia, and I loved the found family vibes from Jasmine and her roommates. Annah delivers another fantastic romcom full of heart, laughter, and swoon, and I am so excited to see all the roommates’ stories unfold as well.
Read
October 30, 2025IM SO EXCITED TO READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 14, 2025
The long and short of why this is 4 stars is because I found it a touch uneven. But not in a 50-50 way. The first quarter or so of the book was a little bit more effortful than the rest of the book.
So Jasmine is a freshman in college. [All of Anna's books are actually interconnected, so we know Jasmine previously as Delilah's little sister from 'But He's My One Regret']. In our introduction to Jasmine we glean her nervousness in starting college, her hope to build lasting friendships with her new roommates, her desire to master chess, oh and her disdain for Shepherd, the star quarterback.
Her disdain for Shepherd mainly arises from her frustration with his seeming golden boy status. She thinks that he's arrogant, egocentric, obnoxious. Mind you, these opinions are not based on any interaction that she has had with him. In fact, the one interaction she had with him (off page), was apparently pleasant enough and innocuous. Her frustrations and animosity, dare I say, to him, is strictly based on her being sick of hearing about him so much. So she puts all these ideas of what he must be on to him, hence the whole enemies to to more tag.
If a bit of a tone is coming through, it's because I really did not buy into the enemies to more portion of this story at all. I think that when it was trying to fit into that mold it was at its weakest because there wasn't any tension that really came from it (imo) because it was so one sided. Shepherd is just sort of in his lane, and Jasmine is there hating him. In fact I found Shepherd's characterization easier to grasp from the first instance when compared to Jasmine who was a little bit more ambiguous for some reason.
Within those first couple of chapters, we sort of immediately know a lot of what we need to know about Shepherd, which is that he feels like he's in his older brother's shadow in life. But especially when it comes to football and this is for a tremendous amount of pressure on him, both internally and from external parties, from his coach, from his teammates, from the media, from the school, so on and so forth. So he finds it refreshing when Jasmine doesn't really regard him because he finds that space safe for himself, he doesn't have to put on a front for her and he can just be himself, and play chess. You might ask, why are these two people interacting so much? Oh Jasmine's a cheerleader, she's also in the chess club and Shepherd is the quarterback and he's also in the chess club. So they interact.
This is why it took me a while to get into the groove of the story. Because reading about Jasmine just willfully hating Shepherd for literally nothing was all of the worst parts to me of the enemies to more trope. I like enemies to more when there is an organic and understandable reason for there to be friction between two parties. And for me the friction should come in a way that's sensible, not necessarily easily solved. For example, it shouldn't be about miscommunication, at all. But that source of friction or conflict ideally shouldn't paint either party in an outrageously bad way. I should like the characters individually yet understand why they don't like each other.
So thankfully I have come up with a little three GIF scale to rate how I feel.
3 - Yesss, tension
Immaculate, chef's kiss level use of the device. Has me turning pages and kicking my feet. Drives plot momentum.
2 - Neutral (sometimes impassive, often disinterest, little investment)
Feels a little forced perhaps. No true connection between the characters. Banter feels hollow and humour doesn't quite land. But not offensive, mostly just boring. Lacks spark.
1 - Borderline disdain
Talk about forced. No actual character development. Protagonists may actually be bad people. At times uncomfortable, boundary-crossing behaviour being sold as humour. Where dreams go to die.
I give this a solid 2. Felt a bit contrived/forced, but wasn't entirely lacking in humour. And I understand the role it played in bringing these particular characters together.
But thankfully the book quickly transitioned into friendship and I loooved that portion of the book (which was the whole rest of it once we got past the premise). Because we do have that background of Shepherd feeling comfortable and safe with Jasmine because she's not put him on a pedestal. Their friendship was so beautiful. Seeing them opening up to each other, showing vulnerability and building trust.
Not too much else to say. I thought that it was just a really nice book and the story moved. I think the length was perfect and the pacing was done really well. Also liked the friendship dynamics. And I really, really liked the light on their different family dynamics and the way different tension points were resolved. Like with all of Conwell's books, the world feels very lived in and the characters don't seem flat but well integrated into the fabric she's woven.
Can't wait for more.
So Jasmine is a freshman in college. [All of Anna's books are actually interconnected, so we know Jasmine previously as Delilah's little sister from 'But He's My One Regret']. In our introduction to Jasmine we glean her nervousness in starting college, her hope to build lasting friendships with her new roommates, her desire to master chess, oh and her disdain for Shepherd, the star quarterback.
Her disdain for Shepherd mainly arises from her frustration with his seeming golden boy status. She thinks that he's arrogant, egocentric, obnoxious. Mind you, these opinions are not based on any interaction that she has had with him. In fact, the one interaction she had with him (off page), was apparently pleasant enough and innocuous. Her frustrations and animosity, dare I say, to him, is strictly based on her being sick of hearing about him so much. So she puts all these ideas of what he must be on to him, hence the whole enemies to to more tag.
If a bit of a tone is coming through, it's because I really did not buy into the enemies to more portion of this story at all. I think that when it was trying to fit into that mold it was at its weakest because there wasn't any tension that really came from it (imo) because it was so one sided. Shepherd is just sort of in his lane, and Jasmine is there hating him. In fact I found Shepherd's characterization easier to grasp from the first instance when compared to Jasmine who was a little bit more ambiguous for some reason.
Within those first couple of chapters, we sort of immediately know a lot of what we need to know about Shepherd, which is that he feels like he's in his older brother's shadow in life. But especially when it comes to football and this is for a tremendous amount of pressure on him, both internally and from external parties, from his coach, from his teammates, from the media, from the school, so on and so forth. So he finds it refreshing when Jasmine doesn't really regard him because he finds that space safe for himself, he doesn't have to put on a front for her and he can just be himself, and play chess. You might ask, why are these two people interacting so much? Oh Jasmine's a cheerleader, she's also in the chess club and Shepherd is the quarterback and he's also in the chess club. So they interact.
This is why it took me a while to get into the groove of the story. Because reading about Jasmine just willfully hating Shepherd for literally nothing was all of the worst parts to me of the enemies to more trope. I like enemies to more when there is an organic and understandable reason for there to be friction between two parties. And for me the friction should come in a way that's sensible, not necessarily easily solved. For example, it shouldn't be about miscommunication, at all. But that source of friction or conflict ideally shouldn't paint either party in an outrageously bad way. I should like the characters individually yet understand why they don't like each other.
So thankfully I have come up with a little three GIF scale to rate how I feel.
3 - Yesss, tension
Immaculate, chef's kiss level use of the device. Has me turning pages and kicking my feet. Drives plot momentum.
2 - Neutral (sometimes impassive, often disinterest, little investment)
Feels a little forced perhaps. No true connection between the characters. Banter feels hollow and humour doesn't quite land. But not offensive, mostly just boring. Lacks spark.
1 - Borderline disdain
Talk about forced. No actual character development. Protagonists may actually be bad people. At times uncomfortable, boundary-crossing behaviour being sold as humour. Where dreams go to die.
I give this a solid 2. Felt a bit contrived/forced, but wasn't entirely lacking in humour. And I understand the role it played in bringing these particular characters together.
But thankfully the book quickly transitioned into friendship and I loooved that portion of the book (which was the whole rest of it once we got past the premise). Because we do have that background of Shepherd feeling comfortable and safe with Jasmine because she's not put him on a pedestal. Their friendship was so beautiful. Seeing them opening up to each other, showing vulnerability and building trust.
Not too much else to say. I thought that it was just a really nice book and the story moved. I think the length was perfect and the pacing was done really well. Also liked the friendship dynamics. And I really, really liked the light on their different family dynamics and the way different tension points were resolved. Like with all of Conwell's books, the world feels very lived in and the characters don't seem flat but well integrated into the fabric she's woven.
Can't wait for more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2025
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Jasmine & Shepherd’s points of view
*Jasmine is Dahlia’s younger sister (from But He’s My One Regret) & Shepherd is Jason’s younger brother (from The Run Option)
-it is mentioned that a character’s parents died and they were raised by their sibling
-it is mentioned that a character’s parents were hands off when it came to showing up for their kids
-it is briefly mentioned that there was tongue in a kiss
Review:
I loved getting to know Jasmine, Shepherd, and the girls sharing Jasmine’s apartment! I’d seen glimpses of Jasmine and Shepherd in their siblings’ stories so I was excited to get to know them better even before getting the story summary! I loved their chess rivalry and how they later became comfortable enough to let each other in. Seeing the change between them was all the more sweet by having started on the complete opposite side of the relationship spectrum in the beginning of the book. I loved that Shepherd had a nickname for Jasmine and was determined to make her believe as much as he did that she’d achieve her dreams! I also loved that we got to see more of MJ, Bash, the Carter family, and Jason and Willow! I loved the love and care the families were giving to Jasmine and Shepherd and I loved getting to see them all together in one book!
I can’t wait to find out more about what happened between Marigold and her rival in the next book, as well as the other ladies sharing Jasmine’s apartment in the future!
Summary:
Jasmine is determined to be the best at everything she sets out to do in order to feel like her family’s help over the years was worth the cost. Unfortunately for her, Jasmine finds herself paired up with a cocky football player for a chess match. And he beats her easily all while pushing every one of her buttons.
Shepherd is looking to make a name for himself outside of his famous brother’s shadow. But when you go to the same school for the same sport your brother did, it’s easier said than done. His only reprieve comes in chess club. Not only does Shepherd have skills that his brother doesn’t there, but it also brings Jasmine. She doesn’t care for who Shepherd’s related to nor what Shepherd can do on the football field. In fact, she loves to hate him for beating her on the chess board. And the fact that Shepherd can get so easily under her skin is a plus. Because Jasmine looks all the more beautiful when she’s mad at him. If only dating cheerleaders wasn’t forbidden…
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Jasmine & Shepherd’s points of view
*Jasmine is Dahlia’s younger sister (from But He’s My One Regret) & Shepherd is Jason’s younger brother (from The Run Option)
-it is mentioned that a character’s parents died and they were raised by their sibling
-it is mentioned that a character’s parents were hands off when it came to showing up for their kids
-it is briefly mentioned that there was tongue in a kiss
Review:
I loved getting to know Jasmine, Shepherd, and the girls sharing Jasmine’s apartment! I’d seen glimpses of Jasmine and Shepherd in their siblings’ stories so I was excited to get to know them better even before getting the story summary! I loved their chess rivalry and how they later became comfortable enough to let each other in. Seeing the change between them was all the more sweet by having started on the complete opposite side of the relationship spectrum in the beginning of the book. I loved that Shepherd had a nickname for Jasmine and was determined to make her believe as much as he did that she’d achieve her dreams! I also loved that we got to see more of MJ, Bash, the Carter family, and Jason and Willow! I loved the love and care the families were giving to Jasmine and Shepherd and I loved getting to see them all together in one book!
I can’t wait to find out more about what happened between Marigold and her rival in the next book, as well as the other ladies sharing Jasmine’s apartment in the future!
Summary:
Jasmine is determined to be the best at everything she sets out to do in order to feel like her family’s help over the years was worth the cost. Unfortunately for her, Jasmine finds herself paired up with a cocky football player for a chess match. And he beats her easily all while pushing every one of her buttons.
Shepherd is looking to make a name for himself outside of his famous brother’s shadow. But when you go to the same school for the same sport your brother did, it’s easier said than done. His only reprieve comes in chess club. Not only does Shepherd have skills that his brother doesn’t there, but it also brings Jasmine. She doesn’t care for who Shepherd’s related to nor what Shepherd can do on the football field. In fact, she loves to hate him for beating her on the chess board. And the fact that Shepherd can get so easily under her skin is a plus. Because Jasmine looks all the more beautiful when she’s mad at him. If only dating cheerleaders wasn’t forbidden…
November 8, 2025
I was soo pumped for this new series and it did not disappoint!!! I can’t wait for the next book! It was teased so well and it’s gonna be good!!
I love how all her books are connected in some form or another and getting to see a younger cast of characters starting with two who are connected to the previous ones is so much fun!!
I loved all the cameos of the Carters, Bash and MJ and Jason and Willow.
This was a good showcase in dealing with pressures from the outside and even self-inflicted to be something you’re not or live up to someone or pay back someone whose been influential in your life and realizing that it just takes speaking up about it and talking to the family or people to work those feelings and things out.
Shephard and Jasmine both faced some form of those things and it took the other person recognizing and bringing it to the surface to have them realize what they needed to do. Jasmine fighting Shephard FOR him was one of my favorite scenes! I love it when the other stands up for them or even just gets them to see things clearer. Show them they’re supported no matter what.
The banter was too-notch!! Oh my goodness I was highlighting most of Shephard and Jasmines conversations. They were golden and so much fun to read and smile and chuckle at. Didn’t take long for both of them to be gone for each other and I love how even though they wanted to wait to bring up their relationship with Bash they still didn’t want to keep things hidden for long. After the family dinner both knew that the other was more important than whatever was to come.
Seriously Annah pulls it off so well again and I’m so pumped for the next book and the next book and the… well you get the idea 😂.
There were a LOT of favorite moments that I can’t mention them all or it’ll be another paragraph but some of my favs are:
🏈 nicknames
♟️ chess matches/banter involved
🏈 the rivalry to friends to lovers
♟️ the first kiss!!
🏈 all the kisses
♟️ the family chaos and found family
🏈 the girls becoming besties
♟️ knight in shining armor moment
🏈 and so much more!!!
I love how all her books are connected in some form or another and getting to see a younger cast of characters starting with two who are connected to the previous ones is so much fun!!
I loved all the cameos of the Carters, Bash and MJ and Jason and Willow.
This was a good showcase in dealing with pressures from the outside and even self-inflicted to be something you’re not or live up to someone or pay back someone whose been influential in your life and realizing that it just takes speaking up about it and talking to the family or people to work those feelings and things out.
Shephard and Jasmine both faced some form of those things and it took the other person recognizing and bringing it to the surface to have them realize what they needed to do. Jasmine fighting Shephard FOR him was one of my favorite scenes! I love it when the other stands up for them or even just gets them to see things clearer. Show them they’re supported no matter what.
The banter was too-notch!! Oh my goodness I was highlighting most of Shephard and Jasmines conversations. They were golden and so much fun to read and smile and chuckle at. Didn’t take long for both of them to be gone for each other and I love how even though they wanted to wait to bring up their relationship with Bash they still didn’t want to keep things hidden for long. After the family dinner both knew that the other was more important than whatever was to come.
Seriously Annah pulls it off so well again and I’m so pumped for the next book and the next book and the… well you get the idea 😂.
There were a LOT of favorite moments that I can’t mention them all or it’ll be another paragraph but some of my favs are:
🏈 nicknames
♟️ chess matches/banter involved
🏈 the rivalry to friends to lovers
♟️ the first kiss!!
🏈 all the kisses
♟️ the family chaos and found family
🏈 the girls becoming besties
♟️ knight in shining armor moment
🏈 and so much more!!!
November 7, 2025
I was so looking forward to reading Chess Not Checkers, and it completely lived up to every bit of my anticipation. This book reminded me exactly why I love Annah Conwell’s worlds so much: every character, every cameo, every thread ties together in a way that feels like coming home 🩷
Jasmine Chamberlain (yes Dahlia's little sister from But He's My One Regret) finally gets her story and it is everything I hoped for! Pair her with Shepherd Kingsley (Jason's brother from Run Option) and you've got a sweet slow burn college romance full of playful banter, big hearts and all the family chaos we know and love. I adore how Annah brought in familiar faces like Coach Bass (from One Last Play), Grayson at the family gatherings and teaching her chess, MJ and Levi, all those connections made the world feel even better ♟️
The roommates were such a fun addition getting to know: quiet (and maybe just a little dark) Aurora, Saylor (who's already scouting husband candidates) and Marigold (with her ex best friend Jameson), they are the perfect setup for the next books in the series and I already cannot wait to read their stories! 🩷
What I loved most though was Shepherd’s constant teasing of Jasmine. From the very beginning he's convinced she likes him, and he never lets her forget it. It's not quite enemies to lovers (because he's clearly been smitten all along) but that playful push and pull made their chemistry shine. Every scene between them felt like a mix of challenge and charm and watching Jasmine slowly realize he might just be right was so fun ♟️
I love the big chaotic found family warmth and the cozy sense of belonging that wraps around every page. Honestly, I cannot think of a single thing I didn't like in this book. Annah Conwell continues to prove why she has been an auto buy author for me because her books feel like comfort and excitement all at once 🩷
If you love college romances with heart, humor and sweet slow burn chemistry, Chess Not Checkers is a must read. Annah Conwell isn't just telling the same old love story; she's playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers ♟️
Jasmine Chamberlain (yes Dahlia's little sister from But He's My One Regret) finally gets her story and it is everything I hoped for! Pair her with Shepherd Kingsley (Jason's brother from Run Option) and you've got a sweet slow burn college romance full of playful banter, big hearts and all the family chaos we know and love. I adore how Annah brought in familiar faces like Coach Bass (from One Last Play), Grayson at the family gatherings and teaching her chess, MJ and Levi, all those connections made the world feel even better ♟️
The roommates were such a fun addition getting to know: quiet (and maybe just a little dark) Aurora, Saylor (who's already scouting husband candidates) and Marigold (with her ex best friend Jameson), they are the perfect setup for the next books in the series and I already cannot wait to read their stories! 🩷
What I loved most though was Shepherd’s constant teasing of Jasmine. From the very beginning he's convinced she likes him, and he never lets her forget it. It's not quite enemies to lovers (because he's clearly been smitten all along) but that playful push and pull made their chemistry shine. Every scene between them felt like a mix of challenge and charm and watching Jasmine slowly realize he might just be right was so fun ♟️
I love the big chaotic found family warmth and the cozy sense of belonging that wraps around every page. Honestly, I cannot think of a single thing I didn't like in this book. Annah Conwell continues to prove why she has been an auto buy author for me because her books feel like comfort and excitement all at once 🩷
If you love college romances with heart, humor and sweet slow burn chemistry, Chess Not Checkers is a must read. Annah Conwell isn't just telling the same old love story; she's playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers ♟️
November 6, 2025
Arc - Chess Not Checkers ♟️🍂
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
by: Annah Conwell
My thoughts-
oh my goodness, there's no words to describe how much I love this book.🎀 I was so excited to hear that she was going to do a college setting series I love her ones where they are in their adult stages, but oh my gosh, I am in love with the teenage vibe. 🫶🏻 The little quirks and tension were paired so well. she definitely outdid herself in this one. This is a
must on your tbr. 🌸 I love you Annah and thank you so much for this arc!!!"' I am so blessed to be able to be on your team!
This is a clean sweet romance without all the spice!💌💕
Tropes-
Rivals to Lovers 🏆❤️🔥
College Romance ♟️🩶
Found Family 🏡💛
Sports 🏈 💙
Academia 📔🤎
Summary-
She thinks he's an arrogant jerk.
All Jasmine Chamberlain wants is to make her family proud.
She owes them everything and intends to pay them back by being the best student, cheerleader, and chess player the university has ever seen.
Unfortunately for her, on her first day of chess club, she gets paired with an arrogant, flirty, hotshot quarterback with an affinity for pushing her buttons. Even worse? He's better than her at chess.
He thinks she's gorgeous.
Shepherd Kingsley is on a mission to escape his brother's shadow. At every press conference and on every sports network, Shepherd is being compared to his undefeated brother. Determined to be known for his name and not his brother's, he decides to beat every record Jason set.
It's all going according to plan until Jasmine shows up on campus. Shepherd is drawn to her fire immediately, but dating cheerleaders is forbidden, and he can't risk being benched.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
by: Annah Conwell
My thoughts-
oh my goodness, there's no words to describe how much I love this book.🎀 I was so excited to hear that she was going to do a college setting series I love her ones where they are in their adult stages, but oh my gosh, I am in love with the teenage vibe. 🫶🏻 The little quirks and tension were paired so well. she definitely outdid herself in this one. This is a
must on your tbr. 🌸 I love you Annah and thank you so much for this arc!!!"' I am so blessed to be able to be on your team!
This is a clean sweet romance without all the spice!💌💕
Tropes-
Rivals to Lovers 🏆❤️🔥
College Romance ♟️🩶
Found Family 🏡💛
Sports 🏈 💙
Academia 📔🤎
Summary-
She thinks he's an arrogant jerk.
All Jasmine Chamberlain wants is to make her family proud.
She owes them everything and intends to pay them back by being the best student, cheerleader, and chess player the university has ever seen.
Unfortunately for her, on her first day of chess club, she gets paired with an arrogant, flirty, hotshot quarterback with an affinity for pushing her buttons. Even worse? He's better than her at chess.
He thinks she's gorgeous.
Shepherd Kingsley is on a mission to escape his brother's shadow. At every press conference and on every sports network, Shepherd is being compared to his undefeated brother. Determined to be known for his name and not his brother's, he decides to beat every record Jason set.
It's all going according to plan until Jasmine shows up on campus. Shepherd is drawn to her fire immediately, but dating cheerleaders is forbidden, and he can't risk being benched.
November 14, 2025
Y’all this book is ADORABLE! I could not stop smiling and giggling throughout it. I loved everything about it so I already know this review is going to be a rambling one.
Shep and Jasmine were just fantastic. He was so flirty and fun and Jasmine was sassy and quick witted and their banter was incredible. I love a romance where the girl is absolutely not impressed by the guy just because he’s an athlete/celebrity and the guy secretly loves that she isn’t impressed by that so he continuously goads her because he just can’t get enough and Annah delivered that so well in this book. I loved watching these two becomes friends. It was so sweet and precious and I loved that they bonded over chess. Their relationship was so sweet and real and I loved how honest they were with each other and how Jasmine fought for Shep. I was not expecting this book to have me in my feels like it did but the emotional depth was so good and really explored well.
I also loved Jasmine’s roommates and I cannot wait to get their stories because I know they’re gonna be so good. And I loved the glimpses of characters from Annah’s past books.
This book is such a perfect fall read and it made me so nostalgic for my college days. I think Annah did such a good job encapsulating that freshman year of college and making friends and falling in love and it just had me all in my feels.
Thank you so so much Annah for the ARC! This one is out now and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR.
👍🏻Read If You Like:
* college romances
* sports romances
* forbidden romance
* found family
🛑Content Warnings:
* deceased parents
* nonexistent parents
* anxiety rep
🚪Closed Door Romance
Shep and Jasmine were just fantastic. He was so flirty and fun and Jasmine was sassy and quick witted and their banter was incredible. I love a romance where the girl is absolutely not impressed by the guy just because he’s an athlete/celebrity and the guy secretly loves that she isn’t impressed by that so he continuously goads her because he just can’t get enough and Annah delivered that so well in this book. I loved watching these two becomes friends. It was so sweet and precious and I loved that they bonded over chess. Their relationship was so sweet and real and I loved how honest they were with each other and how Jasmine fought for Shep. I was not expecting this book to have me in my feels like it did but the emotional depth was so good and really explored well.
I also loved Jasmine’s roommates and I cannot wait to get their stories because I know they’re gonna be so good. And I loved the glimpses of characters from Annah’s past books.
This book is such a perfect fall read and it made me so nostalgic for my college days. I think Annah did such a good job encapsulating that freshman year of college and making friends and falling in love and it just had me all in my feels.
Thank you so so much Annah for the ARC! This one is out now and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR.
👍🏻Read If You Like:
* college romances
* sports romances
* forbidden romance
* found family
🛑Content Warnings:
* deceased parents
* nonexistent parents
* anxiety rep
🚪Closed Door Romance
November 13, 2025
I absolutely loved, loved, loved this book! Chess Not Checkers is a delightful, sparky, and heart-tugging college romance that hits all the right notes. While it keeps the spice off the page, the flirty banter and perfect chemistry between Jasmine and Shepherd generate more than enough heat to keep you hooked. It has everything you are looking for:
Forbidden love, supportive roommates, meddling and loving family, baking, chess rivals, football, cheerleaders, flirty banter, enemies to friends to more, a satisfying HEA that gives you “hearts in your eyes”.
Jasmine and Shepherd are rivals in chess club. Jasmine lost her parents young and was taking care of by her older sister. She feels she owes the people that have been helping her and feels overwhelmed. Shepherd feels pressure from being in his brother’s shadow thinking he needs to be better for his parents’ acceptance. Jasmine can’t stand Shephard thinking that everything is easy for him. Spending more time together helps her to realize that is not the case. The jabs and playful sparring between the two are comical, flirty, and instantly magnetic.
Wonderful romcom that brings other characters from previous books in and new ones that you want to read about. Annah writes this story so beautifully, making it impossible to put down. Whether it's the solid, bonding friendships, the competitive chess rivalry, or the attempts to resist falling in love, every element shines. Totally recommend this book and I'm eagerly looking forward to what Annah writes next!
Forbidden love, supportive roommates, meddling and loving family, baking, chess rivals, football, cheerleaders, flirty banter, enemies to friends to more, a satisfying HEA that gives you “hearts in your eyes”.
Jasmine and Shepherd are rivals in chess club. Jasmine lost her parents young and was taking care of by her older sister. She feels she owes the people that have been helping her and feels overwhelmed. Shepherd feels pressure from being in his brother’s shadow thinking he needs to be better for his parents’ acceptance. Jasmine can’t stand Shephard thinking that everything is easy for him. Spending more time together helps her to realize that is not the case. The jabs and playful sparring between the two are comical, flirty, and instantly magnetic.
Wonderful romcom that brings other characters from previous books in and new ones that you want to read about. Annah writes this story so beautifully, making it impossible to put down. Whether it's the solid, bonding friendships, the competitive chess rivalry, or the attempts to resist falling in love, every element shines. Totally recommend this book and I'm eagerly looking forward to what Annah writes next!
November 13, 2025
Jasmine and Shepherd make me believe in young love!
I could not put this book down. Jasmine and Shepherd had the best chemistry from the very beginning and it only got better by the end.They both squash the cheerleader/football player stereotypes. They’re both a little nerdy and have so much more to them than their athletic endeavors.
I loved how unimpressed Jasmine was with Shepherd’s status on campus as the star quarterback. Instead of immediately fawning over him, she challenged him. I enjoyed watching her grow up as she navigated her commitments to school, athletics, family, friends, etc.
Shepherd has so much going for him and although he recognizes that, he also feels like he’ll never live up to the name on his jersey. It was heartbreaking to see him work himself to the bone and still not feel good enough. It was so relatable. I loved that Jasmine was able to step in as a friend first and help him change his perspective.
It was SO good to see all of the Carter/Holt clan again. I loved that they played such a vital role in this story for both Jasmine and Shep. I also enjoyed the new friendships Jasmine is building with her roommates and the bonds Shep has with his team.
This rivals to more, forbidden relationship, college romance was full of fantastic banter, big emotions, powerful friendships, and so many swoony kisses! This is the 1st book in the new RomCom University series and I can’t wait for the next!
I could not put this book down. Jasmine and Shepherd had the best chemistry from the very beginning and it only got better by the end.They both squash the cheerleader/football player stereotypes. They’re both a little nerdy and have so much more to them than their athletic endeavors.
I loved how unimpressed Jasmine was with Shepherd’s status on campus as the star quarterback. Instead of immediately fawning over him, she challenged him. I enjoyed watching her grow up as she navigated her commitments to school, athletics, family, friends, etc.
Shepherd has so much going for him and although he recognizes that, he also feels like he’ll never live up to the name on his jersey. It was heartbreaking to see him work himself to the bone and still not feel good enough. It was so relatable. I loved that Jasmine was able to step in as a friend first and help him change his perspective.
It was SO good to see all of the Carter/Holt clan again. I loved that they played such a vital role in this story for both Jasmine and Shep. I also enjoyed the new friendships Jasmine is building with her roommates and the bonds Shep has with his team.
This rivals to more, forbidden relationship, college romance was full of fantastic banter, big emotions, powerful friendships, and so many swoony kisses! This is the 1st book in the new RomCom University series and I can’t wait for the next!
November 5, 2025
Whew, where do I even begin???
Annah absolutely outdid herself with this one. This book literally encompassed all the amazing things about her other 3 series. The roommate/friendships from the sweet peach series, the coziness and comfort from the Carter brother series, and the sports aspect from the more than a game series.
Sometimes I feel like books go so trope heavy. And don’t get me wrong, I love a good fake dating or friends to lovers trope, but sometimes true love stories get lost in tropes. I feel like this book was a breath of fresh air. While it is technically rivals to lovers, it felt like a genuine, uncomplicated love story that I witnessed right in front of my eyes. Jasmine and Shep had such a sweet relationship that was written so beautifully. I am definitely going to be re reading it again soon!!
Also, the little Easter eggs pointing to the next books in the series were killing me! I can’t believe I’m going to have to wait to figure out what happens next. I know the next books are going to be just as good as this one, and I can’t wait to see what Annah writes next.
Favorite things about the book:
CHESS!!!!
The Carter/Holt family cameos
The fall vibes
Jasmine and her friends
The banter
Fantastic character development
Found family
No spice
No language
5/5⭐️
I’m so grateful that I received an advanced copy!! I always look forward to reading Annah’s books 💕
Annah absolutely outdid herself with this one. This book literally encompassed all the amazing things about her other 3 series. The roommate/friendships from the sweet peach series, the coziness and comfort from the Carter brother series, and the sports aspect from the more than a game series.
Sometimes I feel like books go so trope heavy. And don’t get me wrong, I love a good fake dating or friends to lovers trope, but sometimes true love stories get lost in tropes. I feel like this book was a breath of fresh air. While it is technically rivals to lovers, it felt like a genuine, uncomplicated love story that I witnessed right in front of my eyes. Jasmine and Shep had such a sweet relationship that was written so beautifully. I am definitely going to be re reading it again soon!!
Also, the little Easter eggs pointing to the next books in the series were killing me! I can’t believe I’m going to have to wait to figure out what happens next. I know the next books are going to be just as good as this one, and I can’t wait to see what Annah writes next.
Favorite things about the book:
CHESS!!!!
The Carter/Holt family cameos
The fall vibes
Jasmine and her friends
The banter
Fantastic character development
Found family
No spice
No language
5/5⭐️
I’m so grateful that I received an advanced copy!! I always look forward to reading Annah’s books 💕
November 15, 2025
Chess Not Checkers
It was so cool to see two lovable side characters get their HEA (college edition). Jasmine (Dahlia’s sister from But He’s My One Regret) and Shepherd (Jason’s brother from The Run Option) clash at first because she’s irritated with him, and he’s enamored with her reactions to his teasing. It kinda gives Elizabeth and Darcy vibes. But behind the banter, they both carry heavy burdens and feel like they can’t share that load with anyone—until they find each other. If you’ve ever struggled with the fear and weight of disappointing the people you care about or not meeting the extremely high standards you’ve set for yourself, then you will resonate with both of these characters.
Their love story is ADORABLE and fun with just enough youthful recklessness and secrecy to keep you hooked until the very end. The friendship dynamic of the four roommates almost seems too perfect, but that’s the cool thing about fiction. It can be anything you want it to be, and Annah does a great job blending dream-scenarios with deep and relatable characters.
This is a sweet college romance featuring lots of Thrashers talk, what I’m sure are superb pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, no swearing or spice, a feisty heroine, a dashing hero, PLENTY of chemistry, and lots of familiar faces from the Annah-verse.
I was privileged to read an early copy of this book.
It was so cool to see two lovable side characters get their HEA (college edition). Jasmine (Dahlia’s sister from But He’s My One Regret) and Shepherd (Jason’s brother from The Run Option) clash at first because she’s irritated with him, and he’s enamored with her reactions to his teasing. It kinda gives Elizabeth and Darcy vibes. But behind the banter, they both carry heavy burdens and feel like they can’t share that load with anyone—until they find each other. If you’ve ever struggled with the fear and weight of disappointing the people you care about or not meeting the extremely high standards you’ve set for yourself, then you will resonate with both of these characters.
Their love story is ADORABLE and fun with just enough youthful recklessness and secrecy to keep you hooked until the very end. The friendship dynamic of the four roommates almost seems too perfect, but that’s the cool thing about fiction. It can be anything you want it to be, and Annah does a great job blending dream-scenarios with deep and relatable characters.
This is a sweet college romance featuring lots of Thrashers talk, what I’m sure are superb pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, no swearing or spice, a feisty heroine, a dashing hero, PLENTY of chemistry, and lots of familiar faces from the Annah-verse.
I was privileged to read an early copy of this book.
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