I absolutely loved every part of this book from the chess games to the interpersonal character interactions. It was all in all such a delight!!

The main character is flawed and working through built up trauma and makes irrational decisions, but seeing her grow from the beginning to the end of the book was so rewarding. I love Mallory!! I am a Mallory Greenleaf stan first and foremost!!

And Nolan?? Nolan Sawyer?? The most perfect broody and moody specimen I’ve read in a long time?? Yeah, loved him too!!

I recommend this to literally everyone it was so good.

Chess is no longer a part of Mallory Greenleaf's life. And she definitely won't be stepping near it anytime soon, especially after what it did to her family. Since the incident, she's worked for her family, providing for them the best she can.

After accidentally winning a charity tournament and beating the notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer, current world champion of chess, an unimaginable opportunity presents itself to Mallory. She accepts, knowing little about what's in it for her. As the two begin to work together, lines start to blur, causing Mallory to rethink everything she knew about herself and those around her.

Oh how cute were Mallory and Nolan together. Everything about them is just adorable. I love how Nolan genuinely cares about Mallory and wants to really know about her and her family (he took her sisters out for ice cream and let them try every flavor there!).

Everyone expresses their love differently. Mallory's way of doing so is providing care for her family, almost as a second mother to her sisters. I didn't understand the way Sabrina was acting at first, almost as if she was ungrateful for all Mallory does for her. But then I realized the fact that Sabrina probably misses her sister and wants that bond instead of feeling mothered by Mallory all the time. It wasn't that Mallory didn't love her, it was just the fact that the way she expressed it didn't align with Sabrina's.

Overall, Check & Mate was just so cute and light, exactly what I needed leading up to final exams in school. Though I'd say I like her contemporary novels more, her YA was also so much fun to read. Ali Hazelwood has done it again, everyone (I still need to read Love on the Brain though)!

In "Check & Mate," Ali Hazelwood has created a masterpiece that goes beyond the confines of a chessboard, delivering a heartfelt and compelling story of love, redemption, and the unexpected twists life throws our way. It is a must-read that resonates long after the final move.

Ali Hazelwood skillfully delves into profound conversations about grief, guilt, and the formidable journey of moving forward when it seems insurmountable. The narrative, delivered through an eARC and audiobook, was a double delight. The audiobook, in particular, added a fantastic layer to the innuendos and overall atmosphere, enhancing the immersive experience.

The characters in "Check & Mate" are deliberate and each brings a significant value to the storyline. Mallory Greenleaf, done with chess after its impact on her family, unexpectedly finds herself entangled with world champion Nolan Sawyer in a charity tournament. Hazelwood weaves an intricate tale as Mallory navigates her ascent in the chess world, keeping her family shielded from the game that once shattered their lives.

The narrative unfolds like a brilliant chess match, each move strategic and thoughtfully executed. Hazelwood not only captures the essence of the game but also crafts a love story that transcends the board. The spotlight shines brighter, the competition is fierce, and the characters are irresistibly attractive, intelligent, and infuriating—an irresistible combination.

**"While categorized as Young Adult, it undeniably leans into New Adult. Although technically closed door, the story surprised me with its clever innuendos and subtle implications, making chess unexpectedly sexy—quite a twist!

“Check & Mate” seems to be Hazel’s first foray into YA and like her adult romances it features women in a stereotypical male-dominated field. It also features a cute romance with some feminist principles and serious themes. Cute, fun story. 3.5 stars ⭐️ rounded up.

Mallory Greenleaf just wants her family to be alright but that's hard when all the responsibility falls on her shoulders. When an opportunity to play chess and get paid for it arises will it give her everything she wants or tear her apart? Check & Mate will give an inside peek into professional Chess and how the structure keeps certain individuals out. Hazelwood does an exceptional job balancing the mechanics of Chess and romance, allowing for a large audience to be captivated.

CHECK & MATE by Ali Hazelwood is officially making its way onto my top tier romance list. I had some hesitancy about starting this because I didn’t know if Ali Hazelwood could pull off YA, but this book may be my FAVORITE of hers (I still need to read Love Theoretically).

CHECK & MATE is compulsively readable. My jaw dropped and I said “WHAT” outloud several times. I read it in a 2 day period and I didn’t want to end. I read this partially via audiobook and I’d highly recommend consuming it in that form. The narrator Karrisa Vacker did a fabulous job of pulling the reader into the story.

The romance was had me BLUSHING, (even without spice, I didn’t miss it!). Nolan & Mallory are chess prodigies positioned as somewhat rivals. The book opens with Mallory winning a match against Nolan (who happens to be ranked #1 in the world and is undefeated). He is hellbent on a rematch while Mallory is determined for exactly the opposite: to avoid playing chess as much as possible. And the push and pull begins.

Thank god for a romance with character growth and characters that feel like real people. Oftentimes, that is absent from romance books. Mallory and Nolan kind of reminded me of Charlie and Norah from Emily Henry’s Book Lovers. If you like that book, you’ll like this!

Thank you so much to Putnam Young Readers for the ARC and libro.fm for the ALC.

This might be my favorite book by Ali Hazelwood to date. I thought all the chess stuff would be boring but the way she wrote it was fascinating. This is a story about Nolan who is about 20 yrs old and is a chess prodigy. Mallory is one also but quit playing when she was 14 because of her father. She is pulled back into it when her family needs money and she feels like she needs to support them. The match that got her back I was a win against Nolan who was #1 in the world. He is immediately taken with her. They both have some baggage even though they are young but they just get each other.

Mallory is 18 and supporting her family. Her dad is not around, her mom has a chronic illness and she has two preteen/teen sisters.

When she was young, Mallory’s passion was chess. She loved everything about it. But when a tragic event changed her life, she stopped playing and became her family’s breadwinner instead.

An opportunity comes up for Mallory to play again and she hesitantly goes for it. However, she has to play against the reigning world champion, Nolan Sawyer.

This book was so so so good! I’m already an Ali Hazelwood stan, but I felt like her adult novels were getting a bit formulaic. This New Adult novel is completely different. She made freaking chess exciting!

Check & Mate was super funny, sweet, and of course, romantic. I wanted to live in this world and watch the chess matches. I, honestly, cannot say enough good things about this book.

If there's one thing certain about picking up an Ali Hazelwood book, it's that you're in for a treat. In this delightful read, Hazelwood weaves a narrative that is both fun and fast-paced, leaving readers with an irresistible desire to dive deeper into the world of chess. I love Mallory and Nolan! The chemistry between them is palpable, and as a reader, it's impossible not to root for their endearing connection. Definitely recommend this!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this e-arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the eARC! It took me a little bit to get into this one, but as usual Ali Hazelwood kills it with a FMC with realistic and relatable emotions. I also looooved the dynamic and banter between Mallory and Nolan. I adored the relationships between Mallory, her mom, and her sisters too. I think if this had been an adult novel the trauma may have been further explored - but it made sense for a YA novel. My only complaint is that I was invested in the chess aspect and wanted to actually see the tournament play out. I enjoyed the epilogue though! A solid 4 stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

I am a fiend for Ali Hazelwood's adult fiction, so I was very excited to pick Check and Mate up. I was not disappointed, in fact, I think she went more in-depth with her character's background, especially, Mallory.
The characters are lovable thanks to their quirks and I cannot wait for the next Ali Hazelwood novel. Be it rom-com, ya, or toddler I'm going to read it.

This is a great YA closed-door romance that I could recommend to students and actually have already loaned my copy to one.

Positives:
I learned a LOT about chess
The side characters were just as developed and entertaining as the main lead.
The plot was well-paced with the love connection happening at the right time.
The main character's struggles were more than just with chess, and the author did a great job of resolving those conflicts while still keeping the main focus of the plot. I especially appreciated the family dynamics throughout the story.
Miscommunications were resolved quickly.

I always enjoy this author's books. Glad there is ffinally one I can recommend to high school students.

nolan & mal
"do you know how incredible you are?"
omg i did not expect to love this as much as i did, but ali hazelwood never disappoints! nolan was making me laugh and kick my feet lol. i love how we get to see the struggles mal has gone through and her journey within herself.

Thank you to @PRHAudio for the audiobook and @penguinteen for the digital ARC. I read this one with #totallyteenbuddyread & agreed with a lot of the other readers.
I really enjoyed Check & Mate. I've read several of Ali Hazelwood's books. I loved The Love Hypothesis and the other two in that series were 4 star reads for me.
I loved the chess aspect although I barely know how to play. My son plays and he’s pretty good because he understands the strategy to it. I just play one move at a time. I feel like I learned a lot about the chess world from this book. Ali Hazelwood is known for her women-in-STEM books, so I thought a female character entering the male-dominated chess competition environment was a perfect segway.
Mallory is only 18, but she takes on a lot of family responsibility due to her mom's health condition and dad not being in the picture. This leads to her taking on some chess competitions to make money and here's how she meets Nolan. I adored Nolan. His character was so sweet even though he's known for being mean and rude when it comes to chess. Nolan was by far my favorite character. I love how much he respected Mallory, how he let her in to his life, and how much he wanted her to be a part of the chess competition world.
One thing I didn’t like is how much Mallory lied to her mom. I also wasn’t a big fan of Mallory's view about sleeping around and not having any relationships in the beginning of the story, but these opinions are just the mom in me. She's 18, so technically she's an adult, but it just didn't sit well with me. Because of these things, I’d recommend it for 20s or older teens, but probably not younger teens. Both main characters are adults, so this felt like more of a New Adult book rather than a YA book.
I liked Mallory's sisters and some of the other side characters and what they added to the story. One of my favorite scenes is when Nolan meets her family. Nolan really was the star of this book for me. The audiobook narrator does a great job of portraying Mallory's emotional ups and downs. I really enjoyed this one and I love the beautiful cover.

Check & Mate is my favorite Ali Hazelwood hands down. Not only is it my favorite love interest of them all - we love Nolan - but it also features chess. A big component of this book is the sexism women face as professional players. As a fan of The Queens Gambit, I eat up all these scenes about chess, training, and how much Mallory loves it. She breathes chess. At the same time, she feels the pressure of her family so acutely, the ways in which she's changed her life and future for them.

This book was ok, pretty middle of the road, the truth is Ali hazelwood writes a book and I immediately add to TBR. this wasn't my favorite of hers, but I did enjoy it. The chess aspect was fun and of course the romance was amazing , Ali never misses in the romance department. My only complaint is all the pop culture references, I get why they are used but it really takes me out of the story when I see things I know in real life. But that's a personal preference. Overall, this was a good read and I would recommend:

I actually cried reading this. I'm blaming that time of the month, but some parts hit me so hard as an eldest child.

Anyways, this was so cute. Nolan had me all giddy and giggling, and Mal was relatable. But, my favorite character was Oz. His whole personality had me ROLLING every time he talked 😂. I do wish the end was a bit different because after all that buildup, I needed what I thought was going to happen.

However, I definitely recommend!

I received an e-galley of Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood from Penguin Teen Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had some doubts as to whether I could enjoy a book in which the characters and plot was based around chess and surprisingly in the best of ways, I enjoyed it. I think some of my reservations also came from not really enjoying Ali Hazelwood's debut novel but I wanted to give this story a proper chance, outside of that previous connection with the author. I really liked the mystery of this one - with Mallory's departure from chess for years - and the added dynamics of the male-dominated world of chess that plays out so dramatically. I really enjoyed the development of Mallory and Nolan's relationship throughout this novel.

Even though this is a Young Adult (YA) book I loved this so much! Ali maintained her style even though this was quite different to her previous books. I also learnt an awful lot about chess but I don’t think that this aspect bogged the book down at all. It was an excellent mix of romance and chess. For me, this is one of the best books Ali has written, even without much spice! I now have both a digital copy and hard copy because I loved it so much. The spice was not closed door but definitely YA appropriate. If you like a good, compelling YA romance (and/or chess) then this book is for you!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Penguin and Ali Hazelwood for this early release copy in exchange for my honest review

I loved this book! I have read all of Ali Hazelwood's books and this one does not disappoint. It is a little different since it is young adult. It is still great for all ages.