I really enjoyed this book! Ali Hazelwood does it again. Another cute and entertaining romantic story that kept me engaged throughout. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

Definitely my favorite Ali Hazelwood book to date!

It’s everything I could want in a romance based around chess. If you watched The Queen’s Gambit and loved it and wanted a modernized spicy fanfic full of subtle literature nods, heavy doses of deconstructing internalized misogyny, eldest siblings learning to prioritize their self-care, and “OMG I WISH MORE OF MY YA/NA books were written like this” steam, this is the book for you.

I don’t want to give much of the plot away, but basically our main character is a chess prodigy who abruptly quits the game after *something* happens within her family to put her pieces up forever. Now she is struggling to help provide for her family (her mom with a chronic illness rep, and younger sisters who are LOVEABLY THE WORST AND BEST) as a surrogate co-parent. When she is encouraged (read: emotionally blackmailed) by her BFF to take up chess ONE MORE TIME FOR A GOOD CAUSE, she finds she loves it and is THRUST into the chess world, and spotlight, thanks to an offer she quite literally can’t refuse. Also, doesn’t hurt that her main rival and competition is A SEXY SYMBOL FOR GEN Z IN THE CHESS WORLD.

Classic Hazelwood! We get to nerd out while having our girl power moments mixed with some dirty dirty talk and it is DELECTABLE. I also highly recommend on audio, if you are inclined.

I read my first Ali Hazelwood this year and I immediately binged her whole backlist. I was so excited when I got to go meet her at the @penguinteen party where Check and Mate was given out. I wasn’t sure if chess would pull me in but damn if it didn’t from the very first chapter. Mallory and Nolan are the perfect characters. The wit and banter between the two made me root for this relationship. This isn’t just a fun read but it has all the emotions. Hijinks and henleys, does it get any

I know nothing about chess. But this book made me want to start playing.

I will say, having read only one other Ali hazel wood book I don’t know what exactly I was expecting but it wasn’t this.

Quick summary: Daughter of a chess grandmaster finds herself the sole breadwinner for her family after her fathers death. Thwarted by the difficulties of all that, add the fact that mom has a chronic illness, she has to basically be the one that handles it all. Unfortunately for her, she’s 18 and isn’t doing what all the other teenagers her age are doing. Going to college. Forming meaningful relationships. Living. Enter kismet after her bff makes her go enter a chess tournament. Turns out she’s a hidden chess genius who took a pause on playing after the death of her father (which is a bit complicated but I won’t spoil it). After winning a match against THE king of chess (enter swoony sullen Nolan) she gets offered a fellowship to play professionally. And that’s when life gets really interesting.

Mallory as the Uber too old for her actual age fmc was so relatable. Her need to caretake. Her need to take the responsibility for things outside of her control. And her need to cut people off before they did the same to her felt very familiar. Nolan as the MMC made the perfect compliment to her as the quiet and matter of fact chess prodigy. When I expected him to be just hurtful because of my anticipation of a lack of social skills because….he’s smart. Ali Hazelwood offered us a rarity in the form of an intelligent man, not at all intimated by a woman who was equally, if not maybe slightly more talented than he was. He was open, and able to vocalize his thoughts. And a perfect partner professionally or otherwise to Mallory. To watch their almost telepathic ability to communicate, the fact they could read each other THAT well was just awesome.

I’m not sure if men like Nolan really exist in real life or even if relationships like the one they have do either, but this book gave me that feeling like when I was a teenager long ago. That feeling of feeling so strongly about someone but not really knowing how to communicate it. If I could bottle that up, it would be something like this book.

I’ve been in a total reading slump to be honest and this book took me right out of it. It’s been the first book in a long time that not only was I excited to get back to after a break in reading but one I thought about even in my non-reading time. So good!!! I want more of this!!!

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️.5

”Because when I’m with you, Mallory, everything is different. When I’m with you, I want to play more than I want to win.”

★ ★ ★ ★ | fade to black

!! POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD PROCEED WITH CAUTION !!

*A special thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

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To be completely honest, if Ali Hazelwood writes it, I’ll read it. Every. Single. Time.

I loved Nolan. He has a great personality. Even when he was supposed to be irritating, I didn’t find him irritating. Just kind of adorable. And the way he was obsessed with her? SWOON. He gave off Adam Carlsen energy.

Mallory, however, we have beef. There were times that I liked her and enjoyed her character. But, most of the time I just wanted to shake her and knock some sense into her. Though, I think that’s the point. I just wish that we got some more relationship development with them together.

The side characters were good, too. Maybe a little two dimensional, but nevertheless. Sabrina was very grating and I don’t really feel like there was a significant resolution for her. Darcy, though, I loved her so much. Her and Oz made me laugh out loud so many times.

Seeing as this was her first dip into the YA pool, I have to say I’m impressed. It can’t be easy to undo all of your writing norms, especially when it comes to writing adult novels (though, this is one the older side of YA).

That being said, the closed door scenes felt like the weren’t clear. Like instead of alluding to something happening, you had to guess. There were also way too many references to make the writing seem younger and more relatable.

The biggest bummer for me was the end. It felt like it just ended in the middle and was finished in the epilogue, which isn’t my favorite.

This definitely was not my favorite Ali Hazelwood book (Love Hypothesis is forever undefeated) but, I enjoyed reading it nonetheless. If you’re looking a low stakes read, with funny characters, and a dreamboat of MMC, this is for you.

Mallory is 18 and has passed up a college scholarship to work as a mechanic to help support her 12 and 14 yr old sisters and her mother who has rheumatoid arthritis. Mallory once was an excellent chess player, but she gave it up due to traumatic events concerning her father, who also played chess and taught Mal.

Mal finds herself with an opportunity to re-enter the world of chess and step back from her caretaker role at home. Her path crosses the moody, handsome, infamous chess champion, Nolan Sawyer, and the chemistry begins.

I love the family dynamic in this story. One of my favorite parts is a family dinner–Mal’s sisters made me laugh. The story isn’t just about family and romance, but also friendship. Mallory navigates friendship challenges when her best friend goes away to college while she stays home. Another focus of the story is the low number of women in professional chess as Mallory makes her way to the top.

Check & Mate is Ali Hazelwood’s YA debut. Hazelwood is best known for her adult contemporary romance novel, The Love Hypothesis, which I enjoyed very much. A note for parents before purchasing–it is labeled as 9th grade/14 and up. The main character is 18 years old and sexually active with multiple hook-up partners, info I would want to know before recommending it to my young teen.

This is my first book by Ali Hazelwood and it definitely will not be my last. This is the first young adult book by Ali. 

The story follows Mallory Greenleaf who skipped going to college so she could get a job to provide for her family. She has two younger sisters and a mother who is ill. We learn that Mallory was a great chess player growing up, learning everything from her father. 

An opportunity presents itself where she can train for one year to win chess tournaments. If she wins she can earn thousands of dollars which will really help her and her family's financial situation.  In one of the tournaments she starts off with she ends up winning by a landslide against the world champion Nolan Swayer. 

I loved Nolan and how he sought out Mallory. Some of my favorite parts were when he spent time with her family. From the meatloaf dinner to watching TV together. I do wish we got to hear the story from his POV. 

Mallory was a great main character. She shows so much growth throughout the story and I really loved to see that. 

I know nothing about chess. I have no idea how to play it and I really loved this book. I was so invested in the tournaments hoping she would win. You don’t have to know anything about chess to enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Young Readers Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Check & Mate was absolutely adorable! I loved the characters' personalities and couldn't pick a favorite if I tried. Mallory was intense and driven. She was taking care of her family, but in the process forgot to take care of herself. She gets badgered by her friend to join a chess tournament and play for charity. And so the excellent story begins... I wasn't sure what to expect from a book about chess, not being a chess player myself, but I loved every minute. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read.

4.5⭐️ - what a great book!! Loved both MCs, and as an eldest child, Mallory was relatable in a lot of ways. I loved the mutual respect the MCs had for each other's skill and intellect.

Check & Mate has all the charm, wit and feminism of Hazelwood's adult novels with a moderate reduction in spice.

Mallory and Nolan's relationship is both swoon-worthy and easy in a way that makes this book centered around competition feel welcoming and comfortable to read.

As a woman in STEM I always find the shop talk in Hazelwood's novels enjoyable, but I have never been interested in chess. That was, of course, until this book made it sexy.

If you're like me and usually pass up YA Romance, don't skip this one. It reads more New Adult, and the book is overall fabulous.

In Ali Hazelwood's YA debut, I was immediately drawn into Mallory Greenleaf's world—a former chess prodigy grappling with a haunting family history tied to the game. Reluctantly pulled back into chess for a charity tournament, Mallory's life turns unexpectedly when she faces off against the notorious Nolan Sawyer. The narrative unfolds solely from Mallory's perspective with a perfect blend of vivid storytelling and emotional complexity. The story navigates her journey back into chess, skillfully mixing intense moments with humor and pop culture references. Hazelwood crafts a delightful tale that transcends typical romance tropes, offering a slow-burning connection between Mallory and Nolan. The novel beautifully explores Mallory's character growth, family bonds, and the intricate dynamics of the chess world. Hazelwood's writing style shines as she expertly weaves in chess mechanics, plays, and history, making this book an unforgettable and heartwarming read.

4⭐️

<b>“I don’t think you understand.” He holds my eyes. I think his throat moves. “I want to play chess with you, Mallory.”</b>

Mallory Greenleaf hates chess, at least, that’s what she keeps telling herself. She played until the age of 14 before vowing to never play again, but is convinced by her best friend to play in a charity tournament, where she comes face to face with the number one player in the chess world: Nolan Sawyer. After Mallory beats the supposed unbeatable player, she runs away. She’s later approached with a chess fellowship that she wants to deny because, after all, she hates chess and is trying to keep her mechanic job to help support her mom and two sisters. When Mallory loses her job for preventing her boss from upselling to a customer, she’s forced back into the world of chess and Nolan Sawyer.

Leave it to Ali Hazelwood to make me care about chess. This book was really fun and a great YA novel!! The only reason I’m giving it a 4 instead of a 5 is because I personally prefer her adult books more, BUT this is still an outstanding romcom with the author’s classic humor and lovable characters. Also, I love that Mal is so openly bi!

<b>“Look where it got me.”
“It got you here. To me.”</b>

I loved this first YA novel by Ali Hazelwood. I say YA, but really this reads as an adult novel with characters who face adult issues. They only thing that’s YA about it is the age of the characters who are in their late teens and early twenties. If you’re a fan of The Queen’s Gambit, as I was, this novel reminded me that I don’t know a bit about chess but the strategy, skill, and drama can be riveting despite my lack of knowledge. Mallory’s life was decimated by her parents tragic divorce – all tied to the game she loved, so she dropped it like a hot potato and was determined to put the past behind her and help her ill mother support the family. Fortunately, she was drawn back into the chess world and Nolan Sawyer took and interest in this young lady. Despite him being a good guy, there were classic moments of good vs. evil and our Mallory dueled it out on the chess board. What fun!

Nolan was a pretty typical Ali Hazelwood character, but had his own tragic past that kept him separated emotionally from his pretty solid group of friends. He was everything a hero should be, handsome and loyal, but he was also pretty secretive, which made for some great conflict and resolutions. He was very well matched in skill with Mallory and it was nice to see that he wasn’t threatened, but relished the challenge. I loved this healthy relationship that helped each of them deal with their troublesome pasts.

This novel, like I said above, is a young adult novel, and is in comparison to adult novels pretty clean. I would consider it a slow burn romance, but there is some sizzle towards the latter part of the book so if you’re looking for clean, this may not be a good fit. For me, it was the perfect mix of relationship building, conflict, drama, and heat. Check & Mate was the perfect play and one helluva a good story.

Ali Hazelwood's debut YA romance is fun and quirky, written in her signature style- fun characters, great tension and chemistry. Loved seeing the author branch to YA audiences. The premise of the novel was fun and original

It’s been a while since I’ve struck gold with the e-ARCs I’ve received but I’m happy to report, my pickaxe found a nice, shiny little nugget with Ali Hazelwood’s Check & Mate.

Mallory used to play chess as a child but a trauma caused her to stop. Years later, she ends up playing one game for the sake of charity and who turns out to be her opponent, but none other that the world-famous reigning champion, Nolan Sawyer.

And she wins — starting a chain reaction that upends Mallory’s careful world.

I liked the main characters and I was invested in the story from the start, curious and intrigued at what had happened to bring them where they were. The one thing I enjoyed most? The chemistry! That intensity portrayed in words — kudos to the author. I could feel it, the tension, the closeness.

One of the scenes was definitely my absolute favorite in the story. The plot was well-crafted and some of Nolan’s actions were kinda obvious (to us, the readers) though the main twist I didn’t see coming. This book is more in the NA range than YA but doesn’t give too much away.

I would have liked an extra chapter to see Mallory and Nolan together at the end as the ending left me a bit dissatisfied with the summarized conclusion. That said, I enjoyed the author’s writing a lot and I found Check & Mate a good book.

Thanks to Penguin Teen for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ali Hazelwood is, number 1, a kind human. Number 2: an amazing author. Number 3: the only person who has EVER made me want to learn to play chess 😂 I love her for all her nerd representation and will read anything she writes (even if it’s predictable, I like what I like, so sue me).

Her YA debut has all the swooniness, all the smarts, and all the feels you’re looking for even if it leans more New Adult than YA.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I was excited about reading another Ali Hazelwood book but unfortunately this one was not on par with her previous books. While it it is labelled YA I think some of the scenes (and tinder hook ups, who does this at 18?) this should be more New Adult. I found that I really did not like Mallory the main character, while her situation in life was hard and sucked it was all the story was about for 30% of the book. Also by that same part in the book we have only had glimpses of Nolan the love interest which just made the plot so slow. I also didn't care for Mallory's family either from the Mom that just let her give up her dreams to take care of her and her younger sisters that just came of as brats and treat her like crap. Really Mallory treats herself like crap too and needs therapy.

Oh this was adorable! The sweetest little rivals to lovers romance woven in with a truly powerful self-discovery plot line. I loved that the story took place in the chess world, and while I know nothing about chess, I felt like the book did a decent job of inserting the reader into this world without coming off like an educational text.

I was give. An ARC by NetGalley and Penguin . All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

I have enjoyed reading other Ali Hazelwood books and I absolutely adored this YA debut. I know the bare minimum about chess, but this totally captured me. Two chess prodigies both with intense backstories. Mallory and Nolan and all the side characters made me so invested. The pressure put on this couple, from the high stress of the professional chess world to the homelife and history behind their stories...deep sigh. I am so overjoyed they found each other!! They deserved a happily ever after...

From beginning to the full circle end...bravo!

5 stars

This might be my favorite book by her yet! Thank you Penguin for the ARC!

So, Mallory isn’t the most likable character during many parts of this book, which kind of made me like her more. She’s beyond loyal and steadfastly trying to take care of her family, while unknowingly putting all the pressure and burden on herself. She suffers from the oldest daughter syndrome and it shows. She gave up her passion to make money and then ends up earning passion through that money. She has her walls up and throughout the story has to unlearn all the bad habits she’s been doing, like centering herself as the caretaker, money maker and parent figure. It’s a tough situation and while as unrealistic as the plot line may be, I’m glad she had Oz, Sawyer, team Enil and Dafne to show her another option than just living for her sisters and mom.
The relationship arc and even the chess plot line didn’t have too much conflict, which some may find boring. To me, the story seemed more focused on her discovering herself and breaking out of the lonely caretaker/parent/provider role she should have never been in. The ending felt a bit rushed but I felt like that was also due to the conflict being her and her journey vs just a championship.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. It wasn’t too serious and the chess playing didn’t sound too cheesy,