I'm a massive fan of the Queen's Gambit so I enjoyed reading about a romance in the chess community! I always learn something from Ali Hazelwood's books. She does a really fantastic job capturing the culture of each community she writes about.

I just finished reading Love on the Brain and jumped into this book. What I didn't like about that book was how the main character was in denial/clueless about the love interest, and I feel like the main character in this was frustratingly similar. Aside from that, enjoyable experience to read!

This is my first book by Ali Hazelwood and I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype of the author that I've been hearing. But to my surprise it did! I'm now understanding why everyone loves this author and I will definitely need to check out more by her. Hopefully, her adult novels are just as good as her YA debut.

Now specifically about this book. I loved the sense of humor in the writing. I was laughing throughout the book. I loved the way it was written and I loved the characters. Mallory was so funny and Nolan was so sweet! I loved their interactions. They were so cute together! I thought it was great that the book had many different layers with the chess game and the romance, but there was also a bit of mystery. I wanted to read more to not only see how Mallory fell in love with chess again but also to figure out why she fell out of love with chess in the first place. What was going on with her dad? Why is she so adamant about not falling back in love with chess? So many questions to be answered throughout the book that it kept pulling me back in as I waited to learn more. I loved this book so much. It was perfect, but one thing that would have put it just a little bit more over the top into ultimate perfection would have been seeing Nolan's POV. I love him so much and I wanted more of him. I would have loved to see inside that head of his. But it works so well without it just would have been a cherry on top.

I also want to say that this book can be read by anyone, whether you like chess or not. I've never been a huge fan of chess, but I was invested in it.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more by this author.

content warning: sexism, misogyny, sexual harassment, chronic illness, death of a parent, cheating, car accident, alcoholism, dementia

This was a cute edition to Ali Hazelwood's books. The only thing I didn't super love were the many many pop culture references, like sometimes 3 or 4 a page that felt jolting at points. It was a cute love story overall I think.

Mallory Greenleaf used to love chess. She would spend hours learning moves that she would use to beat her tournament opponents. But then the sport she dedicated so much time and effort to led to the destruction of her family, and Mallory decided she was done. When Mallory reluctantly agrees to play in a charity tournament, she expects to go up against another no-name player, not Nolan Sawyer, the current world champion. She also never expected to wipe the floor with him. Mallory's win shocks the world of chess, and Mallory can't help but fall back in love with the game she swore she'd never play again. She also can't resist the infuriatingly handsome Nolan. With her ranking soaring ever upward, Mallory learns that when it comes to chess, games aren't only played on the board, but she's never shied away from a competition.

Leave it to Hazelwood to get me invested in chess. I didn't know what to expect, given that this was her first foray into YA, but I thought it was cute. The plot gave me slight Stick It vibes, and I love that movie, so I was all about it. I don't know anything about chess, so most of the dialogue went over my head, but I still found it interesting. My favorite part of this was Nolan. He's so gone for Mallory, and it's adorable. They had fun banter, and the chemistry between them was sweet. I loved how supportive he was of Mallory even though they were competing against each other. Mallory, though? Not a fan. She was so stubborn, and it made me so frustrated. I just wanted to shake some sense into her. While this isn't my favorite of Hazelwood's books, I still liked it and think it'd be a perfect choice if you're looking for a fluffy read.

I read 51% of this book. It was not for me. The 2 MC’s had barely said a word to one another. There was absolutely no connection when they did. I feel it was moving too slowly to be considered a romance. I enjoyed learning about the game of chess a bit. This felt too YA for me

Typical Ali Hazelwood rom-com but focused on a YA audience. An quick, enjoyable read that engages readers in the chess drama first and foremost, with the romance as a side plot. Hazelwood is clearly interested in chess and finds enjoyment in writing about it. Recommended for fans of Queen of the Tiles, Hazelwood rom-coms, or chess.

I would say this is more of an adult age young adult book- it is on a weird line between not being an adult, but being too old for young adults. Also some of the references were a lot to take in and did not need to be included. Otherwise, it was a really fun, cute read! Ali Hazelwood fans will continue to love her books.

Ali Hazelwood's first YA novel, a delightful foray into the world of competitive chess, was absolutely un-put-downable! With Hazelwood's trademark pining hero & brilliant (but clueless-in-romance) heroine, the chemistry between the two sparked on every page. I wish I could wipe this book from my memory so I can experience the heart-pounding rush of reading it for the first time again.

Although aimed at a YA audience, I found Check & Mate to be absolutely engrossing or adult readers as well. If you wished The Queen's Gambit was a swoony romance at its core, then Check & Mate is for you!

tell me why this book had me in the deep trenches of chess... like 3 am googling terms and famous chess players LOL i thoroughly enjoyed this book!!! it was cute and fun, and it had such great banter! these two were such defining characters, mallory is such a hardworking, caring fmc and i adore her and what she had gone through with her family. nolan had my heart from the very beginning and he had me in a chokehold throughout the whole book, dare i say he is in competition for my favorite ali hazelwood boyfriend (jack smith, you will always be famous). their scenes together were just so stinking adorable, i loved their dynamic, especially in their enemies-to-lovers forced proximity situation, and i just couldn't stop screaming over every page, especially little secret moments in crowded rooms ;) i think this book was such a light and perfect read, especially to people who are just getting into romance and i can't seem to stop loving them. i have to say this is definitely up there in my favorite ali books and it was just so good! thank you ali and thank you netgalley for this arc <3

ARC REVIEW
Check and Mate
By Ali Hazelwood

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Publishing date: 11/07/23

Mallory is DONE with chess. As a preteen, she was on her way to be well known in the chess world but after the game destroyed her family (which she refuses to talk about) she has vowed to never play chess again....until she gets roped into a charity tournament by her BFF.....where she accidentally beats the current world champion, Nolan.🤷‍♀️

This wouldn't be THAT big of a deal, except Nolan keeps popping up, begging her to play him again.

As Mallory gains notoriety, she realizes chess will help her struggling family by financially proving, but she also can't help falling for Nolan....who happens to be her competition. 

YOU GUYSSS.
This was adorbs!! Loved it so so much.

It's Ali Hazelwoods first YA adult book, but honestly, I couldn't tell. Our main character is 18, and that's the only real "young" part of the story.

I had NO idea chess was such a big deal! It was fascinating to me. It actually taught me so much, and I have such respect for chess players now.

THIS. This is how you do "enemies to lovers"
." It was NOT drawn out, had the perfect tempo, and 100% kept my interest. 

I highly recommend you grab this one when it's released in November!

BIG thanks to @netgalley and @putnambooks for the arc!!

I am stupid when it comes to chess and because of that I’ve always found it a little boring, but Ali Hazelwood wrote a chess romance that was exciting and fun. It kept me engaged all the way through and had the best hero!

Mallory Greenleaf would be fine with never playing chess again. She was really, really good but quit playing around 14. Now she’s 18 and supporting her family by working as a mechanic. Her best friend has her join in on a tournament and she not only wins, but beats the number one player in the world (yes, world).

Mallory gets an internship at a chess club and wants to decline, but it’s paid and she can’t pass up the money. Along with the tournament winnings etc. Things seem good, even though she’s keeping all this from her family (mom and two younger sisters) but then there is Nolan Sawyer.

Nolan is the top player in the world and just a little older than Mallory. He was a child prodigy and is the best of the best. So why was she able to beat him? He’s enamored with her. I adored Nolan. He was such a great character. Mallory was admirable, as well as frustrating at times, but they were amazing together.

This is a fantastic coming of age romance that takes place in the world of chess. I had such a fun time reading it!

This is the first Ali Hazelwood book that I've unreservedly liked, and she's definitely getting better with each book but I also think that in this case what made it work so well for me is that this one is YA--well, really New Adult--so my expectations matched up with what it actually was tonally. Also it's basically a Reylo/The Queen's Gambit fusion AU, and I love chess books, so that helped a lot too! I do hope she'll publish more YA titles.

ETA: For those who are curious--not that NetGalley is displaying any of these reviews, for some reason!--I would say that despite the YA designation there was still enough sex in this one that I didn't miss having more extended explicit scenes... it's maybe slightly less explicit/extensive than, say, Fourth Wing, but still sufficient for purpose. (Although to be fair, while there are many authors I read for that content, Hazelwood isn't one of them... so readers who love her sex scenes may miss not having more of that content here.)

Ali Hazelwood is a must read/must buy author for me and I was elated to find out she was writing her first YA novel! And while I know nothing about chess, I knew it was a must read (plus I squeal with delight when I received an ARC).

18 year old Mallory spends most of her days worrying, about herself, her family and everything an 18 yo shouldn’t have to deal with. Mallory’s love for playing chess stopped when she quite 4 years ago and never looked back. But sometimes life has a different plan, her friend Easton asks her to join her team in a chess tournament - she not only meeds Nolan, a chess prodigy, but realizing she’s quickly back into a world she tried to leave behind….and now she’s being offered to be paid to play (all behind her family’s back).

Mallory accepts a fellowship at Zugzwang, where she thrown into everything chess. Her world is changed, Easton is off to college and she’s trying hard not to fall for Nolan (the chess worlds bad boy).

I found this book to have all the pieces you want in a quick read, YA book that gives you all the feels. Ali has done it again! Another masterpiece

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I love Ali Hazelwood and this one did not disappoint! A sweet romance that blends in the nerdiness that I have come to love from Ali!!

I wish I liked this one better. I just didn’t.

Let’s start with the one thing that irritated me the most. Pop culture. I personally am not a fan of pop culture heavy content in literature. Sadly, the first quarter of this book just was a pop culture dump that then seeped into the entire story coming up often enough to remind me it was still there.

Look, I like Timothee Chalamet as an actor just as much as the next person, but books with a dump of pop culture just seem to pigeonhole the book into a specific era. I’m not saying this book needs to be a masterpiece of relevant literature for years to come, I’m just saying sometimes less is more.

I also didn’t feel the love for chess. I didn’t care, nor did my indifference transform as the character starts to rediscover her love for chess. Considering it’s the basic plot of the book, it really hindered my enjoyment of this read.

There was room for found family elements to shine through. Whether that was the authors intention or not, it danced around the idea of it. If not found family, very strong friendships at least. However, the friendships were skimmed over and reduced to forgettable side characters, seemingly included only for the sake of diversity and inclusion.

I enjoy this authors writing style, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye in future published works, this one just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Do you like chess?
Do you like quirky FMCs?
Do you like teenagers with a healthy sexual attitude?

Then this book is for you! Honestly, Ali Hazelwood nailed her first foray into young adult fiction. I feel like a true chess expert after reading this cute little YA romance. Because folks, there is A LOT of chess talk in this book. If you don't like chess or don't like reading about strategy, really old chess matches, and the like - this might not be the book for you. Honestly, like 80% is about chess and 20% is about Mallory and her unique life.

Mallory was an easy FMC to root for. She was funny, smart, and willing to risk everything for her family.

The only thing I didn't love about this book is that you don't get enough backstory on Mallory and her father's falling out. You get hints, but I almost feel like you're never given the full story and I really want to know! How did chess completely ruin this family and then completely bring it back together?

Read if you like:
A quirky cast of characters
Did I mention there's chess?
Adorable younger siblings
Emma Lord, Lynn Painter, and Kaitlyn Hill

Give it a try! I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Has Ali Hazelwood done it again?

Mallory is set on helping her family after having chess ruin her life. With her mom’s illness, she is set working to help keep her family together and under the same roof. When she is invited by her friend to a charity chess match, it is the last thing she wants to do, but gets roped into it. What she doesn’t expect is to beat the infamous “Kingkiller”, Nolan.
Mallory has once again been sucked into the sport that destroyed her family, while still trying to keep it a secret from her sisters and mother. But as she increases her position, it becomes harder to stay in the shadows. Not only are her chess skills improving, but the sparks start to fly between her and Nolan (oh gosh, talk about TENSION!!)
While this is pitched as a YA, it is definitely more of an OLDER YA (which is not what I was expecting but 🤷‍♀️) and it did drag on at points, but I was invested in the whole world of chess and seeing how far Mallory could go. I did enjoy reading it; a quick read with a surprising fast-paced plot in trying to find one’s place in the world that crushed her family. But it also talks about rediscovering a love, finding a new love, and knowing when to ask for help or support.
Overall it was a fun read; not my favourite one from Ali Hazelwood but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

Ali Hazelwood is simply never going to miss. I LOVE this book. I had no idea that I was so interested in chess…especially since I have no idea how to play it. But after reading this, I want to learn! Everything about this book hit the mark for me. The love story between Nolan and Mal was perfection; the rivals to lovers trope is one of my all time favorites.

A lot of people are commenting on the pop culture references and critiquing the use of them. Personally, I don’t mind them. In fact, I find them endearing and enjoyed them in this book.

I enjoyed all of it. I didn’t want it to end.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group for this ARC! I have really loved everything I've read from Ali Hazelwood, so I was really interested in checking out Check & Mate!

I was a little nervous at first, since I only know only like the bare minimum on playing chess, but Ali does a great job pulling you in as a reader per usual. Our female main character, Mallory, is juggling multiple jobs to take care of her mom and sisters. In attempt to help her friend out, she volunteers to play in a chess tournament despite quitting chess years ago. Mallory ends up sitting across from and playing the notorious Nolan Sawyer and world champion. When Mallory beats Nolan, everything changes and with that comes the opportunity support her family and get paid to play chess again. She has to navigate rejoining the chess world and being around Nolan.

Mallory and Nolan's chemistry was so fun! As strategic players, the tension and give-and-take of their relationship was great. I like that this book felt different from some of Ali's recent books, and I'd definitely recommend it!

Check Mate

“I think it’s easier for you to be with people when you feel needed than when you need them. Less risky. Less messy, right?”

What a delightful YA romance! Knowing this was from Ali, one of my favorite romance authors, I just KNEW this would be good, but I did not, however, expect the family drama aspect to hit quite so hard. So many feelings. Big feelings.

Ali manages to bring in her signature flair of geeky facts with slap stick and sharp humor. Her characters are so real, so authentic, so expertly flawed and messy but just doing their best, that you can’t help but be won over.

Mal is a great FMC who is shouldering so very much to keep her struggling family afloat. You feel for her deeply as she sacrifices pieces of herself and her happiness for them again and again. You want to rail on her behalf, but also get caught up knowing it’s a very real situation in life where the eldest sibling has to step up for the family, take on the mantle of a third parent. Add to this Mal’s own trauma and personality which sees her using her family and obligations to purposely isolate herself from others, ruled by her fears of being let down, and it makes for a journey with Mal that is full of bumps but with an ending that feels hard won and deserved. Also big points for the sex positivity throughout AND the queer representation! More than perhaps Ali’s adult FMC, Mal felt very grounded and deep, her family backstory featured prominently throughout, even eclipsing the romance, which was refreshing and unexpected from the author.

Nolan is an unexpected surprise cinnamon roll of sorts. Unabashedly being the one to fall first and this a directness that is so disarming, you can’t help but love him. While this is expected with any Ali book (the author has literally stated she will always use this trope), the way in which Nolan communicates his feelings and intentions helped keep readers, and Mal, on their toes which I enjoyed.

I did find the chess set up overall to be so intriguing. Again, this being an Ali book, I’m not surprised she managed to bring a complex sport to life on the page and also tie in some very necessary and refreshing discourse on sexism. I’m ready to become a chess fan and loved how social media and interviews were also woven in to illustrate how sports like this can and should go viral to garner broader viewership and support.

All the positives above said, there were some things that held this back from a five star read. First, Mal did feel a bit too much like “she doth protest too much”. Not that being a genius means you can’t also be oblivious, but at times this felt stretched too much and I wished she’d had some of that reflection on her own or that her family and friends had called her out on it sooner. Her whiny and self pity parties were tough to get through.

Next, her backstory with her dad, this was handled far too quickly given how it looms in her mind. There’s a total of one page dedicated to this, which just didn’t make sense. This critique extends to Mal’s family situation which I felt needed more emotion and reckoning with her family. Her mother was, in my opinion, a bit too easy on herself and letting Mal shoulder everything. Sabrina, yes I know is a bratty 14 year old, had all of one brief paragraph to explain her monstrous behavior which didn’t actually take any responsibility for how she used Mal.

Overall maybe it’s the idealist in me that wished for a more thorough family reckoning and cry session, where we could really FEEL that her family understood and appreciated and APOLOGIZED to Mal for everything that fell to her, but it just didn’t get there. Maybe that’s the more realistic route- you get over things for family, you don’t get apologies, life just goes on, but to me, it left a bad taste in my mouth.

The romance here was fine, but never quite felt like enough. I wanted to see and know more about Nolan, instead of just being clearly gone for Mal. His character and backstory could have been so much deeper, but was just used to help open the door for Mal, instead of feeling like it actually gave him specifically more color.

While these critiques aren’t minor to me, I did overall still devour this in a day and feel utterly captured by the story and sport. It’s a winner in my book, though not quite up to the level of her most recent adult romance.