I loved Ali Hazelwood’s first book, The Love Hypothesis, but I’ve DNFed every book of hers after that. I was hopeful that this book would be different since it’s her YA debut, but at 14%, I’m DNFing. I forgot how forced Hazelwood’s banter is, and if by 15% or so I’m not seeing any romance in a romance novel, I don’t have any desire to continue. I do think the chess angle is a bit unique and a fun romance novel approach, but there was too much plot diversion already with a lot of generic referencing to Mallory’s backstory especially with her dad, and also the weirdly specific focus on her mechanic job? Anyway, thanks but no thanks on this one.

5 ⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Check & Mate is the new book by Ali Hazelwood and her debut YA novel. However, I actually think this book is more NA than Ya.

Plot

Mallory Greenleaf has given up playing chess after the game destroyed her family four years ago. She nevertheless consents to take part in one more charity game, where she unintentionally wipes the board alongside infamous "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer. Everyone is shocked by Nolan's defeat to an unidentified rook-ie, but Mallory's success makes way for much-needed cash awards. Mallory fights to protect her family from the game that first destroyed them as she soars up the ranks. She rapidly understands that there are more games than just those on the board, that the competition may be severe, and that the limelight is brighter than she anticipated.

The plot of the book was interesting. I was a bit scared that I would find the book boring because of chess, since is not a sport I'm interested in. However, I thought that part of the book really interesting and the author made a really good job. The ending was really sweet, in my opinion.

Characters

Mallory Greenleaf

Mallory is our MC. She is a 18 year old girl that wanted nothing to do with chess after what happened to her father. She loves her family deeply and because her mom is chronically ill, she does whatever she can do provide for her mother and her two younger sisters: Sabrina and Darcy. She still has her flaws, but overall I found her character interesting.

Nolan Sawyer

Nolan was also an amazing character. He loves chess and also has his own trauma, because of one moment with his grandfather. He is supportive, can be a cold and a asshole sometimes, but I really loved him much of the time.

Greenleaf family

Mallory's mother was a very sweet person. The reader can really see how much she loves her daughters. Sabrina and Darcy are also very good characters. There were times were Sabrina was a little brat, but by the end of the novel you can see why, that doesn't excuse things she did and said to her sister, but I think you can at least understand her point of view. Darcy was really sweet and funny. Overall, I loved their family dynamic and their interactions.

Defne and Oz

Defne was the woman that helped Mallory with her chess. I love how supportive she was and how much she cared for Mallory. Also, Oz was such a funny and sarcastic character. I really loved every time he was on page.

Writing

I think this is Ali's best work so far. I really enjoyed how she described chess. It was interesting and didn't left me bored. One of my favorites parts was her describe how hard it is for a woman to play chess, since it's a sport surrounded by men.

Romance

Mallory and Nolan relationship was cute. Yes, we still have a little bit of miscommunication between the characters, but I really loved how Nolan supported and helped Mallory. I loved their dynamic and their banter and it was good to see how their relationship grew during the novel.

Final Thoughts

For me this was Ali's best work. A very cute and funny read.

I absolutely adored this book. And I someone with absolutely no understanding of chess. Checkers? Count me in. Chess? Foreign language.

Mallory hasn’t played chess in years when her best friend begs her to be the fourth in a charity tournament. Unbeknownst to her, this is the beginning of a whole slew of life changes and literally turn her world upside down.

I will say I was super frustrated with how blind to everything Mal was, primarily with Nolan. Also, the fade to blackkkk. I was so looking forward to their…. relationship *wink wink* so the fade to black killed the vibe. Maybe I just have issues I don’t know.

But overall, Mal was able to find her way back to doing what she loved, while also finding herself along the way. And she fell in love along the way so.

100% recommend!

Thank you so much for this ARC!!!
This book was absolutely everything. I've never played chess before but damn I want to start now.
Mallory and Sawyer both had great character development, the supporting cast was excellent. I felt like the pace was right on. I really wanted more, I could have kept reading that story forever. I would definitely recommend this book to all hopeless romantics and teen girls/gays/theys.

I enjoyed Hazelwood’s debut but have been a bit disappointed by the similarities in her subsequent releases. Big man, small woman, an area of science, and common romance tropes. I get finding a niche but I don’t want to read the same book 5 times. With that in mind, I came into this one with the assumption that I would probably not love it. I’m very happy to report that was not the case!

Check & Mate was unique, cute, and, at times, sad. Hazelwood successfully tackled some heavy themes while still maintaining an upbeat story. I loved how sex positive and inclusive it was. Mallory is a tough cookie skipping out on college to provide for her mother and younger sisters, having given up on her chess dreams a couple years prior due to something involving her father. But she re-enters the chess world with a bang after showing off her raw talent at a charity tournament. There she also catches the eye of the #1 ranked player, Nolan Sawyer. I mean, things did happen outside the realm of actual possibility but this is fiction and I appreciate that Hazelwood acknowledged this in her author’s note. While it’s marketed as YA, I’d say this leans more to NA due to language and sexual themes, though there is no explicit scene. Overall, definitely recommend to contemporary romance fans!

4.5 ⭐️

Check & Mate is Ali Hazelwood’s first foray into YA contemporary, but surely it won’t be her last. Her wit, sarcasm and banter are as fun to read as ever.

This story follows 18 year old Mallory Greenleaf, the oldest of three girls. Just having graduated high school, she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her dad is out of the picture (though we don’t get the full story until 75% the book), her mom is sick and often unable to work, and her 12 and 14 year old sisters rely on Mallory for just about everything. Chess is a five letter word to Mallory, who loved the sport up until *something* happened, four years prior. But her bff Easton goads Mallory into playing a charity game where she beats the best player in the world, Nolan Sawyer. Now, the world of chess is on Mallory’s doorstep, and she’s offered an internship that she is adamant on refusing.

Now that you know the plot, I do have to tell you: if you’re here because you loved The Love Hypothesis, this is a very different story. Besides being YA instead of adult (read: no spice), this is a contemporary book about very Gen Z characters written by a full blown Millenial (which, so am I). There were moments (many of them) where I had to face-palm with secondhand embarrassment. But I think for the intended audience (YA), this book will be a hit, and any bumps I noticed will be looked past. I also did take some issue with the way Mallory and her sisters’ relationships were portrayed/how they interacted. I don’t know if Ali Hazelwood has siblings, but it just felt really unrealistic to me.

Criticisms aside, I sped through this. Ali Hazelwood has a knack for writing the most delicious, feet-kicking, squealing-out-loud flirting and banter and she brought that in spades here. Once Mallory and Nolan were within forced proximity, this book dominated my thoughts and I could not get enough.

Thank you soooo much to Berkley and NetGalley for an eARC! You can read Check and Mate on November 7, 2023!

Ali Hazelwood's YA debut did not disappoint! This was a classic YA enemies to lovers. It did start a bit slow, with the romance just starting to pick up around the 30% mark. I thought the romance was very refreshing and Nolan was a character who was very different than what he seemed. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC!

Another review!! I was so excited to have been given the opportunity to receive this ARC of one of my favorite authors right now!! @alihazelwood has such an addictive writing style that I absolutely love.
Check and Mate is about an 18-year-old named Mallory. Mallory runs her household - takes her sisters to school, helps her mom around the house, and is the overall breadwinner. One day, her best friend asks her to play in a chess tournament with her and her friends, where the proceeds would go to a charity. After a lot of convincing, Mallory finally said yes, even though she swore off chess several years prior.
Her life turns upside down at this chess match and her life is never the same afterwords.
I thought this book was very cute! I have no prior knowledge of chess, so that made this book slightly less enjoyable for me. However, due to Hazelwood's writing style, she kept me hooked throughout it. There was also no explicit ✨spice✨ in this one, which I actually wasn’t expecting! It’s definitely referred to, however, you never “see” it. Overall, another great book!
Thanks again to Ali, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for letting me have this eARC. Check and Mate comes out November 7th, 2023 so make sure to check it out then!! ♟️

I really enjoyed this book! It focuses on Mallory, a former chess player who refuses to return to the world of chess. However, she desperately needs money to support her family, so when the opportunity to play for cash arises, she takes it. But she wasn't expecting to fall in love with chess and her rival, Nolan.
I'm very fond of Mallory. She tries her hardest to support her family no matter what, since her mom is sick, she has payed for the expenses for years. Nolan takes care of her and shows her that it's okay to let people in and to be taken care of. I think Sabrina was way too hard on Mal. Mal has been financially supporting her family for years and Sabrina can't even pretend to be grateful. I get that she's a teenager, but Mal pretty much raised her siblings, and Sabrina definetely should respect her a lot more.
The tension between Mal and her best friend is very relatable, when we got to separate universities, or when a friend goes to university and we don't, there's always a little distancing in friendships. It can be a very stressful thing.
I also appreciated the LGBT+ rep (there's a bisexual main character, a demisexual main character and a lesbian side character).
Sexism within chess is a very important topic. Most people think chess is a "boys only sport", when in reality women can play as well as any man. Most of the famous world players, like Kasparov and Fischer, were sexist and thought women couldn't play chess, but later lost to women, which shows that gender has no correlation with ability to play chess.
In the ends, both main characters manage to heal from their troubled pasts and find happiness with each other. Ali Hazelwood definitely wrote a great YA debut!

TW:implied sexual content, cheating (past), manipulation, sexism, poverty, chronic illness.

This is another masterpiece from Ali Hazelwood. Check & Mate is fun, exciting, makes you laugh out loud and never want to put the book down. The characters are so real and it is always wonderful to have a POV from a woman who doesn't conform to all of the societal norms. Hazelwood really has a knack for making you care about the characters in her books. You are rooting from them from the very beginning with out anything feeling forced by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for allowing me to read an ARC of Check & Mate.

Like every Ali Hazelwood book I have read before, once I started I simply did not want to put it down!

Mallory finds herself back in the competitive world of chess after swearing she would never touch the game again. As a child, for all intents and purposes, Mal was likely going to be a star in the world of chess, much like the reigning world champion and famous (yes, even chess players can be famous) Nolan Sawyer. Then life happens and family complications strike and Mal finds herself years later, compartmentalizing her brain to never think of chess while she struggles to keep her family afloat. Then Mal's best friend begs and pleads for her to play a charity game where she ends up playing and beating Nolan Sawyer. Sparks fly between the two before Mal can manage to run away and once again swear off chess. Then, an offer she can't refuse is presented on her, leading to a year of chess, growth, and perhaps a little romance.

I have loved Ali Hazelwoods previous books, so while I had all the faith in the world about her writing and storytelling abilities, where this was her debut YA novel, I wasn't sure if this story would capture me the same way, but good news, it definitely did! I thought the main character had to go through a really understandable amount of growth, which while frustrating at times, was completely realistic given her age and what she was going through. Definitely recommend!

Never did I ever think I would read a book about chess and enjoy it so much. I don't really know much about chess, so the fact that I was even able to understand what was happening is a merit on Hazelwood's part. She wrote the chess parts with just enough detail for someone like me, who doesn't know anything about chess, to follow along. I even got to learn new things.

But regarding the book in general, I was immediately absorbed by the book when I started reading it. It went at such a good pace and had lots of humor sprinkled everywhere. The pace was fast enough that I didn't feel bored, but slow enough to allow me to get sucked into the story. It helped me get out of a mini reading slump I was in.

I was so wrapped up in the book that I half expected at multiple points throughout the book to open the news and see coverage on Nolan and Mallory's chess matches. The dynamic between Mallory and Nolan was very fun to follow as well. It's definitely the guy falls first, but harder.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, and I loved every second of it. I was so sad when it ended, and I see myself picking it up to re-read in the future. I am a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood, and have enjoyed all of her other books, so I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed by this book. That sentiment still holds true, and I would highly recommend this book to readers who would love a fun, quick, and light-hearted read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below in my honest review.

Honestly, after reading Ali Hazelwood's "Love on the Brain" and not enjoying it as much as I hoped, I went into this one with low expectations. Yes, "Check & Mate" is a YA book and "Love on the Brain" is adult. But I was expecting a copy-and-paste from her previous books with minor adjustments.

While Hazelwood seems to enjoy writing her male protagonists with similar personalities (quiet, broody, nonchalant, not as preppy as the female protagonists... you get the idea), I was pleasantly surprised that Mallory (the female protagonist in this book) was not a copy-and-paste character from her previous books. Instead, Mallory is complicated. She's a teenager who had the unfortunate responsibility of keeping her family financial and emotionally stable as her father left the family (and then died) and her mother is sick with cancer.

Mallory gets thrusted back into chess after refusing to play for years when her best friend Easton convinces her to play in a charity chess tournament. There, she plays and wins again Nolan, a famous chess player. Then begins the relationship between the two protagonists as Mallory navigates the chess world.

It's clear to me (and hopefully to other readers) how much research and effort Hazelwood put into this book. Like most other people, I watched Queen's Gambit on Netflix, but there were still a lot of things that Hazelwood mentions in this book that further explores the world of chess. From minor things such as different rules in a tournament to larger issues such as gender discrimination and sexism in chess--Hazelwood touches upon all of them.

I think my other favorite part about this book is how complex Mallory is. As mentioned before, Mallory has a lot to juggle. She had to sacrifice too much for someone her age, making her "grow up too fast". I think Hazelwood does a great job making her more than a one-faced teenager. Mallory is someone who wants to play chess but refuses to because she carries a lot of guilt associated with chess. She wants to me a normal teenager but acts like a parent instead. I really liked seeing Mallory grow as a person, which is so rewarding compared to Hazelwood's other books.

One minor thing that I didn't like about this book was the romance. Yes, it's a YA romance book, but honestly, I was just here for Mallory's development. Nolan was an okay love interest, but I was far more invested in Mallory.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I hope everyone else does too!

Would I recommend this book? Yes!

This is Ms. Hazelwood’s first YA novel and I thought she did amazing! I’m used to her spicier books so this one was a little harder to get into, but nevertheless I had a blast reading it! I will definitely be recommending this book to customers once this title is out! So excited to see how well this book does :)

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED this novel! The chess hook was so interesting and I really felt lost in a different world (the author mentions in the author's note that she took liberties with some of the events in the high-level chess world, but I don't know enough about it to notice!). All the characters were so well-written and engaging, there were lots of complex layers of relationships that were very well-defined. Also, there was such thoughtful treatment of the plot and pacing and an absolutely gorgeous story arc. Wow wow wow. Highly recommend.

I thought that Ali Hazelwood can't surprise me but she did! It was her best book so far, and no one is more surprised that my most enjoyable book of hers is a Young Adult one. Check & Mate was an absolute masterpiece, and I literally devoured this book.

Mallory, as all Ali Hazelwood heroines, was not perfect. She's made a lot of mistakes and lost her cool a lot. But, surprisingly, I didn't find it annoying but relatable. After all, her life was difficult, and I felt that her family didn't appreciate her enough, and if you add to that being thrown into a world of competitive chess, well, I would have lost my temper a lot too. Her chemistry with Nolan was off the charts - they had more chemistry sitting across from each other and playing chess than most book couples have during sex. Nolan was the definition of a broody hero with a soft spot for the female main characters, and he was so dreamy with his 'I never get nervous" vibes. The plot was enjoyable and entertaining, and I wasn't bored for a second while reading this book.

I need a movie adaptation of this book! I think it could be as changing for chess as the Queen's Gambit. See me reenter my chess phase again. Basically, do yourself a favour and read this book, let yourself cry and laugh, and then think about this book for weeks after.

I really adore Ali's books. I love books with smart, capable characters and Mallory is no different. Though the book is young adult, there are definitely topics and convos that probably aren't for kids under 14. I enjoyed that Mallory's journey wasn't normal but allowed her to grow and learn. Mallory was definitely a character who stood in her own way, but I found myself intrigued by her journey. Nolan is a broody soft boy and I just want to protect him at all costs. Also, big love to nosy little sister Darcy.

Ali Hazelwood always writes a completely immersive, mesmerizing, swoonworthy book - and CHECK & MATE is no exception, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this being a YA novel, but I loved everything about it. Ali’s writing is so relatable, even though I’ve never come within 6 feet of a chess board, and yet she made me love the game. Already excited for her next one!

Ali Hazelwood does it again! I am her biggest fan forever! Her characters, their commentary and banter, and the longing of the male lead NEVER disappoints! 10/10! The male lead was only in one scene for the almost the first 30% of the book, and I was still wildly entertained and interested. The female lead was SO likable and relatable to me in how she interacts in her relationships. I always appreciate the depth Ali brings to her characters and she explains why they act the way they do. Even though this book was YA, it absolutely was no exception to that. I bought into and was rooting for her characters and their growth and relationships. Thank you Ali for another great read that left me giggling in public, and swooning over the male lead, wishing he were real. 🤍

Nolan Sawyer, age 20, became the king of chess when he was 18. He is still the king of chess. A prodigy. A worldwide phenomenon. He does not like losing. He has a fabulous nickname which I will not divulge, spoilers!

Mallory, age 18, used to play chess. She used to love chess. She used to beat everyone at chess. Until … she stopped playing. Her dad is gone, her mom has rheumatoid arthritis and struggles to work, her sisters need money for sports and activities. So, as much as Mallory wants to go to college, she can’t. She has to stay home to work as a mechanic to provide for her family.

One day, her best friend Easton needs a fourth player for a chess tournament. It’s for charity, she says. It’s just one more time playing, she says. It’s two weeks before I go to college and the last time we can hang out, she says. And … she wins. Mallory agrees to play chess in NYC one more time. Who does she play her first game in years with?

Okay, I need to start this off by saying I am a huge fan of Ali Hazelwood. I’m a math nerd, points to username on goodreads, and can’t get enough of women in stem novels. I’m also a fan of YA, so I was very interested to see how how she writes a book with younger characters at its heart. I’d say it is on the upper end of YA, with the main characters are 18 and 20. Spoiler, not really…but I will absolutely read another YA if she writes one.

I absolutely loved these main characters. The key for me loving a book is in its characters. Yes, they are flawed. Yes, they can be selfish and keep important things hidden. However, they felt real. Their reactions felt plausible for a person their age with their background. Also, I can’t get enough of Mallory and her penchant for a good head-desk. I kept rooting for them the entire book, even when they did silly things.

It isn’t just the main characters that make this book special, either. Mallory’s sisters are captivating, Nolan’s friends are people I’d love to hang out with, and, last but not least, both Defne and Oz were exceptional tutors/trainers.

I wish I could forget the entire book and read it again for the first time. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves Hazelwoods other novels, loves chess, women in stem, and/or wants to spend some time with some chess stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for an arc of this book.