Check & Mate is Ali Hazelwood’s young adult contemporary romance debut, and I loved it so much! I am such a huge fan of Ali’s books. They have never let me down, and all of them leave me feeling giddy and loved and just plain happy. Check & Mate is a chess romance book, and it delighted the nerd in me, and made me want to play a lot more chess!
In Check & Mate we meet our two main characters, Mallory and Nolan. Nolan is a chess prodigy and is one of the top ranked players in the world. He is chess world famous…and super cute! Mallory is the daughter of a chess legend, and had a very bright chess future when she was a little girl, but has since completely sworn off everything to do with the game.
When Mallory finds herself playing in a charity competition she does the unthinkable and goes from a virtual nobody to the girl who beat the current world champion. I loved that after that tournament Nolan becomes head over heels interested in her. This is def a book of the guy pursuing the girl. I loved every second of their back and forth. This book was so much fun. Even as I sit here and write this review, what I really want to do is pull this book back out and re-read it. Ali’s books have this special hold over me. They make me fall head over heels in love, and Check & Mate is no exception. I loved this book!

Many people compare it to the Queen’s Gambit but YA. I tend to agree.

It was a nice break from the sciences and making it revolve around chess is still a brain story.

I’m not one for YA but would recommend this book to teens, young adults and people who want a quick read.

Ali Hazelwood's first young adult was a pleasant surprise for that I think I might have enjoyed more than her adult novels. I also enjoyed the deviation from what I would consider Ali's usual formula and liked that she gave us something new this time. The characters felt more formed out and had more of a rounded personality than her previous books to me!

I was a little nervous about picking this one up since it's YA but this was super charming and cute. My only gripe with is was I felt like by the time I was fully invested the story abruptly was over.

This is my favorite Ali Hazelwood book yet! I think what I loved best was how happy it made me while reading it. I laughed so many times. There is a ton of wit in these pages. I also adored Nolan and the very quiet way he fell for Mallory and loved her without demanding anything in return. Mallory was a great character herself. After the loss of her father, she has cared for her younger sisters and her mother. This is a great coming-of-age novel where Mallory must learn to let go of taking on too much responsibility and figure out what she actually wants in life. The sisters were hysterical, too.

I was initially worried that the world of chess (a game I have never played) would be too confusing for me, but Hazelwood does a great job of giving you enough information so you don't get lost while at the same time not overloading you with too many unnecessary details. I found myself really enjoying the competitions and learning about the insider view of the elite chess players of the world.

I could not put this one down and read it mostly in one sitting. It grabbed me from the start and entertained me until the very last page. I highly recommend this one for any romance lover.

This is one of the best YA books I've read in a long time. I think this is a book that could appeal to almost anyone and I would highly recommend.

I tried multiple times to get into this book. I have officially DNF’d it at 35%. I didn’t like how sexualized the main character was. This is the behavior of a 30 year old woman, not an 18 year old. And while I understand she has been forced to grow up a lot for her age so she can take care of her family, it was contradicted by how immature/age appropriate it was for her to be all flustered around the love interest.

The chess tournaments were interesting and I was slightly interested in finding out if she’ll win big by the end (because those first place prize amounts are crazy!!) but I just couldn’t get through the book.

In my experience, Ali Hazelwood can do no wrong. I loved reading her foray into YA romance!! She is a master of romantic storytelling regardless of what age group she is writing for. And who knew a book about chess could be this good (no offense, chess lovers)?? Check & Mate has stellar characters, dynamite chemistry, witty banter, and some Queen’s Gambit vibes. I absolutely loved this book! Be advised, the content and subject matter may be a bit mature for some young adult audiences.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguinteen for the advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

Aboslutely loved this book. I have read several of Ali Hazelwoods books before, and I really felt like this was her best one yet. A perfect mix of a modern day romance with hints of Queens Gambit.

Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

OMG! Ali Hazelwood is on fire! This was my first dive into Hazelwood's literary world, and wow, I'm still reeling. The pacing of the storytelling was impeccable, showcasing Hazelwood's remarkable skills in crafting a novel that not only entertains but also inspires.

"Check & Mate" follows Mallory's journey as she rediscovers her love for chess, a passion she abandoned due to a painful incident with her father, her former trainer. In a twist of fate, Mallory defeats Nolan Sawyer, the world's number one chess player, in her first game back. What follows is a series of unexpected encounters with Nolan. Is her love for chess the only thing she needs to rediscover, or is there something deeper that Nolan can reveal to her?

I absolutely relished the light and fun atmosphere of "Check & Mate." The interactions between Mallory, her two younger sisters, and their mother were filled with humor and heartwarming moments. Nolan emerged as the perfect book boyfriend — consistent, handsome, dependable, and, despite his past, a genuinely good person.

Mallory's character was incredibly relatable, especially for those who have shouldered the responsibilities of being the family breadwinner from a young age. She portrays the struggles of losing oneself in the process and the profound impact of self-disappointment. The narrative underscores the importance of open communication within one's inner circle to navigate these challenges.

The incorporation of chess and tournament references added an intriguing layer to the story, enticing readers to explore the sport further. While chess may demand mental power and energy, Hazelwood convincingly portrays it as a discipline that fosters positive qualities in its players.

What stands out most is Hazelwood's ability to weave a masterpiece that encourages women to pursue their dreams despite gender inequalities in their chosen fields. The book sends a powerful message about challenging stereotypes and breaking into spaces dominated by the opposite gender.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend "Check & Mate" to those seeking an easy, light, and enjoyable read with a delightful rivals-to-lovers trope, a steadfast and dependable male lead, a responsible yet burdened female protagonist, and, of course, a dose of chess. If you have a free day and no pressing responsibilities, "Check & Mate" is unputdownable — that's just how captivating this book is.

a bit slow at first, but it did pick up and i ended up having a good time!!! chemistry was amazing and loved the different setting

I absolutely loved Hazelwood's first YA title, Check & Mate! She knows how to write romance, no matter the age level, that's for sure! I also enjoyed the setting of this book, which was a switch from the academic and scientific ones l've read in her adult books. Can't wait to get my hands on her paranormal romance, Bride!

A book about chess had no right to be this good 😂 I loved this so much!! Mallory & Nolan had chemistry that jumped off the page from their first chess match all the way to the epilogue! I personally know literally nothing about chess but that didn’t deter my enjoyment of this story at all. I loved getting to see Mallory work through her family issues and figure out how to let people in even though she was terrified of being vulnerable. Mallory & Nolan were also very invisible string by Taylor Swift coded which I adored!!! I didn’t expect the queer rep but it was such a nice surprise, it makes me happy reading more and more books where it’s just a part of who a character is and it’s not an issue in the story! Anyway, this book was so cute and I definitely recommend!! 🥰

this was such a fun YA debut from ali hazelwood! while it took me a few chapters to get into the story, I was hooked after a while and got so invested in the characters and storyline. the story follows mallory greenleaf who unexpectedly falls back into the world of chess after swearing it off for years when she happens to beat the current world champion nolan sawyer. the two begin competing in the same competitions as she climbs the ranks but also strike up an unlikely connection which develops throughout the rest of the book. the relationship between the two was so cute and I was OBSESSED with nolan's character and the small little behaviors and actions of his that showed his emotions throughout. their banter was elite and the whole chess world in and of itself was so intriguing despite me not knowing anything about it beforehand. we also get to see a lot of mallory's backstory and struggles as it is told in single POV and I loved the discussion around female representation and the misogyny surrounding the chess world and things such as stereotype threat which she expounds upon further in the author's note. the ending was wrapped up a bit fast for my taste because I would have loved to see a bit more but I think this is also a testament to how invested I was at that point. ultimately, this was a super fun read for readers who want the YA vibes with a bit more mature content and topics included as well as for anyone interested in chess and rivals-to-lovers romance!

“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.”

Mallory and Nolan. She hasn’t played chess in years until her best friend begs her to play a charity tournament and ends up beating the #1 chess player in the world.

The only reason I’m giving this 3 stars is because I wanted more romance between Mal and Nolan! I was getting frustrated with her sisters, especially Sabrina. I hated the way they treated Mal—she had to sacrifice everything to take care of her mom and sisters.

♟️READ IF YOU LIKE♟️:
- banter
- rivals to lovers
- sports romance: chess
- he falls first
- pop culture references
- family dynamics
- the queen’s gambit vibes
- forced proximity

cw: grief, lost of loved one, dementia, autoimmune disease, misogyny, sexism, affair, drunk driving

Thank you @netgalley and @peguinteen for the advanced copy! Check & Mate is now available!

Thank you for the Arc copy.

This book is very much for a younger reader. Loved the take on young romance and chess. Felt like reading a calmer Queens Gambit. The characters were well developed and the chess facts were interesting.

The Queen's Gambit meets romance... but YA?
Typically, when something is YA, it usually doesn't have as much reference to sex or intimacy, but this book does (just so you know).
When she decides to play one last chess match, Mallory precariously beats the world champion chess player, Nolan. I really enjoyed the family dynamic in this book, as well as the relationship that blossoms between the two MCs. A great read for any Ali Hazelwood fan or anyone looking for a fun romance book.

I absolutely devoured this book. 4.5/5 ⭐️ okay I am officially an Ali Hazelwood fan. This was SO MUCH FUN. STEM romances are a whole new vibe for me I am taking into 2024. This is enemies to lovers, fade to black, and has quirky and witty banter.

I don't know the first thing about chess and I still found this book incredibly enjoyable. The romance is slow to start until around 25% and then it really picks up!

I really enjoyed reading Check & Mate, from the characters to the storyline on how they fall into a situationship towards the end. This is my first Ali Hazelwood novel and I will definitely be reading more. I like the storyline she builds with Mallory dealing with her inner struggle to help her family by sacrificing her wants and diving into a world riddled with more misogyny than usual as she climbs the chess ranks. Mallory navigating the chess world and dealing with the BS and overt misogyny was done in a way that doesn't overpower the entire story and is perfect when Koch gets his karmic deserts several times throughout the book.

Mal's character development is a wonder as we see the type of relationships she avoids before she stumbles into a match that changes her life with Nolan. I would love to read a standalone just on Nolan's past and life because he's so refreshingly straightforward in just about everything he does and that's refreshing to read. I would have loved for Oz and Defne to have a bit more involvement just because they were fun characters when they made their appearances throughout.

Looking forward to reading more of Ali's books. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for an honest review.