I really wanted to love this one, as I am drawn to Hazelwood’s adult novels, but sadly this missed the mark for me. I found myself bored throughout much of the book, and think maybe just the YA aspect is part of the problem. I had higher expectations, but frankly just need to stick to non-YA books moving forward. I will continue to devour her adult books per usual in the future.

4.50⭐️

I can always trust Ali Hazelwood to deliver with a swoony romance with an engaging plot and loveable characters 🩷

I love Ali Hazelwood and all of her books so I was eagerly anticipating her YA debut ever since it was announced.
And I absolutely adored Check & Mate, devoured it within a couple of hours!

I’m going to try making a list of all the things I loved:-
- Nolan Sawyer. Loved him so, so much!! Especially the fact that he was so in love with Mallory from that very first meeting!! I have always been a fan of ‘he falls first’ so of course I love Nolan but he was also just all around adorable and so uncomplicated. Loved his personality too, so charming!
- Mallory’s sisters Darcy and Sabrina. Well, I didn’t like Sabrina all that much in the beginning because she sounded like a total brat but then she grew on me and logically speaking, she’s just a kid. I really enjoyed their interactions and humour!
- Easton, Defne, Oz, Emil and Tanu. I always love a good supportive group of friends!
- Nolan and Mallory’s chemistry: Gosh, it was electrifying! I was living for every one of their interactions which is also why I flew through the book! It was everything!!!
- Both Nolan and Mallory were dealing with some serious issues, I liked how Mallory’s story was made intriguing to the reader by slowly disclosing little pieces of information, it made the story all the more interesting.
- I had learned to play (really bad) chess when I was a kid so mostly, I knew nothing about it but Ali Hazelwood still managed to make it interesting for me. I was fully invested in all the chess scenes as well so that’s definitely something I absolutely loved about this book.


Things I hated:-
- Malte Koch. He was so ridiculous, he made my blood boil. I was so happy with the ending he got.


Only reducing 0.5⭐️ because I just felt that it was shorter than what I wanted. I wanted more of Nolan- Mallory romance, more of their friendship, more of their moments together. I also felt that the last chapter before the epilogue was kind of rushed.
Also most definitely wanted to see more of Emil and Tanu AND their friendship/ scenes with Nolan and Mallory.

But overall, it was definitely one of my favourites of the year! I had a really good time reading it and would definitely reread plus recommend to everyone!



A huge thank you to Penguin Group for sending me an e-arc for reviewing!

3/5⭐️

In Check & Mate, Ali Hazelwood continued to do her Ali Hazelwood thing but this time in a YA debut with a slight step away from her usual STEM settings in the world of professional chess.

I loved this book but also really didn’t like it at times which is making it hard to review so I will break it down in terms of pros and cons.

Pros: The romance was adorable. The plot was good. It felt empowering (like most of Ali’s books do). I actually want to learn how to play chess even though I am way to stupid and easily distracted for chess but this book makes it seem so COOL. Also, queer characters ftw.

Cons: This book follows the Hazelwood blueprint we’ve read time and time again yet keep coming back for. Girl meets rival boy. She thinks rival boy hates her for being rival. Rival boy obviously loves her immediately for her brain and beauty, and everyone can tell but girl. Girl ruins everything by being blind and unobservant. Rival boy forgives her because he’s SO OBVIOUSLY IN LOVE WITH HER. The end. It’s getting predictable and slightly annoying (#miscommunicationtropehater). Also, I found many of the characters in this book just very unlikeable?? Including the main character and her immediate friends and family?? Not productive to a good book.

Anyways, if you liked Ali Hazelwood’s other works, you’ll like this one as well and maybe even develop a new hobby? We’ll see in a week.

Ali Hazelwood is an auto-buy author for me, so I was excited to read her YA book, Check Mate. I always look forward to reading her Women in STEM books, and while I loved this story about Mallory and Nolan, I do take issue with calling this a Young Adult read. While I realize that young adults (aged 14-18) talk about sex and have sex, I feel that this book should be marketed as a New Adult, as Mallory is 18 and Nolan is 20. This book could also be marketed as
'closed door" because *** SPOILER ALERT *** Nolan loses his virginity <albeit closed door / fade to black>. After I got over the fact that I feel like this book is mis-categorized, I really did enjoy the story, and witty dialogue between Mallory and her sisters (Darcy and Sabrina) as well as with her colleagues in the chess world. #CheckMate #NetGalley

Ali Hazelwood is a master of STEM romance and her latest, Check & Mate, is no different. With her first foray into YA, Hazelwood has created characters that you want to root for and that you want to see good things happen for. I adored this book, the romance was just right and, since it was YA far tamer than her usual fair. But, the book was so well written that I didn't find myself missing the steam that Hazelwood is known for.

Check & Mate is an enjoyable read that combines humor, romance, and the strategy of chess to make an entertaining romance. I liked the main characters and was glad they didn’t fall into normal tropes; they were more dimensional than that. But the plot of the book as a whole was pretty tropey though all of the chess stuff made it more unique. A solid YA debut from Hazelwood.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy of this title.

This is my new Ali Hazelwood book. While I loved all of her previous books, this is the best I have read. I loved the excitement of the chess (even though I know nothing about chess), as well as the family and friend relationships and issues. The romance was interesting, too. I loved seeing a make character who not so sex-driven.

Thank you netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for allowing me to read Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood. This was such a fun and cute read, I enjoyed every single moment of this book

Ali Hazelwood has a gift.

This story was funny, heartwarming, frustrating, and romantic all rolled up into a book about chess?

I haven’t played chess in a VERY long time, and I played BRIEFLY. After this book, the first thing I did was look up chess sets on Amazon.

This story also spoke to my ‘oldest sibling’ heart since I can relate to being the ‘second mom’ in my household who helps with responsibilities.

Mallory was such a hard worker who felt the need to step up after the loss of her dad. Taking care of an ill mom, and two teen sisters all whole being a teen yourself is such a burden. She felt the need to become the primary bread winner in their house and put her dream of college to the side. When her best friend convinces her to attend a chess match, her world is turned upside down when she beats one of the top chess players in the world.

This was such a great upper YA novel with complicated family dynamics, complex friendships, and heartwarming moments that keep you hooked from the first chapter. The romance was done in such a perfect way, our characters were soulmates. I still remember reading the final chapter and going “nooo I want more!” It ended too soon and that how you know a book is phenomenal. I truly didn’t want it to end.

I've never had a miss by Ali Hazelwood and this is no different. I didn't know what to expect since this has a different age focus as a YA romance, but it was super cute! Same vibes with grumpy sunshine.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book!

First, I am not a chess person. I once babysat a kid who thoroughly trounced me enough times (despite trying to coach me through it) that I knew I don’t enjoy it. HOWEVER, this was really cute and a fun way to introduce someone (who doesn’t really like chess) to chess! The main character was often frustrating, but also relatable. I did wish we had some of Nolan’s perspective but he really was one of the best book boyfriends I’ve read in a long time.

Maybe next time Ali Hazelwood will write a romance with a tennis player so I finally learn the rules of tennis.

Check & Mate is Ali Hazelwood’s first Young Adult romance book and this fun rom-com
did not disappoint. This was such a cute story, and I loved Mallory and Nolan individually and as a couple. The pop culture references were fun, and I enjoyed learning more about chess. Hazelwood balanced the lightness of the plot with some serious topics such as sexism in the workplace, family dynamics when a parent figure is sick, and gaining confidence as characters come of age. This is a great Young Adult debut with a cute rivals to lovers romance and a fun sports theme


Thank you to NetGallery and to Penguin Publishing for giving me a copy of the book.

Mallory has put the game of chess in her rear view as she works to support her mom and sisters after a series of unfortunate events with her father. When an opportunity comes along to play chess, Mallory decides to take it…but only to help her family, not because she loves the game. Enter Nolan Sawyer, the “it” guy in the chess world. Will Mallory find her love for the game once again? And maybe love with Nolan too?

I love Hazelwood’s books. Maybe it’s the inner nerd in me, but something about unexpected female main characters finding love in seemingly nerdy ways just does it for me! Not to mention I was the chess champion of the 6th grade, so this one just hits different! 💪🏽 ♟️

Thank you to the publisher for an e-ARC via NetGalley to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I picked this one up because I needed something to read and I’ve been in a weird mood all around lately. I was hopeful that a YA romcom type of book would keep me interested while I struggled through reading it for a few days. Instead I DEVOURED this book! I didn’t want to put it down at all. I loved it so much, and I was laughing so much at the sibling banter.
Mallory was such a complex character, and I have mixed feelings about her. Overall I really liked her, but she did annoy me a bit. I think the author wrote the character really well.
I really liked Nolan. He was quiet and intriguing, and I liked that he and Mallory balanced each other. They saw things the same way in regards to chess, and I liked the chemistry between them.
I really liked the sex positivity in this story, and I died laughing when Mallory’s younger sisters were talking to Nolan about Mallory’s sex life.
This book was an easy and entertaining read, and i’d highly recommend it.

"Check and Mate" by Ali Hazelwood is a delightful addition to the author's impressive body of work, showcasing her exceptional talent for crafting captivating romances. As a devoted fan of Hazelwood's writing, I found myself once again enchanted by her ability to breathe life into characters and make their relationships feel authentic and compelling. The novel seamlessly straddles the line between young adult and new adult, offering a nuanced and mature perspective on love and self-discovery. Hazelwood's prose is both engaging and emotive, creating a world where readers can effortlessly immerse themselves in the intricacies of the characters' lives. For those seeking a heartfelt and well-executed romance within the realm of contemporary fiction, "Check and Mate" is a must-read that solidifies Ali Hazelwood's reputation as a master storyteller in the genre.

4.5/5 ⭐️
A YA/more new adult book from Ali Hazelwood that focuses on Mallory, a former chess prodigy who finds herself drawn back into that world.

I enjoyed this one a lot more than I thought I would! I always get nervous with YA romances, but I think she did a great job balancing romance with some coming of age. This one did have romance but it was a lot more about character growth. I loved Mallory’s sisters’ sassiness so much, and all the side characters (minus the jerks) were great!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Check & Mate (eARC) — 5 ⭐️

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 —
🥰 Feel-Good Story
👥 Well Developed Supporting Characters
🥊 Rivals to Lovers
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA+ Rep
🗽 Based in New York
👫 He Fell First

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐟 —
💵 You are a financially responsible human being
😤 You hate to lose games
🛒 You buy all your clothes from thrift stores
🧱 You like to learn how things work
🧋Bubble tea is your favorite drink

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: All hail Ali Hazelwood and her wonderful writing and storytelling skills! 👑👋 I’ve adored all of Ali’s books, and this one is no different. She knows how to write adorable romances that intertwine plots of friendship and strong women empowerment.

Just like most of Ali’s books, the main female character is in a male dominated field, and we see her experience in that environment. While I’m not an expert chess player, I still found the chess aspects of the story enjoyable and impressive, and I definitely felt the urge to whip out a chess board by the end of the book!

Maybe it’s just me, but I felt like this story was more of a new adult/college age tale then young adult fiction. I wouldn’t recommend this to high schoolers based on the language used and the conversations/thought process around sex, but that’s my personal opinion.

𝐓𝐖: profanity, chronic illness, minor sexual content (still closed door), parental death, sexism, infidelity, misogyny

Thank you, NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP - Penguin Young Readers Group, for providing me an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’ll read anything by Ali Hazelwood, even YA. With my other reviews, I’ve stated that YA is hard for me, but this one was doable! The romance, the swoon-worthy moments, the way Nolan loves on Mallory even though they aren’t even together yet. I loved it! I’m absolutely CLUELESS when it comes to chess, so I couldn’t tell ya a thing about whether this book actually captured chess for what it’s worth, but it was a cute read nonetheless. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves STEM and YA! Thanks for the opportunity to read!

I did not know how much I needed this story in my life! I love reading books about nerdy romances, and this one has definitely made my top 3 for that trope! Mallory and Nolan’s chemistry was top notch! Mallory’s success in a male dominated area was definitely the kick in the pants that any teen girl (or adult woman) needs!

There isn't a book that I've read by Ali Hazelwood that I did not enjoy. This book was such a treat to read. I did a buddy read and we had the best time discussing the book. I loved it so much that I decided to purchase a physical copy for my bookshelf! Thank you netgalley for this gifted copy.