Check & Mate: the instant Sunday Times bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards winner - an enemies-to-lovers romance that will have you hooked!

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood is her first foray into Young Adult, but this ticks as many boxes for me as her Adult STEM romance novels. This is 5⭐️ from me.Mallory used to be very good at chess, but she doesn't play any more. Not until her best friend convinces her to round out her team at a local charity competition, and Mallory ends up playing (and beating) the World No. 1, Nolan "Kingkiller" Sawyer, who is known for his temper and his sex appeal. Mallory is too busy looking after her family to be drawn back into the world of chess, but when she loses her job, a lucrative chess fellowship suddenly becomes a lifeline. And the world of professional chess is a lot, just like Nolan Sawyer...Now, I’m not really into chess. I know the main mechanics, but I would get stuck on how to castle for example. But I really enjoyed the recent Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit which followed a female chess player in the 60’s. And honestly this gave me such similar vibes to that, minus the drug use and with a more modern setting and better love interest.On that note, Nolan, our male lead is just fantastic. He seems like the bad boy of chess to start with, but we later realise he's incredibly sweet and caring, and absolutely head over heels for Mallory. What I will note is that Hazelwood clearly has A Type: quiet, brooding, large, sexy guy with a bad boy reputation that seems grumpy, but when you get to know him is super sweet - and he's usually inexperienced with girls. This works for me, so I'm enjoying these a lot, but if this isn't your type, be warned that there's definitely a male lead mould in Hazelwood's books and this one is no different.It's also worth noting that it's super unrealistic that Mallory spent 4 formative years not plying chess, and then suddenly was good enough from sheer natural talent to enter pro chess the way she did. She would never get that look-in in real life, with no rating or anything. Sometimes, lack of realism really bothers me, but I was able to suspend my disbelief with this one - maybe because the lack of realism came from external sources rather than character's motivations? I'm not sure. But this didn't affect my enjoyment.The book was also kept light and YA by the fact Mallory didn't have to deal with much real overt sexism. Hazelwood does touch on what systematic system within the system was like for women taking part in competitive chess, but uses Mallory's unusual route into chess as a convenient way to avoid it. This could be considered a cop-out for sure, but it let the novel feel 'girl power' without getting heavy, which I think fitted well with other fantasy aspects.A big deal was made about the fact that this novel was YA, and not New Adult like Hazelwood's girls-in-STEM romances before now. But honestly? Other than the pop culture references from Mallory's best friend and younger sisters, and the side-stepping of the sexism issue, it doesn't feel like it's significantly more YA than Hazelwood's other books. Mallory has a lot of freedom (more than most 18 year olds at home, although she has a lot more responsibility too), and Nolan is emancipated, so they feel more like college setting than high school setting. It's right on the edge of YA and NA and I don't think the genre hyping made much of a difference if I'm honest. So if you've liked Hazelwood's other NA romances, don't be put off this one by a few Riverdale references.It's also worth noting that I've read a few accusations that Hazelwood based this story on real people in the chess world (who were not together). I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that - there's definitely something unethical about Real Person Fanfiction, but I don't know where this sits. It might be a useful warning for you.So, you've said a lot of negative stuff here about a book you've rated 5⭐️, you might say, and you'd be right. But I just really enjoyed this, and it's going to be living rent free in my head for a little while, so I just couldn't justify a lesser rating. For any of the very minor flaws noted above, they just didn't reduce my enjoyment of this. So I have to whole-heartedly recommend it. The pacing was good, there was just enough conflict to keep the story going without it being manufactured, the female lead's issues stemmed from genuine trauma, and their love of chess was really communicable. And the romance was so passionate. I loved it.This book is for you if you liked the Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit or any of Ali Hazelwood’s other girls-in-STEM romances.

4.5 stars.I think Ali Hazelwood is a brilliant writer. I love her characters, her plots. I love that she writes about really intelligent women and I’m convinced she is a gifted scientist and chess player.Nolan Sawyer is a pin-up in the world of chess. I just can’t stop picturing Jacob Elordi as Nolan. Oh boy, he is mighty fine. I keep imagining him picking up the chess pieces with his big hands and it makes me swoon. Don’t care that I’m old enough to be his mum.Mallory Greenleaf is a great character. You have to unravel her story but the timing is perfect. I loved her character journey.It’s a great read and perfect for younger romance readers as there is no on page sex.

Mallory, is doing her best to help her family get by. Her Father passed away recently and her Mother has an illness. So Mallory, chooses to give up going to university and gets a full rime job to pay the bills and look after her Mum and 2 younger sisters.Malory as a child, was trained by her Father in chess, and she was really good at it too that she participated in tournaments. But an incident with her Dad caused her to leave chess and cause her to try and push out her love for it.Until one day, her friend convinces her to participate in a small tournament, where she ends up beating the handsome number 1 chess player in the world and opening old wounds and throwing Mallory back into that world.The concept was quite enjoyable, even though I'm not a massive fan of chess.Personally, I felt Nolan's character was a bit flat and I would have liked more from him.I also found myself getting really frustrated with Mallory's family, I won't say why due to spoilers.Overall, a cute fun read, I just wish I enjoyed it more.

I don’t read a lot of YA, because your girl is too old for that, BUT for Ali I would, and for Ali I did, and I did not regret it.Yes, the closed door thing is a bit frustrating but the plot was plotting and kept me busy. I loved that it took place in the world of chess. Not that I like playing chess (kill me now) but I like the idea and I found the complexity of it fascinating.One thing though that I found annoying was this pathological need to feel guilty and the self-inflicted punishment. I see that a lot in the books I read and it p*sses me off. ⚠️spoiler ahead⚠️ but yes you caught your dad cheating, told your mom and your family imploded. I understand you’d feel a certain sense of responsibility and guilt. Makes perfect sense. But she took it too far, in my humble opinion.Anyway, a very cute little book that I enjoyed greatly.

A really enjoyed this book. I loved the chess side of things, and Mallory’s caring role for her family. The author has a really good ability to write intelligent male love interests that are a bit more than meets the eye and as a couple they’re easy to root for. There’s a particular part of the book where Mallory really annoyed me (if you’ve read it you’ll know which part) but I suppose she is meant to be 18 and allowances must be made as I certainly was an idiot at times at that age! A good read even for non-chess lovers.

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood is a sweet and enchanting romance that perfectly blends the excitement of competitive chess with the slow-burn chemistry of an opposites-attract love story. Hazelwood has a knack for creating lovable, relatable characters, and in this book, she brings together two people who couldn’t be more different, yet their connection is undeniable. The novel is brimming with Hazelwood's signature humor and heartfelt moments, but it’s the emotional depth and tenderness that make this story stand out.The relationship between Malory and Nolan is what gives Check and Mate its sweet, heartwarming charm. Their interactions are filled with moments of vulnerability, awkward confessions, and playful teasing that feels both genuine and touching. The lead characters, one a fierce chess prodigy and the other, an unknown prodigy, complement each other beautifully. As they navigate the highs and lows of competition and life outside the chessboard, their growing affection is marked by sincere gestures, shy smiles, and thoughtful moments of connection.What makes this book especially sweet is the way Hazelwood shows the characters supporting each other through personal insecurities and struggles. Their love grows organically through shared experiences and mutual respect, creating a story filled with tender, heart-melting moments. Whether it’s their obvious love for chess or an unspoken look across the board, Hazelwood captures the sweetness of two people falling in love while pushing each other to be better versions of themselves.Check and Mate is a delightful, heartfelt read that will leave readers smiling long after the final page.

This story is definitely meant for a younger audience, and when I say younger, I mean, like 18/20s. The characters were really well developed, and the story itself was interesting. more on the romantic side, which I appreciated

Adoro os livros da Ali, me diverti bastante lendo todos. O que me destacou nesse foi a mudança um pouco em relação aos personagens, achei que nos livros anteriores eles eram bem parecidos e a história similar, mas esse foi surpreendente. Recomendo

Es el 4to libro que leo de Ali Hazelwood y el segundo que leo en inglés, lo ame totalmente, es diferente a todo lo que nos tenía acostumbrados, aunque todos estamos de acuerdo que Hipótesis del amor y química del amor son muy parecidos, y lo refrescante que resultó Love, theoretically. Este libro se aleja de la academia para llevarnos a un amor más joven y si eso significa que no hay escenas explícitas, sin duda este es un libro que me imagino adaptado para una película PG13. Lo disfruté mucho.

ink splattered all over the cover.. looks old and used