Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood Book Review

Title: Check & Mate
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: November 7, 2023
Pages: 368

Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.

Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist....

As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren't only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent...and infuriating...)

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My Thoughts

**Thank you so much to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour!**

Chess is no longer a part of Mallory Greenleaf's life. And she definitely won't be stepping near it anytime soon, especially after what it did to her family. Since the incident, she's worked for her family, providing for them the best she can.

He told me once that sometimes, with some people, it's not about winning or losing, That with some people, it's just about playing. Though for the longest time, I didn't really believe him.

After accidentally winning a charity tournament and beating the notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer, current world champion of chess, an unimaginable opportunity presents itself to Mallory. She accepts, knowing little about what's in it for her. As the two begin to work together, lines start to blur, causing Mallory to rethink everything she knew about herself and those around her.

Galaxies pass through his black eyes, and I wonder whether this second could last a century. Whether the universe could be just me and him, understanding each other on a forever loop.

 Star Rating: ★★★★☆ (4)

Oh how cute were Mallory and Nolan together. Everything about them is just adorable. I love how Nolan genuinely cares about Mallory and wants to really know about her and her family (he took her sisters out for ice cream and let them try every flavor there!). 

Everyone expresses their love differently. Mallory's way of doing so is providing care for her family, almost as a second mother to her sisters. I didn't understand the way Sabrina was acting at first, almost as if she was ungrateful for all Mallory does for her. But then I realized the fact that Sabrina probably misses her sister and wants that bond instead of feeling mothered by Mallory all the time. It wasn't that Mallory didn't love her, it was just the fact that the way she expressed it didn't align with Sabrina's. 

Overall, Check & Mate was just so cute and light, exactly what I needed leading up to final exams in school. Though I'd say I like her contemporary novels more, her YA was also so much fun to read. Ali Hazelwood has done it again, everyone (I still need to read Love on the Brain though)! 

About the Author

Ali Hazelwood is the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, as well as the writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She recently became a professor, which absolutely terrifies her. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her two feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).