Full Review by Books Paradise
Hazelwood’s move into young adult loses none of the banter and gains a real ache underneath it. Mallory’s guilt about her family is the engine here, and the romance is better for it.
Mallory Greenleaf quit chess, and she had good reasons. A charity tournament, one careless afternoon and a win against the reigning world champion drag her straight back into a game she associates with the worst year of her life. Check & Mate is Ali Hazelwood’s first novel for younger readers: a rivals-to-lovers romance built on a genuinely well-drawn sport, and on a girl working out how much of her family she is allowed to put down.
A Story Worth Following
Check & Mate is a bright, funny rivals-to-lovers romance about talent, family obligation, and the difficulty of wanting something for yourself.
Atmosphere & Writing
Mallory’s voice carries the whole book. Ali Hazelwood writes with a control of tone that keeps Check & Mate vivid from first page to last.
Characters That Stay With You
Sisters, friends and mentors who all feel real. They carry the story’s weight without ever feeling like devices.
What Worked Brilliantly
- A wonderful lead voice
- Genuine tension over the board
- A satisfying, earned romance
What Could Be Better
- Predictable beats in the middle
- Some side characters underused
Final Verdict
Check & Mate is a sharp, funny, satisfying romance and a genuinely good sports novel underneath it. An easy recommendation for readers of any age.
“She swore she was finished with the board. The board disagreed.”
