Check & Mate
the instant Sunday Times bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards winner - an enemies-to-lovers romance that will have you hooked!
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4.2 • 130 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
In this clever and swoonworthy new novel from the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life's moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.
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 rookie 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...)
This novel is suitable for both young adult and adult audiences.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Already a sensation in the romance genre, Ali Hazelwood makes a triumphant entry into YA romance with Check & Mate. Eighteen-year-old Mallory is a former chess champion who had abandoned the game. But when she finds herself drawn back into the world of tournaments, she sparks a connection with the adventurous Nolan Sawyer, the current golden boy of chess, setting the stage for a captivating tale of love and strategy. As Mallory becomes swept up in her rekindled love for chess and her growing attraction to Nolan, Hazelwood examines themes of identity, truth and responsibility. Hazelwood's writing style is always sharp and witty, with dialogue that bounces along, and her genius ability to create relatable characters is on full display here. If you're seeking a breezy romance that understands the complexities of growing up, look no further.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bisexual 18-year-old Mallory Greenleaf was once a talented chess player, but ever since her Grandmaster father abandoned the family four years ago then died, she's given up the sport and instead prioritized caring for her arthritic mother and two younger sisters. Rather than attending college, Mallory gets hired as an auto mechanic; things take an unexpected turn, however, when she reluctantly agrees to play in a charity chess tournament and beats 19-year-old Nolan Sawyer, the current world champion. When she loses her job—and realizes that she can earn decent money by competing in tournaments—Mallory accepts a paid fellowship for potential pros at a local New Jersey chess club. And as Mallory navigates sudden acclaim alongside grief and guilt over her return to chess, she grows closer to Nolan, who turns out to be her biggest supporter. Hazelwood (Love, Theoretically, for adults) makes a seamless transition into YA romance with this well-researched read. Via Mallory and Nolan's complementary personalities and complex histories, Hazelwood crafts a feminist rendering that sheds light on sexist views within the world of competitive chess, all while spinning a swoon-worthy romance. Protagonists read as white. Ages 14–up.
Customer Reviews
Pleasantly surprising
Started off sad and slow but grew momentum and I couldn’t put it down. I have enjoyed Ali’s science based love stories and this diverts from science but still a captivating read.
This is a new fav
I enjoy all of Ali's book but this one in particularly is close to my heart. The characters and real and loveable and leave you making up stories for them in the future. I hope to read more about them in the future.