June 19, 2025sarahylockwood

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Rate: 3.5/5

Medium: ebook

Overview (No Spoilers): 

My fangirling of Hazelwood continues in Check & Mate as I find myself gravitating toward her novels. Check & Mate is Hazelwood’s first YA with the overall story being very PG. 

Check & Mate follows the story of Mallory who was a chess prodigy when she was a child, though after some unspoken tragedy swears off chess despite her clear talent. 

In the aftermath of the tragic event and with her mom having a chronic illness, Mallory is stuck in the endless cycle of being the main breadwinner who can barely pay the bills to keep her family afloat. With her best friend moving away to college soon, Mallory’s future is filled with self sacrifice and generally bleak. That all changes as Mallory is convinced to enter one more chess tournament.

At this point Hazelwood’s leading men are all cut from the same fabric. Brooding, tall, dark, and handsome. Nolan is much the same, with the added flavor of chess. Having been a child prodigy himself, he had the unfortunate disadvantage of growing up under the limelight. This added an interesting backstory and depth to Nolan, especially as we detangle his terrible reputation from his actual self.

In contrast to Nolan, Mallory is less than enjoyable. She is constantly the victim and martyr to her situation. Though to be fair, Mallory and her family have experienced significant heartbreak. That said, Mallory’s family seemed to take her sacrifices for granted, though honestly I was pretty tired of Mallory’s attitude by the end too. 

Even with my issues with the characters, I genuinely was hooked with the story itself, fascinated with the high pressure world of chess. The supporting cast is eccentric and a bright spot in this story. I couldn’t help but root for Nolan and Mallory to finally play that one more game, with that being a big tease throughout.

Overall, with being firmly YA, Check & Mate allows Hazelwood’s storytelling to shine, though her characters have begun to feel familiar at this point. 

Additional Insight: 

  • How much research does Hazelwood have to do with her novels? Each one has such a different setting.
  • The mom has such a chronic illness that Mallory had to work so hard to support her family. The switch once the mom gets better was stark, though might have been a good wake up call for Mallory that it’s ok her family doesn’t need her. But the lack of acknowledging there was a need by her family hurt. 
  • I’ve read so many similar books like this recently where the young daughter has to sacrifice and grow up early to support the family: A Court of Thorns and Roses and  Assistant to the Villain. 

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