Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Title: Check & Mate

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Publication Date: November 7, 2023

Publisher: Putnam

Synopsis

In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York 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 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...)

Thoughts

As I delved into the pages of this book, I found myself forming a deep connection with the narrative. The personal struggles mirrored my own experiences in many ways – having lost my own father and dealing with my mother's health issues. The emotional upheaval and challenges of maintaining familial ties, especially with siblings during such tough times, were aspects I could deeply relate to.

The protagonist, Mallory's, struggle with her life's trajectory post-high school was another facet that struck a chord with me. As her friends moved on to college and started building their own lives, Mallory felt like she was stagnating in her hometown. I found myself empathizing with her feelings of being left behind and her struggle to find her own path. Mallory's experiences resonated deeply, and I found myself frequently overwhelmed by emotions throughout the book. I could feel her pain, her confusion, her hurt — it was as if I was reliving the experiences alongside her.

One of the aspects of the book that I absolutely adored was the rivalry-to-lovers dynamic between Mallory and Nolan. Nolan's character was beautifully crafted, full of depth and complexity. The way he took care of Mallory from a distance, sending her noodle soup and Snickers to her hotel room, was endearing and made my heart flutter. The evolution of their relationship was something I admired. What started as mutual respect for each other's chess skills, gradually developed into something much more profound. Their relationship never relied on pity, sympathy, or the clichéd "I can fix you" mentality that is often prevalent in romance narratives. Instead, they became pillars of strength for each other, a support system that they could lean on during moments of weakness. This mature and realistic portrayal of their relationship was something I deeply appreciated.

The setting of the competitive world of chess was another highlight. It's not a world we often encounter in books, and it added an element of excitement and tension to the narrative. Malte Koch, the antagonist, was an excellent character — a villain you love to hate. The chess competitions were high stakes and intense, adding layers of suspense to the story.

The author, Ali Hazelwood, has a gift for creating believable, relatable characters that readers can connect with on an emotional level. Her ability to weave an interesting, gripping story that keeps you turning the pages is remarkable. I have previously read her book 'The Love Hypothesis' and have been keeping an eye out for her other works. After the immersive and engaging experience of reading 'Check & Mate', I am all the more excited to delve into more of her work.