Ali Hazelwood’s venture into young adult fiction with Check & Mate presents a compelling exploration of second chances, family loyalty, and the intricate dance between competition and love. This chess-centered romance follows Mallory Greenleaf, a reluctant prodigy who abandoned the game that destroyed her family, only to find herself thrust back into the spotlight after defeating world champion Nolan “The Kingkiller” Sawyer in a charity tournament.
The Opening: A Promising Setup
The novel’s strongest asset lies in its authentic portrayal of trauma and guilt. Mallory’s internal struggle feels genuinely earned rather than manufactured for dramatic effect. Hazelwood skillfully establishes the weight of responsibility that sits on Mallory’s shoulders—caring for her chronically ill mother and two younger sisters while working a dead-end job to keep their family afloat. The author’s background in neuroscience shines through in her nuanced understanding of how guilt can reshape a person’s entire worldview.
Hazelwood’s chess world feels lived-in and meticulously researched. The competitive atmosphere, media scrutiny, and the unique pressures faced by female players in a male-dominated sport are rendered with impressive detail. The author’s acknowledgment that she took “poetic licenses” with chess technicalities shows an understanding of storytelling priorities—plot over rigid realism—that serves the narrative well.
The Middle Game: Character Development and Romantic Tension
Nolan Sawyer emerges as a fascinatingly complex love interest who defies the typical “bad boy” archetype. His reputation as a temperamental player masks a deeply introspective individual carrying his own family trauma. The revelation of his grandfather’s institutionalization and his own role in it creates a parallel that genuinely connects him to Mallory’s guilt over her father’s death. Their shared understanding of responsibility and regret forms a foundation that goes beyond mere attraction.
The slow-burn romance develops through chess games and conversations that feel organic rather than forced. Hazelwood excels at creating intimate moments within public spaces—the tension of their matches, the weight of unspoken words, the electricity of brief touches. The author’s signature blend of intellectual compatibility and emotional vulnerability translates well from her adult contemporary works to this YA setting.
However, the pacing occasionally falters in the middle section. Some secondary tournament scenes feel repetitive, and certain family dynamics could have been explored with greater depth. Mallory’s relationship with her sister Sabrina, in particular, feels underdeveloped given its importance to the protagonist’s motivation.
The Supporting Cast: A Mixed Board
Defne Bubikoğlu, Mallory’s eventual coach, provides much-needed representation and serves as both mentor and fierce advocate. Her character brings authenticity to discussions about gender discrimination in chess while avoiding heavy-handed messaging. Emil, Nolan’s best friend, offers lighter moments and serves as an effective bridge between the romantic leads.
The family dynamics present both strengths and weaknesses. Mallory’s mother and younger sister Darcy are well-drawn, particularly in showing how chronic illness affects entire families. However, the middle sister Sabrina remains somewhat flat, existing primarily to create guilt for Mallory rather than as a fully realized character in her own right.
Writing Style: Adapting Hazelwood’s Voice
Hazelwood successfully adapts her adult romance voice for a younger audience without talking down to readers. Her trademark humor remains intact—Darcy’s precocious observations and Mallory’s internal monologue provide genuine laughs. The chess metaphors woven throughout the narrative feel natural rather than forced, though occasionally they border on heavy-handed.
The author’s strength in crafting emotional intimacy shines through pivotal scenes. The tic-tac-toe game between Mallory and Nolan serves as a perfect microcosm of their relationship—playful yet strategic, seemingly simple yet layered with meaning. These moments demonstrate Hazelwood’s ability to find profound connection in ordinary interactions.
Thematic Depth: More Than Just Romance
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood tackles several weighty themes with admirable sensitivity. The exploration of family trauma and guilt feels authentic, avoiding both minimization and melodrama. The novel’s treatment of chronic illness through Mallory’s mother adds realistic complexity to the family’s struggles without exploiting disability for dramatic effect.
The gender dynamics in competitive chess provide fertile ground for meaningful social commentary. Hazelwood addresses stereotype threat and systemic sexism without derailing the romance, showing how external pressures can internalize and affect performance. Mallory’s journey from reluctant participant to confident competitor mirrors broader conversations about women claiming space in traditionally male domains.
The Endgame: Resolution and Payoff
The novel’s conclusion feels earned, with both romantic and personal growth arcs reaching satisfying resolution. Mallory’s journey back to chess parallels her journey back to trusting herself and accepting love. The final tournament provides genuine tension, and the romantic payoff feels both inevitable and surprising in its execution.
The epilogue, set two years later, provides closure while suggesting continued growth. The image of Mallory and Nolan as both competitors and partners offers an optimistic view of relationships that thrive on challenge rather than submission.
Comparative Analysis: Standing Among Peers
In Ali Hazelwood’s growing bibliography, Check & Mate represents a successful transition to YA without sacrificing the emotional intelligence that defines her adult works. Unlike The Love Hypothesis or Love on the Brain, this novel grapples with younger characters facing family responsibilities that feel authentically overwhelming rather than artificially dramatic.
Readers seeking similar chess-centered fiction might appreciate Walter Tevis’s The Queen’s Gambit, though Hazelwood’s work focuses more heavily on romance and family dynamics. For sports romance enthusiasts, Miranda Kenneally’s Racing Savannah or Katie McGarry’s Walk the Edge offer comparable blends of competition and relationships.
Areas for Improvement
While largely successful, the novel occasionally suffers from predictable plot beats common to YA romance. Some conflicts feel manufactured rather than organic, particularly involving media attention and family misunderstandings. The resolution of Mallory’s financial struggles happens somewhat conveniently, though the emotional journey feels authentic.
The chess tournament structure sometimes constrains character development, forcing interactions into competitive frameworks when quieter moments might have served the relationships better. A few secondary characters exist primarily to advance plot rather than enriching the world.
Final Assessment: A Winning Strategy
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood succeeds as both romance and coming-of-age story, offering readers a thoughtful exploration of trauma, ambition, and love. Hazelwood’s transition to YA maintains her emotional sophistication while crafting a story that respects its younger audience’s intelligence and complexity.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its understanding that healing happens through connection rather than isolation. Mallory’s journey from self-imposed exile back to the chess board—and to love—feels genuine and hard-won. While not without minor flaws, Check & Mate delivers on its promises: compelling characters, authentic emotion, and a romance built on mutual respect and understanding.
For readers of Hazelwood’s previous works, this represents a natural evolution that maintains her core strengths while exploring new territory. For newcomers to her writing, it serves as an excellent introduction to an author who understands that the best love stories are also stories of personal growth.
Similar Reads to Explore
For readers who enjoyed Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood, consider these complementary titles:
- The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis – The chess classic that explores addiction, genius, and competition
- Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally – A sports romance featuring competitive pressure and family expectations
- Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell – YA romance exploring family trauma and first love
- The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson – Coming-of-age story addressing identity and belonging
- Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy – Body-positive YA examining family relationships and self-acceptance
Hazelwood has crafted a story that moves beyond the typical boundaries of YA romance, creating something that feels both entertaining and emotionally substantial. Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood proves that the best romantic fiction understands that love stories are ultimately about becoming the person worthy of the love we seek.