It was a lovely cloudy day as I tossed my room’s curtain aside. What a beautiful day to live! I yawned, stretched, and thought to make the most out of this great weather. I picked up phone and called my friend Rida to plan a picnic at a nearby park. The phone was ringing but no one answered on the other side. She might be sleeping, I guessed.
Ring… Ring… Ring… I jumped out of bed and saw Oh, Rida’s calling back.
Me: Hey, how are you? Where have you been? I asked without breathing.
Rida: Hey, I was reading the book “Check and Mate” last night and slept really late.
Me: Oh, is it that good?
Rida: Of course, You can get this to read out yourself and thank me later.
Me: Alright, let’s meet for the picnic and I’ll grab it from you.
So, this is how I got hold of this book and gave it a read. Let’s dig into the plot and summary together. You can also read Happy Place by Emily Henry.
Main Characters:
Mallory Greenleaf: 18 years old chess player
Nolan Sawyer: World chess champion
Easton: Mallory’s close friend
Darcy: Mallory’s youngest sister
Sabrina: Molly’s younger sister
Check & Mate Plot/Summary:
This easy-to-go, fun read is a young adult novel about an 18-year-old teenage girl Mallory, who has just completed high school and has the burden of taking care of her family on her shoulders. Mallory’s father is nowhere to be found and her mother is really sick. Mallory was a great chess player but she gave up playing after she faced a crushing defeat. How coward of her. No?
From here onwards she tries to avoid chess and instead focuses on her education and job of working at a bookstore. Around 4 years later, she gets a chance to play her favorite game at a charity tournament recommended by her friend Easton, against the world champion Nolan. The game between them gets really intense and guess what? Mallory defeated Nolan. YES! A world champion was defeated. I don’t know but part of me was really happy for Mallory’s victory.
| Publisher | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers |
| Published Date | November 7, 2023 |
| Lanugage | English |
| Hardcover | 368 Pages |
| Awards | Winner for Best Young Adult Fiction (2023) |
| Age Rating | 14+ |
| ISBN-10 | 0593619919 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0593619919 |
After this contest, Mallory’s love for the game is relighted as she is offered a job at a club in New York but she is constantly torn between the options of choosing to play her dream game again or leaving it once and for all. Other than the crushing defeat, this game was also connected to some family destruction which was one of the reasons for saying goodbye to this game. She is struggling to decide if she is ready to face all those past bitter memories and return to her chess world. What do you think Mallory would choose? Or what would you choose if you were at Mallory’s place?
- A slow-burning Romance and exciting love story with proper dialog delivery.
- Goes deeply down in the mixture of love, care, and shedding tears.
- ability to create strong yet flawed female main characters (FMCs) that are relatable and lovable
- The Male character in the story support and respect for female character
- I gave 10/10 rating to this YA Romance
- A some Chess part is little bit confusing
Finally, Mallory takes up the job just for the sake of money because she is the sole breadwinner of her family. She has two younger sisters and an ill mother to take care of. Mallory is working really hard to meet both ends meet and gets much mature than usual 18 years old girls. Her younger sisters see her more like a parent than a sister for the discipline she’s trying to instill in them.
God bless libraries.
After the win, Mallory’s ratings skyrocketed. She keeps running into Nolan who has a wish to play chess with her again. She becomes friends with Nolan and gradually Nolan develops something more than friendship for her. Mallory, who is buried under tons of responsibilities does not reciprocate this love as she has given so much to her family that she is left with little or almost no love to give it to anyone else, let alone Nolan.
Writing style:
Mixed Feelings on Age Representation:
Ali Hazelwood’s writing is a bit hard to understand, but I like her stories more when they talk about 18-year-old kids than those in their late twenties. The book’s mood seems less worried and avoids being too cute or funny. This helps her grown-up characters feel more natural, like adults, not just kids dressed up as older people. Unlike older people, young ones show more true and easy-to-understand actions.
A Perfect YA Romance:
Check and Mate” felt like being in a chess competition with some romance added. I thought it would be a big love story, but gee whiz – instead, it is all about how to play chess. Nolan and Mallory’s love story is like waiting for a slow dance; it gets better by 40%. Even though they are called romantic rivals, their connection feels more like being good pals in the chess world. Now, Nolan’s crush on Mallory?
Galaxies pass through his black eyes, and I wonder whether this second could last a century. Whether the universe could be just me and him, understanding each other on a forever loop
Ali Hazelwood, Check & Mate
Everyone else knew about it except her. What’s interesting is the book doesn’t include those steamy scenes. Instead, it has a chill vibe. That made me happy. Although love was not the main thing because of chess, it still made us happy. If you enjoy chess games and some romance, “Check and Mate” is the choice. My experience? A bit surprised, but overall, it’s a good trip.
Persistent Writing Quirks:
But, some bad habits in Hazelwood’s writing don’t go away completely. Using too many italics, a total of 700 in just one book with only 362 pages, is still hard to ignore. There are too many italic words, making them the main story instead of the plot. There’s a lasting doubt that other ways of making words more important can work better.
Pop Culture References and Potential Age Dissonance:
Many pop culture mentions in the book worry us about what young people might think when they see it. It’s like a grown-up trying to bond with the cool kids, making the story seem old as pop life changes fast. The problem is in finding an equilibrium that stays important over time.
Character Detail and Repetitive Patterns:
One common request is for Hazelwood to give more detailed character descriptions. Part of this includes using various and complex adjectives. The “small girl, big guy” pattern for the main characters is used a lot. It gets boring if there isn’t a change in it because that would make the stories better and more enjoyable. We can’t wait to see a change from using words like “big,” “large,” or similar words for male characters in stories. That is yet to happen.
Review:
“Check and Mate” is a wonderful fiction story about the game chess, family, love, responsibilities, and sacrifices. The book is appropriate for young adults and adult readers who are fond of easy-going reads.
The story is straightforward without any complications within the storyline and the characters. Few characters have clear roles and personalities. Although Mallory’s character is inspiring and has done so much for her family she has ignored herself in this struggle. It is good to be hard working and active but one should not become lifeless in this journey. What is your take on it?
The book talks about the rules and strategies of chess. Chess game lovers would better have an idea about how those pieces move on the board and how those strategies made by Mallory are a hit or a miss. A layman wouldn’t find it too interesting and would want to skip those parts feeling lost in the middle of the story.
Overall, I had a good time reading it. Not to mention, any surprise at the end of the story could’ve added a thrill to this simple storyline.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):
What is check and mate Ali Hazelwood about?
The main focus is on the world of chess, blending strategic gameplay with the dynamics of life and relationships.
Is “Check and Mate” primarily a romance novel?
No, while romance is present, the book leans more towards exploring chess strategy and the characters’ personal journeys.
Is “Check and Mate” suitable for a younger audience?
Yes, the book’s tone and characters, being 14-year-olds, may resonate better with a younger audience.
Conclusion:
“Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood” is a soothing read without too many surprises and revelations. It talks about the life of a young girl who didn’t spend her teenage years in college with her friends roaming in shopping malls. Rather she had a pile of responsibilities on her shoulders. She has to pay the bills of her house, school fees of her younger sisters and get medicines for her sick mother. Isn’t that too much for an 18 years old girl?
Mallory loves to play chess. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say she is madly in love with chess. But unfortunately, she has to bid farewell to the game due to responsibilities and family issues. The story highlights the sacrifices made by a young girl for her family. While providing everything for her family, she did nothing for herself. She was too drained doing everything for others that when it comes to give love to someone who has affection for her, Mallory’s pot is empty which leaves the reader’s heavy hearted.