Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

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.

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:

Check & Mate Review

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.

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?

PROS
  • 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
CONS
  • 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.

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:

A Perfect YA Romance:

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
Check & Mate Quotes

Persistent Writing Quirks:

Pop Culture References and Potential Age Dissonance:

Character Detail and Repetitive Patterns:

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:

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.

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