Author Ali Hazelwood is well-known for her adult romance novels with a common theme of her characters being scientists. It worked well for her, but she decided to try something new with her newest book. Her young adult debut “Check and Mate” was released in November.
As the title suggests the book follows a rivals-to-lovers trope centered around the game of chess. The main character, Mallory Greenleaf, was a chess superstar in her youth but decided to put away her chess board in her teen years, swearing to never return. However, financial struggles and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity force her back into the game a bit after her high school graduation.
On the other hand, Nolan Sawyer, nicknamed the “Kingkiller” for his quick work in every chess game he plays, is another child prodigy. When he and Mallory face each other in a small tournament and Mallory wins, Nolan takes a particular interest in her.
The two meet time and time again and at first, Mallory hates Nolan. She finds him stuck up and creepy. Over time, however, they grow to like each other. They connect through the game as they continue to play each other.
The book is the perfect short rom-com. It’s cute, funny, and the characters have good personalities. They are fun to read about and the side characters add a lot to the story. It’s a memorable novel and certainly worth the read.
