In addition to having won the 2023 Goodreads Choice Award in the Best Young Adult Fiction category, Ali Hazelwood's Check & Mate has been recommended to me several times, and as a lover of YA, I finally gave in to see what all of the fuss is about. With the world of competitive chess at its center, the story follows a young woman as she negotiates her love/hate relationship with the game, and what it would mean for her to truly consider what she wants for her life.
The Situation: Mallory Greenleaf has done the impossible. She has just beaten the #1 ranked chess player and current world champion, Nolan Sawyer. No one is more stunned than Mallory, especially since she begrudgingly showed up to a charity chess tournament at the urging of her best friend, before said friend goes off to Colorado for college. Since everything that happened with her dad, Mallory has kept chess at a distance, despite the fact that she was - and apparently still is - incredibly good at it. Now she has the chess world's attention, including an organization in New York that is offering her a year-long fellowship. But she also has Nolan's attention, and she is not sure how she feels about either situation.
The Problem: Ever since it has been only her, her mom, and her two younger sisters, Sabrina and Darcy, Mallory has made it her mission to make sure her family has what they need. She has managed to keep the mortgage paid (at least partially), cover Sabrina's roller derby fees, and keep Darcy's guinea pig fed. But the chess fellowship that she is at first so intent on not taking pays well, and some of the chess tournaments she enters have substantial cash prizes. Mallory tells herself it will only be for a year, and that chess is not going to once again become her whole world. She also tells herself that she has no interest in Nolan Sawyer, not even to play against him. But that is exactly what he wants, and as Mallory continues to climb the ranks and become more entangled in the game she tried to leave behind, she may have to admit that the things she has been telling herself are simply not true.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set in and around modern-day New York and New Jersey, with occasional trips being taken to places like Philadelphia, Toronto, and even Italy for various chess tournaments. Though Mallory had once sworn off chess after an unfortunate incident involving her father, she finds herself back in it. This means going over old games; reading books on chess theory; dealing with sexist comments and beliefs about a woman's ability to compete in the sport; even sticking to a new exercise regimen; and trying to keep it all a secret from her mom and sisters. Guilt may be what is driving her forward, but it is undeniable that she is good at the game, and no one seems to see that more than Nolan, the current champion.
My Verdict: This one was a bit of a roller coaster for me, but I certainly see and understand the appeal. For one, the whole rivals-to-lovers trope has a large following, and while it may not be my personal favorite, I do get it. And it also helps that Nolan is moody and brooding, but also smart, thoughtful, and still not without his flaws. While the rivals-to-lovers plotline is not new, the story itself is its own thing, with quirky but realistic characters, and details about chess that are informative without being boring. Finally, Hazelwood confronts the sexism and misogyny in the chess world, even citing a real study that was done concerning the stereotype that women are not as good as men at the game. On paper, it seems hard to believe, but a story involving high-ranking games of chess can be fun, romantic, and even thought-provoking.
Favorite Moment: At one point, it becomes clear to Mallory that what we think we know about someone - particularly how they feel about us - is often not true. And it is near impossible to be sure of something like that if we never reach out.
Favorite Character: Oz is a fellow chess player at Zugzwang, the organization where Mallory has her fellowship. He is incredibly serious and no-nonsense, but also has some of my favorite dialogue in the entire book. He is just not in the mood, for any of it, and I adore him for it.
Favorite Quote: "What happened?" I ask.
"My wedding planner is out of peonies. What do you think happened? I lost." He glares. "This entire tournament could have been an email." - courtesy of my favorite character: Oz.
Recommended Reading: Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis would be a good follow up.
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