From the Bookshelf of ༊*·˚ Stuck On The Book ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧…

Check & Mate

Ali Hazelwood

Start date: January 2, 2025

Finish date: February 1, 2025

Discussion: BOTM

Discussion leader: Alexia･ﾟﾟ･｡༉‧₊˚. ❧

Why we're reading this: JANUARY Young Adult BOTM
[close] JANUARY Young Adult BOTM

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BOTM

* BOTM-How does it work?
By Alexia･ﾟﾟ･｡༉‧… · 1 post · 55 views

last updated May 09, 2024 12:16PM

MARCH BOTM!-romantasy suggestions ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
By Alexia･ﾟﾟ･｡༉‧… · 5 posts · 21 views

last updated Apr 07, 2025 03:34PM

What Members Thought

Jun 06, 2025 April • A.M. Flynn • added it

DNF

16 likes · Like · see review

Dec 30, 2023 esme mae (taylor's version) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-reads, 2023, favorites

*entering my chess era to find myself a Nolan Sawyer*

14 likes · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2024 debs ༉‧₊˚. rated it really liked it

Shelves: ꕤ-young-adult, ꕤ-sports-romance

╰┈➤ 3.75 stars

10 likes · Like · see review

Nov 11, 2023 Aarjavi rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance

4.5

10 likes · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2024 anna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Check & Mate 4.5/5⭐️

“Because when I’m with you, everything is different. When I’m with you, I want to play more than I want to win.”

Ali Hazelwood, you never fail to make me laugh(a lot), scream(a lot) and cry(a lot). Sometimes at the same time. This was Ali’s debut YA novel and it was so pure🥹 I was hesitant to read this because I’m picky about the YA genre and love Ali’s adult novels (iykyk😉) but I shouldn’t be surprised with how much I got into this one!
Despite all the chess lingo, I was hook Check & Mate 4.5/5⭐️

“Because when I’m with you, everything is different. When I’m with you, I want to play more than I want to win.”

Ali Hazelwood, you never fail to make me laugh(a lot), scream(a lot) and cry(a lot). Sometimes at the same time. This was Ali’s debut YA novel and it was so pure🥹 I was hesitant to read this because I’m picky about the YA genre and love Ali’s adult novels (iykyk😉) but I shouldn’t be surprised with how much I got into this one!
Despite all the chess lingo, I was hooked or should I say rooked? from the start and only got more invested as the story continued.

HE FELL FIRST BUT SHE FELL HARDER!!! Check & Mate was a wholesome romcom following young chess players, Nolan and Mallory, in a witty rivals to lovers story with a hint of found family and forced proximity. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so much reading a book…Nolan was so down bad for Mallory and unashamed about it. We must protect him at all costs. He’s the standard and only 20…

Can we talk about the chess flirting?
“Touch-Take?” Touché, who thought chess could be so sexy…♟️the way I was swooning & blushing🤭

I say this every time I read a romcom but it’s the weaved in discussions of more serious themes that amplify my enjoyment. Check & Mate delves into topics of mental health, guilt, fear, control, financial stress, grief, first love and feminism that I’m sure will resonate with many readers. The character development was realistic; raw and vulnerable. It’s the representation in novels like this that will continue to allow people to feel seen and heard.

Despite the serious undertones, Ali has a comedic and relatable writing style that always has me laughing out loud. Her side characters are so well written; Oz and Defne 10/10. Oz was cut throat and could humble me any day and Defne was a girl bossing outside of the stratosphere & Tanil (Tanu & Emil) were the iconic sutuationship that everyone one needs in life to stay grounded.
Anyhoo, Check & Mate exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend! Especially if you are in need of a feel good romance!
-> swipe for cute fanart! And my 143 highlights🫣 ...more

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Jun 13, 2024 queen_of_bright_shiny_things rated it really liked it

Okay can I just say that I kind of want more of Mal and Nolan. I found this a little different from Hazelwood's usual work but she has been stepping out of her comfort zone a lot especially with Bride and even Check & Mate which is more teen focused compared to her other books which are mostly adults. I truly am enamoured by the research that possibly goes into her books from science to chess to werewolves. ...more

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