Ali Hazelwood has carved out her niche as the reigning queen of STEM romance, transforming academia from dusty lecture halls into swoon-worthy settings. With Check & Mate, Ali Hazelwood ventures into new territory—the hypercompetitive world of professional chess—while maintaining the signature wit and emotional depth that made The Love Hypothesis a phenomenon. This isn’t just another enemies-to-lovers romance; it’s a carefully orchestrated endgame that explores trauma, family loyalty, and the courage required to return to something that once broke you.
Character Development: Beyond the Board
Mallory Greenleaf: The Reluctant Prodigy
Mallory emerges as one of Hazelwood’s most compelling protagonists yet. At eighteen, she’s carrying the weight of her family’s financial struggles while battling the ghosts of her chess-playing past. The death of her father, Archie Greenleaf—a former Grandmaster whose legacy looms large throughout the narrative—left Mallory convinced that chess destroyed her family. Her fierce protectiveness over her younger sisters, Darcy and Sabrina, and her chronically ill mother drives every decision she makes.
What sets Mallory apart from typical romance heroines is her genuine internal conflict. Her love for chess wars constantly with her fear of what it might cost her family again. Hazelwood skillfully avoids the trap of making Mallory’s resistance feel manufactured for plot convenience; instead, her reluctance feels earned and authentic, rooted in real trauma and responsibility.
Nolan Sawyer: The Kingkiller with a Heart
Nolan Sawyer could have easily become a stereotypical brooding love interest, but Hazelwood imbues him with surprising vulnerability beneath his “Kingkiller” reputation. His notorious temper and arrogance mask a young man grappling with family expectations and the isolation that comes with being the world’s best at something. The revelation of his complicated relationship with his grandfather, Marcus Sawyer—another chess legend—adds layers to his character that prevent him from becoming a mere fantasy figure.
The chemistry between Mallory and Nolan crackles from their first encounter, but what makes their relationship work is how chess becomes both the thing that brings them together and threatens to tear them apart. Their verbal sparring matches are as engaging as their games across the board.
The Middle Game: Plot Strengths and Complexities
The Chess World Comes Alive
Hazelwood’s research into the chess world pays dividends throughout the novel. The tournament scenes pulse with authentic tension, and the technical aspects of the game never feel overwhelming for non-chess players. The author strikes a delicate balance between educating readers about chess culture and keeping the focus on character development and romance.
The supporting cast, particularly Defne Bubikoğlu—Mallory’s mentor and owner of the Zugzwang chess club—adds depth to the chess community. Defne’s sharp wit and unconventional approach to chess instruction provide both comic relief and meaningful guidance for Mallory’s journey.
Family Dynamics: The Heart of the Story
Perhaps the strongest element of Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood is its portrayal of family loyalty and sacrifice. Mallory’s relationships with her sisters are rendered with genuine affection and occasional exasperation that feels refreshingly realistic. Darcy’s precocious observations and Sabrina’s teenage attitude create a believable family dynamic that grounds the more fantastical elements of the chess world.
The economic pressures facing the Greenleaf family add weight to Mallory’s decisions. Her mother’s chronic illness and the family’s financial struggles make Mallory’s choice between chess success and family stability feel genuinely consequential.
Writing Style: Hazelwood’s Signature Voice
Hazelwood’s prose sparkles with her characteristic blend of humor and heart. Her dialogue feels natural and contemporary, peppered with chess metaphors that never feel forced. Lines like “No shame in retreating your pieces if you’re being pinned and can get out” work both as chess strategy and life philosophy.
The internal monologue passages showcase Hazelwood’s ability to capture the authentic voice of a young woman under pressure. Mallory’s observations range from hilariously self-deprecating to achingly vulnerable, creating a protagonist readers will genuinely root for.
The pacing moves like a well-played chess game—deliberate in the opening, gaining momentum through the middle game, and building to a satisfying crescendo. The structure, divided into “Openings,” “Middle Game,” and “End Game,” cleverly mirrors both chess terminology and the emotional arc of the romance.
The Romance: A Slow-Burn Success
Building Tension Across the Board
The romantic development between Mallory and Nolan unfolds with patience and precision. Their initial encounter—where Mallory inadvertently defeats the world champion—establishes both the romantic tension and the central conflict. Their subsequent interactions layer attraction, intellectual respect, and emotional vulnerability in ways that feel organic rather than manufactured.
The chess matches between them serve as metaphors for their relationship, with each game revealing more about their characters and deepening their connection. The sexual tension builds steadily without overwhelming the other story elements.
Authentic Emotional Stakes
What elevates this romance above standard genre fare is the authentic emotional stakes involved. Both characters have genuine reasons for their resistance to love—Mallory’s family obligations and Nolan’s fear of emotional vulnerability. Their eventual coming together feels earned rather than inevitable.
Critical Analysis: Where the Strategy Falters
Pacing Inconsistencies
While the overall pacing works well, certain sections in the middle drag slightly as Hazelwood navigates the complex tournament structure. Some readers may find the extended chess scenes less engaging than the character interactions, though chess enthusiasts will likely appreciate the detail.
Supporting Character Development
Although the main characters are well-developed, some supporting figures feel somewhat underutilized. Emil Kareem and Tanu Goel, Mallory’s Olympic teammates, could have been given more distinctive personalities to enhance the ensemble cast.
Resolution Timing
The final act, while emotionally satisfying, resolves some conflicts perhaps too neatly. The World Championship sequence, though dramatic, feels slightly rushed compared to the careful build-up throughout the rest of the novel.
Themes: Beyond the Game
Gender and Competition
Hazelwood tackles the male-dominated world of professional chess with nuance, addressing gender discrimination without making it the sole focus of the story. Mallory’s experience as one of the few women in high-level chess feels authentic, and the novel explores how stereotype threat affects performance in competitive environments.
Trauma and Healing
The exploration of how past trauma affects present choices runs throughout the narrative. Both Mallory and Nolan must confront their family legacies and find ways to pursue their passions without being imprisoned by their histories.
Family Versus Individual Dreams
The tension between personal ambition and family responsibility drives much of the plot. Mallory’s struggle to balance her chess aspirations with her duties as a daughter and sister reflects real-world dilemmas many young adults face.
Literary Merit and Genre Considerations
Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood succeeds both as a romance novel and as a coming-of-age story. Hazelwood’s background in neuroscience brings authenticity to her exploration of competitive psychology and pressure management. The novel works on multiple levels—as a sports story, a family drama, and a romance.
The chess elements are well-integrated rather than feeling like window dressing, and non-chess players can easily follow the action while chess enthusiasts will appreciate the accuracy of the game sequences.
Comparison to Hazelwood’s Previous Works
Readers familiar with The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain will recognize Hazelwood’s evolution as a writer. Check & Mate shows growth in her ability to handle ensemble casts and complex family dynamics. While maintaining her signature humor and romantic tension, she demonstrates increased confidence in tackling serious themes like economic hardship and mental health.
The transition from adult to YA romance feels seamless, with age-appropriate content that doesn’t sacrifice emotional complexity. The chess setting allows Hazelwood to explore competitive dynamics in a fresh way while maintaining the academic precision her readers expect.
Target Audience and Appeal
This novel will particularly resonate with readers who enjoyed:
- Contemporary YA romance with depth – The emotional complexity elevates it above typical teen romance
- Sports romance – The competitive chess world provides unique tension and stakes
- Family-centered narratives – The Greenleaf family dynamics add emotional weight
- Enemies-to-lovers dynamics – The initial antagonism between Mallory and Nolan develops satisfyingly
- STEM-adjacent subjects – Chess as a mental sport appeals to analytically-minded readers
Similar Books for Further Reading
Readers who enjoy Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood might appreciate:
- The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis – For chess atmosphere and competitive psychology
- Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi – For contemporary YA voice and family dynamics
- The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson – For complex family relationships
- If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy – For body positivity and self-acceptance themes
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – For authentic teen voice and humor
Final Verdict: A Winning Move
Check & Mate represents Ali Hazelwood at her most confident and accomplished. While it may not achieve the cultural phenomenon status of The Love Hypothesis, it succeeds as a more emotionally complex and thematically rich work. The chess setting provides a fresh backdrop for familiar romance beats, and the family dynamics add emotional stakes that extend beyond the central relationship.
Hazelwood proves that she can successfully transition between adult and YA markets without losing her distinctive voice. The novel works as both an introduction to her writing for younger readers and a satisfying next step for existing fans.
For readers seeking romance with substance, competitive tension, and authentic family dynamics, Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood delivers a satisfying endgame. While not perfect, it’s a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page, much like a well-played chess match that teaches you something new about strategy and yourself.
The novel ultimately argues that sometimes the bravest move is returning to something that once hurt you—whether that’s a chessboard, a relationship, or a dream you thought you’d abandoned. In Mallory and Nolan’s hands, Hazelwood shows us that the best games are the ones where both players can win.
