Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny, engaging romcom in the world of professional chess.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In CHECK & MATE, child prodigy Mallory quit playing chess four years ago when tragedy struck her family. Now that she's graduated from high school, she can concentrate on keeping her job as an auto mechanic to provide for her sick mom and two younger sisters. Until the prize money for a charity chess tournament proves too hard to resist, and Mallory agrees to play one last time if it will help keep the lights on at home. During the tournament she works her way up to face Nolan, the number-one ranked player in the world. Mallory wins the match, and tries to disappear from the chess world once again. The win was a fluke, right? But Nolan has other ideas about Mallory and her chess game, and won't rest until he gets a rematch.
Is It Any Good?
You might not think of looking to the world of professional chess for a funny and absorbing romance. But Check & Mate author Ali Hazelwood, in her YA debut, has done just that. The dialog, while peppered with swear words, is witty and often laugh-out-loud funny. Mallory is a well-developed, believable character with plenty of flaws and a heart in the right place, and the many other colorful characters are good company. The story is pretty predictable and full of classic romance tropes, but it also provides food for thought about the gender gap in professional chess and the sexism many women players have faced. This romance is a smart, sexy, and satisfying read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the strong language in Check & Mate. Is it too much? Is it realistic? Is it a big deal?
Does mentioning specific brands of products and places help your understanding of the characters and places in books? What about when characters are shown using them in movies, videos, games, etc.? Is there a difference?
What are Mallory and Nolan's character strengths and weaknesses? How do the chess players model teamwork and perseverance?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Publication date : November 7, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate