Books On Our Radar: Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Check & Mate is the first Young Adult novel by the New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood! She has taken the romance world by storm, and this November 7th is her massive YA debut! Which will of course have plenty of crossover readers! Ali is the queen of tropes and quirky smart MCs, so I know that many YA readers are looking forward to her foray into exploring the longing and romance between rival chess players!
Ali Hazelwood is going on book tour check out more info for a chance to see her in person! Or if you can’t make it in person you can purchase a signed and/or personalized copy from her indie bookstore – Lark & Owl – deadline October 20th – but also check the tour stops to see if they are offering shipping as well!
Thank you to Penguin Teen for the advance copy!
Check & Mate
by Ali HazelwoodPublished by: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
on November 7, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads
In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life's moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart.
Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.
Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist....
As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren't only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent...and infuriating...)
