Check & Mate: the instant Sunday Times bestseller – an enemies-to-lovers romance that will have you hooked!
£5.49
In this clever and swoonworthy new novel from the New York Times and Sunday 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 rookie 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…)
This novel is suitable for both young adult and adult audiences.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Sphere (7 Nov. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 4130 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 368 pages |
| Page numbers source ISBN | 0593619919 |
by Cassie
I really enjoyed this latest romp from Ali Hazelwood. The characters are well drawn, the romance and banter sparkles. I couldn’t put it down. The geeky chess setting was just the icing on the cake 🙂
by By teaandbiscuits
A highly enjoyable read. I loved all the true to life sister banter and the depth of feelings involved when hurt turns into very poor word choices. Who hasn’t said stuff they wish they could take back at some point?!. A lovely ending too. Just what I rooted for!
by Julia W
I really enjoy Ali Hazelwood’s style of writing, and I loved this book.
It’s light, fun, easy to read, and I really like the humour.
4.5⭐
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by Shannai Lyn
I thoroughly enjoyed Ali’s debut YA novel of the world of chess. Despite not knowing much about the sport, and very little on how the game works, the premise of the story had Ali’s trademark soft obsessed mmc and the chaotic but loveable fmc, and I loved it. I loved the dynamic between Mallory and Nolan. I adored the banter and relationship that Mallory had with her younger sisters, and how Nolan was with them, too.
I find that Ali always makes the fmc relatable in some way, in her books, which I find comforting. Mallory is burned out, and trying to support her family in the best possible way she can.
A moment for Nolan Sawyer. He is just the sweetest soul! I loved him. Wholeheartedly!
Tropes
– he falls first
– forced proximity
– rivals to lovers
– slow burn
by Monica
Highly anticipated this release after reading and loving other books from Ali Hazelwood. This did not disappoint. Love the dynamics between the family, friends and romantic relationship in the book. Also love the intensity brought from the chess focus. Easy, cute and could not put this book down.
by Lisa Deas
It was a quick, engaging read and I don’t know a thing about chess so that might have helped? Love you Ali, can’t wait for all the other stories from you that aren’t even that far away!
by Jane
I do love AH’s books and I enjoyed this. I don’t know a thing about chess and that doesn’t matter. She’s brilliant at conveying attraction between two people and at racking up the angst – can’t think who does it better. However. Something that’s starting to bother me about her books is – why do the heroes always have to be rich and successful and the heroines living in abject poverty? It feels like a power imbalance – it is a power imbalance – and since it’s not 1848 now, I would love it if she’d change things up a bit. It’s always so massively convenient that the near-destitute heroine falls in love with the rich guy, and it feels a bit dated.
by Annevejb
This is the first Ali Hazelwood that I have read, I need to read more. Too busy reading to sleep last night.