Check & Mate

September 11, 2023
Bisexual 18-year-old Mallory Greenleaf was once a talented chess player, but ever since her Grandmaster father abandoned the family four years ago then died, she’s given up the sport and instead prioritized caring for her arthritic mother and two younger sisters. Rather than attending college, Mallory gets hired as an auto mechanic; things take an unexpected turn, however, when she reluctantly agrees to play in a charity chess tournament and beats 19-year-old Nolan Sawyer, the current world champion. When she loses her job—and realizes that she can earn decent money by competing in tournaments—Mallory accepts a paid fellowship for potential pros at a local New Jersey chess club. And as Mallory navigates sudden acclaim alongside grief and guilt over her return to chess, she grows closer to Nolan, who turns out to be her biggest supporter. Hazelwood (Love, Theoretically, for adults) makes a seamless transition into YA romance with this well-researched read. Via Mallory and Nolan’s complementary personalities and complex histories, Hazelwood crafts a feminist rendering that sheds light on sexist views within the world of competitive chess, all while spinning a swoon-worthy romance. Protagonists read as white. Ages 14–up.

September 15, 2023
Two talented chess players challenge each other on and off the board in bestselling author Hazelwood's YA debut. Eighteen-year-old Mallory Greenleaf is no longer interested in chess, not since her hypercompetitive dad left--the game calls up painful memories. But she grudgingly agrees to play in a charity tournament as a favor to best friend Easton Pe�a. After she unexpectedly beats current world champion Nolan Sawyer, she's offered a fellowship that will prepare her to play professionally. Even though Mallory doesn't want to play anymore, she needs the money that winning would provide; she's delayed college to support her family, since her mother is chronically ill with rheumatoid arthritis and is unable to work regularly. The more time she spends with Nolan, the more Mallory comes to like and respect him--and the more time she spends playing chess, the more she remembers how much she loved it. But when she learns that Nolan has been keeping a big secret from her, she isn't sure if she'll be able to move past it to build a relationship with him. Filled with the author's signature humor, well-developed characters, and realistic conflicts, plus the fully realized setting of competitive chess, this captivating romance will delight teen readers as well as Hazelwood's adult fans. Mallory and Nolan are both cued white; there is some racial diversity among the supporting cast. Mallory and Easton are queer. Readers will devour this swoonworthy romance in one sitting. (author's note) (Romance. 14-adult)

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September 15, 2023
Grades 8-12 *Starred Review* Hazelwood has captured many a reader's heart with her adult rom-coms. Now, she makes her YA debut with a story that sparkles with her signature wit and relatable characters. Headstrong Mallory Greenleaf has a passion for chess but gave up playing when the game caused friction in her family and life landed her with huge responsibilities at home--namely earning a paycheck while taking care of her little sisters and ailing mother. The novel gives readers a deep dive into Mallory's plight, and her emotions resurface when her best friend begs her to attend a new chess competition for a charitable cause. Mallory hesitates but ultimately decides to give it a shot. It's there that she quickly butts heads with celebrity player Nolan Sawyer, known as the "Kingkiller" in the chess world. Hazelwood's writing style makes the characters' banter shine even as she tackles important themes, such as coping with family struggles, finding oneself, following forgotten dreams, and learning how to move forward from a difficult experience. Readers will fall in love with this chess-playing duo as Mallory and Nolan bounce between being extremely competitive and being drawn to each other. This highly enjoyable, emotion-filled romance will attract teens and even loyal fans of her adult novels as it blends wit and wisdom with love's tendency to make pawns of us all.

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