Check & Mate Ali Hazelwood

From the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, comes a clever and swoonworthy novel where rival chess players find their way into each other's hearts in a high-stakes game of love.

Mallory Greenleaf has sworn off chess. After the sport tore her family apart four years ago, she’s put all her energy into caring for her mom and sisters, while juggling a dead-end job that pays the bills. But when Mallory reluctantly agrees to play in one last charity tournament, she unexpectedly knocks the reigning world champion, notorious bad boy Kingkiller Nolan Sawyer, off his game.

Nolan’s shocking loss to a mysterious rookie creates waves in the chess world. Even more perplexing? His sudden desire to face Mallory again on the chessboard. Despite the smart move being to walk away, Mallory can’t shake the connection that’s beginning to form. Her victory opens doors to much-needed cash prizes, and, against her better judgment, Mallory feels pulled toward Nolan—the charming and infuriating strategist who seems to be playing a game of his own.

As Mallory’s ranking soars, she struggles to keep her past and her family’s trauma from being exposed to the very game she’s grown to resent. But with each piece she moves, the stakes grow higher, the spotlight burns brighter, and the rivalry between Mallory and Nolan becomes something far more thrilling than either of them ever expected.

A captivating blend of heart, humor, and strategy, this novel is perfect for both young adult and adult audiences.