Check & Mate Book Review (2024)

Common Sense Media Review

Check & Mate Book Review (1) By Andrea Beach, based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Funny, engaging romcom in the world of professional chess.

  • Parents Need to Know

    Parents need to know that Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood is a YA romance set in the world of professional chess players in which an 18-year-old phenom squares off in love and chess with the 20-year-old number one player in the world. Strong language is everywhere, mostly played for comedy, and includes variations of "s--t," "f--k," "d--k," and more. Sex is implied several times, but not described, and no sensitive body parts are mentioned. A few kisses are described. Erotic fan fiction, tentacle porn, and being a "sapiosexual furry" are mentioned but not described. Many, many consumer products mentioned by brand name mainly for scene-setting and to establish character. An important adult character smokes cigarettes and jokingly mentions influencing children to smoke. Older teens who are of age to drink in Canada have beer and "fruity drinks" at a party. There's a few mentions of past violent behavior, but no acts of violence are described. Parental loss and separation are strong themes, along with the gender gap in professional chess and the sexism that many women players have faced.

  • Language

    a lot

    "Bulls--t," "c--kblocking," "d--k," "d--kbreath," "d--khead," "f--k," "f--kity f--k f--k," "f--kwhit," "mindf--k," "motherf--king," "s--t," "s--tshow," "s--tstain," "ass," "a--hole," "bitch," "butthole," "crap," "crapload," "douchebag," "douchewad," "hard-ass," "ho-bag," "Jesus," "pants-crappingly," "poopstain," "screw you," "turds," and the middle-finger gesture.

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  • Sex, Romance & Nudity

    some

    Sex is implied several times through things like mentioning condoms, muscles clenching and releasing, pulling up panties, and doing things with hands that feel good and don't require a condom. Mallory likes having sex because it feels good but doesn't want an emotional connection with anyone. A few kisses are described. Lots of romantic tension between Mallory and Nolan. Erotic fan fiction, tentacle porn, and being a "sapiosexual furry" are mentioned but not described.

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

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  • Products & Purchases

    some

    Many, many consumer products mentioned by brand name including cars, food and beverage outlets, snack foods, social media, video games, etc., mainly for scene-setting or to establish character or location.

  • Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

    a little

    An important adult character smokes cigarettes and jokingly mentions influencing children to smoke. Mallory jokes about putting Benadryl into her sisters' cereal in the morning so she can have some quiet. Older teens who are of age to drink in Canada have beer and "fruity drinks" at a party. Narrator Mallory doesn't drink. Mention of being tested for doping at the chess Olympics.

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

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  • Violence & Scariness

    very little

    Mention of Nolan's past violent behavior when he lost his temper, but no acts of violence are directly described by the narrator.

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  • Positive Messages

    a lot

    Don't waste time holding on to grudges or denying yourself what makes you happy. Figure out what you really want, then figure out a way to make it happen, and ask for help when you need it. Winning a game isn't what makes you lucky or a winner, it's doing what you really want to do surrounded by the people you love.

  • Positive Role Models

    a lot

    Except for the villains, Mallory, Nolan, and their friends and colleagues in the world of professional chess model perseverance and teamwork. Mallory and her family model loving, supportive relationships. She's also fiercely loyal and willing to sacrifice her own wants to support her family. Nolan has changed for the better since his temper sometimes got away from him when he was younger. He's also very thoughtful and generous.

  • Educational Value

    a little

    Readers will learn a little about the game of chess, some famous strategies, and players; and about the world of professional chess like how rankings and tournaments work. A note at the end explains that a study one of the characters mentions about the gender gap in chess and about a phenomenon called the "stereotype threat" is a real academic concept.

  • Diverse Representations

    a little

    Mallory, 18, has sex with men and women. Her best friend Easton is attracted to people of the same gender. Most characters read as White; Mallory and her family have blond hair and blue eyes, Easton has dark curls and a hispanic last name. An important character is Turkish.

    Did we miss something on diversity? .

Where to Read

Parent and Kid Reviews

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  • Parents say (2)
  • Kids say (2)

age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

jwardy2711 Adult

September 27, 2024

age 17+

even though this is considered young adult, there’s multiple sexual content mentioned. There is also a bit of cursing. I wouldn’t recommend it for younger teens.

Katherine R. Parent of 10, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old

June 21, 2024

age 12+

See all 2 parent reviews

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?

Our review:

Parents say (2):

Kids say (2):

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 : Ali Hazelwood
  • Genre : Romance
  • Topics : Sports and Martial Arts, Brothers and Sisters
  • 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), iBooks, Kindle
  • Last updated : February 23, 2024

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

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Check & Mate Book Review (2024)
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