Ali Hazelwood’s YA romance debut is a quirky romp into the chess world. Perhaps the plot twists and trajectory are not too surprising (yes, I was able to guess everything that was going to happen). Perhaps the romantic development between the two leads felt too rushed and unsatisfying at moments. Perhaps most of the characters, outside our anxious, guilt-stricken heroine, could use a bit more dimension. But none of that detracts from the novel’s fun. Check & Mate owns its genre with a brooding, but sweetly honest and devoted male lead while also adding its own flair by choosing to find romance in chess. An overall solid romance read.