Listen free for 30 days
-
Check & Mate
- Narrated by: Karissa Vacker
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $29.14
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's Summary
In this clever and swoonworthy YA debut from the New York 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 rook-ie 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…)
You may also enjoy...
-
Two Can Play
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Kelsey Navarro Foster
- Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, a.k.a. her arch-nemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her–and Viola has no idea why. When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.
-
-
Short + Sweet
- By Annie Tasaka on 2024-11-08
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Not in Love
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Callie Dalton, Jason Clarke
- Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.
-
-
Unsufferable
- By Caroline Bertrand on 2024-11-06
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Love, Theoretically
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs. Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down.
-
-
least favorite from Ali
- By JennTodd on 2023-07-06
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Bride
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer, Will Damron
- Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...
-
-
4⭐⭐⭐⭐.5🎧
- By whatcha.listening.to on 2024-07-16
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Love on the Brain
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Brooke Bloomingdale
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project—a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia—Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.
-
-
An easy Listen perfect for a road trip
- By Dave on 2023-01-09
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Deep End
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury. She has no time for relationships. Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Two Can Play
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Kelsey Navarro Foster
- Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Viola Bowen has the chance of a lifetime: to design a video game based on her all-time favorite book series. The only problem? Her co-lead is Jesse F-ing Andrews, a.k.a. her arch-nemesis. Jesse has made it abundantly clear over the years that he wants nothing to do with her–and Viola has no idea why. When their bosses insist a wintery retreat is the perfect team-building exercise, Viola can’t think of anything worse. Being freezing cold in a remote mountain lodge knowing Jesse is right next door? No, thank you.
-
-
Short + Sweet
- By Annie Tasaka on 2024-11-08
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Not in Love
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Callie Dalton, Jason Clarke
- Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down.
-
-
Unsufferable
- By Caroline Bertrand on 2024-11-06
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Love, Theoretically
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs. Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down.
-
-
least favorite from Ali
- By JennTodd on 2023-07-06
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Bride
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer, Will Damron
- Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...
-
-
4⭐⭐⭐⭐.5🎧
- By whatcha.listening.to on 2024-07-16
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Love on the Brain
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Brooke Bloomingdale
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Like an avenging, purple-haired Jedi bringing balance to the mansplained universe, Bee Königswasser lives by a simple code: What would Marie Curie do? If NASA offered her the lead on a neuroengineering project—a literal dream come true after years scraping by on the crumbs of academia—Marie would accept without hesitation. Duh. But the mother of modern physics never had to co-lead with Levi Ward.
-
-
An easy Listen perfect for a road trip
- By Dave on 2023-01-09
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Deep End
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury. She has no time for relationships. Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
Under One Roof
- Written by: Ali Hazelwood
- Narrated by: Emma Wilder
- Length: 3 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mara, Sadie, and Hannah are friends first, scientists always. Though their fields of study might take them to different corners of the world, they can all agree on this universal truth: When it comes to love and science, opposites attract and rivals make you burn….
-
-
So short!
- By Sarah on 2024-01-08
Written by: Ali Hazelwood
-
The Fake Mate
- Written by: Lana Ferguson
- Narrated by: Samantha Summers, Joe Arden
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mackenzie Carter has had some very bad dates lately. Model train experts, mansplainers, guys weirdly obsessed with her tail—she hasn’t had a successful date in months. Only a year out of residency, her grandmother’s obsession with Mackenzie finding the perfect mate to settle down with threatens to drive Mackenzie barking mad. Out of options, it feels like a small thing to tell her grandmother that she’s met someone. That is, until she blurts out the name of the first man she sees and the last man she would ever date: Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General.
-
-
Lana Ferguson can do no wrong!👏🏼
- By Eliza on 2024-10-21
Written by: Lana Ferguson
-
Say You'll Remember Me
- Written by: Abby Jimenez
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There might be no such a thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediately yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong.
Written by: Abby Jimenez
-
Funny Story
- Written by: Emily Henry
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
- Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.
-
-
Pure joy!
- By Kolbey Neate on 2024-05-30
Written by: Emily Henry
-
Just for the Summer
- Written by: Abby Jimenez
- Narrated by: Christine Lakin, Zachary Webber, Abby Jimenez
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.
-
-
Cheesy
- By Gena on 2024-05-08
Written by: Abby Jimenez
-
The Graham Effect
- Campus Diaries, Book 1
- Written by: Elle Kennedy
- Narrated by: CJ Bloom, Teddy Hamilton
- Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gigi Graham has exactly three goals: qualify for the women's national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out of her famous father's shadow. So far, so good, except for two little things. Fine—a little thing and a big, grumpy thing. She needs to improve her game behind the net, and she needs help from Luke Ryder. Ryder is six-foot five, built, opinionated, rude . . . and sexy as hell. But he's still the enemy.
-
-
Sweet love story
- By Linda Sachs on 2024-07-15
Written by: Elle Kennedy
-
The Long Game
- A Novel
- Written by: Elena Armas
- Narrated by: Frankie Corzo, Shane East
- Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Adalyn Reyes has spent years perfecting her daily routine: wake up at dawn, drive to the Miami Flames FC offices, try her hardest to leave a mark, go home, and repeat. But her routine is disrupted when a video of her in an altercation with the team’s mascot goes viral. Rather than fire her, the team’s owner—who happens to be her father—sends Adalyn to middle-of-nowhere North Carolina, where she’s tasked with turning around the struggling local soccer team, the Green Warriors, as a way to redeem herself.
-
-
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- By Lee on 2023-10-01
Written by: Elena Armas
-
The Love Wager
- Written by: Lynn Painter
- Narrated by: Kristen DiMercurio, Zachary Webber
- Length: 7 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hallie Piper is turning over a new leaf. After belly-crawling out of a hotel room (hello, rock bottom), she decides it’s time to become a full-on adult. She gets a new apartment, a new haircut, and a new wardrobe, but when she logs onto the dating app that she has determined will find her new love, she sees none other than Jack, the guy whose room she snuck out of.
-
-
Excellent read
- By Asim on 2024-08-11
Written by: Lynn Painter
-
Fangirl Down
- A Novel
- Written by: Tessa Bailey
- Narrated by: Callie Dalton
- Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Wells Whitaker was once golf’s hottest rising star, but lately, all he has to show for his “promising” career is a killer hangover, a collection of broken clubs, and one remaining supporter. No matter how bad he plays, the beautiful, sunny redhead is always on the sidelines. He curses, she cheers. He scowls, she smiles. But when Wells quits in a blaze of glory and his fangirl finally goes home, he knows he made the greatest mistake of his life.
-
-
inconsistent due to crass use of swearing
- By Amazon Customer on 2024-06-30
Written by: Tessa Bailey
-
When Gracie Met The Grump
- Written by: Mariana Zapata
- Narrated by: Callie Dalton, Connor Crais
- Length: 19 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Of all the things that could have landed in her yard, it had to be him. For most people, finding a half-naked superbeing in their yard might be a dream come true. Unfortunately for Gracie Castro, it’s the exact opposite. Especially when he’s grouchy, rude, and shows no signs of leaving anytime soon. But when a hero of mankind needs you, you do what you have to. Even if it compromises everything you know. And totally changes your life.
-
-
Love, love, loved it! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
- By Mel H on 2023-11-19
Written by: Mariana Zapata
-
The Bodyguard
- A Novel
- Written by: Katherine Center
- Narrated by: Patti Murin
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka "bodyguard"), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.
-
-
Meh
- By Shawna on 2022-09-26
Written by: Katherine Center
-
Ready or Not
- A Novel
- Written by: Cara Bastone
- Narrated by: Alex Finke
- Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life . . . until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.
-
-
Great, easy listen.
- By Amazon Customer on 2024-10-01
Written by: Cara Bastone
What the critics say
"Ali Hazelwood is the queen of smart rom-coms, and Check & Mate is her best book yet. Filled with snappy banter, clever characters, and crackling tension (and lots of chess!), this is the perfect rivals-to-lovers romance. Check & Mate will have you swooning, laughing, staying up all night, and smiling so much your face hurts. This book is my new obsession. Who knew chess could be so romantic?" —Alex Aster, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lightlark
"Ali Hazelwood brings her signature wit to YA and the result is nothing short of delightful! Check & Mate stole my heart from the first page — it's at once an irresistible romance, compelling character study, and fascinating peek into the world of chess. I couldn't put it down!" —Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author of We Can't Keep Meeting Like This
★ "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. . . . 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." —Booklist, starred review
What listeners say about Check & Mate
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- LEDK
- 2023-11-22
Excellent everything
The readers were great, voices perfect. The story was excellent and I had trouble putting it down.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sasha
- 2023-11-17
Genuinely Amazing Novel
Thank you Ali Hazelwood again for giving us these characters and letting us immerse ourselves in their world. She definitely did not disappoint me at all and I appreciate her branching out to write a new type of main character and going outside her comfort zone on that, it really paid off! On a side note, Karissa Vacker gave a great voice performance, she allows you to fall into the characters mindset so well.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2023-11-26
Ali is becoming a fav author for me.
I love the story, but I feel like the end wasn't as satisfying as love hypothesis. I love Mallory, she's selfless, hardworking, bubbly, relateable. Nolan has a cool personality, he's really chill but also Witty and has this determination and focus on chess that is attractive. Also Mal's friend and Nolan's friends are a nice addition to the storyline. The romance and intmacy is sweet, enjoyable and I would totally read this again. I'm having post book sadness and would like a sequel. Klarissa's narration is awesome, I really enjoyed her voice for Mallory.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Maria D. Gasper
- 2023-12-03
Adorable story, likeable characters, great narrator
Simply loved this story and I’m sure you will too. I listened once, and immediately listened to it again. So cute.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jainab Ahmed
- 2023-12-17
slow but good 👍
literally the book was kinda slow but over all love how when it got interesting it was enjoyable to listen
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Renee kohler
- 2023-11-11
Love it
It was everything I hoped, and more I can not recommend it enough everyone read it
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2023-11-08
I loved it!
I absolutely loved this book! So much so, that I listened to the entire thing in one day. The book kind of felt like all of the best parts of The Queen’s Gambit without any of the darker themes. I adore Ali Hazelwood’s writing and her ability to craft complex characters and engaging stories. I’ve never been disappointed by any of her books, and this one was no exception. Definitely one that I’ll be listening to again in the future.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- McKenna Dolbec-Edmand
- 2023-11-16
Ali does it again!
loved this, the story flows amazingly and all of the relationship themes Ali explores rings true. here's to all the eldest daughters holding it together. 🩷
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2024-02-12
So fun and cute
I really love Ali Hazelwood books, especially in audiobook form because the narrator is probably my favorite and the book are so fun and don’t require too much attention.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Asim
- 2023-12-02
Not for me
I couldn't get far into this one. It just felt too implausible to the extent that it was not enjoyable. Ali's other novels are quite good though
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!