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Checking Her Out: A Sapphic Short Story
From best-selling sapphic romance author, Eliza a sweet and spicy sapphic short story (15K) just in time for spooky season.
Addison Yates is one semester away from her college graduation, but too much fun and not enough studying has been detrimental to her GPA. To maintain her scholarship and make it to graduation, she plans to shut out all distractions and focus on her remaining assignments. Spending the evening at her college library would normally help her avoid temptation if not for Ellie Brown, the beautiful and enigmatic campus librarian. Addison knows that Ellie is out of her league, but there’s something about the elusive, bookish woman that makes her want to try.
One big secret. One night to forever. One night to eternity?
Addison Yates is one semester away from her college graduation, but too much fun and not enough studying has been detrimental to her GPA. To maintain her scholarship and make it to graduation, she plans to shut out all distractions and focus on her remaining assignments. Spending the evening at her college library would normally help her avoid temptation if not for Ellie Brown, the beautiful and enigmatic campus librarian. Addison knows that Ellie is out of her league, but there’s something about the elusive, bookish woman that makes her want to try.
One big secret. One night to forever. One night to eternity?
- GenresEroticaRomanceParanormal
77 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2023
13 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Lentzski
30 books860 followersEliza Lentzski is the best-selling author of sapphic fiction, romance, and erotica including the Winter Jacket and Don’t Call Me Hero series. A historian by day, Eliza is passionate about telling the stories of marginalized communities.
Born and raised in the upper Midwest—a landscape that often shapes her novels—Eliza now lives in Boston with her wife and their cat, Charley.
Born and raised in the upper Midwest—a landscape that often shapes her novels—Eliza now lives in Boston with her wife and their cat, Charley.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 4, 2024
Loved this! An age-gap, (kind of forced) proximity, college crush with a twist. I hope there's a sequel to this sometime :).
Not sure why a few reviews are so down on this. A short story needs to be direct and to the point and so sometimes reader perceptions can fall thru the cracks. And there is no modern book these days without small errors and typos. At .99, there is no budget for proofing (editing is NOT proofreading), just the beta readers you can find and helpful readers (which critical reviews can be, so that's a good thing).
Not sure why a few reviews are so down on this. A short story needs to be direct and to the point and so sometimes reader perceptions can fall thru the cracks. And there is no modern book these days without small errors and typos. At .99, there is no budget for proofing (editing is NOT proofreading), just the beta readers you can find and helpful readers (which critical reviews can be, so that's a good thing).
April 14, 2024
Addison is trying to write a book review essay in the college library, using that as sanctuary from her noisy party crazed housemates. There she meets the enigmatic Ellie, college librarian, who over the course of a few evenings helps her with her work.
At first glance this looks like a typical short story, where they meet and gradually an attraction forms. But it is far more than that. It isn’t deep, because in a short story it’s difficult to get well into a character, but we see a fair amount about both characters. Ellie is the more complex character, a bit of an enigma; Addison seems a bit of a brat, but we see later that she is also complex.
And then the very unexpected twist…
Spoilers below - if you want to read this story and get the surprise of the twist, don’t read this first. It’s worth it 😁 but come back to read what I have written later 😜
__________
We learn about the history of Ellie, something that was never even hinted at in the blurb, which was so well worded not to give us even a suspicion.
The first clue is how Ellie is in the bedroom with Addison - she uses her bandana as a blindfold, so that Ellie can’t be seen getting naked. This was not even suspicious. It was not until later that I realised this was an important point.
The description of Ellie later, when Addison can see her, about her body being so white, no tan lines or marks is also a sign. Also I found that description so sexy too! The party that Ellie attends is on Halloween, but because of later events I feel this wasn’t really a reason that they were able to be together.
What really surprised me however, is the calm way that Addison takes the news the next morning. She is willing to love Ellie whatever. Ellie tries to dissuade her, but Addison is sure in her love. I think this is what allows the ambiguous ending when Ellie wakes beside Addison in bed the morning after their second night of passion.
This story allows our own imagination to make a continuation for these two; we are not being spoon-fed a fixed ending. Even though it is often preferred by readers, here I think this works better.
There is another sapphic short story I remember reading which has a comparable storyline - a completely different setting although the main points are similar. Boar’s Head Inn by JM Dragon. I don’t usually advertise another author’s work, but this is so similar in many ways.
Overall, I think Checking Her Out is a lovely story, not deep, but a good short read which makes you think. Such a difficult feat for an author to pull off, and Ms Lentzski does this wonderfully. This is one I will remember for a long time.
At first glance this looks like a typical short story, where they meet and gradually an attraction forms. But it is far more than that. It isn’t deep, because in a short story it’s difficult to get well into a character, but we see a fair amount about both characters. Ellie is the more complex character, a bit of an enigma; Addison seems a bit of a brat, but we see later that she is also complex.
And then the very unexpected twist…
Spoilers below - if you want to read this story and get the surprise of the twist, don’t read this first. It’s worth it 😁 but come back to read what I have written later 😜
__________
We learn about the history of Ellie, something that was never even hinted at in the blurb, which was so well worded not to give us even a suspicion.
The first clue is how Ellie is in the bedroom with Addison - she uses her bandana as a blindfold, so that Ellie can’t be seen getting naked. This was not even suspicious. It was not until later that I realised this was an important point.
The description of Ellie later, when Addison can see her, about her body being so white, no tan lines or marks is also a sign. Also I found that description so sexy too! The party that Ellie attends is on Halloween, but because of later events I feel this wasn’t really a reason that they were able to be together.
What really surprised me however, is the calm way that Addison takes the news the next morning. She is willing to love Ellie whatever. Ellie tries to dissuade her, but Addison is sure in her love. I think this is what allows the ambiguous ending when Ellie wakes beside Addison in bed the morning after their second night of passion.
This story allows our own imagination to make a continuation for these two; we are not being spoon-fed a fixed ending. Even though it is often preferred by readers, here I think this works better.
There is another sapphic short story I remember reading which has a comparable storyline - a completely different setting although the main points are similar. Boar’s Head Inn by JM Dragon. I don’t usually advertise another author’s work, but this is so similar in many ways.
Overall, I think Checking Her Out is a lovely story, not deep, but a good short read which makes you think. Such a difficult feat for an author to pull off, and Ms Lentzski does this wonderfully. This is one I will remember for a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2023
A paranormal romance short story just in time for Spooky season. The 🌶️ was good but the characters and the ending is meh. I admit, I didn’t like the protagonist Addison. I’m not sure what’s she’s bringing to this besides teenage (at 21) level angst. Also, I can’t tell if this was a typo but there is a sentence that weighs particularly heavy because its starts with “So” over “Did”. Just that one word changes tone greatly and it’s stuck with me because the tone shift didn’t fit.
March 12, 2024
Cute little short story 🥺
It has a very surprising and sad twist
I would absolutely read a full book of this! And I want to learn more about Ellie
It has open ending, still better than sad ending imo
It has a very surprising and sad twist
I would absolutely read a full book of this! And I want to learn more about Ellie
It has open ending, still better than sad ending imo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2023
"In Memory of Eleanor Brown, 1946-1972."
This short story reminded me of remembrance, or remembering someone. Ellie had to return to the library because that place was the place where someone, or rather, someplace, remembered her. Like the meager bronze sign of the plaque. No one knew she existed, she was a passerby to disappear into faint memories. But she could exist as a ghost because of remembrance in that particular place, also tied to that particular place. But when Addison knew the entire truth and was ready to remember her, unlike their first time, Ellie was able to say good morning to the woman she loved, instead of disappearing back to the library. She and Addison were tied together.
I bought this book without even reading the summary(yes, I really love this author) and just by looking at the title, I thought it would be about some fluffy, smutty story with a guaranteed HEA. Well, the author is quite elusive about this happily ever after, but I can say this, this story is beautiful in the sense of 'The Haunting of Bly Manor'. Those who have seen this TV series would have remembered the ending scene where Dani's hand with her wedding ring was on the shoulder of Jamie. If you remember that person, that person will always be with you. As long Addison remembers Ellie, she will perhaps, be able to remain with her always.
This story resonates more than a simple story of a librarian and a student(which I expected at first!!!). It is a perfect must-read, on your shelf. You'll keep reading it again and again because of the sheer beauty of it. Love is not always about passion and happiness, maybe it is also about remembering.
This short story reminded me of remembrance, or remembering someone. Ellie had to return to the library because that place was the place where someone, or rather, someplace, remembered her. Like the meager bronze sign of the plaque. No one knew she existed, she was a passerby to disappear into faint memories. But she could exist as a ghost because of remembrance in that particular place, also tied to that particular place. But when Addison knew the entire truth and was ready to remember her, unlike their first time, Ellie was able to say good morning to the woman she loved, instead of disappearing back to the library. She and Addison were tied together.
I bought this book without even reading the summary(yes, I really love this author) and just by looking at the title, I thought it would be about some fluffy, smutty story with a guaranteed HEA. Well, the author is quite elusive about this happily ever after, but I can say this, this story is beautiful in the sense of 'The Haunting of Bly Manor'. Those who have seen this TV series would have remembered the ending scene where Dani's hand with her wedding ring was on the shoulder of Jamie. If you remember that person, that person will always be with you. As long Addison remembers Ellie, she will perhaps, be able to remain with her always.
This story resonates more than a simple story of a librarian and a student(which I expected at first!!!). It is a perfect must-read, on your shelf. You'll keep reading it again and again because of the sheer beauty of it. Love is not always about passion and happiness, maybe it is also about remembering.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2023
Good story with a non satisfying ending
I have only read one other book by this author, Second Chances, which I really liked. So when I saw she had released this one I was eager to read it. The story is written very well and engaging, the characters could have been developed a bit more but they weren't terrible. There just isn't a conclusion that really gives provides any answers. Its not really a cliffhanger and it didn't tie things up. It just ends, and for that I honestly wish i could get my time reading it back or my $.
I have only read one other book by this author, Second Chances, which I really liked. So when I saw she had released this one I was eager to read it. The story is written very well and engaging, the characters could have been developed a bit more but they weren't terrible. There just isn't a conclusion that really gives provides any answers. Its not really a cliffhanger and it didn't tie things up. It just ends, and for that I honestly wish i could get my time reading it back or my $.
October 14, 2023
This short sapphic romance immediately pulls you into the chemistry between busy college senior Addison and Ellie, the hot librarian who agrees to help her meet a deadline. The spark between them ignites, but Ellie’s surprising secret may smother the flames for good.
Checking Her Out has great dialogue, steamy interactions, and a perplexing plot twist that tickles the imagination.
Checking Her Out has great dialogue, steamy interactions, and a perplexing plot twist that tickles the imagination.
October 23, 2023
3 stars. Addison was annoying and childish but she was also 21 so whatever. Ellie was my favorite of the two as I found her to be more interesting. Great chemistry between them and some hot sex scenes but the ending was incredibly lackluster. It just ends. I guess it was supposed to be a plot twist but it failed because it didn’t make sense. It’s a quick read but nothing special.
December 19, 2024
I need more and I need more now. That ending had me literally yelling WTF WITH THAT END? This a a great novella truly. Yes it was quick and insta-lovey but it's less than 100 pages so it would be. There's only so much to build on but that's what makes this so good. Once I was done I immediately went to look for more of this author's books. So clearly the author did her job lol
February 6, 2024
Definitely Check this Out
To be honest, I had a certain expectation going into this short story. Quick, easy, sapphic romance... but then - Plot twist! Completely took me by surprise, and now I have so many questions - I need more to this story! I don't regret reading it because it was really good, but it definitely leaves a mystery.
The writing was done very well. I have read some of Eliza Lentzski's books before, and she really knows how to paint a picture.
To be honest, I had a certain expectation going into this short story. Quick, easy, sapphic romance... but then - Plot twist! Completely took me by surprise, and now I have so many questions - I need more to this story! I don't regret reading it because it was really good, but it definitely leaves a mystery.
The writing was done very well. I have read some of Eliza Lentzski's books before, and she really knows how to paint a picture.
November 22, 2024
Loved the last line....it was so reminisce of a true age-gap. I would have loved for the author to play on that a little more (for reasons I can not devoluge without giving a good part of the book away).
It was just a story with no "real" character development...to me a least. It's not like Butterflies by Victoria Avilan, but it's a good read.
It was just a story with no "real" character development...to me a least. It's not like Butterflies by Victoria Avilan, but it's a good read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews