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Checking You Out
XO, Kitty meets Dash & Lily in this rom com about two teens falling in love via letters left in their favorite library books - even if in real life they think they have nothing in common.
Lizzie Wei is a huge book nerd, and proud of it. And when she realizes there is a mysterious reader who has been checking out all of her favorite books from the library, she can’t help but get a crush on someone she’s never even met. Her friends make it their mission to find Lizzie’s long lost book soulmate and convinces her to leave notes for her crush. But what if the person Lizzie is looking for, isn’t at all what she expects?
Dylan Lin loves reading, secretly anyway. Ever since a bullying incident at his last school, he’s hidden his love of fantasy novels, instead leaning into his jock persona. Now he's the tennis team captain, runs every day, and actively avoids reading. So, when he decides to start volunteering at a kitten nursery, and his super cute co-volunteer Lizzie asks if he likes reading, he says no. He never expects the look of complete and utter disappointment on Lizzie’s face.
Lizzie is certain her secret crush isn’t Dylan. It can’t be! But when he accidentally makes an obscure reference to her favorite book during their volunteer shift, she’s not so sure anymore. Can Lizzie forgive Dylan for lying? And can Dylan be brave enough to be himself?
Lizzie Wei is a huge book nerd, and proud of it. And when she realizes there is a mysterious reader who has been checking out all of her favorite books from the library, she can’t help but get a crush on someone she’s never even met. Her friends make it their mission to find Lizzie’s long lost book soulmate and convinces her to leave notes for her crush. But what if the person Lizzie is looking for, isn’t at all what she expects?
Dylan Lin loves reading, secretly anyway. Ever since a bullying incident at his last school, he’s hidden his love of fantasy novels, instead leaning into his jock persona. Now he's the tennis team captain, runs every day, and actively avoids reading. So, when he decides to start volunteering at a kitten nursery, and his super cute co-volunteer Lizzie asks if he likes reading, he says no. He never expects the look of complete and utter disappointment on Lizzie’s face.
Lizzie is certain her secret crush isn’t Dylan. It can’t be! But when he accidentally makes an obscure reference to her favorite book during their volunteer shift, she’s not so sure anymore. Can Lizzie forgive Dylan for lying? And can Dylan be brave enough to be himself?
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2026
About the author
Jennifer Chen
4 books231 followersJennifer Chen is a freelance journalist who has written for print and online, including pieces in the New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, and Bust. She earned an MFA and BFA in dramatic writing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and is a proud alumnae of Hedgebrook, a women’s writing residency. She lives in Los Angeles with her TV writer husband, twins, two pugs, and a smoky black cat named Gremlin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dnf @ 89% — which feels stupid since I had barely 2 chapters left, but I just couldn’t. That’s how bad it was.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Jennifer Chen for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest review.
Checking You Out is the typical cheesy and cutesy story. Dylan and Lizzie's friendship is absolutely adorable, it kinda reminds me of XO. The character development and world building are great. Ms. Jennifer's writing of this story is so relatable and real. Lizzie being a book nerd is totally me. Lizzie finds out a reader stranger who has been reading all of her favorite books at the library. She can't help but to get a crush on the mysterious reader stranger. Lizzie's friends call him her book soulmate.
I wholeheartedly recommend that y'all get this book on June 23, 2026.
Checking You Out is the typical cheesy and cutesy story. Dylan and Lizzie's friendship is absolutely adorable, it kinda reminds me of XO. The character development and world building are great. Ms. Jennifer's writing of this story is so relatable and real. Lizzie being a book nerd is totally me. Lizzie finds out a reader stranger who has been reading all of her favorite books at the library. She can't help but to get a crush on the mysterious reader stranger. Lizzie's friends call him her book soulmate.
I wholeheartedly recommend that y'all get this book on June 23, 2026.
March 20, 2026
I would give the book 4.75. It was a very cute and easy read. I wish there was more to their story. I want to see a sequel about college and what happens after the summer.
June 24, 2026
⭐️4
Thank you too, NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🩵
I fully went into this book, not knowing what to expect. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. Since the first chapter, I was super invested. This book was super fast-paced, and it was super easy to get into, so I wasn’t bored at all.
I think what made me super invested from the very beginning were the characters. I love Dylan and Lizzie, they were absolutely adorable, and by the end, I genuinely believed they were soulmates. I just love how from the very beginning their connection felt genuine. I loved Dylan, he was so unsure in trusting people, but he slowly opened up to his friends and tried to embrace the parts of himself that he was afraid others would judge. It was amazing to see that in the end everything he was afraid of happening didn’t because Lizzie fully accepted that side of him but completely loved him for
I loved the library setting, and especially the notes between Lizzie and Dylan. It was one of the sweetest things ever and completely melted my heart.
My only complaint was that I would have loved an epilogue. I wanted a glimpse of how their relationship would work while they were in college.
Thank you too, NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🩵
I fully went into this book, not knowing what to expect. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. Since the first chapter, I was super invested. This book was super fast-paced, and it was super easy to get into, so I wasn’t bored at all.
I think what made me super invested from the very beginning were the characters. I love Dylan and Lizzie, they were absolutely adorable, and by the end, I genuinely believed they were soulmates. I just love how from the very beginning their connection felt genuine. I loved Dylan, he was so unsure in trusting people, but he slowly opened up to his friends and tried to embrace the parts of himself that he was afraid others would judge. It was amazing to see that in the end everything he was afraid of happening didn’t because Lizzie fully accepted that side of him but completely loved him for
I loved the library setting, and especially the notes between Lizzie and Dylan. It was one of the sweetest things ever and completely melted my heart.
My only complaint was that I would have loved an epilogue. I wanted a glimpse of how their relationship would work while they were in college.
June 20, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
The biggest of thank you’s to Goodreads and the team at St. Martin’s press for sending me this ARC!
I think it just wasn’t the right book for me. I sometimes feel that YA authors get stuck in writing YA characters as immature when it’s not always warranted. Graduating high school seniors would likely be more mature than how they were portrayed in this book, but that’s my perspective as a 30-something woman reading! For a younger reader, this could absolutely be up their alley!
Again, I just think I wasn’t the target demographic for this particular book!
The biggest of thank you’s to Goodreads and the team at St. Martin’s press for sending me this ARC!
I think it just wasn’t the right book for me. I sometimes feel that YA authors get stuck in writing YA characters as immature when it’s not always warranted. Graduating high school seniors would likely be more mature than how they were portrayed in this book, but that’s my perspective as a 30-something woman reading! For a younger reader, this could absolutely be up their alley!
Again, I just think I wasn’t the target demographic for this particular book!
June 21, 2026
i want to start by saying thank you to netgalley for the arc. i cannot believe how much i loved and enjoyed this book. i was giggling all the way through and had the time of my life reading. it was such a simple and cute story and that is what i enjoyed the most. it was definitely beautiful watching dylan process and move on from his bully and letting himself be himself again. there were parts that were repetitive (about the kittens) and at times lizzie did annoy me with how stubborn she was. overall i definitely loved and would 100% recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2026
Review pending...
March 5, 2026
A YA romance about two book lovers.
Thankful to have received an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own. This was a book I knew I wanted to read because of its theme for a love of reading.
Personally this was just not for me. I wonder if it’s just not for my generation (Zillennial). It was really cheesy and juvenile. But it is a YA. It also seemed a bit choppy to me. I feel like it was written for fans of the Pixar movie Turning Red with its cutesy fandomness. The one thing I enjoyed was the cats. This makes me want to get more involved with foster cats. I also want to sit around and just read with my friends like Lizzie. The romance conflict is miscommunication, which is not my favorite trope. Great representation all around.
The message: be yourself and find your people. Don’t change what makes you happy for others.
Thankful to have received an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own. This was a book I knew I wanted to read because of its theme for a love of reading.
Personally this was just not for me. I wonder if it’s just not for my generation (Zillennial). It was really cheesy and juvenile. But it is a YA. It also seemed a bit choppy to me. I feel like it was written for fans of the Pixar movie Turning Red with its cutesy fandomness. The one thing I enjoyed was the cats. This makes me want to get more involved with foster cats. I also want to sit around and just read with my friends like Lizzie. The romance conflict is miscommunication, which is not my favorite trope. Great representation all around.
The message: be yourself and find your people. Don’t change what makes you happy for others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
This was a cute YA novel. If you love descriptions of sweet baby kittens, delicious food and various genres of books, then this book is right up your alley.
The book follows the typical romantic plot of girl meets boy, but the incidents along the way make this worth the read.
It was a little fantastical in that everyone had money to burn and parents who allowed mixed sleepovers. It did deal with the life-altering effects of being bullied but for the most part, this was a cute fun quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book follows the typical romantic plot of girl meets boy, but the incidents along the way make this worth the read.
It was a little fantastical in that everyone had money to burn and parents who allowed mixed sleepovers. It did deal with the life-altering effects of being bullied but for the most part, this was a cute fun quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
February 24, 2026For lovers of a cheesy romance, this one is for you.
Unfortunately for me, this book missed the mark. I found the characters to be flat and the FMC to be annoying. The not-bookclub-bookclub was weirdly placed, and I didn't like it.
I thought the writing itself left much to be desired. The constant changing of POVs just to add a sentence or two of context was clunky, and it mitigated the mystery and romance of the story. The kitten subplot was a cute add, but I found that story to be overshadowing the main characters. I was more interested in the cats than the rest of the story.
Not every story is for every reader, and I am thankful the author provided me an ARC in exchange for this review.
Unfortunately for me, this book missed the mark. I found the characters to be flat and the FMC to be annoying. The not-bookclub-bookclub was weirdly placed, and I didn't like it.
I thought the writing itself left much to be desired. The constant changing of POVs just to add a sentence or two of context was clunky, and it mitigated the mystery and romance of the story. The kitten subplot was a cute add, but I found that story to be overshadowing the main characters. I was more interested in the cats than the rest of the story.
Not every story is for every reader, and I am thankful the author provided me an ARC in exchange for this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was a bit of a disappointment. I loved the concept but the book had a hard time finding its footing. Firstly, it was very simply written and might have been ideal for a tween reading their first young adult romance but the ages of the protagonists are then too old for that.
Lizzie is very judgmental and almost mean about people who don't act the way she wants or expects. Dylan is a better character but it is almost as if he spawns into existence to meet Lizzie other than having a history of trauma.
Both Lizzie and Dylan have friends who don't respect boundaries. And weirdness comes into it. They both communicate about love of certain books anonymously but they know bothering of each other including gender and age. Lizzie even admits to reading certain series they both love in middle school.
I still think this book might enthrall a young child reading their first YA romance. Especially if they enjoy reading about kittens pee on people.
Lizzie is very judgmental and almost mean about people who don't act the way she wants or expects. Dylan is a better character but it is almost as if he spawns into existence to meet Lizzie other than having a history of trauma.
Both Lizzie and Dylan have friends who don't respect boundaries. And weirdness comes into it. They both communicate about love of certain books anonymously but they know bothering of each other including gender and age. Lizzie even admits to reading certain series they both love in middle school.
I still think this book might enthrall a young child reading their first YA romance. Especially if they enjoy reading about kittens pee on people.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️1.25
This book had all the ideas to be the perfect book for me.
Unfortunately the writing was very inconsistent and repetitive. Continuity didn't exists themes that were started were dropped. Plot points were started then abandoned without resolution. At times I even questioned whether the author had done any research into the things that were mentioned.
I beg, have an editor go over this a couple more times.
The only character that even felt like a whole person to me was Dylan even though he was extremely simplified.
I received this as a Netgalley e-ARC
This book had all the ideas to be the perfect book for me.
Unfortunately the writing was very inconsistent and repetitive. Continuity didn't exists themes that were started were dropped. Plot points were started then abandoned without resolution. At times I even questioned whether the author had done any research into the things that were mentioned.
I beg, have an editor go over this a couple more times.
The only character that even felt like a whole person to me was Dylan even though he was extremely simplified.
I received this as a Netgalley e-ARC
June 29, 2026
STARS: ⭐⭐.5
This is my first introduction to Jennifer Chen's work.
Book ❤'s:
I enjoyed the concept of finding love through a secret mysterious admirer at the library.
Dylan stood out as a genuinely sweet and endearing character. He was the most mature and likable of the group, and he carried the story for me through to the end.
I loved how close-knit the friendships between the characters were. Definitely a highlight for me.
I mean who doesn't love little kittens, books and love? The best combo!
Book 👎:
Though the characters were meant to be young adults on the verge of college, they were written with the tone and maturity of middle schoolers. Much of the storyline also revolved around their interest in books aimed at younger audiences, which I found harder to relate to at my current age. Sexual and Gender representation also felt a little forced rather than natural for me.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t a big fan of Lizzie. She seemed to develop an instant crush on nearly every new character who appeared, which made her relationship with Dylan feel less meaningful to me. She also seemed a little over sensitive at times.
I was defiantly disappointed with the Fantasy Reader Reveal. I did not expect it to go down the way that it did. It was underwhelming when we had been leading up to it that whole time. I would have enjoyed it much more if it had gone differently.
Final Thoughts ❤'s:
I have mixed feelings about this book, while it was cute, it was almost a little too youthful cute for my taste. However, I do very much recommend and think it's precious for Young Adult readers!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Jennifer Chen for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. I’m glad I got the chance to read this one early—everyone should grab a copy when it releases on 23 June 2026. Looking forward to reading more from Jennifer Chen in the future. Wishing her the best in her health journey.
This is my first introduction to Jennifer Chen's work.
Book ❤'s:
I enjoyed the concept of finding love through a secret mysterious admirer at the library.
Dylan stood out as a genuinely sweet and endearing character. He was the most mature and likable of the group, and he carried the story for me through to the end.
I loved how close-knit the friendships between the characters were. Definitely a highlight for me.
I mean who doesn't love little kittens, books and love? The best combo!
Book 👎:
Though the characters were meant to be young adults on the verge of college, they were written with the tone and maturity of middle schoolers. Much of the storyline also revolved around their interest in books aimed at younger audiences, which I found harder to relate to at my current age. Sexual and Gender representation also felt a little forced rather than natural for me.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t a big fan of Lizzie. She seemed to develop an instant crush on nearly every new character who appeared, which made her relationship with Dylan feel less meaningful to me. She also seemed a little over sensitive at times.
I was defiantly disappointed with the Fantasy Reader Reveal. I did not expect it to go down the way that it did. It was underwhelming when we had been leading up to it that whole time. I would have enjoyed it much more if it had gone differently.
Final Thoughts ❤'s:
I have mixed feelings about this book, while it was cute, it was almost a little too youthful cute for my taste. However, I do very much recommend and think it's precious for Young Adult readers!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Jennifer Chen for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. I’m glad I got the chance to read this one early—everyone should grab a copy when it releases on 23 June 2026. Looking forward to reading more from Jennifer Chen in the future. Wishing her the best in her health journey.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wanted to be feral about Checking You Out. I wanted to be the person screaming in the group chat like “they’re writing NOTES in LIBRARY BOOKS, this is my entire personality now.” This premise? Catnip. Literally and emotionally. Secret bookish pen pals. Library crumbs. A shy boy hiding his nerd heart. A girl who thinks books are a personality trait and also a moral alignment. I was ready to spiral.
And for a second… I did. Lizzie Wei is aggressively a Book Girlie™, like if you combined a Goodreads account, a library card, and the phrase “I just love stories” into a human being. She’s got her tight-knit group of book besties, she volunteers with kittens like she’s in a Hallmark cinematic universe, and she discovers someone is checking out all her favorite fantasy books. Naturally, she decides this stranger is her soulmate, which honestly… relatable. If someone consistently checked out my exact niche reads, I’d be planning our wedding playlist.
Enter Dylan Lin, our resident emotionally repressed tennis captain who is out here living a full Hannah Montana double life. By day, sporty boy who definitely does not read. By night, secret fantasy nerd with trauma from being bullied for liking books. Which, side note, is devastating in theory but also had me like… sir, you are in 2026, people are thirsting over morally gray fae princes on main, who hurt you and where are they.
The whole note-passing-through-library-books thing is genuinely adorable. It’s giving Dash & Lily energy with a sprinkle of “we’re emotionally wiped but make it whimsical.” Their anonymous connection is actually where the book shines the most. There’s something very soft and sweet about two people bonding over stories, sharing little pieces of themselves without the pressure of being perceived. It’s like emotional intimacy with a security blanket.
But then… they meet in real life. And suddenly we are in a completely different genre called “girl, why are you like this.”
Lizzie, my love, my chaos gremlin sister in literature, spends a solid portion of this book being wildly judgmental for someone whose entire personality is “don’t judge people for what they read.” The hypocrisy was doing Olympic-level gymnastics. She writes heartfelt notes about understanding and connection, then turns around and is like “ew, a jock.” I was getting tonal whiplash.
Dylan, meanwhile, is just out here trying his best with his little secret-reader heart, and honestly he carried a lot of the emotional weight for me. There’s something very tender about how scared he is to be fully seen, especially after being bullied. His whole arc about learning to own what he loves? That hit. That’s the good stuff. That’s the kind of YA theme that makes you want to text your younger self like “hey, you’re allowed to like things loudly.”
But the romance itself… I needed more. More tension, more chemistry, more moments where I believed these two actually liked each other beyond “we both read the same fantasy series once.” Because in person, they spend a shocking amount of time misunderstanding each other, avoiding each other, or just… not vibing. And I’m sitting there like, you two are literally writing love letters to each other and still fumbling this hard? Incredible. No notes. Actually, many notes. Please read them.
Also, the tone? This is where it gets tricky. The book feels very young. Not in a bad way, just in a “are we seniors about to go to college or are we freshmen discovering emotions for the first time” kind of way. The stakes felt low, the conflicts felt a little repetitive, and at times I was like… I have read shampoo bottles with more narrative urgency.
That said, I can’t even pretend I didn’t enjoy parts of this. The kittens? Elite. The friend group? Messy but warm. The whole “be yourself even if it’s cringe” message? Timeless, necessary, tattoo it on my forehead. There’s a sincerity here that I actually really liked. It just didn’t fully come together in the way I wanted.
This is one of those books where I can see the vision so clearly. The bones are good. The vibes are there. But the execution felt like it needed one more pass, one more layer of depth, one more moment where I could go “oh, this is why these two belong together.”
In the end, I closed Checking You Out feeling like I had a nice time, but not a life-changing one. Like a cozy afternoon where nothing dramatic happens but you’re still glad you showed up. Three stars, easy. She’s cute. She’s trying. She brought kittens to the function.
And a chaotic, heartfelt thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC, you gave me books, cats, and emotional confusion, which honestly feels on brand for my reading life.
And for a second… I did. Lizzie Wei is aggressively a Book Girlie™, like if you combined a Goodreads account, a library card, and the phrase “I just love stories” into a human being. She’s got her tight-knit group of book besties, she volunteers with kittens like she’s in a Hallmark cinematic universe, and she discovers someone is checking out all her favorite fantasy books. Naturally, she decides this stranger is her soulmate, which honestly… relatable. If someone consistently checked out my exact niche reads, I’d be planning our wedding playlist.
Enter Dylan Lin, our resident emotionally repressed tennis captain who is out here living a full Hannah Montana double life. By day, sporty boy who definitely does not read. By night, secret fantasy nerd with trauma from being bullied for liking books. Which, side note, is devastating in theory but also had me like… sir, you are in 2026, people are thirsting over morally gray fae princes on main, who hurt you and where are they.
The whole note-passing-through-library-books thing is genuinely adorable. It’s giving Dash & Lily energy with a sprinkle of “we’re emotionally wiped but make it whimsical.” Their anonymous connection is actually where the book shines the most. There’s something very soft and sweet about two people bonding over stories, sharing little pieces of themselves without the pressure of being perceived. It’s like emotional intimacy with a security blanket.
But then… they meet in real life. And suddenly we are in a completely different genre called “girl, why are you like this.”
Lizzie, my love, my chaos gremlin sister in literature, spends a solid portion of this book being wildly judgmental for someone whose entire personality is “don’t judge people for what they read.” The hypocrisy was doing Olympic-level gymnastics. She writes heartfelt notes about understanding and connection, then turns around and is like “ew, a jock.” I was getting tonal whiplash.
Dylan, meanwhile, is just out here trying his best with his little secret-reader heart, and honestly he carried a lot of the emotional weight for me. There’s something very tender about how scared he is to be fully seen, especially after being bullied. His whole arc about learning to own what he loves? That hit. That’s the good stuff. That’s the kind of YA theme that makes you want to text your younger self like “hey, you’re allowed to like things loudly.”
But the romance itself… I needed more. More tension, more chemistry, more moments where I believed these two actually liked each other beyond “we both read the same fantasy series once.” Because in person, they spend a shocking amount of time misunderstanding each other, avoiding each other, or just… not vibing. And I’m sitting there like, you two are literally writing love letters to each other and still fumbling this hard? Incredible. No notes. Actually, many notes. Please read them.
Also, the tone? This is where it gets tricky. The book feels very young. Not in a bad way, just in a “are we seniors about to go to college or are we freshmen discovering emotions for the first time” kind of way. The stakes felt low, the conflicts felt a little repetitive, and at times I was like… I have read shampoo bottles with more narrative urgency.
That said, I can’t even pretend I didn’t enjoy parts of this. The kittens? Elite. The friend group? Messy but warm. The whole “be yourself even if it’s cringe” message? Timeless, necessary, tattoo it on my forehead. There’s a sincerity here that I actually really liked. It just didn’t fully come together in the way I wanted.
This is one of those books where I can see the vision so clearly. The bones are good. The vibes are there. But the execution felt like it needed one more pass, one more layer of depth, one more moment where I could go “oh, this is why these two belong together.”
In the end, I closed Checking You Out feeling like I had a nice time, but not a life-changing one. Like a cozy afternoon where nothing dramatic happens but you’re still glad you showed up. Three stars, easy. She’s cute. She’s trying. She brought kittens to the function.
And a chaotic, heartfelt thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC, you gave me books, cats, and emotional confusion, which honestly feels on brand for my reading life.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
─── ⋆ thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. all opinions are my own as you can tell.
📚 1.75
here's the thing. anything book related in a book, sign me up. it's like double literature! nothing like a book about books. except in this case, honestly from the first page i knew that i was going to have a hard time getting into this. i mean checking you out? nah more like checking into a mental asylum.
and heres the thing, i didn't sign up to be a hater, i just have standards !!
let's check out (pun intended) what is wrong with checking you out
─── ⋆ the plot
the plot on page seems pretty great. i mean think a little youve got mail but make it library themed vibes !? um duh yes. well execution was not there. sue me for hoping that it would be. i feel like this was a case of the idea being perfect but once the idea is on the page it reads rather repetitive. and dont get me wrong, theres nothing with mundane or chill stories. it's just...like truly boring !! like nothing happend !! at !! all !! the back of my claritin bottle has more plot than this book !! it was choppy writing and unfortunatly unfunny humor.
─── ⋆ characters
honestly the characters ruined this book for me. i highlighted one line in this book. and that one line was our mmc going "yeah my shorts are 200$" while he's standing at an animal shelter holding a baby kitten.
dylan
here's the thing, i am NOT in any way discounting anyone for being bullied over fantasy book taste bc the haters should shut the frick up. but ! in 2026? (the book is set in modern time with recent books referenced) people are really being bullied for..liking popular fantasy books?
heck i've been "bullied" for NOT liking fantasy. so like. . .
aside from that, he was a decent character. kinda flat, not a swoon worthy love interest nor did i look at him and go "wow book boyfriend material" because he kinda had issues. i mean same broski but.
lizzie
Oh gosh. wow. i think if i met this girl in person i would probably have to go like die afterwards. because babes was so sefilshly obessed with herself that she kinda disregarded people around her to the point that was insane.
the besties, aka lizzie's friends
i liked them but also didn't. i do think all her book besties had the her best interest but unfortunately they lowk crossed some boundaries ?? but then again, lizzie also disregarded their feelings.
romance
what romance. i don't even mean that meanly. but truly what romance. the characters "fall" in love through the letters they write about their favorite book series, keep making a meetup location and not actually going but actually dont like each other because dylan and lizzie are both dumb! i mean they have that going for them. they both read young and old at the same time so idek.
bookish stuff
idk it was giving bookish but also like 😭😭 at what point in a book this boring does book stuff become too much.
wrapup
call me a hater. call me shakespeare. just dont call me maybe. and sure as heck dont check me out.
pre review
please dont check me out 🫶🫶 frtc
📚 1.75
here's the thing. anything book related in a book, sign me up. it's like double literature! nothing like a book about books. except in this case, honestly from the first page i knew that i was going to have a hard time getting into this. i mean checking you out? nah more like checking into a mental asylum.
and heres the thing, i didn't sign up to be a hater, i just have standards !!
let's check out (pun intended) what is wrong with checking you out
─── ⋆ the plot
the plot on page seems pretty great. i mean think a little youve got mail but make it library themed vibes !? um duh yes. well execution was not there. sue me for hoping that it would be. i feel like this was a case of the idea being perfect but once the idea is on the page it reads rather repetitive. and dont get me wrong, theres nothing with mundane or chill stories. it's just...like truly boring !! like nothing happend !! at !! all !! the back of my claritin bottle has more plot than this book !! it was choppy writing and unfortunatly unfunny humor.
─── ⋆ characters
honestly the characters ruined this book for me. i highlighted one line in this book. and that one line was our mmc going "yeah my shorts are 200$" while he's standing at an animal shelter holding a baby kitten.
dylan
here's the thing, i am NOT in any way discounting anyone for being bullied over fantasy book taste bc the haters should shut the frick up. but ! in 2026? (the book is set in modern time with recent books referenced) people are really being bullied for..liking popular fantasy books?
heck i've been "bullied" for NOT liking fantasy. so like. . .
aside from that, he was a decent character. kinda flat, not a swoon worthy love interest nor did i look at him and go "wow book boyfriend material" because he kinda had issues. i mean same broski but.
lizzie
Oh gosh. wow. i think if i met this girl in person i would probably have to go like die afterwards. because babes was so sefilshly obessed with herself that she kinda disregarded people around her to the point that was insane.
the besties, aka lizzie's friends
i liked them but also didn't. i do think all her book besties had the her best interest but unfortunately they lowk crossed some boundaries ?? but then again, lizzie also disregarded their feelings.
romance
what romance. i don't even mean that meanly. but truly what romance. the characters "fall" in love through the letters they write about their favorite book series, keep making a meetup location and not actually going but actually dont like each other because dylan and lizzie are both dumb! i mean they have that going for them. they both read young and old at the same time so idek.
bookish stuff
idk it was giving bookish but also like 😭😭 at what point in a book this boring does book stuff become too much.
wrapup
call me a hater. call me shakespeare. just dont call me maybe. and sure as heck dont check me out.
pre review
please dont check me out 🫶🫶 frtc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I wanted to like this book SO. bad. so bad. really, I did. But, the only character I kind of liked was Dylan, and this book ended up being literally only about cats and books, and even then books was not the primary focus.
We're following Lizzie and Dylan, who are huge book lovers, and they are exchanging notes via library books. This premise had so much potential , but it falls flat big time. We don't spend a lot of time writing notes. We don't spend a lot of time searching for notes. and every time there is a note about meeting up, it doesn't happen--there's no suspense in that way.
Lizzie to me is generally unlikable because she refuses to accept anyone else's opinions about books and genres, and judges everyone for...pretty much anything that she doesn't also like herself. Dylan's story is a little more interesting but also a little hard for me to believe in a way, because he's supposed to be a reader. Fine, you hide the fact that you read a lot from your new friends or classmates or whatever, but to pretend to your own parents that you've suddenly changed and don't like to read anymore is insane to me. He hides all his books in his closet for some reason?? I didn't understand it.
Outside of the issues with the plot, this story dates itself big time . I didn't necessarily mind the references to real series/books/etc, but to outright talk about COVID? was upsetting to me and pulled me right out of the story. and THEN Dylan outright says "to the class of 2024." I know books age, but a lot of them age themselves in other ways (like what clothes they're wearing or maybe what slang they use), but to put the actual YEAR was wild to me.
I know this is YA, but the drama was also too much for me. Lizzie is too stuck in her own head to realize that maybe Dylan had his reasons for not spilling his life story to her when they've known each other for like. a month. Claudia is the only one of Lizzie's friends with some semblance of common sense, and brings this to her attention. over. and over. and over. It's exhausting.
I have more qualms, but for the sake of not demolishing this book, I will say that there are some things I liked. Dylan and Lizzie's relationship, when they didn't know each other as the "Fellow Fantasy Reader" was sweet. The timid glances and confusing feelings and all of that, those were cute. Some of the banter was fun and was also the only reason I didn't DNF this book any of the times I wanted to (because I really almost did 25% of the way in). I did also learn that you have to burp tiny kittens like human babies, so.. the more you know.
I am not the target audience for this book, that much is clear, but I think this book and it's writing and plot have a lot of room for improvement. Maybe there are some teens that will find this enjoyable and relatable, but I won't be recommending it anytime soon.
I wanted to like this book SO. bad. so bad. really, I did. But, the only character I kind of liked was Dylan, and this book ended up being literally only about cats and books, and even then books was not the primary focus.
We're following Lizzie and Dylan, who are huge book lovers, and they are exchanging notes via library books. This premise had so much potential , but it falls flat big time. We don't spend a lot of time writing notes. We don't spend a lot of time searching for notes. and every time there is a note about meeting up, it doesn't happen--there's no suspense in that way.
Lizzie to me is generally unlikable because she refuses to accept anyone else's opinions about books and genres, and judges everyone for...pretty much anything that she doesn't also like herself. Dylan's story is a little more interesting but also a little hard for me to believe in a way, because he's supposed to be a reader. Fine, you hide the fact that you read a lot from your new friends or classmates or whatever, but to pretend to your own parents that you've suddenly changed and don't like to read anymore is insane to me. He hides all his books in his closet for some reason?? I didn't understand it.
Outside of the issues with the plot, this story dates itself big time . I didn't necessarily mind the references to real series/books/etc, but to outright talk about COVID? was upsetting to me and pulled me right out of the story. and THEN Dylan outright says "to the class of 2024." I know books age, but a lot of them age themselves in other ways (like what clothes they're wearing or maybe what slang they use), but to put the actual YEAR was wild to me.
I know this is YA, but the drama was also too much for me. Lizzie is too stuck in her own head to realize that maybe Dylan had his reasons for not spilling his life story to her when they've known each other for like. a month. Claudia is the only one of Lizzie's friends with some semblance of common sense, and brings this to her attention. over. and over. and over. It's exhausting.
I have more qualms, but for the sake of not demolishing this book, I will say that there are some things I liked. Dylan and Lizzie's relationship, when they didn't know each other as the "Fellow Fantasy Reader" was sweet. The timid glances and confusing feelings and all of that, those were cute. Some of the banter was fun and was also the only reason I didn't DNF this book any of the times I wanted to (because I really almost did 25% of the way in). I did also learn that you have to burp tiny kittens like human babies, so.. the more you know.
I am not the target audience for this book, that much is clear, but I think this book and it's writing and plot have a lot of room for improvement. Maybe there are some teens that will find this enjoyable and relatable, but I won't be recommending it anytime soon.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Of course this book is perfect for any book lover, that was easy to guess from the title and synopsis. But oh there was so much I loved and so much of me and every other book lover in the characters in Lizzie’s friend group, not to mention Lizzie herself, and even Dylan!
First of all it talks about her friends and how they have their silent book club where they all realized they just wanted to read their own type of books but still be hanging out while they did it. Exactly the type of book club I’d love to have for my students. A place to sit and read with nothing else you have to do, and maybe some snacks, and maybe a chance to gush about how much you loved the book and maybe someone else might want to read it. Kind of like blogging? lol. Her friends were all so great, had to love them for sure. I loved that they visited not only the library but also a few different book stores in the story, even arranging a bookish date for with the boy she had always had a crush on.
Of course we also got Dylan’s side of the story which was good as well. Hearing about how he’d been teased about his love of books in middle school and it didn’t stop so that he’d even transferred high schools, where he leaned into his more athletic side and didn’t let anyone there know he was a reader. Even when it would really have been a good thing when he met Lizzie and saw her love of reading. I did love his friends too, how they accepted him and were upset that he had hidden parts of himself from them. I loved his grand gesture at the end too. Although, I personally think Lizzie over-reacted just a smidge about the lie, but I get again, we need the drama.
The whole aspect of the kittens being bottle fed and all that adoption part of the story was so cute, and I think Lizzie just really should have given in to the pull of seeing Dylan’s soft side with the tiny animals. I also think Dylan was a little over the top too about not telling Lizzie, even with what had happened with his bully in middle school. Again, I get it, bullying can cause so much trauma, especially with how horrible those kids were to him. I feel like Dylan and Lizzie not ever running into each other more at the library and catching each other when leaving the notes was a little unrealistic? But again, it’s fiction, so yeah.
So I had a few issues as I mentioned, and one other was the ending kind of dragged for me. However, as a book lover there was so much I adored in the story, all the talk about books, how each character had their own beloved genre, and the one who read the scary stories covered his with paper so the covers didn’t give Lizzie nightmares. I loved when she talked about DNFing a book, same reasons I use. This really was a great story for a book lover, and even for someone who has dealt with the bullying like Dylan I think would enjoy the story too. I would definitely buy this for my last library, and honestly, it is probably one I could buy for middle school students.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
First of all it talks about her friends and how they have their silent book club where they all realized they just wanted to read their own type of books but still be hanging out while they did it. Exactly the type of book club I’d love to have for my students. A place to sit and read with nothing else you have to do, and maybe some snacks, and maybe a chance to gush about how much you loved the book and maybe someone else might want to read it. Kind of like blogging? lol. Her friends were all so great, had to love them for sure. I loved that they visited not only the library but also a few different book stores in the story, even arranging a bookish date for with the boy she had always had a crush on.
Of course we also got Dylan’s side of the story which was good as well. Hearing about how he’d been teased about his love of books in middle school and it didn’t stop so that he’d even transferred high schools, where he leaned into his more athletic side and didn’t let anyone there know he was a reader. Even when it would really have been a good thing when he met Lizzie and saw her love of reading. I did love his friends too, how they accepted him and were upset that he had hidden parts of himself from them. I loved his grand gesture at the end too. Although, I personally think Lizzie over-reacted just a smidge about the lie, but I get again, we need the drama.
The whole aspect of the kittens being bottle fed and all that adoption part of the story was so cute, and I think Lizzie just really should have given in to the pull of seeing Dylan’s soft side with the tiny animals. I also think Dylan was a little over the top too about not telling Lizzie, even with what had happened with his bully in middle school. Again, I get it, bullying can cause so much trauma, especially with how horrible those kids were to him. I feel like Dylan and Lizzie not ever running into each other more at the library and catching each other when leaving the notes was a little unrealistic? But again, it’s fiction, so yeah.
So I had a few issues as I mentioned, and one other was the ending kind of dragged for me. However, as a book lover there was so much I adored in the story, all the talk about books, how each character had their own beloved genre, and the one who read the scary stories covered his with paper so the covers didn’t give Lizzie nightmares. I loved when she talked about DNFing a book, same reasons I use. This really was a great story for a book lover, and even for someone who has dealt with the bullying like Dylan I think would enjoy the story too. I would definitely buy this for my last library, and honestly, it is probably one I could buy for middle school students.
Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Publishing for the ARC of "Checking You Out" in exchange for an honest review with opinions entirely my own.
Enormous loads of cuteness to unpack here. Two lead characters overwhelmingly cute. And both of them lovers of a wildly best selling and yes, cute fantasy novel series. Both equipped with loving, loyal and, dare I say, cute friends. If that isn't enough sheer cuteness for you, how about dozens and dozens of fluffy, mischievous, insanely adorable and.....you guessed it, cute kittens.
One last thing to pile on top of this Mt. Everest of cuteness. Libraries! Bookstores galore! And books, books.....and oh yes, more books.
Is there anything unpleasant lurking in this Garden of bookish, kitten-ish, Eden? Indeed, there is, with our male lead Dylan a survivor of merciless bullying during middle school through high school. So much so that he's hidden away his love of reading and now presenting himself as distinctly un-literary, and interested mainly in his prowess as a tennis player.
Dylan's secret life makes it doubly hard for him as he's crushing hard on book-aholic LIzzie, lifelong lover of the same fantasy series that Dylan adores. but still too shy to admit to publicly. And despite his supposed interest only in tennis, Lizzie's beginning to fall just as hard for Dylan as they work together in an animal shelter, bottle feeding and caring for countless litters of captivating kittens that come flooding into the shelter..
In no time at all, this 'You've Got Mail' storyline turns into 'You've Got Books' with Dylan and Lizzie exchanging anonymous messages tucked away in library books, with each of them, of course, not knowing that the wonderful sweet book lovers they're communicating with are.......each other..
The simplicity of the writing here would lead me to believe this book is pitched more for tweens but I couldn't help but feel charmed by author Jennifer Chen's enthusiasm and deep empathy for her characters. (Though I really do wish she'd consulted a thesaurus for synonyms for "cute", whose overuse gets tiresome awfully fast
The lure of books, libraries, bookstores, kittens and secret romance sucked me in right away, but I realize that some readers may feel like they're munching on a jumbo State Fair cone of YA cotton candy. But then again, what's wrong with a book that wants nothing more than to make you and all the characters in it feel good together? In this day and age,I say you can't have enough of them. So there's my 4 stars and I'm stickin' to 'em.
(You can find all my other reviews at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
Enormous loads of cuteness to unpack here. Two lead characters overwhelmingly cute. And both of them lovers of a wildly best selling and yes, cute fantasy novel series. Both equipped with loving, loyal and, dare I say, cute friends. If that isn't enough sheer cuteness for you, how about dozens and dozens of fluffy, mischievous, insanely adorable and.....you guessed it, cute kittens.
One last thing to pile on top of this Mt. Everest of cuteness. Libraries! Bookstores galore! And books, books.....and oh yes, more books.
Is there anything unpleasant lurking in this Garden of bookish, kitten-ish, Eden? Indeed, there is, with our male lead Dylan a survivor of merciless bullying during middle school through high school. So much so that he's hidden away his love of reading and now presenting himself as distinctly un-literary, and interested mainly in his prowess as a tennis player.
Dylan's secret life makes it doubly hard for him as he's crushing hard on book-aholic LIzzie, lifelong lover of the same fantasy series that Dylan adores. but still too shy to admit to publicly. And despite his supposed interest only in tennis, Lizzie's beginning to fall just as hard for Dylan as they work together in an animal shelter, bottle feeding and caring for countless litters of captivating kittens that come flooding into the shelter..
In no time at all, this 'You've Got Mail' storyline turns into 'You've Got Books' with Dylan and Lizzie exchanging anonymous messages tucked away in library books, with each of them, of course, not knowing that the wonderful sweet book lovers they're communicating with are.......each other..
The simplicity of the writing here would lead me to believe this book is pitched more for tweens but I couldn't help but feel charmed by author Jennifer Chen's enthusiasm and deep empathy for her characters. (Though I really do wish she'd consulted a thesaurus for synonyms for "cute", whose overuse gets tiresome awfully fast
The lure of books, libraries, bookstores, kittens and secret romance sucked me in right away, but I realize that some readers may feel like they're munching on a jumbo State Fair cone of YA cotton candy. But then again, what's wrong with a book that wants nothing more than to make you and all the characters in it feel good together? In this day and age,I say you can't have enough of them. So there's my 4 stars and I'm stickin' to 'em.
(You can find all my other reviews at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, Netgalley, Jennifer Chen, and Wednesday Books for an ARC of Checking You Out.
This book follows Lizzie and her friends at the end of their senior year of high school. The four of them are self-proclaimed “book nerds,” and since they can’t agree on a type of book to read, their book club is just a weekly get-together where they all read their individual choices together. During Lizzie’s free time, she volunteers at an animal shelter, working with kittens.
Dylan recently transferred to Lizzie’s school to escape the horrible bullying he had endured since middle school due to his love of fantasy books, a costume he wore, and his self-confidence at the time. He ends up at the same animal rescue as Lizzie, and when they meet, he immediately tells her he hates reading, so while Lizzie thinks he's cute, she will not date anyone who hates reading. As the story progresses, both seem to grow more interested in each other. At the same time, both are secretly writing to an anonymous reader (the other person) about fantasy books they love. Will the truth come out about who he truly is? Will they get together? Will she forgive his lies?
The premise of this book was cute. I loved the friendship storyline and the Lizzie/Dylan storyline. I felt that the kitten storyline took over way too much of the book. The same ideas could have been conveyed in much less time. The same could probably be said for the mystery fantasy reader, storyline. The story took me a bit to get into, and I also had a hard time staying focused and wanting to come back to it. Because of this, I am only giving the book 3 stars.
#JenniferChen #CheckingYouOut #NetGalley #WednesdayBooks #YA #YARomance #Romance #ContemporaryRomace #Fiction #ContemporaryFiction #AvidReader #BookLovers #BookNerds #Bullies #BestFriends #CatLovers #EnemiesToFriendsToLovers #SecretPenPals #SummerBeforeCollege #BIPOC #May #2026
This book follows Lizzie and her friends at the end of their senior year of high school. The four of them are self-proclaimed “book nerds,” and since they can’t agree on a type of book to read, their book club is just a weekly get-together where they all read their individual choices together. During Lizzie’s free time, she volunteers at an animal shelter, working with kittens.
Dylan recently transferred to Lizzie’s school to escape the horrible bullying he had endured since middle school due to his love of fantasy books, a costume he wore, and his self-confidence at the time. He ends up at the same animal rescue as Lizzie, and when they meet, he immediately tells her he hates reading, so while Lizzie thinks he's cute, she will not date anyone who hates reading. As the story progresses, both seem to grow more interested in each other. At the same time, both are secretly writing to an anonymous reader (the other person) about fantasy books they love. Will the truth come out about who he truly is? Will they get together? Will she forgive his lies?
The premise of this book was cute. I loved the friendship storyline and the Lizzie/Dylan storyline. I felt that the kitten storyline took over way too much of the book. The same ideas could have been conveyed in much less time. The same could probably be said for the mystery fantasy reader, storyline. The story took me a bit to get into, and I also had a hard time staying focused and wanting to come back to it. Because of this, I am only giving the book 3 stars.
#JenniferChen #CheckingYouOut #NetGalley #WednesdayBooks #YA #YARomance #Romance #ContemporaryRomace #Fiction #ContemporaryFiction #AvidReader #BookLovers #BookNerds #Bullies #BestFriends #CatLovers #EnemiesToFriendsToLovers #SecretPenPals #SummerBeforeCollege #BIPOC #May #2026
May 31, 2026
Don’t Let the three starts fool you, this is a positive review.
I had a really great time with this book. It was cute, fun, and very sweet.
I loved the friendships that Lizzie and Dylan had. They were very supportive, sweet, and healthy. Wish I my friend group in high school was as tight knit as this one. Also the book and cat vibes combined with the LA setting were all lovely.
The characters were lovely and cute and felt like actual teenagers, granted they felt like younger ones rather than the 18 year olds they were supposed to be but still.
Here’s why I gave it a three instead of a four or five, the writing felt simplistic in a not so intentional way. IE this felt like middle grade rather than high school. I get your writing for a younger audience but it feels a little too young? Idk.
It’s also very in your face about the love for books and cats. Which is fine, I mean I love both of those, but it got a little repetitive after a while because they were always either doing something book related or cat related. Kinda wish they did other things you know? I feel like I’m nitpicking here but you get what I’m saying right?
Also there was little to no tension or stakes in the book and the third act break up felt like such a nothing burger I may have rolled my eyes (I definitely did lol). I just wished there was a little more tension? Idk I like my romances to be more pining and yearny but I’m not totally opposed to a more straight forward kind.
Overall this book was an absolute treat and delight despite its flaws, so for that it gets a positive three stars. If you need a palette cleanser or something to get you out of a reading slump, I’d recommend this book! I plan on reading Chen’s other books after this because I need all the support through my reading slumps that I can get lol.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I had a really great time with this book. It was cute, fun, and very sweet.
I loved the friendships that Lizzie and Dylan had. They were very supportive, sweet, and healthy. Wish I my friend group in high school was as tight knit as this one. Also the book and cat vibes combined with the LA setting were all lovely.
The characters were lovely and cute and felt like actual teenagers, granted they felt like younger ones rather than the 18 year olds they were supposed to be but still.
Here’s why I gave it a three instead of a four or five, the writing felt simplistic in a not so intentional way. IE this felt like middle grade rather than high school. I get your writing for a younger audience but it feels a little too young? Idk.
It’s also very in your face about the love for books and cats. Which is fine, I mean I love both of those, but it got a little repetitive after a while because they were always either doing something book related or cat related. Kinda wish they did other things you know? I feel like I’m nitpicking here but you get what I’m saying right?
Also there was little to no tension or stakes in the book and the third act break up felt like such a nothing burger I may have rolled my eyes (I definitely did lol). I just wished there was a little more tension? Idk I like my romances to be more pining and yearny but I’m not totally opposed to a more straight forward kind.
Overall this book was an absolute treat and delight despite its flaws, so for that it gets a positive three stars. If you need a palette cleanser or something to get you out of a reading slump, I’d recommend this book! I plan on reading Chen’s other books after this because I need all the support through my reading slumps that I can get lol.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wasn't the reader for this book. It didn't work for me early on when the story opened with what felt like a massive info dump to introduce all of the FMC's besties. It felt pandering when the librarian was nonbinary who used they/them and Mx. as their title and introduced on the second page. Perhaps if I'd kept reading, it would've felt smoother to include. Not a ton happened in the first 10%, and when you meet the MMC, he recounts, almost word for word, the scene you've just read from the FMC's POV. The FMC is immediately highly judgey of the MMC, who she thinks doesn't read. (I am BEGGING authors to stop making the FMC's quite so judgey from the jump. ESPECIALLY in YA. Please Santa.) And both of them present as a little immature for being 17, but everyone is different and I'm always willing to overlook that. But it did give vibes that had these characters been freshman and 15/16, it would've worked better. A middle schooler who loves cats, reading, and romance, and hasn't lived through high school might enjoy this.
None of this was an absolutely deal breaker for me though it made it easy for me to skim, sort of waiting for the story to really start.
But then we get to a chapter that has, I wish I were exaggerating here, 6 different POV changes. Some of them were two paragraphs from the other's POV. As a reader, I'd rather a POV change be at a scene break, and I'm willing to give one or two in the whole book when the author changes POV mid scene, but 6 different times in one chapter, just to give a few paragraphs of thought from the other's POV is just not for me. It's way too hard to get into the story and connect with the characters to immerse myself in the world.
I wish I would've loved this one because cats, romance, reading, secret admirer note exchanges sounded like such a banging book. Just not for me. Perhaps next time!
None of this was an absolutely deal breaker for me though it made it easy for me to skim, sort of waiting for the story to really start.
But then we get to a chapter that has, I wish I were exaggerating here, 6 different POV changes. Some of them were two paragraphs from the other's POV. As a reader, I'd rather a POV change be at a scene break, and I'm willing to give one or two in the whole book when the author changes POV mid scene, but 6 different times in one chapter, just to give a few paragraphs of thought from the other's POV is just not for me. It's way too hard to get into the story and connect with the characters to immerse myself in the world.
I wish I would've loved this one because cats, romance, reading, secret admirer note exchanges sounded like such a banging book. Just not for me. Perhaps next time!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book. It gave me major XO, Kitty vibes in the best way and honestly felt like a love letter to book lovers.
We follow Lizzie, a high school senior who is a huge fantasy reader, volunteers at a cat shelter, and has a close-knit group of friends who share her love of books. Her life takes a turn when she discovers a mysterious library checkout list and, encouraged by her friends, starts leaving notes for the unknown reader. That’s how we meet Dylan.
And Dylan… I loved him. A tennis player who volunteers at the same cat shelter, who claims he’s not into fantasy (which… you’ll have to read to understand 👀). As someone who grew up playing tennis and reading fantasy, this combination just worked perfectly for me. He is easily one of my favorite MMCs.
This story is full of fluff, cuteness, and cozy moments, but it also touches on deeper topics like bullying, identity, Asian representation, and caring for foster kittens. I really appreciated how these themes were woven into such a light and heartwarming story.
At its core, this is a story about connection, friendship, and finding someone who truly understands you. I loved the bookish elements, the pen pal dynamic, and the overall cozy vibe.
I do wish we could see more of Lizzie and Dylan beyond high school, especially as they head into college. I would happily read more about them.
Overall, this was such a fun and heartwarming read, and I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something cozy and feel-good.
Tropes:
pen pals
friends to lovers
secret identity
bookish main characters
slow burn (light)
found family
Read this if you like:
XO, Kitty vibes
cozy contemporary romance
bookish characters
high school romance
cute, feel-good stories
I loved this book. It gave me major XO, Kitty vibes in the best way and honestly felt like a love letter to book lovers.
We follow Lizzie, a high school senior who is a huge fantasy reader, volunteers at a cat shelter, and has a close-knit group of friends who share her love of books. Her life takes a turn when she discovers a mysterious library checkout list and, encouraged by her friends, starts leaving notes for the unknown reader. That’s how we meet Dylan.
And Dylan… I loved him. A tennis player who volunteers at the same cat shelter, who claims he’s not into fantasy (which… you’ll have to read to understand 👀). As someone who grew up playing tennis and reading fantasy, this combination just worked perfectly for me. He is easily one of my favorite MMCs.
This story is full of fluff, cuteness, and cozy moments, but it also touches on deeper topics like bullying, identity, Asian representation, and caring for foster kittens. I really appreciated how these themes were woven into such a light and heartwarming story.
At its core, this is a story about connection, friendship, and finding someone who truly understands you. I loved the bookish elements, the pen pal dynamic, and the overall cozy vibe.
I do wish we could see more of Lizzie and Dylan beyond high school, especially as they head into college. I would happily read more about them.
Overall, this was such a fun and heartwarming read, and I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something cozy and feel-good.
Tropes:
pen pals
friends to lovers
secret identity
bookish main characters
slow burn (light)
found family
Read this if you like:
XO, Kitty vibes
cozy contemporary romance
bookish characters
high school romance
cute, feel-good stories
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!
I went into this one ready to love it. The premise? Cute. Cozy. Fully my vibe. This should have been an easy win.
It… was not.
The biggest issue for me was how repetitive it felt. There were so many moments that said the same thing in slightly different ways, and instead of building momentum, it just slowed everything down. Add in the very detailed cat care and food descriptions and I found myself skimming more than I wanted to. I get that it adds to the atmosphere for some readers, but for me, it pulled focus from the actual story.
And then there’s the tone.
The characters felt much younger than they were supposed to be. Not in a charming, coming-of-age way, but in a “wait… are we about to graduate or are we just now discovering basic human emotions?” kind of way. Because of that, it was hard to fully connect with them or feel invested in what they had going on.
And the romance…
I needed more. More tension. More chemistry. More something. Because outside of the letters, I was not convinced these two even liked each other. In person, they spend an impressive amount of time misunderstanding each other, avoiding each other, or just not clicking at all. Meanwhile, they are out here writing love letters like soulmates. The disconnect? Wild.
I’m sitting there like… you are literally handing each other emotional vulnerability on a silver platter and still fumbling it this hard?
The tone is where it really lost me though. Everything felt very low-stakes, a little repetitive, and not as emotionally grounded as I wanted. At times I genuinely felt like I needed the story to wake up a bit.
Overall, this one had all the ingredients I usually love, but the execution just didn’t quite come together for me.
I went into this one ready to love it. The premise? Cute. Cozy. Fully my vibe. This should have been an easy win.
It… was not.
The biggest issue for me was how repetitive it felt. There were so many moments that said the same thing in slightly different ways, and instead of building momentum, it just slowed everything down. Add in the very detailed cat care and food descriptions and I found myself skimming more than I wanted to. I get that it adds to the atmosphere for some readers, but for me, it pulled focus from the actual story.
And then there’s the tone.
The characters felt much younger than they were supposed to be. Not in a charming, coming-of-age way, but in a “wait… are we about to graduate or are we just now discovering basic human emotions?” kind of way. Because of that, it was hard to fully connect with them or feel invested in what they had going on.
And the romance…
I needed more. More tension. More chemistry. More something. Because outside of the letters, I was not convinced these two even liked each other. In person, they spend an impressive amount of time misunderstanding each other, avoiding each other, or just not clicking at all. Meanwhile, they are out here writing love letters like soulmates. The disconnect? Wild.
I’m sitting there like… you are literally handing each other emotional vulnerability on a silver platter and still fumbling it this hard?
The tone is where it really lost me though. Everything felt very low-stakes, a little repetitive, and not as emotionally grounded as I wanted. At times I genuinely felt like I needed the story to wake up a bit.
Overall, this one had all the ingredients I usually love, but the execution just didn’t quite come together for me.
June 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
The premise for this book sounded so fun, but I certainly wouldn't shelve this under YA as advertised. I am convinced this book is truly "adopt a kitten" propaganda, but could also work well for middle schoolers who are obsessed with cats. Seriously, WHY so many cats?!? The fake cat book didn't even sound good. It reminded me a little of the "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" books which I loved - in middle school. I'm just so confused about who the target audience of this book is, but it sure wasn't me.
One of the fun parts of the summary states, "when he accidentally makes an obscure reference to her favorite book during their volunteer shift, she’s not so sure anymore." THIS NEVER HAPPENED. HE DID NOT MAKE A SINGLE REFERENCE TO HER FAVORITE BOOKS. Instead he gave her "weird looks" whenever she mentioned a book she loved. Bait & switch!
Lizzie & Dylan were the only characters who were fleshed out in this book. I hated the portrayal of Dylan as a "dumb jock." Someone who likes tennis isn't a dumb jock. Do you even know how complicated that game is?! Very weird phrasing, especially in 2026.
Elektra was the only tolerable side character. The others may as well have been one person for all the differentiation. I kept forgetting Lizzie had 2 female friends because they were the same person.
Setting-wise, this could've been stronger if FMC/MMC were school pals and Dylan was hiding his love for reading. The whole cat shelter thing just didn't make sense. Pacing-wise, the book starts, and suddenly they're graduating. Why even bother talking about school at all then? Have it start after they graduate and are looking forward to a fun summer.
tldr I came for bookish fun, I left wanting to never read about cats again in my life.
The premise for this book sounded so fun, but I certainly wouldn't shelve this under YA as advertised. I am convinced this book is truly "adopt a kitten" propaganda, but could also work well for middle schoolers who are obsessed with cats. Seriously, WHY so many cats?!? The fake cat book didn't even sound good. It reminded me a little of the "Guardians of Ga'Hoole" books which I loved - in middle school. I'm just so confused about who the target audience of this book is, but it sure wasn't me.
One of the fun parts of the summary states, "when he accidentally makes an obscure reference to her favorite book during their volunteer shift, she’s not so sure anymore." THIS NEVER HAPPENED. HE DID NOT MAKE A SINGLE REFERENCE TO HER FAVORITE BOOKS. Instead he gave her "weird looks" whenever she mentioned a book she loved. Bait & switch!
Lizzie & Dylan were the only characters who were fleshed out in this book. I hated the portrayal of Dylan as a "dumb jock." Someone who likes tennis isn't a dumb jock. Do you even know how complicated that game is?! Very weird phrasing, especially in 2026.
Elektra was the only tolerable side character. The others may as well have been one person for all the differentiation. I kept forgetting Lizzie had 2 female friends because they were the same person.
Setting-wise, this could've been stronger if FMC/MMC were school pals and Dylan was hiding his love for reading. The whole cat shelter thing just didn't make sense. Pacing-wise, the book starts, and suddenly they're graduating. Why even bother talking about school at all then? Have it start after they graduate and are looking forward to a fun summer.
tldr I came for bookish fun, I left wanting to never read about cats again in my life.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was genuinely so enjoyable, thank you NatGalley.
Checking you out by Jennifer Chen was about a young girl, Lizzie, and her wholesome group of friend who loved to read. They formed a book club that would meet up and read their preferred genre, instead of forcing themselves to read genre that they don’t enjoy. During a visit to the library realizes that their someone out there that has been borrowing all the books that she enjoys, her book soulmate.
I thought this book was genuinely so wholesome, cute, light hearted, fun, funny and so quick to get lost into.
I really enjoyed Lizzie relationship with her friends, it’s something I wish I have. (I wish i have more book friends.) I love that their book club is just them reading their preferred genre, because sometimes it is nice to read a genre that you don’t usually read, but it’s so comfortable to read your preferred genre. I love that her friend would wrap his horror books for her sake, i think that is so freaking sweet. The one thing I wasn’t happy about was that whole road trip cancelling part. I understand her and also felt bad for her friends. They planned this trip for forever, and it was sad when she wanted to stay back. Although, I understand because cats are so cute and they need love.
Dylan’s situation was kind of sad, because it must be so heartbreaking and hard to be constantly hiding who you really are because other people made you feel horrible for doing what you truly enjoy. I am so glad that he had Electra with him, to love him and made him feel love.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book and would totally recommend this if you want something that is light heart, sweet, has cats, book nerds, and YA romance.
Checking you out by Jennifer Chen was about a young girl, Lizzie, and her wholesome group of friend who loved to read. They formed a book club that would meet up and read their preferred genre, instead of forcing themselves to read genre that they don’t enjoy. During a visit to the library realizes that their someone out there that has been borrowing all the books that she enjoys, her book soulmate.
I thought this book was genuinely so wholesome, cute, light hearted, fun, funny and so quick to get lost into.
I really enjoyed Lizzie relationship with her friends, it’s something I wish I have. (I wish i have more book friends.) I love that their book club is just them reading their preferred genre, because sometimes it is nice to read a genre that you don’t usually read, but it’s so comfortable to read your preferred genre. I love that her friend would wrap his horror books for her sake, i think that is so freaking sweet. The one thing I wasn’t happy about was that whole road trip cancelling part. I understand her and also felt bad for her friends. They planned this trip for forever, and it was sad when she wanted to stay back. Although, I understand because cats are so cute and they need love.
Dylan’s situation was kind of sad, because it must be so heartbreaking and hard to be constantly hiding who you really are because other people made you feel horrible for doing what you truly enjoy. I am so glad that he had Electra with him, to love him and made him feel love.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book and would totally recommend this if you want something that is light heart, sweet, has cats, book nerds, and YA romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to love this book as I am a huge fan of the pen pal trope and this was such a clever take on it, leaving notes in library books! I also married into a Taiwanese family and hoped this would be a book to share with my daughters, but the number of swear words in this book would have kept that from happening even without the other issues I had with it. The FMC was very difficult to like as she was selfish and judgmental. I did like the MMC and felt for him, though his trauma seemed a little over-the-top for what had occurred. (That said, I'm Gen X so definitely a different generation than the intended audience.) I liked the relationships the main characters had with their parents, though the FMC's felt very unrealistic for the Taiwanese families I know, and I wished for much more with the MMC's parents. There was a good story there that didn't get explored nearly enough. I did love the MMC's Ama (grandma), but the author again missed opportunities to really develop her into a fully multi-dimensional character. The number of LGBTQ side characters felt excessive to me and more agenda-driven than story-driven. Most of the side characters were sadly flat and uninteresting with one exception -- My favorite character in the entire book was the MMC's best friend, a female character who really was better suited for him as a love interest than the FMC. The best friend went over and above for him and showed real love better than anyone else in this book!
I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. I wanted to love it so much but just didn't.
I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. I wanted to love it so much but just didn't.
February 23, 2026
The plot of this book was cute and the main characters were lovable. The book has an extremely diverse cast and it covers a period in life that not many books seem to (the end of senior year and summer before college).
I loved the genuine connections the two MCs made with each other and other new people in their lives. I appreciated the adults in their lives acting realistic and not like caricatures of parents. I also found the foster kitten content made me, a cat-allergic person, want to foster kittens or at least volunteer at our local shelter. Overall, I think the author could’ve accomplished that with about half the cat content, though.
The book lost points for me in two ways:
1) The biggest loss was from unnecessary repetition. We do not need to be told over and over that the FMC trusts her friends and they are her only friends and they are ride-or-die and she trusts them and did I mention she trusts them? Same with the MMC bullying experience. These felt like thoughts that get left in during editing.
2) About 75% of the way through, the MMC’s best friend suddenly acts way outside a reasonable knowledge and maturity level for her age. It’s explained away in one off-hand comment about having parents who are therapists. At the same time, we have literally all the other characters of the same age acting like toddlers without boundaries. Neither is likely or realistic.
This book will be great for teens and adults who like a love story, but don’t like spice. And for those who don’t want a romance-only story.
I loved the genuine connections the two MCs made with each other and other new people in their lives. I appreciated the adults in their lives acting realistic and not like caricatures of parents. I also found the foster kitten content made me, a cat-allergic person, want to foster kittens or at least volunteer at our local shelter. Overall, I think the author could’ve accomplished that with about half the cat content, though.
The book lost points for me in two ways:
1) The biggest loss was from unnecessary repetition. We do not need to be told over and over that the FMC trusts her friends and they are her only friends and they are ride-or-die and she trusts them and did I mention she trusts them? Same with the MMC bullying experience. These felt like thoughts that get left in during editing.
2) About 75% of the way through, the MMC’s best friend suddenly acts way outside a reasonable knowledge and maturity level for her age. It’s explained away in one off-hand comment about having parents who are therapists. At the same time, we have literally all the other characters of the same age acting like toddlers without boundaries. Neither is likely or realistic.
This book will be great for teens and adults who like a love story, but don’t like spice. And for those who don’t want a romance-only story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I often questioned why I continued to read this book because it had many issues that I didn't like. Giving it 2 stars feels generous. Lizzie is selfish, annoying, and judgmental--she has no tolerance for people who don't read/don't like books. I never connected with her and often rolled my eyes at her actions and thoughts. For someone headed to college, she seemed very immature.
The book addressed bullying and how it impacts both parties, but it was told to me instead of being shown, so I never felt empathy for Dylan. And the way his best friend confronted his bully without telling Dylan and then brought them together to talk felt like crossing personal boundaries. The conversation during the meeting was rigid and unnatural and completely unbelievable. The bully's response was so stereotypical.
The lifestyle of these characters didn't reflect the majority of the teen population saving for college. What teen can afford to buy nine new books as a meeting-the-parents gift for a boy you basically just started going out with? And what teen can afford a $200 pair of shorts that they then wear to volunteer at an animal shelter?
The plot is repetitive, boring, and lacked depth. The romance between Lizzie and Dylan had zero chemistry and Lizzie's reaction to Dylan's deception (which was hardly something to end a relationship over), made no sense. The attempts at humor also fell flat. The best part of this novel was the obvious love of books, libraries, bookstores, and kittens. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book addressed bullying and how it impacts both parties, but it was told to me instead of being shown, so I never felt empathy for Dylan. And the way his best friend confronted his bully without telling Dylan and then brought them together to talk felt like crossing personal boundaries. The conversation during the meeting was rigid and unnatural and completely unbelievable. The bully's response was so stereotypical.
The lifestyle of these characters didn't reflect the majority of the teen population saving for college. What teen can afford to buy nine new books as a meeting-the-parents gift for a boy you basically just started going out with? And what teen can afford a $200 pair of shorts that they then wear to volunteer at an animal shelter?
The plot is repetitive, boring, and lacked depth. The romance between Lizzie and Dylan had zero chemistry and Lizzie's reaction to Dylan's deception (which was hardly something to end a relationship over), made no sense. The attempts at humor also fell flat. The best part of this novel was the obvious love of books, libraries, bookstores, and kittens. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Checking You Out is a sweet contemporary YA romance focused on being true to oneself, embracing one’s interests, and finding the person to share it all with. A cute and cozy summer rom-com, Checking You Out is a delightfully charming story that has a fun secret-identity storyline, as well as an exploration of two MCs learning to embrace their true selves.
Lizzie Wei discovers that there is a mysterious reader who has been checking out all of her favorite books from the library, so her friends are determined to find the reader and convince Lizzie to leave notes for her crush. Dylan Lin loves reading, but hides his love of fantasy novels and instead embraces his jock persona. When he decides to start volunteering at a kitten nursery and his co-volunteer Lizzie asks if he likes reading, he says no. Lizzie is certain her secret crush isn’t Dylan, but when he makes a reference to her favorite book, she’s not sure what to think. Lizzie has to consider whether she can forgive Dylan for lying and Dylan has to decide if he is brave enough to be himself.
Checking You Out is a lighthearted, feel-good read emphasizing friendship, community, and genuine connection. With fantastic pacing, well-written characters, and plenty of bookish references, this is a fun story from start to finish! Overall, a cute read that’s perfect for book lovers!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Checking You Out is a sweet contemporary YA romance focused on being true to oneself, embracing one’s interests, and finding the person to share it all with. A cute and cozy summer rom-com, Checking You Out is a delightfully charming story that has a fun secret-identity storyline, as well as an exploration of two MCs learning to embrace their true selves.
Lizzie Wei discovers that there is a mysterious reader who has been checking out all of her favorite books from the library, so her friends are determined to find the reader and convince Lizzie to leave notes for her crush. Dylan Lin loves reading, but hides his love of fantasy novels and instead embraces his jock persona. When he decides to start volunteering at a kitten nursery and his co-volunteer Lizzie asks if he likes reading, he says no. Lizzie is certain her secret crush isn’t Dylan, but when he makes a reference to her favorite book, she’s not sure what to think. Lizzie has to consider whether she can forgive Dylan for lying and Dylan has to decide if he is brave enough to be himself.
Checking You Out is a lighthearted, feel-good read emphasizing friendship, community, and genuine connection. With fantastic pacing, well-written characters, and plenty of bookish references, this is a fun story from start to finish! Overall, a cute read that’s perfect for book lovers!
June 16, 2026
Lizzie Wei loves books, particularly fantasy books. Someone has been checking out the same books as Lizzie and her friends convince her to leave a note in a book to find out who this person is. They exchange notes and Lizzie is excited to meet this person. Lizzie also loves volunteering and fostering for Best Friends pet shelter, particularly the kittens. When new volunteer Dylan Lin arrives, Lizzie makes a snap judgment. He loves reading, but since being bullied, he hides it and tells Lizzie he doesn’t like books. Lizzie thinks that there’s no way that she’s writing notes with Dylan, but he says something to make her wonder.
This is a cute read. It is a YA romance, and it really feels like YA romance. Lizzie feels really young, and so do Dylan. This is good for those that are teens reading this book because they will relate to the characters. Especially the part where Dylan was bullied for being different. High school is rough and people are just not nice!
I picked up this book because I was intrigued by the concept of this book, but it felt a little repetitive. We know Dylan was bullied, how many times do we have to say it? Also, there was SO much focus on the kittens. Probably could have been shortened a bit.
The romance was barely there. The letter writers “fall in love” but I didn’t feel that through the letters. Dylan and Lizzie had a spark but a very juvenile spark.
I think this book is definitely written for tweens/early teens. That audience, in my opinion, will be the most likely to enjoy this.
This is a cute read. It is a YA romance, and it really feels like YA romance. Lizzie feels really young, and so do Dylan. This is good for those that are teens reading this book because they will relate to the characters. Especially the part where Dylan was bullied for being different. High school is rough and people are just not nice!
I picked up this book because I was intrigued by the concept of this book, but it felt a little repetitive. We know Dylan was bullied, how many times do we have to say it? Also, there was SO much focus on the kittens. Probably could have been shortened a bit.
The romance was barely there. The letter writers “fall in love” but I didn’t feel that through the letters. Dylan and Lizzie had a spark but a very juvenile spark.
I think this book is definitely written for tweens/early teens. That audience, in my opinion, will be the most likely to enjoy this.
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