Checking You Out

by Jennifer Chen

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?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Teen, Ebooks

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Jennifer 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.

Reviews

[Steff Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf @ 89% — which feels stupid since I had barely 2 chapters left, but I just couldn’t. That’s how bad it was.

[SuzieQuzie7973 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Brianna Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Courtney Mccarthy · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[#BookSavvy]

For 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.

[Sunhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Lecia Kade · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️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

[Tiffany Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

STARS: ⭐⭐⭐

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.

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 1 out of 5]

─── ⋆ 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

[blackcatbookblog · Rating 1 out of 5]

First I'd like to thank the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. I tried. This book had such a cute bookish premise that I wanted so badly to like it but I think if I read any more of it I will just get even more frustrated. The first problem was that the male lead's interests just felt too tailor made to the female lead. He just so happens to like all the same niche fantasy books that the girl like. I mean I expected like some of the same books because that's the point of the story and the set up for the plot but they just felt too nich. He loves the same fantasy cat book series, okay that's fine but also the same merman/mermaid book series? I'm sorry but that was a bit of a stretch. But that's not all, he also just so happens to be volunteering at the same animal shelter as her. Do you see why I said he just felt too tailored made to her (this is all in the first 2 chapters btw). And of course he's super attractive and has nice arms. The only difference with him so far is that he keeps his interest hidden because he doesn't want to be bullied at his new school. Which seems odd because I thought reading was considered 'cool' now. Not when I was their age but nowadays. But honestly it was after the chapter from his POV that I decided to DNF. Sometimes I like dual POV. But sometimes, like in this book it takes all the mystery and wondering what's going to happen out of the story. You know right away what the two characters think of each other because they talk about the same interaction they just had. And after their first meeting even though he knows she likes the same books as him he decides to lie and say he doesn't like books because we have to create misunderstandings and miscommunication. *Sigh* This was the point when I said, nope, I'm out. I tried one more chapter and but it made me lose all interest.

[C · Rating 1 out of 5]

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!

[Liza Buss · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Hey_She _Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Quenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Ro Szymkowiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Checking You Out is the perfect fluffy read for summer. Falling in love through letters left in library books? Amazingly adorable trope. I found my self kicking my feet and giggling as if I was Lizzie, anxiously awaiting a new note from her mysterious book soulmate. Each chapter was filled with sweet and cute moments (and I’m not just talking about the kittens). This is definitely firmly a y/a book, from Lizzie’s fleeting crushes (who didn’t have a one week crush in highschool?) to the witty texts between a tight-knit group of friends, it really is a perfect coming-of-age story.

The representation in this book is amazing. To me, it didn’t feel heavy handed or overwhelming. It fit in organically with the flow of the story and the character’s lives. There was a subtlety that I appreciated, especially when introducing characters with they/them pronouns, or expressing a characters sexuality without slapping you in the face with how they identify.

I believe this book will definitely be a big hit with its intended audience, and is going to be amazing representation for our Fellow Fantasy Readers, who might not be ready to come out of the nerdy reader closet. (I’m also not so secretly hoping for a sequel, I wish we saw more of Brooklyn)

Thanks to St.Martin’s Press and Jennifer Chen for this advance reader copy, I am so happy to give this review. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy for my shelf June 23rd, 2026.

[angel! · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the majority of this novel, I was having a rather fun time! I did find the writing and dialogue quite silly and juvenile, but I was charmed by it. The characters and their qualms and interactions often felt childish but realistic enough. I recall actually laughing out loud several times because even if the characters might’ve been underdeveloped or surface level, they were still dorky and cheesy and funny. It was endearing.

However, I was not a fan of how the plot unraveled near the end. Plot points that should have been pivotal and exciting were not satisfying or paid off in the slightest. They were upsetting and made previously-endearing characters utterly unlikeable. And the primary romance of the story, which at first was nice, felt undeserved and pushy by the end. The novel had fallen flat with a single decision and was not redeemed, in my opinion. And because of that drastic dip, I could no longer see past the little things I once found clunky but cute. Everything, rather suddenly, became too over the top and on the nose.

Regardless, the novel was a short and easily digestible read— it went by quick! Even if it wasn’t for me, I think that many readers who enjoy YA romance will have a fun time with the book, and those who have ever struggled with identity and confidence will also be able to see themselves in the main characters. That, at least, I thought was sweetly done.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC! (:

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language: R (55 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
When Lizzie finds a book receipt at the library showing that someone else has checked out her three favorite fantasy books, she and her friends set out to discover the identity of her new book crush. Dylan left the nerdy book part of his personality back at his old school, determined not to let the teasing follow him to the end of senior year and his last summer before college. Becoming closer through anonymous notes but resistant to each other in person, Lizzie and Dylan wonder if they should even bother figuring out their complicated relationship when they’re both about to leave LA for different colleges.
The characters are over-the-top in their love for books and cats in mostly endearing ways. By making them obsessed with their passions, Chen drives home the point that no one should be afraid to be themselves and shows the beauty of friends that accept you and your quirks as is. You are not alone; there are people out there who are like you and will love you for being yourself.
Lizzie and Dylan are Asian American, Jonny is implied Latino, and Elektra is implied Black. Jonny is also queer. There are several other minor characters mentioned of various races and gender identities. The mature content rating is for kissing, mentions of alcohol, partial nudity, and mild innuendo. The violence rating is for discussions of bullying.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[lucky lex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has a very good premise, but the execution fell short for me. I loved the idea of a secret admirer letter exchanging scenario, but the way that it was utilized in this felt very repetitive and ultimately underwhelming. There are many scenes with repetitive internal dialogues for both of the main characters, with little to no development. The POV shifts are a little all over the place (some of them occur paragraphs apart) which makes it difficult to really connect with the flow of the story.

This is YA, so I was expecting to not relate to the characters due to a difference in age/experience, but I found this to be too childish at times. These characters are high school graduates and college bound, but often behave as if they are still in early high school or middle school. Lizzie is consistently waffling between crushes, which makes her relationship with Dylan feel less impactful and she is constantly complaining about people judging fantasy readers, and yet, she is the most judgmental character in the book. I loved that the characters could relate over a shared love of fantasy books, but the series they relate over the most is very middle grade and ends up reinforcing the childlike tone.

I think that this would be best for young YA readers as an early exploration of the romance genre, but it unfortunately did not work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[SNALE1219 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of Checking You Out in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of Checking You Out immediately caught my attention. A story about two readers unknowingly connecting through notes left inside library books is such a charming, bookish concept, and I was excited to see how it would unfold.

While the idea behind the story is really cute, the execution didn’t fully land for me. Much of the narrative centers on Lizzie talking about books or cats, which highlights her personality but also made parts of the story feel repetitive and slower than expected. I also went into the book anticipating more of a coming-of-age element since the characters are preparing to head to college. Instead, many of the interactions felt younger than their age, which made it harder for me to connect with the characters and their journey.

That said, this definitely reads as a very YA-leaning story, and I think younger readers or those who enjoy cozy, book-centered romances may appreciate the tone and themes. In fact, this is the type of book I would happily recommend to my 14-year-old niece who enjoys lighter YA stories.

Overall, this was a sweet premise with a cozy, bookish atmosphere, but the pacing and tone made it a slower read for me personally.

[Rubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this that my nerdy reader side loved! Lizzie had a book club and book besties and even went to signings! But she was also a bit judgey. If she wasnt interested in a boy, that was fine, but to call he dumb jocks just because he didnt like to read was harsh.
Dylan was a closeted reader, but hid it due to past bullying. I did like him, but he also seemed to make the victim mentality his whole personality. Bullying is definitely tough but he created a lot of his own problems by pretending and hiding.
The book was overall cute but it definitely reads very juvenile. I love that both characters were into a fantasy series but.....one about cats? At their age? Dont get me wrong, I dont want to pull a Lizzie and judge, and I still LOVE reading toddler storybook, but their cat fantasy world just seemed a tad unbelievable that kids their age would obsess over and that it would have movie deals and all that.
Then again......Diary of a Wimpy Kid got movies so, I stand corrected lol
Anywho, they were both super immature, but they are in HS so it makes sense for target audience. One the plus side their cat love extended to fostering and volunteering and loved all the kitty talk 😍
She should have fell for Dylan after seeing him hold baby kittens 🤭

[S. R. Langstaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ Let us be bold in our choices, unafraid to be ourselves. And cherish the relationships that have made us who we are”

This book was really sweet and precious, i love how culturally inclusive and diverse the characters are. It’s make the setting very realistic.

The book is told from Dual POV Lizzie and Dylan. The story follows the characters as they both graduate high school. I really liked the believable behaviors, actions , and discussions the characters have. It felt authentic to their age. The storyline is really sweet and I found myself enjoying the cute moments and watching their story of the fantasy friend mystery resolve.

This book is about friendship, love, and growth and it told it so beautifully. Plus. Who doesn’t love reading about kittens and books. I loved the story and connection about Unbearable Loss it was really deep and sweet and offered a deeper meaning and understanding of Dylan’s character and added and additional way for the readers to connect on a deeper level with the book itself.

I hope to read more books from this author, I usually don’t read in this genre but I really enjoyed this opportunity thank you to NetGalley.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read and review an ARC from Netgalley.

As a teacher-librarian at a public school that has all reading levels --from emerging readers to university bound students--I am constantly looking for appropriate content that will interest my readers. Mysteries and romances are currently flying off of the shelves.

Jennifer Chen is a new author for me. It is often challenging to find appropriate YA romance novels to add to the collection, so I was pleased to find this book --Checking You Out-- as an option.


The main character for this novel is Lizzie, who loves books and kittens. She is a high school senior who is looking to improve her dating life. Her friends push her to try new things to get out of her comfort zone. There are some options -a secret fantasy reader who leaves notes in books in the library, a cute volunteer at the kitten shelter and the high school valedictorian.

What I like about this book and series is that it has a hint of romance, but also strong friendships and a character who will still pursue her goals even if she is in the middle of romance. And hey, who doesn’t love reading and kittens?

[Hannah Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press at Wednesday Books and NetGalley for generously granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Checking You Out is at its core a sweet, cheesy, YA romance. Did I like it and have a generally good time reading it? Absolutely! Was it anything earth-shattering that I fell in love with? No. Sometimes you need a cheesy book that just makes you feel good and doesn't require a lot of thought! The romance was adorable, and I loved the representation for baby cat shelters. I am allergic to cats, but this book made even me consider fostering a little baby kitty! I also loved the fact that the characters are big readers, and it made me giddy when I got to see one of my favorite fantasy books mentioned. However, I felt like the "conflict" towards the end of the story fell a little flat and didn't make a lot of sense for the characters in that particular situation. Some of it tended to be repetitive, and towards the end of the book I became a little disinterested.

I would recommend this book to a cat lover who is a big reader and looking for a cheesy YA romance that will warm you from the inside out!

[Amanda Hess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Checking You Out is a clean, cozy YA romance with heart! I can relate to the joy of finding book people and sharing my passion for reading with others. I enjoyed reading about Lizzie’s literary interests and love of cats; however, the book was a little one-dimensional for me. The characters don’t have much depth beyond their stated interests, and I think they could have been more developed. The material is aimed at a younger YA crowd and while romance is the focus, it is written in a very clean and sweet way, which I found refreshing after reading spicier YA novels. I think it is important to have a range of maturity levels in YA books, and this is a great read for someone that is newer to relationships. I loved that the author included many diverse characters in a way that felt uplifting and natural. Representation in literature is so important, and Chen did a fantastic job. I would happily recommend this novel to book lovers in the middle grade/ younger YA crowd.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cozy read it leaned towards the younger side it read like a middle school book Lizzie’s problem seemed easy to solved if she just talked or just seemed childish the story was easy to follow, simple, and straight forward it meant to be a quick read something you just read when you’re in the mood for it it’s a short book I almost quit it, but the story convince me otherwise I liked the cats and the place the protagonist volunteered at I like animals and cats are some of my favorites, so the scenes with them were some of my favorites. The romance was cute and the mystery with the notes was fun, but I expected that it was going to be dealt with more, but it was kinda sidelined in favor with the romance there wasn’t much emphasis on it. It wasn’t much of a mystery some of the characters were cliché the dialogue was good this book is good for someone who wants something quick and cozy, and kinda cute along the way. I’ll describe this book as ball of fluff with a nice mystery, but the plot was underdeveloped it was a good read, but I was expecting more.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen has such a charming premise—bookish notes left in library books, hidden identities, and a soft rom-com setup that immediately caught my attention.
While the concept was sweet and full of potential, the execution didn’t fully work for me. The story leaned younger than I expected, and at times it felt more middle grade or early YA in tone, which made it harder for me to connect with the characters and their emotional development.
That said, there are definitely enjoyable elements. The love of books, the library setting, and the idea of connecting through shared stories was really cute and will likely resonate with younger readers or those who enjoy lighter, wholesome romances. The themes of being true to yourself and embracing your interests were also strong throughout.
Overall, while this one wasn’t the best fit for my personal reading preferences, I can see it being a great match for readers looking for a softer, more youthful rom-com with bookish charm.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Morgan St.Germain · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book felt like I was going to love it. I love the trope of secret letter writing and the fun that comes with the our characters trying to piece it together. In the end, I was left feeling like this book was just okay. I liked the chemistry between Dylan and Lizzie but Dylan was by far the stronger character. Lizzie left me feeling frustrated at times considering she claimed people were too judgmental about reading but she was just as judgy to everyone else. The reveal was very underwhelming and honestly the back half felt like everything was so fast. I like the fact that it was short but I feel like it could have been fleshed out a tiny bit. In the end, I can see this working well for middle schoolers, it felt just a little too young for the ages of our characters but I would check out this author again!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the arc of this book!

[Doris Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book on NetGalley, thank you so much for allowing me to read it and give an honest review.

Checking You Out is the perfect book to read in the summer. Falling in love through letters left in a library was the sweetest concept. It’s such a cute YA story.

If you love kittens, great food, different book genres, a love story, and a great friend group—this is the book for you. I especially loved Lizzie’s relationship with her friend group.

Dylan’s situation was a little sad. Dealing with bullying and feeling like he had to hide who he truly is was heartbreaking, but I loved seeing his growth and how, in the end, he was able to be his true self.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a light romance like this, and it made me realize how much I’ve missed them after reading so many thrillers lately. This book definitely has me wanting to pick up more romance and YA soon.

I loved Dylan and Lizzie’s relationship throughout the book and was so happy they got their happy ending.