Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen, 320 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2026. $15.
Language: R (55 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (kissing, mentions of alcohol, partial nudity, and mild innuendo); Violence: PG (discussions of bullying)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
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.
Reviewer: Carolina Johnson
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