Tips for Tuesday - Books: Checking You Out & Pretty Dead Things

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Books: Checking You Out & Pretty Dead Things 

Today, we recommend Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen. After Lizzie finds out that someone has been checking out all her favorite books, she leaves a note in a book and they begin corresponding through books.  She develops a huge crush on him and can't wait to meet him in in real life. Little does she know that her book soulmate is none other than her co-volunteer at the animal shelter, Dylan, a jock who claims to hate books.

Although there are numerous stories in books, movies, and stage shows of people falling in love through letters (whether handwritten or email), this book puts an engaging new spin on the trope. For one thing, this book is more friends-to-lovers than the usual enemies-to-lovers, as Lizzie and Dylan never really hate each other and quickly develop a sweet friendship. For another,  any misconceptions they have about one another are based on actual interactions rather than inherent prejudices. 

This book is also about being true to yourself. This is something that Dylan struggles with due to a history of being bullied. Uniquely, the book deals with the aftermath of being bullied rather than the actual bullying. The author does an excellent job of portraying the scars and psychological effects of bullying and how they affect the victim going forward. Thus, even when Dylan doesn't always act in the ways the reader might like, his actions are understandable in terms of what he's been through, and your heart goes out to him.  The scene between him and his bully seems unrealistic and forced, however, and something just meant to tie everything up in a nice way that is not likely to be most people's reality. 

The book is also about finding your people. This is something Lizzie has done successfully before the book begins. Dylan, however, struggles with it also because of his history of being bullied.  Lizzie's friend group is so wonderfully supportive of each other. Their interactions always make you want to smile or maybe even happy cry, if you're an especially sensitive person. It's heartwarming the way they eventually take Dylan in as one of their own, and so is the way his relationship with his friend, Elecktra, develops, and he gradually opens up to her.

The romance in this book is extremely slow-burning, which some people may not like. However, refreshingly, it makes sense within the story, and it is not just because the author has thrown in a lot of unnecessary conflict, which is often the case. The relationship develops exactly the way it needs to, making the payoff even sweeter. 

Plus, the book is full of lots of book talk and plenty of cute kittens. If you are a fan of either of these things, even if you are not into the same genre as the main characters, specifically fantasy, you will not be able to resist it. 

Today, we are talking about Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox. Years ago, teenager Isabelle Whitmore disappeared during the Lone Star Princess Pageant. It was rumored that she was killed by her boyfriend, Ben, and perhaps buried somewhere on his family's property, Sherman Ranch. Now, it's pageant time again, and the ranch is being torn down to make way for a new housing development. Old tensions are stirred up, and Isabelle's twin sister, Ingrid, returns home determined to find out what really happened to her.

Many aspects of this story are extremely cliched, like the missing sister, the suspected boyfriend, and the other sister returning home after many years to solve the mystery. Still, the characters are intriguing enough. However, having two sisters with such similiar names (they are called Izzy and Iggy) is confusing, and it's too easy to mix up which one is which. 

The pageant setting is fairly unique and interesting. The background of the storm coming in really ramps up the tension albeit in a kind of cliched way. Plus despite that, the story seems to move along extremely slowly. It keeps feeling like something major is going to happen, and then it doesn't. From the book description it seems like characters will be dropping like flies. However, only a few characters actually die, and that doesn't happen until near the end of the book. 

Still,the story is not completely predictable. There are some extremely surprising twists and turns along the way. The ending is a completely shocker but still makes sense in terms of the story. All in all, the book is really a mixed bag. In some ways, there's a lot to like but in other ways it could definitely be better. 

And that's our view. Checking You Out was published last Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Pretty Dead Things will be published next Tuesday, July 5, 2026.

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday. 

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