prfctlymismtchd's review against another edition
3.0
I really loved Dewey Belong Together (book 1 of this 2-book grouping in the Green Valley Library series), and was, therefore, a little disappointed by Checking You Out. I just expected a bit more.
The premise of this book is just a bit forced. Teenage gamers who fell in love (without having met in person) - meet for the first time a decade later when their respective best friends are dating and both have moved to small town TN. In the meantime, she's become a single mom and he's an injured war-vet. Meet Cute - Check. However.... he broke her heart as a teen by enlisting and cutting off contact and doesn't recognize her when they meet. (Despite her name being weirdly similar and knowing she used to play the same video games as him etc). But she does recognize him and is understandably upset. Yet she forgives him almost immediately. Generally, this is the conflict of the entire book. (yes, they have to deal with his chronic pain as an injured vet, and her complicated co-parenting status - but these are not the main meat and bones).
I did like how they deal with his chronic pain and what a bad day for him might look like, but I wish it had delved a little deeper into these realities or made them less of an issue for the storyline.
I really wanted to love this book as much as i did the first but the plot line just didn’t feel complex enough to be on par with Whynots debut novel. I do like that there was no 3rd act breakup, and I enjoyed seeing Max and Jonathan and all the other side characters again.
The premise of this book is just a bit forced. Teenage gamers who fell in love (without having met in person) - meet for the first time a decade later when their respective best friends are dating and both have moved to small town TN. In the meantime, she's become a single mom and he's an injured war-vet. Meet Cute - Check. However.... he broke her heart as a teen by enlisting and cutting off contact and doesn't recognize her when they meet. (Despite her name being weirdly similar and knowing she used to play the same video games as him etc). But she does recognize him and is understandably upset. Yet she forgives him almost immediately. Generally, this is the conflict of the entire book. (yes, they have to deal with his chronic pain as an injured vet, and her complicated co-parenting status - but these are not the main meat and bones).
I did like how they deal with his chronic pain and what a bad day for him might look like, but I wish it had delved a little deeper into these realities or made them less of an issue for the storyline.
I really wanted to love this book as much as i did the first but the plot line just didn’t feel complex enough to be on par with Whynots debut novel. I do like that there was no 3rd act breakup, and I enjoyed seeing Max and Jonathan and all the other side characters again.
iggyebab's review against another edition
2.0
I hate that this book did not work for me.
I really liked the origin story and the discussion about chronic pain but these characters did not have an sizzle. They are flat and a bit robot like.
I really liked the origin story and the discussion about chronic pain but these characters did not have an sizzle. They are flat and a bit robot like.
lianareadsblog's review
5.0
I loved her debut story Dewey belong together and couldn’t wait to read this one after seeing the cover.
Great writing as expected, amazing humor and heart throughout the story, great character development.
Norman has a lot of wounds to close (both visible and not so visible to the open eye) and Lois will change her life in a matter of weeks.
They collide when least expected and their banter and friendship made me want to be there with them at all times and high fives some scenes.
Again, the author has done an amazing job of showing how much some disabilities are misunderstood and that they don’t make anyone that lives with them any lesser.
Checking you out is a romance that just fills my heart with hope. Hope that no matter how you live your life, there's always someone out there to love and be loved.
Arc review
Great writing as expected, amazing humor and heart throughout the story, great character development.
Norman has a lot of wounds to close (both visible and not so visible to the open eye) and Lois will change her life in a matter of weeks.
They collide when least expected and their banter and friendship made me want to be there with them at all times and high fives some scenes.
Again, the author has done an amazing job of showing how much some disabilities are misunderstood and that they don’t make anyone that lives with them any lesser.
Checking you out is a romance that just fills my heart with hope. Hope that no matter how you live your life, there's always someone out there to love and be loved.
Arc review
kimalah's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An enjoyable second chance romance. I really liked Norman in Dewey Belong Together, so I was glad to see him get his HEA.
phoenixinthecity's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this second chance romance featuring Norman and Lois, Jonathan and Max' BFFs from Dewey Belong Together, who had a secret past that neither of their BFFs knew about.
Norman has chronic pain from a war injury and has to use a cane and there's a really fantastic scene where he was completely vulnerable to Lois and she was totally there for him, protecting his privacy and caring for him. This was a bit of a slowburn since Norman didn't recognize Lois at first and she was mad at him for how he broke things off - Lois has abandonment issues that need to be overcome and the house fire which seemed to come out of left field at the end seemed to give her all the assurance/proof she needed that he was going to stick around.
This was another layer of Whynot's Own Voices story telling since she also lives with chronic pain, although not due to a war injury (check out her author's note). She's definitely an author I'll be looking out for.
Norman has chronic pain from a war injury and has to use a cane and there's a really fantastic scene where he was completely vulnerable to Lois and she was totally there for him, protecting his privacy and caring for him. This was a bit of a slowburn since Norman didn't recognize Lois at first and she was mad at him for how he broke things off - Lois has abandonment issues that need to be overcome and the house fire which seemed to come out of left field at the end seemed to give her all the assurance/proof she needed that he was going to stick around.
This was another layer of Whynot's Own Voices story telling since she also lives with chronic pain, although not due to a war injury (check out her author's note). She's definitely an author I'll be looking out for.
arblea's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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