Libraries are very special to me. As a child raised by a single mother who didn’t have much in the way of disposable income when I was young, they have been crucial to my development as a reader, writer, and all-round human being. And so I love reading books which reflect the vital role libraries play in a community. When you add lesbian romance to the mix – as Karin Kallmaker does with Checked Out – you’re not too far from my ideal read.
Agent Peri Garritsen itches to return to active duty after being injured in an explosion. Her superior officer gives Peri what she assumes will be an easy field assignment: get a local librarian to answer questions about a citizen’s suspicious searches on a library computer. But Lisette Osborne resents the government’s intrusion, and – even more importantly – holds sacred her duty to protect the civil rights of library patrons. And though these two women meet at crossed purposes, the connection between them is impossible to ignore.
I absolutely adored the first third of this novel. The current running between Peri and Lisette is electric as, in spite of their conflicting goals, they’re drawn to one another. Kallmaker’s dialogue between her leading ladies thrums – both with dramatic tension, and an element of erotic possibility they’re both reluctant to acknowledge. And yet, regardless of their resistance – and with a little help from an enchanted coin – Peri and Lisette move towards one another.
The ways in which a blizzard forces them to spend time in close proximity, torn between revelling in the breathtaking intimacy of those moments and frantically propping up the walls designed to keep them safe… it’s utterly delicious. Kallmaker is such a wonderful writer that she makes a classic trope – Forced Proximity – feel brand new. And the way she kept Peri and Lisette meeting on the page means the story launches with real momentum – it made me giddy, hungry to find out what happens next, the way I was with early Grey’s Anatomy.
But after that, in spite of Kallmaker’s brilliant prose, I didn’t feel particularly engaged by the plot from the 40% mark. This is because the core conflict between our leading ladies fizzles out before the midpoint. Peri’s case is the story’s main source of dramatic tension, yet it’s never fully mined – which makes the resolution of her arc feel incomplete. And Lisette loses her most visceral objection to getting closer with Peri fairly early, which means their relationship feels more like an inevitability than a triumph. I would have loved to see Peri and Lisette properly engage with what Peri’s career meant for them as a couple.
Still, even if the plot slackened, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in Norcester. Small towns can be a difficult thing for romance authors in particular; to create a rural community that is charming without venturing into the too-sweet territory of twee. But Norcester is a delightful setting, vivid and charming, with its own distinctive personality.
In this and a hundred more ways, Kallmaker’s decades of experience as a writer shines through. Norcester – pronounced Norster (think Worcester) – is a thriving community brought together by extreme weather conditions. Though its inhabitants must pull together to thrive collectively, and nothing stays secret or anonymous for long, there is still room for difference to be acknowledged and respected.
And the library part of the setting is wonderful too. Through Lisette’s repeated interactions with an obstreperous regular, we see how deeply she holds to her principles. She stands firm against requests to remove books from circulation because of moral objections to the contents or the ideas contained within:
“The concept of a free and accessible public library is older than the Constitution,” [Lisette] said promptly. “It’s a cornerstone of democracy. Free to read, free to think. It is a right and a responsibility. Fostering that right is a public duty and service.”
– Lisette Osborne, Checked Out, by Karin Kallmaker
In the words of Captain Raymond Holt: “Yaaasss, Queen!” I love Lisette wholeheartedly.
I’m also very fond of Peri – though I can be wary of reading women of colour written by white authors, Kallmaker has created a character that is three-dimensional, compelling, and in possession of the contradictions that make us human. This novel isn’t colourblind – or I’d likely have checked out of reading it, if you’ll forgive the pun. Peri’s background has a bearing on her career’s trajectory, how she is treated by those in power (particularly during a certain administration), and the way she moves through the world. She feels completely real. I only wish we’d explored her PTSD in greater detail.
That being said, Checked Out lands perfectly as a low-angst, festive-themed read. It’s a wholesome, charming book. I enjoyed both the story and the opportunity to learn more about the Coin of Love. And Kallmaker’s writing is nothing short of divine. I recommend this novella to anyone who loves Christmas stories, uplifting reads, and smalltown romance.
Copy received from the author in exchange for a fair review.
Lou Morgan 