This is a fantastic book and just right for us all this year. Based on our first lockdown due to Covid 19 this tells of the lives of people living in a block of flats and several local homes. It sheds light on peoples lives and what can and should happen in our everyday lives. The community feeling has all but disappeared these days and it is such a shame. I think everyone should read this very well written book and it is down to all concerned that it made it to the shelves so quickly and in time for our second lockdown. This is a 5 star book and I recommend everyone to read and enjoy this. Well done to all the team and author.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Sophia is afraid lockdown will put her life on pause – just as she was she was going to put herself out there and meet someone. Jack is used to living life to the fullest, and is going stir-crazy after just days isolating. Until that night he hears a woman crying from the balcony beneath his.

Soon their balcony meetings are the highlight of Jack and Sophia’s days. But even as they grow closer together, they’re always kept apart.

It’s your typical love story - ups and downs and ends happily (sorry, spoiler alert). But I loved every second of it. This is one of those lighthearted reads that you can’t help but devour. I also kind of loved reading something about COVID and being in lockdown - with a light at the end of the tunnel. Short and sweet review for you, but I loved it.

Hmmm I'm rather undecided about Love in Lockdown. Honestly I think it's a bit too soon for me to have read any books set in the (yet) unresolved world of the covid pandemic, and I found myself at one point wondering if I should even finish because it was making me anxious. I'm glad I did finish, because ultimately Love In Lockdown was a sweet book... but maybe just not for me.

Overall the story was solid, but it just felt unrealistic in certain details such as, how, in 2020, could two people who live above-and-below each other never have seen each other OR figure out how to look each other up online to see what the other looks like. Also I kept wanting to shake-up the characters a bit, with some doom-and-gloom "IT"S NEVER GOING TO END!!!!" type speech.

So, yeah, It might be too soon.

Overall well written, if a little too simplistic. I might check out Chloe James' future books after she gets a few done, this one just felt like something was missing.

I suppose this is an instance of Its me not the book...

I love stories about how people fall in love under unusual circumstances.. especially when you can’t physically be together.

While this story was unique and sweet and relatable it wasn’t the escape that I love books for. The pandemic is so real and in our faces and every day lives constantly that it’s impossible to find escape and joy in a book where it plays a central part as well. I would love to go back and re-read this book when my state no longer has 8,000 cases a day and running out of hospital beds. I’m sure it will be a better read then. Again it’s a me thing not a book thing.

I ended up having to put this book down because when requesting this book I thought I would be okay reading all about the pandemic but I've found that I"m really not and it's somewhat messing with my mental health.

I'll pick this one up again later on down the line because I've heard good things about it!

I also found myself struggling with the format of this book as there were no clear breaks for chapters!

Was this the best book I’ve ever read? No. Was it an original and sweet read? Yes!

During these testing times, I’ve enjoyed reading so much more because it transports you to a different world - so for people who want to read for escapism, this probably isn’t the best choice for you because as you may have guessed from the title, it’s about love in lockdown!

Sophia Trent and Jack Stanton meet on their respective balconies and start a friendship (that begins to develop) without ever having seen each other in real life.

It was a nice, charming read and I liked all of the characters. Personally I would’ve like a little extra from the plot, although I really enjoyed reading all of the children’s parts.

All in all, it was a comforting read but I wouldn’t read it again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received this from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't really like this at all. The writing wasn't great, it felt very stale and the storyline didn't help. Nothing really happened until the last 25% of the book and I didn't feel invested in the characters.

This book was the perfect escape. It was lovely and fun. It was my first book by this author and I will definitely be on the look out for more!!

Set during the recent Covid lockdown it tells the story of Sophia and Jack. They are neighbours, Jack living in the flat above Sophia who start talking while out on their respective balconies during the lockdown. Both dealing with their own health issues and respective challenges of having to quarantine and being a key worker.

It's an uplifting tale of finding love in lockdown and a whole community coming together to help each other. I found it quite emotional reading I guess that's because we can all relate.

The characters are well written and likeable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

As the title says it was love in lockdown. It was a nice sweet romance with a difference.

We have Sophia who lives below Jack in a block of flats who end up speaking to each other.

Sophia likes to help people and ends up setting up a group chat where people. Can help each other.

I found the book funny in places.

Love In Lockdown
By Chloe James
Rated: 5 stars *****

Love In Lockdown shows so many displays of love through kindness, empathy, romance and much more. It is emotional but it is also uplifting about all of life, from human to nature during lockdown and how people connected and what occurred and how nature became the most vibrant it has ever been in decades. It has glimmers of humour, warmth and hope in what is a unique and surprisingly delightful read that everyone will be able to find something to connect and relate to in this book, which is the first of its kind to focus on relationships and community during the stress of the backdrop of Covid 19. It is far from depressing and instead leaves an unexpected warmth.

Thank you so much to Ellie Pilcher from Avon Books who sent me an invite to review.

Full Review

This unique book reflects the times that we live in, but that doesn't mean it is all doom and gloom; far from it! It is a book that is not now just universal because love is, but also because we are all in some form or another experiencing living with Covid 19. It is all relatable and yet, as much as Covid 19 is challenging and can be harrowing, this book is surprisingly uplifting as well, within a wonderfully written realism of a community coming together through the stressful times, and yet relationships are formed despite this. It is written well with so much acknowledged throughout, whilst telling a great story.

There is Erica who works as a midwife and Jenny who is having to self-isolate due to having underlying issues. Everything from the weather being gorgeously sunny to what was on TV to Zoom  to what happened in education to clapping for the NHS is included and more... In some ways this is a novel that may help people never to forget these moments and also will show generations to come what we are currently living through and have lived through, all in a fictionalised book that has so much reality. It is all moving and endearing. There is also the worry and emotion that runs through these moments and also a baby being born. It, quite originally, shows  the father and his emotions throughout the pregnancy and when the baby is born. He is a complex character with some secrets to behold and has some twists and turns in his life.

The loss of freedoms is pronounced and how humans had to adapt to living socially distanced and also virtually, but so is the vibrancy of nature that emerged in all its splendour, taking back its space.

It's also a love story about meeting someone online during times of lockdown as the App, Hinge is discovered. There is some humour attached to this. There are also cakes and cocktails and all the social distancing on the balcony and courtyard as life changes and yet still goes on.

The book shows how connected people can be and it is interesting getting to know all the characters personalities and seeing some as "drama queens" and others showing kindness and empathy. It is in some ways thought-provoking without being heavy, as characters realise that priorities change a bit within their lives during the pandemic and for what to focus on afterwards and how relationships can change.

It is ultimately and meaningful, delightful book to read.

How have you coped during both lockdown's? I've literally spent the whole year indoors & have indulged in so so many fabulous books, this one being book No 257!

This book was so lovely & it was a refreshing lighthearted romcom centred around the Coronavirus. Easy reading, lovable characters, encapsulating everything we've experienced throughout the year without going into too much detail.

Whilst out clapping for the NHS you start talking to the man on his balcony above you, you've never met him before, but by the end of lockdown you've grown really close, the only problem being you've never met!

𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 🌟 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Chloe James for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I know what you’re thinking... A book about COVID lockdown during COVID lockdown? I must be crazy! Answer? A little. First, this cover caught my eye instantly. Contemporary romances have had the best cover art this year and I’ve really been loving it! This sweet romance about love in lockdown gives hope to all the singles in quarantine.
When the world shuts down due to a deadly virus, Jack Stanton is forced to work from home. His health leaves him at high risk which has left him completely isolated in his apartment. After switching career tracks from law to teaching, Sophia Trent is teaching from her living room. With stress and emotions running high, Sophia is turned to tears while on her balcony. Jack reaches out, trying to comfort his downstairs neighbor and soon a friendship blooms.
Jack and Sophia are both likeable characters that were easy to read and root for! I couldn’t wait for them to leave lockdown and finally meet face to face! If you’re in the need for a good book to sink into this weekend, look no further!

Love in Lockdown is a modern love story set during quarantine. I’ll be honest, I thought this book was going to be cheesy but the author really captured the moment. The book doesn’t center on the scary part of the pandemic, more about the isolation and community that came together. I loved how each person in the group had a role to play and how each used their strengths to help the community during this challenging time.

The world has gone mad. There's a pandemic and the world is in lockdown.
When Jack hears Sophia crying on the balcony below him, they begin a tentative friendship. As the pandemic continues, the feelings between Jack and Sophia continue to grow. The only problem? They've never actually seen each other.

This is an unconventional love story and I was here for every second. Usually in a romance I'm screaming at the characters to "JUST KISS ALREADY" but I found myself loving their rapport even without them being in the same place.
I loved Jack and Sophia and the side characters just rounded out the story and setting beautifully. With a lot of romance novels it feels like the two love interests are locked in their own bubble and the side characters aren't as important, but there was such a nice sense of community.
The two of them not meeting for so long just made when they finally saw each other that much sweeter. A solid and adorable romance.

I think I would enjoy this book ten years from now. As it is, I hated reading it. 2020 has been a rough year, and reading a book about coronavirus while it’s still happening? Bad idea. I think the timing of this book could have been so much better if delayed. It’s a sweet idea, but not yet.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy for an honest review.

Mini review:
Set during lockdown, I think this books was just a little too soon for me -- to be fair it was probably one of the more relatable books I've ever read since my lived reality (minus the romance -- that would be nice!) is very similar to Sophia's at the moment.

There were definitely some sweet moments between Jack and Sophia, but the ending felt a bit abrupt/unfinished. I also would have liked to dive deeper into some of the secondary characters and their pandemic stories. I think that would have made for a richer story. Some of the characters were just a little... dull.

My main issue remains that during COVID I use books as an escape from the pandemic -- not a retelling.

2.5 stars

I’m going to preface this whole review by stating that I’ve been seriously ill with COVID in the last month and I’ve read this during my still difficult, ongoing recovery. Thus, I’ve read this when I wasn’t really in the mood to be immersed in pandemic and lockdown topics.

Love in Lockdown was a gentle read, slow to steadily paced and lacking in a bit of excitement for me. The two main characters were in apartments above one another and both with health problems. Neither the character of Jack or Sophia really captured by attention fully and I found I had to push through to finish the book. What I really struggled with was the inevitable lack of meeting of the two MCs.

This was a story not just of the couple but of family and community. It did capture some of the early feeling of UK lockdown, the sense of togetherness and pulling together locally. However, some elements of the community storyline felt a little twee and sometimes cringey. Sophia herself also gave me those vibes a bit.

I would say this was not the read for me now but I also think it wouldn’t really be up my street generally. I do think it will appeal to some, maybe those not personally affected by pandemic tragedy.

Thank you to Avon UK for the early review copy.

What a year 2020 has been! Quarantine has been different for every country, city and person. Love in Lockdown by Chloe James incorporates all the lessons this global pandemic has taught us while keeping it light hearted and hilarious through the telling of a cute love story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for this copy! All opinions are of my own.
Love in Lockdown tells the story of Sophia and Jack who are both self isolating in their own apartments. When they both stand on their balcony for the weekly front liner worker support clap, they begin a friendship through talking on their balconies.
I can not rate this book high enough. I loved every second of this book. It really emphasizes the fact that each person has been effected by this pandemic in different ways and that your situation may not be as bad as you thought. I highly recommend everyone reads this book!

I was a bit sceptical when I read the premise but wanted a ‘light’ read after my previous read. But I must say that I really enjoyed it. Some might say that the author was just using the current Pandemic as a gimmick but in all honesty, I felt that it had a deeper role to play.
The story concerns Sophia and Jack who ‘meet’ on ‘Clap for Carers’ night, when Jack hears Sophia crying on the balcony. Jack is isolating due to health issues and Sophia is a teacher trying to do her job over ‘zoom’. They introduce themselves and the relationship progresses from there. This story is not just about them though. There are a whole host of characters for whom lockdown has had differing effects. It showed how the pandemic has affected people and I am sure that the readers could identify with what at least one of these characters was feeling.
I loved reading this story and getting to know all the people who come to make up Sophia’s lockdown life. Thank you, Chloe James, for writing a book set in the pandemic that highlights the positives that have come out of this strange time and not just the negatives.