I am sure there are going to be a proliferation of romance novels set during these strange lockdown times we have been suffering over the last nine months and, I have to say, it was with some trepidation that I approached this book. I am not a fan of gimmicky books that are written just to take advantage of a current trend, they often lack in any passion or conviction. Having just finished Love in Lockdown by Chloe James, wiping tears from the corner of my eyes, I am delighted to say that this is definitely not one of those books and I absolutely loved it.

The book follows the stories of Sophia and Jack who live above one another in a block of flats. They have never met but, as the UK goes into lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, they introduce themselves during the Thursday night ‘Clap For Carers,’ and things move on from there. The question is, is it possible to fall in love with someone whom you’ve never seen.

The author has done an absolutely fantastic job of capturing a lot of the tiny things that became symbolic of the pandemic and the unique times we are currently living in. The sense of isolation, but also the new community spirit and idea of caring for others that has grown up out of necessity in recent months. All of the familiar goings on are here – the difficulty of getting supermarket delivery slots, lack of flour, trying to explain Zoom to the elderly generation, NHS rainbows, the importance of pets, antibaccing your shopping, bad haircuts, socially-distanced weddings, furlough, and everything else that is the new normal. Does anyone even remember what the world used to be like?

Despite the fact that she has shoehorned all of this into the book, it never feels contrived or unnecessary. The writing is done in such a sympathetic and understanding way that it is very difficult to believe this book was written while lockdown was going on, and not with the benefit of some distance from the experience. I am amazed that she has managed to achieve such balance and beauty in the writing in these circumstances; there is no doubt that the author is very talented.

There were so many really touching moments in the book that moved me to tears, and other moments of real humour. It is a very uplifting book, which I wasn’t expected, mired as we in this as an ongoing problem and something that is causing so much anguish still. I know that for many people it is going to be too soon to be reading about the situation in a piece of fiction, it is still too close and raw a pain, but if you do want to read a novel set in this time, you won’t do much better. If you are a fan of books such at Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare, this has a similar feel and I am sure you would enjoy this.

Love in Lockdown was an unexpected, positive pleasure and I would not hesitate to recommend it to romance fans everywhere.

Thank you NetGalley, Chloe James and Avon Books UK for the ARC of Love in Lockdown. This is my personal review.
The title alone was enough for me to want to read this book. It was nice to see the what ifs that could happen during the pandemic we all are living in now. To be able to communicate and connect with others when social distancing is so real right now was nice to see that it was possible even if it was only in a book.
I had to giggle when Sophia and her room mate were discussing a toilet paper shortage and the ways they could solve they problem for them at home.
Sophia and Jack being able to touch even thru words was heartwarming.

Love in lockdown
By Chloe James
Pub date nov 23
May contain spoilers
I loved this book I couldn’t put it down it’s such a great read a important read about lockdown and you get a taste of What it’s like and how people dead with it.
It’s about two young woman who live together sophie and Erica they like best friends sophie shielding and Erica a midwife and one night Erica was working and Sophie does the clap for the hospital and start crying about her mum who a doctor and Erica as a midwife the tears we re flowing and a voice cone up from upstairs it was jack they start talking he works in a bar and is off work and Sophie does his shopping they have they own what app group she learn everything about it him they start two like each other through what app it’s a great read a important read I enjoyed so much xxx

This is such a timely books to read in our current situation. With COVID-19 and lockdowns everywhere I thought this book was super cute. The problems I had were how, for any reason, could they not have seen each other for months. Also I felt like there was no conflict!

What a perfect book to read with the current times we are in. Love it lockdown is so cute and sweet, that shows you no matter what the situation is you can find love. One of the cutest rom-coms I have read in a while! While it was based in the UK, it was still completely relatable with me being in the US. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

I received this ARC from netgalley for my honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Chloe James for the advanced copy of LOVE IN LOCKDOWN, in return for my honest review. Love in Lockdown is available November 23, 2020!

Sophia has been forced into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the world. One night when she is out on her balcony clapping for the healthcare workers, she finds herself emotional. While crying on her balcony she hears a male voice (Jake) from the balcony above asking if she’s alright. Sophia and Jake being talking and form a friendship. Slowly other members of the complex start to join the story and they are all helping one another through this tough time.

This is a Lifetime movie in a book. The beginning was a bit confusing as in the first few chapters the characters are living normal lives and then out of nowhere, they are in lockdown. There is no explanation of the lockdown and I had to go back a few chapters to make sure I didn’t miss something. It is only because I have lived this pandemic (like the rest of the world) that I really had any idea what the author was talking about. I found the relationship between the two main characters to be progressing in an unrealistic way and though they were likeable characters I just didn’t connect with them. Overall, the book was a super easy read. I did laugh at a few things throughout just because it’s nice to find some humor (and goodness) during the craziness that has been 2020. If you’re looking for a light read with a cheesy storyline, this one is for you!

Love in Lockdown was cute, but not particularly believable.

I liked the idea of this novel, the Covid-19 tie-in was timely, and the characters were insanely likeable (almost too likeable...they bordered on becoming caricatures). But you cannot tell me that in all those months, our two main characters, Sophia and Jack, would have never seen each other, or looked each other up on-line. I don't believe it for a second. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for this type of book, because there was literally no conflicts to overcome, no antagonists to dislike....nothing.

I realize the point was for the story to be uplifting in times of deep isolation...but it just came across as a little too "happy-go-lucky" for my taste.

There was also one story line that was mentioned numerous times, but then faded into oblivion. (view spoiler)

Anyway, if you're looking for a super light, super fluffy story, this would be a good choice.

Available November 23, 2020

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my review copy.

What a super-lovely book! I absolutely loved this cute romance story set during our first lockdown.

Sofia and Jack share a wonderful conversation after the 'clap for carers' on a lovely evening. Not being able to see each other, Jack lives in the flat above Sofia's, doesn't stand in the way for these two to connect with each other. The chapters alternate between Sofia and Jack, making the story seen from their POV very relatable.

After setting up a WhatsApp group, Sofia and Jack work together to be there for anyone in their little community, from telephone calls with lonely neighbours to doing shopping for those shielding or finding a dog for well-loved neighbour Bertie. Together with their neighbours they make lockdown liveable.

Yes this is a romance novel, but it is also a book about kindness. Kindness towards your neighbours and offer companionship to those who are lonely or unable to shop. But also about kindness towards yourself, kindness towards the health issues both Sofia and Jack were dealing with, and cutting yourself some slack when adjusting to a new normal.

Loved the uplifting spirit of this book! Thank you Avon Book UK and NetGalley for my eARC in return for an honest review.

Love in Lockdown by Chloe James

During the Covid-19 lockdown Sophia gets to know her upstairs neighbour Jack during chats on the balcony. The story of them falling in love is set against the backdrop of their family, friends and community trying to cope with the pandemic. A heart-warming story that also covers more serious issues of chronic illness, bereavement and grief, loneliness and many others. Lovely characters, great story and a fabulous record of what the lockdown was really like (I'm sure we'll forget all the details the author includes as times goes on) - very highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

The cover was adorable and really gave me fluffy-romance vibe, so did the blurb. But it was just alright for me? It wasn`t something i was too invested in, sadly. The characters were so... meh? And sometimes it felt like they did not exactly care about the covid or the fact that this was a lockdown. Jack were a bit cute here and there, but that`s it.

Nice cover and of course the attraction of a romance during this pandemic.

I just did not really enjoy the writing style (present tense) and the romance was not as fulfilling as I hoped. The idea is quite nice (the balconies) but let's face it: it is 2020 and you can facetime/Skype/Zoom/Teams and snap pictures all you want.
The story did entertain me so 3 stars.

It’s lockdown and life as Sophia knows it has been turned upside-down. She is trying to adjust to the new normal, with Zoom calls, one-way sop paths, and disinfecting grocery bags, which is all quite different to the way life was before. Another new thing to add to her list of lockdown activities is the Thursday evening clap for the NHS. At 8pm on Thursday, Sophia heads out to her little balcony and joins the clap. She claps for her roommate, her mom, everyone she knows is out on the frontlines fighting against COVID-19. It’s an emotional moment, and as emotions bubble over, Sophia has a quiet cry on her balcony.

Or so she thought. While she is still drying her tears, a concerned voice calls down from the balcony above asking if she’s okay … she was sobbing quite loudly, and the man upstairs is worried that something is wrong. Sophia tries to explain herself, and while doing so strikes up an unexpected friendship with the man, whose name is Jack. Jack is shielding and staying inside because of chronic kidney disease, which puts him at extra risk of severe illness if he were to contract the virus. Thus, an unlikely friendship starts: Sophia and Jack share cocktails and meals via a makeshift dumbwaiter contraption, and counsel one another through their tough days or their family dramas. Somehow, in the middle of a time of isolation, Sophia and Jack have managed to not be so isolated after all.

I knew it would only be a matter of time before a book set during the COVID-19 lockdown would make its way onto shelves. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect of these books – would they be inordinately depressing, boring, or mundane, or would authors use this as a way of sparking creativity and telling stories in a unique and unexpected way. Furthermore, given that so many people read for escapism, how would an author manage to take a story set in the current bleak world and make it feel like an escape? On the whole, though, I think this book achieves that.

Love in Lockdown by Chloe James is definitely a “cute” romance story between two people who meet under exceptional circumstances. The thread running through the whole book is that of community spirit and the fundamental good of humankind. I was sceptical about it at first, and unsure of how the plot would be able to move forward with limited settings and interactions, but I was pleasantly surprised. The creative use of side plots made the book feel as if it was always moving along, although I think the book did get quite heavy with these side plots. I suppose this is a natural consequence of being essentially limited to two apartments as settings for the story, but I sometimes found that there seemed to be a lot happening all at once, and that there were slightly too many dramatic turns of event that seemed a bit unbelievable or trite. On the whole, though, I thought the author managed to keep the story moving along smoothly and managed to execute a satisfactory story arc in a creative way.

The writing style in the book is very easy to read, and I found that I zipped through the pages (or screens, on Kindle, I suppose) at a rate of knots. The book is pure froth, which, given the subject matter, is actually quite an achievement. I think it was an easy, uplifting read that focussed on some serious themes as well, such as what it is like to live with pre-existing conditions during this lockdown, as well as how loneliness and isolation can impact on mental health. One other thing that this book showed me is how differently I handled the lockdown in my South African setting, compared to the characters in this book. It was interesting to get an insight into another country’s version of lockdown, even if it was through a fictional setting, where poetic license is probably par for the course in certain instances.

Overall, I think this was an enjoyable romance novel, that delivers on the promise of escapism in a time where it is so desperately needed. I was nervous about the onset of “Lockdown Lit” but I think that if this book is anything to go by, I wouldn’t necessarily mind reading more books set during this period in our history … and I’ll definitely be looking out for more by Chloe James when I’m in need of something light-hearted and enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advance copy in exchange for a review!

This is an extremely light-hearted fun, romance! At first, I was apprehensive about reading it as I didn't know if it would be a hard read since all over the UK rules are tightening again. It focuses very little on the actual lockdown and more on the relationships we developed throughout it. It was also so funny remembering all the little things that happened at the start of the major UK lockdown like Joe Wick's PE and the Thursday night clap for key workers.
Romance isn't my usual genre of choice but I thought this was a great quick, fun read to break up some heavier books!

Would you believe this made me nostalgic. It did portray lockdown 1 very well and I could really relate to the community, the weekly clap, the helping of neighbours, the one up manship of who was loudest and was there etc. I have a good friend who is online dating through all of this, so I see how hard it is to be single.

There was some great moments - the lockdown wedding, lockdown birth.

Loved the main characters but also Eddie (and Tilly)

A good feel good read makes a great change from my usual books and for that I am grateful.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon books for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest and fair review which I have done.

Love In Lockdown is a perfect romance for our times.
Jack lives in the flat above Sophia. He is a bartender who is furloughed during lockdown and isolating due to health issues. Sophia is a teacher who remains working for a small group of children of key workers.
Jack and Sophia become firm friends when they both start using their respective balconies and begin chatting; but do not meet face to face! They try to make the most of their time and start helping others in their community. Can their love for helping others bring them closer together? Will their romance blossom or will their past bad experiences in the love department stop them finding true love together?
Jack and Sophia are both excellent, well developed and likeable characters. They are supported by a number of other people in the community who all make Love In Lockdown a perfect read for this time. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Highly enjoyed this book which is a definite sign of the times. Love during the pandemic is like a minefield and this book brings it to life.

Love in Lockdown by Chloe James a five-star read that will capture you. This was easily one of my favourite reads this year, and I will be honest with you, I almost didn’t read it as I was kinda fed up with lockdown, but I am so glad I did, this had me laughing it had me crying, and I mean ugly crying with raking sobs that had my dog coming over to check on me. I don’t know why I identified with this story as much as I did, but my goodness it got me right in the feels, this dealt with so many different things and it dealt with them so well. I adored how this story brought the realities of being part of the young shielding group, my husband was told to shield, and I am a key worker so we have had to get creative, I lost my stepbrother to Epilepsy so I know how it can change lives in the blink of an eye, this story will touch so many lives and I really hope that everyone reads it, it deserves to bring a positive light to lockdown. Jack and Sophia are great characters, but they are only two there are so many others that will captivate you and have you looking back at lockdown with rose tinted glasses, remembering the good moments, the moments that matter.

I read Love In Lockdown over the weekend and really enjoyed it. It was written during the first lockdown in England, an unprecedented time when everyone was wondering how the world would cope with this global pandemic. This book follows Sophia, a teacher and Jack, a barman who has been furloughed. Jack lives in the flat above Sophia and over the course of the lockdown they develop a firm friendship. They become closer but due to the lockdown they are still kept apart. I felt this book was very well written, it was sympathetic to the cause but also captured the resilience and community spirit of the public. I can highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and the author for the chance to review.

I wish my lockdown was filled with as much love, romance, heart and community spirit as this gorgeous story. Watching Sophie and Jack’s love blossom made me cry tears of pure joy - and the bouquet? SOBBING! This book is essential 2020 self-care.

Charming and sweet is the best way to describe this book.

Nothing better than a nice story to lift your spirits and I believe Chloe James achieved this with Love in Lockdown.

Sophia Trent and Jack Stanton are living in the same building without ever meeting in person. Jack has some health issues and he’s unable to leave his apartment during the pandemic lockdown. Sophia, on the other hand, is able to continue with her job as a teacher. She studied law but after developing epilepsy she gave up her career and now works with kids. Due to her illness, her boyfriend of five years didn’t want to stay with her.

One day after that NHS clapping, she becomes emotional and starts crying. Jack who lives above Sophia can hear her and they strike a conversation. Soon this becomes the norm. Sophia sends treats his way, while he sends special cocktails using a box and rope to her apartment balcony. Together, this duo and with the help of WhatsApp start helping their courtyard community.

Love in Lockdown brings some solid points about the pandemic including mental health issues that can arise from isolation, the need to help the elderly and other vulnerable populations, the importance of telemedicine and exhaustion of the healthcare workers, the need for teachers to help kids during these dire times.

My one complaint about the book would be the ending, I felt it needed more. Something was missing in the romance department.

3.5/5 fangs

Cliffhanger: No

A complimentary copy was provided by Avon UK via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.