I really wanted to love this book.

The title had me thinking, current, perhaps a positive spin on what we're all going through right now.

And whilst yes it was uplifting, it also felt rushed.

Written too quickly to hit the market at just the right time.

The main protagonists are technically neighbours, living in flats directly above/below one another. Jack is shielding, unable to leave his residence whilst Sophia (a teacher) kindly offers to help Jack amongst other people whilst Covid is at its worst.

A new spin on the idea of a blind date.

However ...

Little things bothered me. Like the fact that Jack and Sophia couldn't somehow see each other over the balcony, at worst case they had each others numbers, they could have sent selfies to one another.

With the right editing/time taken on it, I think this story has a lot of potential to be something wonderful.

But as it is, I'd say Love in Lockdown wavers on just OK.

A sweet, easy-to-read romance that just didn't quite hit the spot for me.

I really enjoyed this sweet little book, I was a bit worried about reading this during a second lockdown and it would be a bit close to the bone but it wasn't at all. I loved the romance and how the focus was on personality and not looks as the two characters had never actually seen one another. I thought the look at serious illness in this book was handled very well too. I loved how this book brought out the positive side of lockdown and was full of hope. Would highly recommend.

This was a light book, even given the timeline of the Coronavirus lockdown. It didn't wow me, or give me all the feels, but it was a decent book that I tore through in a day. If you are stuck in lockdown with no other access to reading materials, this would fit the bill.

This was extremely heartwarming! From the first chapter, I instantly saw similarities and linked this narrative to Beth O’Leary’s book ‘The Flatshare’. The book will make you smile and you’ll soon become emotionally attached to Jack and Sophia. I felt like I was in lockdown with them! They’re both loveable characters and I enjoyed James’ writing style. Each chapter was in Sophia or Jack’s POV and I enjoyed finding out about their past and seeing how their characters develop. 



Obviously this book is very fitting for what we are all currently going through - a global pandemic! But whilst reading this story it touches upon how we have all celebrated the NHS and become one as a community. Even though this book is fiction with a hint of real life - it reminded me how much we have gone through in 2020. This love story is exactly what you need to brighten up this frightening and strange year! I wish this romance story was real!

A fine romance gets lost in the minutiae of Lockdown life.
In this Lockdown romance, heroine Sophia and hero Jack who lives above her in the same block of flats can never meet, as Jack has kidney problems and is shielding. But they converse on their balconies and gradually form a deep friendship that spills over into romance. But apart from Lockdown there are other challenges - not least the fact that Jack's ex Laura is still on the scene, and Sophia is not willing to risk more heartbreak after a bitter split-up from fiance Ryan. This has all the ingredients for a good romance - sympathetic main characters with a strong backing cast of friends and family, and obstacles to be overcome, but I felt the Lockdown narrative, in which Sophia, abetted by Jack from his flat, built up the neighburhood community, swamped the emotional aspect too much - the shortages, shopping difficulties, kids' education challenges, Zoom hospital appointments, loneliness and fear are all a bit too raw and real for me to enjoy in a fiction book, especially with another Lockdown now in force. I'd probably enjoy it more reading it a year from now.

I have a suspicion that we are likely to see quite a few 'lockdown' novels in the coming months and years. It's unusual that something happens that has such an impact on not only the whole country but the whole world. Of course, it was slightly different from place to place, but there are few, if any, people who seem to have not been affected in one way or another by the covid outbreak. I was interested to see how it would be dealt with in this novel. Were we really ready for a romance set in lockdown?
On the whole, I enjoyed the romance between Jack and Sophia. I like the idea of a couple falling for one another without actually meeting and in the context of the lockdown the whole thing worked really well. Added to this were the other little bits and pieces that led to a different world under lockdown. We've got the elderly people who live on their own struggling with day to day life, a young couple finding their wedding plans destroyed and new parents facing giving birth under restrictions. The whole thing, along with the sense of community that runs through the book, really did paint a picture of the lockdown experience that many of us have faced this year.
Something that did irritate me very slightly was the two main characters saying darn. It seems like such an unlikely thing for them to say. I know that it's a minor point, but it threw me out of the story and didn't ring true as being British.
Overall this was an entertaining and fun read. It's a difficult one as I'm not sure that we're that close to it all being over as yet and this story only covers the first lockdown in the UK. As Britain moves back into lockdown and the rest of the world is still coping with all that this virus has to throw at us, I can't help but wonder how Jack and Sophia would be coping with facing it all again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Love in Lockdown focuses on Sophia and Jack. In March 2020 Britain went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some people were deemed high risk and were therefore not allowed to leave their homes even for exercise as the rest of us. In this book Jack is faced with this reality. Others were deemed key workers - NHS staff, shop workers and teachers who worked in education hubs with the children of other key workers who could not be homeschooled like the majority of children. Sophia is faced with this tough job. Through the Thursday night 8pm clap that we all enjoyed Jack and Sophia "meet" It turns out that Jack stays upstairs from Sophia and though their balconies are positioned in such a way that they can't see each other they can talk and quickly realise how much they need the other. With other neighbours becoming involved in their balcony chats, soon there is a great community spirit amongst the residents and they realise that being forced to stay in and play their parts in the war against Covid will lead to friendship, community spirit and love.
It was really interesting to set a story during the lockdown which is still so current in all of our minds. I thought it was great to have the 2 main characters facing such different lockdown experiences. One continuing to work in what was unquestioningly one of the most important of key working sectors and one facing that shielding that stripped the liberties of so many and lead to a rapid decline in mental health for many. The characters were real and true and depicted an experience that many will have taken for granted through their own lockdown lives.
It was a romantic comedy, the romance was light and fluffy and came flowing so naturally. The comedy was quick and had me giggling several times over.
The secondary characters were brilliant and lent themselves perfectly into the story without detracting from the main duo.

4 stars!! Love in Lockdown follows the story of two singles living in the UK during the Covid-19 lockdown. Jack lives in the apartment above Sophia but they've never met until they begin talking to each other from their balconies. They get to know each other and it's the beginning of a romance. They also get to know other people who live in their apartment complex and the book revolves around the relationship growing between Jack and Sophia, as well as their friends and neighbours. The book is told in chapters which alternate between Jack's and Sophia's points of view.

I really enjoyed this one, it was a very slow burn but I felt it suited a book where the pandemic is preventing the characters from actually meeting face to face. The realities of living during Covid 19 are all there, from toilet paper shortages to learning how to use Zoom, and if you don't want to hear anymore about the virus I would recommend skipping this book. I liked the honest depictions and how all the characters got to know each other from their balconies. There was a sense of friendship among those in the apartment complex and I loved how they all helped each other out. The romance between Jack and Sophia was sweet and grew slowly as they talked from their balconies over weeks of lockdown. Friendship grew into love and it was an easy read romantic comedy that I enjoyed over the weekend. I liked how the book ended and the loose ends were all tied up.

Overall, this was a cute romantic comedy set in the era of Covid-19. Anyone looking for a lighthearted romance with a slow burn would like this. But I would avoid it if you're looking to escape the pandemic by getting lost in a book, this one will for sure remind you of the current global situation.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

I have to admit, I was in two minds about reading a book about the COVID-19 lockdown situ when here in England we have literally just gone back in to lockdown. BUT, it was personally exactly the sort of book I needed to read right now.

This book is told between two different POV's: Jack and Sophia. Jack and Sophia 'meet' one Thursday evening at 8PM during the weekly clap for key-workers event and get talking to one another and these evening chats then turn into a part of their daily routine. I absolutely adored both Jack and Sophia, I was so attached to them both from the first chapter and I fell completely in love with the idea of them as one. The story also touched upon other members of the community, with them all coming together as a team to make lockdown easier for one another.

This book was your stereotypical, cliche, love story. There were no twists and turns, you knew exactly what was going to happen from the get go and in my opinion, that's what made it so good?! I found it SO relatable too. Stockpiling loo roll, clap for key-workers, zoom calls, all of the lockdown shenanigans are in this book and I couldn't help but smile and laugh reflecting back on it.

This is such a wonderful story, one that has made light of the awful situation we have all faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and I feel this is an absolute must read.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Chloe James for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out November 23rd!

The premise of this book was timely and could have been really good, but unfortunately the writing style just didn’t do it for me. I found it to be very choppy, lots of single sentence dialogue and few paragraphs.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I was worried that with the pandemic and lockdown still upon us, I wouldn't enjoy reading about it, but I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were relatable and it showcased many of the problems facing individuals during this unique time period. However, I found it hard to follow who was speaking at times with so much dialogue and so many characters. I'm hopeful that was just a problem with the ARC and will be fixed by the final publication.

This was an easy read romance that you can fly through. The story between Sophia and Jack was heart warming but the lockdown setting felt a bit close to home in the current circumstance. I think I'd have enjoyed this a lot more if lockdown was a thing of the past...

DNF at 10%.
Wow, where to begin?
-The writing style is choppy and erratic. This causes the conversations between the characters to seem stilted, random and incoherent.

-We get it! The book is based during the pandemic. In the little that I read, the sheer amount of times sentences ended with "we're in a pandemic" was overkill. The title says it all, no need to keep reminding us every 15 seconds.

-Characters would enter the story but as as readers, we are not introduced to the characters. So we have no cooking clue how they relate to the protagonist of the story. For example, I only found out 6% in that Jess is is Sophie's sister even though she features in the story from the prologue onwards.

-The prologue? Very unnecessary. If it is referenced later on in the story fine, but up until where I ended, it served no purpose.

-Quite a bit of references are made that aren't explained so for example, for someone who doesn't live in the UK they probably won't understand the significance of the rainbow pictures because this is never explained to us. I only know what the author is referring to because I live in the UK.

This book has such a cute premise but I can't continue.

Immediately intrigued by the title and the pretty cover I had to check out the synopsis and I was sold. I like that the author had no means of trying to romanticize this awful new normal we're living in and this book kind of takes a spin on it while being light-hearted and refreshing. Which is definitely what I did get from this book. In this book we have Sophia who is a teacher and is still working with children of keyworkers throughout the lockdown, we have Jack who is a barman stuck at home isolating since he's one of the many who are vulnerable and should be staying in to protect themselves. I appreciated how realistic it stayed in terms of how some people have been taking the lockdown. It also encouraged some good practices that I would expect people to be already taking.

However, I did assume from the title, that this would touch on romance and love a lot more than it did. I do feel like it fell short in terms of romance. I feel like we didn't really get a big reveal of when they finally met or more scenes of them actually physically being together and the conclusion wasn't as satisfying after the slow burn of them getting to know each other. Although, the ending was quite cute.

REVIEW 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wow... Firstly the title of the book and blurb is what captured my attention.
From the first page the author explained our new life to detail, from our supermarkets running out of toilet roll, our keyworker kids in school, people making scrubs for our frontline staff, our wildlife being brave and coming into towns, even how it was so hard for our shielded people to gain supermarket slots and having to go without.

The book features Sophie and Jack. Sophie is a teacher, she's working through lockdown, Jack's shielded and lives in the flat above, they 'met' through clapping for the NHS and then their relationship grew , when Sophie explained the nightly clap, I cried. It brought back memories for me too out with my family clapping.
Jack opening his cupboards and they were bare, shows what our shielded families struggled with and how they didn't know if they would have the food they needed for themselves and their families.
I could go into detail about this book, I laughed at parts, I aww'd at parts and I even cried at parts, especially the baby being born and a wedding during lockdown...my heart!!

But I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but what I will say if you want to read a book focuses on our positive points then this is the one.
Two strangers meet, fall in love at a distance.
A community comes together and helps one another in times of need.
People slow down and create new ways to communicate and new ways to live this life while staying safe.
We can adjust, we can survive this, we just need to be kind, be in it together and support each other through this new way of life.

Thankyou Netgalley and Avon Books for my ARC of Love In Lockdown, release day is 23rs November and it's only 99p to pre order now on Kindle.

A book set in the first lockdown of 2020. So apt and topical. How building a social distance community, teachers looking after key workers children, medical conditions and age affect all around us. Looking out for the older generations and trying to teach the technology challenged how to use it at a distance.
It will make you smile, recognise situations that either yourself or someone you know of can relate to.
Enjoy as we go back into lockdown again.

Jack and Sophia ‘meet’ as neighbours in an apartment block during lockdown. They both have health issues, Jack has to shield and Sophia offers help ... and this is how their story starts!!

First of all, I think Chloe James does capture the spirit of the first lockdown extremely well. The ‘Dunkirk’ spirit, backs to the wall, we’re all in this together, the willingness and kindness of people offered help especially to the vulnerable, the Thursday night clap for key workers, it’s all here in this heartwarming, lovely, gentle story. I like how the characters reflect on how things have changed and assess what’s important in life. The characters are all lovely and make you want to move in close by!!! I love how teacher Sophia uses Charlie Mackesy’s drawings as inspiration and her class of very different children are so sweet! I love the message about community bonding with some of the different and thoughtful things they do for each other. It would be good to think that friendships forged in dark times will continue, as well as the desire to help as we yet again face dark times.

Overall, yes, I dare say it’s unrealistic but hey, it makes you feel good. It’s sweet, easy to read and fills you with positive thoughts and oh boy, do we ever need optimism in these dystopian times. Thank you to the author for this feel good read, it was wonderful to spend a few hours in such pleasant company and it was just what I needed!

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for a much appreciated arc for an honest review.

Relationships need working on in lockdown!

Initially I wasn't at all sure I was going to enjoy Love in Lockdown. I found a little too much direct speech for my reader taste and Chloe James' writing was a bit too close to the real experience of lockdown. However, suddenly I clicked into the rhythm of the narrative and found I actually rather enjoyed the story. Of course there was a lot of direct speech. Chloe James was illustrating the reality of human contact in lockdown. We all had to rely on phones and online chat. Her portrayal of the pandemic situation was so well written that it placed me back into the early weeks of the first full national lockdown incredibly effectively. This is very clever writing. I could identify with, and remember, so many of the references that I felt I was part of the narrative too. I think this is a real strength. Those living alone, in anonymous flats or who are feeling disconnected from society because of Covid 19 might well find considerable solace in Love in Lockdown as it has the potential to make them feel part of the world, albeit vicariously.

Essentially Love in Lockdown is an unusual love story for unusual times. I very much appreciated that Jack and Sophie's relationship is not based on appearance, but that they gradually get to know one another through interaction and not immediate physical attraction. There's a charm to this that is quite heart warming and by the end of the Love in Lockdown I wanted them to have a happy ever after ending - although you'll have to read it for yourself to see if that happens! I enjoyed the secondary characters too, especially because they represent the full range of society from children to the elderly because it made the story feel more inclusive.

However, what I most enjoyed about Love in Lockdown was the overarching message that, although we may have a 'new normal', life does go on; birth, marriage, death, love, friendship and community are all still there for us. We may need to reach out for them differently, but with sensitivity towards others and a small amount of effort, life is till there. If there are those, like me initially, who felt reading a book set during the pandemic might be a bit too much, I'd say give Love in Lockdown a try. You might find that you really enjoy it. I did.

NOTE: I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I've read that actually takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and kudos to the author because it does not feel sloppy or rushed, but like a fully thought-out and well-written book. Jack and Sophia live in the same apartment complex but never met until they start chatting while on their balconies. You do need to suspend some disbelief that in the months of getting to know each other they never once exchange photos or say hello from a social distance. But watching their relationship develop, and watching how they work together to help their neighborhood community, is very sweet. I'd say this is good escapist reading for these times, but since it takes place during lockdown it doesn't feel so escapist. That said, it will give people in lockdown hope that they too can still develop relationships and friendship and connect with others even while social distancing during these crazy times.

Well, we have just entered lock da own number 2 and so this is timely. A lovely romance which takes place during the sunny (Weather wise) days of lockdown. The keyworkers clap, the toilet roll shortage, the school bubbles, the sense of community etc all feature. The book also touches on more serious issue such as long term medical conditions, broken marriages and loneliness. Well worth a read and has a feel good factor not to be missed.