My favourite thing about this book was the characterisation. The two leads were charismatic, believable and warm throughout. The backstory that each was provided made the connection between them feel realistic even though they had never met. Additionally, the side characters (particularly the older neighbours and Jack's brother) were a delight and really helped me to immerse myself in Jack and Sophia's world - I would even argue that at times, the side characters were in danger of overwhelming the two main characters, they were that well written.

An extra level of charm was bought into the book with the real-life touches from lockdown that were added to give the book a real sense of community; at times it read like a love letter to everyone who endured those tough months. It captured the essence of how the whole country united in the face of difficulty really well, but without coming across as saccarine or disingenuous.

My only hesitation with this book is the pace. It worked well for the plot that things moved fairly slowly, as it mimicked how lockdown really felt, but it meant that at times I struggled to stay engaged as fully as I would have liked to. I always know when I'm really loving a book because I'll carve out time to read it as quickly as possible - I just didn't get that feeling from this book and I think it's because it was more based in cosiness than pace.

Enjoyable and worth a read if you're looking for something easy-going and cute.

A very cute romantic story, set in COVID lockdown, between two neighbors. Sophia and Jack. Both characters head out to their apartment balconies (one floor apart, stacked on top of each other) to clap for essential workers and strike up a friendship - and, eventually, more. This was a sweet romance that also brought in some elements of friendship, both between Sophia and Jack and amongst their other neighbors. All in all, an enjoyable read that brings some much-needed positivity to the year 2020.

2.5/5
I really wanted to read a story that took place during the covid crisis. And because of that, many things said in this book are very relatable, which was a plus for me.
I found myself liking more the first half of the book when Jack and Sophia get to know each other. And we get to know the neighbours.
However, this book was way too optimistic and cheesy for me. And the amount of absurd little things happening all the time is ridiculous. A couple, here and there, is funny. But this many is overkill.
And the drama between the two MCs didn't cut it for me. Sorry.
As a whole, I'd say it's a readable story. Relatable and sweet. But it has flaws and could've been a tad shorter. Would've loved to see more interaction between the main couple.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.
This book shares the reality of Covid-19 and how the characters Jack and Sophia cope with their particular situations. A lot of the time, I found myself reading some of their thoughts and agreeing that I felt the same. That how they felt, was how many people felt.
I think the main plot was done well, but I would have appreciated a bit more interaction with the main characters to develop their romance.
3.5 stars

I had slightly mixed feelings about this book. It was interesting that it was set in lockdown, therefore the turnaround time on this book was incredibly fast. I found the story to be nice if a little heavy on the cheese. And I thought there were one or two plot holes that maybe if the book had been written over a longer period with more editing time, could have been ironed out. The main reason I didn't fall in love with the book is that I am currently living somewhere where there is a full lockdown again because of the second wave. I read books to escape everyday life. This book just reminded me of my reality the entire time. I think this book might be more enjoyable in a few years time when there is more space from Covid.

I could not wait for this to be over! Nobody cares about their neighbors that much. And if they wanted to see what each other looked like just send a pic, not that hard!

Set in lockdown England, this book follows Sophia and Jack as they learn to care about the important things. Love in Lockdown follows their story as they care for others around their little apartment building and as they get to know one another. This book moves along nicely and has enough going on that their lockdown doesn’t feel as stifling as yours probably did. My only complaint is that it feels a little too soon to want to seek out a book that reminds you of lockdown and all of its many challenges.

4 romantic comedy stars

This was the first book I’ve read that is set firmly during lockdown/COVID times and it was bittersweet. Set in the UK, it seems to have a different feel than in the US. There are nightly clapping sessions for all the front-line workers, helping your neighbor, etc. This was a feel-good book and a great escape for me.

Sophia lives in an apartment building with a roommate. She is still working as a teacher, but with a much smaller group of children. One night out on her balcony, she “meets” her upstairs neighbor Jack and the two begin a whirlwind friendship! They share drinks and food with a little box pulley system that Jack has worked out.

Jack needs to stay in quarantine, but Sophia finds ways to keep him busy and help out all the nearby neighbors. Some need someone to talk with, some need help getting groceries, some need help walking their dog. It all leads to a mostly wonderful sense of community.

There are some obstacles in Jack and Sophia’s path, but as often happens, fate finds a way to smooth them out. Will Sophia and Jack survive lockdown and finally get to meet face-to-face?

Such a cute and fun read! Perfect distraction in life right now. Really enjoyable characters and story and hard to put down!

I was tempted by his book as I thought it would be interesting to read. I have to say I was not disappointed. The story is basically about two people falling in love even though they have never met due to the lockdown due to Covid-19. This was an amusing but thought provoking book looking at how various people coped during lockdown and the sense of community that grew all over the country. Anyone who thinks that a book set in the time of lockdown would be too many reminders, it has a great message running through it that a little bit of help and kindness towards others can go a long way.

Finally a realistic romance for these times! Made me believe in love once again.

I was just beyond excited to read Love in Lockdown. While in lockdown. And wanting love. I've been hugely into romance lately for the fun and comfort of it, but I really wanted something more realistic. This is it!

Love in Lockdown follows Sophia who is not only funny and delightful, but also very realistic. Just like so many of us, she is afraid that after lockdown, she will not be able to do great things or fall in love with The One. She is devastated, and I couldn't felt but feel like I'm her!

So when a similarly devastated, used-to-be-the-life-of-the-party guy Jack hears Sophie crying from his balcony in an apartment below, they strike a conversation and soon it becomes a heartwarming routine. The two find themselves in a short-yet-long-distance relationship where they're so close but have to stay apart.

I just loved this adorable romance, which was much needed during quarantine for me. Not only did it brighten up my days, but also allowed me to feel that love is out there to find, even when physical contact is not possible. The only reason it's a four-star rating for me is that I couldn't help but roll my eyes at some of the cliches, such as the lack of toilet paper. Overall - endearing, sweet and fun.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love in Lockdown ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel reading a book set during lockdown, but the premise of this book intrigued me: is it possible to meet someone and fall in love during a time of quarantine? Sophia and Jack “meet” one night, as they stand on their respective balconies, his a story above hers, while they join in with others clapping for essential workers. Jack has a health condition that means he can never leave his flat or have contact with anyone, so they never see each other, but their relationship grows through nightly chats, baskets that bring food and drink up and down, and helping others in their community. I loved the fact that they really had no idea what the other looked like, because in the end it’s so much more to know what’s in the inside than the outside. Beyond the sweet romance (and a grand gesture that warmed my heart!), we are also introduced to the people who live in their community, a wonderful cast of characters trying their best to cope with a difficult situation. The author does a great job of dealing with the pandemic in a way that is realistic, but hopeful. In the end, this is a heartfelt, endearing story of love, resilience, and helping others. It reminds me of all the lessons I’ve learned during this time.

This book epitomizes that even in times of uncertainty and abject loneliness, happiness and love will always prevail if you have a good heart and intentions such as Sophia. Through her, Jack drew great joy in their balcony conversations and realized his illness did not define him and what he hoped and desired. Through the book, it was if his heart actually grew in terms of Beth and also the great lengths he did for Sophia from afar. The community actually grew closer but most importantly, they really cared for each other which in a cosmopolitan city often doesn't occur. A sweet and uplifting read.

Thanks to net galley for the ARC of this book. I think it might be too early for me to truly enjoy books about being in lockdown, while still being in the times of COVID. Additionally, the formatting came through sort of weird and it made it hard for me to read the book, which hopefully will be fixed for both the printed and digital copies, but it definitely impacted my enjoyment of the story.

Outside of that the story was nice and the characters are sweet to each other which makes for a lovely happily ever after read.

Love in Lockdown tells the story of Jack and Sophia. Jack has recently returned from a long journey to Greece where he was running away from family expectations and his chronic kidney disease and is now secluded in his apartment, just above Sophia's. Sophia is a teacher who is struggling with a recent breakup and diagnosis of epilepsy. When Jack finds Sophia crying on the balcony below his one night, they begin talking and quickly strike up a friendship. Over the next few weeks and months, they develop a close relationship and end up uniting the entire neighborhood to support each other during the Covid lockdown. Without ever meeting, they fall for each other over their shared illnesses and commonalities.

The good:
It was great to read a story that is relatable to our common times and I appreciated some of the funny bits--cutting your own hair, trying to find TP at the store, etc. I also appreciated the warmth of the story. As someone with a chronic illness, I really appreciated the author's dedication to the confusing feelings that come with disease diagnosis and knowing how to live with a new normal. This was probably the most realistic part of the book and I appreciated it.

The bad:
This book is cheesy. The premise itself is cheesy and the book itself is full of cliches. The dialogue is stiff and often sounds a little unnatural, and at times, the book comes across as falsely positive. No one in the book actually has Covid and sometimes their positivity and focus on community drowns out the fact that people are actually dying.

Overall, this was a cute, light read that I wouldn't necessarily say was well written, but was fitting for the times.

When we first went into lockdown back in March (idk anymore), I wondered when we would be getting the lockdown movies, books, etc. It's hard not to have some sort of entertainment centered around this crazy time we're living in...

Love in Lockdown follows neighbors Sophia and Jack as they meet and eventually start to develop feelings for each other, at a distance Jack lives above Sophia, by speaking to each other every night on their balconies. As the story unfolds, both escape to their balconies nightly to discuss their lives, fears, hopes and dreams, ultimately becoming incredibly honest with one another. 

I loved the sense of community in this book, where everyone in the apartment complex was out to make sure no one felt alone, and every little detail that happened to ensure everyone stayed sane. I especially loved Jack's nightly cocktails brought down to Sophia's balcony in a little contraption.  

While the sense of community this book portrayed was beautiful, I felt that not enough attention was given to the development of Sophia and Jack's relationship. It felt that for most of the book, their developing feelings were a bit of an afterthought, and merely mentioned quickly to make sure it's included. There was so much detail about everyone else in their lives (literally everyone) but when I finished the book, I felt as if I didn't know the two main characters at all. 

Going into this book, I was curious to see how I felt about reading about something relevant to us right now, especially something as difficult as the times we are in. While I didn't feel like the author obsessed over it like I initially thought would happen (the author stated that was not her intention), I felt like little Covid related things were thrown in that made me slightly paranoid about and made me question myself in how I'm handling things, which I really did not need.

At the end of the day, if you feel any type of stress over Covid, whether it's general stress, paranoia, etc. I would not read this book. However, if you want a book that shows a beautiful sense of community, give it a try! 

Thank you @avon_books and @NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sophia and Jack "meet" during the clap for the keyworkers. It's an emotional moment for Sophia and she's moved to tears. Jack, who lives one floor above her, hears her crying and tries to offer comfort. They have no idea what the other looks like but as the lockdown continues, they meet more often on their respective balconies. What starts as a friendship slowly develops into something more.

The book unfortunately couldn't really hold my interest. I think it's too long for the story it's trying to tell. I did enjoy a couple of the side stories but the main romance fell a bit flat for me. There are a couple of moments of drama between the main characters that felt unnecessary, like they were only inserted because that's what's expected in a romance novel.

I also couldn't really buy the ending. I get that the author is going for payoff and I could've believed it if Jack wasn't a high risk patient, but I feel like it goes against the whole setup of the book.

I picked up this book because of the title and I was so hopeful that it would cheer me up after this crazy idea. This book is set during the COVID quarantine with Sophia and Jack being our main characters who are neighbors and have to actually talk because uhmm hello we under quarantine .The author did a great job because after reading this book I was hopeful and it's such a cute book..Recommend it to everyone in need of some romance .Huge thanks to AVON for my advanced copy .

I loved the idea of this story, but I ended up DNFing at 20%. My first problem was the writing style in general. It felt very a mature and just not really well done. Like it was thrown together as quickly as possible, which considering it was written completely in the past few months makes sense. But I also had issues with the story telling - it explained the pandemic like the reader wouldn’t know what is was about, which was just unnecessary and honestly felt as if it was trying to explain it to a child. Just from the beginning I could tell it wouldn’t have enough depth for me, and got repetitive and patronizing very quickly.

This is a lovely tale. But, I think I read it at the wrong time, Wales has just gone into a second lockdown. And, this book brought back all the lockdown vibes we went through in March. Reminding me what I've got ahead of me again 🙈

However, despite the wrong timing I did enjoy the book.

"In lockdown nothing was definite, nothing was certain except the strength and resilience of love and community."

This is what the story is all about, the Great British community spirit, and through a basically pants time we all came together.

Sophia and Jack live in a high rise flat and didn't know each other existed until the lockdown started and brought them together. This is what I love when reading books set in cities, I live in a small rural town in North Wales, where everyone knows everybody.

When lockdown was announced back in March, our community came together in an amazing way. Facebook groups were set up, volunteer groups for each estate were established. Flyers were sent out to every household with contact details of local businesses that were willing to provide delivery service and their services. It was safe to say that we all looked out for each other.

Love In Lockdown reminds us of what we all went through, it also highlights some of the elements that we might not have known about. The situations some people found themselves in, like Jack who had to shield because of his kidney disease. Sophia, talking about what the children in the school were worrying about. Lockdown affected everyone. But, hopefully like Jack and Sophia people found a chink of light in the dark days.