Lockdown on London Lane is a rollercoaster ride fuelled with hope, anxiety, love, and lingering sentiments, making it a highly relatable read. Beth Reekles is an incredibly gifted writer as she weaves her magic by presenting stories of the occupants in an apartment complex on London Lane. These stories represent people in relationships at different stages. The placement of the chapters is lovely as it complements the pace of the plot. I was laughing out loud, groaning and frustrated and at one point considered throwing my iPad in anger. There's so much heart and feels with a strong underlying message on the importance of communication, especially regarding expectations, intentions and assumptions. The distinct ending made me smile, and this feeling lingered for days! I can't wait to read more from Beth. A 5 star read!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

This was a sweet, fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The five stories interlinked together beautifully and I had such a good time reading it. Whilst I did think the ending was a little rushed, this book was the definition of warm and fuzzy and I will definitely be revisiting it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Wattpad books, author Beth Reekles for an advanced copy of this e-book. My review contains my own thoughts and opinions and is being left voluntarily.

Is it weird to call a romance set during a pandemic lockdown kind of light and fun? Lockdown on London Lane is set in the early days of the pandemic (which it doesn’t mention by name, but we know what it is) and the entire apartment building is shut down for a week - no one can leave or come in - after someone in the building tests positive. It follows the stories of the residents of five apartments and what that week does to their lives and relationships.

There’s the longtime couple (Serena and Zach) who’s been fighting more; Ethan, who’s live-in girlfriend can’t come back since she was visiting her family; Nate, who had a one-night stand (Imogen-you also get her POV) who will now be there all week; a newer couple (Isla and Danny); and Olivia, who is now hosting a weeklong wedding planning weekend for her best friend and two other bridesmaids.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a multi-POV romance and won’t be put off by the pandemic stuff. I had to laugh a little at some of the things I remembered doing in early 2020 (who didn’t make banana bread?!)

I did have some trouble at times keeping the different couples straight but it got easier as the book moved on. I think this would make a fun television series! My favorites were Imogen and Nate, and Ethan. I can’t say why without spoiling the book, though! I will say their stories made me smile the most and touched my heart.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This book has some hilarious laugh out loud moments! The premise is definitely not one I have read before, but it worked so well. I applaud Beth Reekles for bringIng some sunshine into the world when we need it the most. This book is so good I stayed up all night reading it. I could not put it down till the last page. That's when you know it's a keeper!


Basically we have five apartments/flats in a building during the pandemic. One of the tenants test positive for the virus and the whole building is put on strict lockdown for a week. No one is allowed in or out of the building. While this may not sound funny, the chapters switch in-between scenes going on in each apartment between the quarantined people. The author writes some of the most hysterical situations I have read in a long time. Even the manager of the building had me rolling with laughter. This would make a great movie!

The only thing a little confusing at first is the number of characters, but you are quickly able to figure them all out It will be published on February 1, 2022.


Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad Books for allowing me to review this e-book.

I enjoyed reading this book, but I'm not sure it will stick with me very long. It didn't leave the strongest impression.

First, as an American and a lawyer, I have to say, it took me a while to move beyond the false imprisonment vibes of the whole plot. I just could not imagine this scenario playing out in real life (maybe the plot is more plausible to British and European readers?). Second, I don't think reading about the nuances of living through the Covid-19 pandemic is something I want to do again. I lived through it; I don't really need to be reminded of how annoying and scary it was at the beginning. Third, the first 50 pages were incredibly redundant. I feel like there was probably a more creative way for the author to introduce each set of characters without them replaying the exact same scenario five different times.

Once the author moved beyond the set-up, the book got more interesting. However, I ultimately felt that the characters were dealing with very petty issues and found myself not really caring what happened to them. I could have use a whole lot less of the Isla/Danny story and a whole lot more of Imogen/Nate. And Ethan was honestly a pretty annoying character until the end of the story.

This was a decent romantic story if you're looking to spend a few hours reading a fun book. But beyond that, it's not one I would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and BookishFirst for sending me a copy of the ARC.

So cute!! I love how we followed a diverse cast of characters with different storylines and got to see small moments where they all overlap. I really enjoyed how each of the conflicts were navigated and resolved, and most importantly, how they showed us how to stay optimistic and treasure the time we have with the people around us.

I absolutely adored this one!! it was witty, quick, and had the air of a traditional detective whodunnit story. plus having the background of the pandemic was an alarming, yet familiar twist that I wasn’t unhappy to see.

my only other pandemic novel so far has been jodi picoult’s, and that was heavy af so I’m so happy that I was introduced to a lighter one :’)

I thought it was so so creative how each of the residents were split up into their own stories about their past, present and future and how the lockdown shaped their existence. I loved learning about the characters in an easy way, and it was refreshing to feel the story unfold methodically, even if untraditional at times.

thank you to netgalley and watt pad books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. definitely get your copy!!

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: english sparkling wine

A cute read that follows the lives of different apartments coping with the changes brought by the pandemic. Definitely brought back some memories of when it all started and how we all felt pretty unsure of how things were going to play out. Each apartment had it’s own storyline and it was nice to see how they all somewhat connected with each other. It had its cute tender moments as well as a bit of tension but seeing how they worked through the problems and how they came out on the other side was cute. The ending for each person was cute, some I expected and others not so much, but it was a cute read overall.

I enjoyed reading this. I still can't believe that I wanted to read a book about lockdown during this pandemic even though we are still in the pandemic. It was an interesting read. I loved that there was such a wide cast of characters and that we got to see how each one of them handled lockdown. I also really liked seeing how it affected them. This book was about the dynamic between characters stuck in apartments together. They had so much to work through and some gained meaningful relationships while others had to question their relationships. The relationship aspect of it felt extremely realistic. It was a bit slow moving at the start for me, but towards the middle it really picked up. I give this book 3.75 out of 5 stars.

This is a delightful and funny book about residents of an apartment complex in lockdown. Each flat’s residents weather the one week quarantine in different ways. Learning about themselves and those they spend quarantine with. From a one night stand, a bridesmaids party, a newly dating couple and someone spending it away from their partner. Lockdown in London Lane will have you giggling and commiserating with interesting characters that are regular people.

It’s the beginning of the pandemic, before everything has really hit the fan and anyone understands it.

An apartment building is suddenly placed on lockdown when a resident tests positive.

This throw a wrench into the lives of the residents of London Lane.

First, Imogen had planned for a one night stand with Nate (whose name she didn’t even remember) and now finds herself facing a full week with a man she barely knows but seems to be her total opposite.

Ethan is deeply missing his girlfriend Charlotte who was away visiting family and isn’t allowed back in.

Isla is scared to have a weekend visit with her new boyfriend Danny turn into a full week of together. How can she maintain her facade of perfection?

Serena and Zach have been constantly snapping at each other and the forced togetherness does NOT help.

Olivia was relieved to arrive at the end of a wedding prep weekend for her bff’s wedding with the other two bridesmaids. Which, of course, now has been extended.

Truths are revealed, big decisions are made and lives intertwine.

Not everyone can end up with a happy ending.

When I saw the description of this novel, I knew I would want to read it. I have not been interested in pandemic books so close to actually still living in one, but what drew me in was the lightheartedness of the plot. I know how I felt when we shut down and I liked the idea of following the residents of an apartment building, in all different situations, dealing with a 2 week shut down.

There are a lot of characters and it does take a couple of chapters of each story to get them all situated but once I was familiar with the characters, it was a lighthearted, fun read that was still serious. There were a couple of couples I was way more interested in than others (Serena and Zach, Ethan and Charlotte, and Imogen and Nate) but the others' stories were entertaining as well. As the story progressed it got better and better and I was very pleased with the ending.

I am so happy to have been given an opportunity to read this one.

A quirky, rom-com\quarantine story. A quick read and cute storyline. I really enjoyed the set up and how the chapters are the apartment residents.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Jan 25, 2022 is the pub date.

This was an okay read which is about a bunch of people having to be quarantined in their apartments with some not even living in the complex. I know we all think it's too soon to read books about people quartatining or there being a deadly pandemic in the world but I wanted to see what the famous Beth Reckles has in store for us. I have to say that the storyline wasn't so bad for me as there was also comedy in the book and kind of made me feel less alone with going through the pandemic. Though I do have to say that there was so much povs that it was hard to see where the story was going. It felt more like fanfiction of people's lives than just a binded novel if you know what I mean. The pacing was great as the story flowed perfectly and I enjoyed the setting of it taking place in an apartment.

So there are many main characters in this book. There is Serena and Zach who have been together for years but Zach ordered something she didn't expect and thinks she doesn't know him so well. Then there is Isla who has been dating Danny for a month but realizes that him staying with her will make him realize she isn't perfect. Imogen has a one night stand where she decides to sneak out but can't leave the building and is stuck with the guy she can't remember the name of. Ethan and his girlfriend are separated by the walls and Ethan thinks he won't be able to survive without her. Lastly is Liv who decides to have a party at her place only to be stuck with 3 women. I won't go into much detail but I will say that these characters showed how hard it can be to be stuck with someone 24/7 and that there are so many things to learn about the person that you know before. There are some side characters in this book and also some bits of romance.

The ending was a happily ever after for all characters. As I said before that this book felt more like a fanfiction which is why this book got rated 3/5 stars. It wasn't a bad read at all except it will be if some readers don't want to read anything about the pandemic. There was a good bit of comedy in this book but I enjoyed how realistic this was. I do recommend reading this book if you want a light read.

this was such a cute story and i really enjoyed reading the perspective of a lockdown from london! the writing flowed pretty smoothly throughout the story, making it an easy read.

while i enjoyed the multiple povs, i felt that they were very shallow and i couldn't really connect with any of the characters. it took awhile for me to realize which story was which, and many of the characters felt annoying to me.

i did really enjoy ethan's pov, as his relationship with charlotte was very adorable, and imogen's pov as i liked her dynamic with nate. i think a full-fledged novel of either one of these povs or just two/three povs in total would make the book much better since i found myself skimming a lot of the povs i didn't enjoy.

i really didn't like serena as her entire storyline was kind of childish and silly to me. isla and danny's relationship and the bridesmaids were okay, sort of boring, but i liked the ending of the possible lesbian relationship between two of the bridesmaids, which i thought was very cute and was rooting for them.

overall, the concept seemed very interesting but the execution fell flat. the beginning was very repetitive as we read how five apartments realized the lockdown was happening and most of the characters were very flat and boring. however, i did enjoy most aspects of the book, and would recommend for anyone looking for a light read!

The last book I read that had the pandemic as the setting was unsettling for this reader, reading it in the middle of this same time in history. This story however, was a refreshing look at what happens to a number of people living or visiting in the same apartment building that is put on lockdown due to someone testing positive for the virus in the building. For 7 days, everyone is sequestered to their apartments, with permission to leave only to collect food deliveries. The characters in this story are likeable and real and the book is an easy and pleasant read despite the backdrop. In the book you will meet Imogen, who is at Nate's apartment for a one night stand, that turns into 7 unexpected nights. You will meet Ethan who lives with Charlotte who is visiting family when the building is locked down and is unable to enter as a result, leaving Ethan alone to consider their relationship. In another apartment you have Danny and Isla, who generally only spend an overnight together or the weekend, and now are thrown together for a much larger period of time that they may not be ready for. Finally there is Liv, who is throwing a bridesmaids party for her best friend Kim - a weekend was going to be a challenge for her but she was willing to do it for her friend but a whole week turns into an affair she would have liked to avoid. Chapter by chapter the reader sees what is happening behind closed doors and you have to keep reading to discover how things unfold and some of the ways that stories intersect, as well. This is a light, fun read, that I would definitely recommend if you need a break from your own pandemic reality.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad books for the ARC for this book in exchange for my honest review. So glad I got a chance to enjoy this book!

𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗢𝗡 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗘

⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @wattpadbooks for the #arc in exchange for my honest review

I had really high hopes for this one. I loved the Kissing Booth and I loved the cover of this book, and I liked the premise, but the stories were confusing to keep track of. Too many storylines that didn’t flow and it made it hard to remember what happened previously to certain characters. It got slow during the middle, and while it wasn’t dangerously close to a DNF, it was kinda “meh” and made me fall asleep a few times while reading.

This book followed the lives of 6 people during the start of lockdown in 2020. A virus case in the building forced everyone to be shut in- no one in, no one out. What proceeded was a telling of their lives during temporary quarantine- how it affected their health, relationships and overall state of being.

I thought I would have been able to relate a little more to the stories having lived through it, but they barely scratched the surface to the impact quarantine had on people’s mental health. Maybe that was the authors intent, but I felt it didn’t demonstrate the true impact that this time had in our lives. With that being said, the end of the book was really good- I would say the last 15-20% I thoroughly enjoyed, and really saved me from writing it off completely to now being something I would recommend with a caveat that they may not be a fan of the rest.

You never know what life is going to throw at you, and in Lockdown on London Lane, Reekles shows you how the residents of 5 different flats survive the 7 day quarantine. Full of witty humor, strikingly familiar COVID-19 circumstances, and all the feels, it's truly a must-read for 2022.

I was truly invested in each person and their specific circumstance and even though I was hesitant at first to read a book about the pandemic while we're still IN it, I am so thankful I did!

I will absolutely be reading more of Beth Reekles adult novels.

Lockdown On London Lane by Beth Reekles

For the residents of LondonLane, a simple slip of paper, underneath each of their doors, is about to change their lives in many ways.

I didn’t really enjoy this book. It was about what we are going through now. I found it made me anxious.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

Pandemic stories are controversial right now because we are still in the midst. No one wants to read more about what’s going on out there because it’s usually depressing. However, Lockdown in London lane defies that theory. What a fun story told from multiple perspectives in different apartments. One long term couple is separated during lockdown, another is a one-night stand stuck with each other, then you have Danny & Isla who have only been dating a month and another couple who has too much time to question everything about their relationship. But the bachelorette party that lasts a week too long was the funniest. Definitely not your typical COVID story, Lockdown on London Lane could be the new romcom of our time.