Lockdown on London Lane

This book was so lovely. It’s focused around the lives of 5 flats in a block caught up in the pandemic lockdown. The stories range from a group of girls doing wedding diy, a one night stand, a couple who are on the rocks, a guy whose girlfriend is stuck at her parents and a new couple. Who are all stuck locked into a block of flat for a week. The story is intertwined across the flats over the course of week. It touches on the pandemic memories we now all have - the banana bread, the shift to working from home, zoom quizzes, the shopping delivery battle. I feel in love with the characters, and found their stories endearing. Chronicling the change in circumstances that impacted us all. The five stories were lovely and I really enjoyed how they threaded together. I stayed up late into the night to get to end.

Book provided by NetGalley on preview copy.

I laughed, I cried, I was wholly invested in every character!

In the beginning of a virus outbreak, a whole apartment block in London goes into lockdown. The world outside is still seemingly normal while the lives of those locked inside for a week might be set to change forever!
On Sunday morning all the residents of the apartments on London Lane awake to find a note informing them the building is on a 7 day quarantine and no-one is allowed to come in or leave.

This book follows the lives of the people inside 5 of the apartments. You follow along day by day of the 7 day quarantine.

Ethan and Charlotte are the only couple who end up on either side of the locked door to the building. Charlotte had been at her families childhood home to pack up when the lockdown began and now she can't get back inside.

While Imogen and Nate had a one night stand that is being repeated for a whole week. Can Imogen survive a week with her one night stand she'd planned to ditch the next morning?

Another new couple, Isla and Dan are putting their new relationship to test when they're forced ahead a few relationship milestones. Being stuck together for an entire week one month after you start dating tends to throw a spanner in the works.

However it seems that even long standing 4 year relationships can be put to the test in quarantine. One pineapple pizza sized test reveals that Zach and Serena have a few things they can no longer shy away from.

Finally there's Liv, and who desperately tried to call of the wedding prep weekend she'd planned for her best friend, who happens to have found her inner bridezilla and 2 total strangers. Now it's been extended by an extra 7 days and suddenly her one bedroom apartment is feeling ever smaller and messy. Not to mention the four women going totally off the rails.

I loved this book, it had sounded great but I honestly didn't think it would be so hilarious! I regularly had to tell myself to be quiet just to not wake my youngest child reading this at bedtimes.

It was wonderful to have so many diverse characters, with different jobs, lives, wealth, abilities and of course the fact that each one's live has just been put on pause.

If you enjoy rom-coms you will not be disappointed with Lockdown on London Lane!

I absolutely adore Beth Reekles' writing, and this does not disappoint! The idea of the book as a whole, with the lockdown of apartments and following the stories and lives of characters who live within these apartments, is done so well! I became instantly invested in the lives of every single character that was introduced and wanted to know every single thing about them, their lives, and how they would cope in a lockdown. This book had me going through a whole range of emotions, I was smiling, I was crying and I was laughing - pretty much everything you'd want from a book! From Bridezilla's to one night stands that end up lasting 7 whole days, every character is put to the test and many emotions are shared. Beth Reekles has done an incredible job with this book, it is thoroughly enjoyable and an absolute treat to read, I have no doubt this book will be massively popular when it's released early next year!

This was such a good book! Set a London flat block that has been shuttered on lockdown with no notice for one week, we read about the happenings in 5 flats. Each flat has its own issues from the expected ones like lack of food, clean clothing, etc to the unexpected ones like missing partners, one night stands now becoming a week-long relationship and marriage proposals. I laughed, cried and screamed at some of the characters. You will too and have to share which flat was your favorite!

A big thank you to NetGalley as I received the book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I received an early digital copy of this book, and OMG was it the cutest thing!!! Typically the idea of COVID-age romances aren’t super appealing to me, but the premise of this book was so creative and engaging, and I ended up loving it!

The story takes place in a single apartment building that has been quarantined and follows five different tenants in the building as they navigate love and relationships. The way that each story is intertwined with the next is so fun and reminds me of a TV show, but I don’t want to give anything away!

This book will be published February 1st of 2022, and I can guarantee it will be a hit!

I gave this a 3.t star rating. I found it well done and enjoyed it a lot. It was realistic dealing with several emotions being in lockdown during a pandemic. There was laughter, tears, fear, anxiety, a lot to deal with that was handled well. A very good read. I would gladly recommend!

Five residents of London Lane are in for a shock when they wake up one Sunday morning and find out theyre quarantined for a week. No one in or out. Due to a fast spreading virus, think covid but not actually named in the book, because one resident has been infected everyone is stuck for the week.

Ethan and Charlotte are in love but separated for the week as Charlotte is stuck at her parents house. Seven long days together proves too long for Serena and Zach. Luv is stuck with three female houseguests when her bridesmaids party goes way longer than expected. Isla and Danny's brand new relationship is tested with the sudden extended alone time. And Imogen and Nates one night stand ends up lasting a lot longer than one night.

Let me start by saying I hate reading about covid. I read to escape and reading about the thing that's on the news every day isn't relaxing at all. However, this was done perfectly! I couldn't out this book down! Each story was so easy to follow and I was immediately invested in each of their relationships. Being stuck together for seven days will test any relationship romantic or otherwise, and this book thoroughly explored that while remaining realistic. Forced closeness helped each couple either find love or exposed the cracks in each of their relationships. This was the perfect love/relationship story and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. Five BIG stars! ❤

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to NetGalley, Wattpad Books, and Beth Reekles for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Initially I wasn't sure about how I was going to feel. Reading a book about lockdown so soon after things had started to open back up, but I couldn't resist picking this one up. I found myself quite surprised by how much I enjoyed the character development and how much I enjoyed getting a glimpse into other people's lives during a time when the entire world was experiencing the same thing collectively. I was concerned that this was going to feel like an over romanticized or sensationalized version of lock down during the pandemic,which would have felt insensitive. However, I really felt the author did a good job of realistically portraying the difficult emotions that people were processing.

Since the book is set in an apartment block, we gotta look into five different apartments and the tenants inside. The book takes place over a week of quarantine. We meet a brand new couple forced to tackle milestones before they're perhaps ready, a one night stand who are now stuck together for a week, a character whose girlfriend is stuck at her parents house, a couple who are on the rocks after being together for sometime, and some bridesmaids doing pre wedding do-it-yourself projects. I very much enjoyed the variety.

all in all this is very much a sweet rom com but also a great reminder of that i'm very recently when we were all experiencing the same thing at the same time everywhere in the world truly in experience that none of us ever expected.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.3/5 I want to fist say thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me the eARC. I want to start this review by saying that I am a COVID freak, I wash my hand 100 times a day, and I clean everything with Clorox wipes before I touch them an more. I read to escape reality and covid and when I started this book I was skeptical about it and I didn’t think that I will like it and also I didn’t want to read about a virus, but I am proud to say that this book proved me wrong! And now I want to read more book from Beth. it was a quick read, and All the stories where easy to follow, but I did not the bridezilla one but the book is amazing anyways. This book made me feel so many emotions, it made me happy, laugh, I even cried I was so invested in this book

I really enjoyed this book! Beth Reekles does a flawless job of combining 5 different narratives into one seemless story! I felt like I could relate to each person and each situation. I could understand how lockdown might cause rifts and problem in relationships. I also appreaciated how each story was basically a nightmare situation: getting stuck with a one night stand, new relationship, bridal party with a bridezilla, ending relationship and without your significant other. I really feel like Beth Reekles covered the full spectrum of emotions with this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad books for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend this to a friend and look forward to being able to purchase a finished copy.

Guys, listen. Do you enjoy books that will make you feel like you just drank that GOOD cup of coffee? Or maybe tea? Hot chocolate? Eaten a piece of amazing cheesecake? You get where I'm going with this, right? This book gives you that feeling. Such a cute story- as cute as you can get dealing with the serious plot point being this takes place during a pandemic (no, it doesnt specify Covid or anything- keeps it very vague, theres no mentions of symptoms or health issues or scares) BUT it did mention the lack of toilet paper and that was pretty realistic enough for me. This book takes place over a week of quarantining for differing tenants (and some non tenants who for one reason or another are now stuck with their tenant acquaintances). Each person has their own unique situation, each became loveable and relatable for the most part. I was a little hesitant to start this given the current state of affairs we're dealing with- pandemics right now can be triggering for some, even reading a fictional take may be like walking on eggshells. I am so glad I gave it a shot, and I'm glad i was given the opportunity to read it. This book left me feeling fluffy, hopeful, and excited to read more by Beth Reekles.

Super cute pandemic love story!!! I get the Valentine's Day vibes with this one... super adorable. Love how all the characters come together without... really coming together because lockdown. Ending felt a bit rushed though but regardless it left me feeling so good and warm and makes me want to fall in love.

This was the written, pandemic version of Love Actually that you could only dream of, except its real. This story was adorable and I was thoroughly investing in each story, barely even noticing that the book was flying by in a matter of hours. I think my favorite couple was Danny and Isla. I adore the honeymoon stage and I felt like their relationship was quiet realistic. I was rooting for everyone in this book, my favorite individual character was Nate in all his nerdy glory. One of the most impressive things about this contemporary fiction was the amount of development and structure in each character, even the supporting characters with less importance to the story. If there was one thing to add to this I would have added the perspective of an elderly introverted couple whose lives didn’t change one bit with the lockdown… ahah

I think anyone could enjoy this novel. Its super fast paced, easily readable and realistic to people in most stages of life.

Until next time…

Solid 4 stars! A book that I think we can all relate to! I loved the collection of characters and the subtle way they overlapped. Their struggles, annoyances and triumphs were all very real and I found myself liking all the characters. Bravo Beth Reekles!

Super cute book about how various couples/groups of people handle being stuck together for an entire week.

It’s set at the beginning of the pandemic (weird that I can say ‘the pandemic’ and not ‘a pandemic’) and someone in the apartment building tests positive. The entire building is put on lockdown with no one in and no one out. This part of the book seems pretty outlandish to me but I can overlook it because the relationships are written so well. Each couple’s relationship faces some harsh realities and you see how they overcome, confront them and grow.

Loved this book.
Set at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the residents of a block of flats have to isolate after a resident tests positive.
The residents, and their weekend visitors are stuck inside for a week. We follow the stories of a disparate group of people as they tackle this new normal!
A great story and very relevant.
Highly recommend!

Lockdown on London Lane is what you get when you cross cult fave rom-com Love Actually with the COVID-19 pandemic. The story features vignettes from the lives of various London Lane apartment dwellers, sharing their ups and downs as they go through a week of sudden and complete quarantine. In the words of the building super, NO ONE IN OR OUT! There are a variety of situations represented-new couples thrown together, couples separated, and even an entire bridesmaid party.

This book ticked a lot of my boxes. I love rom coms set in London, and this one was lots of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, though at times it felt a bit long. I think a strength of this book was that it was able to incorporate the reality of the pandemic in a way that was both realistic and somehow playful. As I read I could definitely see the scenes playing out like a movie, especially the ending which felt particularly cinematic. I'd recommend this book to other rom com lovers, or anyone who loves a romantic movie.

This book was so good! It’s about five residents who end up getting quarantined for a week due to a virus going around. I don’t like reading about covid but this book was so well done! The characters were easy to like and relate to and the relationships explored throughout this book were so perfect! This just shows you how being stuck with someone, romantically or not, really tests out how well they can cope being together and overcoming any challenges. 4/5 solid stars!

I really enjoyed this timely novel. Though we often read books where for whatever reason, a group of people end up stranded together, the pandemic twist really hit home right now. But aside from that aspect, the author did a really great job creating separate scenarios of people stuck in several different apartments in the same building that all felt wildly different yet connected in the end. So many different relationships, both platonic and romantic, we’re explored and the range of emotions was very well done. I laughed, I cringed, and I even cried. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

4/5 ⭐️

5 residents on London Lane wake up one morning to discover they’re all being quarantined for a week due to a highly contagious virus going around.

This is my first time reading a book about COVID-19, and let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The characters are so witty and funny, and I laughed, cried, smiled, and emphathized with them. Their stories were all relatable and so fun to follow along with. Even the first chapter had me giggling because of the humor right off the bat!

I’ll admit, initially it was confusing because there were so many characters and stories to follow, and it took me a few pages into each chapter to remember who was telling which story. But after I got the hang of it, it was a really fun and cute read! I love how the ending tied in all the stories together.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lockdown on London Lane is a look at 5 apartments in a building that has gone on a mandatory weeklong lockdown because of a “highly contagious deadly virus” although we all know which one the author meant. 😉

A one night stand. A newly dating couple. A couple struggling. A man separated from the love of his life. A bridal party work weekend.

Relationships were tested. Insecurities were brought to the surface. Revelations were made.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure going in and it started a bit slow for me but I ended up reading the last 2/3 of the book in one day because I needed to know how each scenario ended.

I did appreciate that although the stories many focused on relationships; none of the parties forgot about the impending pandemic. Lots of fears were discussed about the uncertainties of the next few months (years) and decisions were made with it in mind.

I recommend this book as a light-hearted pandemic-based romance with a lot of reality mixed in.

It was such a stunning book, 4 stars read for me. I cant wait to see everyone else's reactions. I am definitely going to be picking up this book again in the future as a re-read.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4129661737

This is the review that can be found on goodreads.

Let me quickly preface this by saying I was provided free online arc company from NetGallery in exchange of an honest review.
I was first excited to read this on Wattpad, when I saw what it was about, but then never got around to it. While reading this book, it sort of feels nostalgic (for a lack of better words) as to how the world was initially reacting to the pandemic, compared to now.

This book follows five different love stories whilst being kept in lockdown for a week. Each of the couples showcases different stages of being in a relationship and how being forced to deal with each other’s company’s with no breaks will impact one another and the relationship(with the exception of Ethan and Charlotte).

Generally, I’m iffy about different stories being told throughout the book, but the way this writer does it, makes me more open to books told in a similar manner. Reekles does a great job by having the stories overlap and the characters interact with one another, in some way or another, which weaves each of the stories into a book, rather than it’s own thing.

I loved the pop cultural references found in this book, especially to sitcoms. If I had to chose who my favorite character from this book is, it would be Imogen. Reading this book, I wanted to just go back to her story, not for the plot, but for her. She is unafraid to be herself, and wasn’t withholding parts of herself. She was honest, with a great wit, making her all that more enjoyable to read (and the main source of humor). Close second, would have to be Charlotte for similar reasons, even though we didn’t see much of her in the book. I like how near the ending we get a taste of what Charlotte is like, rather than being someone told from the narrative of her boyfriend.

I wished that we got to see more of Nate, and what he must have been feeling or thinking. Obviously, it would have be complicated to do so, but the chat that he has with Ethan, where he tries to explain how he feels Imogen, was a great thing to keep in mind while reading the rest of the story.

Near the end, there are some edits that need to be made, for example between two paragraphs, there was (insert spacer). There were also some minor syntax errors, such as a stray letter or two.

First off I want to thank NetGalley for allowing me to have an ARC of Lockdown on London Lane. I really enjoyed this book! I’ve never read anything like it before. It is 5 stories in one basically. I plan on buying this book when it comes out!

Thank you to Netgalley and Beth Reekles for gifting me a digital copy of Love on Lockdown Lane to review.

Lordy Lord I loved this book so much, I laughed, I cried and I lived every second of this book. I loved the relationships between all the characters and the over lapping of the lives of each apartment. I didn’t want this book to come to an end, I became so involved with each individual story line, and that’s not an easy thing to do but Beth Reekles handled it seamlessly. I will be buying this book the second I can get my hands on a physical copy. I loved it so much. Well done Beth Reekles you absolutely smashed this one out the park.

Do you like the movie Love, Actually? Then this is the perfect book for you. We follow five different groups of people, who all live in the same apartment complex which is shut down for 7 days during a pandemic lockdown. And we probably all know, how that feels.

The whole book gave me cozy rom-com vibes and there were definitely the trademark points, that can’t be missed in a rom-com. We have:

• a couple, that’s together for some time and starts re-evaluating their relationship
• a couple, that has to do social distancing, since one was not home when the lockdown started
• four friends, who had a sleepover when the lockdown started and are now trapped in the apartment
• a couple, that is in the honeymoon phase of the relationship, since they only started dating a month prior
• and (my personal favorite) a one-night stand, who can’t leave the house and has to stay with the guy, she met over a dating app

All these different stories are told through the whole 7 days and I enjoyed getting to know them all and their situations. I personally think there was some character growth for the different characters and in the end, this book had everything it needed to be a fun and great read for me.

This book is difficult to summarize, but this is basically a view in from different characters about their experiences during lockdown in England. Initially it took some time getting into especially as there are multiple POVs, however once I properly gotten into it, I struggled to put it down and finished it super fast. It felt like a realistic insight into actual people's lives and their struggles... some got it better, some didn't. The setting was perfect for it and the writing was spot on - sometimes I felt like laughing, sometimes like crying.
Loved it.

Lockdown on London Lane is set when the pandemic is just beginning and restrictions are new and unfamiliar. A notice goes to each flat informing the occupants that someone has tested positive and building management is imposing a 7 day lockdown. No one can enter or leave for the week. 5 narrators deal with the complications of lockdown.
Imogen is stuck in the flat of a one-night stand who’s name she can’t remember. Socially awkward Ethan is looking forward to his girlfriend returning from a weekend trip, but when she arrives she is not allowed in the building and he is left alone. Serena and her boyfriend have been struggling lately. When he orders Hawaiian pizza she is floored that after 4 years she did not know that he likes pineapple on his pizza. This causes her to question their whole relationship and leads to a blowout fight on lockdown day 1. Isla is in the honeymoon phase of a new relationship; after a month he has not seen her less than perfectly made up and on her best behaviour. How can she possibly poop when he is in the apartment? Olivia is looking forward to guests leaving after hosting a DIY wedding weekend for her Bridezilla best friend and the other bridesmaids. The slumber party is wearing thin.
Told in alternating chapters we follow the ups and downs of the week as the characters learn about themselves and relationships are tested.
The characters ware endearing and the idea of being quarantined in less than ideal circumstances or with less than ideal people is both timely and relatable. This book was pretty much what people expect and love from a rom-com- awkward people and situations and for the most part happy endings in which everyone has experienced some personal growth.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

First and most important, PINEAPPLE DOES NOT BELONG ON PIZZA.

Ok, glad we sorted that out, this book was ADORABLE. The lack of “spice” made it downright wholesome. I wasn’t even bothered by it because I was thoroughly entertained.

It takes place during a pandemic and an entire apartment building gets quarantined.
An apartment building that holds five couples in different stages of development.

There is Imogen, MY GIRL, who gives off a Wine Aunt vibe and gets caught trying to ghost her boring one-night stand, Nate.

Isla, who is about to get a crash course in cohabitating, when her shiny new boyfriend, Danny can’t leave after their long weekend date.

Serena, who decides to have a meltdown and question the entire existence of her relationship with her clueless boyfriend of 4 years, Zach.

Ethan, is a very co-dependent gamer who is miserable without his girlfriend, Charlotte, whom is stuck at her parents.

Olivia, might have it the worst of all, seeing as she is stuck with a bridal party, complete with a bridezilla and annoying American.

I know a lot of people are sick of hearing about pandemics these days, but the synopsis is very upfront about the premise, so there should be no surprises there.
All of the characters were well developed, whether you could stand them or not, is a personal preference (looking at you Serena). Most of them are very relatable as well.
The flow between these points of view and the clever ways in which they overlapped was very smooth. I was never feeling “stuck” reading too much about a POV I wasn’t interested in.
Overall, this was a cute, fun, quick read, I would recommend for those that like rom-coms with not a lot of “spice”.
Check it out, when it hits shelves/e-readers February 1st, 2022!

A big thanks to the Publisher & NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The first book for me to read by this author but I will be on the lookout for more for sure! Highly recommend this one!

The pandemic, lockdown and the lives of five residents of London Lane. Once gotten into, hard to put down as it brings realistic insight people's lives and struggles during the unexpected lockdown. Follow the five very different people in a situation that is truly relatable.

Thank you @netgalley and @wattpadbooks for the advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review. This is my second pandemic setting read and while I understand the concern some have with this idea when reading is an escape of reality, I think that the light hearted, funny perspectives of the tenants on lockdown in this building was refreshing! I am a big fan at laughing through hard times and this book nailed that idea. While the characters were exaggerated in some ways, I also found them relatable in things I have noticed in pandemic about myself or what others have shared. Some of the nit picking little things seems outrageous and laughable.. but when people feel they have no control over anything.. they often look for anything they can control whether it's the time you exercise you aren't willing to budge on, or feeling upset someone made your dishes dirty even though they just cooked you dinner. The addition of a character whose partner got locked out of the building instead of being trapped together like the others was a creative idea I really enjoyed! Also I learned I would never want to be trapped for a week with a stressed bride🙅🏻‍♀️If you are a fan of movies like Love Actually with character development in multiple groups that connect, this will not disappoint! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Book Release date 2/1/22

This book is our COVID-19 RomCom, and I am here for it!
It follows 5 different groups of people who all live in the same apartment complex and are lockdown due to the pandemic. During this time we get a look into their lives and can see how the lockdown is affecting their lives.
We see a couple who begin to re-evaluate their relationship after 7 straight days together.
A couple who are trying to social distance in their tiny flat.
Four friends who are stuck together after having a sleepover when the lockdown was called.
A couple who recently started dating
A one-night stand who are now stuck with each other after meeting up through a dating app.

We follow their stories during the 7 day lockdown through heart-felt and funny writing. The book is a perfect look into the pandemic and how it effects people differently. If you love rom-coms this book is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad books for this eARC!

I was intrigued by the summary and I must say this is my first pandemic/lockdown book. It was a lovely one to read.
The book follows the residents of the apartment complex that has been put on quarantine due to the pandemic, leaving unexpected guests locked in and residents locked out.
The narrative tells the stories of various residents of the flats affected. I enjoyed all the first person perspectives from the residents and the way the pandemic lockdown affected their lives but also taught them lessons about themselves and those close to them.
It was funny and moving, sad and hopeful. I think this is a lovely book to read as your first pandemic based book. It delves into emotion and perception, relationships and communication, self reflection and aspects of love and friendship.
I enjoyed each of the POVs and the characters were different and unique and I had not issue following their stories as the book progressed. There is heartwarming and heart ache in the narrative and it kept me reading and very engaged. The writing style is very natural and approachable.

Lockdown on London Lane followed several couples, along with a group of friends who ended up getting locked down in the apartment building for a week together. This was not expected and many were not prepared for it.

Throughout the book you go back and forth between the people who live in different apartments and follow the situations they are in. From 2 people who had a 1 night stand to a couple who has been together for over 4 years. You get a mix of different stages of relationships, along with a friendship between a maid of honor and a bride.

Being stuck with someone in a 1 bedroom apartment for over a week, without being able to have the ability to leave and get some space really tests relationships. I liked how it also helped develop relationships between each set of people. There were many ups and downs and a happy endings.

I really enjoyed this read because it was very relatable in the time we are in. I could connect with each coupe in a different way because of what I have experienced on my own.

Overall I would recommend this book to others.

Thank you so much for.the opportunity to read this lovely eARC!

WoW! how do I even find the correct set of words to describe this book. 5 stars doesn’t even seem like enough because I loved it THAT much.
This book was a fun, quick read and was totally unputdownable.
Honestly this one took me by surprise.
Still set in the charming backdrop of London, with great side characters, this book just felt like a warm hug.
I could not be more pleased with how much I loved this story.
It leaves you with feel good, happy vibes! I can’t wait to keep reading more from Beth!

💜💜💜💜💜

I will cross post my review closer to pub date!

I really enjoyed reading this book. The author had me right from the beginning. I loved how it told the story of everyone that was in the building. How almost all the characters intertwined some way or another. There was love, there was heartbreak, people learned about their relationships and what they did and didn't want. They were stuck in uncomfortable situations. I think this book correctly described a lot of things that actually happened during lock down for many people. I would recommend this book to other readers.

Beth Reekles, who's known for her "Kissing Booth" books, has seamlessly stepped into the adult/women's fiction game with this novel. Here, various residents in the London Lane apartment building get a note from building management that they are expected to quarantine for a week amidst the beginning of the pandemic. With nowhere else to go, these various characters end up confronting their current lives and situations. We get a variety of leading players, from longtime couples confronting the future of their relationship, newly dating couples diving into that next stage very quickly, a bridal party who cannot stop fighting while prepping for upcoming nuptials, and a one-night stand that lasts one whole week. Told in multiple perspectives, we see how their different friendships and romances are tested in a series of quick novellas, almost.

While reading, I absolutely couldn't put this book down thanks to its catchy language that's just so much fun and draws me in. Not only that, but this quick read features an array of equally lovable yet authentic characters that I'm invested in each of their journeys. It did read like mini-vignettes or something since each story was quite separate until one cute scene towards the end that really brings everyone together as a community. Plus, that ending (minus one heartsick twist) had me grinning so wide at this adorable and fun read.

After the year we have just had, this book was oddly comforting. It was able to convey all the feelings and emotions of lockdown and quarantine in a way that's relatable. It's odd to think about how this type of story is relatable to readers and I'm surprised more authors haven't taken it upon themselves to try and write about this experience we have all shared. This is the ultimate opportunity for the forced proximity trope

At first, it was a bit difficult for me to keep up with all the concurrent storylines and couples. But after settling into the book, I was able to identify the different aspects of each storyline that make each pairing unique and I got invested.

A totally cute pandemic love story. I adored how all the characters come together without … actually coming together because lockdown. Warm & heartfelt. It made me want to fall in love.

Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles takes place right as one of the first lockdowns due to the current pandemic making its way into building. Tenants find themselves waking up to notes beneath their doors stating that their building is on lockdown for one week with no one in and no one out. This creates unique situations for each flat owner including two individuals who were only supposed to be a one night stand, the couple who has newly started dating and a wedding decorating party to name a few. I knew I was going to enjoy this book when within the first five pages I had laughed out loud! When the book ended, I kept clicking my Kindle turn page button because I wanted to know more about the characters! Lockdown on London Lane releases in February 2022 but is on pre-order now!
Thank you Net Galley and Wattpad Books for the ARC of this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGally for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so refreshing to read. It’s unlike any other I’ve read.

I loved reading the stories of each group. It was soo interesting to myself in those perspectives. We go through the motions of fear, anxiety, and love and it’s a ride.

For all this rom-com lovers this book is perfect.

Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles

MY RATING: 3.5/5 Stars

A story about love and life during a mandatory 'lockdown'. All the residents of London Lane are notified that they are required to undergo a 7-day quarantine. We get to follow along for the wild ride. This book has a little bit of everything - new love, one night stands, breakups, makeups, and friendships tested.

Check out Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles wherever you buy books!

✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3mSnXLt
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/3BQkZLz
✦ Google ➜ https://bit.ly/3bP4bdy
✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/3bMMfjw
✦ B&N Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/3CV4uzi

TAGS: fiction, romance, contemporary romance, new adult, romantic comedy, rom-com, women's fiction, chick-lit

*Thanks to NetGalley, Wattpad Books & Beth Reekles for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #NetGalley @NetGalley #WattpadBooks @wattpadbooks #AuthorBethReekles @authorbethreekles

This book took all the scary parts that I have experienced during Covid as a nurse and turned it into something I can smile about. The book was clever and funny. Unlike any book I had read before. It takes a hard and scary subject matter and made it relatable and fun. I loved the characters and the author writes the several different perspective so well. This is my first book from Beth Reekles but will not be my last!

I adored this book! It was so much fun following all the different couples and their interweaving storylines. My favourite story was Ethan and Charlotte as they were just SO DARN CUTE, but honestly all the stories were great fun - a solid mixture of amusing, heartwarming and occasionally bittersweet.

Thanks @netgalley for the arc!

Due to the current situation, building management has decided to impose a seven-day quarantine on all apartment buildings on London Lane.

With nowhere else to go…

Ethan and Charlotte wonder whether absence really does make the heart grow fonder when they end up on either side of a locked door.

A fierce debate over pineapple on pizza ignites a series of revelations about Zach and Serena’s four-year relationship.

Liv realizes rolling with the punches is sometimes much harder than it looks after her bridesmaids’ party goes off the rails, leaving the group at each other’s throats.

Isla and Danny’s new romance is put to the test as they jump ten steps ahead on the relationship timeline.

And Imogen and Nate’s one-night stand is about to get six do-overs they never really asked for—not awkward at all.

I really enjoyed this book! I was an enjoyable lockdown read that had some humour while also being serious and realistic including all the fear and anxiety that people felt during lockdown. I liked how every story was different with their own problems and difficulties. I liked seeing the character growth of many of the characters and their new understandings of themselves and each other brought by the lockdown. This book really shined a light on what couples go through on a daily basis: the drama, the arguments, love and the compromises. If there was a sequel to this book, I would totally read it. I enjoyed all the stories and I got really invested in all the characters. All the storylines were also very easy to follow.

If you enjoyed the movie Love Actually and want some humour and fun, then you should read Lockdown on London's Lane by Beth Reekles.

Releases on February 1st, 2022

This book, which I was lucky enough to get an ARC of from #NetGalley, is absolutely brilliant!
Have you ever wished you could be a fly on the wall, to be able to see and hear what happens when you aren't around? This book gives you the chance to be that fly on the wall of five different apartments for an entire week, witnessing the relatable trials and tribulations of the people stuck in their apartment building during a pandemic lockdown.
The characters span such a wide range of people, from a girl forced to retrace her steps after her 'walk of shame' gets stopped in its tracks, to an apartment full of members of a bridal party destined to get on each other's nerves, to two different couples at different stages of their relationships, and to a couple that is prevented from reuniting, that there is literally someone in the book that a reader can relate to. All of the characters are real, relatable and sympathetic.
The book gives you a wide range of emotions as well, making the book a real page-turner as you can't wait to find out how the characters deal with the problems that arise with being locked together, or alone, for an entire week. Expect some laughter and some tears as you read it!
Without giving anything away, I must say that the ending is extremely satisfying and as close to perfect as I've ever seen in a book.
The depiction of pandemic lockdown is bang on and sure to hit a chord with readers. The book is well-written, witty, and a great read - even if you aren't locked down.

I loved this book, which follows the lives of several occupants in a London-based building, who unexpectedly have to endure a one-week lockdown in their building at the beginning of the pandemic. They are all in different stages of relationships/friendships, and so being suddenly stuck together for a whole week proves challenging, to say the least. It reminded me of watching a movie with a large cast of characters whose individual stories all develop separately, while somehow intertwining. I will be following Beth Reekles and look forward to see what she writes next !

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

The residents of London Lane are surprised on Sunday morning to find notes slipped under their doors that no one can go in or out of the building due to a case of the virus in the building. This is not what anyone wants. Not Ilsa, stuck with her one night stand that's just been extended by 7 nights. Not Ethan, whose girlfriend Charlotte is on her way back from a weekend packing her parents house. Not Serena who is questioning all of Zach's choices after he orders pineapple on pizza. And especially not Liv, who is stuck hosting her best friends bridal party for much more than a weekend.

This book is the lockdown romance you didn't know you needed.

I picked up this book after needing some variation from my usual genres and had read half the book by the end of the day. The writing is quick and fun, and its easy to get sucked into all of the stories. I really enjoyed the way each of the sets of characters connected to others in the building, but that they were also fully contained stories on their own.

I can see some people staying away from this book if its premise hits too close to how they experienced the beginning of the pandemic, but this wasn't something that bothered me.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. The writing was really good and it got me thinking about all the stories that probably went on in my building while we were on lockdown. This book had me laughing a whole lot. A super feelgood read for any day of the week!

A super relevant book that takes place during a pandemic lockdown. This book follows multiple point of views amongst couples and friends who are interconnected and also locked in their apartment for 7 days. No getting in or out! This story follows romance and friendship and it really hits home on the lockdown feelings. It is a super enjoyable read that leaves you wanting more.

In a new world where Covid is running rampant and lockdowns are becoming common place I was very interested in this novel just from this description. It talks about an apartment building which has to go under a lockdown after someone tests positive. The book talks about multiple people in the apartment building as they all deal with this situation in different ways. I liked this because each person is in the middle of something very different when the lockdown occurs, a one night stand goes longer than expected, a budding romance is catapulted ten steps further than where it should be and more. Each story is very different than the last but something that ever person is able to relate to. The stories are all combined and it was nice to see how each person is dealing with the lockdown and see how differently it effects their lives. I loved the characters in this novel and each one while going through something so different were all dealing with the same underling issues. Very great read this quick romance book is everything I love in this subject, compelling story lines, interesting characters and a writing style that pulls you in and makes you lose track of everything around you. What I found very nice was even though each story line was very different they all connected nicely and I found each one very interesting. I loved each story and I couldn't wait to see how each person was dealing with their lockdown. This was a nice surprise especially since each person's situation was so different than the next. I'm so glad that I was able to read this book and I think that everyone should read this one. Do not pass this book up just because it talks about quarantine because you will regret it. I cannot wait to see what else Beth Reekles writes because her writing style is one that will keep readers with her for life..

I had doubts about reading a story about a lockdown during this very particular time - the mass panic of early 2020 seems like an AU now far away, but at the same time, new variants and intermittent infection rises don't allow for a much more peaceful life in the 2021/2022 winter season.
Still, this was a light and even heartwarming read. The plot is focused on the lives of the residents (and guests) of several apartments of one building under lockdown, and the ups and downs of being in the same space as very different people for a week straight. Remember the Zoom calls, the lack of grocery delivery slots, not seeings your friends and family for days and days, and the nerve-racking experience of having to somehow try to organize completely different family routines happening in the same small space? Yeah, this book is about them. Also, a lot of talking and getting to know each other better!
At first, the multiple small stories (but all connected, of course) featured in this book felt too vague and too much: even if the chapters aren't too long or complex, it can be hard to care for characters that aren't being constantly exposed, and that we will only see every 30 pages or so. Although I had a hard start, on the second half of the book I was enjoying following the different apartments much more than before, and I'm glad I didn't give up reading.
Also, the book is filled with pop culture references - even if I soon started to get tired of them and I would have prefered them to be more rare, I think they're good for a book trying to relate with a younger audience.
Without giving away spoilers, I liked how the lockdown week turned out for most of the apartments, and the book has some "feel good" moments near the very end. If you like books that change POV every chapter and find the premise of being locked down with your one night stands or with your bridesmaids interesting, this is a not that harsh, easy read story set during the pandemic.

If Two Night Stand and Love Actually were set in the same apartment complex, this would be it.

I’ve attempted to read several other pandemic stories and this is the first one that hasn’t been terrifyingly depressing. Also this is the first romance I’ve ever read that was true to the real world- I’ve never read a book where people met on dating apps. I’ve been waiting for Romance authors to catch up and I’m glad that Beth Reekles has caught on.

Glad I recommended this to my book club before I even finished the book (which I read within 12 hours). Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Such a light, fun read! I was engaged the entire book, and though the ending was predictable, I loved it!

If 2020 lockdown and Love, Actually had a baby, it would be called Lockdown on London Lane.

This story flashes between five different apartments in the same building as it is on lockdown for one week due to a positive covid exposure. Through this we get to see the one-night-stand turned seven-night stand, the boyfriend left to his own devices, the unhappy couple with not enough Cheerios, the seemingly happy couple forced to kickstart their short relationship, and a bridal party of best friends, or frenemies, forced to put up with bride-zilla all week.

Funny, light hearted, and unexpectedly heart warming, Lockdown on London Lane is the perfect pandemic-fiction for someone looking to escape this own lockdown.

Just finished reading LOCKDOWN ON LONDON LANE by Beth Reekles. Thank you to wattpadbooks for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Official publication date is February 1st, 2022.

Imagine being locked down in your apartment/condo/house for 7 days due to a global pandemic. Bahaha okay it's probably happened to 99% of people reading this post. This is a very relevant and relatable read, that I think will appeal to many.

For inhabitants of condo complex London Lane, shit just got real and they are on lockdown for SEVEN days 🔐. Even though this one is told from five different characters perspectives, you will end up hooked on all their dramas.

From a long term relationship couple, to a Bachelorette girls weekend, to a new couple in the puppy love stage, to a one night stand turned seven day stand, to a couple separated one on the inside one stuck outside, there is something for everyone. Through all the ups and downs of quarantine life these characters will learn what they need most, and truly become themselves.

I would definitely read another book to see what happens to the characters from London Lane.

It was cute! not my favorite, but I liked the ingenuity of the story! I think I enjoyed some couples more than others. It really hit home though with lockdown.

This was such a sweet read! I was initially a little put off by the concept of a COVID age romance, having worked for the government on COVID-19 policy... it just seemed a little close to home.

The book was very heart warming and funny too! I was fully engrossed in the lives of the characters and appreciated each of their storylines and how they intertwined together.

I would highly recommend this as a sweet romcom with an original premise!

short and cute - i first read this book on wattpad during the lockdown and was really happy to see it published! it was a quick read, and filled with so many emotions

Ahh! This is SO good! 4.75 ⭐️
I found myself reading this super slow because I just wanted to stay with these wonderful characters for as long as possible. I could relate to almost every person in some aspect which I love. There were so many laugh out loud moments throughout.
Also, I think it is super unfair for people to give this book a low rating because the book is about the pandemic. If that is not what you want to read about, that’s okay! The book is not for you, but it does not make it a bad book. It’s beautifully written and extremely relatable. I’ll be thinking about this one of a while.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC of this book!

This was Love Actually but in a book, and during lockdown. 5 apartments go into chaos due to a week’s lockdown. Couples forced to spend every second together, newly dating ones, one night stands prolonged, fighting friends and more.

I went through a lot of emotions reading this and while at times I felt confused or even a bit doubtful about how every story would turn out, I’m happy to say the story worked out great.

What I liked:
- In general, the stages in which all couples/groups are. We see vastly different mishaps, which makes each little plot very unique.
- Imogen and Nate: Opposites in every sense. Loved their interactions and their dynamics were so fun. I would’ve read a book solely of them.
- Danny and Isla: from dating one month where everything is perfect to having to live together (the fart scene made my day LOL). It was very sweet and realistic too.
- Serena and Zach: I’m a sucker for second chance romance. Also loved that she was curvy/plus-size. The angst was great and their resolution felt very mature and real.


What could’ve been better:
- God. The pandemic. Too soon!!! Ethan’s panic sent ME into a panic about it. Couldn’t it have been a lockdown because of a gas leak?? Help a girl out here.
- At the beginning, 5 different storylines was a bit munch. It got confusing at times until I got deeper into each story. Ethan’s was unnecessary until the very end (but his resolution was cute).
- The writing felt very American (which is totally ok) but it wasn’t necessary to make it happen in London Lane imo.

For fans of Love Actually, New Years Eve, and every other romcom movie with stories where all characters are somehow connected and have internal realizations & growth, this is the perfect book for you.

This book ticked a lot of my boxes. I love rom coms set in London, and this one was lots of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, though at times it felt a bit long. I think a strength of this book was that it was able to incorporate the reality of the pandemic in a way that was both realistic and somehow playful. As I read I could definitely see the scenes playing out like a movie, especially the ending which felt particularly cinematic. I'd recommend this book to other rom com lovers, or anyone who loves a romantic movie.

Lockdown on London Lane is a story about 5 apartments in a building that requires to be under lockdown due to the Corona Virus! The timeline is when the virus is just starting to spread- which reminded me WAY too much of March 2020 and the anxiety and the "what is going to happen" when things started to shut down.

I enjoyed this book a lot, it was adorable and fun! The stories and tropes are as follows:
Ethan: Has to quarantine on his own, but misses his girlfriend terribly and realizes he wants to take his relationship to the next step.
Imogen: Has to quarantine with her one night stand at his apartment (this was my favourite story, it was SO ADORABLE)
Isla: Quarantining with her boyfriend of only a month, realizing that they may have to get out of the honeymoon stage earlier than anticpating
Serena: Quarantining with her boyfriend of 4 years, realizing that they may not know enough about one another and have never had a chat about the future- relationship in peril (this one broke my heart)
Olivia: LGBTQ- was hosting a bridal party for her bridezilla best friend, has to quarantine with the bridal party.

This book was an easy read, the ending was PRETTY cheesy... and I'm not one for cheese so that's why its knocked down 1 star from a 5 star. We also dont get a HEA for one of the apartments and that made me sad. But a pretty cute story overall!

URGENT!!! Due to the current situation, building management has decided to impose a seven-day quarantine on all apartment buildings on London Lane.
What happens when your one night stand forcedly becomes more than one night? What happens when you are trapped without the ability to get away from the things that cause anxiety? The 5 flats in this story each spin a tale that is what so many people were battling during recent events and I must say it's such a relief to be able to enjoy the story from the outside! The story was told with such flair that I must rec to any and everyone!

This book was sent to me electronically for review by Netgalley. It is innovative in that the author writes from the voices of various characters in lockdown due to a pandemic. We can relate to this story. The characters are realistic and at times, somewhat comical. Sometimes too realistic, but that is the basis for this unusual book. This author has woven an innovative detailed plot for readers who enjoy a quick read...try this one...

This is an all around fun book! Very realistic, but still good. Only downfall is there’s a lot of characters, it’s hard to keep track at times.

***Bookishfirst Giveaway in exchange for an honest review***

I really enjoyed this book. It home in many ways. I like the characters lived and are still living through a whicked crazy pandemic. We have all been forced to shut in with our family. Only getting out for walks and groceries. Some of us ended relationships, while some like me were locked up with kids. We had pandemic anniversaries and birthdays. Missed huge events with family. Life changed.

This book followed many characters as they were locked down in their apartments. Some found love. Some found unanswered but needed questions. Some found answers to questions they did not know existed. The characters were all developed to get to know them personally. All with individual quirks and traits. Some adorable and some annoying. Don't forget about bridezilla. This book will make you laugh at times and make you cry at others.

I recommend it to anyone who has lived through the pandemic and that is everyone.

Lockdown on London Lane was a fun read. This is the first pandemic rom-com I have read and I was initially a little wary about it, but I absolutely loved it! Following five apartments of residents through a week long building lockdown made for wonderful rom-com stakes, especially for the couple stuck together after a one night stand got extended far longer than they were expecting. The writing is fresh and funny. The scenarios and issues the couples faced were realistic. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times while reading.

I was invested in all the couples, but my only wish was that we could have spent a little more time with each of them, so maybe the book could have done with less couples and more in depth storylines for each. The only storyline that felt somewhat out of place was the wedding party because all the other storylines were about couples and that one was about a friendship, which made it seem like a side story rather than a main story.

Overall, I would recommend Lockdown on London Lane for all rom-com lovers. It's a delightful adult fiction debut and I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's adult fiction in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad Books for providing me with an ARC of Lockdown On London Lane in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I debated reading this book because it’s so soon after we were all in lockdown, but I was pleasantly surprised and would read it all over again.

When the management places the residents in quarantine for a week, tenants are left to deal with with life as it was when at the exact moment management made the decision. With people being forced to spend a week apart or with a virtual stranger, or even having to spend a full seven days with their partner, the residents of each apartment face their own challenges. What will the end of quarantine bring for them as they go through a week of this?

I found this book to be so intriguing and heartfelt that I couldn’t put it down. My initial hesitation almost made me pass on reading this one, but I am SO glad that I did and highly recommend it.

First and foremost, if you are having any pandemic anxiety, this book is not for you. I want to make that clear. I happened to read this one toward the end of November this year (2021) and I found it to be cute and almost like a “throwback” to March 2020. However, fast forward to end of December and things are feeling a bit more restrictive again and to be honest, I doubt I would’ve enjoyed this book as much now. So, I would recommend reading it if and when you feel ready to read a book that is 100% centered around being on lockdown due to the pandemic.

I personally found it hard to get into initially. There are so many point of view in the book, but gosh darn, as I kept reading, I wanted to know more. I also know I’m enjoying a book when I can’t help but tell half the plot to my poor unsuspecting friend. But actually, I spent half the ride in the car and most of the time at the coffee shop blabbering on about the different stories and how I could relate to each one just a bit.

What I particularly liked was this book made me realize what positives did exist for me during the pandemic and what I learned about myself. There are so many things I didn’t appreciate prior to the pandemic and now I’m grateful every day. The book isn’t particularly deep, but rather the topic is relatable.

I couldn’t even begin to tell you who I enjoyed the most, because I really enjoyed them all. We all have our stories from the past two years. This collection of fictional stories is far-fetched at best, but who cares, it’s fiction. Creative license is allowed!

~ Great, easy read! ~

I really enjoyed this book! It was so fun and addicting to read and had me eagerly turning the page to find out what happened next!
•
It took me a little while to figure out who was who as there is a rather large cast, but once I did, it was easy to follow along with the branching narratives. I do think it was hard at times to be invested in all the stories as I think two stole the spotlight and left me wanting more from the others. (Though I think it’s personal opinion which stories you think are interesting)
•
Ethan and Charlotte’s narrative definitely had me the most intrigued and I really loved how it played out! The ending moment was really sweet and very rewarding! I also really liked Imogen and Nate’s arc too! Although I was hesitant to like Imogen’s character at first, her emotional journey with Nate was really well done and swayed me over to liking her!
•
I still really liked the other stories, but they seemed just a little less interesting than the two mentioned above (but again I’ve seen different stories being liked so I think it’s more a personal opinion)
•
Overall though, this was a fun read as I always enjoy a good contemporary romance and I was left satisfied and happy with all the warm romance feelings!
•
CWs ~ frequent strong language and some innuendo throughout the story (nothing overly explicit or graphic though)
•
*** I received a free ebook copy from the published in an exchange for an honest review and all thoughts and opinions are my own ***
•
•
•
•

I wasn't sure I'd be ready for a Covid book yet, but this one actually surpassed all expectations.

In Lockdown on London Lane, we follow a group of tenants who are all locked in their apartment building for a week due to someone in the building testing positive. We see the stories of about five different apartments, who are all tied together in some way but kept fairly separate given the lockdown. We see relationships go in every possible direction, with an unexpected ending that brings the whole building together.

It definitely gives very early pandemic vibes, which is why I think I was able to stomach it. I remember the complete uncertainty at the beginning when none of us had any idea what was going on. I feel like we know so much more now that I felt separated from this period of naivety and could focus on the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, BookishFirst, and the publisher for an advance copy of this book!

"Lockdown on London Lane" by Sharon Thompson Production is a new author to this reader. As I began to read this novel, I found it hard to get into one of those cozy cup of tea reads that I was hoping this one would be for me. It started out quite drab for me as there are too many points of views in the book but it is about individuals being locked behind closed doors during a pandemic. I had a hard time keeping up with the characters but found some parts of the story witty and some of the characters funny. It is ironic how you can picture yourself in some of the situations/relationships during a pandemic because you experienced it first hand at the beginning. A bit slow for me but overall a genuinely good plot and pretty nice read.

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to #Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of Lockdown on London Lane in exchange for an honest review.

I read this over the course of one day, but not in one sitting. At first the setting, an apartment building forced into lockdown after a resident contracts a rapidly spreading virus, made me some what anxious. This was a shock to me. I've read other pandemic setting books with no trouble. Maybe it is because of the timeframe in which I read it...late December 2021, when we're going through another surge. So if you find that pandemic setting stories are anxiety inducing, give this a pass.

I, however, continued to read, because I was hooked on the stories of the people living in five different apartments while on lockdown. Their stories grabbed me and from the 50% mark, I could not put it down. The stories include: a couple waking up after a one night stand, a starry eyed couple one month into a new relationship, a couple in a relationship that is four years old and long past the honeymoon phase, a long term relationship in which one partner is locked out of the apartment for the week long lockdown, and lastly, a group of four women who were together for a weekend of wedding planning. Each story was unique and held my interest. I enjoyed the characters and felt that the events and struggles each group went through were realistic given the pressure cooker of emotions of living through a lockdown.

It is a fun rom-com read, highly recommended for anyone who enjoys their romance with sweet and cute storylines.

This is one of those books that I could not put down! I was fully invested in each and every character. This is a very realistic book these days, especially in the beginning of COVID. This was such a good, lighthearted romance and comedy all in one. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the book in exchange for my honest review.

This might have been the cutest story I’ve ever read. I loved how real the characters felt. And the writing was so good! I read this in 2 sittings because I couldn’t put it down. Loved it!

This book is exactly what I didn't know I needed. Imagine if you can a one night stand, a crumbling relationship, a wedding planning sleepover from hell and a couple just starting their relationship and another possibly ending theirs.

It shocked me in the first first chapters how so many people were connected in one building but it got me so invested in those relationships.

In the beginning it was a little. confusing keeping the apartments straight but referencing the first few chapters a couple of times and you have a seamless multi-perspective story.

These characters were fun and I'd love to see a sequel, I need to know how the wedding planning goes, if a puppy shows up, if there's a bestman "proposal" and if the Walter White property manager has to impose lockdown 2.0.

Overall this was a fun read that is the best rom-com I've read in a very long time.

Book received for free through NetGalley

I absolutely loved this book. Perfect read that I wished happened “after” Covid and not during the ups and downs. Love this look at their lives even if It’s just a week.

Thank you to netgalley for my copy of this book! I really enjoyed this book, this was the second book I’ve read about the pandemic and I must say I preferred this one over the other and the other was by my favorite author, Jodi Picoult! It was cute and also so relatable. The reality of it made it enjoyable because I’m sure we all know people who may have been stuck in some way with a person or persons during the pandemic. It’s nice sometimes to read a fiction version or a real
Word situation without it being all about the deaths.

The inhabitants of London Lane are stuck inside for the week as someone in the building has tested positive for the virus that put them in a pandemic. From Ethan and Charlotte being stuck on opposite sides of the door to Isla and Danny's new relationship being put to the test and a one night stand being extended for an extra six days, everyone in (and out) the building is being tested as friendships are tested and everyone is pushed to extreme high and lows. The only constant thing about everything in their lives is the fact that life is full of surprises.

This is an excellent book that has perfect timing as we seal with out own pandemic. The best part is even though there are a ton of characters going through this, they are not only well rounded, but they also have clear distinct voices that not only make it easy to tell who's speaking but help us to understand the characters even more.

As they navigate being quarantined at the beginning of a pandemic, it reminds e of when COVID first shut us down and we all were left wondering what was happening and how long it was going to last. Now looking back as we are hopefully coming closer to the end of the pandemic (Though that may not be for well past a couple months), things are a lot different than any of us expected and it's easy to assume the same thing will happen with these characters as well and I can probably guess how each of them will react as things happen and as new mandates are put out (Or retracted)

I was immediately hooked by the premise of this book - the first I've read that actually takes place in the time of Corona. One might wonder why I'd even <i>want</i> to read about that, but it is our new normal, so....

Anyway, I did have a few reservations about the initial concept (an apartment building has gone into lockdown with nobody allowed in or out for a week) - it didn't seem all that believable to me that residents weren't allowed back home into their apartments. But once I got past that aspect of it, I really enjoyed the book! You follow five different storylines of five different apartments with five very different groups of people, and much like in "Love Actually", while each storyline is unique, they still overlap or interact from time to time.

You have Ethan who's stuck alone as his girlfriend was out visiting her parents and weren't allowed to come home; Zach and Serena who start to wonder how much they <i>really</i> know about each other; Olivia who's hosting a wedding planning weekend for 4 friends; Isla and Danny who've only been dating for a month and suddenly have to spend an entire week together; and finally Nate and Imogen who were <i>supposed</i> to be having a one-night stand, until Corona intervened.

I'd be hard pressed to pick a favourite storyline, as they all seemed to ebb and flow as the week went along, and I really appreciated how REAL all the characters were. These were believable conflicts with (mostly) believable outcomes -- good, as well as bad.

So one star removed for my initial reservations, but the rest of the book made up for it.

Very good!

The first pandemic-related book I’ve ever read, but it worked. The different perspectives were easy to follow. Nate and Ethan are my favorite. But I love that not everyone had a happy go lucky love story - it was real.

Now let’s hope that the real world doesn’t enter into another lockdown like this too.

Received this from a giveaway.

I hope to get to it soon! Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

From the the preview I got to read, I love it so far. I feel a five star read in my future.

I really enjoyed this sweet story! In the beginning I would say it was difficult to keep up with the multiple storylines. I enjoyed each of their individual stories and would absolutely love a follow up to this. I did not want this story to end! Great heartwarming read!

Loved this. So funny and heartfelt. Only reason why I gave it four stars was the flow was wonky to the point it messed with my reading and there was one story we follow that does not end in a HEA. I think you can intuit that the couple will get there, but I wish that it had been clearly shown/stated before the end of the book.

"Lockdown on London Lane" follows several people who are locked up in their building for 7 days after an exposure to COVID-19. The building supervisor refuses to let anyone enter or leave besides food and other deliveries. This leads to several people having an eye-opening experience about what matters to them.

We follow Ethan and Charlotte who are happily living together. But Ethan wonders about the future after Charlotte is locked out of their place. Zach and Serena have been together for 4 years, but after Zach orders something that she was not suspecting, Serena wonders where they go from here. Liv agrees to host a little bridal party at her place, and then when everyone is locked into her place, she wonders whether she will be able to survive 7 days with 3 other women living in her space. Isla has been dating Danny for just a month, and she thinks he's the one. Until he ends up being forced to stay with her for 7 days. Imogen has what she thinks is just a one night stand, until she gets told she can't leave the building. Back she goes to the apartment with a man whose name she can't recall (Nate).

Favorite couple/persons were honestly Ethan and Liv. Ethan realizing how much he cares/loves Charlotte and misses her was great to read. Liv has my sword, because I would have called my best friend out for being a Bridezilla too. And God help me. I would have lost it with being stuck inside with 3 other people for 7 days.

Indifferent feelings towards Zach and Serena. Sorry, her whole thing about Zach was insane. At least the book pivoted to that later on. But I got tired of reading about them. Also going to say Isla and Danny taking off those honeymoon glasses were hilarious.

I honestly didn't care for Imogen and Nate too much. She seemed and was still flighty. I don't know. I liked the others storylines much better than this one.

The writing was good, but the flow was off here and there. I think juggling this many characters was a bit rough in a few places. But I liked it. I will say though that I thought that quarantine was 10 days? I was surprised at the 7 day thing. I guess that was UK procedures.

The setting of the building and other people's individual places was good.

The ending for most of these people works out wonderfully.

This was a perfect dose of being funny, heartfelt and entertaining. I know it can be quite difficult for some people to read a book about the pandemic, as we ourselves are amidst of it. But I love how quite close and relatable one could find themselves to the characters and their respective problems.

I received an early copy of this book from netgalley. Doesn't influence my review.

I was hooked on this rom-com from the beginning. I have not read anything as current to the times as this. It's about an apartment complex that goes under lockdown during the pandemic. It explores how the quarantining can affect different people and their relationships. The book bounces between several apartments and the drama behind each wall. One was the story of a woman who was trapped with a stanger after a one night stand. Another involved a wedding party crammed into a small apartment with bridezilla.

I was surprised how the author incorporated social media and the digital world into her stories. Mentions of tiktok, YouTube, zoom, Uber eats, bumble, Instagram, twitch, and several others.

It was addicting would love to see this turned into a movie.

It was the first book I've read by Beth Reekles definitely plan on reading more.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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.

Lockdown on London Lane is one I think we can all relate to in a way!

This story follows the lives of 5 different apartments as they try to “survive” a week long lockdown!

Each story has its own issue to resolve that tests friendships, love and well personal growth! I feel like each apartment found some sort of growth and understanding! My favorite couple was Danny and Ilsa! They really learned a lot about themselves and each other! I also loved Imogen! She was a mess of a woman but I think she learned a lot about herself I just would’ve loved to see more about her and Nate!

This story was such an enjoyable read and definitely held my attention! I read it in one setting!

Lockdown on London Lane follows 5 apartments that have been unexpectedly put on emergency quarantine at the beginning of the pandemic. The various occupants are a struggling couple, a new couple, a one night stand, a lonely man missing his girlfriend, and a hilarious group of young women prepping for a wedding. None of them can leave the building, let alone the apartments for a solid week and the inhabitants grapple with the impending pandemic and what life is like in lockdown - something that unites most of the world.

I really enjoyed this book and at times felt like I was reliving parts of my own lockdown experience (Tiger King, zoom meetings, and too much prosecco), but with rose-coloured glasses. I would recommend this book to any fans of romantic comedies and anyone looking for an enjoyable, funny read.

This book takes place at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, following five parallel narratives all taking place in the same apartment building that has been locked down for 7 days after someone living there tested positive.

One storyline follows Ethan, a YouTuber and Twitch streamer whose girlfriend was visiting her parents when the building went into lockdown, meaning that he was trapped in the building and she outside the building for the duration of the quarantine. It's primarily dealing with him missing her and realizing how much he values her presence in his life. Their storyline is absolutely adorable, though not much happens in it until about halfway through the book. I started out not really caring, but, by the end, it was far and away one of my favorite of the book's subplots.

Another follows Imogen and Nate, who had had a one-night stand and are then trapped together after knowing basically nothing about each other. Imogen has always been very chaotic and free-spirited, and definitely isn't looking for any sort of relationship, while Nate had never done anything like a one-night stand before. Their conflicting personalities are definitely really fun to read about, and I absolutely adore this opposites-attract romance.

A third plot-line follows Isla and Danny, who've been dating for a month. While it's going well and they both feel serious about the relationship, they definitely aren't prepared for being thrown together for a week. The main focus of this storyline is Isla's struggle with still feeling as if she has to maintain a facade of perfection for Danny, that they aren't far enough into their relationship yet for her to show him anything but the most polished version of herself. Their struggling to work around each other and eventual growth to working with each other was really well-developed and enjoyable to read.

An additional storyline follows Liv, who held a wedding preparation party for her best friend, Kim, for whom she's the maid of honor, which results in her getting trapped with Kim, who is a huge Bridezilla, and the two other bridesmaids in her one-bedroom apartment for the duration of the quarantine. The main focus of this storyline is on her friendship with Kim and the strain that the wedding is putting on both of them, but her romance with one of the other bridesmaids is also a key part. I really wanted to love this storyline, but I just didn't think that the romance aspect was developed well; I'm usually willing to make all sorts of excuses for wlw romances because I'll take whatever representation I can get, but it really should have been fleshed out a bit more. I did enjoy the friendship aspect of this though. Regardless, this was probably my least favorite of the storylines; it was still good, just not as good as the others were.

The fifth storyline follows Zach and Serena, who have been dating for four years and had already been living together for a while at the start of the lockdown. Their relationship is already a bit strained at the beginning of the book, but constantly being around each other only emphasizes this and makes Serena start to have doubts about how well they really know each other, and whether they're actually feasible as a long-term couple. This story is definitely the most emotional and realistic of the subplots in the book, taking a strikingly different tone from the rest of them. However, I still believe that it's a vital part of the story; the book at its core is exploring the effects that that isolation can have on people at different stages in their lives and relationships, and it can't effectively do that if it acts entirely positive all of the time.

The way in which this book explores couples at five different stages of their relationship is really interesting and well done'; every couple's dynamic is unique and flawed and well-developed, never feeling contrived or unrealistic. Reekles' exploration of the ways in which the lockdown (and resulting extended time in close proximity) played out in a different way for each pair is definitely the most interesting aspect of the book. and makes the story greater than any of its individual parts.

The only criticism I have is that the pacing feels a little off sometimes; each storyline has its individual rises and falls, so there will inevitably be times where one character's POV will be really slow, which is usually balanced by an eventful chapter for another character immediately after. However, there were definitely a few parts of the book that felt like a definite lull, which I think could have been an easy fix with some light reshuffling. However, those few moments definitely weren't too noticeable, and, while the book is definitely character-driven, it isn't slow overall in any respect.

It really did feel a bit like being transported back to the start of the pandemic. Kim's wedding worries, references to Animal Crossing and stores running out of toilet paper, and the overall atmosphere of being unsure how life would play out even from one week to another are all well-represented. I particularly appreciated the care that Reekles took to capture the elevating state of worry about the pandemic over the course of the week as situations developed rapidly. It's really well handled, and used as much more than simply a plot device for forcing the couples into extended proximity, though the various relationship dynamics are still very much at the heart of the book. Regardless, if it still feels too soon for you to read anything pandemic-themed, this is probably not the book for you at this moment.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Each of the storylines felt balanced, realistic, unique, and well-developed, and I was really attached to almost all of the characters and situations. Reekles handles each couple's dynamics and issues really skillfully; everybody feels human and three-dimensional, which is something that takes a lot of skill. It's a book about humanity, and love across a variety of stages. My only qualm in recommending it would be if somebody is completely uninterested in reading anything dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic because it feels too real. because it is definitely a presence and important backdrop for the characters' development in the novel. Otherwise, I would enthusiastically recommend it to anybody who loves contemporary romances, or who is looking to see romances depicted in a realistic way.

I thought this book was a nice, light, and fun read about an apartment complex that goes on lockdown during the beginning of the pandemic. I enjoyed how it jumped back and forth to the different characters and showed various stages of relationships surviving through one week of lockdown. I definitely saw my relationship in some of the scenarios and found it fun to relate to the characters.

I was hesitant to read this book at first as the main topics were covid and the lockdown (and weren’t just loosely referred to like in 56 Days and False Witness). The book focuses on a building that is locked down for 7 days because of the virus. We are introduced to 5 different residents who are experiencing their own issues related to the lockdown that almost anyone could relate to. Nate is by himself while his girlfriend, Charlotte, is stuck at her parents. Serena questions her 4 year relationship with Zach over his pizza topping choice. Liv ends up hosting a week long bridesmaids’ party with her bride of a best friend breaking down about a potentially cancelled wedding. Isla and Danny put their brand-new relationship to the test.And Imogen spends 6 more nights than planned with her one-night fling, Danny.

Don’t let the fact that this is about covid keep you from reading it because it’s absolutely delightful (unless you truly are trying to avoid covid book, I totally understand!). To get a glimpse inside different situations these residents are experiencing is eye-opening. I felt so connected to each of the characters as we saw them at their best and worst. The ending was unexpectedly sweet yet heartbreaking at the same time!

I really, really enjoyed this book! This book is told from multiple points of view and every time I reached the end of a chapter, I HAD to keep going to find out what was going on in the next apartment. The story takes place in an apartment building in London and focuses on 5 different units in the building. Someone in the building tests positive for Covid, so they building goes on a 7 day lockdown without warning. Each apartment had its own unique storyline and they were all witty, heartwarming, and laugh out loud funny. The relationships in each unit range from a one night stand (hilarious!), to a bridesmaid weekend, a stale 4-year relationship, a budding new romance, and a smitten couple that is separated for the week. Each set of characters provided a lot of entertainment and I could relate to almost all the scenarios. This book moves at a quick pace, keeps you entertained, and even in the awkward, realistic moments, you can totally sympathize with each character. I thought the endings for each character were perfectly wrapped up. I give this book a solid 4.5/5 stars!

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting here, because I don’t read a ton of romance and this is the first book I’ve read about/during COVID. I think I worried it would have a mildly sinister feel, given that the book takes place in March 2020 and, as we’re entering year 3 of the pandemic, we know what came next. But it was actually relatively light-hearted and while the end was predictable in the way I’ve found most romance I have read to be, it was still so fun and so satisfying to read!

I have always loved beth reekles books she is an amazing writer. This concept of story is so real in 2021 as we all experienced the lockdown in all countries.

This is such a relatable book about the mundane moments in the pandemic. It follows five flats as they deal with a lock in and and a cute love story of being quarantined together after you JUST started dating. Every tenant is at a different point in their lives for example one is planning a whole WEDDING stuck inside. It was very enjoyable watching everything intertwine and unravel. I look forward to the new surge of pandemic books. This is a great example of one and I hope they are all as good.

This book has a really great premise and I was excited to read it! Unfortunately to me, the tone the author used was too lighthearted for a time that was actually really frightening, and it was nostalgic for something that we are not nearly far enough removed from. I was interested in a few of the couples’ dynamics, though I did find them all very cliché. I think this book will be for some people, but it sadly wasn’t for me.

One of the first Covid-lockdown stories I've seen. This was an enjoyable story that examines the lives of a group of people in a single apartment building which is shut down due to a case of Covid in the building. At times, it seemed a little improbable, because I can't imagine people in the US following the lockdown rules in place in Great Britain. Even so, the conflicts and attempts to survive being quarantined with a one-night stand or a group of friends preparing for the bride's wedding were amusing.

This book takes place at the beginning of the pandemic in an apartment building in London. It takes place entirely over the course of one week. Personally, I enjoy when a book takes place over a short timespan.

At the start of this book, the residents of an apartment building all get notified that they have to quarantine in their apartment for the next week. Someone in the building has COVID, so whoever is in the apartment is staying in for a week and whoever is outside can’t get in for a week.

We meet the tenants in several apartments most are in their own terrible scenario (some definitely worse than others).

In one apartment, Ethan’s live in girlfriend is shut out for the week after staying the weekend with her parents.

In another, Isla is staying with her boyfriend of one month. They are incredibly happy in this early part of their relationship but being stick together for a week is rough. They’ve both been on the best behavior around each other up to this point.

Imogen was trying to sneak out of an apartment where she’d had a one night stand with a man she barely knew (she doesn’t even remember his first name).

One apartment resident has been hosting her best friend’s bridal party for the weekend. She barely knows these women and now they will be there all week (this sounds like a nightmare!)

And in another apartment, a long term couple is questioning the commitment they made to each other…their drama all starts with a pineapple pizza.

All of these people are forced into close proximity (other than Ethan) with people for the week. Everyone is questioning their relationships in some way during and after. Some people are broken down by the stress of the pandemic and eventually resolve their fights, others might have been pushed to have a conversation they would have avoided otherwise.

At the end of the week everyone is free again but it breaks your heart to know that they don’t even know what lies ahead over the next two years.

Clever idea for a storyline and setting. Some of the characters got on my nerves sometimes but they got on each other’s nerves too lol

I thought the end of one of the character’s storylines was especially sweet.

I got to read an early ebook edition from BookishFirst

This books made me laugh out loud in the first chapter. this book is based off of being quarantined in your apartment due to a global pandemic - you know the drill. Some of you will think it’s funny, some of you will be annoyed. I took this as an opportunity to relate to others’ stories and enjoy the comic relief about the situation. I love books written from multiple points of few so this was perfect. It was fast paced and I was interested in what would happen and how the characters changed over the course of 7 days.

This is a funny, lighthearted (if you let it be), and quick read. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for something mindless and not very mind boggling.

Pretty much the title explains the premise of the book. Tenants in a building complex were locked down for a week due to a positive case in one of the apartments. There were five different stories that tackled how each tenant dealt with it. In Apartment #17, Serena and her boyfriend had been together for 4 years. They were constantly arguing about anything trivial. It was sad and silly. Honestly, Serena wasn’t a compassionate character. In Apartment #22, Olivia was hosting a wedding planning party for her bestie/bride that included three ladies in her small apartment. Olivia liked her space and was overwhelmed by bridezilla and the lack of privacy. In Apartment #15, Isla had her new boyfriend over and they learned to coexist in her small apartment. She wanted to look and act perfect around him. Which was exhausting for her. In Apartment #6, Ethan was alone since his girlfriend got stuck outside. He realized during his week alone what his girlfriend meant to him. I also didn’t understand why the apartment manager didn't let her in if that was her place of residence. In Apartment #14, Imogen was stuck at her one night stand’s apartment for the whole week. This was the only story about two strangers, which drew my attention. And was my favorite among these stories. The five stories contained blossoming romance, new friendships, learning about oneself and others. The stories were pretty predictable, but they were all so good. I also liked how it had some hope on being lockdown which can be hard. Though I would have liked a better ending. Maybe an epilogue on what happened to these characters in 6 months time. Overall, if you like a cute romance, you will like this book.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After reading all of the reviews for this book, I SO badly wanted to absolutely adore it! And while I really enjoyed it, there were aspects that left me wanting a lot more.

The premise of the book is that COVID-19 causes several colorful London characters to be locked in their apartment for 7 days. This includes a couple in a 4-year long relationship, a vlogger who is stuck without his girlfriend, a one night stand, a bridal party, and a couple in a budding relationship. The variety of situations these characters found themselves in was original and so clever, and they allowed for a lot of fun jokes.

I think what could have made this book even better would be to extend the stories of each apartment by cutting down on one story in particular that just didn't capture my attention. I found myself skipping over the bridesmaids' apartment because there was no intimate relationship that could be examined.

The ending was entirely too rushed, and while I understand that its ambiguity is fitting because we never know where our relationships will go, I was disappointed to not get closure on the couple that I was most invested in.

Overall, it was an entirely realistic depiction of different modern relationships that was charming, funny, and so endearing.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

How can a slip of paper change your life? (At least for a week) This book follows several people who are locked down in one building. Their lives are different, but they have the same goal for one week – Not going crazy in a small apartment.
This book is definitely character-based, as there’s not much that could happen in lockdown, but there are some exciting plotlines. I especially loved how the stories were connected, characters from other POVs appearing during conversations or during that one big moment in the books.
This book isn’t going to change your life, it’s not groundbreaking or anything, but it’s definitely heartwarming and relaxing. So maybe if you’re in quarantine, it would be nice to read this to know you’re not alone.
One thing that I didn’t like, though, was the fact that most of the characters are pretty unlikeable and some of them annoying, but I guess at least it’s realistic?

Not bad for what it is. There were time I really enjoyed it and others where I cringed while reading it, very much so like the Kissing Booth. It wasn’t a bad time, it wasn’t the best time. I don’t regret it and I do actually recommend it to other who like this type of thing.

For the fact that this book took me back to the very first week of Lockdown, which was filled which uncertainty and just bad news in general, this book was a delightful read.
I’d absolutely recommend it if you are a fan of media in episodic form such as movies like “Love, Actually” “Valentine’s Day or “Happy New Year”.

The interlinked stories of the residents in the Apartment Building and their relations to one another was fun to discover throughout the book. While I did have my favourites in the book, and found other characters a tad irritating, I thought it was very well balanced.

And although I do understand that the book is sort of a manifest of the super strange times we are all living in, I could have done without all the very contemporary pop culture references made by some characters.

I originally thought I wasn't going to be able to review because I could not get this doc sent to my Kindle, but FINALLY it worked! So I am getting to write this review on this ARC I received for my unbiased opinion. I thought the book was cute, and since it reminded me of the movie Love Actually, that was an automatic plus for me. And I LOVED the "cheesy" end. I think a lot of people are marking this down because it takes place during a pandemic. Well...yes, but if you don't want to read a book set during a pandemic, then don't! I personally thought it was really relatable during these times. I do recommend! Plus, I love to support Wattpad Books! Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

**Received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I've been eyeing this book so I'm so happy I received an ARC, thank you Wattpad books, NetGalley and Beth!

I was kind of reluctant to read this book because I can't even watch movies or shows related to the pandemic, considering that's what real life is constantly about and I love reading for the escapism. But Lockdown on London Lane didn't disappoint!

I loved the book concept of one building and different situations, it really was a fresh perspective. I also enjoyed the various love stories- quick & fun read!

Lockdown on London Lane was my first novel that I have read that is centered around COVID and the initial quarantines that occurred back in the spring of 2020. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was glad I picked it up!

The novel focuses on the relationships of multiple people that are forced to lockdown in their apartment building for a week. Each individual is put in a situation that is less than ideal, and each chapter more and more goes down.

At times it was hard to keep each characters story straight, but I really enjoyed how they were all tied together at the end. I’m a sucker for multiple perspectives, but each story line had enough similarities that I found myself forgetting what had previously happened.

Overall, this book was not too heavy on all things COVID, but instead focused on how close (and forced) proximity can impact each person in many different ways! Each characters “ending” seemed to match the various experiences of those I know personally when it came to handling COVID lockdowns which I thought was really unique!

I loved the multiple POVs that were utilized throughout this one. Think of the movies Valentine's Day or Crash: where all of the character's lives seem to intersect (even in small ways). Each character had a unique situation that they were forced to live in while under lockdown and the dynamics of each kept me entertained.
Sometimes a large cast of characters can get kind of confusing. For me, this one did work well. It does take a little bit to get acquainted with 'who's who'. It kind of comes with the territory of having multiple main characters (and additional supporting characters). Once I got a handle on the characters and their backgrounds, this was a really easy read!
Each set of characters had unique situations and conflicts (and resolutions). I am super impressed in the author's ability to create and portray each so effectively!
If you are worried about the plot being a bit too....pandemic----y (I guess that is how I would phrase it), you aren't alone. I was afraid of that too. While the pandemic is a common theme throughout the book, it was never too pandemic-heavy. This one mainly focuses on the developing relationships between each of the characters. If you still aren't comfortable reading about the pandemic at the moment, that is totally cool! I would still recommend that you circle back to this one at a time when you are more comfortable with reading about that topic. This one was quite fun to read and if you enjoy romance, I think you would like it! It was also full of comedic lines and lighthearted situations also.
Overall, I enjoyed this one! If you have Netflix and have heard of (or watched) 'The Kissing Booth' 1,2, and/or 3, you are familiar with Beth Reekles' (the author of "Lockdown on London Lane") work! She wrote the books that inspired the "The Kissing Booth" franchise. I did not make this connection when requesting to review her new release, but later found that out after doing a quick google search because I thought her name looked familiar! I have not read any of Beth's other works, but I have seen the first two Kissing Booth movies. If you liked those movies/books, enjoy a good multiple POV book, or are just looking for some cute romance I think you should definitely check out "Lockdown on London Lane". I could totally also see this one be made into a movie/limited series, and I would soooo watch it!

I really enjoyed this book! The multiple plot lines are both entertaining and really captured early pandemic life. The new relationship, the long term relationships, the 1-night stand into the 7-day stand, the bridal party trapped together, all very well thought out in terms of the different reactions to their situations and the intertwining pieces were fun to keep track of. You can really feel the anxiety a lot of us felt about those crazy first weeks when things were beginning to lockdown, toilet paper was running out, grocery stores were empty and no one knew how much or what we should be sanitizing. Mr. Harris' character provides some comic relief with yellow biohazard suit, unlimited sanitizing wipes and general harassment of the tenants.

Thank you Netgalley & Wattpad Books for the e-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars but would round up for rating purposes! This was a cute romance book. It takes place in an apartment building that is forced to lock down due to the pandemic and the residents aren't allowed to leave for a full week. I was a bit nervous that the book was going to be heavy on the pandemic but it wasn't. I didn't feel overwhelmed by the mention of COVID/lockdown. The focus instead was around the different types of love we witness through the five different apartments. Each a unique story. From old love to new love. It reminded me a bit of the star studded movies such as Valentines Day and New Years Eve, with different intertwining stories. Just an overall cute book.

LOCKDOWN ON LONDON LANE by Beth Reekles. The first Wattpad Book I've ever seen on NetGalley. Someone described it as a literary COVID "Love, Actually" and I fully agree. Gobbled this up in one afternoon! Out Feb 1.

Thanks to the author, Wattpad Books, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.

#LockdownOnLondonLane #NetGalley

Set during the early days of the pandemic, Lockdown on London Lane explores the lives of the people living in 5 different apartments. Having been forced into a quarantine by the apartment building for 7 days, the book explores forced proximity and forced separation. The story moves between each of the 5 apartments and the resident who live there. Nick is now quarantining with a woman who he has just hooked up with for the first time. Ethan is alone in his apartment since his girlfriend is locked out. Serena’s boyfriend of one month who has never seen her without makeup is sharing her apartment for the week. Danny and Isla are a couple who are now spending more time together then they are used to. Finally, Olivia is hosting three women for the week in her one bedroom apartment after her best friends bridal gathering gets extended. Every apartment goes through struggles as the residents and their guest are forced to really see each other. After the week no one emerges with out having been changed in some way.

The story is quick to read and well written. The issues being faced in each apartment were relatable and the characters emotions realistic. I found the topic of the pandemic to be handled well and it was more of a background, as the relationships were the primary focus of the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Wattpad for the opportunity to review the arc.

I was not really sure about this one as I did not know if I wanted to read about a world involving the sickness we are all dealing with right now. However; this sounded really cute so I am happy I gave it a try.

This tells the story of many different people and couples within a building. I was not expecting so many couples and situations. I think the author did a great job of bringing different levels of emptions and playfulness between the different characters. I do wish it would have focused on a few less so we could have gotten more of some of the stories. Like any book loaded with a different cast of characters, I did find myself enjoying some of their stories more than others.

I did find myself enjoying this one more than I thought, but it did not blow me away either. I do think the author did a great job handling the situation we all find ourselves in though.

I was sent a copy of this ebook from the publisher, but it did not influence my thoughts and review.

I've read Beth's Kissing Booth books and I was interested in seeing her foray into the New Adult category. Overall, I liked this book! I enjoyed all the different characters and love stories, and I thought the ending where they all interconnected was sweet. It did read a little fan-fic-y to me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as it flows nicely and makes it easy to read and connect with the characters. Fair warning, there are a lot (a lot) of pop culture references in this book. This is strictly a personal thing, but I don't like a lot of pop culture references in books as I feel that it takes me out of the story. I also feel that it ages the story. Along with that, I personally don't enjoy reading about covid, since I like to read to escape life rather than relive a pretty stressful time of it. I did enjoy the way the author portrayed everyone's emotions and confusion during the beginning of the pandemic, when this book takes place. Overall, I think it was a cute story, and I did like all the different types of relationships shown, including a wlw couple.

**Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy**

4.5⭐️

I loved this story! Even though we aren’t through with the pandemic, I found it interesting reading about lockdown from a different perspective!

It was fun reading about different apartments of people being unexpectedly locked down together for a week and the trials and obstacles they went through. Not all stories were happy, but some came with some big realizations that were enjoyable to witness!!!

I think this will be a story that will be looked back on with a “we lived through that” moment. I would read it again and will be grabbing a copy for myself!!!

Thank you to Wattpad Books, Beth Reekles, and Netgalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I first saw the premise I almost didn't want to read this, because who wants to read about romance in a pandemic when you're LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC? I am glad that I did though, because I really enjoyed it. The book focuses on different couples at different stages in their relationships who are all thrown together for a week's lockdown when someone in the apartment complex tests positive for COVID. It would bounce between characters to give us some insight into how they were doing. Honestly I could see this being a rom com movie.. I would definitely watch!

As I mentioned in my mid-book review on Instagram, I never thought I'd be reading books about the trials and tribulations of COVID-19... like I most of the time read to escape... and those I was reading about some entirely different situations (that thankfully, I didn't have to experience) I never dreamt of escaping my reality to read of someone else's "not-so-fictional" reality... Beth Reekles should have classified this book as a Historical Fiction, technically speaking.

I'm deciding to give it 4/5 stars instead 5/5 stars, because though I could pick up some contemporary romance vibes, I definitely was expecting a more catastrophic breakup to emerge from the outbursts that occurred. I also would have loved for the text to be a bit longer, seeing as how just a week in lockdown hasn't even been the worst of it. Regardless it was a great read and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to take a sneak glance/read-through of it, in accordance with BookishFirst, Beth Reekles, and WattPad Books.

Thank you again!

I really enjoyed this book. I was worried that it would hit too close to home being a « pandemic » read but the « unique” approach to the structure really made it what it was and I think the author really captured the mood of those first few weeks of COVID.

Her characters are well developed and fun. I think my preferred apartment would have been Danny and Isla but I also enjoyed and related to Zach and Serena.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author, Beth Reekles for providing me with this ARC.

This story was truly unique due to the fact that this was set in quarantine in the start of the pandemic. But, I don’t want to dwell on those dark days. This story was funny and cute. Locked inside, no one in and no one out - I knew this was going to be an interesting book from the start.

The characters stories and backstory were interesting to watch unfold over a week. One night stands lasting way longer than they should, a bridal party sleepover that was pushing the limits, a relationship on the rocks, new relationships being tested, couples separated and learning how they truly feel about each other - you can’t help but get attached.

This was definitely a cute, slower read for me - but nonetheless a book I'd recommend to readers if they wanted a romantic comedy.

One morning the people living in the apartment building on London Lane each get a piece of paper stuck under their door informing them that they are quarantines in the building for the next seven days because of the pandemic. This is at the very beginning stage of the pandemic, and comes as a complete shock to everyone.

The book is then told in almost a Love Actually form where we see into the lives of several different apartment dwellers. Nate had a one night stand with a woman he met on a dating app, who he is now stuck in lockdown with for an entire week. Ethan's longtime girlfriend has left their apartment overnight to visit her parents, and now can't get back into their home. Liv was hosting a weekend get together with the bridesmaids for her best friend's wedding, and now has an extra long stay set. Zach and Serena get into an argument over pizza toppings that could be the end of their four year relationship. As each set of people settle into the strange situation, realtionships are tested, friendships are put to the test, and new beginnings are born.

I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. I anticipated having difficulty keeping track of so many different plot lines and characters, but the author has really seamlessly woven all the stories together. So many interesting situations were delved into with respect to being quarantined in a small space with strangers, friends, and even people who've known each other for years. What a great look at how the pandemic helped to shape, strengthen, and break realtionships and spirits when you can't function in the same sense of normalcy that we've been used to.

Thank you to Wattpad Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

After living in a pandemic for nearly 2 years, I was equal parts nervous and excited about reading this book. The whole notion of being in lockdown still hits too close to home. HOWEVER, I had nothing to worry about and this book was incredible. I laughed and cried. You truly fall in love with each of the characters and go through the journey of lockdown with them.

Reekles does an awesome job following the 5 flats on London Lane that are now stuck inside. Friendships and relationships are tested as everyone tries to make it through the week. This book was absolutely worth the hype!! It was my first Beth Reekles book but it will not be my last :)

Thank you NetGalley for this arc !





I thought this book was unique. The title is what brought me in. Basically they have to quarantine for seven days with whoever’s in their apt. Things get interesting. I would totally recommend this book!

This book is a terrific one for those that like stories where a group of people are forced into lock-down only to realize that they may not be feeling, or maybe they are, what they thought there were before being stuck with themselves and each other 24/7.
When an urgent notice is given to the residents and their guests in an apartment complex type thing on London Lane a handful of assorted people are thrust into seven days they never saw coming.
Imogen and Nate were simply going to be a one night stand, at least that’s what she was thinking when she tried to sneak away after a night only to be told she wasn’t allowed to leave. So it looks like they have the next six days to figure things out.
Then you have Ethan and Charlotte. They were happily together when Charlotte went out and, imagine their surprises, when she was told she wasn’t allowed back in. For them, they have to see what distance will do to their relationship.
In another apartment, Zach and Serena have been in a relationship for the past four years but then the topic of pineapple on pizza comes up. They really have to sort out what is going to happen with them and, lucky for them, they have a few days to do nothing else but be in each others company.
Liv was planning a simple weekend of having all the bridesmaids and the future bride over to make all the decorations and talk about the wedding. All would have been going just fine, that is until they are now stuck together and the entire party starts falling apart.
Lastly there is Isla and Danny. They are a new couple and this will most definitely be one heck of a test to their brand new romance. One that will throw a budding romance into what it would feel like to be all in.
This is a good story. I enjoyed the writing style and the story in general. There were times when I found myself drifting in and out of the story. The problem was that while I was reading it I was enjoying it but when I put it down it didn’t call to be picked back up. If that makes sense.
The idea of this story is one that works so well. People being thrown together without escape, along with romance and humor, always makes for a good story. The characters were well written and fun for the most part and was one that I will likely revisit again someday for another read.

I honestly did not expect to like or even want to read a book about this pandemic, but here we are with this pleasant surprise!
Perhaps it's because we have made it through the worst part of this pandemic, and most of us are vaccinated. Still, this book was a weirdly exciting story with a mixture of likeable and unlikeable characters as they are lockdown in an apartment building at the beginning of quarantine.

This story is heavily character-driven as we go through a week of quarantine with the characters and how they do with the lockdown (some strive and others .... lose it); the story shows how a lot of us came to realize what we want, need or can't live with anymore - basically, it put things in perspective. The book was authentic and did it so well, and it almost felt like it was a tv show of the pandemic.

Lockdown on London Lane was a solid 3 star read for me. I was nervous about reading a COVID/ quarantine book because it feels like COVID is still very much on the forefront of everyone mind and all over the media. I LOVED the use of multiple POVS in this story and how unique their situations were. I would’ve loved to see a couple immediately having a great time and very positive because I felt like many of the characters were very negative. Overall it was an easy read, and it brought me back to the beginning of the pandemic and the uncertainty and range of preparation in those first few months.

This book was a total five-star for me. Not only was the writing excellent, but the plot was novel and interesting. You get the point of view of five different apartment dwellers who are locked down for a week in their building, with whoever happened to be in their apartment with them at the time. There was a good variety of relationships and personalities, which kept it interesting and engaging. I was rooting for every single character the entire week, and the wrap-up of what was happening in each apartment by the end of the week was just perfect. I laughed out loud and I teared up. This was a great romance novel times five!

This book in 3 words: Alluring. Sweet. Chaotic.

Lockdown on London Lane follows the story of 5 different couples or groups of people forced to quarantine together.

This was an enjoyable read. Obviously, touching on the state of a pandemic-ish world, but tackling some of the early stages we're long past. Some of the character interactions and thoughts are so relatable and relevant... it's hard not to laugh or even feel a twinge of anxiety.

The writer is certainly talented, with the ability to craft 5 unique character sets/storylines, that somehow lightly come together at the end. I do feel like there were probably 1 too many of these storylines and 4 would've been enough. I will say... Imogen and Nate were my absolute favorite and I'd read another book with these 2 characters.

I've been looking for a book like this pretty much since the pandemic began, and I'm so happy I finally found it! There's so much media that focuses on the seriousness of the pandemic, so it was a nice change to have something with a more light-hearted slant.

The five stories were fun, easy to read, and often super relatable. It perfectly captured all the confusion and weirdness of early pandemic when everything just stopped and we had to figure out things like working from home and being around the same people 24/7. Would recommend as a light-hearted read.

I really loved this book. I didn’t think i would like the multiple POVs but i did. I thought that it had good character development but definitely could have had more, i felt there wasn’t enough focus on each relationship for enough time! Give me more of ‘Livvy’ and Addison please! I really liked the representation too. The writing was good as well and very easy to read, i read it very quickly.

LOCKDOWN ON LONDON LANE is a pandemic story about the residents of an entire apartment building that get put under a seven-day quarantine. While the book doesn't mention Covid by name, it instantly brought me back to the early stages of the pandemic, and you know what? I didn't mind it. It seems too soon to be writing books about a situation that we're all still living through, but this story was honestly such a joy to read. It mentions the lighter things we must all remember from 2020, like baking sourdough and Tiger King. The story is told in five different points of view, following couples in various stages of their relationships, from the just beginning to the long term. The construct of having these couples locked together (or locked apart, in one case) allowed the author to really explore a lot of aspects of how relationships work. I related so much to some of the characters and their dating struggles and found these parts of the book funny. What I didn't expect to find was the more emotional and serious parts of the book. It's not a dark book by any means, but for such a fun read, it also had a lot of depth.

I honestly wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this book, mainly because stories with more than two points of view aren't my favorite. I normally find myself more interested in some points of view than others and feel like I want to skip chapters to get back to those ones. But that did not happen at all for me with this book. Even though I found one point of view the most fun (a girl who just hooked up with a Tinder date and tries to escape in the morning only to find out she can't leave his apartment), each point of view was extremely compelling to me for different reasons. While I was reading, I basically did nothing else. I seriously could not put it down, because I was so invested in each character's story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I always appreciate a book with multiple POVs, although I definitely cared more about certain characters and was eager to get back to their storyline than others. I personally read fiction for the escapism, so reading about our current pandemic wasn't very fun, but each character's unique positions and relationships were definitely relatable and accurate.

My Alter Ego is Fictional
Book Blog

Title: Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles
Category/Genre: Contemporary Romance

Should one read a romance about the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic while new variants emerge all over the world?

I picked up Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles because of the London setting. I love reading books set in the UK because I studied abroad in London during college. The phrase “lockdown” stuck out to me in the title. Having heard this phrase during the start of the pandemic I knew I wanted to read it. Knowing it was a contemporary romance, made me wary of how a lasting romance forms during this confusing time. Reekles set up a bunch of different scenarios that she stuck her characters in during a week-long quarantine. The book centers around each of the different couples in the same building. Forced into mandatory week-long isolation from the outside world, these characters learn to live in a scary and complicated world. Reekles hones in on the initial confusion and fear that comes with an emerging contagious virus. This reminds readers of wiping down groceries and getting our clothes delivered. It also reminds readers of having to transition to working online and all the problems that come with moving to virtual meetings and social distancing. The author’s notion that people react and respond the same way if given the chance proves true. Reekles also states that people go stir crazy when left to their own devices while quarantining. People who get to understand their partners on a deeper level.

I will briefly describe the main couples in the book.

The one-night stand that couldn’t leave.
The budding one-month relationship turns too serious too fast.
The bridal party that never left after a weekend of wedding planning.
The 4-year relationship that hasn’t talked about the future.
And the couple that was separated by the building’s lockdown.

All of these couples face their own challenges during the week-long lockdown.

The author creates a world just like the present, but without all the politics and vaccine discussions getting in the way. The book’s setting transpires at the very beginning of the madness. She talks about the way people initially interacted with lockdowns, and how they learned more about other people.

I finished this book with mixed feelings. Initially, I thought it was too soon to read about the pandemic. Especially considering the pandemic’s lasting impact. However, after reading from each of the character's points of view, I found each storyline relatable.

The best thing about the book: we get to see the universal human experience. Even when faced with a pandemic, readers see themselves reflected in the story. It made me understand that a lot of people had meaningless fights and feared the future. I felt not so alone anymore. I think that the point of this book relates to the fear felt by everyone. The story reminds us of our shared human experience in a time of division and hate. We are all just trying our best to navigate in a crazy scary world. The author allows readers to see and relate, allowing for more empathy overall. This book has many themes, but the best shows love and compassion.

Pros: All the shenanigans that people get into while stuck at home.
Cons: It is easy to confuse some of the characters until we get to know them better.
Recommended for: people who want to feel less isolated during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Rating: 4 stars

This book starts out with what looks like ordinary junk mail being slipped under the doors of every tenant that lives in apartment building C on London Lane, we come to discover that someone in the building has tested positive for the virus that is going around and the entire building is on a 7 day quarantine. No one in or out.

That in it of itself had me hooked, all of our lives have been thrown into an upheaval with COVID the last few years but I personally live very rurally and honestly did not see much of a change to my daily life other than the introduction of masks, so it was super interesting to me to see how things might have gone down so differently for people that were trying to live out there lives in a populated city, let along an apartment complex.

Now we start to meet our characters. This book has multiple POVS and I can honestly say that I was interested in seeing how everyone was going to come out of this at the end of the week. It was also a nice reminder that just because you may live in the same area or apartment complex everyone is living such vastly different lives.

Lets dive in shall we?

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

First we meet Imogen, who is trying to sneak out of Nate's apartment after a one night stand only to find out that she cannot actually leave the building and is going to be stuck with this man for an entire 7 days, As we go through the story we find out how vastly different Nate and Imogen actually are. She is a spontaneous, fly by the seat of her pants teacher and he is a by the book, every inch of his apartment is organized and everything has its place financial planner. Their time over the week is sweet and fun, learned about the other and learning a little bit about themselves along the way. There isn't too much angst and they end their quarantine on a good note with a possible budding relationship on the horizon.

Next we meet Ethan, and let me start by saying that I absolutely adore Ethan. He is a content creator on twitch and youtube and is a total nerd who is just lovely. His live in girlfriend Charlotte is visiting her parents and due back the morning of the lockdown, they soon discover that Charlotte will not be allowed back in until after the lockdown is lifted and Ethan spends the week realizing how much his life revolves around Charlotte and how much he wants it to continue to do so. It is really so sweet as he makes these realizations over the week. It all comes to a head when he decides that he wants to propose and has no idea how to do so. He ends up making a video journal entry so he can get his thoughts down and accidentally posts it to his youtube channel. He wakes up to discover that his accidental proposal has gone viral and honestly freaks out a bit, until Charlotte shows up yelling at him via the balcony and accepts his proposal with all the building tenants cheering them on from their own balconies. Cuteness overload!

Over in apartment 17 we meet Serena and Zach, they have been together for years and things have not been going well as of late. They have been snarky and snappy with one another, kind of just going through the motions. They are now stuck in the apartment together. Since Zach is a nurse there is obviously no way for him to work from home. Leaving them completely in each others space which they are not used to. This one was the tough story. It all seems to come to a head when Zach orders a hawaiian pizza leading Serena to realize that they haven't spent much time talking with each other lately and that they actually don't know that they want out of their futures. Do either of them want marriage? What about kids? These are important discussions that she is know figuring out they don't know the answers to. They spend a lot of time fighting, and the neighbors can hear. Their story ends with Zach leaving for his brothers house at the end of the lockdown and us readers not knowing what is going to happen to the couple! Will they work it out? Are they too far gone? I need answers!!!!

Then we have got the love birds over in apartment 15. Isla and Danny are in a brand new, month long relationship and Danny was spending the weekend when the lockdown news hit. Suddenly they are going to be spending the week together and Isla is freaked. They have their own routines and ways of life that the other doesn't know about. And honestly how is she going to poop?! This is not something she was ready to embark on quite yet. They are clashing on small things that wouldn't come out so early in a relationship until Isla explodes, yelling at Danny in the kitchen about cleaning and scheduling work outs and how she has been trying to be the perfect girlfriend and hiding her flaws all boiling to her ripping a huge fart and running away in embarrassment. It was actually really cute how Danny coaxed her out of the bathroom telling her he liked her not the persona she was trying to put out for him and letting her know that she totally farts in her sleep. They were adorable. Their lockdown ends with them deciding Danny should move in for a month just to see how things go since the world is so up in the air they otherwise aren't sure when they would get to see each other again.

Lastly we have apartment 22, which honestly as an introvert would be my worst nightmare. Olivia has planned a wedding planning weekend for her best friend Kim and the other bridesmaids Lucy and Addison. She is so ready for that weekend to be over on Sunday when they get the notice that the girls will be stuck there for a week. Together. In Olivia's one bedroom apartment. While everyone else gets a week off of work, Olivia is stuck working from home while also trying to play hostess to the ladies, which is driving her nuts. Kim has been being a bit of a bridezilla and when after some wine Olivia mentions that it may be better to postpone the wedding because no one knows how the world will be changing with the virus Kim loses it. They end up in a screaming match where Olivia reminds Kim that she is being a total bridezilla and Kim outs Olivia to the other girls in the wedding party before destroying a bunch of the DIY things they had created for the wedding and shattering a wine bottle against Olivia's wall. I would have lost my shit honestly. Kim was totally out of line and the other girls agree, but are too nervous of throwing her into another fit to say anything to her. All of this makes Olivia even more uncomfortable and upset. They eventually make up and Olivia forgives Kim (a little too quickly if you ask me) after they talk things through. Then Kim lets it drop that Addison has a total crush on Olivia and has been flirting with her all week. Their lockdown ends with the girls all leaving as friends again and Olivia and Addison making plans for a zoom date.

But I want to talk about the star of this book. Mr. Harris. and I will tell you right now that in my mind he was Mr. Filch from Harry Potter lol That poor man was trying to keep the peace and everyone safe in the apartment complex and was given the worst jobs. But his interactions with our characters, especially with Imogen, really stole the show and I loved every time we got to see him on the page.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I think it was a nice peak into what could and is actually happening all over with COVID and the situations that people may find themselves in. I will also say, I am sooo thankful that I live in the middle of now where during this pandemic!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad books for the eARC!

I don’t read many contemporaries… so I was a little hesitant going into this book. But, I’m so glad I read it. It’s funny, it’s heart wrenching, it’s witty, and it’s everything I could have wanted.

This book follows five different storylines, centered around the residents of an apartment building under a mandatory quarantine.

Zach and Serena, dating for four years and everything starts to crumble when Zach orders a Hawaiian pizza… and Serena realizes she didn’t know Zach liked pineapple on pizza. Their story was the most emotional to me… and they made me CRY. They were so REAL, which is something you don’t often get in a romcom like this. But, it was raw and heart wrenching (even at moments, heartbreaking), and it was exactly how a relationship like theirs would go in a mandatory 7 day quarantine. I adored them so much, and I’m curious to see their future if Beth ever decides to continue their story.

Ethan and Charlotte, completely in love and happy together, and completely inseparable… until, of course, Charlotte is locked on the other side of the door and can’t be there during the quarantine. Seeing Ethan’s struggles as he attempted to go through his days without Charlotte was both heartwarming and hilarious. Seeing him struggle to keep the routine he had with Charlotte (read: completely throw out the routine) was so funny because it’s so accurate. His ending was one I adored because it was so beautiful and I would love to see more of him and Charlotte.

Liv, trapped in her small apartment with her best friend and her best friends bridal party. As the maid of honor it was her job to host the DIY wedding decor night… and it backfired in the form of a mandatory quarantine. Liv’s inner monologue was so relatable and completely how I would be if I was trapped with three very different women, including a bridezilla. Her sarcasm, her complete disdain for the whole situation… it made me love her. (Plus, she is lesbian and I LOVE the representation.)

Isla and Danny, a new couple who are still in the cupcake phase. They love spending time together… but 7 days of constant companionship is a lot for a couple who have only been dating a month. At first, I really disliked Isla. She was so frustratingly smitten with Danny that I kind of wanted to rip my hair out. But, by the end, I thought they were such a cute couple. The balance between needing to be perfect and letting everything just flow was a huge part of what made their relationship work, and I loved it.

Imogen and Nate, a one night stand that turned into a 7 day stay. Complete opposites in every way, they were completely lost on what to do for this quarantine. Imogen and Nate’s story was my absolute favorite. The fact that they were polar opposites and still somehow managed to get along, Nate coming up with a nickname for her, the running jokes about Imogen forgetting his name… it just made me laugh and want something like they had. EVERYTHING about them was fantastic. Nate was so sweet and Imogen was so sarcastic and lovable… and they were the highlight of this story for me.

The stories of the residents are so real and at the same time, like a sitcom. I couldn’t get enough of the humor, the reality, and the connection. I got throughly invested in these characters and I was so sad when I got to the end. I didn’t want any of their stories to be done, but I like that they were left open enough that there is potential for more (and dear lord I am hoping Beth will write more).

Overall, I thoroughly loved this book. It was a well-built story with just enough romance, sarcasm, and quarantine crazy. Beth did a fantastic job of spinning a story that got me to laugh a lot and even cry. I would read this book again, that’s how much I loved it.

This was a cute read. I thought the characters were well fleshed out, although I didn’t always understand their motivations. Definitely an interesting take on the lockdown situation and puts several couples in awkward situations as well as a group of friends. I really liked the ending and how shows that even in trying times there are still bright spots. Overall, a sweet read that I would recommend others (that don’t mind pandemic plots) check out.

When a resident tests positive with the new coronavirus, the residents of Lockdown Lane: Building C are forced to quarantine in place for 7 days, with no one allowed in or out of the building.

Ethan and Charlotte are forced apart when she returns home just as the quarantine takes effect. Zach and Serena, having spent the past four years together, realize they may not want the same things out of life. Imogene and Nate were a one night stand that now has to last an entire week. And Isla and Danny’s new and “perfect” relationship starts to show cracks when they see behind the proverbial curtain. And poor Olivia, who hosts a DIY wedding weekend for her soon-to-be-married best friend and all her bridesmaids, is left with both a crowded apartment and crowded emotions.

This was my first pandemic read and I have to say, it’s still too fresh for me y’all. I was having awful PTSD flashbacks of sanitizing groceries, packages, etc. (remember when we did this at the beginning 🤦🏻‍♀️?

However, this was such a unique read and I quickly became more engrossed in what was happening in the lives and relationships of all the characters, then in my own bad flashbacks. I became emotionally invested in the outcomes of each and every one of the relationships of this eclectic ensemble cast, rooting for a happy ending for all of them (well as happy as you can get in the midst of a pandemic). And the way all their lives intertwined, made it that much more fascinating of a read.

Well done, Beth Reekles!! And a big pat on my own back for surviving my first pandemic read without too much trauma, tantrums, tissues or tears.

When I first read the First Impression/First Look of this book, I generally KNEW that it was inspired by the quarantine.

The book first starts with a notice that lets the reader know OF the situation. There's a quarantine and the place goes in lockdown. A girl wakes up in a one night stands' apartment, unknowing of it all. Planning on just waking up and leaving, she can't BECAUSE of this lockdown.

Then another side of the story, a new couple are both locked together to learn more about each other. And in a positive way.

There are many other stories, but I will not review them all on here, as I would like to type it up on my blog.

I love the concept as it's EXTREMELY creative. It brings reality into a better/easier way to "enjoy" it. Not really ENJOY but make it a bit more "fun" if you understand i guess.

But overall, I really enjoyed this. It was relatable in a way.

Cute story. Relatable to current times (Covid). I loved the multiple POVs. I love a book where you can see things from a different perspective. Quick and fun read for me to pick up after a long day.

I don't read a lot of romance but this was very entertaining. See what happens when you're locked in together with nowhere to go. The story flows seamlessly and it's just a good way to spend an afternoon curled up in your favorite chair with your preferred drink reading the afternoon away. Great way to spend the day. Happy reading!

A book that uses covid lockdowns as a plot point and does it so well. This is a book about an apartment building in London which goes under lockdown when there’s a positive case within. Building management, in an attempt to stop the spread, locks all the residents (and some unwilling visitors) inside for a week.

We see their experiences through this he perspectives of a few different apartment residents.

There’s Imogen who is now “stuck” with her very new boyfriend. How will their relationship fare when they are forced together for a week? What will they learn about each other in this forced quarantine?

There’s Ethan whose live in girlfriend is stuck outside of the apartment after visiting her parents for the weekend. How will Ethan survive without Charlotte for a week? And Charlotte without him?

There’s Nate - now stuck with a one night stand that becomes a one week visitor. Can you say awkward? Or maybe not?

There’s Olivia - who is stuck with a bridezilla and two other bridesmaids who were over for a weekend of wedding planning fun. But wedding planning for a whole week just doesn’t have the same ring to it….

And finally there’s Serena - stuck with her boyfriend of a few years. The two are the epitome of opposites attract, but will they still be attracted after the week is over?

Usually I’d say 6 points of view is a few too many… but in this book, it totally works. Each of these characters is dealing with something different and I was excited to see how it would all work out. If you’re looking for a fun and light read about the pandemic, check this out!

This book was a quick, fun read! It has your standard romance-novel plot twists, and the different stories and connections make it fun. What is particularly nice about this book is that the different stories examine relationships in different stages, from the one-night stand to couples that have been together for years. The positive side of this is each relationship has different challenges and the reader gets to explore the challenges couples in different stages of life face. The downside is that there isn't as much character development for each character when we're jumping from apartment to apartment. However, this isn't much of a downside if you're looking for a light romance novel to escape with. If that's not what you're looking for, this isn't the book for you, but if you are, it does a good job and wraps up each story nicely.

Thanks to BookishFirst and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair review!

My first Pandemic themed book! Lockdown on London Lane, follows several apartment tenants and their guests as the building is on lockdown due to the virus. Ethan and Charlotte's story was by far my favorite! Classic absences makes the heart grow story here. It wad fun to follow all the story lines and see how everyone managed the lockdown.

As you could guess from the title, this book is about a quarantine that takes place over the course of 7 days that an entire apartment building is completing due to the spread of a virus and one of the residents testing positive. Note: If a quarantine read is still too fresh, skip this one, but PLEASE come back to it later if/when you feel you are in a place you can enjoy it, given the premise.

This book is set up with short chapters that follow 5 different apartments and those stuck inside and how they handle their new found situation of being locked down in their London lane apartment building. We get to see the world’s longest one night stand, a new couple in the honeymoon phase, a couple on the verge of breaking up, a soon to be bride and her bridesmaids, and a gamer whose girlfriend is locked out instead of in with him all navigate the 7 days of forced proximity or separation while quarantined.

I loved the different story lines and how they played out, it felt realistic and that the forced proximity was messing with them and forcing them each to address the ‘elephants’ in their apartments.

My favorite story line was definitely the worlds longest one night stand that Immy had with Nate… I really enjoyed the growth Immy had by the end of the week. I also loved Zach and Serena’s story as it was close to my heart as during COVID it forced a lot of new conversations for me and my fiancé and we came out stronger for them.

Thank you NetGalley and W by Wattpad for the ARC of this book! I am so thankful to obtain a copy to read in advance of its release!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
STEAM: 🔥

TLDR: This book is Love, Actually: Pandemic Lockdown Edition.

A building in London Lane has been locked down because of an infection in one of the apartments. No one comes in, and no one goes out. Poor Mr. Harris, the building manager, has to oversee that these rules are being followed.

After spending a weekend at her parents, Charlotte is locked out of the building and Apartment 6, which she shares with her boyfriend Ethan. Surely, Ethan can survive a week without her, right? Right?

Imogen had a one-night stand with Nate who lives in Apartment 14. While she tried to sneak out and avoid the awkward morning after interaction, awkward becomes even more awkward when she had to go back to the apartment because of the lockdown.

Apartment 15 has Isla and Danny, a couple who have been dating for a month. They are practically glowing from the honeymoon phase of their relationship, but when Danny had to stay in her apartment for a week, things are not as perfect as they thought.

Serena and Zach have been together for four years and live in Apartment 17. Tension has been building between the two as relationship rot started to seep in. When Zach orders pineapple on the pizza, Serena freaks out and the two are left with a lot of questions about their relationship.

As the maid of honor, Olivia tried to be gracious by offering her place in Apartment 22 for the bride and her other bridesmaids to do some wedding prep. Unfortunately for this introvert, what was planned as a nice afternoon of wedding prep becomes a week stuck with women who have completely different personalities than she does.

As someone who adored Love, Actually, I like the premise of the book and the situations in which the different characters are put in. As the book went on, I found myself more invested in certain character and less in some. I love Ethan's character arc, and I thought Olivia navigating through her extra roommates was entertaining. The pacing of the book did seem off at the times, and it took me a few chapters to get a better grasp of the different characters.

That aside, this was still a fun cute read that I enjoyed for the most part.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Beth Reekles, Wattpad Books, and NetGalley for providing an ARC. **

One apartment block. Five interweaving stories of a week in lockdown.

* Imogen, trying to do the walk of shame, but sent back to the apartment of Nate, her one night stand.
* Ethan, semi-successful streamer and self-confessed awkward nerd, separated from Charlotte, his live-in girlfriend, who had been visiting family and isn't allowed back in the building.
* Serena and Zach, together for four years and learning just how little they actually know about each other now that they're forced to spend all of their time together.
* Isla and Danny, who are still in the honeymoon period of a new relationship, but with Danny stuck at Isla's flat, they also have to confront their differences, and Isla has to face the reality of Danny seeing her 'farts' and all.
* Olivia, the somewhat reluctant host to a wedding planning weekend for a group of bridesmaids and her best friend, who has turned into bridezilla.

I really enjoyed this book, even if, ultimately we all know a much bigger lockdown was just around the corner. I enjoyed the interconnecting interactions between the residents of the apartment building, and their guests. As for the residents, Nate was by far my favourite, closely followed by Ethan. Both men were firmly in the adorable cinnamon roll category. Speaking of adorable, I loved the final chapter with Olivia and [redacted] No spoilers here! 😉 I found Serena a little frustrating at times, yet also probably had the most empathy with her, having once been in a similar situation. I also loved Isla and Danny's whole situation, because I think most of us have been there, but adding forced proximity just made it funnier and sweeter.

Lockdown on London Lane (In the UK the title is Love, Locked Down) made me laugh and cry, and, while I do think it was ambitious to try and delve deeply into so many main character's lives, Beth Reekles was pretty successful.

Overall Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Heat Rating: 🔥
Emotional Rating: 😂😂💓💓😢🙈

This book follows the lives of several people at that start of the COVID-19 pandemic when their apartment building is under quarantine for a week. We get a glimpse into five flats and the individual lives and personalities of the people living in them.

This was a really enjoyable read. It gave me major “New Years Eve”, “Love Actually” and “Valentine’s Day” vibes. I loved how some characters had a connection to various other characters mentioned throughout the novel, helping to connect each individual story together.

There were times when the plot felt a little disjointed but it was easy enough to work out the timeline and what exactly was going on. I think I may have enjoyed it more if the focus wasn’t on so many flats as it was initially confusing for me to keep track of so many different characters.

Overall, it was a fun read and I’d definitely recommend if you’re a fan of rom-coms.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for proving me with an e-arc of this book!

Really enjoyed this book! Such a fun read with great character development! Such a fun one and great to grab!

Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was ready for a pandemic book, but the author does a great job with the characters and bouncing round to various apartments and their stories. I loved the various scenarios of residents in the apartment building that gets locked down at the beginning of COVID.

The author does a good job of wrapping up each storyline at the end of the book. Overall, it's a quick read and I enjoyed it.

This book was a bit of a departure from the large amount of romance and middle grade books I’ve been reading lately.

Having lived through the last eleven thousand years of the pandemic, it was rather fun to read a book set at the beginning of the lockdown era. The various characters each have strong personalities, and they each deal with the unexpected lockdown of the apartment building in their own ways. As the story progresses, we also see some interconnections between the characters.

Probably my favorite of the five story arcs is Ethan’s. He’s a classic nerd boy, who adores his girlfriend…who was away when the building was locked down. Their enforced separation makes him realize he never wants to live without her again, and comedy ensues.

Imogen and Isla were both a bit annoying, but not in ways that made me want to stop reading. They both had some serious character flaws—Isla worried too much about her routine and what others thought of her, and Isla didn’t worry about those things at all. They are perfect foils for each other, and their growth throughout the week of quarantine is satisfying.

The device of the Hawaiian pizza for Serena and Nate…it’s so trivial, and yet so earth-shaking for them, or more appropriately, for Serena. Theirs is the story that is left at least partially unresolved.

And, as a contrast against all the couples, we have the bridal party, complete with Bridezilla. Poor Liv, who likes being alone, having to suddenly host three other women for a week. Again, though, she comes out of quarantine with a bright future.

The narrative is fun. There are some cultural references that if you’re not up on British pop culture could be a bit confusing.

Possible Objectionable Material:
References to sex. One of our main characters is lesbian. Unmarried couples living/sleeping together. Swearing, including the F word. Lots of drinking.

Who Might Like This Book:
People who need a fun pandemic read, those who like watching people go through stress and coming out better.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2022/02/february-1-releases-part-2.html

4/5 stars.

This was a cute read!! Very relatable, considering the times we are living in. I felt myself transported back to March of 2020 when this was all brand new and times were so uncertain (I mean, we're still in the thick of it, but things feel a little less uncertain nowadays).

This book took me a bit to finish, and I think that was more a *me* problem than a *book* problem. I think it was a personal mistake of mine to read two books in Jan that relate to Covid, while actually on a COVID quarantine. 😵‍💫 By the time I'd finished the other book, I needed a break before picking this one up again. But again, that wasn't the book's fault. 😊 The author makes it clear what we're getting ourselves into here.

While this was a bit far fetched (I mean.... apartment complexes can't *really* lockdown their buildings and residents lol), I was able to suspend reality and allow myself to be entertained by the many stories/characters/relationships and their drama. The author did a great job of bringing humor to an otherwise overwhelming and sad situation. It was also well-written with good pacing.

Thank you Net Galley, the author and the publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. ❤️

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.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 319 / Genre: Romance

Happy Release Day! While I’ve read a few books that have mentions of the pandemic thrown in for reference, this is the first book I’ve read that was based in the pandemic timeline.

On one morning in London, inhabitants in an apartment building on London Lane awake to a notice from building management that a seven-day quarantine has been imposed on the entire building due to a positive case of Covid. Among the affected inhabitants are three couples that are in different stages of their relationships, and the stress of the quarantine affects each one very differently. And then there’s Liv, who’s throwing a bridesmaids party that goes from a fun-filled weekend with four girlfriends to an overcrowded one-bedroom week-long prison sentence. Not to mention Imogen and Nate, who just had a one-night stand after hooking up via a dating app (awkward).

Who says the pandemic isn’t fun? This was a fun read for sure!

Une semaine pleine d'émotions au coeur de London Lane.

Pour les habitants de London Lane, un simple bout de papier glissé sous chacune de leur porte est sur le point de changer leur vie. « URGENT !!! En raison de la situation actuelle, la direction de l'immeuble a décidé d'imposer une quarantaine de sept jours à tous les immeubles de London Lane. » Avec nulle part où aller...

L’auteure a réussi à rendre léger un sujet qui n’est pas spécialement fun, le confinement. Ce livre est plein d’humour, les personnages sont tous très attachants et je pense que certaines personnes pourront s’identifier à l’un des personnages. Mais je trouve dommage qu’il n’y ait pas plus de variété à ce niveau-là. Et le fait que tous les personnages soient plus au moins connectés les uns aux autres, fait perdre un peu de son authenticité à l’histoire.

Nous passons d’un appartement à l’autre au fil des chapitres et cela rend la lecture très addictive parce que nous avons qu’une envie, connaître les sort des autres habitants. D’un autre côté, c’est aussi un peu frustrant parce que je trouve que nous restons sur notre faim.

J’ai passé un très bon moment à lire ce livre et j’ai beaucoup ri, mais j’aurais aimé en savoir un peu plus sur certains personnages.

This book was a very cute and light read! I liked all the different points of view although it was interesting how the author switched around between them. I will admit it was a little hard to follow at times since there were so many characters but overall it didn’t take away from the book.

Now that we are two years into this pandemic it was interesting to read a book set at the very beginning and remember the thoughts and feelings that were going on in my own head at that time.

The characters the book follows are all very different from each other in personality while being very similar in age and having surprising connections to each other. That was the only main flaw for me as I find it very unlikely that that many characters would have so many connections while living in the same building in London. In a small town maybe it would be more plausible.

I’ve been really happy with every Wattpad Books title I’ve read in the last nine months or so. I don’t know if it’s the books they choose to put up for review or if it’s just the books I find interesting; all I know is every single one I’ve read has been worth it, and “Lockdown on London Lane” is no exception.

I’m not saying it’s a masterpiece of diverting rom-com quarantine fiction, because the writing can, at times, feel a bit juvenile and lack sophistication. The thing is? It may not be a masterpiece, but it IS a really freaking FUN piece of rom-com quarantine fiction.

I kind of feel like this is kind-of like one of those British ensemble rom-coms (the first one that comes to mind is “Love, Actually”), but take it and shove it all into one block of flats (or one apartment building, whichever comes easiest to you) that’s suddenly under lockdown for a week one morning (under the supervision of one very serious and imposing building superintendent) because someone in the building tested positive for “the virus” (they don’t say it’s COVID, but…). Since everyone was warned beforehand by the government they shouldn’t be going anywhere unnecessarily even before this building lockdown happens, well, the building super doesn’t really think they have any right to be too upset if the apartment/flat owners now find themselves either locked out of the building or if they all of a sudden have unexpected house guests for the week.So couples are separated, one-night stands suddenly become week-long stands, and new relationships, long-term relationships, and friendships all get tested.

The narrative is told, third-person POV, from several of the apartment dwellers or their guests, and each is deftly-written, their characters clearly formed and distinguishable. Each set of characters has a clear arc, even if the goal is transparent from the beginning. It’s predictable, but it’s so darn cute it’s hard to resent.

I say give it a try. If anything, it’s some fun and diversion to interject into your day.

THIS IS SO FREAKIN ADORABLE AND HEARTBREAKING AT THE SAME TIME.

Because of the multiple POVs, I'm gonna break down the review with each couple/apartment!!

Apartment #14 - Imogen & Nathan:

"Nate?"
"Yeah?"
"Kiss me again."
And oh, he does.

Imogen and Nathan are my favorites just because of how ridiculous their situation is. Imagine having to live with someone for a week, that you planned to have a one-night stand with. To make it more awkward, imagine sneaking out in the morning just to have to walk back to the same apartment you left from and face the person you just snuck out on...and you don't even remember their name. It's hilarious but I love them both so much. Imogen's chaoticness and Nathan's proper organized self are exactly what it means that opposites attract. The way Nate is such a gentleman and Imogen just wants him to let loose IS THE CUTEST THING. I just know they have mind-blowing sex.

Apartment #6 - Ethan & Charlotte:

Honestly, I'd give anything to be snuggled on the sofa with her right now, binge-watching the Twilight movies.

Ethan and Charlottle are the embodiment of adorable. I've literally never seen a cuter head over heels for each other couple. The way Ethan isn't embarrassed to say how much he loves her and misses her and is desperate without her made my heart melt I was about to cry. A man who would cuddle with me to watch twilight?? SIGN ME UPPPPP. The mistakenly posted video was pretty predictable but honestly, I'm not mad about it because that was also way too cute.

Apartment #17 - Serena & Zach:

He kisses the top of my head then steps back, holding me at arm's length.
"I love you. You know that right?"
I nod, sniffling. Shit, I am crying. Brilliant.
"Yeah. Yeah, I know. I love you too."

Serena and Zach's relationship is what broke my heart. They love each other so much and desperately want a future and the way they're trying so much to work it out makes my heart HURT. The way they care about each other is so beautiful AND THEY BETTER GET THROUGH THIS. I NEED TO KNOW THEY GET THROUGH THIS. I can also relate to Serena's overthinking so much and I feel like I connected with her most in this book.

Apartment #15 - Isla & Danny:

"Don't," I say, still giggling. "Danny, I'm all gross and sweaty."
"I don't mind," he murmurs, kissing all over my face and making me laugh again before his hands are around my waist and he draws me close, his lips on mine, and I can feel myself positively melting into him.

THEM. ISLA IS WHO I ASPIRE TO BE. DANNY IS SUCH A SWEETHEART. If the man I marry doesn't cook me 3-course meals I DONT WANT IT. THEY'RE SO IN LOVE AND THEY'RE SO CUTE. THEIR PUPPY DOG LOVE MAKES ME GRIN. Isla and Danny are the sweetest I just wanna hug them.

Apartment #22 - Olivia/Kim/Addison/Lucy:

"You know, since it's probably gonna be a while before we get to do a date IRL,"--oh, Jesus, she actually said "IRL," am I sure about this?--"I think we should probably do that again."
Whether she's the kind of person who says IRL or not--I absolutely, wholeheartedly, agree.
And I kiss her again.

Olivia's situation is exactly why I will never invite people over to my house to sleep over. NOPE, I COULD NEVER BEAR A WHOLE WEEK STUCK WITH PEOPLE I MOSTLY DON'T KNOW. I hated Kim for her outburst because actually what the fuck?? Lucy is an adorable little cinnamon roll that MUST BE PROTECTED. I wanna be friends with Addison because she seems like so much fun. I'm gonna keep you guessing about who that quote is talking about so you can go read the book to find out :)


Overall I loved this book so much!! I didn't expect to especially because it was about COVID and I thought "I'm already dealing with this shit why would I wanna read about it when I read to escape" but to be honest this book is more about how people cope especially in relationships when they're forced to be stuck together for a week. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, funny and SO CUTE

This book is a fresh outlook of situations that were definitely relevant at the beginning of the lockdown. If you like movies like ‘Love Actually’ or ‘Valentine’s Day’ then this book may have something you like. I love how everyone is connected somehow, separate from being locked in the same building. It allows different perspectives that add to more than one storyline.
The story is one that many may be familiar with in someway. The occupants of an apartment building must quarantine for one week due to a positive test policy. We meet different apartments one by one and see the perspectives of all the occupants. Whether it is a one night stand, a recently dating couple, an established couple, or a group of women having a bachelorette weekend, everyone goes through realizations about themselves and their relationships. The fear, anxiety, and vulnerability that the characters go through is at the forefront. Very heartfelt and relatable. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy

My Rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 To be honest, when I saw “from the author of “Kissing Booth” on the cover I thought “Oh my God what did I sign up for” but 3 paragraphs in I was already hooked! I loved this book! The diversity of situations, all the very deep and very personal deliberations was incredibly interesting. This book is almost a study of human relationships, we need companionship and community, but that doesn’t mean we can be locked in a room with our partners or our best friends 24/7. I loved the need for alone time and independence that happened to all the characters. Also, the comparison between situations, what happens in closed quarters with a couple that’s together for a long time, compared to a couple that’s together for 1 month, to a couple that was a one night stand. This was extremely funny and entertaining while also giving me plenty of food for thought, which makes this the best kind of book for me. This was going to be 5 stars read up until chapter 44 (the second to last chapter) because I needed a HEA, this was honestly the only reason it didn’t get 5 stars. Now, I understand why it happened what happened, it made sense for the book, but even thinking about it makes my heart squeeze, so I couldn’t give it 5 anymore.

Feminist rate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 This book, like I mentioned before, was a study in relationships, and I have to say, most of them were really healthy. It talks about communication, independence, respect, compromise, roles inside the household, things we keep hidden from our partners and so much more. Also, this was a very diverse cast and I loved that!

Adjectives and general thoughts: Deep, real, incredibly interesting, funny, and sweet

Recommend this to people who like analyzing things (at least for me this book was perfect for that) but also someone who likes an incredibly real read, that makes a very sad and anxious situation light and fun, without taking away its every.

If you want to read my complete review, this is my blog post: https://anaennoir.com/2022/02/02/lock...

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange of my honest review.

5 STARS

LOCKDOWN DOWN LONDON LANE follows the story of the people living in an 5 apartment complexes when the whole building was lockdown for 1 week due to one of the residents turning covid positive.

First, there is Ethan and Charlotte. Ethan, who was a youtuber and a gamer, was inside the apartment building whereas Charlotte was out when the lockdown was imposed. The separation causes Ethan to realize certain things.

Then there is Imogen and Nate-Nathan-Nate (my personal favorite). For Imogen and Nate , it was supposed to be a one night stand which turns into one week stand. Imogen is a messy primary school teacher and Nate, who works in a project management in a bank is organized as shit. Would they cope one week with such contrast character? Would they grow fond of the other?

Then there is Zach and Serena . They have been together for 4 years. Before lockdown, they barely spent time together as they were busy with their work. But now that they are stuck together in their apartment . They start to realize there are a lot of things that they don't know about each other , making a crack in their relationship. How would they take this revelation ? Would they be able to resolve their conflict?

then there is Danny and Isla who has just started dating a month ago. When the lockdown happened, Danny gets stuck in Isla's apartment, jumping ten steps ahead of their relationship. They start getting know embarrassing things about each other that a couples in a one month old relationship wouldn't know. Would they be able to keep their budding relationship intact?

Last but not the least, there is Olivia who is planning her best friend's Kim's bridesmaid party. All the girls get stuck in Liv's one room apartment for a week. How would Liv get through this week playing hostess to them? What would happen at the end of the lockdown?

The writing style was good. I wasn't a very big fan of The Kissing Booth book ( the movie was good). The ending wasn't very conclusive but I know it is how she writes ( she did the same thing with the Kissing Booth 3 ). So I am not complaining. Otherwise it was good . I would surely recommend the book. It was really refreshing reading it .The characters in each apartment were diverse but yet interconnected. the way Reekles did it was superior. I would surely reread it.

OUT FEBRUARY 1ST

I thoroughly enjoyed this and thought it was a cute and fun read. Very relatable and the author managed to accurately capture all of the emotions most of us have gone through at some point over the last 2 years - anxiety, fear, frustration, joy, etc. Loved all of the different scenarios and individual stories / situations. It reminded me a bit of Love Actually - various couples dealing with different circumstances and they're all somehow loosely connected to each other. Funny, heartfelt, and a great distraction from our current worries. I'd definitely read more from Beth Reekles!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the free advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I claimed a copy of this book via BookishFirst!~

TW: this book takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic during early quarantine/lockdown***

So let's get into it -

The cover: I really liked the cover right off the bat, it shows a bit of an outside view of what we can assume is the apartment where all of the main stories within this book is taking place.

The book: I did really like how this wasn't just ONE romance/love during lockdown story. This book features multiple couples that all live within the same apartment and their various experiences with romance/drama/relationship problems. They are not all "fairytale" romances, which I appreciate. There's a whole lot of drama, complications, and heartbreak too. It was a very meta read, so tread carefully if anything related to the quarantine or lockdown is not your thing.

One downside: at times, the multiple viewpoints were difficult to follow before getting to really know all of the characters.

Overall: This was a solid 4 out of 5 stars for me. I really enjoyed the whole book and getting to know all of the characters throughout.

I enjoyed this romance tremendously, and the comparison to "Love Actually" sold me!

The novel reads like a soap opera - switching from apartment apartment to tell whats happening behind closed doors as they ride out the pandemic lockdown. I enjoyed every storyline, and the forced proximity struggles each faced over the seven days. The author does a nice job with pop cultures references and the realness being stuck down at home away from ones normal routine. So much of what these individuals endured was relatable.

Lockdown on London Lane was a great read, and I look forward to future books under the authors pen. Thank you Beth Reekles, WattPad Book and NetGalley for the complimentary copy.

New Adult | Romance | Women's Fiction

I wasn’t sure at first about reading a book about the pandemic while it’s still happening. This turned out to be a cute fun lighthearted read that I really enjoyed. I’ve never read the authors other books or seen the Netflix show so she was completely new to me. Highly recommend for people who are looking for some light and easy to read during this time.

I was a little reticent to read a book about Covid, but I loved this! I totally bought into all of the various stories and the pacing was perfect. No matter what the premise is, I need the story and characters to feel "real" and I felt like I was glimpsing into the lives of actual people living in this building.

I absolutely LOVED this book, and it was so relatable. It makes you feel not alone during all this covid mess. It was such a cute, fun, and light read that I would recommend it to anyone!