I wanted to enjoy this one, with it's cute cover and great premise, but sadly I didn't. The writing style was kind of choppy making it a difficult read and overall I just got bored with the story. DNF for me sorry!

First off I loved this book. I am so happy I was given the chance to review it. I thought this story was lovely not too deep but a very easy read. Would love to know if their love lasts past lockdown or not aswell. Overall 4 stars from me.

Okay, I’ll admit, I only requested this book because of the buzz surrounding- both the good and the bad.

While this book was witty and fun, I felt as though it almost glorified lockdown as though it was something to be poked fun at.

As Kourtney Kardashian once said, “Kim, there’s people that are dying.”

I truly don’t think this book will sit well with a lot of critics, knowing friends and family members that had to quarantine and be away from everyone they loved, it was truly heartbreaking to witness and I think this book portrays this pandemic as some joke.

A Story of Finding Love in Difficult Times... The New Normal❣️ Great Uplifting Read  

Told from Sophia and Jack's perspective, Sophia working as a school teacher who gets to nearly-meet Jack when going out on her balcony on that first Thursday night NHS clap... from here a friendship grows, getting to know each other through acts of kindness and talk alone.

A bit of a slow burner, but once I got into to the story it was a good read, reflecting in difficult times can often bring out the best in people/communities.  Even more poignant as the premise is based around current times.  There were times where I felt it repeated things, such as with being in lockdown, which I didn't feel necessary as was the basis of the story.  Overall great read.

This is the first book I've read that takes place during the start of the Covid-19 lockdown/quarantine. Sophia is a teacher looking after essential workers' children; Jack is stuck inside unable to leave or socialize due to his health conditions.

Through conversations on their balcony, Jack and Sophia help to bring their apartment building together, and morals high during an isolating time. 

Will Sophia and Jack ever meet in person? Can you truly fall in love without every seeing the person? 

While I appreciate reading the perspective of life in lockdown, and enjoyed how realistic the author portrayed the multitude of emotions many of us were feeling. 

This would have been a 4-star book, but the fact they used so much technology in the book and yet Jack and Sophia did not see each on social medias or sent pictures nor attempted to look over the balcony  to see each other made it a bit unrealistic. 

Overall, it is a great book to read!

A lovely warm and heartfelt story about a community coming together during these crazy time. Perfect reading for me (here in the UK) amid our 2nd lockdown.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggled to keep interested while reading this book. I was pulled in by the interesting plot summary and cute cover, but ultimately this book ended up being a little tough to get through. 

You know those sections of Little Women were the March sisters play at pilgrims progress? Constantly reminding each other to be good and help everyone? This entire book felt like that. Don't get me wrong, I think it's lovely that communities are coming together to help one another during this pandemic, but it also doesn't make for very interesting reading material for 300+ pages.

All the characters also felt a little flat because of this. I didn't feel any real sense of conflict for any of their problems. There was no tension in the plot to really get things moving along. The romance, and this book seems to be marketed towards romance readers, is nonexistent. Sure, Sophia and Jack kept saying they felt something for the other, but it was a lot of telling without any showing.

Overall, probably not one I'll be recommending to friends.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy. 

This book is a lighthearted,  timely, read which will strike a chord with anyone trying to adjust to a new normal. 

It’s about finding a sense of community during a difficult and challenging situation.

Sophia, is struggling in trying to keep it all together when the UK goes into lockdown. 

Her fears are for the safety of her mother, who is frontline worker, along with attending the much anticipated wedding of her sister, but  virtually. 

So when she has a teary moment on the balcony, Jack, her upstairs neighbour,  is an witness to all her distress, and offers to hear her worries, kindly.  

Jack, is also struggling with the changes that the lockdown has brought, as owing to a pre existing condition, he’s confined to his flat.  

So two neighbours, who, before all this, were previously strangers, start  to rely on one another in order to get through the difficult days.

A very heartfelt story about the coming together of neighbours, also, the ways in which a sense of community can be sought, particularly in times of crisis.

What a year it’s been so far, and while books have proven to be the ultimate in escapism for me this year, I was intrigued to see what it would be like to read a book that actually featured the lockdown era.

I really feel that the author handled this topic perfectly. We all had different experiences of lockdown, and it’s been difficult for so many. But this book is sensitive to this, but also has a lighthearted and uplifting feel.

Leaving the unusual circumstances aside, this is a wonderful, character led, story of both love and of community.

There are some lovely moments of kindness, of humour, of friendship and, of course, of romance.

I really liked both Jack and Sophia, and I liked the way the story alternates between both of their points of view.

A really unique and insightful novel, it’s a real page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

Lovely uplifting beautiful book. About new beginnings. When you think everything is lost. Really lovely cast of characters and a book written with warmth and understanding and compassion.

When I first heard about this book I thought "Uh, uh, no way I'm reading this. Too soon. Who would want to read a book about the lockdown when the second one is waving at us on the horizon?" Apparently, I did. After reading some good reviews I decided to give it a chance and I'm so glad I did. What a lovely shot of optimism in these trying times!

I must be thankful lockdown was not too hard for me. I, like a household plant, am an indoors species and lockdown is my natural habitat. Give me food and a book and I'm happy! However, I feel for all those people who had such a hard time out of it.

"Love in lockdown" portrayed the spirit of the lockdown so well I could see myself reflected in so many of the situations the characters were going through. It was curious to check how, even living in a different country, we all went through the same things like the loo paper, yeast and flour shortage or the clapping for the key workers (here in Spain it was daily for three months!).

It was amazing seeing these characters create such a tight-knit community, helping each other even though they didn't know each other at all. This sense of community that brought out the best in people was so uplifting to read about (sadly, time proved that it was all a mirage, cause as soon as we were let out of our homes it all went downhill fast again, but that's an issue for another forum).

Like Troy and Gabriela...
<img src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/9dbda868c8f325c69f15968e15575397/tenor.gif?itemid=5384679" width="500" height="250" alt="description"/>
...but not for long.

Jack and Sophia were both so cute. I couldn't wait for restrictions to be lifted so they could meet face to face. I know their relationship was a bit too sweet and perfect, but it was just what the doctor ordered right now!

The cast of secondary characters was an eclectic and lovable one, but my favorite was Bertie (and Tilly). The way he dealt with his loneliness awoke so much tenderness in me and was a perfect example of how much harder this has been for the elderly.

There were also some hilarious moments, like the wedding chapter, that had me crying with laughter.

Uplifting and delightful read that showed how although we may feel isolated at times, we are not alone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I devoured it in a day I needed to know what happened next and couldn’t put it down. It’s written well and had a lovely plot

Who doesn’t couldn’t use a little romance when it seems like the world is against you?  Cute story about the challenges in our state. Their relationship is realistic and their emotions are real. A timely story of hope, sweetness, and love.

Apologies but this was a DNF at 20§ maybe I wasnt  as  ready for a story about the life we are all forced to be leading as thought!!.to me the writing style was very choppy and this didnt help,plus in 2020 its kinda easy to see what others look like even in lockdown

I could only get halfway through this book. Perhaps because we are living this story, the description drags to no end. I hoped it could get interesting, and I put it down ,returned to the story and forgot what it is about, except the main  character, COVID.
Although there is a bit of humor in it, I can’t get ahead to find an interest.
Thank you Netgalley for always giving me the opportunity to read books and I always try and give them a fair chance.

I really wanted to love this book.

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

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

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

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

A new spin on the idea of a blind date.

However ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

I could not read this book because the copy I received is not readable.
Thank you anyway, NetGalley.

Love in Lockdown is exactly what the title suggests, two people finding love amidst the Covid 19 pandemic, a time we all know too well. Jack lives in the flat above Sophia, and their balcony friendship begins with the first 8 pm clapping for the NHS and keyworkers. Due to Jack's underlying health issue, he has to shelter which allows him time to reflect on who he is and what he wants to achieve in life.

Sophia's recently heartbroken and not ready to fall in love again, too afraid she would be rejected and cast aside because of her condition like she was once before. Since developing epilepsy, Sophia altered her career path from studying law to become a primary school teacher. She teaches a mixed age of the keyworkers' children and there's a real sense of joy Sophia feels in teaching these children. 
    
This easy read and joyous work of fiction is more than your typical love story, it is about a community coming together, supporting and caring for one another, and adapting to the new world. It is filled with humour with some laugh out loud moments; and moments we can all relate to; the empty shelves stripped of toilet rolls in supermarkets, the interesting Zoom meetings, the months of being your own hairdresser, the passerby in the streets leaping ten feet in the air for fear of coming too close, the country coming together every Thursday to clap the NHS and keyworkers.
    
Woven together with the humour is also the emotion felt from the characters. In recent months the world has changed and we are living a new norm and the uncertainty, the kindness, the fear, the frustration, the loneliness, the overwhelming heartfelt of togetherness and being part of a community, is all felt within the chapters. This is enhanced by James writing in the present tense, with the feeling of the here and now, and alternative chapters switching between the viewpoint of Jack and Sophia.
    
To say this book would have been written and completed in a short period, it is an enjoyable and in captivating read. The majority of the characters are likeable and interesting. However, there was one female character who is mentioned several times, and who to me, stood out, there was definite scope for her in the story and I wanted more from her, but she didn't develop further in the book. Jack is too perfect and lovely to be believable, he is your typical fictitious boyfriend material, but it is early days in the relationship; trying to impress with plenty of time to plan.
    
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read something uplifting about a crisis we are all currently experiencing. It is worth the read.

​