This was a sweet love story (almost two sweet with the main characters). But considering all the craziness of the past year, it was a nice escape while also tackling the challenges of the lockdown. This focuses mainly on the lockdown that took place in England early in the Covid pandemic. It was heartwarming thinking about the real images of the nightly clap for the NHS workers and picturing the characters being part of that.

Each of the characters had their own struggles and found the connection on their nightly chats on the balcony. I found it a bit hard to believe that they hadn't crossed paths somewhere along the way before, but I just went with it. If you want a sweet story that is comforting but just a little unbelievable this one if for you.

Love in Lockdown took me a few tries to really get into - it got off to a bit of a slow start and being set in lockdown had me wondering if it might be "too soon" to read such a book since we are STILL in a lockdown of sorts nearly a year later...  For the most part, this book focuses on Sophia and Jack - he lives above her and they "meet" when they go outside to clap outside each evening to support the frontline workers.  There are quite a few sub characters in the book too - many of which they know from the courtyard of the apartments as well as Jack's brother and wife who have a baby during the pandemic and Sophia's parents and sister - who has a pandemic Zoom wedding!  Of course there's your nosy neighbor and your lonely older man neighbor as well who work their way into some of the plot lines.  Since Jack isn't really able to leave the house, Sophia offers to do shopping for him and they end up trying to figure out the best way they can use what they've got and what they know to help our their neighbors as well.  Since Jack is always home, he takes up chatting to some of the neighbors on the phone so they won't feel so lonely.   It's all very sweet - but the title of the book makes you think someone is going to fall in love - and it took quite a bit for anything to really develop on that front.  Things seemed to take off a bit more when I was about halfway through the book - I would have liked it to have picked up a bit sooner - as I said I had started and stopped it a couple of times because it never really "grabbed" me, but in the end it was very sweet.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

I really enjoyed Sophia and Jacks story. It had a lovely cast of characters and such a strong community spirit. Set in the year the world will always remember, this book included events which were commonplace during the first lockdown . The lack of toilet rolls and empty supermarket shelves and the highlight of the lockdown week , the Thursday clap for the NHS
This was a positive,, uplifting romance which involved the whole community!
I would recommend this book
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books and Chloe James for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you #Netgalley for the opportunity to review the book 'Love in Lockdown'. This novel was very sweet and hopeful and I really hope some lucky people out there had this positive of a Lockdown experience in 2020.

The novel was well-written, slightly predictable but overall left me feeling very warm and fuzzy which we all need more of during the pandemic! I particularly liked that the lead characters are flawed, normal people fighting with their health and that part of the book made it more realistic. I haven't met many people that have made new friends over the last year sadly, so the idea of meeting a romantic interest that happens to be your neighbour seemed a little too-good-to-be-true. Still a delightful read and I will keep my eyes peeled for more Chloe James in the future.

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“The reality is that when everything stops, love is all that is left.”
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It was only a matter of time before the craziness of 2020 became a story line. I wasn’t sure I was ready to read about it yet, but this charming story is more about the love then the lockdown. Jack and Sophia’s story starts in lockdown and ends as the world is going back to normal. During lockdown in my life all that mattered was the family time and unlimited time with loved ones.
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I’m delighted to read how they fall in love and to see some love and beauty come out of such a dark period.
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Thank you to #netgalley and #avon books for an arc in exchange for an honest review

I received a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review. I completely related to Sophia as like her, I am a primary school teacher, who would go into school to care for key worker children. I love how Sophia and Jack came full circle from the dress shop in the prologue to the end of the story where they finally meet. The build up to them meeting was so cute. It was similar to ‘Love is Blind’ the show that was mentioned in the story, as they both just fell in love with each other, just from speaking to one another from their balconies. They had a lot in common as they both had medical conditions, were very giving and had a love for cocktails and Dua Lipa songs. This book really made me reminisce the first lockdown, when everyone would be out on their balconies or in their gardens enjoying the sunshine. And obviously not forgetting the ‘Clap for NHS’ and loo roll and flour shortage! I love how this book not only had romance but elements of comedy. For example, when Jack decided to ironically hoover to Queen’s hit song ‘I want to break free’, whilst wearing a tea towel as a wig. As well as Jess’ virtual wedding when Uncle Jim’s camera was showing a strange woman flashing her knickers. This was followed by the vicar unknowingly plucking his nose hairs with tweezers. I just couldn’t put this book down! It was so sweet and touching and highlighted how in the end appearances shouldn’t matter.

A cute and quick romance read. It was fun and entertaining few hours reading this. It even managed to make me think of first lockdown fondly, imagine!

Cute and interesting premise, but reading about love in lockdown while still in lockdown was a,little too soon for me. I prefer to escape reality, although I did appreciate the cute moments.

I was curious what this pandemic romance was going to be like, but it honestly felt charming. Not too gimmicky, but really exploring what a meet cute and romance would be like.

Lively character, fun story, would recommend.

I absolutely loved this! What a great book which exactly captures the spirit of early lockdown. The ways of amusing themselves and each other were really inventive. As I write this we are deep in lockdown no 4 with little hope of this nightmare ending soon, but this story really cheered me up!

A really good book with a great writing style and twist on a very rough time in everyone's lives. I enjoyed it, and at times it was a little slow but it was a good read overall!

Entertaining reading during lockdown that makes you smile and a happy ending, just what everybody needs at the moment.

This isn't my favourite book of 2020, but it definitely wasn't the worst! I don't know whether reading a book about lockdown whilst being in lockdown kind of clouded my view of this book, but it just wasn't what I was expecting! Maybe I will read this one again at a later date.

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read for me since the story unfolds very smoothly. Also, appreciate the premise. It is our current situation and being always at home, makes it difficult to meet someone new.
Great story!

This was a cute romance and a quick read. I liked the premise, now the we’re locked down meeting someone new is more and more difficult. I enjoyed this a lot, 4 stars

Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is set in the UK during the Covid lockdown. Jack, suffering a medical complication that keeps him completely isolated. Slowly going stir crazy with his own company, he strikes up a conversation with the woman in the apartment below when he hears her on her balcony. Soon, their conversations are the highlight of his life. Sophia creates an online group with Jack to help people that are having difficulty with the isolation. From just talking on the phone to grocery shopping and dog walking, everyone needs to feel a sense of connection. As their project grows, so do their feelings for each other. And all this without even seeing each other's faces.
I really loved the feeling of closeness between the members of this apartment complex, pulling together to help each other out, socially distanced of course. And through it all a sense of anticipation and hope for when the lockdown ends.
Thank you to Chloe James and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me and i found myself skimming to get to the end.

I must say, it was a bit strange to read a book about 2020 already (this was for a challenge that had a topic of a book that reminds you of 2020). Overall, it was a decent read. I liked Sophia and Jack and their conversations. There were a few times where I had to push myself a bit to get through the book because it didn't feel like much was happening, but overall I thought it was a sweet book.

This book is sweet, romantic and light hearted and I’m pretty sure if I hadn’t had lived through lockdown in 2020 the premise and the plot would have been thought of as unthinkable! The characters are likeable and the kindness and thoughtfulness that undoubtedly reflects real life by some during this difficult period shines from the page. An enjoyable story. Great read.

Thank you Netgalley

Cute
Romantic
Sweet
Very sugary
Too sugary sweet at times

Bit close to home seeing we are still in lockdown

But I did enjoy the sweeter unthinking read that you could just go with it once overlooking we are actually living in it at this time, just enjoy the cuteness without overthinking.