Sweet, quirky, and full of charm 🫧💖. Be In My Bubble is the perfect feel-good romance for anyone who’s ever struggled with boundaries—both emotional and personal. Maya Mason crafts an adorable story of love, vulnerability, and figuring out what makes you feel safe. The characters are lovable, their chemistry sparkles, and the central theme of learning to open your heart while still protecting your space is beautifully handled. I devoured this in one sitting—it left me smiling and hopeful.

This was a wonderfully done romantic comedy and worked well with the genre, I was engaged from start to finish and was invested in what was happening with the characters and their world. I was enjoying the way Emily was written and thought this was realistic and had that element that I wanted. It uses the coronavirus element perfectly and was enjoyed the romance element to this. Maya Mason has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

Maya Mason’s Be In My Bubble is like a warm, witty hug wrapped in a patchwork blanket of pandemic quirks and unexpected swoon. Imagine heartbreak, a rubbish chute, and the kind of serendipity only lockdown can cook up—and voilà, you’ve got Emily’s delightfully chaotic love story.

Freshly dumped and pandemic-stranded in a London flat, Emily’s social life has all the fizz of flat soda—until Robbie, her brother’s childhood chum and new neighbor, quite literally pops into her life (by the bins, no less—romance truly is everywhere). Their meet-cute may be unconventional, but it kickstarts a slow-burning, sweetly awkward connection that’s both hilarious and heart-hugging.

Mason has a knack for making the mundane magical. Through alternating viewpoints—because who doesn’t love peeking into everyone’s emotional laundry—we watch Emily and Robbie bumble, banter, and blush their way toward something real. There’s plenty of “awww” and just the right amount of “oh no, they didn’t.”

What really sparkles here is the novel’s unfiltered look at lockdown life—loneliness, banana bread disasters, Zoom fatigue and all—while still delivering a generous scoop of hope and humor. It’s not trying to be some grand romance epic; it’s a tribute to tiny joys, quiet strength, and the courage to let someone into your metaphorical bubble (and your literal flat).

Sure, the plot occasionally meanders like you on day 43 of quarantine with no clue what day it is. And yes, some themes could’ve been unwrapped a little more. But honestly? Be In My Bubble still nails the brief: feel-good, slightly messy, and just what the doctor ordered for your heart.

Read it with snacks. Text your lockdown crush after. Then maybe fall in love by your own rubbish chute—one can hope.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I thought this was a very cute book. The interaction between Emily and Robbie was great and realistic. Fun going back to Covid times and reliving bubble life. Loved Sian as BFF. I think there should’ve been something about Emily’s brother and his reaction when he found out Emily and Robbie were together though. Chapters were short but I like that versus long chapters.

Be in my Bubble: locked down by Maya Mason is a light hearted and often comical look back at life and love during lockdown.

The book begins on October 20 202, flashes back to April 20 2020 and then alternates between Robbie and Emily's point of view.

Life used to be great for Emily, living with her boyfriend and her best friend. Until one day she came home and found them hooking up on the counter. Now the world is locking down and she's all alone.

Robbie struck gold when a project of his goes viral. But then his next project flops, his fiance leaves him and he is stuck at his friends apartment until the travel ban lifts so he can get home.

A chance meeting at the garbage shoot during the pandemic has Emily and Robbie deciding to bubble up and spend time together instead of isolating alone.

Thank you to Maya for working with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

It was a fun flirty romance with a lot of chemistry! This book was an easy read and honestly is really cute! The characters had depth and were perfect for each other honestly. If I picture the characters after this book ended they definitely wouldn't break up!

I loved the dynamic and light heartedness of this book! The comedy relief of the MMC was also great! Love the cover as well! Gives great visual

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!
This is a fun romcom! I loved that it took place in the covid pandemic - it really added to the coziness of the book. And I loved the use of this time to create forced proximity.
The characters were sweet, and I loved all the nerdy references.
Not the strongest romcom I've read, but good for a debut author! I hope to see more of Mason in the future.

I just finished Be in My Bubble by Maya Mason, and I’m seriously obsessed. This book hit me in all the right places—it's fun, heartfelt, and so easy to fall into. The story follows two people who are in very different places in their lives, yet somehow, they find this magnetic pull toward each other. I was hooked from the start!

What I loved the most was how real the characters felt. The chemistry between the main couple was off the charts, and you could feel the tension building with every chapter. But it wasn’t just about the romance—there’s a lot of depth to their connection. They help each other grow in such meaningful ways, and that made me root for them even harder.

Maya Mason's writing is a total vibe—relatable, witty, and sharp. She knows how to balance humor and emotion perfectly. There were moments when I couldn’t stop laughing, and then the next, I was holding my breath as things got more intense. It's the kind of book that gives you all the feels while making you smile like a goofball.

Honestly, I couldn’t put it down. I kept telling myself, "One more chapter" and before I knew it, I had read the whole thing in one sitting. If you're into stories with great characters, a dash of humor, and a whole lot of heart, Be in My Bubble is a must-read. It’s one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished.

This was a cute rom com that takes place during the Covid 19 outbreak and lockdowns. Emily and Robbie grew up together in London but have grown apart as adults. The London lockdown reconnects them when they're both at low points in their lives. I loved the chemistry between Robbie and Emily but the misunderstanding troupe was a little heavy and it was a big part of why I couldn't give a five star review. Once, I can believe but more than that. You're adults, just use your words and explain the situation. I felt the couple was super cute and I really wanted them to be together pretty quickly in the book.

I received a review copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

I'm typically someone who will immediately DNF a book the second it seems too much like the real world. Mention Taylor Swift, Tiktok, or any real-life headline and I'm pulled out of the story. I was unsure going into this read if I would be able to stay interested in a story that was too reminiscent of such a crappy time in all of our lives.

I was pleasantly surprised that Maya Mason was able to keep the plot of this rom-com light and entertaining. If I hadn't lived through COVID-19 myself, I might have thought the timeline was a little rushed but those were "unprecedented times" and isolation made 1 year feel like 100.

A quick, entertaining read worth adding to your TBR.

This was a fun time capsule romance of a very specific time in modern history.

It was fun and funny and managed to not belittle the pandemic nor that other people had very different experiences.

The romance was cute.

This was a cute wholesome read! The story was well written and an enjoyable read! And the romance was so sweet.

A romance based on the pandemic, surprisingly not super unbelievable storyline with extreme things. Some of the timelines did seem a little quick but knowing how people did think and feel during the quarantine it still does make sense. The story did have a lot of focus on mental health and self conscious undercurrent that did make it a bit more believable. It was a quick read once you get going.

I received this ARC from publishers via Netgalley
#BeInMyBubble #NetGalley

3-3.5⭐️

This was a cute read, but I must admit I was looking for a bit more from Robbie and Emily’s story. Their journey from running into each other again to more than friends happened quickly, without much tension or buildup and before I really felt any of their chemistry or attraction. Nevertheless, it was a cute story on a unique time in our world. As someone in healthcare who worked through the whole pandemic, it was a different perspective.
—
😷Debut novel
❤️Re-release
😷COVID
❤️Forced proximity
😷Brother’s ex-best friend
💔Death of a pet
📍London, England
—
Thank you Maya Mason & NetGalley for this complimentary ARC - all thoughts are my own! 📚
Publishers release date 10/11/2023

2.7 ⭐️ maybe

it was ok like it wasn’t great or anything special. Interesting to have a romance set in the pandemic of course. felt that the mmc was just pretty childish, like I get that there’s a pandemic but him just having one argument and basically going back to Australia. I get he had been thinking about it but being that impulsive was just ugh.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Look, I don't have any proof, but the only reason I picked this was because it seemed a little like Bellarke fanfiction. It was a long shot, I know that now, and my entire theory was based mostly on the familiar-looking guy on the cover and the fact he's Australian. It could all just be a coincidence, but I went into this book like a detective, trying to find all possible clues to prove my theory.

However, not even this imaginary detective assignment I’ve given myself was enough to keep me invested in the story. Unfortunately, after a couple of chapters, I was already a little bored. But then we were introduced to a conflict and I thought we were headed into low stakes enemies to lovers territory but that didn’t happen. There wasn’t any flirty banter, any teasing, any chemistry to keep me interested. Instead, at around the 20% mark, they kissed. That was enough for me to call it quits.

If the story was written in a more interesting way, I probably would’ve kept reading. However, the dialogue was so cringe at times and the altering POVs sounded so similar I had to keep looking back to figure out whose part I was reading.

All in all, this didn’t turn out to be my cup of tea. However, if you don’t mind instant love and all the usual romcom cliches, this might just be the book for you!

I just couldn't get through this book. It was so cringey and partially illegible. The story could've been enjoyable had it been better written.

I wanted to love this book but it was cringey and felt like a 12 year old wrote it. I was very disappointed. I loved the 2020 pandemic concept and this book could have been great if the writing was not so cringey

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Be in My Bubble by Maya Mason is a sweet and heartwarming RomCom set in London during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The story follows Emily, who is stuck in her apartment alone during lockdown, as she navigates the challenges of isolation and loneliness.

One night, Emily meets Robbie, her brother's friend from school, at the rubbish chute. They decide to form a "bubble" together, and their friendship quickly blossoms into something more. As they spend more time together, they learn to navigate their differences and perspectives, and their bond is tested as they face the challenges of the pandemic and their personal lives. The extra theme of gratitude was so pertinent. Especially during a time when it was certainly hard to find anything to be grateful for.

Mason does a great job of capturing the unique atmosphere of London in 2020, and the characters are relatable and likeable. The story is full of humor and heart, and it's sure to give readers that warm and fuzzy feeling.

While the story is enjoyable, it's not particularly groundbreaking. The plot felt predictable at times, and the characters are somewhat stereotypical of a typical Rom-Com. Also, being set in London, there was a British Dialect that was worked into the story. The outside Dialect made it hard for me to understand the story at times (I needed to a cultural deep dive after chapter 4) However, I'd definitely recommend Be in My Bubble as it's still a fun and lighthearted read that's perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good romance.