This was an ok read for me. The blurb intrigued me and I have read this author's work before so was excited to give this one a try. While this was an interesting premise and different and not done before, which I appreciated, I felt disconnected from the story and characters throughout my read. I can't really put my finger on why I felt this way but I did. Some things, like the effort in which Jubilee transitioned from being reclusive for 9 years to working in a library with people interactions, seemed quick to me. I felt sorrow for Eric's broken relationships with his ex, his daughter and even adopted son Aja. Nothing he seemed to do could ever be right. His relationship with his daughter hurt me the most as a mother :(
When it came to the ending, I felt that it was very rushed and while I appreciate the author's message in the story to take risks and live life, I didn't exactly love how the ending wrapped up. Even though, Eric always seemed to be "the one", I had a soft spot in my heart for Michael who stuck by her through her efforts of finding a cure.
This book seems to getting a bunch of great reviews so I may be in the minority here but this is just how I felt after reading.

If you are looking for something light, try CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH by Colleen Oakley. It's basically a romantic comedy movie in written form. Due to a rare allergy to human touch, Jubilee (what a great name!) has not left her house for the nine years since high school. But circumstances shift and she needs to find a job; working at a library (another smile for that choice), brings her into the lives of Madison, an old high school classmate, and of Eric, newly moved to town and his troubled adopted 10 year-old son called Aja. As Jubilee increasingly faces her fears, this novel has some hilarious moments and some sweet and tender ones, too. It is certainly a feel good story that has been lovingly crafted with attention to detail like the small bicycle print that appears on the endpapers of the hard cover. If you enjoy novels by JoJo Moyes and Jodi Picoult, CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH is the perfect beach read – or Spring Break choice.

What a deliciously written, skillfully paced novel! Readers are blessed with characters that are absolutely beyond compelling and the plot sticks with you even after you're finished. Will be reading again!

How a woman who is allergic to human touch can have her HEA??

From the moment I read the synopsis of Close Enough to Touch I was so intrigued, I ignored the beginning of it, “...an unconventional love story perfect for fans of the emotional novels of Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes….”, I mean, everyone who knows me, knows I don’t read this kind of books willingly, I don't do angsty books, but I was so intrigued about Jubilee and her rare allergy. So, I decided to read and I LOVEEEEED IT!!!!

Everything about Close Enough to Touch is awesome. The writing, the development of the story the characters was exceptional, the originality of the plot. Literally E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G!! The ending was perfect!! I cried like a baby for hours while reading this book—sadly I didn’t have an audiobook to read for me while I was crying—and I had to take breaks between the chapters because this book was ripping my heart out, but I don’t regret a minute of it, because Close Enough to Touch is really an amazing book.

This is the story of Jubilee and Eric. Jubilee was diagnosed of a rare allergy when she was a little child. She didn’t have a normal childhood, she couldn’t play with other kids or get hugged by her mom and when she was 17, a boy at school kissed her and she almost died. After that, she spent 9 years hidden from the world in her house, doing it all from home and after so many years she became “almost” agoraphobic, and it became a real problem when she had no other choice but to get out of her house and look for a job. A few weeks after she was slowly getting a little comfortable of working at the local library, she had to make a double life or death decision, jump to the river and save a boy’s life by performing CPR—OMG yes, I’m getting anxious just by remembering it—but this time, this second near to death experience did the opposite of the first time, she started living, finally, after 27 years of hiding herself under a pair of gloves and her rare allergy.

The boy Jubilee saved was Aja, a smart and introvert little 10 year old boy, who was adopted by Eric when his parents died. Eric felt a great sense of gratitude for Jubilee, and from that moment he started trying to get closer to her, get to know her and despite it was a bit difficult, because of her anxiety and allergy, and also because of all the drama in Eric’s life. It was a beautiful journey for the three of them, not just for Jubilee. Getting to know each other helped to save old wounds from the past, helped them to grow stronger to face what would come for them in the future but most of all, to forgive and love themselves. In my opinion, a person is able to love other people and accept the love from them when they really love themselves and that’s what Jubilee and Eric needed. And of course, Aja too.

This was a beautiful story, full of meaningful lessons to life, about family, love and hope. I couldn’t love this book enough. Now, please, get your copy and read it. I assure you, it’s amazing and flawless and everything.

Due to her allergy to humans, previously housebound woman (Jubilee) is forced to seek employment after her mother's death.

Poor Jubilee is allergic to humans (type IV contact dermatitis to foreign human skin cells, to be exact) -- yikes! Luckily, this allergy was made up by the author. In high school, after a boy was dared to kiss Jubilee, she suffered a severe allergic reaction. Terribly humiliated by the experience, Jubilee vows never to leave her house again. This plan works for awhile but, once she reaches adulthood, her mother deserts her for a man (but does leave her a monthly allowance). Nine years later, however, her mom dies leaving Jubilee with the house but no income. At this point, Jubilee is forced to seek employment outside her home. What ensues is Jubilee's quest for a life as normal as possible within the constraints of her allergy.

I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story (in what could have been a super serious topic) as well as Jubilee's quirky character. Will Jubilee learn to live with her allergy and find her place in society?

I loved Before I Go (solid 4 star rating) by this author and couldn't wait to read this one. Even though the premise was very interesting and unique (allergic to humans; what?), unfortunately, I just did not enjoy it as much as her previous book. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Such a beautiful story of hope, family and an impossible love that has the power to change everything. I couldn't put it down.

Spoiler-ish
Close Enough to Touch was a Netgalley recommendation. It was a time where I seemed to have nothing to read and it was compared to Colleen Hoover. I’ve never read any books by Colleen Hoover although one of my GR friend tries very hard to get me to read one of her books but alas I just don’t seem to be interested.
But getting back to my review.
Close Enough to Touch is a slow-paced book with moments that do make you smile that there are also times that the book never seemed to end. It was at these times that I felt like throwing in the towel.
The beginning of this book is fantastic. There is the right amount of humor, sarcasm and empathy towards the characters. They don’t come across as fake and they are real people, down to earth with day to day feelings.
Jubilee has a severe condition that has had a great impact on her life. She has been a recluse for the past nine years after a near fatal kiss. All because of a bet. The time has come where she has had to come out of hiding as she has been leeching off her mother and she has now passed.
Jubilee is an odd sort and as a female lead somewhat unusual after being a hermit she has still managed to keep her humor and I do find her really quite endearing. You can’t fault her for her fear of the world but you can for the fact that she is so unwilling to change anything however daunting it might be.
Eric is having his own difficulties he has moved to Jersey for his job. His fourteen-year-old daughter isn’t talking to him. His ex-wife is behaving like an ex-wife. He can’t find the coffee mugs and he goes after unobtainable women.
Several incidents lead to Eric & Jubilee to meeting in the library they have a kinship with one another and an attraction. They have a rocky start to their relationship although it is all quite trying between the two. They don’t really work it out and here comes a spoiler
Don’t get me started on the ending of the book. It is rushed and well suddenly she is there with Michael who loves her she “cares” about him and then after years Eric turns up and they have a passionate kiss and everything is cut off abruptly. Ah excuse me? But what kind of ending is that? Naff I tell you. Naff.
All in all, if you are looking for something unique, out of the norm with an emotional setting and great realistic characters then this is the book for you. It is a book that I normally wouldn’t have read. Oh and btw this book cannot get any sager than it already is.

Close Enough to Touch is a super sweet romance about Jubilee and her allergy to human touch, and her relationship with library patrons Eric and his son, Aja. Jubilee has to overcome her fears of being out in the world, while Eric comes to grips with the fact that he might be unable to keep Aja from harm.

Jubilee is a fun character who learns to love life and face her fears, despite her dangerous allergies, and she bonds deeply with Eric and Aja. This sweet romance will draw you in (and possibly make you cry).

4.5 Stars
This was a beautiful journey with Jubilee, a young woman allergic to humans, who faces down her fears and returns to the world after hiding for 9 years after a near-death experience. And what a journey it was! Despite her seclusion, Jubilee was such a neat character, and watching her react and rejoin human interactions was admirable and touching. I felt her fears and cheered her bravery.

Now add in Eric, divorced dad, who just moved into town. He's got a load of difficult circumstances of his own. But man is he trying. Really, really trying. But he's a bit lost on what to do next. Between his daughter who is no longer speaking to him, and his adoptive son who is having some serious problems of his own since the death of his parents, I really felt for the guy. He had his own fears to allay and his own victory to gain.

I loved how Eric and Jubilee met and befriended each other. There was such an innocence and such a beauty to Jubilee and Eric's relationship. This wasn't some quick romance. These were two people with real fears and real obstacles. I mean, Eric couldn't even touch her! So instead of a hot-and-heavy romance, we get this beautiful blooming friendship, attraction, and layers of genuine care and heart. We get Jubilee facing decisions about her future. We get Eric facing decisions about his kids and his future. There is this beautiful interweaving between Jubilee and Eric's lives, and the lives of their loved ones. I felt so many emotions reading about them.

I absolutely loved this book, up until the very end. The ending felt a bit rushed and I was like, "what's going on here?!" After so much investment, I wanted just a little more from that ending. BUT, after sitting and pondering the ending for a bit, I was like, "Ok, I think I get where you're heading with this." BUT, my brain has to imagine beyond the page. I simply cannot stop where the story stopped. Mostly, because I simply loved Eric and Jubilee so much! Really loved them.

Oh, where do I start?! This tale of Jubilee who has lived a shut-in life ever since she kissed a boy and almost died. You see she has a condition that leads to a severe allergic reaction to the human touch. Her mother has left her by herself in order to have a life herself and after years of not really communicating she finds out her mother has died and is now forced to go out into the world, get a job in order to keep her house and play her bills.

She soon gets a job at a library and meets up with an old friend from her past and slowly but surely readjusts to live on the outside. But she soon meets a man Eric who quickly makes her realize what she has been missing all this time…love. It starts off as a friendship but he is so nice and friendly you can't help but fall for him. Eric has issues himself, his daughter hasn’t spoken to him since the divorce and he recently adopted his best friend's child after their untimely death and that hasn’t been smooth sailing to say the least.

Eric and Jubilee make a great pair each able to help the other one with their problems but ultimately the timing is all wrong. This is the part that kind of killed me. I totally wanted Eric and Jubilee together because both are great people who deserved someone nice but both needed to work on themselves and issues separately before they could truly give themselves to each other. As time passes and both have moved forward in life we see Jubilee and where she is and what advancements she has done as far as her illness goes and Eric and how he is with his family life, now I won't spoil the ending but I liked how the author wrapped things up. I’m a fan of Colleen Oakley and I love her writing and this one is no different. She gives a love story but also a story about how important loving and taking care of yourself has to come before you can fully give yourself to others. Things are meant to be when the timing is right and if something is meant to be well it will happen regardless on how long it takes.

Favorite Quotes:

I didn’t wake up one morning and think: ‘I’m going to become a recluse.’ I don’t even like the word ‘recluse.’ It reminds me of that deadly spider just lying in wait to sink its venom into the next creature that crosses its path.

I hate when people self-diagnose. I watched my mom do it for years – she had everything from rabies (even though she’d never been bitten by an animal) to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease to syphilis (although, in retrospect, that diagnosis wouldn’t have been exactly surprising).

I don’t know why I’m so drawn to her. She’s beautiful, yes, but it’s more than that. There’s something different about her – how she’s guarded yet completely vulnerable at the same time. She’s like a Rubik’s Cube that I find myself eager to sort into a pattern that makes sense. Or maybe I’m eager to sort out why I keep thinking of her. I don’t know. I’ve never met anyone quite like her. And I was never good at Rubik’s Cubes.

Is there a proper way to grieve? Step-by-step instructions? I thought you just cried a bit and got on with it. My mind flashes to the day I came home from school as a kid and my gerbil Alvin was lying in his cage, unmoving. ‘Chin up,’ my mom said. ‘Life goes on.’ I just remember thinking: Not for Alvin.


My Review:

Close Enough To Touch provided a highly intriguing premise and the most vividly peculiar cast of characters (primary, secondary and tertiary) that I can ever recall. I was fascinated and reveled in the introduction of each and every one of them and the levity their cleverly described attributes, mannerisms, and nicknames provided. Each quirky character was every kind of odd, but Jubilee and Aja were the most eccentric. Jubilee was emotionally stunted and immature, as well as medically challenged; and to my consternation, she was often a shrew towards the precious yet clueless Eric - whom I adored him above all others. The storyline was intriguing, ingenious, entertaining and full of feels. Ms. Oakley’s writing was highly amusing, engaging, and loaded with ironic inner musings, keen insights, heart-squeezes, wry observations, and witty banter that kept me smirking and easily annoyed if interrupted. It was superb.

Do you think you could go more than twenty years without touching another person? Without feeling the simplest display of comfort, a consolation, a hug, a brushed kiss on the forehead?

"One time, a boy kissed me and I almost died."

Due to a rare genetic mutation, Jubilee isn't able to experience even the slightest touch of another person, without risk of death. After a nine-year self-imposed exile, her fear of being touched reaches far past her own health concerns and has morphed into agoraphobia and severe social anxiety. Tragedy forces Jubilee out into the real world, sending her on a path she could have never imagined and into the lives of Eric and his adopted son Aja, each with their own set of complicated problems. What follows is emotional journey of healing, acceptance, and yes, even love.

Jubilee is a character that I wasn't so sure about at first. But ultimately, I loved Jubilee and all her eccentricities. I think there is a little bit of Jubilee in all of us—call it fear of the unknown, fear of not being accepted, or the feeling of otherness that creeps in. Her character is universally relatable and it was that was what made her character arc so captivating.

Eric is a recent divorcé who's trying to come to grips with the unfortunate direction his own life has taken. His daughter Ellie who lives with his ex-wife in New Hampshire hasn't spoken to him in months. And his best friend and wife died tragically in a plane crash, leaving their son Aja in his care. Aja isn't like other kids, unusually intelligent and perceptive for his aged and fixated on telekinesis and what Eric perceives as delusions.

I love the types of stories where two people are living life, meet each other, and sort of stumble-fall in love when they least expect it. Close Enough to Touch is that type of love story. The romance in this story is a slow burn—which I LOVED—as Jubilee acclimates to the outside world and Eric struggles to find his footing with his own problems. There were so many moments between Eric and Jubilee that felt so real and pregnant with raw emotion. The ending of the book left me with so many feelings, mostly of hope and possibilities.

Due to Jubilee's long-term social isolation there were a lot of logistical things that had to be explained away quickly in the beginning for believability, like how she got money to paid bills, what happened if something in the house broke down, how she got groceries, etc. I'm still not convinced that in the nine years she was in the house she didn't ever get sick enough to warrant a doctor or hospital visit.

Admittedly, I had difficulty believing that someone who didn't leave her house for nine years could transition back into society as quickly as Jubilee did. That's not to say that the author didn't put her anxieties on full display—she did—but I did think that plot line needed to be explored and delved into a little bit more. In the beginning, the nine-year exile ended up being more of an obstacle to the plot, rather than something that was completely necessary for Jubilee's character. Having a genetic disorder and fear of coming into contact with people would naturally be enough to cause you to isolate and not have friends. I was able to suspend whatever disbelief I did have because I enjoyed the characters and their journeys so much.

Colleen Oakley is an author I will read time and time again. Her ability to create a strong bond between the reader and the character is one of her strengths as a writer. I'm a reader who always tends to read for character and prose over plot, and it was my emotional connection to Eric, Jubilee and Aja that drew me into this story until the end. The story's central message was a heartwarming one about overcoming your fears, self-acceptance, and allowing yourself to love and be loved. Despite some of my issues, I still highly recommend this one!

* Thank you to Gallery Books for providing me with an early copy for review.

Talented storyteller, Colleen Oakley returns following her smashing debut, Before I Go (2015) with her latest poignant love story, CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH – full of emotion, readers will laugh and cry and fall in love with the memorable characters.

“ . . . Love is messy. It doesn’t come to us in a perfect box all wrapped up in a bow. It’s more like a gift from a child, crayon-scrawled and crumpled. Imperfect. But always a gift just the same.”

Jubilee Jenkins did not wake up one morning and think she was going to become a recluse.
She is allergic to other people.

Born in 1989 to a single mother, she was the typical infant, and it wasn’t until she was three the issues began. Starting with hives and welts to hospital emergency room visits, and advancing to an EpiPen and anaphylaxis. The physicians were perplexed.

When she was six years old, she was diagnosed with type IV contact dermatitis to foreign human skin cells. She is allergic to other people. The only one of a handful of people in the history of the world with the same condition. Rare.

She explodes in welts and hives when someone else’s skin touches hers. Anaphylaxis if she came into oral contact with another human (kissing). She almost died. A boy kissed her. The tongue swelled and throat closed.

Then three months later her mom married Lenny a gas station owner, packed a bag, and left. Sending checks, Jubilee has not left her home in nine years. She felt like a freak. Making do with ordering her food and receiving her education sitting at home online.

Her worst nightmare. Her mom dies, now she is forced to leave her home in order, to support herself. She is terrified. She needs money. She must find a job. How will she leave her home and remain safe?

She finds work at the library and meets Eric Keegan. Eric is divorced and having a problem communicating with his children. An estranged teenage daughter, Ellie and adopted son Aja.

Jubilee will soon become connected with this family in so many ways, on so many levels. Will she ever be able to have a normal human contact relationship? An experimental cure? Would it be too much to hope for? Can she fall in love for the first time at age 28?

What a delightful story and what a fabulous front cover! Can you imagine a life without touch? Three wounded souls connect in unexpected ways.

From Oakley’s debut and her background before becoming a novelist — a health journalist, having written a few articles about allergies, among many other topics, I love her insights and interest in the medical field, which is always intriguing to me since I read everything I can get my hands on and continued research when it comes to allergies.

She integrates newsworthy topics into modern contemporary family lives, allowing her characters to come alive on the pages. Interesting, absorbing, and compelling. Plus enjoy her writing style. For fans of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty, Lisa Genova, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Diane Chamberlain, and Jo Jo Moyes.

As Oakley mentions in her recent interview with Atlanta Magazine:

“The burden of responsibility as a parent is already really high, but when your kids have food allergies, it is a constant 24/7 level of vigilance. It’s already terrifying to let your kids out into the world, but knowing that something as little as a peanut or an egg could end their life, and you’re the sole person responsible for that, is really heavy.”

All too true, sadly enough, most people are not educated as to the life-threatening consequences of one single ingredient in a food.

On a side note:
What a timely topic and one I am well versed on. Allergies are quite the mystery. Their triggers can change without rhyme or reason. From welts, hives, and Anaphylaxis numerous times, over foods, additives, chemicals, environmental toxins, and especially, medications of any sort. One drop of cream on your skin, and it can happen. Equipped with Benadryl and an EpiPen, at all times.

I can only imagine how difficult this may be for parents with children they have to protect. When they are at school or at friend’s homes, away from their controlled environment. Many times it is frustrating, as people do not take allergies serious (especially restaurant staff, friends, and the overall hospitality, and medical industry) unless you have been through the nightmare yourself or someone close to you.

I do love my Atlanta authors! Highly recommend both books- an author to follow. A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

JDCMustReadBooks

Close enough to touch by Colleen Oakley was extremely well written and touching. All the characters were well developed and extremely unique. This is the type a book that should be made into a movie... Jubilee and Eric, two people who are extremely lost and damaged for very different reasons. Can they find solace in each other? An unlikely pair with many obstacles in front of them.

Jubilee has a rare allergy. She is allergic to people! Their skin to be exact. If people touch her she could die. After a near death experience in High school, she became a recluse. She has lived a life of solitude for years. Until a turn of events forces her to leave her sanctuary. Now, she's like a babe in the woods... Learning to do the simplest things for herself to survive in the outside world. I found her to be a strong and inspirational character. She was used to being alone, until she meets Eric. Getting to know him makes her realize just how lonely she's been. Poor Eric has his own set of issues and circumstances, but deep down he's great guy. He's had some unfortunate things happen to him also. Him and Jubilee form an unlikely, yet beautiful friendship. Which slowly turns into an amazing love. Their story is tender, sweet and even funny.

I found the Close enough to touch a perfect balance of highs and lows. It's not fast paced or filled with action. It's so intelligently written, you simply get lost in their world. This story kept me on my toes and guessing, how it would all play out. Could they get an HEA? Most of the book evolved slowly until the very end, which I found to be rushed. I needed a bit more from the ending.

Jubilee and Eric are so sweet! I loved the relationship that develops between them. I really liked how Madison stepped up and befriended Jubilee. It was a wonderful example of growing up and changing the person you were in high school to a mature adult. I liked the growth you witnessed as the character of Jubilee evolved and was able to leave the house and take ownership of her life. I think a lot of people will be able to identify with this. A wonderful read!

This was my first exposure to Colleen Oakley's books, and I didn't know what I've been missing!! I will definitely read her previous book and be on the lookout for future efforts!!!

Close Enough to Touch is an endearing, heartwarming novel that immediately connects the reader with its beautifully written characters. Told from two points of view, that of Jubilee and Eric, the pace is quick and pages seem to turn themselves. Jubilee is a young woman who has lived the last nine years of her life totally secluded from others due to her extreme, and possibly fatal, allergy to human touch. Her mother left her, and Jubilee didn't leave the house at all until she received word from her step-father that her mother had died, and he would no longer be giving her a living allowance. Watching Jubilee try multiple times to even step outside the house, it is hard not to cheer for her. She learns (again) how to interact with others, finds a job at the library, makes a friend, and is starting to come to terms with being part of the world again. Her medical condition though, which prevents her from touching or being touched by anyone, still isolates her to a large degree.

Eric, is a divorced dad struggling with a teen-aged daughter, Ellie (who lives with her mother and won't speak to him), and an adopted ten year old son Aja who thinks he has super telekinetic powers. He struggles to get his son to open up to him and let him know what's going on, and to reconnect with his daughter.

The two meet when Jubilee sees a young boy (Aja) leap from a bridge and dives into the water to save him, performing CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to save him. Jubilee suffers anaphylactic shock and both are taken to the hospital. Eric, meets her to thank her, finds her fascinating and soon starts driving her home from work.

Watching the relationships grow between Jubilee, Eric and Aja is like watching a flower bloom. Not without misunderstandings (it is fascinating to hear the differences in the male/female viewpoints), struggles and heartache.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that is a pleasure to read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this good read!

Jubilee Jenkins has always been different: quiet and reserved, her worst fear is human touch, for she could have an allergic reaction so severe as to cause death. And, just before her high school graduation, she did almost die from her first kiss. So, it’s not as if her fears are unfounded. But, for the intervening 9 years, she retreated to live only within the walls of her home, supported by her mother and having little to no interactions with the outside world. When her mother remarries and leaves the house, there is little change for Jubilee, except for the loneliness: as her mother continued to support her financially. And then, one telephone call changed her life. Her stepfather informs her that her mother is dead, and the financial assistance will stop. Immediately.

Thus Jubilee is thrust into the outside world, anxious and afraid, to find a job and reframe her life in a new way. Finding a position at the library – books are safe and familiar friends, Jubilee is just getting accustomed to her new way of existing when she meets Eric and his newly adopted son Aja. A tentative friendship begins as these two start to bond together in spite of their own reservations and insecurities, as they are both still grieving their losses.

Oakley does much very well in this story: the anxieties and overwhelming emotions felt by both Eric and Jubilee are clear, and the missteps are easy to understand and comprehend. The determination of Jubilee to make a place in the world for herself, even if she requires a bit more personal space than many, is intriguing: she’s still afraid of many things but moves forward despite that anxiety, never letting a mistaken approach or path delay her for long. For Eric, his grief in the death of his friend, while trying to help Aja through that process was truly gorgeous. He’s clueless and hurting, but wants only to make those around him happier, even if only for a moment. While I found the relationship between Jubilee and Eric was perhaps unneeded, and that friends was a perfect step, the changes and growth that both experienced through their friendship brought them both growth and a new outlook on their lives. An unexpected but wholly fitting ending wraps up the story nicely, leaving readers with plenty to think about long after the last page is read.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Jubilee Jenkins almost died the day she got her first kiss, and not in the hyperbolic way teenage girls are wont to talk- due to her extreme allergy to the skin cells of other people, it really did almost kill her. After that, she became a recluse, afraid to leave her home, until her mother dies and the money that's been keeping her afloat for the last nine years is cut off. When she reenters the world, she meets Eric, who is struggling to connect with both the child he's adopted and his teenage daughter. Jubilee and Eric form an unlikely, and, for Jubilee, dangerous connection, and Jubilee, who knows so much about the world through books, must start figuring out how she can live in the world of people.
Close Enough to Touch is Colleen Oakley's second novel, but I would actually recommend it over her first. The characters have a lot of heart, and the real root feeling of this book seems to be about connection- as is mentioned at one point in the book, it's hard to imagine having any sort of relationship with someone, be it a lover, friend, child, etc., knowing that you cannot ever touch them.

Gah, I loved everything about Close Enough to Touch—though I have to admit—I went into reading it with a bit of skepticism. Because how can a woman who has an allergy to other humans ever form a romantic attachment? Well, I will never question Colleen Oakley’s writing abilities again. The story unfolds so beautifully. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I groaned in frustration, then I swooned again.

Jubilee Jenkins has an extremely rare disease where she essentially is allergic to other humans. A Type IV Contact Dermatitis to foreign skin cells. So is this like bubble-boy? Nope. Totally different. Yet the consequences of her having skin contact is life threatening. Hence, after an event her senior year nearly kills her, Jubilee hermits herself in her home for ten years. Until she’s forced to interact with the outside world again and get a job.

Enter Eric Keegan. A recently divorced father of two. He’s moved with his adopted son, Aja, to Jubilee’s hometown for a six-month temporary work assignment. Through a series of random events, or is it serendipity? At any rate, Jubilee and Eric form a unique connection when he agrees to keep an eye on Jubilee after a trip to the emergency room.

"… I’m left standing there, eyes locked with Jubilee’s, the air heavy between us. There are so many questions, but I know the answers are none of my business, so I just wait, hoping maybe she’ll speak first. She doesn’t. The only sound I can hear is my heart thumping like a dog’s tail in exuberant greeting. I wonder why it’s doing that. I wonder if she can hear it, too."

With Jubilee and Eric, their love is a slow burn that intensifies, as if their breath is oxygen encouraging their unique courtship. Their relationship starts out as almost an obligation to return a favor to Jubilee and then gradually morphs into a unique friendship. Though they can’t touch, sparks still fly. And Jubilee finds herself in a foreign disposition of developing feelings for someone.

"And I realize it’s not just like I’m normal, the way he’s looking at me. It’s like I’m reciting five hundred decimal points of pi from memory. Like I’m a marvel. Just for saying what I think. My guy clenches and then flips, and I look down at the black tar of the parking lot. Specks of it twinkle like diamonds under the street lamp. And I wonder if this is what people mean when they say they’re falling for somebody. That it feels like your stomach is actually falling out of your body. I mean, not that I am. Falling for him."

The more Jubilee and Eric spend time together, the more the characters and the reader realize how perfect of a match they could be. If only they could touch one another. And even though they can’t touch skin to skin, the chemistry between them ignites. Close Enough to Touch is a prime example of a romance that sends shivers up and down my spine without the leads even kissing.

"While I take a sip of coffee, I watch Jubilee out of the corner of my eye, my gaze traveling to her lips. I follow the curve of them, my eyes the wheeled cart on a roller coaster, rising in the peaks, dipping in the valley between. They’re beautiful. Her lips."

And my heart is all a flutter. There are so many other ingredients that make this book spectacular. In particular the growing relationship between Aja and Jubilee, and Eric and his daughter, Ellie. Trust me, this is a book that should be on the top of your TBR pile. And the ending? Have no fear, you'll be satisfied.