First off, I should start by thanking the publisher (and my co-worker) for the ARC of this book so that I could read it, in exchange for an honest review.

Now, for that honest review.

This was....okay.

I started this book almost immediately after finishing Highly Illogical Behavior, which is about a boy who hadn't left his house in years due to an anxiety disorder. So, when I started this one, Jubilee had some remarkable similarities to the main character in that book, though for very different reasons. All I could think about was how unusual it was for me to read two books in a row with main characters that never leave their homes.

Anyway...Jubilee begins to get over her self-imposed exile/agoraphobia relatively quickly within the context of the book, and is a likable enough character. Her allergy to human contact makes for an interesting storyline, obviously. The alternating between her and Eric as narrators was interesting, even if it did take a bit of time for their paths to cross, and to figure out how each might be significant to the other. They didn't really have anything obvious in common, aside from each feeling like they were failing at adulting in their own ways, which I think pretty much any adult can actually relate to.

I think my issue was that, while I liked Eric and Jubilee both as characters, I just didn't find myself feeling much for either of them. I feel like, as a reader, I was allowed to get a little closer to Jubilee, while Eric always felt more at arm's distance. I think this was at least partly because Eric was sort of clueless to the feelings of others in general, so things were not at all obvious to him, which made them not necessarily as obvious as they should have been to the reader. I know I struggled a bit to understand exactly what was going on with Aja, even while I felt like it should somehow be clear to me, even though it wasn't to Eric. Maybe it was more clear than it seemed to me and it was my fault as a reader for not catching the nuances, or maybe it was just that Eric was written in such a way that his blindness also caused blindness for the reader. I'm not sure.

That being said, Jubilee had her own blind spots as well, particularly when it came to her mother. And while the issue of her mother's abandonment was addressed, it felt like there should have somehow been more. The revelation that Jubilee makes towards the end of the story, too, didn't have the impact I feel like it should have, because nothing was going to come from it. Jubilee finding that artifact of her mother's life earlier could have changed the entire course of the story, or created a different novel entirely, so it felt like a big bomb to drop at the end and then have nothing come of it.

I really enjoyed Aja as a character, partially because I didn't understand him, and partially because I loved how different and precocious he was. I could understand Eric's frustrations in trying to communicate with him, but I loved how smart Aja was, and yet how that intelligence hid the fact that emotionally he was a wreck and wasn't processing things in an emotionally healthy way. I loved the connection that he had with Jubilee, and wish we had gotten to see more of that.

One of my biggest frustrations with this book (and with a lot of books, actually) was that so much could have been solved by the characters speaking to one another, and being honest about how they felt. Instead, a lot of Eric and Jubilee's relationship was based on misunderstanding and a lack of clear communication. Her hiding things, and him not just saying what he meant or asking the right questions. I recognize that stories need conflict and that sometimes misunderstanding occurs, but there was just a lot of that here that I felt could be avoided.

More minor gripe about the story? It drove me absolutely crazy that Jubilee called tears "water." Can we just call them tears? Because, honestly, truthfully, they are not just water coming from your eyes.

Librarian side note: I loved the backdrop of the library as a setting when Jubilee began working there. There were so many little references and details that felt so true and accurate in terms of what working in a library is like. And while this next comment isn't library-specific, I did appreciate the message that Oakley tries to get across about everyone having their own story. I think that is very true--we all do have our own stories, and you don't know what someone has been through just by looking at them, or even by observing them at a very specific time in their life. While that message felt a bit heavy-handed at the end of the book, I still think it was a good reminder, especially when life feels especially tough.

I know there will be readers out there who will probably love this book and feel more connected to the characters than I did. There is a lot of good here, it just fell short for me overall.

Format: ebook
Tissue warning: Not in my opinion
HEA: yes
Triggers: parental abandonment
My reviewer rating: 3.5 out of 5
Recommend to others: Yes; it's a nice, quick read.

So, alternating chapters between Jubilee (love the name) and Eric, we learn that Jubilee suffers from an allergy to people. She literally goes into anaphylactic shock at the simplest touch, even gets hives from wearing someone else's unwashed clothing. Jubilee's mother left Jubilee alone in their family home when she was a teenager in order to marry and live with her new husband. (This was hard to believe, considering the mom knew about her disorder and that Jubilee was a functioning agorophobe). Jubilee's mother ends up dying and her current husband calls Jubilee to let her know that her "allowance" to keep living in the walls of the house are going to be cut off and that she needs to find alternate means. Well, Jubilee seems to have none to difficult of a time finding a job, thanks to a high school acquaintance, and ends up working at the library...How convenient...Jubilee's disorder is believable enough, but how she overcomes her agoraphobia is unbelievable to me. I have a fear myself, and there's no way that I could be cured in less than a week. Anyhow, Jubilee meets Eric through his godson, who has some issues of his own, which I will not even delve into, because I can't relate at all. Eric seems okay enough to me, like a normal guy just going through the motions. Eric instantly is intrigued by Jubilee when he sees her and all her crazy hair, and why is she always wearing gloves? at the library. Eric makes it a point to be seen there more often than he would ever have in his lifetime, but it works out, because Aja (the godson) clicks with Jubilee because he believes she has superpowers, or that she's a mutant.
The problems I had with this story are it's so cliche. For a story that's so incredibly different from anything else I've ever read, this is so predictable, and slightly over the top.
It'll make a good poolside read.

Heartwarming, adorable and emotional! Jubilee has a rare allergy, an allergy to contact with other humans. She lives alone almost a recluse, her mother recently died, she runs out of money and has to go out to get a job. The story is about her day to day struggles, her regrets, her dreams to be normal. She starts work in a library, meets Eric and his son 8 year old Aja and struggles through being attracted to Eric and also becoming close to Aja. After years of struggling with the allergy, she finally has a chance of a possible cure but is not sure if she should risk it, as it could take years to work. A beautiful story.

I would like to thank Colleen Oakley, Gallery and Netgalley for giving me this book for my honest review.

Review by Stephanie


I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, when I read the description on Netgalley I was intrigued. The premise was something I haven't seen before. So of course I had to request it.... and I am glad I did.

Once I started this wonderful story I was not able to put it down, and if by chance I put it down I would think about it. I didn't think I would love this story as much as I did. The ending was WOW! I totally did not see that but Colleen wrote it so organically because it fit so perfectly.

I look forward to read more from Colleen!

Overall, I did like this book, but there were some niggling issues with that prevented my full enjoyment of the book. I had to knock off some stars from my rating due to that.

What first intrigued me about this book was the rare allergy of the main character. I have a daughter with a severe allergy that is somewhat rare, especially in the severity that she experiences it, and that affects everything she does really. So, living with that extreme of a situation due to allergies gave me an immediate connection to the book. Also, not long into the book, she starts working in a library, and I am a Librarian. Another thing, the male main character of the book has an adopted son that is clearly on the autism spectrum, and my other daughter has Asperger's. So, I was very much drawn to the book through these many connections. The book did draw me in and hold my interest. I enjoyed the relationships formed between the characters and liked the characters themselves. I kept being taken out of the story by my irritation at how the library-related things were presented, as the book perpetuates many incorrect assumptions people have about libraries and the people who work for them. I could go on and on about these details, but I won't bore everyone. This was a nit picky issue on my part, but it was annoying enough to put a damper on the reading experience for me, and I knew a star would be knocked off the rating because of it. My other issue was with the way the book ended. It jumped 7 years into the future and went in a direction that just felt off to me. I had several issues with it, and it just took away from the book for me, though, I can't spell out why, as it would spoil the book. Despite all of that, it is still worth reading. It was very good otherwise, but these were big issues for me that knocked it down a couple stars.

Have to say I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this book, the idea of a woman being allergic to human contact. In fact, the book grabbed me immediately and I had a hard time putting it down. The only thing that I didn't like is I thought the ending seemed very rushed. I felt as though not all of the plot points were wrapped up and then the epilogue jumped ahead seven years. I would have liked to have seen more resolution with the characters. I actually had to remind myself who one of the characters (Michael) was because at the end he seemed like a major part of Jubilee's new life when earlier in the book he really didn't even have a name. In essence, just one more chapter could have made a major impact on the book for me.

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I lost a lot of sleep because of this book. I could not put it down. I read Before I Go last year, so when I saw that Colleen Oakley had a new book, I requested an advanced copy. Boy, am I glad I did. Close Enough To Touch is great!

Jubilee Jenkins is allergic to other people. A touch makes her break out in a rash and a kiss can kill her. After almost dying from a kiss that was part of a schoolyard bet, she has carved out a tiny life herself holed up in her house for the last nine years. Then, her mother dies and the checks she had been sending Jubilee stop coming in the mail. Jubilee has to rejoin the outside world and risk being touched.

Eric is a mess. He has adopted Aja after his parents are killed in a plane crash, he and his wife are newly divorced, and his teenaged daughter won’t speak to him. He is just making it through the days until he meets Jubilee. She intrigues him like no one else and he can’t stop finding reasons to see her again.

Close Enough To Touch is the kind of romantic story that I love. There isn’t a sappy scene in the whole book. When Jubilee and Eric are together the tension is palatable but in a very real way. Both of them have so much to lose by letting down their defenses, yet I was rooting for them to do just that. The subplot of Aja’s grief and fantasy life deepened the main plot and made me want to reach into the book and hug the little boy. All the secondary character were great actually.

Loved it, loved it, loved it. I am sure we’ll be hearing much more from Colleen Oakley and I would not be surprised if this book becomes a movie someday. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy of the novel.

Jubilee has an allergy to humans. Eric is trying to mend relationships with his teenage daughter and his adopted 10 year old son. Jubilee, for 9 years, has never left her home which has turned her agoraphobic. But when her distant mother dies and her monthly stipend stops, she must go out to find a job. So, she runs into an old high school "friend" who finds her a position at the library. All is somewhat well until Eric walks in with Aja, his adopted son from his deceased best friend. And a relationship ensues- but doesn't because Jubilee can't touch anyone.
Some plots tend to overextend themselves with too many social issues. This one, however, is not in that camp. There were constant issues arising such as a son who won't talk to his father, or a young woman who is still trying to get over a high school incident that put her on the track to agoraphobia. But it's real life. Issues often don't come in compartments, but happen simultaneously that permeate throughout all parts of our lives. This book was great to capture these daily occurrences without sounding contrived.

I loved this book for its main characters, their flaws, challenges and quirkiness. Jubilee has a rare allergy and hasn't left her home for 9 years. Following a strange series of events, she begins to work at the library, meeting Eric, a divorced father, rejected by his daughter and raising his adopted son, Aja. Aja is another unique character, believing in telekinetic abilities, which is explained as the story evolves. A galley to be released shortly, you won't want to miss this one.

Yaaazzzz! Finally, a book that compares the author to Jojo Moyes that actually stands up to the comparison. I loved this one.

With CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH, Colleen Oakley, brings us Jubilee Jenkins, a twenty-something woman who is allergic to people. That's right. People. Any skin-to-skin contact of the sort results in terrible rash or even risk of anaphylactic shock. Her first, and only kiss at 17, resulted in a trip to the hospital and near death, which caused her to become a recluse and remain in her home for nine years. But when her mother dies and her financial support ends, she must come out of hiding and get a job as a means of supporting herself.

When Jubilee first starts working as a librarian, she's afraid of the world, afraid of being touched (rightfully so) and rather frightened of the world, in general. One night, on her way home from work, she sees a boy fall from the bridge and begin to drown. Selflessly, she jumps in to save him and performs CPR, despite the risk to herself and finds herself, once again, in the hospital. This brings us, Eric, the son's adopted father who's struggling with fatherhood and his relationship with both his adopted son and daughter. Grateful for saving his adopted son's life, Eric thanks her for her bravado, but soon, finds himself drawn to her and goes out of his way to spend time with her.

I loved this book. The premise of a woman, thrust into a world where she cannot be touched for fear of becoming ill or dying, then falling in love is awesome. You don't get much better tension and conflict than two characters who can't even touch or kiss each other without threatening one of their lives. The character growth from both Jubilee and Eric is great. The author brings us this woman--Jubilee--who has essentially cut herself off from the world for years, but yet is able to help Eric in his own life, with his own issues, by showing him a different perception and way to connect with his children. I also loved how real her emotions were when confronted with a possible (experimental) treatment that may provide a cure. As a reader, you're yelling at her to DO IT! After all, what does she have to lose? But the author makes you understand her fear and hesitation.

This book has depth, tension, development, emotion, and yet ends without needing a box of tissues by your side.

I will definitely be reading more Colleen Oakley in the future.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

The premise of the book is that Jubilee is deathly allergic to humans, somethings she finds out when a boy tries to kiss her in middle school. She has been living the life of a hermit until she is forced to find a job.
Then you know how it goes, misfit finds other misfit and the story changes. I thought this was a little predictable, but I enjoyed the characters - Aja and Eric - and I liked the daily struggles in the book. (Not so easy, not to have people touch you!)

This humorous novel is touching. The writing is conversational and engaging. Oakley again shows how funny, touching, and quirky life can be.

Jubilee Jenkins is one of the most unfortunate characters that I've ever read about. To not be able to experience touch of any kind would be awful. And on top of that she suffers from agoraphobia and is unable to leave her home for years.

Then there's Eric Keegan who struggles with becoming the best parent he can be while realizing that parents are not perfect.

From the first chapter of "Close Enough to Touch" I realized that more than a love story, this would be a story about a woman who needed to come to terms with the cards that life had dealt her while also getting over the fears that have overtaken her for the past nine years. And also about a man who needed to strengthen the familial bonds that evade him.

These two characters would help each other in ways that either of them probably ever anticipated.

Couple that with the smoldering heat between these two, who can't even touch one another, and you've got a beautiful story that warmed my heart.

I can't wait to read more from Ms. Oakley.