If you’re a fan of the movie Love Actually (umm, who isn’t???), you’re going to adore Lockdown on London Lane.
Is it too early for a COVID-themed book? I know that most of my fellow readers and writers prefer to pretend that the past few disease-ridden years never happened, at least when it comes to escaping into literature.
Ordinarily, I’d be with you. But, Lockdown on London Lane navigates this sensitive topic with such ease, humor, and feel-good rom-com sweetness that you completely forgive author Beth Reekles for reminding us of how we spent months locked inside our homes.
Lockdown on London Lane (or, Love, Locked Down if you’re reading the UK edition) features a cast of characters who are quarantined inside their large apartment complex after a neighbor contracts a “dangerous virus” that seems to be spreading all over the world.
Sound familiar? **gulp** Don’t worry – while the burgeoning pandemic drives the “hook” behind this novel, the focus is really on the characters and their various, hilarious roommate situations.
The story follows five “duos”; I’m not calling them “couples” because not every duo is a romantic couple. Each chapter is relatively short, so you’re always switching between POVs and scenarios, which really moves the story along. And, since everything takes place in the same apartment complex, it’s fun seeing all the storylines and characters intersect, à la Love Actually, for a cheer-worthy, epic rom-com ending.
Reekles is a master at creating unique, fun characters with their own defined personalities and quirks. My favorites were Imogen, whose one-night stand with Nate ends up being a seven-day crash course in getting to know each other, and Ethan, a slightly anxious gamer guy whose beloved girlfriend is, unfortunately, NOT stuck in quarantine with him.
If you’re looking to overcome your fear of finding the pandemic in novels, ease yourself in by reading Lockdown on London Lane. It’s funny, it’s sweet, and I couldn’t put it down. I even let out an ominous little cackle at one point. I mean, c’mon — when a character glibly says “We’re running a little low on toilet paper, but we’ll be fine,” how can you not?
Have you read Lockdown on London Lane yet, or any other books that mention COVID? And, how do you feel about the pandemic popping up in stories?
Be sure to check back in for my book-inspired recipe: Easy Homemade Granola with Fruit and Nuts.
