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theeuphoriczat's review
2.0
This was just so confusing to me. We start off with a girl sneaking out of the apartment of someone who happens to be a one night stand (kinda). However, just as she is about to escape the building, it goes into lockdown because of the pandemic (apparently someone in the apartment is positive). At this point she has to go back to the guy's apartment and I was beginning to love it but then we immediately switch to another couple. There is so much going on without any solid Segway (really) driving the stories today. I had to DNF this one after so many attempts, unfortunately this one does not seem to be for me.
cleelovessmut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
plandocalrisian's review
3.0
Thank you, NetGalley and Wattpad for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! "Lockdown on London Lane" is a fun ya/new adult, clean read. It's loosely like the movie "Love, Actually" in that it's based in the UK, is character-driven and follows the love lives of kind-of-connected individuals - who happen to all be on lockdown in the same apartment building because of COVID-19. It is a little too real and too soon to read a book where the plot takes place within the timeframe of the pandemic (I'm sure this is the only book I'll be reading with the theme). But the cute humor and romance makes the read worthwhile. The situations were also very relatable. They reflected various stages of romantic relationships and friendships tested by forced proximity and unprecedented current events. I was a little confused in some places, as it was a little difficult to keep up with the various points of view chapter by chapter. I eventually got the hang of it, and made sense, but I'm sure I missed some small plot points in the first half of the book. It was an easy read for the most part, as it was paced pretty nicely. There's some sapphic representation, but focused mainly on heterosexual relationships. I also know sometimes people don’t like too many pop references in books, well there’s a lot in this. I haven't read any work by Beth Reekles before, but will definitely be following her work going forward.
bookswithmaddi's review
2.0
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles catalogs the experiences of five different residents of an apartment building on London Lane. The inhabitants of each apartment receive a notice that the building is going into lockdown for a week, meaning they are trapped inside their apartments with whoever else is inside, for the remainder of the week.
The novel follows Ethan who must spend the week apart from his girlfriend Charlotte, which gives him time to reflect on their relationship; Serena, who lives with her long term boyfriend Zach dealing with the effects of forced proximity that forces them to evaluate their four-year relationship; Olivia who is trapped in her apartment the three other women, Kim, Lucy, and Addison, who were just supposed to spend the weekend making wedding decorations, and finally Imogen whose one-night stand turns into an unexpected week-long stay.
The concept of this book is super timely and very unique. I immediately added it to my wishlist when I read the synopsis. This novel does a really great job creating positive and almost comforting content around a disastrous event. It shows the real-life consequences of the world we’re living in now with a softer, less doom-oriented, approach. I really appreciated this interpretation of current events, although I understand how it might not be for everyone. I think it is possible to recognize and appreciate the way that the pandemic has brought people together and I think Beth Reekles does an excellent job highlighting that small but rewarding aspect of coronavirus while still creating a realistic interpretation of the environment.
My critique of this novel centers mostly around the characters and certain aspects of the writing styles. There were a lot of characters in this book. It’s one of the things that initially drew me to it. However, there wasn’t a whole lot of distinction between some of the characters. Ethan and Danny and Zach and Nate all started to blend together by the end because they were all “perfect” men who seemed to exhibit the same physical characteristics and all be amazing kissers. The female characters had slightly more depth to them but there was a slow reveal that each of them seemed to have some kind of connection to each other through a complicated web of friendship and family members which I found unnecessary and confusing. There were so many characters.
As far as the writing style goes it came off as an attempt to try to capture every pop culture and internet sensation that existed during the pandemic; from Twitch to Animal Crossing to Youtube to Fortnight to TikTok the pop culture references were overwhelming. I understand trying to capture the culture of the time but it really only focused on one aspect of that and it came off as removed and trying too hard.
Overall I think this book had amazing potential but wasn’t executed as well as it could have been. With slightly more character development and possibly cutting some characters, I think this book could have been a lot better. I still think there are many people who could connect to these characters and their stories and I loved the ambiguous endings which left openings for the stories to continue seemingly symbolizing the continuation of our lives after the pandemic. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this if the pandemic or COVID-19 is a triggering topic as it is a very central subject to the novel.
Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles catalogs the experiences of five different residents of an apartment building on London Lane. The inhabitants of each apartment receive a notice that the building is going into lockdown for a week, meaning they are trapped inside their apartments with whoever else is inside, for the remainder of the week.
The novel follows Ethan who must spend the week apart from his girlfriend Charlotte, which gives him time to reflect on their relationship; Serena, who lives with her long term boyfriend Zach dealing with the effects of forced proximity that forces them to evaluate their four-year relationship; Olivia who is trapped in her apartment the three other women, Kim, Lucy, and Addison, who were just supposed to spend the weekend making wedding decorations, and finally Imogen whose one-night stand turns into an unexpected week-long stay.
The concept of this book is super timely and very unique. I immediately added it to my wishlist when I read the synopsis. This novel does a really great job creating positive and almost comforting content around a disastrous event. It shows the real-life consequences of the world we’re living in now with a softer, less doom-oriented, approach. I really appreciated this interpretation of current events, although I understand how it might not be for everyone. I think it is possible to recognize and appreciate the way that the pandemic has brought people together and I think Beth Reekles does an excellent job highlighting that small but rewarding aspect of coronavirus while still creating a realistic interpretation of the environment.
My critique of this novel centers mostly around the characters and certain aspects of the writing styles. There were a lot of characters in this book. It’s one of the things that initially drew me to it. However, there wasn’t a whole lot of distinction between some of the characters. Ethan and Danny and Zach and Nate all started to blend together by the end because they were all “perfect” men who seemed to exhibit the same physical characteristics and all be amazing kissers. The female characters had slightly more depth to them but there was a slow reveal that each of them seemed to have some kind of connection to each other through a complicated web of friendship and family members which I found unnecessary and confusing. There were so many characters.
As far as the writing style goes it came off as an attempt to try to capture every pop culture and internet sensation that existed during the pandemic; from Twitch to Animal Crossing to Youtube to Fortnight to TikTok the pop culture references were overwhelming. I understand trying to capture the culture of the time but it really only focused on one aspect of that and it came off as removed and trying too hard.
Overall I think this book had amazing potential but wasn’t executed as well as it could have been. With slightly more character development and possibly cutting some characters, I think this book could have been a lot better. I still think there are many people who could connect to these characters and their stories and I loved the ambiguous endings which left openings for the stories to continue seemingly symbolizing the continuation of our lives after the pandemic. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this if the pandemic or COVID-19 is a triggering topic as it is a very central subject to the novel.
bethortstat's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Had to DNF because the characters were so unintentionally unlikeable and boring, then I saw a review that explained how each story ended and I’m so glad I didn’t waste my time reading the last half of the book
beate251's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Apparently this book started life under the title Lockdown on London Lane. Changing titles is a bugbear of mine, it's so unnecessary.
This author usually writes YA novels, and by God it shows. The characters seem to be in their late twenties, but they speak and act like 17 year olds. One is a lovesick video game nerd, another of the yoga, kale smoothie and gratitude journal ilk whose biggest worry about lockdown with her new beau is "he's going to be here when I poop". 💩
My biggest annoyance was how the author wasn't content with the realities of a national lockdown so she invented a 7 day lockdown in just one particular building, regardless of the fact that no managing agents have the right to physically lock you in (or out of) a building and force you to get food deliveries. If someone had tried to lock me in my building, I'd have called the police. If they react like that over ONE case at the beginning of the pandemic those residents can look forward to a year of quarantine once the shit really hits the fan! However, the real lockdowns allowed people out of their houses for various purposes and furloughed them from their jobs so people couldn't lose their jobs for simply not turning up! There was a hilarious statement on page 90: " Because he's a nurse, there's no way Zack could go into work." Are you for real? Those are exactly the people who had to go to work, especially if they didn't have COVID!
But apart from these clangers, the pandemic isn't really seen as a worrying situation, those people just moan about being stuck with (or without) people they didn't intend to, because what if they see them without makeup? 🙄
Honestly, this was such inconsequential fluff that I didn't care about any of them, especially when they manufactured an existential crisis out of the fact that one boyfriend ordered a pizza with pineapple on it, which of course meant he probably didn't want kids or something.
Also, please check your spelling - it's fazed not phased, and the past tense of text is texted. And why do we get the American "gotten"?
This author usually writes YA novels, and by God it shows. The characters seem to be in their late twenties, but they speak and act like 17 year olds. One is a lovesick video game nerd, another of the yoga, kale smoothie and gratitude journal ilk whose biggest worry about lockdown with her new beau is "he's going to be here when I poop". 💩
My biggest annoyance was how the author wasn't content with the realities of a national lockdown so she invented a 7 day lockdown in just one particular building, regardless of the fact that no managing agents have the right to physically lock you in (or out of) a building and force you to get food deliveries. If someone had tried to lock me in my building, I'd have called the police. If they react like that over ONE case at the beginning of the pandemic those residents can look forward to a year of quarantine once the shit really hits the fan! However, the real lockdowns allowed people out of their houses for various purposes and furloughed them from their jobs so people couldn't lose their jobs for simply not turning up! There was a hilarious statement on page 90: " Because he's a nurse, there's no way Zack could go into work." Are you for real? Those are exactly the people who had to go to work, especially if they didn't have COVID!
But apart from these clangers, the pandemic isn't really seen as a worrying situation, those people just moan about being stuck with (or without) people they didn't intend to, because what if they see them without makeup? 🙄
Honestly, this was such inconsequential fluff that I didn't care about any of them, especially when they manufactured an existential crisis out of the fact that one boyfriend ordered a pizza with pineapple on it, which of course meant he probably didn't want kids or something.
Also, please check your spelling - it's fazed not phased, and the past tense of text is texted. And why do we get the American "gotten"?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Pandemic/Epidemic
onceuponthesewords's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 ⭐️
5 residents on London Lane wake up one morning to discover they’re all being quarantined for a week due to a highly contagious virus going around.
This is my first time reading a book about COVID-19, and let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The characters are so witty and funny, and I laughed, cried, smiled, and emphathized with them. Their stories were all relatable and so fun to follow along with. Even the first chapter had me giggling because of the humor right off the bat!
I’ll admit, initially it was confusing because there were so many characters and stories to follow, and it took me a few pages into each chapter to remember who was telling which story. But after I got the hang of it, it was a really fun and cute read! I love how the ending tied in all the stories together.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Will definitely be purchasing this book when it officially comes out on February 1, 2022!
5 residents on London Lane wake up one morning to discover they’re all being quarantined for a week due to a highly contagious virus going around.
This is my first time reading a book about COVID-19, and let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The characters are so witty and funny, and I laughed, cried, smiled, and emphathized with them. Their stories were all relatable and so fun to follow along with. Even the first chapter had me giggling because of the humor right off the bat!
I’ll admit, initially it was confusing because there were so many characters and stories to follow, and it took me a few pages into each chapter to remember who was telling which story. But after I got the hang of it, it was a really fun and cute read! I love how the ending tied in all the stories together.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Will definitely be purchasing this book when it officially comes out on February 1, 2022!
mdodson's review
3.0
Cute book. When I first began reading it I immediately had a reaction that it was too soon for me to relive memories of the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. But as I read on it was nice to look back on how far we’ve come and remembering the shifts in how our actions were motivated by the idea it was all only going to be two weeks. My friend that read the book and I also discussed how the UK setting helped us to keep reading. If I had to go back through an American perspective with the issues surrounding our President at the time I don’t think I could have finished it - that would have been waaaay to soon. I am keeping a copy of this book since it was a very interesting reflection on the first two weeks that really changed everything.
jane_kelsey's review against another edition
4.0
This book is difficult to summarize, but this is basically a view in from different characters about their experiences during lockdown in England. Initially it took some time getting into especially as there are multiple POVs, however once I properly gotten into it, I struggled to put it down and finished it super fast. It felt like a realistic insight into actual people's lives and their struggles... some got it better, some didn't. The setting was perfect for it and the writing was spot on - sometimes I felt like laughing, sometimes like crying.
Loved it.
Loved it.
aksimplegirl89's review
3.0
Super cute book. This had me chucking and smiling through the whole book.