Close Enough to Touch: A Novel | 
pickGave me Everything, Everything (Nicola Yoon) & Five Feet Apart (Rachael Lippincott) vibes but yet, not. The ending was nothing like I'd expected until like a few lines from the end and then I wasn't sure I wanted what I thought I did up until that point either.
pickI thought this was decent overall, but didn't love it. My #doublespin for February @TheAromaofBooks
pickIt took me little bit to warm up to this (mostly because I had a book hangover) but once I did I couldn‘t put it down. I loved it. Didn‘t exactly love the end; it felt a little unresolved in some ways but still, definitely worth the read.
pickI have a soft spot in my heart for quirky. With Jubilee and her rare allergy to human contact and Aja convinced he can muster telekinesis, quirky is easily found.
pickAt a time when Covid 19 restricts us from giving those outside our bubbles hugs, touch, and physical connections, this novel felt like the perfect story. Jubilee Jenkins has a rare allergy—to other people—and she‘s sequestered away herself for years. When she is forced out into the world, it‘s about unconventional characters, tangled relationships, and love. Like Kirkus said, “A romantic, sweet story about taking chances and living life fully.”
pickLoved the MCs. Switching perspectives each chapter made it especially interesting. Grabbed my heart but the end was rushed. As if the writer got an ultimatum—finish this in X pages in Y days. Or else. 4/5 ⭐️
An hour in and I‘m living the MCs! I want to know more about them and can‘t wait for them to meet.
The first book that came to mind for #untouched. By the way, if you haven‘t read this yet, I highly recommend it! #getmovin
Such a fun vacation read. Began it on the way to the airport to leave for vacation and finished it up on the way home from the airport. A great read to start off the summer. Fun and fast. Thank you @JackOBotts for getting my summer reading season off right. It has been a rough reading year for me and I am looking forward to what lies ahead!
Y‘all my book pen pal spoils me rotten! And just in time for me to leave for vacation! I can‘t wait to tell you all about my vacation @JackOBotts it is a bookish getaway! Thank you for making me feel so loved and expect a life up date soon... so much has been going on. And above all, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, the lil bots are blessed to have you as a momma!
1. This month‘s #bookclub selection.
2. My parents read to me all the time as a child. My mom played a huge role in fostering the love of books!
3. Whenever...though usually evening, after kids are in bed...”me time.”
4. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (Charlie 💚)
#manicmonday @JoScho
pickWhen I first heard about this book it really intrigued me. It seemed like something out of the ordinary. When I first started reading it I found it hard to get into but then it really picked up and I really enjoyed it. If you‘ve read it , let me know your thoughts on it
pickThis story is hard to describe. It's a love story, it's about empowerment, friendship, loss, grieve, heartache, reconnecting, and books.
There were a few issues that I (!) had with the story - spoiler tag in the comments.
PS: my reading buddies did not want to stay on either side of me. #catsoflitsy
#audiobaking
#audiohomeworkhelp
Okay. I said I looooove the story, but there are tiny things that just don't make sense.
My quiche is nearly ready.
Can't knit today. Have some weird thing with the bicep in my right arm. My physiotherapist kneaded my arm this morning and now it's not only sore but I'm supposed to rest it and keep it warm.
Can I have a normal day for a change?
Congratulations @Cathythoughts for reaching 30K. 👏👏👏🎆🎆
#OneBookOneWord
The last book I 'read' up to now, but haven't finished yet, is the tagged.
The word I choose is: #Hope
Every one of the MCs needs hope and is hoping something certain will happen.
I am about 1/3 in and looooove the story. This #audiobook is great.
The cats are sleeping off a catnip hangover. Shadow ripped open one of the toys while I was out and they shared the catnip inside. 😲
Got home to find two stoned cats. Ghost fell forward off the couch while looking down at Shadow. Then they ran around the flat like greased lightning.
On another note, I have new medication for fatigue. It's day two with them and I feel good!
pickNever, really, thought about just how much we rely on touch to convey emotion, meaning, to connect. I was shocked at how uncomfortable and antsy I got every time Jubilee was faced with a situation that would normally involve touching in some way.
There was too much inner monologue that slowed the pace of the story; however, the humor and the book-love made for a fun read.
I‘m down to only(!) 18 partially read books. This one is next up to be finished before the year ends (I hope).
"What do librarians do all day?"
...bloody good question. ?
Definitely enjoying this book...It's hard to believe that an individual can be allergic to the human touch...🤔. #bookstagramfeature #closeenoughtotouch #bookart #bookphotography #readingismylife #readingisawesome #readingissexy #readingiscool #readingispower #readingisknowledge #readingispower
Gotta get some reading in since I was toooo busy to read over the weekend...Really Enjoying this book...Makes you wonder & think about life ...🎃🍁🍂 #closeenoughtotouch #conversejunkie #lovetoread #readingislove #readingismagic #readingissexy #readingiscool #readingispower
My evening....😊☺️🙃
#enjoyingthefallweather🍁🍂🍃 #sippingpumpkinspicefrap #lifeisgood #closeenoughtotouch #colleenoakly
A crazy day...After dinner I will definitely be diving into this cutie...Love the cover...🍷🛀🏼📚... #bookstagramfeature #closeenoughtotouch #colleenoakley #bookishtag #bookislife
Day 5 #FallIntoBooks #SomeoneElseReading I can't resist a book where a main character has a love of reading. Here's 6 books where someone else is reading: the classics--Lizzy of P&P & Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, then Liesel of The Book Thief & Matilda who both read to escape, & library workers Nora of The Invisibles-who collects first lines of 📚& Jubilee of the tagged 📕allergic to touch & hiding with 📚before finally venturing out. ❤️
I read so many books, but it's rare I love one. Here are a few of my favorites from this past year. #readthisnow #sizzlinsummerbooks
pickWhat a sweet sweet book. This is my second Colleen Oakley book and I am definitely going to read future books. Good summer light read.
I wanted to read this back in June and never got to it. Better late than never.
pick⛤⛤⛤⛤/5
A very sweet, funny and quirky read. I really enjoyed this story about a woman who's allergic to other people and a man who's trying to connect with his children. It's quite an emotional read and yes it did make me cry. I loved MC Jubilee, she has such a hard time but is just so funny, clever and weird. Also loved all of the literary references and that a lot is set in a library. Only niggle was that ending was too quick.
EBook Sale Alert!! Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley is only $1.99 through 7/2! I loved this book so much and highly recommend it for your summer TBR!
Grab your copy today! http://amzn.to/2rA43FQ
#closeenoughtotouch #colleenoakley #booksale
Day 31 #MayBookFlowers #BestofMay May stats are still coming & some need reviews written😬but these 5 were definitely my best of May. Close Enough to Touch was print & for American Gods I went between ebook & audio & the full cast Anniversary edition put it over the top for me.👍A Mother's Reckoning & Salt to the Sea (finished today!) had me in tears listening & Waking Gods was as excellently narrated as Sleeping Giants. Great audio book month!💜
pickForgot to take another pic before returning this one to the library yesterday.😀What a sweet & fun book! Loved the premise. Jubilee has a severe allergy to human contact & is a recluse in her house until she has to get a job after he mother dies & finances dry up. She gets one at a library & meets Eric & his adopted son Aja. Lovable characters & Jubilee is a book lover w/a snarky sense of humor. Good balance of humor & heartfelt emotion. 📚💙👍🏻
This is such a funny, sweet & good book so far! About 2/3 through & it's due back on Thursday-also when I review American Gods on the blog so hopefully I'll finish them both up by then. It's an interesting back & forth between two very different books.😆Tonight's dinner is a big bowl of salad-romaine, cucumbers, tomatoes, capers & salmon with homemade vegan Caesar dressing. It & the reading are hitting the spot after a long day. 😋🍴📚#litsycooks
A few chapters of this library book with today's soup for lunch. Zucchini, Cumin & Mint Soup from Peace & Parsnips, tagged below. Silky smooth, full of great flavor & vegan for #soupersundays. Link to recipe post below. #sunday #soup #litsycooks
pickI really liked this book. It has a very unique plot and I loved the characters. It was humourous yet emotional. While I felt that the portrayal of the public library was not always realistic, I enjoyed the fact that a great deal of the book took place there. Best quote ever: "The job is really only about sixty percent books. The other forty percent is community service. Mostly mental health."
Wednesday morning reading.
I always keep frozen veggie gyoza around for days like today--aka Mondays. 😬 Sometimes the soul just *needs* potstickers for dinner. (And probably ice cream or chocolate later!) Just a couple of chapters into this one but I'm intrigued and I've heard good things. 📚😋🍴
pickI'm still reading The Impossible Fortress, but I wanted to pause and give a shout out to one of my recent faves from pre Litsy days. I don't see much about it on here, but it was so good! #closeenoughtotouch #colleenoakley
I told myself no new books at the library since I'm behind on #TBR stacks, library checkouts & review copies but Close Enough to Touch drew me in. Then I stopped by the library bookstore to say hi to my favorite volunteer & the top 3 books were on the shelves. Since they're on my TBR list, how could I resist them at $2 each for like-new hardbacks?! My library copy of The Hate You Give is due back Thursday-now I have my own copy & time to read it👍
I had THE BEST time meeting author @Colleenoakley and fellow book lover @Leftyonkey at Colleen's event today at Midtown Books in Tallahassee, FL!! Great event!
pickIt was a good read even though I didn't like the end. It was too real.
pickI loved this book! I loved the characters and the fact that the main character loved books was just a plus! A lot of stuff in the book was super serious but there was enough humor to balance it out so that I didn't feel overwhelmed by the seriousness.
125 pages in and if I had to choose one word to describe this it would be "contrived." That being said, I'm reading a few heavy books right now, so I'll stick around to see how this plays out.
"Simmer for 20 minutes" oh, goody! Book time. Do you read while you cook?
pickQ&A with the sweet and funny Colleen Oakley for booksbywomen.org. Enjoy! :) http://booksbywomen.org/qa-with-colleen-oakley-by-mm-finck/
I'm absolutely loving this novel. Jubilee is allergic to other people and hasn't been outside her house in nine years. Suddenly she's forced to get a job and rejoin the world. She finds a few friends- and maybe even some romance which is next to impossible considering her medical condition.
