Lockdown on London Lane

The Love Boat, but the characters stuck together are in COVID lockdown, not a cruise ship. Is it too soon to write a rom com based on a pandemic that has killed (checks notes) 9.81 million people? If you're not offended or bummed out by the premise, you will find a cute book about people thrown together (or in one case separated) when their apartment building is quarantined for a week due to a resident's positive test.

The story alternates between five apartments: a one-night stand couple who are uncomfortably stuck together; a long-term couple who realize their relationship isn't as solid as they thought; a brand-new couple whose relationship is forced to go from best-impression dating to cohabitation before they're ready; the very sad guy whose girlfriend returns from a trip but isn't allowed back in the building; and the frustrated introvert whose bridesmaid party for her BFF turns into a week of confrontation and resentment.

Some of the stories are more engaging than others, but it seemed curious to me that the primary concern is being stuck inside together, not getting sick (no one even mentions the person in the building who tested positive). You might think this book is tasteless and poorly-timed, or you might consider it a fun respite from a virus that has consumed our lives for more than two years.