While the world is ravaged by a global pandemic, hotshot NFL running back Evan Sparks is locked in his own personal hell. With a career-ending scandal on his back, Evan hides out in his best friend’s empty San Francisco home, the full city shutdown locking him in a lonely twenty-story apartment in the sky.
Romance writer Sadie Walsh is having the worst case of writer’s block ever…until the … the incredible, muscular stranger staying next door gets her muse going strong. The pair of loners, never expecting to find a friend in all the madness, meet each day out on their balconies like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet.
Each new day brings unique challenges for the pair as they navigate the unknown and find solace together. They quickly figure out that as long as they have one another, they can handle anything.
Even falling in love under quarantine.
Writing together for the first time, New York Times bestselling authors Kylie Scott and Audrey Carlan team up to tell a story that not only is a beautiful escape during a trying time, but a true lesson on the power of humanity’s ability to survive. Through a sexy, hopeful, strangers-to-lovers romance, the authors prove with love, trust, and faith, we can conquer anything.
“Kylie Scott and Audrey Carlan weave a charming and witty romance into a confusing and stressful real-life scenario and the result is magic. Sexy, humorous and sweet, this is a quarantine must-read!” —Devney Perry, USA Today bestselling author
more
A realistic portrayal of the current state of the world mixed with a beautiful love connection and a happily-ever-after you hope to see in these tough times!
Art imitates life as they say so why shouldn’t the romance book genre take this pandemic and time of social distancing and turn it into something good? I for one have been escaping into books for some much-needed time away from real world anxieties and fears, and reading Love Under Quarantine was a perfect chance to do just that.
Evan and Sadie are both in San Francisco when the city huts down and citizens are asked to self-quarantine due to COVID-19. Sadie is romance book writer who often gets swept up into her work so being forced to stay in at home isn’t too much of a struggle for her. Evan, an NFL player, on the other hand didn’t anticipate being stuck indoors at his best friend’s apartment where’s he’s camped out to escape the press and paparazzi when a scandal hit that is threatening his football career. The only thing that is making this crazy time a bit better is the blond neighbor he meets next door – Sadie.
The Characters
I loved both characters in this book. Sadie is a junk food loving, tell it like it is kind of gal. I liked how she wasn’t one to overthink things but just went with her growing attraction to Evan. She also owns her sexuality like a boss which I always love in female characters. She also sticks up for herself to her parents and her ex when it really counted.
Evan had lived the “stereotypical” life of a baller – enjoying the perks of partying and women who flocked to his side but when he’s hit with scandal, accused of using drugs, he’s ready to make some changes. It was fun to see that he was the one constantly looking out for Sadie, hoping to catch her outside on her balcony and spend more time with her. Despite his past behaviors and never having been in a relationship before, he sure learned fast and I thought he was great for Sadie.
Of course, this love connection between Evan and Sadie occurs in a span of 14 days under quarantine with even a day or two of not seeing each other, so you have to be a fan of instalove to roll with this love story. I think the authors gave us enough in character development and their interaction to make this believable though.
As for the real world scenario they painted, I think it was pretty spot on. They captured a lot of my own feelings and experiences which I found comforting in the fact that I wasn’t alone. For example, Sadie is struggling with her parents and their lack of understanding and concern about social distancing which I could totally commiserate with. If anything, the authors brought the reality of the situation almost too real with a pretty in your face situation that was sobering but again completely real in what many are dealing with in this pandemic.
Overall, I think this was a great forced proximity love story wrapped in an all too real-world situation with a bit of suspense thrown in to keep the storyline moving. A great read by these two authors!
Check out this review and all my romance book reviews and romance book lists on my book blog, She Reads Romance Books: http://www.shereadsromancebooks.com
This book was written and was exactly how the world is right now. I mean I don’t think there could be a more perfectly timed story based on the current events as a romance. As I read I could identify how I had someone similar to most of the friends and family members in my own life. It is also perfect for this time because they stuck to the quarantine rules, waiting 14 days to actually get together in person. Which made for such a slow, steamy build-up. Not that they were completely celibate. They made good use of phone and Facetime for their intimate wants and desires.
Honestly I really do want a guy like Evan in the sense that he will cook and make me the healthy food, while allowing a bit of the sweet and not so healthy stuff that I usually eat. In that way I was a lot like Sadie, especially the green stuff part, as well as the being allergic to cats. Hmm, maybe I need to be more open with the guys with cats on Tinder? There was even one bit that totally reminded me of a Tinder date I had last summer! Other fun stuff in the book was the whole bit about Evan running in his sweatpants, and yeah, if you’ve seen the video, you know what I’m talking about. I had to stop reading and go watch the video just because.
It totally could be hard to read for some I know, because there are the things that are bad going on in the real world right now that do happen in the book. The authors don’t make it so everyone lives happily and healthily no matter what. Yeah, there’s an HEA, but it’s real life in what happens to those around their world. It definitely felt like being stuck at home feels these days.
A great partnership in writing by two authors that I love, and I recommend it, even if you just can’t see reading about this until one day when these crazy times are over, you should grab your copy now!
Who would have thought that being in lockdown would actually help you find love, especially for someone who had a reputation and needed to be on the down low. I guess it couldn’t have come at a better time for a big footballer to stay put and not cause anymore chaos for his profession and personal life.
Staying in his friend’s apartment he finds solace with the neighbor, a single woman who dedicates her time to writing. She just happens to find her muse right next door too!
I guess the most unexpected things happen to those that never in a million years thought it could happen to. This was a great experience for him to find a woman that actually picked his interests for more than just a fling. This was a great way for them to get to know each other very well since they were neighbors and they had nowhere else to go.
I thought this was a sweet and sexy read that totally had my undivided attention.
I’m in love with Evan! He’s so perfect! I can’t get over the two of them. I finished this in one sitting, that’s how much I enjoyed their love story!
The chemistry and attraction between Evan and Sadie is off the charts. What’s more intriguing is that they were not sexual or physical up until later in the book. They were just talking from their balconies. I don’t know how Kylie and Audrey did that. And when they get together, I couldn’t be more happier. They were so perfect together. Evan is so sweet, he’s the perfect book boyfriend. I can’t get enough of him. Sadie is so hilarious at times, sassy and a snack junkie. Their banter about he unhealthy eating always get me laughing.
Seriously I want more of these kind of book! Highly recommended! If the five stars ain’t enough to say how much I loved and recommend this one, I don’t know.
J’ai beaucoup aimé l’intrigue et découvrir ces deux personnages attachants, je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seule seconde en leur compagnie et j’étais toujours plus curieuse de voir où les autrices allaient nous amener. Une chouette romance contemporaine qui donne le sourire avec un fond pas évident à traiter en cette période de pandémie mais c’est fait avec beaucoup d’attention et de justesse.
Im truly amazed at the words written in this beautiful but also very relevant and appropriate book! The collaboration of these two authors has worked incredibly well and they should be very proud of their story!
It was such a pleasure to read this entertaining and wonderful love story centering on Sadie and Evan! Sadie was a quirky romance writer and Evan a high profile footballer! Lets just say these two complement each other very well indeed! We are sent on a journey of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, very steamy moments and a storyline that will capture your attention! My heart was in my throat in certain parts and I laughed along with the characters and the way they loved to tease each other! Such a fantastic book that you most certainly need to read!!
I needed this book in my life! it was simply perfection, the story is so intriguing and engaging, I had to read it in one sitting because the characters just spoke to me, thank you for making me laugh so much while during this difficult time!
Rating: 2.5 stars
Newbie acquaintances filled with instant lust quickly evolving to professed bestie friends who haven’t shaken hands yet but can’t wait to get those hands and lips on each other as soon as the quarantine rules allow is how I’d characterize a large portion of the first half of this book. Also, Evan has an important matter he needs to set straight, while Sadie is struggling to get her writing back on track after a break-up from a Mr. Boring. This part I was getting into…but keep reading, folks.
As a fan of Kylie Scott, I’m always excited when she has a new release. I’ve come to be somewhat nervous, however, when authors decide to “duet” together, especially on a short read thrown together hastily. More often than not, too many cooks in the kitchen show up in the writing. Having not read Audrey Carlan before, I can’t say for certain which ingredients she added to the pot here. However, I just know the writing style in the latter part of this book felt out of sync with the first half. Looking back, my only enjoyable parts were the sweet/kind gestures Evan made towards Sadie as they were becoming acquainted.
Need some examples of what didn’t mesh? Well, considering how cautious the hero professed and needed to be regarding all types of media, I’m thinking he’d stay as far away as possible from being in OTT smexy situations which involved or could lead to naughty voice or smexy video recording of any shape or form. Yeah, I’m hinting at the explicit phone and video smex scenes weren’t likely to have happened/been a good idea for him, no matter the temptation with this leading lady, whom he barely knew.
Sadly, though the pieces to the puzzle regarding Evan’s drama were finally being laid out towards the end, they just weren’t scripted that well when put together. In fact, this book lost its mojo with me before it ended.
The title and synopsis attempts to tell us what to expect. The book cover is another story. Based on the shirtless, flat on his back, head tilted so far back he doesn’t even look human, crotch shot up close/front and center, legs and arms sprawled like he’s completely passed out from the influence of something sends the very message this professional football player is denying to the world. Sure, I’m a fan of muscles on a hot guy, but I couldn’t help but notice the irony of that notion plus feeling Evan was being exploited in that pose. Yeah, I know he’s not real, but I can’t help but speak up for him in this regard. What I’m hinting at is a classier book cover would have been better. I found myself wondering what the reaction would be if Sadie, the blonde, blue-eyed, curvy heroine, was switched out in his place in the same exact position. Maybe I’m a lone wolf in finding this cover not very appealing, folks.
I wish both authors continued writing success and hope others like it. I just felt parts of the story line were overly done/laid on way too thick/not consistently well scripted. Again, mainly later in the second half. This is particularly a shame because I do find it refreshing when a main couple get to know each other before hitting the sheets. A bonus was seeing this former manho professional football player, who’s had more than his fair share of easy, random, wham bam quickies with super model, gorgeous women/wild partying, fall for the literal pretty, perky girl next door. It still wasn’t enough though for me to chalk this book up as a big win in my romantic read column.
Title: Love Under Quarantine, Authors: Kylie Scott & Audrey Carlan, Pages: 275, Pub. Date: 5/5/20, stand-alone, professional football player hero, romance author heroine, phone & video smex scenes, didn’t stay consistently well written towards the end.
(I voluntarily read and reviewed a Kindle Unlimited version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no relationship or affiliation between this reviewer and the author, publisher, or PR firm.)
If you’re looking for a relatable story during this pandemic this is a book for you. Evan and Sadie find love during a fearful and uncertain time. I did enjoy their hot chemistry and fun and flirty banter. It’s definitely a love story during a quarantine.
These are weird times we’re living in. We’re all experiencing it together. This book was something I didn’t know I needed until I read it. It was relatable and real and honest. It mad me laugh, it made me sad, it made worry, so many emotions. I loved Sadie and Evan’s conversations, them being so close yet so far away. I loved the build up of them coming together, their chemistry was undeniable. The steam was panty melting good. But it wasn’t all about that. Careers, families, friends, terrifying life changing events, lost, romance and more. This book was so refreshing. I recommend you guys to read it, you’ll love it. I know I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC copy of this book.
Sadie’s just minding her own business trying to zone on yoga during this pandemic when shouting from her neighbor interrupts her trying to find peace mood. Evan’s trying to find out who set him up to be possibly kicked off his team, the Oakland Marauders, when he finds out just how gorgeous his new, temporary neighbor is. Perhaps while they’re under shelter in place orders, a little fun can be had. And maybe even more?
As they get to know each other from a safe social distance, I could just see them falling, and I loved it. It’s surprising, but Evan is actually a sweetheart, and Sadie is his perfect match – a romance writer with sass and a big heart.
This first quarantine themed romance is just what I needed to read going into the third month of the pandemic. It’s super sweet, smokin’ hot (he really knows what he’s doing!) and it’s lighthearted enough that it doesn’t drag down what is already a mood that can swing the pendulum on any given day. I don’t know if this duo plans on writing together again, but if they do, I will most certainly be reading it!
5 Stars
Romance novelist Sadie Walsh and NFL player Evan Sparks find themselves neighbors while on lockdown due to the pandemic. They strike up a friendship that quickly evolves into so much more. I loved everything about this fun, flirty, and sexy romance. From Sadie’s love of junk food and candy, Evan’s trying to make healthier snacks for her, and their sleuthing ways to figure out who’s responsible for setting Evan up. These two prove that you can fall in love with someone from across a balcony and just by conversation alone. Super cute story.
Angela – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
A fun read in the mist of the craziness. Evan, a football player, is hiding out at his best friend’s apartment after a scandal just broke in the media and now the city goes on lock down. Sadie is a romance writer who lives next door. They start talking on the balcony since they are both stuck at home and develop a friendship that turns into more even though they can’t be in the same room. I enjoyed this easy read.
This is a sweet and sexy sports romance set during the quarantine. The storyline is beautifully written, fun, and steamy. Evan and Sadie are great characters. Sadie, a romance author, is fun and sassy. Evan, a footballer, is handsome, caring and sexy. They share an instant attraction and a strong chemistry! I loved to follow them in this journey.
The first Corona- Romance <3
I was nervous about reading this as life is hard enough at the moment, you want to be entertained and distracted so the premise of this book made me unsure. Well I shouldn't have been nervous as Kylie Scott did what she did best and gave me wonderful words that drew me in and completely held me hostage. I haven't read anything from Audrey Carlan before but together this duo brought us a story filled with love and hope, which is something we all really need right now.
In a world that's going mad these two characters are brought together and their instant connection is electrified. Their interactions and humorous banter was thoroughly entertaining whilst the chemistry and sexual tension certainly steamed up my kindle.
I don't want to give too much away with my review as it would be so easy to rave about it but that would spoil your enjoyment. Honestly this book was the perfect tonic for this pandemic so well done Scott and Carlan
LOVE UNDER QUARANTINE is a contemporary, adult, stand alone, erotic, romance story line co-authored by Kylie Scott and Audrey Carlan. This is NFL running back Evan Sparks, and indie romance writer Sadie Walsh’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Evan and Sadie) LOVE UNDER QUARANTINE follows the growing relationship between twenty-nine year old NFL running back Evan Sparks, and twenty-eight year old, indie romance writer Sadie Walsh. It’s March 2020, and the entire world is under quarantine due to the COVID19 outbreak and pandemic. Running back Evan Sparks is in hiding in San Francisco, at his best friend Jake’s apartment, hiding due to the career-ending scandal that has placed our hero in the direct line of fire. Someone has set up Evan Sparks, and his career is barely hanging by a thread. Meeting Jake’s neighbor Sadie Walsh sets up a two week self-isolation affair wherein our couple will meet virtually by messenger and text, while keeping six feet apart while on their morning walks. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Sadie and Evan, and the potential fall-out as Evan discovers he is about to become more of a leading man than he could ever had imagined.
The relationship between Sadie and Evan is a combination of virtual $ex, texting, messenger and nightly visits on their respective balconies. Complete opposites in lifestyle, Evan will quickly learn the woman with whom he is falling in love is nothing more than a junk-food junkie; and Sadie will quickly discover that to attain a body like Evans, healthy eating is always on the menu. As their fourteen day self-isolation period draws to a close, Evan will discover the identity of the person hoping to destroy his life but an identity that is a betrayal on so many levels. With Sadie by his side, Evan struggles with what happened and why, but our hero will lose someone that meant something more. The back and forth banter is frenzied and fun-Sadie introduces Evan to Lord of the Rings and the Twilight Series. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and sex.
The secondary and supporting characters are limited but include (and mostly via phone calls and text): Evans best friend Jake; teammate Levi; coach Bates: Sadies editor Zahra, as well as her parents back home.
LOVE UNDER QUARANTINE is a story of family, friendship, and betrayal. A story of love, lust, and communication. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is sexy and hot; the characters are energetic and charismatic.
C’est le tout premier roman VO que je lis et qui se déroule au moment même du confinement donc dans un premier temps , quand on le lit , on tique un peu sur certaines choses mais au final on passe un agréable moment de lecture avec nos deux héros et on se dit qu’il est bien de mettre un peu de romance dans cette période si particulière.
Evan Sparks est un jeune homme au sommet de sa carrière. Il adore sa carrière sportive mais il est à un moment très pénible pour lui. On l’accuse de se doper et ses fans ou même son équipe lui en veulent terriblement. Il n’a pas la confiance de ces personnes et cela va donc le toucher fortement. Il se retrouve alors coincé à San Francisco dans l’appartement de son ami Jake qui travaille dans l’humanitaire. Comme tout le monde il va vivre cette période et il déteste rester prostré dans ce si grand appartement. Dans son malheur , il a tout le matériel sportif pour se maintenir en forme et cela lui permettra un peu d’évacuer la pression. On va donc le suivre dans cette épreuve pour redorer son nom d’autant plus qu’il n’est pas coupable. Il va mal vivre la défection de ses co équipiers ou l’attitude assez désinvolte de son coach à ce sujet. Heureusement il pourra compter sur sa famille et son attaché de presse Pauline Frederickson pour lui venir en aide.
Ce nuage noir au dessus de sa tête va peu à peu se dissiper quand notre héros va faire la connaissance de notre héroïne. Il est habitué à ce que les femmes se jettent à ses pieds non pas pour sa personnalité mais pour sa notoriété et son porte monnaie bien fourni. Il a en a profité mais ce confinement forcé va sans doute lui ouvrir les yeux sur sa vie sentimentale d’autant plus que sa voisine va se réserver être pleine de surprises. On ne peut pas flirter en temps normal comme ils vont le faire pendant cette période si particulière et il y aura donc des rapprochements pas si rapprochés que voulus et cette relation va se construire en apprenant vraiment à se connaître sans vraiment céder à la tentation et à l’alchimie. Cette parenthèse sera donc la bienvenue en cette période si sombre pour nos deux héros. J’ai bien aimé ce personnage qui va devoir se débattre pour sauver son image mais aussi sa carrière tout en découvrant un concept jusque là inconnu pour lui.
Sadie est notre héroïne. C’est donc la voisine de fortune d’Evan et elle gagne sa vie en étant romancière. Elle a été marquée par sa rupture avec son ex Sean qui, il faut bien le reconnaître est un sacré numéro. Il est imbu de sa petite personne et dénigre le métier de notre héroïne. Il ne sait pas ce qu’il perd mais on va avoir envie de le baffer à chacune de ses apparitions. Il agit de manière clinique avec Sadie et on comprend donc pourquoi ça n’a pas marché entre eux. Cette jeune femme sera intéressante à découvrir car elle a des failles, des faiblesses mais c’est une héroïne à laquelle on peut s’identifier . Elle assume ses rondeurs mais elle ne va pas comprendre dans un premier temps comment un homme comme Evan peut s’intéresser à elle. Elle va nous faire rire avec ses habitudes alimentaires , surtout quand on va les comparer à celles d’Evan mais elle saura aussi nous attendrir. De manière assez ironique , ce conditionnement et sa rencontre fortuite avec notre héros va agir sur elle de manière très positive et il se pourrait donc qu’elle retrouve l’inspiration pour écrire. La vie réelle sera t-elle à la hauteur des romances qu’elle écrit.
Bref, Love under quarantine fut une lecture sympathique qui va forcément trouver un écho tout particulier en nous. Audrey Carlan et Kylie Scott nous offrent donc une romance actuelle et ancrée dans notre réalité. Nos deux héros pourront ils traverser cette épreuve et en sortir grandis? Leur histoire pourra t-elle vivre en dehors de cette bulle?
This! This book was everything that I wanted and needed and craved! Gah! Love Under Quarantine has officially become my favorite read from both Kylie Scott and Audrey Carlan. It was sweet and sexy, with a romance blooming during an honest-to-goodness pandemic. Yes, THAT pandemic–the one that we’re all bearing witness to, no matter where we may be and no matter how many people try to deny this reality we now live in. So many of us are under quarantine, and while we bemoan our current circumstances and worry about what lies in wait, there are also silver linings, if only we would take the time to pause and refocus. The skies and waters are clearer, the air is cleaner, we appreciate things more, particularly, people and relationships that we once took for granted because they were always there anyway. We find things to be grateful for, but who would ever think you could find love–TRUE LOVE–in the midst of a pandemic?! Well, the creative geniuses that are Scott and Carlan, of course, and they’ve brought together their writing talents and have come up with one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. I adored the concept and the execution, and now, Evan and Sadie own a piece of my heart. Dare I hope for Jake’s story sometime soon? Five-plus stars for Love Under Quarantine.
I enjoyed Love Under Quarantine. I think that this is just the type of read that some people need right now. Even with the topic, this book is mostly a lighter, fluffy, funny romance.
The main characters are Sadie and Evan, and they find themselves being temporary neighbors during this pandemic, and they wind up bonding and even falling in love during this time. Both of them are a little speck of light for the other to focus on in these dark, uncertain times.
“Shit not on the books I love, or I will end you.”
I love Kylie Scott’s writing, but this was my first read from Audrey Carlan. I did enjoy Love Under Quarantine. I feel like depending on the person and what type of escape they need right now, this will either be a hit or a miss. Like I said before, it was a little bit of a lighter, fluffy romance to me. I don’t read many books like this. At times the dialog between Sadi and Evan did feel a little cheesy to me, but this type of romance usually comes off that way to me.
There were moments where I was connected to the charcaters and laughing, but there were also moments when I found myself drifting off. There were some parts where there was a lot of inner dialog, and those were the moments I found myself disconnecting from the story.
The topic of pandemic was handled really well, I think. As can be expected, there were a few moments that are kind of sad, but they never took it too far.
“Love and life will persevere. It has too.”
I think if you’re in the mood for a lighter, fluffy romance, that’s also more realistic to the times that we are in right now, I think you’ll enjoy Love Under Quarantine. Along with the characters finding the light in the darkness with each other, I think it also does the same a little bit for the reader.
Overall this was an enjoyable, lighter read. It has some great humor, and sexy times. I just found myself a little bit disconnected form the story.
*ARC Received in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Spring 2020. COVID-19. Self-isolation. Quarantine. We hear the stories on the news and social media about the empty store shelves, the long lines for store entry, the need for and how to make our own masks, and most especially social distancing. Six feet apart they say. So when Sadie and Evan, two 20th floor neighbors by circumstance find themselves a balcony apart, despite it all, sparks fly and sexual tension starts to bubble to the surface like a volcano destined to blow.
Six feet.
“I want to hold you, tell you everything will be okay. Kiss your forehead…and your lips. Christ, what I wouldn’t give to taste your mouth. Make you feel what I’m feeling deep inside.”
Six feet.
I was amazed at how truly relatable this story was, not just for me, but I saw it relatable for every single individual around the globe. Carlan and Scott masterfully interwove the things we are all seeing and feeling under quarantine into a beautiful romance, while delivering angst, riotous comedy and the most creative steamy, show-stopping scenes ever!
Authors Audrey Carlan and Kylie Scott aren’t one’s to let a global pandemic stop the juices from flowing and the romance from blooming. Love Under Quarantine…mission possible!