I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

This was my first book by this author and was an enjoyable and fairly light read for me. Although the cast of characters was a bit young for me and I found it a little hard to relate to them at times this was a generally likeable story. I found reading this book a pleasant experience but the story was not particularly memorable. I would read more by this author I think. This is a good pick for reading on the beach or by the pool during the summer months. It does not require much engagement or brain capacity so is a nice chilled read if that is what you are looking for.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. This was just not for me. This book was described as funny but I did not laugh at all. I found the characters not to be that interesting and the storyline seemed honestly ridiculous and could have easily been solved if they phoned the fire brigade but for some reason find that more ridiculous than being trapped in the attic while the water is running.

I unfortunately didn’t enjoy this half as much as I wanted to. It was okay but not good. I just didn’t feel very connected to the characters or the overall plot line.

This was such a light read that you can pick up and put down wherever but will leave you wanting to pick it up more than put it down. Nice short chapters told from the different characters’ points of view meant that you got to see events from every angle.

I actually really liked all of the characters, Jack definitely being my favourite towards the end and not feeling as enamoured towards Alexa. (Plus I couldn’t help but keep thinking of the lovely device we all have in our houses)

The book itself reminded me a bit of The FlatShare by Beth O’Leary - it has that same sense and style and ‘easy read’ feeling. I could predict some of the things that happened and it was all pretty run of the mill - realistic events that actually could happen - plus who doesn’t remember all the MSN quirks!!

Overall I really liked this book and will be keeping my eyes peeled for future books by Phoebe - the perfect summer day time read

A nice piece of escapism lighthearted and heart-warming. This is a nice read and feels familiar, good fun.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest opinion

Thank you for sending me this arc, I think the fact it’s taken me until the paperback was released to read it shows that maybe I wasn’t that enticed by this book. And unfortunately the blurb made it sound a lot more exciting that it actually was, the ‘old flame’ is misleading and there isn’t much more to the plot than outlined in the blurb.
I usually like stories from different perspectives but this with the pov of the three housemates made it disjointed somehow.
I liked reading about their different jobs and seeing the friendships develop but that was about it, just not for me unfortunately.

Unfortunately I decided to DNF at 22% on this one. The story of 4 people stuck in an attic sounded quite fun and I thought I would enjoy the dynamics, but I found the characters to be too annoying to want to read any further.

listened to this audiobook alongside reading the book and I really enjoyed it! The concept behind this book really intrigued me because the scenario was realistic and I was interested to see the characters play out in that environment. Because if you’d asked me if I wanted to get stuck in an attic, hungover, with my best friend, a guy I was dating and a flatmate I don’t really know or get on with, I think I’d say thank you but no. Not to mention how claustrophobic it would feel to be stuck in a tiny room with only one window! But was it interesting to read? Oh yes!

The Lock In was about just that, 2 best friends stuck in an attic in a house in London with their flat mate (who they don’t really get on with) and a boy who one of them has been dating and the other may recognise as someone from their past.

I know a lot of you are looking for easy and fun reads and this book is just that. It has some comic moments and a bit of drama too! It had a lot of 00’s references (mentioning the MSN days for example!) which was so easy to relate to with me growing up in a similar era.

I liked how the characters felt like friends I’d known since school. They were all on their own journey and trying to make the most out of their 20’s whilst also feeling the societal pressures you feel in your mid 20’s.

I was impressed with this debut and can’t wait to read more from Phoebe in the future as her writing style is really easy to read but I also love how descriptive this book was. It felt like I was sitting in the attic with them.

The Lock In is sure to be a great summer read and I would recommend to anyone looking for a bit of 00’s nostalgia.

I was delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for The Lock In by Phoebe Luckhurst.. Thanks to Sriya and Michael Joseph for inviting me to take part and for my gifted copy of the book.

The Lock In was great for a nice escape from the real world. Funny at points, heart-warming and good fun. Nothing ground-breaking, but a nice sense of familiarity.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy. This is a really good book, kept me entertained throughout and I would thoroughly recommend to all.

'The lock in' follows three housemates; Ellen (the loud, more confident and outgoing friend), Alexa (the more reserved, calm and level headed friend), and Jack (whose portrayed as quite dim and lost in comparison to the others), as they become trapped in the attic, with Alexa's date, Ben. Ellen wakes up to find the whole of the ground floor flooded, after, traipsing through the house to find the water mains, she and Jack trample up to the attic to see if it's upstairs, Jack turns out to be little help, becoming immediately distracted with the junk of their aggressive, and anxiety provoking Landlord. Ellen, becoming increasingly exasperated, runs to Alexa, who immediately takes charge, but as Jack opens the skylight, the door to the attic slams shut and thus begins the lock in. Whilst the ground floor floods, the four individuals have to figure out how to attract attention from those outside to get rescued and prevent them from having to contact their scary and overwhelming landlord, but whilst cramped in this little space, secrets unveil, and tensions rise.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, I stuck with it because I thought the twist was going to be really gasp worthy, but I just felt indifferent to it. The pace of the plot was really slow and drawn out, so it made it hard to fully invest in the characters. I didn't really feel connected or drawn to any particular character. I feel like they could've been fleshed out a bit more.

It does have multiple POV's which was interesting to find out a bit more about their backstories but again, it felt hard to really root for any particular character or really connect with them. I did really like the focus on friendship, teenage heartbreak and unlikely coincidences, and there were some parts of the book that kept me engaged, but overall it did feel a little underwhelming. I kept expecting something really big and exciting to happen but the the big twist was just okay overall.

Overall, I enjoyed the lock in. The characters were great but I found the plot not for me and the majority of the book happens over the span of one day so is very slow. I would definitely try another Phoebe Luckhurst book though as I did enjoy the writing.

This was okay- I had really high hopes for The Lock In and I was looking forward to reading it very much.

I read about a third of it and found myself getting a bit bored, so I put it on hold. I didn't pick it back up for a few months because I just didn't have the inclination to do so.

I picked it back up and enjoyed it a bit more, but I'd still say it was only okay. I did love the multiple POVs though and the use of different media (texts/tweets/emails etc.)

I would try something else from Luckhurst, I just wish I'd liked this a bit more!

The book was very well written and flowed well. The plot was great. Everything I thought it would be from the description

This was a very popular read within the bookstagram community so when I saw it on Netgalley, I had to request it and then I was given access to it and I was OVER THE MOON!

It didn't disappoint. A landlord from hell seems to be the in thing just now, even in real life, most landlords aren't the easiest to get a long with. It was definitely a rom-com but I don't think that was the complete intention, it just happened in such comedy ways, I couldn't help but laugh... but if it was me, I'd have cried!

I loved the book, kept me gripped right until the end. Highly recommend.

thanks to Phoebe and Netgalley for allowing me this ARC!

This had such a great premise but after just under half way through it was quite underwhelming. The halfway mark got quite interesting and then it got a bit underwhelming again. After they were no longer locked in and still about 40% of the book left to go it got a little boring. I think chunks could have been better or taken out completely.

Unfortunately I have tried multiple times to complete this book but have just not been able to get into it. I dont think there is a particular reason, it's just not for me.

First of all a big thank you to netgalley, the author and the publishers for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.

When I read the synopsis of this book I was expecting drama and old flames and quarrels. However what I got was quite different. Instead this was about Ellen and her best friend Alexa who goes on a date with a guy called Ben who she just so happened to 'talk to' in school.

My favourite character by far was Jack and I am glad that this book was written in multiple POV so that Jack got his own chapters and we got to see his thoughts on the whole thing. I loved the twitter chain that he did and I also love how he reacted with everyone in the loft.

There were parts of this story that got a little boring and did drag for me a little. However all in all this was a fun, quick and entertaining read.