Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sin Rating:❌

A cute, fun and modern comedy for the nostalgic 90s kids looking for a light summer read.

On an early (and hungover) Saturday morning, best mates Ellen and Alexa accidentally lock themselves in the attic with their flatmate Jack and Alexa’s date Ben. As the hours tick by and the urge to pee becomes increasingly menacing, hidden secrets and cabin fever threaten to ruin this peaceful morning and destroy more than just a weekend...

It is worth mentioning that this story felt really oddly personal. The main character has a name that’s very similar to mine (different spelling), she lives in the same area I do (I actually used to live pretty much exactly in that place), goes out to the same places, works in the same place... For this reason, I was oddly mesmerised by the story!

The characters are lovable and the situations relatable. However, the plot is quite simple and expected, so don’t expect something breathtaking. I think flatsharing londonners will probably have an extra layer of appreciation for this story because we can all relate to flatsharing horror stories. ️

Nevertheless, I was slightly thrown off by some illogical elements : our little group is scared to damage the door to escape the attic, yet when rescue comes to free them, the door is kicked down and no one bats an eye…!

Overall, I would definitely recommend it to millenials looking for a nostalgic trip down memory lane (MSN and BBM FTW, am I right?).

This is such a unique and interesting story and I listened to it over a few days, gripped the whole time. I love that it felt like a locked room mystery but was full of humour and romance.

I thought some of the characters were pretty unlikable but this didn’t affect the reading experience at all! I was compelled the entire way through and felt for some of the characters at times.

Mostly though, this book was, at times, achingly funny. There was so much nostalgia and so many parts I related too. I loved it so much.

I would highly recommend picking up a copy if you’re looking for a fun and unique story to read this autumn.

Review coming to IG soon.

I really struggled with this - it was really slow to get going, and the story doesn’t really move along, even in the last third, which was much better. The status quo of the characters is consistent throughout the book and the only real change by the end is that their landlord can’t drop in unannounced, other than that there’s no real story to it.

Unfortunately this was a did not finish for me. I really struggled to click with any of the characters and I just couldn’t get into it

Sorry - this is a negative review. No disrespect intended but I just didn't jive with this book.

I was really looking forward to this book as it had an interesting premise (swipe to read). I also guess I'm a target audience for this story, which concerns four twenty-something London renters with very zillenial-type jobs.

Sadly, this didn't live up to the hype for me and took me way longer than it should to finish. I found characters underdeveloped with no journey in the story - they ended as they started pretty much- and the actual plot quite boring. The big MSN lover reveal was quite an easy cop out with nothing gained from knowing the story and I sadly didn't feel invested in any of the characters or relationships.

Side note - being promoted to a 'social team' just because one tweet on your personal account goes viral is v unrealistic (and not even in a "but it's a book!" way) and though there may have been a hint of self awareness in one line about this moment, it didn't stop me from rolling my eyes, as someone who does work in social.

Reviews have called this 'hilarious' and 'a romcom' which I don't agree with. It's a light easy read, but if you want a bit more substance from a book of a similar genre, you should turn to Beth O'Leary or Emily Henry.

Decent enough read but the characters weren't all that likeable - I really didn't gel well with them at all!

Sorry this wasn’t my cup of tea. The characters weren’t particularly engaging and the relentless descriptions were tedious.

I didn’t like the start and all the negativity which meant I struggled to get into it and found myself not wanting to continue with it after I had put it down

I found this very easy to get into. The synopsis was what drew me to it and it didn't disappoint. I was laughing and cringing in equal measure, a great fun read and perfect for summer holiday escapism.

I love the idea of a story where people get locked in a room in their house and this didn’t disappoint. Unless you’ve got some awful characters I don’t think this kind of story can go wrong really. I thought the twist was unique and really kept me engaged in the storyline.

Ellen and her two room mates, Jack and Alexa get stuck in the loft with Alexa's hinch date after the door handle falls off. Can they find a way to reach out for help? Whilst trapped Ellen realises she may know Alexa's date but not for the best reasons. Can this group survive being trapped and keep their friendship intact too?

Aww this was such a fun story. I needed a lighter read. The plot is a slow and steady one leading to an ending that fits perfectly well with the story. I loved the twist of Ben and Ellen knowing each other though I did figure out the truth of what had happened. I loved Alexa most of all. Ellen was a bit whiny and Jack a bit weird. The writing is well done and keeps it modern with the twitter mentions. Anyone who has rented has probably met a landlord like theirs so its also very relatable. A fun read.

Absolutely adored this book! Was so funny and so witty! Also gave me major throwback vibes! Such a fun light hearted read for the summer, although the ending was predictable, it didn't annoy me too much! Would definitely recommend it!!

Ellen, Alexa and Jack are housemates. They’re also locked in their attic on a Saturday morning, with terrible hangovers and Alexa’s Hinge date from the night before. Why are they locked in the attic? Well the kitchen is flooding and they were looking for the way to switch off the water when the handle broke off the attic door. They only have one phone – and it’s Jacks that’s very low on battery and the signal is poor. But he’s mostly live tweeting the situation. Ben and Alexa are getting to know each other, and Ellen is becoming convinced that she’s met Ben before. Will they get out? Will they still be friends when they do – and will they survive the wrath of their landlord? I think I’m a little too old for this – I did my dating before apps were a thing – but this is a funny portrait of possibly the worst hangover ever. I was sort of expecting more romance, but it’s much more of a comedy than it is a romantic comedy. Worth a look. Newly out this summer – should be fairly easy to get hold of.

Warm, witty & impossible to put down!! The lock-in is a perfect read for fans of Lia Louis and Emily Henry. I didn't want it to end

The Lock In - Phoebe Luckhurst
•••
Synopsis: Three flatmates, Ellen, Alexa and Jack, plus Alexa’s hinge date Ben get accidentally locked in the attic, whilst their kitchen is flooding below them.
•••
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The Lock In is super funny, easy and fun to read, and surprisingly entertaining given the majority of the book is spread over just one morning in the same locked room. The best thing about this book for me was the narrative voice, it was so witty and quirky, almost like a character in itself. I did figure out the twist at the end before the ‘reveal’ (but not much before, tbf) but that didn’t stop me enjoying it. Would defo recommend!
•••
#TheLockIn
Free advance digital copy from #NetGalley

It was a nice easy read and different to have a comedy/mystery feel to a story where the characters are trapped rather than a horror.

The flashbacks and character history helped to understand and separate the plot that was happening in the attic but I think the story taking place mainly in one room did actually work.

I think the readers would need to be born around 90's to fully understand all the references and be able to relate to some of the story. However I liked how this took me back in time to talking to school friends on MSN as MSN is rarely spoken about even in fiction books.
I also enjoyed the awkwardness of Alexa going on dates with someone from a dating app and the tension of the characters not knowing what their relationship was.

The drama between the housemates seemed realistic as you wouldn't always get along with friends that you live with then it showed how being stuck with each other in one room, they benefited from the experience by agreeing to hang out more. Jack didn't seem like he was part of the group before.

The reason why this is 3 stars is because there could have been a bit more to the story as it was a bit predictable and centered around Ellen's accusation towards Ben. It also could have had some more funny moments.

If you looking for a light and entertaining, easy read then The Lock In by Phoebe Luckhurst might be for you. I must admit, I thought it was going to be a romcom but that’s not really what it is at all. It’s a book about friendship, house sharing, negotiating those first steps on the career ladder and internet-aided dating.

This was a really quick read for me, one that I could easily have zipped through in an afternoon. Although I’d say that not an awful lot actually happens, I enjoyed soaking up the nostalgia of house-sharing: advertising on SpareRoom, housemates bringing home random dates, cowboy landlords. It was kind of fun at the time but boy am I glad that stage of my life is over! That’s why I’d probably say the ideal audience for this book is probably a few years younger than I am.

Many thanks to Michael Joseph for gifting me a digital copy to review.

Just wasn`t for me, said hilarious but I didn`t find it funny at all.
the characters were so unlikeable it was difficult to read, and the storyline was so unbelievable it just didn`t work at all.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

‘The lock-in’ is such a great summer page-turner; the story centers around three housemates and one of their dates who all get trapped in an attic- while the kitchen is being flooded- and they have no phone service- and it all gets very awkward, very quickly. Basically it starts as one of those comedic nightmare days but develops into a story about modern friendships that I really enjoyed.
At times the characters are a bit annoying or self-centered but they do have their friend’s best interests at heart in the end. Overall though I found although being lighthearted it really showed how connected we all are even if we feel totally disconnected from those around us.
The writing is well-paced and easy going and I loved all of the quirky and cringey moments. I definitely would recommend this as a great beach read; a perfect little piece of escapism.

Nice premise and some funny moments. Slightly underwhelming finish regarding the MSN boyfriend strand. Slightly disjointed after the attic rescue. Entertaining read however. Easy to get into and follow.

Thank you Netgalley