Close Enough to Touch

De: Colleen Oakley, Jonathan Todd Ross

Narrado por: Candace Thaxton, Kirby Heyborne

From the bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise and Jane and Dan at the End of the World

A “heart-wrenching and humorous” (Publishers Weekly) love story for anyone who’s ever wanted something—or someone—just out of reach, Colleen Oakley’s Close Enough to Touch is "a treat...fans of Jojo Moyes will rejoice" (Booklist).

Can you miss something you never had?

Jubilee Jenkins is no ordinary librarian. With a rare allergy to human touch, any skin-to-skin contact could literally kill her. But after retreating into solitude for nearly ten years, Jubilee’s decided to brave the world again, despite the risks. Armed with a pair of gloves, long sleeves, and her trusty bicycle, she finally ventures out the front door—and into her future.

Eric Keegan has troubles of his own. With his daughter from a failed marriage no longer speaking to him, and his brilliant, if psychologically troubled, adopted son attempting telekinesis, Eric’s struggling to figure out how his life got so off course, and how to be the dad—and man—he wants so desperately to be. So when an encounter over the check-out desk at the local library entangles his life with that of a beautiful—albeit eccentric—woman, he finds himself wanting nothing more than to be near her.

A “heart-wrenching and humorous” (Publishers Weekly) love story for anyone who’s ever wanted something—or someone—just out of reach, Colleen Oakley’s Close Enough to Touch will delight fans of Jojo Moyes’s One Plus One and Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project.

Colleen Oakley Scores Again!

I loved Colleen Oakley ' s first novel, Before I Go, and her second novel is another great one. In Close Enough to Touch, she develops her characters so you feel like you know them. While they are dealing with what seems to be an impossible situation, they are also dealing with problems we all face -- issues with relationships, communication, children, grief, and love. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Thanks, Ms. Oakley. You rock!

Loved this book

This book was different. It was unique and interesting. It’s full of emotions. I loved it.

Wow!

This was a very interesting and strange book. The ending felt a bit rushed to me but I still really enjoyed it. Felt that the narrators sis a great job of portraying the characters!

Super unique

I loved the idea of a woman who was allergic to the touch of others. Her character was so endearing and true. I loved her. Then there's the single dad who is estranged from his teenager and also trying to navigate through raising an adopted son that is genius but also is acting out from losing his parents.

The whole premise is just storyline brilliance.

I loved the budding romance that is such a slow burn but when it got to the ending... I was lost. The entire story seemed thought out and considered until the end. It seemed rushed and not story worthy. Then it just ended and I was left feeling underwhelmed and not fulfilled. I just can't understand it.

The narrators were great. They all were perfect for their intended characters. Especially Candace. Her tone and portrayal was spot on.

A touching road to family healing and love

This book had a really interesting premise but it took me two-thirds of the book before I truly got invested in the characters. It was written well but there just wasn’t a connection with the main characters for most of the book. The narration was okay but the Aja voice was the best.

As a three year old toddler, Jubilee Jenkins developed a rare skin allergy that made touching other humans deadly. Her mother went to specialist after specialist before abandoning her to marry some rich guy in another city. After a kiss in high school almost killed her, Jubilee grudgingly acknowledged that her life was meant to be different from others and without skin to skin contact.

When her mother died and her step father withdrew financial support, Jubilee was forced to find a job to pay for her own bills. She got hired at the library which placed her around people. Once Jubilee saved a little boy Aja from drowning, Jubilee was introduced to Eric Keegan, Aja’s father who slowly opened Jubilee’s heart to a future of happier possibilities.

I like that Eric Keegan wasn’t this hero that made everything better. He had his own messed up situation and was trying to figure out his own life. Eric’s drama made everyone including Jubilee made her face some things from her past as well as make some decisions about her future.

I like how the author used the library and reading as vehicle of communication to allow the characters to understand each other. I felt the most for the young boy Aja. He was clearly in pain and I just wanted to hold him so tight. It was after Aja and his X-men comments that I truly plugged into this story.

Colleen Oakley didn’t write a clean, smooth, cheesy story. It was a slow burner where the individual journey overshadowed the romance, which was okay with me. The writing in the first half dragged but the second half was more touching (pun intended). Overall, it was a good read.