Literary Friday: Close Enough to Touch *PLUS* a Giveaway!

Happy Literary Friday, My Lovelies!  This week I read one of my favorite books of the year so far, Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley.  Y'all must add this title to your Summer Reading List: It's the *perfect* lake or beach read!

According to Goodreads:

From the author of Before I Go comes an unconventional love story perfect for fans of the emotional novels of Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes.

One time a boy kissed me and I almost died... 

And so begins the story of Jubilee Jenkins, a young woman with a rare and debilitating medical condition: she’s allergic to other humans. After a humiliating near-death experience in high school, Jubilee has become a recluse, living the past nine years in the confines of the small town New Jersey house her unaffectionate mother left to her when she ran off with a Long Island businessman. But now, her mother is dead, and without her financial support, Jubilee is forced to leave home and face the world—and the people in it—that she’s been hiding from.

One of those people is Eric Keegan, a man who just moved into town for work. With a daughter from his failed marriage who is no longer speaking to him, and a brilliant, if psychologically troubled, adopted son, 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. Then, one day, he meets a mysterious woman named Jubilee, with a unique condition...

Close Enough to Touch is an evocative, poignant, and heartrending exploration of the power and possibilities of the human heart.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Colleen

Website | Facebook | Twitter

My Review:  This book appeals to my inner book nerd.  Jubilee is an avid reader, and she earned her online degree in English Literature.  When she's forced to leave her home for the first time in almost a decade, she runs into Madison, one of the mean girls responsible for "humiliating near-death experience in high school," at a convenience store.  When she learns that Jubilee needs a job, Madison uses her influence as a member the local library's board of directors to secure her a one there.  I confess that I enjoyed all the book/literary references and discussions throughout the book, especially the chick lit Eric reads in order to connect with his daughter.  The book also appeals to my inner comic book nerd: There are plenty of references to the X-Men Comics, and as many of my loyal readers know I am a Marvel Girl!

I love the characters in this book.  Jubilee is so inspiring...I admire her bravery and capacity to love the people she encounters in her very small world.  Eric's world is much larger and even more complicated. He is trying very hard to connect with his wayward teenage daughter, and he's determined to help his adopted godson Aja deal with his grief over his parents' tragic deaths.  Aja is such a fun character: He is precocious and extremely intelligent.  He and Jubilee bond over many things, including the X-men, books, and trivia.  

Needless to say, I also enjoyed the story.  It's heartwarming, uplifting, and enthralling.  I read it in an afternoon: I couldn't put it down!  If you enjoy family dramas, romance, and chick lit (Madison and Jubilee form a strong friendship), you will love Close Enough to Touch.  

Disclosure:  I received a copy of Close Enough to Touch from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.

And now on the the Giveaway...

Use the Rafflecopter widget below for a chance to win a copy of Close Enough to Touch.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time...

Happy reading!

Ricki Jill