| Title | : | Quarantine and Chill |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 402 |
| Publication | : | First published June 13, 2020 |
News of the coronavirus hit New York City, and LA-native Jade is stuck dog sitting in her best friend’s Brooklyn apartment. Her bestie Zora is on her honeymoon in the Maldives, but may now be stuck there too. The island has canceled all flights. Only God knows when Zora will return, and Jade can fly back to LA.
Then, Zora’s brother Kamal shows up with his bags and proclaims that he is temporarily moving in. Which is odd because he has his own luxury condo in Manhattan. Something clearly happened with him and his girlfriend.
As the global pandemic ravages the world, Kamal and Jade become corona roommates in Zora’s one-bedroom apartment. Each day brings unique challenges for the pair while they navigate the new normal. Although dealing with bumps in the road, they quickly figure out that as long as they have one another, they can handle anything. Plus, there’s many steamy ways to pass the time.
No cheating. Lots of sex and funny moments. Some drama. Plenty of erotic illustrations.
Quarantine and Chill Reviews
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I went into Quarantine and Chill with the hope of finding wish fulfillment. And for me, wish fulfillment would've been two delightfully compatible people going at it like bunnies while staying socially distant from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, this novel was not that.
- Spoilers ahead! -
Despite the instant lust/attraction between Kamal and Jade, the story took its time in moving their relationship along. There was a lot of teasing and flirting. And while I enjoyed the banter (and witnessing these two hooligans pull off a heist for toilet paper), the smut took too long to arrive. The first sex scene was about 55% into the book, which was literally the opposite of what I was hoping for. And to make matters worse, I was served uninspired, penetration-centric sex with awkward dialogue.
The succeeding sex scenes were even less impressive. At some point, I had to put down the book and ask aloud, "How can an author make balcony sex sound so underwhelming?" Because the quality of the smut was consistently disproportional to the level of emotional buildup - and that's truly a shame.
However, bad sex scenes aside, what truly turned me off was the weird murder/suicide subplot in this book. I am extremely uncomfortable that Amber, Kamal's ex-girlfriend, was villainized for being mentally ill. Being mentally ill fractured her relationship with Kamal (with cheating as the proverbial straw), being mentally ill turned her into an obsessive stalker, and being mentally ill led to her brandishing a gun towards Jade. Although the toxic ex-girlfriend trope is fair game, this poor portrayal of mental illness is insensitive and irresponsible as it contributes to the prevalent stigma surrounding depression and addiction. On top of that, her violent suicide was used as the "obstacle" between Kamal and Jade that they had to overcome to stay together. The whole thing was exceedingly gross and destroyed whatever little enjoyment that I got from this book.
Other red flags:
- Kamal using sex to manipulate Jade into moving in with him
- Kamal having unprotected sex with Jade without her consent
- Mention of Israel (#FreePalestine)
Not recommended.
[ Trigger/Content warnings: ]
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Now that's how you find love during a PANDEMIC! Great job KENYA!
10 EXCELLENT and sexy stars!!!!
And the illustrations were FIRE!!!!!!!!!
mtc! -
The unexpected happened, the city was on lockdown because of a pandemic. Coincidentally during the statewide lockdown, Jade is dog sitting for her bestie Zora at the same time Zora’s brother Kamal is in need of place to stay after breaking up with his cheating girlfriend. These two have known each for years because of their connection to Zora, but after being in close quarters with each other they find out something new about each, that maybe they should be more than just connected by friendship and definitely in a more permanent way.
Jade and Kamal’s story was a absolute joy to read. The characters were lovable and the story line is full of love and laughter. The illustrations were a added bonus that makes you feel more connected to what you’re reading and some added spice to the book. I loved it! -
4.5 Stars / 5 Steam Fans
CW: NSFW Artwork, Suicide, and Anxiety
Video review available in Week 29: Jul 12 – Jul 18 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk. -
Another Winner! I loved this story and every bit of Kamal and Jade. Read This Book!
I loved being unexpectedly surprised to learn of this new release by Kenya Wright, it was an absolute pleasure to read. As usual Kenya did her thing with the story writing (and sex scenes) and illustrations. Highly, highly recommended!
RTF. -
4 Stars
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Loved it!!!
Wow! Another fantastic read by this amazing author!!! This is a more relatable contemporary read describing our turbulent times right now. In this book, a friends to lover story develops while Kamal and Jade are forced together in New York during the Coronavirus pandemic. Kamal and Jade have known each other most of their lives, however there friendly exchanges change during their shared quarantine, Lol. Kamal is an absolute wonderful hero and Jade the perfect heroine. I just about loved everything in this read. And Ms. Wright? Those graphics, pictures, whatever you want to call it, were AMAZING! I FREAKING LUUUURRRVVVEEDDD IT, LOL. Filled with some incredibly touching, laugh out loud, hot sex all over the place moments, as well as some surprises, made for an awesome read! Run and get this book, I promise you won't be disappointed! Loved it!! 5 Coronababies, Corona Bae, Post-Rona HEA stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Oh and I almost forgot, his sister Zora, I love her so much. Now she is the sister that you absolutely adore!!! She had HUGE love for her brother, Kamal...I just love that about her❤❤❤❤
P.S. loved the description of the Hindu traditional marriage... -
Enjoyed!
This was a story about two friends being stuck together because of the pandemic. Finding out they mesh together, even though a tragic event Recommend by Unique Word. -
WISH FULFILLMENT LEVEL 19023890 🤩🤩🤩🤩
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3.5- what a lovely surprise!! Loved that the mc’s were multiracial!!
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Kenya Wright's Quarantine and Chill is a near perfect novella to read while the world is wrecked cause of 'Rona.
For many of us who are still at home, under various levels and phases of lockdown and quarantine: this is a treat that is smutty goodness you'll appreciate. With characters you'll love and want to read more about: Kamal and Jade are folks make this page-turner go a little too fast: reading how their love blossoms for each other with all the real-life happenings: the effects of the pandemic: the anxieties of grocery store shopping, seeing the panic buying, dooms scrolling...these two fight their attraction to each other as we see them try to figure out the new "normal".
They are complex enough characters, the sexual tension is believable, ( there is a dog present!) and there are so many little details that I love like Jade's face mask created with a character from her favorite (fictional for us) anime. And she wears a leather jacket out when she leaves where she's been calling home-with it. I love the backstory on how they are connected--it's no "strangers getting it on in quarantine': they have an established history. (Not taking a dump on that trope by the way--I just really appreciate Kenya writing about how they know each other and the history behind that--makes their interactions stand out since they know each other so well.
*****SPOILERS START***
First, it wouldn't be a Kenya Wright book if the drama didn't pop off! Caution warnings for later, near end of book for those who want to avoid reading about minor character ending their own life. While, it wasn't a deal-breaker for me---during 'Rona aka COVID-19 there's...so much doom and gloom in the world right now and such plot thread (which obviously creates trauma for those in the book) may be very triggering especially with someone dealing with lots of stress/mental strain/depression or suicidal ideation. (I read and enjoyed Wright's "Redemption"--even though I was squeamish on the heavy violence and...gore that was in it. That book came with a caution warning in the beginning if I remember, right) And to be fair, it's not a scene--at least the act that carries over too many pages.
Second, on page 193, When Jade is speaking on the phone with her other bestie, Karen about her attraction to Kamaal which she's trying to downplay--her friend, also a Black woman sings a line from a R-Kelly song. To quote it exactly from the page:
"You did. You're like R. Kelly." she started to sing, "My mind is telling me no! But my body! My body is telling me yes!"
UGH. When I tell you this took the wind out of my sails??? IT DID. I usually don't let such minor details unnerve me but GROSS. Having that serial predator pop on-page and reference made me put my kindle down and read something else. I had to take a star off this review for that. Yes. I did.
*****SPOILERS END***
Overall, a pretty decent job on Kenya Wright's job. Did I think I'd read a romance novella set in modern, current times about two folks falling in love while the world burns? No. Did I love it? Mostly. Would I re-read it? Yes, but skip the part mentioned in second half. I appreciated the ending chapter about the future which makeS me hopeful for the future in real life. The level of research that I'm assuming Wright did for the end chapter and all the details impressed me and made me feel liek I was there at the event which I adored. Lastly--all those delicious illustrations! Wasn't expecting them!
**Edited for typos cause I first pubbed this review using my phone! -
.....
What a beautiful story that’s fitting for what’s happening around the world right now. This story clearly depicts that we can find love in any circumstance.
Now the only issue I had was the characters constantly wearing gloves and cross contaminating surfaces (the healthcare worker in me). I’m spite of that small hiccup , it did not take away from what the story was about. It’s still a 5 star read in my eyes.
As it relates to the suicide, I have never had someone close to me commit suicide so I wouldn’t know how it feels. What I do know is that death is hard on anyone and sometimes we need someone to be our light to get through the dark times
KW as usual know how to captivate her audience from the beginning to end. -
Loved it!
Jade and Kamal are such an awesome couple. I had fun reading their story of falling in love while quarantining during this pandemic. I wondered how Kenya Wright could pull that off but it worked! Both characters are very likable and have immediate chemistry from the start. See, they've know each other most of their lives, sort of growing up together as Jade is Kamal's sister's BFF. They had noticed each other in the past but it's not until the NYC lockdown throws them together that sparks fly. One thing I'm also really loving the illustrations scattered throughout the book! They add so much to the story and really help the reader visualize scenes...especially the hot love scenes! Highly recommend this fun read! -
I've been a bit reluctant to reading "Quarantine Romances" because many lack the substance of telling a good backing story. I was pleasantly surprised with KW's Quarantine and Chill. Not only did this book have the right amount of steam but it had substance, it told a good story. Loved the imagery the author managed to create in the Reader's mind. Hands down the best Quarantine Romance that I have read for the year thus far. Kudos to the author.
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She never lets me down
I loved everything about this book. Kamal had my heart from the beginning. Kenya was able to truly captured what it's like living in the epicenter on Covid19. The research done on the background of the Indiana culture was amazing. I don't want to spoil this for anyone all I want to say is Well Done. Let not even talk about the love scenes🔥🔥🔥. -
I guess the idea of this story was cool...but, the truth is....this was a boring story with terrible female narration....Perhaps, if the narration was better, the story could/would have been a bit more tolerable.
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New to me author
First time reading this author. The story was so good and funny. I liked the frankness of characters conversation. I liked the culture differences. Enjoyed -
Probably my least favorite from this author, who has written some really great books. I think it all comes down to too much detail. Seeing as how we are just under 3 years out from the start of the pandemic, anyone reading this book will have lived through that time. The amount of information about Covid given, it was almost as if Ms Wright was describing a disease/time that she had made up, and she needed to tell us all of this because it was something that we were unfamiliar with. I'm just not sure that it was all needed, especially since I feel like the timeline (this story mostly takes place within a week, that first week of lockdowns) wasn't historically accurate. Though on the other hand, it was kind of "fun" (and I use that term ironically) to rehash all of the panic and sense of unknown that that time brought on.
As far as the romantic plot goes, I love forced proximity and best friends brother tropes, but neither one really did anything for me. Kamal was literally seconds out of a long-standing and toxic relationship with a mentally ill partner when he moved in with her. Even knowing that he had checked out months earlier and that our new couple had known each other since childhood, it didn't sit well that their entire romance took place within that first week of his break-up. The pandemic and lock-down lasted long months, there was no reason that it couldn't have been stretched out. Another issue was the way that Amber (the ex) was handled. I am used to the blood and gore this author writes about, and usually enjoy it, however in this book, it felt unnecessary, and like that whole plot was handled wrong.
For as fast as the relationship came on, that one week took up like 80 of the book. The last bit then jumped into the future at what felt like warp speed, skippings months at a time. The details of the wedding, like the covid details, felt like too much. I can appreciate that there are probably few people who are aware of everything that goes into an Indian wedding (me being one of the unknowledgeable,) but it again felt like information overload, and I began to just tune it out. Had I been reading the book instead of listening to the audio, I would have skipped forward through it.
Overall as previously said, not my favorite by this author. And I'm not sure if I'd recommend it, especially if it would be an introduction to this author, as I don't think I got anything out of it. -
Another Hit
Okay I thought this book was really good and I loved the illustration adds more flavor to the book. So the book starts off with Kamal coming home to his then live in girlfriend cheating on him. He walks away and walks right into his sister apartment to find her bestie Jade house/dog sitting. The two are thrown together and from there the story begins to blossom into quite an interesting friend turn relationship. I thought the author basing a story during real time i.e Covid 19 was genius makes the book even more relatable. But again the illustration were by far my favorite part about this book. -
Absolutely fell in love with this story!
Absolutely loving this book: Kamal is my new book bae❤️
The story is super engaging, Kamal is a strong, handsome man, who has great values! The mention of the pandemic is just on point regarding our feelings, fears & hopes.
Jade is fun & free spirited. These two have great chemistry & banter... Not to mention their sexy times!!!
I also love the illustrations, such an original and refreshing touch.
I definitely recommend this author and will absolutely read her other books! -
Good book
This is the first time read AMBW book and it was interesting. I like how they added Indian traditions in the book and the visions in the book was different.
Planning to read more books by the author -
Yes LAWD, this book is too good. Kenya Wright did an AWESOME job with writing this one and giving us the business of being quarantined with someone you are extremely attracted to. This book has a great plot, excellent character interaction, hotness and a little bit of drama to make it that much more exciting. I highly recommend you adding this book to your library, you will not be disappointed.
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Like always
A good read and enjoyable read by this author. The wedding 💒 was awesome 👌 👏 and the surprise 😀 at the end was worth it. Even the part that happen to amber didn't take away from the book -
Really enjoyed
This book was really good. I saw covid 19 and i was like whaat,but it had everything. What i really enjoyed was how the author add in the hindu religion. Remind me of home, and the hindu wedding made me had a flashback about mines. It was reallly good -
Wow!! So many emotions, so many feelings...I loved this one. My first by this author but not my last...The drawings definitely added to it.
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4.5 stars!!
OMG! I don't even know where to begin. I loved everything about this book:
1. the chemistry
2. the interracial aspect
3. THE ILLUSTRATIONS oh my god i was not expecting them
4. This book was HOT HOT HOT
yes, read this
