Close Enough to Touch

By: Colleen Oakley

Narrated by: Candace Thaxton, Kirby Heyborne, Jonathan Todd Ross

From the author of Before I Go comes an evocative, poignant, and heartrending exploration of the power and possibilities of the human heart, perfect for fans of the emotional novels of Jojo Moyes and Jodi Picoult.

Love has no boundaries....

Jubilee Jenkins has a rare condition: She's allergic to human touch. After a nearly fatal accident, she became reclusive, living in the confines of her home for nine years. But after her mother dies, Jubilee is forced to face the world - and the people in it - that she's been hiding from.

Jubilee finds safe haven at her local library, where she gets a job. It's there she meets Eric Keegan, a divorced man who recently moved to town with his brilliant, troubled adopted son. Eric is struggling to figure out how to be the dad - and man - he wants so desperately to be. Jubilee is unlike anyone he has ever met, yet he can't understand why she keeps him at arm's length. So Eric sets out to convince Jubilee to open herself and her heart to everything life can offer, setting into motion the most unlikely love story of the year.

©2017 Colleen Oakley. All rights reserved. (P)2017 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

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!

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.

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!

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.

Sweet Story

I enjoyed the characters and the uniqueness of the story. Jubilee made ma laugh out loud a couple of times.

What a ride!

Cannot believe this book existed so long before I discovered it.

Such a tender story. Gets you right in the heart!

loved it

i enjoyed how emotional and raw this book was. it made me laugh and cry

Such a great book

I loved everything about this sweet, fun, great book. If you are looking for something to get refreshed after suspense or murder mysteries this is the book for you. Great character and the audible performance is great!!!

interesting

not a great novel, but enjoyable , plot became predictable. If you want a book that really grabs your attention, this is not it.