FICTION

Close EnoughTo Touch

by Colleen Oakley
Gallery. Mar. 2017. 320p. ISBN 9781501139260. $24.99; pap. ISBN 9781501139291. $16; ebk. ISBN 9781501139284. F
COPY ISBN
Born with a rare and severe (and potentially deadly) allergy to human skin cells, Jubilee lives the life of a shut-in. She has avoided human contact for the last nine years since she experienced a traumatic event in high school. It doesn't help that around that time her mother moved away to live with her new husband and never came back to visit. When Jubilee gets word that her mother has passed away and she will no longer receive a monthly stipend, her way of life is changed. Even though Jubilee's existence outside her home becomes richer, with a new job, new friends, and even a tentative romance, it's still a constant struggle for her to avoid being touched. But getting a taste of all that she's been missing could be the impetus she needs to seek treatment and possibly be cured.
VERDICT It is easy to get lost in this vividly told story with characters and a fictional malady that are utterly believable. Oakley's second novel (Before I Go) should build on the author's popularity and continue comparisons to popular authors such as Jojo Moyes.
Reviewed by Karen Core, Detroit P.L. , Jan 01, 2017
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