Quarantine: A Love Story

Cicatelli-Kuc, Katie. Quarantine: A Love Story. 2019. 336p. ISBN 978-1-3382-3291-2. Available at FIC CIC on the library shelves.

Strangers Oliver and Flora sit together on a flight to New York. One of the passengers has caught a virulent tropical mono, and due to the fact that everyone was isolated on the plane during the trip, the CDC orders everyone quarantined for 24 hours. Those with symptoms will need to be in isolation for 30 days to make sure they can't spread the disease. Stressed by her home life, Flora tampers with the thermometer on their last check before release and it registers a fever. 

In love with Kelsey but uncomfortable in his own skin, Oliver is surprised to see Flora, a girl he has just met, cheat, and even more so when she proceeds to kiss him. Since they might now be suffering from the same disease, they are isolated together in the same room, with their beds separated only by a thin curtain. As their ordeal becomes known, and their social media presence goes viral, they have to deal with fame and a level of interest neither of them is used to. Despite their nearness and their confinement, and in spite of the world wanting another kiss, can both teens learn how to express their interest to each other?

Together yet separated by a wide chasm, Oliver and Flora are awkward, nervous, and lack confidence in themselves. Their voices are authentic, and their use of social media to share news and communicate with each other even though they are in the same room can be witnessed daily in any school cafeteria. The entire plot centers around “the kiss” and each teen obsessively looks at every facet of each interaction. The premise of physical isolation is well executed, and the lack of physicality and decent language between the characters makes this book appropriate for all levels. Fans of romance will appreciate the efforts, or lack thereof, that Oliver and Flora make to learn to live with each other.