Ashley Bennett is a straight-A student in her junior year of high school, and life is looking she's got a boyfriend whom she loves, a group of friends who love to party... But really, Ashley loves to curl up at home with a good book, and she can't wait to go to college. When junior year starts, the life Ashley's settled into is turned upside down - the empty house next door has finally been sold, and moving in is Todd O'Connor...When Ashley first meets Todd, he seems aloof and cocky, and she's reluctant to share a ride to school with him as her mom tells her to. As the two get to know each other, though, Ashley comes to realise that the mysterious, brooding Todd O'Connor, who all the girls are swooning over, is actually bookish and shy, and a little bit lonely. His parents split up and he has moved away from his mother to live with his father, and since then Todd has mostly kept to himself, his books, and his guitar.And as Todd gets to know Ashley, he forces her to realise that her relationship with her boyfriend, Josh, isn't really making her happy - Josh is selfish, arrogant, and domineering. Will Ashley find the courage to forge her own path?
Beth Reekles is an author and creator best known for her series The Kissing Booth, which was adapted into a series of hit Netflix movies. She began her writing career by self-publishing The Kissing Booth on story-sharing platform Wattpad at fifteen years old, and earned a three-book deal with Penguin Random House at seventeen. Love, Locked Down is her tenth published book. After obtaining a Physics degree and working a day job in IT, she is now a full-time author and self-confessed nerd who loves to review movies on Instagram @authorbethreekles.
Her published works include: The Kissing Booth The Beach House The Kissing Booth 2: Going the Distance The Kissing Booth: Road Trip! The Kissing Booth 3: One Last Time Rolling Dice Out of Tune Cwtch Me If You Can It Won't Be Christmas Without You Love, Locked Down/Lockdown on London Lane
My first audiobook!! And I’m counting it because I still took time out of my day to listen to it lol.
I’m gonna give this a 2/5⭐️
• friends to lovers • nerd gets the girl • forced proximity
This was a cute YA boy next door romance. Was really easy to listen to, fast paced and overall enjoyable.
That being said it was super cringe. I’ve said this before, but as a Brit I really struggle with how Americanised things are in books sometimes. The highschool culture is just so different and actually, I don’t even think American high schoolers have an accurate depiction in books at all.
The FMC was a little bit annoying “I love him” “I don’t love him” “I don’t know if I love him” “do I like him instead?” “No I can’t like HIM” “omg no I DO LIKE HIM” like sis make up your mind please?
The author uses the word grimaced farrrrr too many times and it does your head in.
The characters are under developed, the romance is undeveloped - you get like all of one chapter of them being a couple, the plot isn’t original or imaginative.
A cute read of a positive relationship and highlighting subtle toxic relationships traits. I just wish the author stopped using the word grimaced all the time!
So predictable! Nerd girl somehow goes out with popular jock, while successfully not having sex with him for nearly two years. Meanwhile mysterious nerd boy moves in next door. Parents think carpooling is a good idea, because they’re bosom buddies VERY quickly. Nerd girl and nerd boy don’t get on, then they do. Then they fall out, she splits up with jock boy because he badmouths her behind her back and then she makes up with nerd boy, they kiss and the end.
Review: aww what a lovely sweet teen romance! I love books by this author because I just feel like I am watching an American teen movie,I can literally see the action playing out on a screen in from of me, word for word and this book was no exception. I picked this book up and read most of it in one sitting because it was just so lovely and essay to read. It's a classic storyline of boy meets girl and a friendship turning into more than just that.
The things with Beth's writing as well though, is that no one ever gets there the easy way. Your main character has to discover something about themselseves and grow as a person before they can be open to love in their lives. There's also a very strong family theme in her novels and this comes across in this book too, her relationship with her mother is lovely and I really liked the interactions between them! Ashely also has a strong sense of right a wrong and although she is in the popular set, this doesn't mean that she is horrible to other people who don't sit on her table at lunch and as she grows ove the course of the book her sense of morals and her independence from the popular group both grow.
I really liked most of the characters in the book. The adults weren't painted to be boring and the kids weren't painted to be mean spirited. Josh was the character I liked least bust even he isn't a genuinely bad person, he just needs to do a bit of growing up. I loved Todd as a character. He is just so kind and thoughtful and yet his own person entirely as well. I like his friendship with Ashley and the fact that he seems so easy going, like nothing would phase him.
There isn't an awful lot of action in this book, as you might expect from something that I've described as a teen romance. It's just sweet and lovely and definitely something to read to make you feel war and fuzzy inside. The book is set in autumn and Christmas and, whilst I read this book in the sunshine, this would be a lovely book to snuggle up with when you're needing a bit of a pick me up in the colder months. A lovely book if you want something harmless and fun and a must-read if you are a Beth Reekles fan!
Out of the two Reekles books I have read so far, Out of Tune is my favourite! The language, the pace, the characters, just about everything was smooth, easy and entertaining to read.
From the very start, I knew I was going to like Todd. The most quiet and creative of people are always the most honest, the most caring and the most loyal. And Todd is certainly that, and more.
It took some time, but I came to appreciate Ashley for the funny and strong woman that she is. And - not taking sides - I can see where Allie was coming from. Ashley dropped everything and everyone to be with Josh, who I knew was a total douche bag from the beginning (I cheered when she finally dumped him. Good on you, Ashley!) Regardless, I love she came out of her shell and learned to love herself, her freckles and stand up for herself.
The relationship between Ashley and Todd was the biggest draw for me. Their journey from neighbours to friends was wonderful to read, and it was infuriating at times because they had amazing chemistry but they were too stubborn about their feelings! I just wanted to bang their heads together, or their lips, depending where I was ;)
Looking at Elle and Noah's relationship in The Kissing Booth, it was very physical and very hot; dangerous almost. Ashley and Todd are different. Their friendship is based totally on honesty and care. They match well both mentally and emotionally. They have things in common. They don't rush into things. They enjoy their time together and make every moment matter. This is what romance should be like.
A simple wonderful, wonderful read. Definitely a favourite :)
Review: Ahhh :) I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this book, but it was a super cute friends to lovers trope!! The writing was so good, and the characters were so sweet. Super relatable for high schoolers but a tad too young for me. This would’ve 1000% been my favourite book if I found it in high school, I would’ve romanticised the shit out of my life. But now, at my age, I can just appreciate it for a cute sappy story.
Btw I’m tempted to take another star away bc of how ugly this cover is… the alt one is way nicer… just btw :)
I seemed to have an updated/edited version of the book from my library that doesn't match the blurb and I can't find on GR. Her boyfriend is called Josh, Todd lives with his dad and it's his grandfather that has died.
It was super predictable and I was getting annoyed that Ashley was so obviously falling for Todd and vice versa, and she barely could tolerate her boyfriend.
What I Loved: I actually listened to this as an audiobook, which was a really good reading experience. I didn't absolutely love this book, but it was fun and engaging and made for a good time!
👩👨 - I loved Todd. He's an actual cinnamon roll of human. He's introverted, loves reading, and writes songs (where can I find one??). He's sensitive and shy but has a quiet strength about him which I loved!
I didn't particularly like Ashley initially. On the exterior, she seemed like a stereotypical popular girl who is a slightly stuck-up and quite shallow, but as I got to know her, it became apparent this was a facade to fit in with her boyfriend and his crowd of friends. I got quite annoyed initially that she didn't own who she was but kept trying to be what other people wanted to be; however, I recognise that as a teenager you go through being overly self-conscious of what others think of you and trying to be like everyone else. Ashley did stand up for certain beliefs about things (e.g. not having s*x with her boyfriend, not smoking etc) which I loved to see!
💕 - The romance was sweet! I loved how Todd and Ashley developed a really firm friendship first before it became something more. I am a fan of a well-written slow-burn, and it was done well. It was subtle and felt very natural! It was adorable how they were there for each other and encouraged one another. Very sweet!
👪 - I liked how close Ashley was with her parents! It was really sweet how she shared so much with her mom and was close to her family. Todd also seemed to have a really good relationship with his dad. I love good family dynamics in books!
What I Didn't Love: There wasn't anything I particularly disliked about this book! Ashley frustrated me in the beginning but she grew a lot and became more confident and secure in herself. We love to see it.
I give it: 3.5/5 cupcakes!
Trigger Warnings: Divorce, grief (not deeply explored) Content: Mentions of kissing (non-descriptive), peer pressure for the MC to sleep with her boyfriend (she doesn't), underage drinking, mention of smoking (MC doesn't agree nor participate in it)
okay, maybe I’m judging to harshly considering it was from wattpad, but I’ve read fanfiction better than this. this is basically reading a journal on Ashley’s life, and when you’re own life is more interesting than a book characters, you know something’s up
all the characters were just so cliche and terribly fleshed out, Ashley has like half a personality. imagine being so vain that *oh soRrY I’m embarrassed to be learning Latin cos that’s nOt cOoL*
also this whole book just gave me vibes of
“It took you two weeks To go off and date her Guess you didn't cheat But you're still a traitor”
yeah Ashley, what the hell? sure Josh was a prick but that’s as FAR too insta-lovey with Todd. we all knew you were never “just friends” no matter how many times you repeated it
but to save y’all from reading the entire thing, I can tell you that what you read in the blurb is EXACTLY what you get. nothing more
'So how do you know it's not worth it if you won't let anybody in,in the first place?"
The reason i read this book is because it is by BETH REEKLES. I read her previous books and it was amazing to me so when i know she is writing this book,im like "great. im gonna read it. a must." I had a hard time finding this book at my bookstores ( i dont know why seriously) but thanks god my friend found it for me!
I like how Todd pointed out many things in Ashley's life which she didnt seems to realize. Josh is a jerk. He is so selfish!i never like him at all at the beginning though. he is kinda hot (?) but too annoying for me. I love the ending eventhough it took so them such a long period to confess their feelings for each other. it was so dreadful waiting for that moment. There're quite a lots of moments that make me LOL! PS: Ashley,stop dog-tearing your books! its painful.
This book is definitely taken from wattpad. Like it's checks all the boxes: "I'm not like other girls" vibes, "those goddamn cheekbones", the guitar playing shy and introverted new guy at school who's also the new neighbor the girl dating the popular guy but it's toxic, and she's quick to assume and make judgements about others "that was so embarrassing.... embarrassing.... embarrassing... EMBARRASSING" (take a shot each time she says this and my liver would be in hell AND IT'S ONLY CHAPTER 5!) "why am I telling him all this*
It's so childish written idk how to describe it, but the writing makes the story telling worse. Like I can enjoy clichés books, but the writing needs to make it less bad, so yeah dnf from me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The book was really good.I honestly couldn't put it down.I loved the relationship between todd and ashley..that friendship...you'll absolutely love it if you like best-friends-fall-in-love kind of books....but the only thing i didn't like was the ending(don't worry, it was a happy ending)..i think it was kind of rushed,like the whole story was gracefully developed,but endind was too soon..also there were some kind secrets that weren't known even in the end.Like the post-it notes todd carried...the book was great(actually much better than most of the ya books i've read)but it could've been the best...you should read it ,you won't regret reading it..
I went into Out of Tune expecting a lighthearted romance, but it ended up being much more YA than I anticipated. The story follows two neighbors whose bedroom windows face each other—a fun take on the close-proximity trope. It’s written by Beth Reekles, the same author as The Kissing Booth, and I can definitely see it translating well into a cute teen movie.
While the book wasn’t necessarily for me as a 35-year-old married mother of three, I think younger readers—especially younger teens—would love it. If you’re looking for a sweet, easy read with classic YA romance vibes, this could be a great pick.
From reading the kissing booth by Beth Reekles I was excited to see what her other work was like. This book started out with potential but just lacked something. It was quite obvious the path the book was going to take and who Ashley would end up with. While I love a bit of predictability and a happy ending I was disappointed with the little amount of time we got to experience of their relationship and ultimately how the book ended. It was definitely an easy read but difficult to connect to the characters and very little character building.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It really wasn’t good. I have so much to say about how much I hate the main character (Ashley) but I won’t go in to detail. She’s not a very nice daughter, lost her best friend because of a boy, doesn’t even like her boyfriend who she ditched her best friend for, likes this new boy that moves in next door but leaves it months before breaking up with her first boyfriend, all while gaslighting him and making him think he’s crazy for being jealous of the two of them??? Only gave this two stars because I did actually manage to finish it all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Though the chemistry between the characters turned out to be incredibly cute it lacked solid plot twists or I would say the paucity section was all filled with plot. As compared to Reeks' first novel the female protagonist in this one seemed a bit realistic and relatable rather than going all moe moe over how she pined for a guy's body like Rochelle did
3.5 (audiobook version) It was a very predictable teenage friends-to-lovers romance...but it was cute and , at least in my head, reads like a movie. So I found it entertaining. I can totally see why some may love it and others won't, but I enjoyed it as a light, easy read while going to work or doing errands. :)
My first audiobook as I struggle to find time and motivation to read a book so trying this and it worked out really well and I managed to finish it quite quickly.
This story was half and half. I enjoyed the characters and the plot was alright. The main thing I didn’t like was the ending. There needed to be more to sum the story up properly.
This book was decent. I liked Ashley and Todd's characters and their relationship. This is my second book with the love interest being a neighbour and I liked that aspect. I liked how Todd only opened up to Ashley and not really anyone else.
The only thing I wasn't a big fan of was the way it said "I'm a big girl/boy" I just thought it was a bit childish.
I loved this the way that Todd and Ashley fall in love without knowing and that she gives up every thing for her jock bf including her best friend Ellie Todd could be her way out although she had to reside if she wanted to escape
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Out of Tune was a cute read without being memorable. However, I did like all the positive relationships and interactions between the various characters, and Ashley was a character most girls could relate to.
A nice little YA romance that passed the time on audiobook. Ashley and Todd are new next door neighbours, but Ashley already has a boyfriend. As Ashley and Todd grow closer, will they risk their friendship for more?