What happens when you throw two teenagers from the same hometown together on a plane with a sick man?  You get the cheeky, quick read novel called, Quarantine: A Love Story.

Fans of romance novels will love this unique plot line of two teens who are exposed to a mutate form of mono and end up spending thirty days together in quarantine.  The characters are you average, every-day teens rife with parent troubles, dealing with divorce and family dynamics, awkward social moments, and defining friendship versus something more.

I loved that the author picked an illness that wasn’t so rare as to be unbelievable.  Most teens and young adults can probably relate to someone with mono, which makes this book that much more relatable.  A Miami hospital is also used as the backdrop, so most U.S. readers will quickly be able to picture the overall scenery of the book.

This book is a quick read.  The structure is such that every other chapter is told from an opposing view, but the chapters are clearly labeled with whose viewpoint is being highlighted and the transitions are flawless.  You will fly through the pages and find yourself at the end faster than you can blink.  The novel wraps up nicely in the end, even if it is a bit predictable.  The usage of hashtags and social media references is rampant throughout, so modern readers will feel right at home.

Overall a quick, delightful read for the romantically inclined.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Scholastic Press (A Scholastic Imprint)

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  11 religious exclamations; 1 mild obscenity.

Violence/Gore: None

Sex/Nudity:  Two instances of hand on arm or shoulder; three instances of hand-holding; two kisses; four hugs (not including hugs from parent to child); two instances of playing with another’s hair.

Mature Subject Matter:

Anxiety/panic disorders; death of parent; divorce; illness.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None