Colleen Oakley

Colleen Oakley writes contemporary fiction that places unusual circumstances inside families and relationships. The Gallery Books edition of Close Enough to Touch appeared in 2017. Jubilee Jenkins, a librarian with an allergy to contact, leads the novel. After years of isolation, Jubilee must return to public life and meets Eric Keegan, an adoptive father trying to repair strained family connections. Oakley alternates their perspectives, using the library setting and Jubilee’s medical limits to explore trust, independence, caregiving, and the many forms closeness can take. The novel was Oakley’s second, following Before I Go, and its speculative-sounding condition remains anchored in routines such as gloves, clothing, work, and careful distance. Close Enough to Touch appeared in hardcover, electronic, audio, and later paperback editions from Gallery Books. Before becoming a novelist, Oakley worked as a magazine editor and wrote journalism and essays. That background shows in the book’s clear pacing and attention to detail, even as its premise asks how people build connection when touch itself carries risk.