The Name Game

by Beth O'Leary

Charlie Jones has her dream fresh start.
But Charlie Jones is trying to steal it ...

The Isle of population 500, soon to be 501.

Charlie Jones has landed on the island to embark on her brand new life. As the manager at Ormer's only farm shop, this job will be her perfect next chapter. Good riddance to the mainland, this is it - fresh air, and a clean slate.

Except there is one small issue ...

Charlie Jones has also just arrived on the Isle of Ormer, to embark on his brand new life. His job at the farm shop feels like fate, and could not have come at a better moment. On Ormer, Charlie has promised himself he'll escape old friends, bad habits and heartbreak.

This second chance is the best thing that could have happened to Charlie . . . and Charlie.

That is, until they are introduced . . .

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Adult, Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

Beth studied English at university before going into children’s publishing. She lives as close to the countryside as she can get while still being within reach of London, and wrote her first novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from work.
You’ll usually find her curled up with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot]

omg. They have the same name and their both heading to a remote island to start the same job?!

MISTAKEN IDENTITY ROMANCE! GIMME

| IG | TikTok |

[hamna · Rating 2 out of 5]

*not really spoiler-y but don’t read if you want to go in completely blind*

still don’t know what to think about this book. let’s see: there’s a lot that genuinely shocked me to my core and also just made me so, appreciative of the sheer creativity involved in cooking up something like this book. i think it’s actually my favorite thing about beth o’leary, the stroke of genius she tends to imbue her books with. that said.. everything else. was so boring😭. i didn’t really care about the main characters or their budding romance, the plot twist had me feeling somehow even more off about them than i originally was, because well it does create a divide, doesn’t it? i don’t think i’m entirely comfortable with how the book ended up progressing in general idk, and the (original?) narrative was kinda clunky and too..plastic for my liking. i had this issue with beth’s last book too, where i ended up rushing the book just to get it over with. the name game is much better in that regard, at least, and the plot alone is i think worth reading the book for. how stunning, lol. but yeah, overall it just didn’t get me which makes me so sad (lmao) but it is what it is i guess. i didn’t know what to rate this, 2? or 3? 2.5? because i’m still so conflicted but sadly it didn’t deliver on the /romance/ part (for me) (highly subjective) which is the main reason i read romance soo.. 2 stars it is.
thank you to berkley for the arc.💚💚💚

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie Jones (she goes by “Charlie”) and Charlie Jones (and he goes by “Jones”) end up meeting each other when they both show up to start the same new job on a small island in the English Channel. Obviously, there was some sort of mixup since they have the same name. But how were two acceptance letters inexplicably mailed to two different addresses? Despite the fact that something very fishy is going on, the two Charlie Joneses agree to live in the same farmhouse and work together for 2 months so that the farm store owners can get to know them before deciding which Charlie Jones they’ll officially hire. Both need this job because they need fresh starts, leaving behind all their former troubles.

While not as good as Beth O’Leary’s other novels, it was cute watching two people who have vowed to not deal with other people discover each other. The story unfolds through Charlie’s and Jones’ journaling. While the premise of two Charlies getting the same job offer was an unlikely stretch, the real problem for me was that the reader was not given sufficient information about Charlie’s prior troubles. Very slowly, her experiences emerge through flashbacks but I couldn’t really figure out why she was so delicate and had trouble caring about someone who I didn’t know well. It was frustrating to me. I guess all the unexplained anxiety wasn’t what I was in the mood for over winter break.

And THEN the entire novel went topsy turvy with a giant plot twist I hadn’t seen coming. I can’t say anything at all or I’ll ruin it. But it took effort getting reoriented to the new reality which was presented.

I really feel badly when I get a galley from an author I love but don’t end up loving it as much as the author’s other books. I fear NetGalley, the author, or the publisher won’t grant me any more galleys. But I want to be honest. This one lacked the level of fun I’ve come to expect from O’Leary’s novels. I also didn’t love the characters as much as I normally do.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eARC!

I've loved a bunch of Beth O'Leary's books, including the No-Show, the book of hers that I think is closest to this one. She's kind of a genius for an interesting set-up and plot. This one, in which 2 Charlie Joneses show up on a small British island for the same job, almost crossed over into too tricky for me. There was a point that I was genuinely confused! BUT, Beth landed the plane, for the most part! This wasn't my favorite of her titles (and for those who want spice, this won't bring it), but I had a great time with the setting (take me there!) and the cast of characters. I'll leave it there so as not to spoil any of the twists the plot takes!

[Morgan Stoker Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beth O'Leary’s The Name Game is a sweet and entertaining read, although a bit slow moving at times. There is a surprising twist and a thread of mystery running through the story that made it feel more like The No-Show than her other books. It was not my favorite of her novels, but it was still a fun and engaging read overall.

🌶️½ — Heated but Harmless: Clear romantic or physical tension. Characters may pine after each other, make out, or have heated moments, but no sex happens on page or off page.

Read if you like:
•Forced Proximity
•Enemies to Lovers
•Sunny vs. Grumpy
•Workplace Romance

I received an advanced eBook copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

[Bethany Gorski · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolute banger - I didn't love the first half but then it really, really got me at the end!!!

[Sophie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delight!! The Name Game is perfect for anyone after a cosy, spice free, small town/ island romcom!

i did cry at one scene, which is rare for me these days. There are several fleshed out side characters that have established roles within the story, that as a reader were easy to become fond of them

The plot twist, however, i found so confusing! I'm still not totally sure i understand the characters/whos who, despite searching their names in my ePub copy (to re read their character intro to remind me who they are)

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️ and .5 🌶️

I was given a digital ARC of this book by NetGalley but the review is all my own opinion.

This is the second Beth book that I have read and I really enjoyed it even if it did start out a little slow. Basically 2 people named Charlie Jones show up on this island with 500 people both claiming that they were offered a job at the island Farm shop. After some arguing, it is decided that they will get 2 months to work together as co managers and then the owners will choose who gets the job. They also have to share the small accommodations. So it is a lot of forced proximity.

I really enjoyed the relationship they were building with each other and with all the other islanders. I think the characters on the island made it a great read.

There were little mysteries that showed up as the story progressed and they added to the overall mystery of why there are 2 Charlie Jones on this island.

The twist at the end I did not see coming. I knew there was a twist since I read some reviews before I started, and it was nothing that I thought it was going to be.

I do think that the reason I didn’t give this book a higher rating was because when the twist came I had to reread parts because I was a bit confused. That being said, I really loved the twist. I enjoyed how Beth twisted all the loose ends together.

Beth O’Leary is for sure an auto read author at this point, just love how she writes people and the slow burn to love.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Charlie Joneses, one island, and two plans to take their lives back. With an entire community watching them stumble, fall, and compete for a single job at the general store - all while sharing a space and trying very hard not to fall in love- what unfolds is heartfelt, messy, and deeply human.

Beth O’Leary returns with stellar imagery and dual perspectives, partly told through letters that pull the reader into the murky self-reflection of two people desperate to reclaim themselves. Their need to evolve is intoxicating and real. O’Leary excels at writing characters with layered, complicated interiors, and this book is no exception. But the climax and its surprising fallout? Completely bonkers. Weird, disorienting, and honestly leaves you wondering what on earth you’ve been reading up to that point. I found myself asking, “What even is this novel? A romance? A mystery? Does it even work?” And honestly, I still don’t know.

What I do know is that I love Beth O’Leary, and I appreciate the risks she takes here. I may not know exactly how I feel at the end, but I smiled, I shook my head, and I’ll absolutely buy her next book, because she’s good at what she does. Always.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Name Game – Beth O’Leary

My first read of 2026 and Beth O’Leary absolutely did it again. I love her writing, and somehow—every single time—I never see the twist coming- This one got me GOOD! Like full stop, stare at the page, “wait… WAIT… WHAT?!”

What starts as a cozy, quirky mix-up (told through journal entries and emails) turns into a slow-burn, character-driven story with a subtle mystery and a plot twist that is completely bonkers in the best way. I was a little confused at times… which, in hindsight, feels VERY intentional because once the reveal hits, everything clicks and I couldn’t stop reading

I loved the dynamic between these two unlikely rivals competing for the same opportunity—watching them shift from tension to friendship and maybe something more was such a joy. At its core, this is a story about starting over—about leaving everything behind to reclaim who you are. If you’re going in expecting a romance-heavy book, this may surprise you. But if you love character growth, layered emotions, and a plot twist? Yeah, it’s this one

Also- rude that this island isn’t real, because I’m fully ready to change my name to Charlie Jones and move there immediately ♥️

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the ARC of this book. Beth O'Leary always delivers a fantastic plot with wonderful characters and just enough spice to keep the temperature up! The Name Game is both creatively written and has a surprise that kept me guessing. Told mostly through journal entries and emails, what starts out looking like a cozy mix-up becomes a fantastic love story.

When Charlie Jones arrives on the island to take the job as farm store manager, she doesn't expect another Charlie Jones to be arriving, ready to take the same job. Even more oddly, they both seem to have received the same letter offering the job. But the quirky and (mostly) delightful residents of the island are willing to roll with the mix up based on a long standing belief that people end up on the island because that's where they need to be. What Charlie didn't expect - neither of them - was how much attraction would grow between them. When the truth is revealed, it could make or break the charming lives they have found on the island.

This is a wonderful beach read or summery escapist read. It kept me up way past my bedtime several nights because I didn't want to leave the island either!

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 Charlie Jones (Charlie) is thrilled to start fresh on the Isle of Ormer. Charlie Jones (Jones) feels the same way. What are the chances? The problem is they both got hired for the same job and there’s only enough money for one of them to stay on as farm manager long term. The odds of this mix-up happening are very low but here they are and they have agreed to both stay for two months for one of them to earn the right to keep the job. They’re about to find out what's really in a name…

The Name Game has an absolutely adorable rom com premise but layered within is a story of two individuals yearning for a new life and courageous enough to seek it out. Beth O’Leary delivers a journey through both Charlie Jones’s pasts and the circumstances that brought them to this tiny little island of hope. We might not all be able to uproot and find our peace in the Channel Islands, but this story is a note of encouragement to spark your own quest. The Name Game is here to not so subtly remind us it’s not always a straight and easy path but it’s always worth it to find the true joy and authentic connections.

[Kayne Spooner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two people show up to work at the Isle of Ormer farm-shop, both named Charlie Jones and both ready for a fresh start at life! How could this happen? Who was the real Charlie Jones? Both Charlies have their own secrets and reasons for being there and I was excited to see how it would all unfold. They decided to share the job for two months and then decide who will stay on. He goes by Jones and they call her Charlie. They have to share their lodging and work together and it gets fun. The island setting is beautiful. They talk about their grief as they work to make improvements at the shop and enjoy exploring the island.

There is a really unique twist in the story and I wonder how the author came up with the zany premise! I was confused in places but I wondered if that was intentional? Once the twist was revealed, I began to see what was happening and the story really took off. All opinions expressed here are my own. Thanks to the author, Berkley and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has such a fantastic, genuinely unique premise and I absolutely loved that idea going in. Two people with the exact same name landing the same job is so clever and full of potential. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to how strong the concept was for me.

Once the initial setup was done, the story started to feel pretty bland and slow. The pacing was off and dragged in places, and I kept thinking this could have been tighter and shorter overall. I also found myself wanting much more character development, especially since both Charlies were clearly dealing with big life changes and emotional baggage.

The twist toward the end didn’t work for me either and it pulled me out of the story rather than adding anything meaningful. While the setting was charming and the premise was truly fun, the book just didn’t fully come together the way I hoped it would. A great idea that, sadly, didn’t reach its full potential.

Thank you to NetGalley, Beth O’Leary, and Berkley for the eARC of this book.

[Madeline Church · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Name Game has a premise that undoubtedly stands out from other romance novels! Immediately, it sounded very interesting to me purely from reading the plot. Beth O'Leary did a great job of doing the plotline justice. It felt that every angle was covered, and the story just played out perfectly.

The structure and pacing lost me a bit. How the novel was laid out was not my favorite type of style, and I think it took away from the story at times. It was very sluggish at points, too. I think this novel could have been a lot shorter than it was due to this.

I did not see the subtle mix of genres! We got a hint of mystery, and it added the perfect touch to the story. This made learning about what was going to happen and the characters a lot more interesting.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley, & Beth O'Leary for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Name Game is released on April 7, 2026!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. I always think I like this author’s books, but then I remember that I’ve thought half are great and half are mid. But I know they’ll be Closed Door and British.

It’s a meet cute for the ages: 2 people with the same name get hired for the same job on a remote island. Female Charlie Jones is bubbly (but only because she’s sad on the inside), Male Charlie Jones is a surly, newly-sober hermit. Aside from chapters about their pasts, it’s all told in their journal entries.

There is also a twist which, honestly, I was confused by. I’d have to go back and re-read to make sense of everything, but I’m not that invested to do it. It was fine. Hardly a romance. Semi-interesting characters.

Even without the confusion, the telling it in journal entries thing ALWAYS puts me off. Because it’s just not realistic…. You don’t write in a journal in partial-sentences but then also have full-ass dialog. Shit like that bothers me.

[Alex Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big thanks to Berkley Romance for the ARC of this one! I have loved so many books by Beth O'Leary and I was excited to dive into this one! The setting sounded idyllic and the premise was super fun too. The book follows a female Charlie Jones and a male Charlie Jones who both arrive to manage a farm shop on the remote Isle of Ormer. Little do they know that they won't be the only person to show up. Their arrival together sets into motion an unexpected plan that forces them in close proximity. Unfortunately, this one just did not land for me as the pacing was just too slow. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters quickly enough to be rooting for them and the chapters that told about their previous life didn't give me enough details either. I think this has potential and that other people may like it more than I did. I will still look forward to reading more from O'Leary in the future, though!

[Tessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Turns out there's a point where there are too many Charlie Joneses for me to handle. This was a quick read. The premise was cute but the execution fell flat for me. I wasn't convinced by the chemistry of the main love interests and things progressed way too quickly imo. For a fun, well-paced read, I'd recommend picking up one of her other books, instead.

As always with Beth O'Leary, there's a good plot twist late in the novel. However, with the mix of formatting of the chapters (first-person emails & diary entries, third-person narration), I was thoroughly confused once it happened...it was hard to keep track of all the characters. Sure, I could've probably gone back and re-read the rest of the book, but it would've meant going over three-quarters of content, and I wasn't captivated enough. And it felt like there was one too many complications in the characters' backstories than necessary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Rachel Abarca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

The Name Game by Beth O’Leary is a forced proximity, found family, enemies-to-lovers romance that had me hooked from the beginning. Charlie Jones is looking for a fresh start and going to work on the remote and quant island of Oamer as a farm store manager sounds perfect. She cannot wait for this new beginning. She is shocked to arrive and find an annoying, yet very handsome man, there for his first day of work as well. He is also Charlie Jones (aka Jones) and is looking for a safe place to get sober and start fresh. This book is told from multiple POVs, with Charlie writing in a journal and Jones writing emails, which kept me engaged in the story! The author did a great job of developing the characters, their relationship, and the plot line. And woah, there are some twists and turns as you work your way through the story. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Josh Hortinela · Rating 4 out of 5]

An escapist piece of romantic fiction. It's smart, gripping and the set up had me on the edge of my seat. One thing I love about Beth O'Leary is she can take a simple set up, twist it with a high concept idea and then nail the landing and execution. Here we have your typical romance set up: two big city folk head to a small island to work on a farm for a fresh start. We follow Charlie Jones, except when she gets to the island she finds that someone else is there for her job.... a guy also claiming to be Charlie Jones. It's definitely more rom than com (which worked for me, as the book deals with some more heavier and heartfelt topics), but I loved it. The Charlie Jones name set up was really unpredictable, it added a mystery to the book that have me gripped. And even when I thought I had everything figured out, a plot twist came my way. As soon as I finished it I wanted to start it again and pick up on all the clues I missed!

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever and an interesting premise — a woman named Charlie Jones arrives on the tiny (fictional) island of Ormer to take up a new job, only to find that a man named Charlie Jones has done the same thing. Neither wants to give up the job, so their new boss agrees to let them job share for 2 months to see who gets the position permanently.

Yes, this is a silly premise. But as they say on “Fated Mates” …. Girl Charlie and boy Charlie (who starts going by Jones) have to share a job, and an apartment for romance reasons.

Unsurprisingly, shenanigans ensue, as Charlie & Jones each desperately attempt to make themselves indispensable to the Ormer residents. It was a lot of fun, but has some depth as both Charlie and Jones face hard moments from their pasts in a series of flashbacks.

Closed door. Trigger warning for infertility though!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new novel from Beth O’Leary features two people, a woman named Charlie Jones and a man named…Charlie Jones. Both turn up thinking they’ve been hired to manage a farm store on a small British island, and both have their reasons for needing a fresh start. Now they’re competing for the same job and sharing a tiny apartment. The universe seems to be setting them up as enemies, but maybe they’re something else.

In trademark O’Leary fashion, this book will rip your heart right out, but it’ll be okay in the end. There’s a twist that shocked me in the best way. My only regret is that I read too fast and now I’ll have to wait ages for her next book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

[Sandrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not was I expected, but I still enjoyed it. At its core, it’s about two people leaving everything behind to try to get a new start. If you’re expecting a romance heavy book, you’ll be disappointed. But if you go into this ready to read about characters’ growth, you’ll enjoy it. It was my first book by this author, and I enjoyed it ! I was definitely not expecting the plot twist towards the end. This story is told in a somewhat non linear way which made it interesting. I also liked the setting on the fictional island of Ormer. It was nice to see such a tight knit community. Overall, it was a good story that takes an unexpected turn !

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.

[Giovanna Tufano · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️

I don't know how I feel after finishing this book. I wouldn't call it a romance—no spice, also not much chemistry between the main characters. I was expecting something else, an enemy to lovers, grumpy vs sunshine, a bit of lightness. I found an absurd heaviness here, and the protagonists either have alcohol problems or are grieving. Apparently, if there's no ongoing trauma, you can't be a character in these books.
Ok. I said it. For me this is not a romance.
These days, it seems impossible to find a good, well-written romance. It's anything but a rom-com. At a certain point, there's so much confusion in this book that it bored me a bit, and I was about to give it up because it seemed a bit ridiculous.
Also, why do the inhabitants of this island all seem like jerks?

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This might actually be my favorite book from Beth O'Leary.

This is another quick and easy romance read.

This was fun, it follows two people of the same name who get the same job and are kind of stuck working together because no one knows who the right one is.

This is also dual POV (with the inclusion of emails and things of the like).

I read through this pretty quickly and had fun doing it.

The plot twist at the end did feel a bit random and unnecessary to me. And I did want a little more oomph to the characters, but I had a good time!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Hannah Winegar]

Charlie Jones needs a fresh start. Live has thrown one too man curveballs lately, and it's time to get away. After seeing an ad for a job managing a store in a remote part of England, Charlie jumps at the chance. Upon arriving, there happens to be a catch: There's more than one Charlie Jones.

Honestly, I could have done without this one. I found it confusing to figure out which Charlie Jones was which, and then the plot twist (Because Beth O'Leary always has one, and they're often good) helped clarify some things, and I honestly liked the last 15-20% more than the rest of the book.

Overall it's great because it's Beth O'Leary, but I do feel like I've read better from her.

[k · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC courtesy of NetGalley for an honest review: I think fans of Beth O’Leary will really enjoy this book. It fits right in with her repertoire.

I’ve always had a hard time taking to her book and unfortunately this was no different. I also found the writing style she used in this book challenging. Also, time jumps back and forth are very off putting for me.

As for the plot, it was unique and original! I always find that Beth O’Leary thinks of the best plots and it really sucks that I can’t enjoy the execution of them as much as I’d like.

As is typical for her books not a lot of spice either. 🌶️

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always read Beth O’Leary books but this one seriously missed the mark for me. I very much enjoyed- and pre-recommended!!- this book when I was at about the 30% mark. When I reached the “twist,” I thought the book completely fell apart. It was unnecessarily complicated and overdone, in my opinion. I appreciate that O’Leary was going for something new and unique, which this certainly was (and can be hard to find something that hasn’t been done already in this genre), but this was a big miss for me. I’m giving it 3 stars because I do like the writing, and I really enjoyed the first third.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma (nicestack) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So happy to receive an early copy of The Name Game via netgalley!
I was really enjoying everything about this novel..the setting, the characters - both main and supporting, the back stories being drip fed.. and then BAM!
I don't know how Beth O'Leary managed to write this. Another of her books that I have really enjoyed!
I'm going to leave it at that - less is more, as going in without any expectations of this storyline worked really well.
Very low on the spice, high on character development - which worked for me.

[LibraryLaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a unique premise -- and setting -- that really took me for a ride. Who knew a romance could have such an unexpected twist? No spoilers here, but I will say that I loved all the characters in this book -- they were unique, very human characters who all deserved their happily ever afters.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.