The Name Game

by Beth O'Leary

A man and a woman with the same name are looking for a fresh start only to discover they have landed the same job in this charming new romance by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Charlie couldn’t be happier to take the job of farm-shop manager on the remote, wild Isle of Ormer. She’s grieving, a little lost, and in desperate need of a fresh start.

Jones has come out of a difficult breakup and is looking forward to some peace away from the noise of his city life. Moving to Ormer couldn’t have come at a better time.

But when Charlie Jones and, ahem, Charlie Jones both turn up at Ormer’s one and only farm shop, claiming to have been offered the role of manager, everyone is baffled. How could this have happened? And just who is the real Charlie Jones?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit, 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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT ENDING!? OMFG! 🤯
I didn’t realize this was going to be written in (mostly) diary format when I requested it or I might have skipped it, tbh.

I’m so f-ing glad I didn’t, because this was a wild ride! Despite the format not being my favorite I was still very much enjoying this book and desperately needed to know if my plot reveal guesses were right… They were NOT!

THAT REVEAL!?!?!?!>>> 10/10 would recommend!

I think the choice of diary/epistolary was absolutely prefect. I fear this book may have convinced me to try more written in this format in the future.

Whats to love…
- 10/10 banter
- starting over
- forced proximity
- found family
- romance with a side of trauma
- THEY ARE BOTH CALLED CHARLIE JONES

I definitely think this book is worth a read but there are some heavier topics covered within. I want to include some of them below since the synopsis is rather sparse on details…

No spoilers but SKIP this if you don’t need a heads up…

The MMC is an alcoholic in the very early stages of recovery. Alcoholism and addiction is a heavy reoccurring topic throughout. As is grief and the loss of a loved one. The FMC very much wants a child and again, this is a reoccurring and important element to the narrative. There is no infertility or loss. Adoption/being an adopted child is also a topic of focus. As usual, if you ever need more details don’t hesitate to reach out via comment or DM if you need additional details — DM on IG will probably get you the quickest response

4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |

[Sarah]

OMG STOP! I just got approved to read this book from Berkley Publishing Group and they NEVER, and I mean never, approve my requests 😱🫶🏼 I am literally screaming right now! I’m so grateful, shocked, and super excited to read my first Beth O’Leary novel! 😆🤭🥹💝 Okay, I’ll shut up now, sorry, bye! 😂😘💗

[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.

[Ciara Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one writes a twist like Beth O’Leary.

[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!

[bloomgirl_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Last year Swept Away was one of my favorite reads of the year, and has become one of my favorite contemporary romance novels of all time. With one exception, I have loved all of Beth O’Leary’s books. So, The Name Game was a very highly anticipated release this year, and a 5-star prediction. Unfortunately, it did not end up being a 5-star read for me. I think the reader needs to suspend disbelief when reading pretty much any romance book, but this one really asked the reader to believe a storyline that was very implausible, and honestly felt kind of forced. Without getting into spoiler territory, I didn’t buy the twist. And that, along with trying to follow the confusing narrative, knocked my enjoyment of this book down some.

So how did this book merit a 4-star rating? Simply put, Beth O’Leary could write a phone book and I’d fly through it. Her characters are always so likable. Even if I didn’t really understand/buy the full picture of how two Charlie Jones’s happened to apply for and get offered the same job on the same tiny island, I still loved getting to know them and love watching the two of them get to know each other. I also loved the antics that went on with the other members of this close knit island. There’s something so charming about a small community of people who know everything about everybody, and are determined to have their nose in the business of anyone new that happens across their path. Chaos is always likely to ensue, and it’s always going to be hilarious. I also loved the island of Ormer, with its natural beauty and feeling of being disconnected from the wider world, and found myself wanting to go there. Even though I don’t think that this was O’Leary’s strongest plot, or even strongest character building, I still enjoyed the experience and would definitely read this book again in the future.

[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.

[Chenoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars
At no point did I guess what happened was going to happen. The reason this book is not getting a higher rating is because I had difficult time trying to figure out what Charlie Jones point of view you were in for a while into the book. And then when what happened happened, I was even more confused and spent a few minutes rethinking everything I had read to figure out what was going on.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the characters and this book was very fast paced.

[Kimmy]

DNF at 14% I’m bored

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was maybe the most confusing book I’ve ever read. Also a shocking lack of the word “I”. I really think it could benefitted from some more pronouns even though the format was pretty informal.

Beth must have intelligence on a level higher than anyone else because I can’t even properly explain the plot of this book without getting confused and somehow she came up with it.

Overall I liked the content of the story. I love a slow burn. I love a little something to think about (this was a lot to think about). And I love fun side characters. Super good book just honestly kinda difficult to read. Partly because of the weird sentence structure, partly because of all the British-isms, and partly because at about 70% I had to pause after every page just to spend some time trying to figure out what the hell was going on

arc from NetGalley and Berkley

[Kenna Lowrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book took me forever to read since it was incredibly boring until the last 20%, which was incredibly confusing. all came together in the end, but just a miss for me.

[Gosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars, baby, couldn’t put it down!

Highly recommend going into this book blindly but if you want some info about it (I will try to go with zero spoilers), please enjoy my review below.

Romance* with plot twists and unreliable narrator vibe? That was a first for me and I loved it!!
(Although now that I think about it in the No-Show there was an element of a plot twist too)

*I would call this book as combination of genres: contemporary romance/women’s fiction/chick lit, as it’s not the usual contemporary romance type. The romance is there but it’s not exactly the main-main focus of the story.

Beth O’Leary took small town trope to another level and set the action of this book on a small ISLAND. The premise of this book is super interesting and highly entertaining.
It’s fun and funny and overall lighthearted while at the same time covering pretty heavy themes (grief, alcoholism, wanting/not wanting kids/wanting to have kids as single parent).
I loved the writing (no shocker, it was my 4th read by the author) and I especially loved mixing the type of narration and dual timeline (let’s call it that). There are diary entries (giving a bit of Bridget Jones vibes) and emails written in 1st person narration, but the backdated chapters are told by a narrator.

I liked both main characters and their backstory. There were quite a lot of funny moments and the overall vibes remained light through the whole book but they were mixed with heavier themes and some emotional moments and/or lines that could be thought provoking for some. (While still being a light romcom after all!)
Although the first kiss happens somewhere around 30% mark, I would call it a slow burn. The romance part was cute and wholesome. Actually, the whole story was wholesome by the end.

I absolutely loved the plot twists and I love how it all wrapped up.
The alcoholism and anxiety rep are both very well handled. They are there but not in overwhelming way.
This is a book that can easily be read at least twice. 2nd read will be a new experience as you will take some of the chapters in differently, after knowing the plot twists that happen at the end.

Full 5 stars and a book I will be recommending to everyone!

Big thank you to Quercus books and NetGalley for eARC.


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I added quite a lot of reading updates with some of my highlights so enjoy if you like checking out quotes ;)

[Sonia B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you enjoy stories set in quirky British island communities, filled with eccentric side characters, a low-steam romance, heavier emotional themes, and a twisty plot, this one is worth picking up. Overall, I found it engaging and enjoyed being kept on my toes as the mysteries slowly unraveled.
The story takes place on the fictional Channel Island of Ormer ... a tiny, charming setting where there are no cars and everyone knows everyone. The sense of community and place is vivid and incredibly well done.
The premise begins when two strangers arrive at the same time to start a new job at the community farm shop ... both named Charlie Jones, both convinced the job is rightfully theirs, and both carrying emotional baggage we don’t fully understand at first. They’re forced to co-manage the shop on a trial basis and share living quarters, setting the stage for tension, curiosity, and connection. That said, the identical names did get a bit confusing at times, and I found myself needing to slow down and really pay attention to keep track of whose perspective I was in. As the story progresses, we’re also given glimpses into their pasts through alternating POV chapters, gradually revealing who they are and what led them to this remote island in search of a fresh start.
What stood out most to me was the setting and the strong characterization. Both Charlies are flawed, layered, and very easy to root for. While the romance was enjoyable, it felt more like a supporting element rather than the central focus of the story. I appreciated the emotional depth here. Heads up, the book explores heavier topics such as addiction, grief, loss, and trauma, but all handled thoughtfully and with care. However, with so many weighty storylines at play, the ending did feel a bit too neatly wrapped up considering the emotional complexity involved.

[Ashley W · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Name Game is the perfect title because it genuinely felt like that’s what I was playing while reading. The book begins with two characters who share the exact same name. There is Charlie Jones (female) and Charlie Jones (male, who goes by Jones). They both end up on the same island for the same job. Only one person was supposed to be hired, but somehow they both arrive for the position, which immediately sets the story in motion.

The narrative shifts between the present and each Charlie’s past. The pacing is a bit slow at times, but it didn’t bother me because I stayed interested. At first, it took a moment to keep track of everything, but it wasn’t too difficult. Then, about two-thirds of the way through, there’s a huge plot twist. From that point on, I had to use every brain cell I had just to keep up and honestly, I’m still not sure I fully did.

I enjoyed the book and really liked the premise, even though I walked away feeling a bit confused. I would still recommend it, but just be prepared to lock in and pay close attention while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Tabetha (tabsbooknook) · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC Review: The Name Game by Beth O’Leary published by @hachetteaus @thebookishtype_hau and supplied by @netgalley
Release date: 7 April 2026
⭐️⭐️💫
What happens when Charlie Jones shows up to the Isle of Ormer to start her new role as Farm Store Manager only to meet Charlie Jones who states he is there to start is new role as the Farm Store Manager? You get a lot of confusion, both from the locals and me the reader.
Unfortunately this book was just not for me and that’s so upsetting as I love so many of Beth’s books. I almost DNF’d this one due to the style of writing with female Charlie writing in a diary and male Charlie writing emails. The language of the diary entry gave me Bridget Jones vibes and I had her voiceover stuck in my head.
The book had good mental health rep regarding anxiety and depression while also tackling big issues like alcoholism and grief. The storyline confusion definitely kicks in at the 70% mark when the plot twists begin to happen and you have to untangle timelines and POVs.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC!

As a romance reader this was a doozy, in a good way!

The premise was so interesting! Even I was caught up on how the mix up happened. The beginning took me a bit to get into, mostly because I wanted more answers than their daily routines being established. But honestly I was very invested quickly.

Charlie and Jones each had their hang ups from their past so it was interesting to see them work through it and having the small flashbacks to clue us in on what’s going on. The ending really did it for me though. It was fun! And the people in the town were so interesting! They each added to the story in fun/funny ways. I honestly want more on each of them and their stories.

[Karyn Silverman]

Enjoyed this! Has a bit of sleight of hand, which I expected, and a great setting that I wish was real and want to visit (a channel island) and a very silly plot set up that is not treated as silly. Typically for the author, there’s a lovely romance and characters with a lot of baggage that makes this feel very nearly not a romance novel at times, and it doesn’t spend a lot of time in genre staple tropes (like, there is only one bed, so they just put another bed in another room and it’s not actually treated as a one-bed trope at all), which made for a pleasant change.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Beth O’Leary books, and how they are always surprising. The premise of The Name Game is so clever, but the twist in this one really threw me for a loop. It came on so suddenly that I had to totally reframe my understanding of the story. Once I wrapped my brain back around it, I was on board. But it took me a minute. So I’ll give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I love Beth O’Leary so much. Thanks to Berkley for the ARC.

[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)

[Rohan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️, maybe?

the plot twist was actually so confusing - i could not keep the characters straight with all the same names and changing POVs. once the plot twist hit around 75% I just wanted to be done with the book.

[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?

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Name Game by Beth O'Leary

Beth O'Leary has done it again to me. This will be the second of her books where I read it and then I immediately want to read or hear it again. This story is so complex and it's given to us in such a manner that it's impossible to be sure what is going on and what has happened in the past. It's a compliment to the writing that I want to read/hear the story again and I think it will be fun to see/hear the story with new eyes/ears.

Charlie Jones and Charlie Jones arrive separately on the remote, wild Isle of Ormer, in order to take the job of farm-shop manager. What a conundrum for the farm-shop owners but they don't seem too flustered by the situation. Instead, they offer the deal of both Charlies splitting the salary and job so that they can let their work performance decide who will get to be the farm-shop manager for good. There is even the idea that if the two of them increase profits enough, then maybe the farm shop can afford to pay two full time managers. So the game is on, Charlie against Charlie, because both of them need this job so badly.

We soon learn there are secrets, oh so many secrets, and Charlie and Charlie pretty much instantly despise the other since neither of them appreciate the imposter Charlie. As we go through the story, through written passages, we learn some about what has gone on in each of the Charlies' lives up to this point. This story is so much heavier than most rom-coms. There is real heartache and struggle here, very deeply embedded feelings of not being good enough. These Charlies are really hurting, having reached what they hope will be rock bottom but not being sure there isn't even farther to go down.

The island characters are varied and interesting and I liked all of them, even the weird, the obnoxious, and the grumpy. One thing for sure, these islanders will be hard to get to know, they've been together for so long and everyone knows everything. They aren't too happy to have these two Charlies show up and seem somewhat suspicious because there are two of them. Despite the heaviness, the story is also very funny and it was easy to relate to some of the emotional struggles we see in this story.

I was able to discuss this story with Jayme so be sure to check out what she thinks about the perplexing things going on in the story. The other story by Beth O'Leary that I read and then went back and listened to with new "ears" is The No-Show. When I can get my hands on The Name Game audiobook I'll give the story another go and I think I'll enjoy it even more the second time around.
My No-Show review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks to Elisha, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Lemurkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all of Beth O'Leary's books, and every one of them has delighted me. This is the second one of hers that has a "rug pull" moment - and it's a real doozy. I was expecting something - it seemed like it was heading in that sort of direction - but it definitely surprised me.

The Name Game has an interesting narrative structure, which obviously makes it ripe for a bit of literary tomfoolery. We have the two Charlie Jones's of the title, both of whom apparently have been employed to fulfill the same position.. Both of whom are, for various reasons, trying to start afresh on Isle of Ormer. The first Charlie Jones's passages are headed up as diary entries, and the second Charlie Jones is written as emails to himself. Thankfully, this makes it quite easy to tell the two Charlies apart, especially since man Charlie is generally referred to as Jones. Interspersed with these are flashbacks, giving more depth into the pasts that they are both running from.

The Isle of Ormer is a township trapped in time. There are no vehicles permitted on the island, except tractors, and most folks get around on foot, bicycle, or by horse and carriage. Even the local ambulance is pulled behind a tractor. It's quite a magical setting, but its the townsfolk that help bring the story to life. There's sweet Rosie and her strict, no nonsense wife, Marly, the couple that run the B&B, and the employers of Charlie Jones (plural); Galoshes, the intimidating shop assistant who neither trusts the situation, nor welcomes the changes they bring; and many more. It's going to be enough of a challenge for Charlie and Jones to get themselves accepted here, let alone determine which of them gets to stay... And whilst there is romance in it, it's more a story of personal growth, of self awareness and becoming more authentically you.

I devoured this book, breaking from reading only to Google the Channel Islands and learn about Sark (the inspiration for Ormer) and to have a rant and flick back and forth through the book at the 70%-ish mark. If I had one complaint about this story, it would be that the epilogue felt a little sappy and a little too neatly-tied-up-with-a-bow, but that's okay. Overall, it made me smile and kept me reading, and I'll definitely go on to read anything else that Beth O'Leary produces.

[Leighann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Name Game by Beth O’Leary will be released in the United States on April 7, 2026.
Charlie Jones is ready for a fresh start in life, working at a cute farm store on the gloriously rustic, refreshing island of Ormer (kind of like Guernsey, but smaller). She desperately needs a new opportunity, but her plans are almost ruined when someone else who ALSO claims to be named Charlie Jones turns up at the farm shop on the same day, at the same time, claiming he was offered the same job. And also, why is he so brooding and handsome? The farm owner, Rosie, says they can split the job for a trial period—and share a cottage…and here we go with a forced proximity trope?
This is the intriguing set-up for a contemporary romance that was often light-hearted and humorous but also had deeper themes related to sobriety and grief, as the book progressed. Any reader who enjoys basking in the fresh air of a beautiful setting and the small town dramas of island life will find this book to be a fun read. If you liked other books by Beth O’Leary, such as The Flatshare or my personal favorite, Swept Away, you will enjoy this slow-burn romance.
The Name Game had a few surprising twists that I did not see coming. At first, I was like, what? Does this make sense? I kind of didn’t care, because I was invested with most of the characters, like sweet Rosie who runs the farm, and Charlie Jones, the woman, who just wants a fresh start and to become a mom. The tension and banter between Jones also had me invested, wondering when will they confess their love!!!??
My Thoughts on the Writing Style
I will say, at first, I was not sure about the writing style for Charlie Jones #1, the woman, because it was meant to be journal entries and a lot of pronouns were left out, and sentences were shortened, but then I got used to it and didn’t care. The other POV is Charlie Jones #2, the guy, who goes by Jones; his POV is in the form of writing emails to himself (or someone else named Charlie Jones) as a way to cope with his new attempt at sobriety. There were also some flashbacks to characters’ pasts, which are important to pay attention to.
If I were you, I would go ahead and pre-order The Name Game and then read Swept Away by Beth O’Leary while you’re waiting.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beth O’Leary has a track record of adding a different spin to the standard romcom plot and it has been mostly successful but, in this case, I rather resented the out-of-the-blue twist and felt annoyed for the rest of the book.

Ormer is a tiny fictional island in the Channel Islands on which Charlie Jones has always pictured her perfect life. So when she gets the job as a farm shop manager, she takes the opportunity for a fresh start. The only problem is, there’s another Charlie Jones arriving at the same time who seems to think that the job is his fresh start. So they have a trial period to see who’s going to get the job but, uh oh, they’re going to have to share the tiny apartment that comes with it.

You are, of course, nodding along with this - so far, so predictable. D’you think they might fall for each other? The two-hander narration - Charlie’s is her journal and Jones’s is an email to himself, though how they find time/energy to write so much is beyond me - gives us both sides of the story and we can see them falling for the other’s charms. And yes, there is a cast of kooky Stars Hollow-esque islanders to add some cutesy charm to the tale.

But here’s where it gets a bit different. Charlie suffers from anxiety and Jones is a recovering alcoholic. We get some before-Ormer background for both Charlie Joneses and it gives us the context for this. I feel it’s a little disingenuous to believe that fresh air, a sunny island, and quirky locals are a “cure” for either of these illnesses, but it’s not the sort of novel to dig too much deeper than that.

And then that twist. I don’t want to blow it any more than I already have by saying there’s a twist, so all I'll say is it made me reassess everything and it made me quite grumpy. I couldn’t be bothered to re-read to see if the twist made sense but I’m assuming the author and her editorial team have checked that out. In any case, I felt the rug had been pulled out from under my feet and the characters I had invested in were not who they seemed to be.

Maybe it’s just that I don’t want to be challenged in my romcoms and would have been more than happy if this charming tale had ended with its well-signaled resolution, but I’ve taken a star off for rubbing me the wrong way.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up for GR

If you like stories with a quirky British isle setting, a whimsical cast of characters, non-steamy romance infused with lots of heavier topics and a TWISTY plot line, this one is for you! Ultimately I enjoyed it and it kept me guessing as the mysteries unfolded.

The setting: the (fictional) charming and very small Channel Island of Ormer, where there are no cars, everyone knows everyone and a charming cast of characters with nicknames like “Galoshes” run a committee for just about everything.

The start: two people show up at the same time to start a new job at the community farm shop - both named Charlie Jones, both claiming they are the one who was offered the job, and both carrying their fair share of emotional baggage…we just aren’t quite sure what that is. Forced to co-manage the shop on a trial basis and share a living space, what will happen with and between these two?

We catch up on what is going on through (woman) Charlie’s dairy, written in a hilarious Bridget Jones-ish style and (man) Charlie’s emails to himself. As the book progresses we are also treated to alternating past POV chapters and we start to put the pieces together on who these two are and what led them to this remote island to start a new-ish life.

My thoughts: I absolutely loved the setting and thought O’Leary did such a great job describing it and giving us a delightful cast of characters. Both Charlies are complex, imperfect people who are easy to root for. While I enjoyed the romance, it felt like a smaller part of the story than the other plot points. I really appreciate when a romance has depth and this book is no exception - without spoiling there are some major traumas and plot points including addiction, grief & loss, and more. I thought O’Leary dealt with each topic with care, but it did feel they all perhaps were tied up a bit too neatly in the end for SO many different heavier storylines. As always, I love that O’Leary writes with an unapologetic British voice - as an American Anglophile, I love all the fun words and phrases!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Michele with Book Nook Buzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth O'Leary delivers such a clever and heart-filled premise in The Name Game — because what could possibly go wrong when two Charlie Joneses arrive on a tiny island of 500 residents… to manage the same farm shop?

Charlie Jones (she/her) lands on the Isle of Ormer ready for a clean slate and a peaceful new chapter running the island’s beloved farm shop. Meanwhile, Charlie Jones (he/him) has arrived for the exact same reason — same job, same fresh start, same island. To avoid confusion, she becomes “Charlie” and he becomes “Jones,” but of course, that doesn’t make things any less complicated.

I absolutely loved the island setting. An island where you only need a bike to get around (or a tractor, depending on the resident)? Sign me up. The small-town simplicity and close-knit community vibes were so cozy and immersive. And from the start, we know the mysterious owner who hired them is hiding something — which made it especially fun trying to piece together what’s really going on.

The story is told through diary entries and emails, and I will always show up for a good epistolary novel. This format added intimacy and charm, letting us really see inside both Charlies’ heads as they work through their past heartbreaks and personal baggage.

I’ve loved Beth O’Leary’s previous books, and this one feels slightly different in tone. It has more emotional depth and leans heavily into themes of healing, second chances, and flawed characters trying to do better. There’s no spice here — so if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll need to be satisfied with sweet moments and a little innuendo — but honestly, that worked perfectly for my mood.

And then came the TWIST.

I genuinely didn’t see it coming. The story gets briefly tangled and complicated, and you definitely need to pay attention — but O’Leary skillfully pulls every thread back into place. That twist alone bumped this from a 3-star read to a solid 4 stars for me.

If you love character-driven stories with heart, emotional growth, and a charming small-community backdrop, this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this smart and heart-filled eARC.

[Bari (justbookedup) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to say this upfront: go into this one knowing as little as possible. Trust me.

The basic premise: Two people with the exact same name arrive on a tiny island to run the same farm shop… both hired, both convinced the job is theirs. They’re forced into an uneasy co-management arrangement, sharing space while trying to untangle how this mix-up happened. What starts off feeling quirky & almost light quickly reveals deeper layers of grief, regret, and the messy realities of starting over.

It did take me a bit to fully settle in. The story is told mainly through her diary entries & his emails, which is such a bold narrative choice. At first, I felt slightly removed, adjusting to the format & pacing. But once it clicked, I was IN! The structure ends up being intentional & smart, especially as pieces start falling into place.

Beth’s writing has this way of balancing warmth & wit with emotional weight. She makes flawed characters easy to root for, & she handles heavier topics with care without losing that underlying charm. There’s humor, there’s tenderness, & there’s real vulnerability.

The romance is sweet & slow burn, low spice, but this feels bigger than just a love story. It’s about identity, reinvention, & how we carry the past with us.

And then the twist.

I thought I had it figured out. I absolutely did not. When it hit, I was stunned in the best way. It reframed everything & made me want to flip back to earlier chapters immediately. I love when a book earns its shock factor.

If you love character-driven stories, unconventional narrative styles, & a romance that shares the spotlight with bigger emotional themes, this one is for you. Get ready to be a little off-balance in a story & rewarded for paying attention. Beth O'Leary, you did it again & I can't wait to see what you bring us next!

💕 Enemies to Lovers Energy
🥸 Mistaken Identity
🛏️ Forced Proximity
🏡 Small Town
🪴 Workplace Romance
☁️ Grumpy Meets Guarded
❤️‍🩹 Healing from Grief
🎣 Fish Out of Water
🤐 Secrets & Reveals
📔 Diary & Email Entries as Chapters
⏰ Flashbacks & Alternative POVs
✌🏻 Dual POV